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A review by mikasana
Fable for the End of the World by Ava Reid
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Disclaimer: I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was a very interesting story and you can definitely see how Hunger Games influenced the dystopian world created here by Ava Reid. You have a lot of similar themes: a single entity or company controlling the vast majority of society. Class stratification takes a big role here in particular. All the wealthy congregate in the major cities, given the very best technologies, medicines, and benefits while everyone else in the outer areas (aka the 'Outliers') are just trying to survive and avoid crippling debt. At the same time, debt is how this society is run and used to exploit its lower class citizens.
There are also a lot of subtle nods to current pop culture and some of the negatives surrounding how we treat folks on the other side of a screen, for example. E.g. using livestreams/influencers as part of the commentary. I thought that was particularly cool.
Funnily enough, the only other story I read by Ava was a Study In Drowning which had a peculiar fascination with water and flooding. This one shares a lot of similarities except the flooding and water-logged cities are due to climate change and a vastly changing dystopian world trying its best to adapt to said changes and nuclear corruption.
I also found it fascinating how Ava crafted the stories behind the assassins aka the not-quite android not-quite human killing machines and how easy it was to sympathize with their plight and backgrounds.
Where I struggled was the love story. I didn't feel particularly drawn to either Mel nor Inessa as a couple. There was also a period of time where I felt myself getting bored when it was just the two of them (Mel and Inessa) and wanted to see more action. I feel like there could have been more happening while their relationship was beginning to blossom vs the stagnant "wait" period I felt we were being forced to sit through.
Despite that, I do think this is Ava's best work and the world is one of the most interesting I have come across in a while. I think my favorite part that kept me wanting to know more was the relationship between Inessa and her brother Luka. In fact, I felt the stronger love story was the story between the two siblings. The love Luka had for Inessa and vice-versa flourished despite their odds of success and it was hope that drove them forward along with the shared love for their father.
This was a very interesting story and you can definitely see how Hunger Games influenced the dystopian world created here by Ava Reid. You have a lot of similar themes: a single entity or company controlling the vast majority of society. Class stratification takes a big role here in particular. All the wealthy congregate in the major cities, given the very best technologies, medicines, and benefits while everyone else in the outer areas (aka the 'Outliers') are just trying to survive and avoid crippling debt. At the same time, debt is how this society is run and used to exploit its lower class citizens.
There are also a lot of subtle nods to current pop culture and some of the negatives surrounding how we treat folks on the other side of a screen, for example. E.g. using livestreams/influencers as part of the commentary. I thought that was particularly cool.
Funnily enough, the only other story I read by Ava was a Study In Drowning which had a peculiar fascination with water and flooding. This one shares a lot of similarities except the flooding and water-logged cities are due to climate change and a vastly changing dystopian world trying its best to adapt to said changes and nuclear corruption.
I also found it fascinating how Ava crafted the stories behind the assassins aka the not-quite android not-quite human killing machines and how easy it was to sympathize with their plight and backgrounds.
Where I struggled was the love story. I didn't feel particularly drawn to either Mel nor Inessa as a couple. There was also a period of time where I felt myself getting bored when it was just the two of them (Mel and Inessa) and wanted to see more action. I feel like there could have been more happening while their relationship was beginning to blossom vs the stagnant "wait" period I felt we were being forced to sit through.
Despite that, I do think this is Ava's best work and the world is one of the most interesting I have come across in a while. I think my favorite part that kept me wanting to know more was the relationship between Inessa and her brother Luka. In fact, I felt the stronger love story was the story between the two siblings. The love Luka had for Inessa and vice-versa flourished despite their odds of success and it was hope that drove them forward along with the shared love for their father.