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A review by isobelthewizard
Annex by Rich Larson
2.0
“You should not be able to do that.” Her not-mom was standing in front of her, disapproving. “There is a flaw in the simulation.”
Violet gave her a withering look. “Call the IT people,” she said, then picked a direction at random and started walking off into the void.
CW: transphobia, deadnaming
My main critique of this is that it feels oddly misplaced in the current SFF market. This absolutely falls in line with the 2010's-era YA dystopian that I read so much of as a teen. I probably would have liked it better if I hadn't burned out on this flavor of story a long time ago.
I think Violet sparks as a protagonist. I've never encountered an apocalyptic/dystopian story that features a trans teen hero, and now that I've read one, I'm keen to read others. Violet really gets to revel in the freedom unlocked by the sudden removal of her abusive and transphobic parents . . . for a while. Hers is certainly an interesting perspective on the world's end, but I found it limited by the narrative. For a story that seems (based on the description) to be a light sci-fi romp through an alien apocalypse that cancels out all adult influence, featuring a rag tag band of pre-teens, this really seems to revel in torturing Violet with her transness.
I wish this book had been cheesier. If done well, it still could have found its footing in the darker, heavier moments. Larson could have really leaned into the genre of mid-two thousands Teen End of World Adventure with his plucky bat-wielding heroine and her sociopathic crush, but I can't quite parse out what the influences here even were. It doesn't feel derived, it feels contrived. And I guess that's all I have to say? Not bad, but bland.
For fun, cheesy YA dystopia: Monument 14 by Emma Laybourne, The Maze Runner by James Dashner, Uglies by Scott Westerfeld, No Safety In Numbers by Danya Lorentz, or Gone by Michael Grant.
For truly INSPIRED YA zombies: the Benny Imura series by Jonathan Maberry.
For an interesting take on trans identity in the wake of alien invasion: The Seep by Chana Porter.
Violet gave her a withering look. “Call the IT people,” she said, then picked a direction at random and started walking off into the void.
CW: transphobia, deadnaming
My main critique of this is that it feels oddly misplaced in the current SFF market. This absolutely falls in line with the 2010's-era YA dystopian that I read so much of as a teen. I probably would have liked it better if I hadn't burned out on this flavor of story a long time ago.
I think Violet sparks as a protagonist. I've never encountered an apocalyptic/dystopian story that features a trans teen hero, and now that I've read one, I'm keen to read others. Violet really gets to revel in the freedom unlocked by the sudden removal of her abusive and transphobic parents . . . for a while. Hers is certainly an interesting perspective on the world's end, but I found it limited by the narrative. For a story that seems (based on the description) to be a light sci-fi romp through an alien apocalypse that cancels out all adult influence, featuring a rag tag band of pre-teens, this really seems to revel in torturing Violet with her transness.
I wish this book had been cheesier. If done well, it still could have found its footing in the darker, heavier moments. Larson could have really leaned into the genre of mid-two thousands Teen End of World Adventure with his plucky bat-wielding heroine and her sociopathic crush, but I can't quite parse out what the influences here even were. It doesn't feel derived, it feels contrived. And I guess that's all I have to say? Not bad, but bland.
For fun, cheesy YA dystopia: Monument 14 by Emma Laybourne, The Maze Runner by James Dashner, Uglies by Scott Westerfeld, No Safety In Numbers by Danya Lorentz, or Gone by Michael Grant.
For truly INSPIRED YA zombies: the Benny Imura series by Jonathan Maberry.
For an interesting take on trans identity in the wake of alien invasion: The Seep by Chana Porter.