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A review by haramis
Archetype by M.D. Waters
4.0
I'm of very mixed feelings on this one. It's fairly slow-paced, but it builds to an explosive ending that somewhat redeems it, but not completely.
Issues:
1. Missing Leg: Waters sets up a love triangle here, but then undermines it by immediately letting us, the readers, know that Declan is not telling the truth. Trust is the basis of love, not gushy sexual attraction. Emma tells us that she loves Declan, and maybe she believes it, but I don't think most readers will buy that, and therefore the relationship is stripped of romantic tension because Declan is not really a viable option.
2. Worldbuilding: Ah the fuzzy impressions of a woman with amnesia. It takes a long, long time to start getting a view of the external world, and when we finally do, it's not particularly fleshed out, and it doesn't seem to hold together. Is it a bit [b:Handmaid's Tale|38447|The Handmaid's Tale|Margaret Atwood|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1294702760s/38447.jpg|1119185]? How does the technology work? Is our current tech (phones, tablets) pushed forward enough? Do anyone else think that sounds unlikely? The best science fiction takes the current edge of science and extrapolates it. This is more like magic. I never really bought the world as presented; it only works if it's not examined too closely.
3. Pacing: This book takes forever to get anywhere. It suits the story the author wants to tell--how else can you properly portray what was a slow recovery of health and memory? Still, those things aren't precisely interesting. It's possible to put together most of the truth, if not the whole truth relatively early on, which means we spend most of the book waiting for Emma to catch up. It's not exactly compelling.
4. Actions scenes: Are not necessarily well-described. There was one where I literally could not piece together how the characters had survived, maybe it too is supposed to be somewhat fuzzy?
Good stuff:
1. Late reveals serve as an excellent punch in the emotional teeth. Waters taps basic human fears to ratchet up the drama in a very moving way.
2. Emma does eventually start to gel as a person, and that is exciting as far as seeing where the next book goes.
I would say this is a 3.5, mostly based on a rating spike for the last 20%. My basis in this case is to round up or down based on my interest in the sequel. I reserved the next book at the library the instant I closes this one, so I'm calling it a 4.
Issues:
1. Missing Leg: Waters sets up a love triangle here, but then undermines it by immediately letting us, the readers, know that Declan is not telling the truth. Trust is the basis of love, not gushy sexual attraction. Emma tells us that she loves Declan, and maybe she believes it, but I don't think most readers will buy that, and therefore the relationship is stripped of romantic tension because Declan is not really a viable option.
2. Worldbuilding: Ah the fuzzy impressions of a woman with amnesia. It takes a long, long time to start getting a view of the external world, and when we finally do, it's not particularly fleshed out, and it doesn't seem to hold together. Is it a bit [b:Handmaid's Tale|38447|The Handmaid's Tale|Margaret Atwood|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1294702760s/38447.jpg|1119185]? How does the technology work? Is our current tech (phones, tablets) pushed forward enough? Do anyone else think that
Spoiler
soul transfer3. Pacing: This book takes forever to get anywhere. It suits the story the author wants to tell--how else can you properly portray what was a slow recovery of health and memory? Still, those things aren't precisely interesting. It's possible to put together most of the truth, if not the whole truth relatively early on, which means we spend most of the book waiting for Emma to catch up. It's not exactly compelling.
4. Actions scenes: Are not necessarily well-described. There was one where I literally could not piece together how the characters had survived, maybe it too is supposed to be somewhat fuzzy?
Spoiler
Also Declan could have won six times over by not taking Emma home with him at the end or at least restraining her. Fortunately he was being stupid so she could escape.Good stuff:
1. Late reveals serve as an excellent punch in the emotional teeth. Waters taps basic human fears to ratchet up the drama in a very moving way.
2. Emma does eventually start to gel as a person, and that is exciting as far as seeing where the next book goes.
I would say this is a 3.5, mostly based on a rating spike for the last 20%. My basis in this case is to round up or down based on my interest in the sequel. I reserved the next book at the library the instant I closes this one, so I'm calling it a 4.