A review by laurareads87
Kundo Wakes Up by Saad Z. Hossain

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

Kundo Wakes Up is the second book by Saad Z. Hossain that I've read, and I enjoyed this one just as much as its predecessor. This book follows Kundo, a painter whose wife disappeared, as he searches for her & the reasons she left. The setting is a nanotech-powered AI-administered Chittagong that is slowly being overtaken by the rising sea; with 'green zones' safe and 'red zones' abandoned to 'zeroes' who scavenge in hazmat suits, there are a lot of possibilities as to why over a thousand people seem to be missing. With themes of classism, fixation on digital worlds (here, video games), cyborg tech, and the combination of near-infinitely life-extending medical possibilities with a world that is increasingly unsafe, Hossain explores a lot of themes. At the book's heart, though, is a circle of unlikely people on an adventure together and a real sense of humour. Definitely recommend.

Content warnings: addiction, chronic illness, violence, death, suicide (not on-page or in any way graphic)
Expand filter menu Content Warnings