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A review by s_sheppard18
Firebreak by Nicole Kornher-Stace
4.0
"It's a beautiful spring morning. The air smells like flowers and blood." -Mallory, the narrator of Firebreak by Nicole Kornher-Stace
I wasn't sure about this book at the beginning; it opened into an action-packed playthrough of the VR game the narrator, Mallory, streams as one of her jobs. I don't typically get engrossed in thrillers for the action, but the author uses Mallory's stream-of-consciousness narration as a tool to introduce her characters and world to us in an authentic way. The fact that Mallory is familiar with real-world weapons of war via gameplay, in a game sold and modeled on the same war that took her parents from her, makes the real-world violent scenarios she survives much more believable (and that much more of a mindf*ck).
I adored the relationships in this book, and the strength of Mallory's found-family. The way her friends rally around her and surprise her is heartwarming in the best way. I love the quiet aro/ace representation. The trauma, outrage, and resilience the characters experience is written with understanding and care, but also unflinching honesty.
This is a must read for people who enjoyed [b:Ready Player One|9969571|Ready Player One (Ready Player One, #1)|Ernest Cline|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1500930947l/9969571._SY75_.jpg|14863741] or [b:Feed|169756|Feed|M.T. Anderson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327891005l/169756._SY75_.jpg|163928]- and if you liked Firebreak, but haven't read those, put them on your list!
I wasn't sure about this book at the beginning; it opened into an action-packed playthrough of the VR game the narrator, Mallory, streams as one of her jobs. I don't typically get engrossed in thrillers for the action, but the author uses Mallory's stream-of-consciousness narration as a tool to introduce her characters and world to us in an authentic way. The fact that Mallory is familiar with real-world weapons of war via gameplay, in a game sold and modeled on the same war that took her parents from her, makes the real-world violent scenarios she survives much more believable (and that much more of a mindf*ck).
I adored the relationships in this book, and the strength of Mallory's found-family. The way her friends rally around her and surprise her is heartwarming in the best way. I love the quiet aro/ace representation. The trauma, outrage, and resilience the characters experience is written with understanding and care, but also unflinching honesty.
This is a must read for people who enjoyed [b:Ready Player One|9969571|Ready Player One (Ready Player One, #1)|Ernest Cline|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1500930947l/9969571._SY75_.jpg|14863741] or [b:Feed|169756|Feed|M.T. Anderson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327891005l/169756._SY75_.jpg|163928]- and if you liked Firebreak, but haven't read those, put them on your list!