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A review by katja_weinert
Exit Black by Joe Pitkin
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
In "Exit Black", Joe Pitkin aims to captivate fans of action-packed sci-fi thrillers in a story marketed as —Die Hard meets The Martian with a sprinkle of Knives Out.
The setting is the Imperium, a space hotel with a past life as an orbiting lab. Dr Chloe Bonilla, a biophysicist, finds herself fighting against threats to her and a group of wealthy tourists caught by terrorists. These terrorists, who want to erase economic inequalities, demand an extortionate ransom, kickstarting a tense fight for survival.
"Exit Black" has a strong premise and has moments, delivering on its promise of action and suspense. However, the story sometimes loses its pace, and it didn't make me care enough about Chloe or the supporting characters, which - for a lover of character-driven narratives like me - dampened its overall impact. For me, emotional investment in characters is crucial for action scenes to truly hit hard and for the story's commentary on socioeconomic issues to resonate more deeply.
"Exit Black" offers an adventurous narrative filled with potential, showcasing creativity and ambitious themes. While I would have preferred a main character I clicked with, *Exit Black* demonstrates Pitkin's ability to imagine and explore the complex interplay of action, science fiction, and social critique, underscoring the challenge of balancing intricate themes within the broad scope of speculative storytelling. I liked it (3.5 out of 5), and think the wrap-up was executed well. I would definitely pick up another book by the author.
Blackstone Publishing and Joe Pitkin provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
The setting is the Imperium, a space hotel with a past life as an orbiting lab. Dr Chloe Bonilla, a biophysicist, finds herself fighting against threats to her and a group of wealthy tourists caught by terrorists. These terrorists, who want to erase economic inequalities, demand an extortionate ransom, kickstarting a tense fight for survival.
"Exit Black" has a strong premise and has moments, delivering on its promise of action and suspense. However, the story sometimes loses its pace, and it didn't make me care enough about Chloe or the supporting characters, which - for a lover of character-driven narratives like me - dampened its overall impact. For me, emotional investment in characters is crucial for action scenes to truly hit hard and for the story's commentary on socioeconomic issues to resonate more deeply.
"Exit Black" offers an adventurous narrative filled with potential, showcasing creativity and ambitious themes. While I would have preferred a main character I clicked with, *Exit Black* demonstrates Pitkin's ability to imagine and explore the complex interplay of action, science fiction, and social critique, underscoring the challenge of balancing intricate themes within the broad scope of speculative storytelling. I liked it (3.5 out of 5), and think the wrap-up was executed well. I would definitely pick up another book by the author.
Blackstone Publishing and Joe Pitkin provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.