Mini blurb: A compendium of all McGuire's favourite things to write about and then some: viruses/apocalypses, libraries, dead girls, (unforgiving) porMini blurb: A compendium of all McGuire's favourite things to write about and then some: viruses/apocalypses, libraries, dead girls, (unforgiving) portal universes, (so-called) monsters, Halloween, carnivals, (murderous) mermaids, winter personifications, (socially challenged/harassed) superheroes...familiar topics given an endless series of new twists. Oh, and cheese too, this time. So much cheese.
***
Seanan McGuire's second mixed-content collection after Laughter at the Academy offers a reprint of some stories she contributed to other anthologies, and a number of her Patreon ones. Given the variety of themes and tones, there were at least a couple that I could have done without (Under the Sea of Stars, because, in the author's own words, it's "structured like a Victorian adventure narrative" - well done, but not my thing; Goodnight, Sleep Tight, because BUGS OVERLOAD ...more
Mini blurb: In a dystopian future, on a cruise spaceship turned into a sanctuary for a group of misfits, lives and destinies intertwine and mysteries Mini blurb: In a dystopian future, on a cruise spaceship turned into a sanctuary for a group of misfits, lives and destinies intertwine and mysteries blossom, while an undercover rebel and spies from the Empire play cat-and-mouse.
***
Rated 3.5 really.
First off...DISCLAIMER: I requested this title on NetGalley. Thanks to Hodder & Stoughton for providing a temporary ecopy. This didn't influence my review in any way.
Let's preface this review by saying, Floating Hotel is good at what it does. My problem is that I don't fare well with characters galore and short stories (of which the book is, for all purposes, a collection, though they intersect creating a broader narrative), and I like a little more action and stakes in my books...not to mention I expected the sci-fi aspect to be meatier - hence my rating. But if you're more interested in the human angle, and you don't mind getting a condensed version of the many protagonists' lives, and you like coziness and gentle humour (with the occasional patch of violence, and on the backdrop of a dystopia/totalitarian regime), you'll enjoy this one. While not every character is particularly memorable or relevant for the main plot, most of them are captivating, and it was fun to see how they - or their stories - connected. There's a satisfying (if a bit implausible) twist in the end, and though we don't exactly get closure about the hotel employees, the epilogue is a celebration of quiet heroes, and a testament to hope and resistance in the face of oppression. No small feat these days...
Note: definitive review (I don't have enough to say to justify writing a full-length one later)....more
Mini blurb: A little girl who can see her alternate selves in a myriad of parallel timelines cultivates the ability to leap from one another of them, Mini blurb: A little girl who can see her alternate selves in a myriad of parallel timelines cultivates the ability to leap from one another of them, until, as an adult, she's thrust into a war that could end the very multiverse.
***
Rated 2.5 really.
First off...DISCLAIMER: I requested this title on NetGalley and Edelweiss, and got approved on both sites. Thanks to Blackstone Publishing for providing a temporary ecopy. This didn't influence my review in any way.
The premise of this book is fabulous, and the author put a wild, imaginative spin (or more like, a series of them) on the multiverse trope. Too bad the writing style didn't work for me, and the story itself lost me along the way (technically, I did finish the book, but skimmed the whole last section, because I couldn't muster the energy to care about that version of the main characters and the particular world they were living in). I tend to get excited when a book provides the random unusual, neglected word, but a whole novel filled with terms like "internecine", "certitude", "recumbent", "expenditure" and the likes, and written in an often cumbersome prose, is wont to to kill my reading mojo. I didn't have a problem with (most of) the far-off science stuff, but I found it hard to suspend disbelief for scenes - or scenarios - that read more like a spy-thriller parody than like honest storytelling (down to the required awkward sex scene). Most of the events (and the characters themselves) came across as over-the-top, and again, I'm not talking about the sci-fi bits per se (for instance, I especially found it jarring that the protagonist's inner monologue as a young kid was above and beyond her age and level of knowledge/understanding). Ultimately, I could see that Vangie's Ghosts had terrific potential, but the execution didn't do it justice.
