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A review by itadakinasu
Obscura by Joe Hart
3.0
A well-paced mystery thriller in space, Obscura is well-written and exciting. The plot unfurls slowly at first, but picks up steam quickly before reaching a gripping emotional peak. This fun read ultimately lacks the memorability of great thrillers due to a few major problems.
Although teleportation isn't a realistic concept for current technologies, it's a common and acceptable development in the sci-fi genre. But there are limits to plausibility, and the major reveal in Obscura completely ignores those limits. It ruined all of the anticipation built throughout the story and had me seriously considering shelving it DNF.
Another problem common in thrillers and sadly also prevalent in Obscura is idiot protagonist syndrome. I like to call it IPS.
IPS is characterized by otherwise intelligent or educated characters completely missing important clues and being caught unawares by what readers will probably consider obvious reveals. Our protagonist, genius neuroscientist Gillian, has the deductive ability of a bath mat.
While I'll give her some slack at the final reveal, several of the smaller ones leading up to it were so painfully obvious that I felt almost insulted while reading.
Hart is not a bad writer. I enjoyed reading Obscura for the most part, but as far as thrillers go, the implausibility and Gillian's IPS were significant problems that (had they been addressed) could've brought this book up from "good" to "great."
Although teleportation isn't a realistic concept for current technologies, it's a common and acceptable development in the sci-fi genre. But there are limits to plausibility, and the major reveal in Obscura completely ignores those limits. It ruined all of the anticipation built throughout the story and had me seriously considering shelving it DNF.
Another problem common in thrillers and sadly also prevalent in Obscura is idiot protagonist syndrome. I like to call it IPS.
IPS is characterized by otherwise intelligent or educated characters completely missing important clues and being caught unawares by what readers will probably consider obvious reveals. Our protagonist, genius neuroscientist Gillian, has the deductive ability of a bath mat.
While I'll give her some slack at the final reveal, several of the smaller ones leading up to it were so painfully obvious that I felt almost insulted while reading.
Hart is not a bad writer. I enjoyed reading Obscura for the most part, but as far as thrillers go, the implausibility and Gillian's IPS were significant problems that (had they been addressed) could've brought this book up from "good" to "great."