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A review by queer_bookwyrm
205z: Time and Salvation by Jason Michael Primrose
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
3.5 ⭐ CW: Violence, death of a parent, blood, gore
205Z: Time and Salvation by Jason Michael Primrose is a scifi novel set in the year 2052 with the end of the world imminent in 215 days. This was kind of like a super hero story with a post-apocalyptic bent. Unfortunately, it wasn't quite what I wanted it to be.
We follow Allister Adams, a Black boy with potentials that make him super strong, fast, and gives him the ability to regenerate, making him an Evolutionary. He also has access to something called Z-Energy that is triggered by certain alien phrases. Allister gets caught between two organizations who claim they are trying to save the world by using his potentials to find alien artifacts left behind from their initial arrival. He is thrown headlong into some timey-wimey alien stuff and must learn fast in order to save the people he loves.
Let's start with what I liked. I love that we have a Black boy main character in a scifi superhero story by a gay man. There was so much diversity in the characters with power Black and Brown women, Asian characters, and disabled characters. The different powers (or potentials) everyone had, including the villains, were so fascinating. I also have a special edition of this book that is all blue with blue sprayed edges to reflect the Z-Energy. The special edition also came with a whole bunch of character cards. There are also a lot of pictures inside the book, giving us a glimpse of the various characters and their action scenes.
What I didn't like. This book was way too freaking long! Honestly, this either needed to be shorter or split into two books. There was so much happening and too many different pov chapters. It was also very plot heavy with very little in the way of character moments. I found Allister to be annoying, naive, and a bit one note. We kept being told how much of a genius he was without anything ever backing that up. I found his story about wanting to belong and accepted a bit boring, and would have rather learned more about Leesa Delemar who had a very complicated relationship with her father.
There was simultaneously too much happening and not enough information about each of the characters. I also don't feel like I totally understand the aliens, why they were there in the first place, and how these people became Evolutionaries. I don't know if there will be another book after this, but I felt like the story wasn't resolved. Although I did find out at the end that this was technically a prequel, but the author has asked us to forget about the first book?
Honestly, I'm just glad it's over.
205Z: Time and Salvation by Jason Michael Primrose is a scifi novel set in the year 2052 with the end of the world imminent in 215 days. This was kind of like a super hero story with a post-apocalyptic bent. Unfortunately, it wasn't quite what I wanted it to be.
We follow Allister Adams, a Black boy with potentials that make him super strong, fast, and gives him the ability to regenerate, making him an Evolutionary. He also has access to something called Z-Energy that is triggered by certain alien phrases. Allister gets caught between two organizations who claim they are trying to save the world by using his potentials to find alien artifacts left behind from their initial arrival. He is thrown headlong into some timey-wimey alien stuff and must learn fast in order to save the people he loves.
Let's start with what I liked. I love that we have a Black boy main character in a scifi superhero story by a gay man. There was so much diversity in the characters with power Black and Brown women, Asian characters, and disabled characters. The different powers (or potentials) everyone had, including the villains, were so fascinating. I also have a special edition of this book that is all blue with blue sprayed edges to reflect the Z-Energy. The special edition also came with a whole bunch of character cards. There are also a lot of pictures inside the book, giving us a glimpse of the various characters and their action scenes.
What I didn't like. This book was way too freaking long! Honestly, this either needed to be shorter or split into two books. There was so much happening and too many different pov chapters. It was also very plot heavy with very little in the way of character moments. I found Allister to be annoying, naive, and a bit one note. We kept being told how much of a genius he was without anything ever backing that up. I found his story about wanting to belong and accepted a bit boring, and would have rather learned more about Leesa Delemar who had a very complicated relationship with her father.
There was simultaneously too much happening and not enough information about each of the characters. I also don't feel like I totally understand the aliens, why they were there in the first place, and how these people became Evolutionaries. I don't know if there will be another book after this, but I felt like the story wasn't resolved. Although I did find out at the end that this was technically a prequel, but the author has asked us to forget about the first book?
Honestly, I'm just glad it's over.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Violence, Blood, and Death of parent