Note: definitive review (I don't have enough to say to justify writing a full-length one later, and of course I don't plan to reread this book)....more
Mini blurb: In a town where the dead can manifest as spirits conjured by the grief of those they left behind, two teens and an elderly woman grapple wMini blurb: In a town where the dead can manifest as spirits conjured by the grief of those they left behind, two teens and an elderly woman grapple with the consequences of this haunting (or lack thereof) and of the way it shapes their families and community.
***
First and foremost, Linghun is an exploration of grief with a really unique premise: buy a house in a ghost-friendly town (usually via an auction that can have dire, or even fatal, consequences), perform some propitiatory rites within its walls, and the defunct you loved the most will come back as a spirit. No real estate available? You can always become a lingerer (that is, live your life on other people's lawns) until an owner decides to relocate and sever their connection with their own dearly departed, giving you a chance to fight (literally) for a house where you can summon yours. Even in novella form, this story could have been spectacular - especially since the premise in question is woven with pregnant, very much real themes, like the sexism of a traditional Chinese household or the immigrant experience. But I found it too short for what it was trying to do, too rushed and casual in the last section, and too hazy (or, if I interpreted it correctly, maybe just too gloomy) when it comes to the ending. Worth a read if you're looking for something different, and maybe it will resonate with you more than it did with me, depending on your emotional or cultural background - only don't expect a fully realised (or hopeful) story.
Please note: I put this one in my Adult Room, because despite one of the POVs being that of a teen, this is very much an adult book as a whole.
Note: definitive review (I don't have enough to say to justify writing a full-length one later; also, due to time commitments, I've decided not to write full-length reviews anymore for short stories, novellas and anthologies, except in special cases or unless they're part of a series)....more
Mini blurb: An autistic lesbian on a scholarship swaps places with a rich schoolmate at a fundraising ball, witnesses a murder, and tries to survive tMini blurb: An autistic lesbian on a scholarship swaps places with a rich schoolmate at a fundraising ball, witnesses a murder, and tries to survive the night with a group of friends and foes, while a mysterious apocalypse strikes outside.
***
First off...DISCLAIMER: I requested this title on NetGalley. Thanks to Little, Brown Book Group UK for providing a temporary ecopy. This didn't influence my review in any way.
The premise sounded intriguing and potentially sci-fi-esque, except the story soon took a really bizarre, far-fetched turn (or more than one), and I ended up skimming the last 3/5 of it just to get some answers (which didn't anything to reverse my judgement). Despite the amount of intersectional representation (including autism, disability, racial diversity and queerness in different forms and combinations), most of it is more "tell" than "show" - while the bad guys (and the entitled ones) are unbelievably over-the-top or cartoonish at best. The general idea reminded me of The Getaway by Lamar Giles, except that one had solid world-building, strong(er) social commentary and characters that actually felt real. I will admit that there's a lot of action in this one (though some of the scenes are self-serving, like the one in the mannequin storage room - what does such a place have to do with anything?), but that and the rep alone couldn't save the book for me.
Note: definitive review (I don't have enough to say to justify writing a full-length one later, and of course I don't plan to reread this book)....more
Mini blurb: The lives of three people all based in Lagos, but from three different versions of Earth - a female scientist, a male rogue and a rabbit gMini blurb: The lives of three people all based in Lagos, but from three different versions of Earth - a female scientist, a male rogue and a rabbit girl - get intertwined when the first accidentally stumbles across the secret of interdimensional travel.
***
First off...DISCLAIMER: I requested this title on Netgalley. Thanks to Little, Brown Book Group UK for providing a temporary ecopy. This didn't influence my review in any way.
