Scan barcode
A review by justinkhchen
Docile by K.M. Szpara
3.0
3.5 stars
The novel's biggest accomplishment lies in its characterization of the dual-protagonists, Elisha and Alex; told through alternating chapter in first-person, K. M. Szpara fluidly bounces between the two unique voices, and effortlessly blurs them when needed as the novel dives into its central theme: the power (and aftermath) of control and manipulation, and just who exactly was on the receiver end.
I enjoy the ambiguity the book reveals to the reader: yes, Elisha is the one explicitly being brainwashed, but at the same time Alex's behavior is also the direct result of being groomed for the convenience of his family legacy, and the expectation associated with his social status.
Beyond the stellar character development, the story as a whole is serviceable, if treading on overly-familiar territory. The futuristic Maryland feels half-baked, with inconsistent world details that sometimes feel too fantastical for an otherwise grounded rendering of the future.
While I was entertained throughout, at 489 pages, it did lose substantial momentum in the last quarter. Personally I think the story reached its emotional peak roughly around page 250; would've been a tighter narrative if it concludes at around 400 pages.
- The novel ends with a lengthy courtroom drama. Unfortunately, since readers have already experienced the events from both Elisha and Alex's perspective, very little is left for expansion; as the result this section feels like a unnecessary recap, and brings the story to a halt.
- On the contrary, with Abigail's condition being a driving force that kick-started the novel, it's resolution was disproportionately convenient—an antidote haphazardly prepared, was proved effective on the first try.
All in all, for a novel that sounds like a sleaze-fest on paper, even with its sci-fi elements a little predictable and under-cooked, Docile turns out to be a very engaging, tenderly written character study.
The novel's biggest accomplishment lies in its characterization of the dual-protagonists, Elisha and Alex; told through alternating chapter in first-person, K. M. Szpara fluidly bounces between the two unique voices, and effortlessly blurs them when needed as the novel dives into its central theme: the power (and aftermath) of control and manipulation, and just who exactly was on the receiver end.
I enjoy the ambiguity the book reveals to the reader: yes, Elisha is the one explicitly being brainwashed, but at the same time Alex's behavior is also the direct result of being groomed for the convenience of his family legacy, and the expectation associated with his social status.
Beyond the stellar character development, the story as a whole is serviceable, if treading on overly-familiar territory. The futuristic Maryland feels half-baked, with inconsistent world details that sometimes feel too fantastical for an otherwise grounded rendering of the future.
While I was entertained throughout, at 489 pages, it did lose substantial momentum in the last quarter. Personally I think the story reached its emotional peak roughly around page 250; would've been a tighter narrative if it concludes at around 400 pages.
Spoiler
- A later relationship Elisha developed with Onyx could've been substantially trimmed down; it was there purely to set up another sex scene, fulfilling the quota. (BTW, the sex/kink aspect is quite well integrated elsewhere in the book, and effectively written.)- The novel ends with a lengthy courtroom drama. Unfortunately, since readers have already experienced the events from both Elisha and Alex's perspective, very little is left for expansion; as the result this section feels like a unnecessary recap, and brings the story to a halt.
- On the contrary, with Abigail's condition being a driving force that kick-started the novel, it's resolution was disproportionately convenient—an antidote haphazardly prepared, was proved effective on the first try.
All in all, for a novel that sounds like a sleaze-fest on paper, even with its sci-fi elements a little predictable and under-cooked, Docile turns out to be a very engaging, tenderly written character study.