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A review by emrysmerlyn
Orphan Black: The Next Chapter by Heli Kennedy, Lindsay Smith, E.C. Myers, Malka Older, Madeline Ashby, Tatiana Maslany, Mishell Baker
3.0
This is an fascinating continuation that picks up some years after the conclusion of the television series.
Orphan Black is one of a handful of tv shows that truly changed my life. The premise was so ambitious, but somehow the production team and actors managed to pull it off. In the time since I first saw the show, I have discovered a deep and abiding love for weird fiction with odd storylines. It changed the way I view media and gave me a willingness to suspend my disbelief just a little bit further than I normally would whenever I give something new a try. Sometimes you’ll find some new that’s worth hearing about.
One of the highlights of this continuation is the fact that the formatting really allows Sarah to fade into the ensemble, rather than constantly being one of the most important driving forces for the plot. We start off with Cosima, Delphine, and Charlotte (Charlotte and Kira really shine here in a way that they couldn’t as children ). However, Charlotte has a dangerous preoccupation with making all clones go public while Kira on the other hand... falls into some high key stupid teenage rebellion that I could barely stand. She has complicated motivations, and she is trying her best to deal with the hand she’s been dealt, but after everything, I don’t think running away from home to join a sketchy genetics organization was even vaguely in the realm of good ideas. And that’s just where we meet her again! Now I get to spend the next 9 chapters (episodes?) worrying about how risky that was. She does so desperately want to be seen as an adult, in that truly confident way that all 17 year olds do.
I was glad to have a chance to take another step into this world—I suspect a little piece of my heart will always belong to clone club.
That being said, we do get some truly out-there coincidences and conspiracies in this one. My suspension of disbelief was hanging by some seriously precarious threads. I enjoyed reuniting with these characters even than I enjoyed the plot. Although, if I am going to read fiction about biological warfare and conspiracies to create genetically modified viral pandemics, 2020 was the year to do it. Perhaps it was good that I came to this continuation a year late.
As it stands, the text on its own makes for a pretty fun story, but I will definitely keep an eye out for the audiobook—I expect Tatiana Maslany’s narration adds a delightful layer to the ebook. (Edited to add: I checked the Serial Box website, and the first episode/chapter is available for free! Go, go now and listen. Tatiana Maslany is, predictably, a delight)
Thank you to NetGalley and Serial Box for approving my request for a review copy of this book!
Orphan Black is one of a handful of tv shows that truly changed my life. The premise was so ambitious, but somehow the production team and actors managed to pull it off. In the time since I first saw the show, I have discovered a deep and abiding love for weird fiction with odd storylines. It changed the way I view media and gave me a willingness to suspend my disbelief just a little bit further than I normally would whenever I give something new a try. Sometimes you’ll find some new that’s worth hearing about.
One of the highlights of this continuation is the fact that the formatting really allows Sarah to fade into the ensemble, rather than constantly being one of the most important driving forces for the plot. We start off with Cosima, Delphine, and Charlotte (Charlotte and Kira really shine here in a way that they couldn’t as children ). However, Charlotte has a dangerous preoccupation with making all clones go public while Kira on the other hand... falls into some high key stupid teenage rebellion that I could barely stand. She has complicated motivations, and she is trying her best to deal with the hand she’s been dealt, but after everything, I don’t think running away from home to join a sketchy genetics organization was even vaguely in the realm of good ideas. And that’s just where we meet her again! Now I get to spend the next 9 chapters (episodes?) worrying about how risky that was. She does so desperately want to be seen as an adult, in that truly confident way that all 17 year olds do.
I was glad to have a chance to take another step into this world—I suspect a little piece of my heart will always belong to clone club.
That being said, we do get some truly out-there coincidences and conspiracies in this one. My suspension of disbelief was hanging by some seriously precarious threads. I enjoyed reuniting with these characters even than I enjoyed the plot. Although, if I am going to read fiction about biological warfare and conspiracies to create genetically modified viral pandemics, 2020 was the year to do it. Perhaps it was good that I came to this continuation a year late.
As it stands, the text on its own makes for a pretty fun story, but I will definitely keep an eye out for the audiobook—I expect Tatiana Maslany’s narration adds a delightful layer to the ebook. (Edited to add: I checked the Serial Box website, and the first episode/chapter is available for free! Go, go now and listen. Tatiana Maslany is, predictably, a delight)
Thank you to NetGalley and Serial Box for approving my request for a review copy of this book!