This pains me to no end, but despite the juicy premise and my having loved The Girl with All the Gifts by the same author, I stopped reading around the 1/3 mark. The first section was hard sci-fi enough to trouble me a bit, but the first protagonist (a lone Black female scientist living in a dilapidated world that she's intent on saving, if at the expense of others) and her AI helper were interesting enough to keep me going, especially when the actual multiverse stuff made its (albeit timid) appearance. Alas, I never warmed up to the second main character (a Black male hooker/rogue trying to rise out of poverty by any means), and when the more political aspects of the story took center stage, I started to get bored. I'm not sure what I expected - maybe more of a multiverse romp with different, fascinating versions of our planet to visit - but what I got sure wasn't it. I commend the book's being diverse and ambitious in scope though (especially given that it's only the first volume in a series), and I hope - or better, I'm sure - it will find the right audience...
Note: definitive review (I don't have enough to say to justify writing a full-length one later, and of course I don't plan to reread this book)....more
Mini blurb: A Black teen and his friends living in a corporate community/utopian enclave surrounded by a crumbling world find themselves and their famMini blurb: A Black teen and his friends living in a corporate community/utopian enclave surrounded by a crumbling world find themselves and their families to be pawns in a horrible game, and set to uncover the secrets of their alleged paradise and fight its elite, while not even knowing if there's anything left for them outside its walls.
***
Rated 3.5 really.
First off...DISCLAIMER: I requested this title on Edelweiss. Thanks to Scholastic for providing a temporary ecopy. This didn't influence my review in any way.
The Getaway is a compulsively readable post-apocalyptic (or better, apocalypse-adjacent) dystopian thriller with a twist...since neither the main characters (and their families and friends), nor the reader, know to what extent the world outside Karloff Country is crumbling - the only thing the residents know is that they're safe inside the enclave, and are supposed to be grateful and to deem themselves lucky for being there. Everyone both lives and works inside KC, including main character Jay and his friends Zeke and Connie (all Black), while Jay's crush Seychelle (mixed race) is the heir of the Karloff empire, if only her white grandfather can stop despising her long enough to actually pass the baton. Things in KC are subtly (or not so subtly) wrong from the start, but everyone takes them in stride (or more like, do their best to), until shit openly hits the fan, and the racism and classism barely contained under the surface burst in the open in horrible, elite-sanctioned ways (think...our world, only worse. Far worse. For now). The Getaway is a wake-up call of a book with a friendship-and-family core. A cautionary tale with a thriller edge. An adventure at the end of the world (or of the world as we know it?) with a honest and hopeful, if not bow-tied, ending. Even if the real action only occurs in the last chapters and I didn't fall head-over-heels for the characters (I did like them though!), I enjoyed the story and the message, and I'm sure teens will get a kick (and hopefully a call to action) out of it.
Note: definitive review (I don't have enough to say to justify writing a full-length one later)....more
Mini blurb: In a future of water wars between the rich and the poor, an 18 y.o. girl from the latter group who became internet-famous after a protest Mini blurb: In a future of water wars between the rich and the poor, an 18 y.o. girl from the latter group who became internet-famous after a protest speech gains acceptance to a prestigious institute, befriends a handful of brilliant students and sets to uncover the school's secrets.
***
First off...DISCLAIMER: I requested this title on Netgalley. Thanks to Stelliform Press for providing an ecopy. This didn't influence my review in any way.
Alas, I had to give up midway through. The premise was a stretch, I wasn't feeling the characters (except Magenta, the gender-bending roommate), everything was happening so fast, especially the romance(s)...the protagonist was pining after a school friend, and suddenly she was in love with someone else she had only known for a month (and ready to give up her world for his), and suddenly..."stuff" ensued, etc. The environmental message and the diversity are the driving force of the story, and I commend the author for that; but it wasn't enough to grab and sustain my attention, especially with the story itself being all over the place/feeling cliché more often than not/needing more suspension of disbelief than I can provide (and I mean the contemporary bits, not the sci-fi ones...).
Note: definitive review (I don't have enough to say to justify writing a full-length one later, and of course I don't plan to reread this book)....more
Mini blurb: From mad scientists to sentient dolls, from hybrid mermaids to alien plants, from Neverland to Oz, twenty-two imaginative, often trope-revMini blurb: From mad scientists to sentient dolls, from hybrid mermaids to alien plants, from Neverland to Oz, twenty-two imaginative, often trope-reversing tales (2009-2019) encapsulating Seanan McGuire's wild writing universe.
***
Rated 4.5 really.
This anthology is an excellent introduction to Seanan McGuire if you've never had the chance to read her books before, since it's a compendium of most (if not all) the themes, tropes and genres that form the bulk of her novels/novellas, and then some. But even if you're already familiar with her brand of writing, you'll have the pleasure to see her approach the same story ideas from a number of different angles, or give them different, unexpected outcomes. Also, her imagination - and her writing style - knows no bounds. In this anthology, she comes up with an explanation for the female habit to go to the bathroom in group, or in pairs at least, and ties it in with American history (though to be honest, it's pretty much a shared experience even outside the US). She gender-reverses Peter Pan and the Wizard of Oz and expands on the dark side of both stories (though her Oz reimagining is also full of dry humour, not to mention queerness) She crosses Pinocchio with Pandora's myth. She lets mad science go wild in more than one sense, creating monsters (or are they all?) that we come to love, or at least to empathise with. She plays with different mediums, like tweets and office memos (with completely different results, I have to say - I loved the first story, was pretty much bored by the second). The keywords here are "originality" and "variety". I would have given this collection 5 stars if not for the aforementioned Office Memos, From A to Z in the Book of Changes (26 micro-stories whose titles follow the English alphabet, most of them missing the mark for me) and Driving Jenny Home (too emo - I love ghosts, but I can't get on board with suicide idealisation). However, even if you - like me - are usually vary of anthologies because short stories can never seem to fulfill your appetite, this might be the one that makes you change your mind.
Small criticism: I was able to spot a couple of tiny editorial mistakes...
Note: definitive review (due to time commitments, I've decided not to write full-length reviews anymore for short stories, novellas and anthologies, except in special cases or unless they're part of a series)....more
Excerpt from my review - originally published at Offbeat YA.
Pros: I decided to DNF this one early on, so I can't give a whole list of pros, but from Excerpt from my review - originally published at Offbeat YA.
Pros: I decided to DNF this one early on, so I can't give a whole list of pros, but from the little I've read, it sounds like an original twist on a few sci-fi tropes. Cons: The writing is often convoluted/difficult to decipher and gets in the way of the plot too much. WARNING! Again, I can't give a whole list, but it's heavy on gore and profanities (if that's something that turns you off). Will appeal to: Readers who don't get a headache when the writing is a hard nut to crack and/or overshadows the plot.
First off...DISCLAIMER: I requested this title on Netgalley and Edelweiss, and got approved for it on both sites. Thanks to Erewhon Books for providing a temporary ecopy. This didn't influence my review in any way.
Excerpt from my review - originally published at Offbeat YA.
Pros: Tight, adventurous, diverse, surprisingly moving in places, socially relevant. Cons: There's a bitter (if fitting) undercurrent that hardly ever lets up. Also, the ending might be a tad too open for the tastes of some. WARNING! Some gore. Death/near death by burning mentioned. Will appeal to: Those who like speculative fiction with a heart and a social conscience.
First off...DISCLAIMER: I requested this title on Edelweiss. Thanks to Berkley/Penguin Publishing Group for providing a temporary ecopy. This didn't influence my review in any way.
BIONIC, BROKEN AND BRAVE
Kali Wallace is the whole package. She knows how to write sci-fi with a considerable degree of accuracy (and has the background to do so), but she also excels at plots and characters - which is, after all, why we read books in the first place. Dead Space follows a damaged (in more than a way) character - a (queer) AI research engineer who survived a space terrorist attack at the expense of a metal-patched body, not to mention the destruction of both her career and the brilliant electronic brain she had created. Bitter and disillusioned, yet empathetic and fiercely loyal at her core, Hester embarks on a (literal) journey in order to find out who killed an old friend and to clear his name, uncovering a bunch of startling secrets in the process. It was refreshing to read about a disabled heroine (as I said, the doctors fixed her up with metal/cybernetic prostheses, but she's far from an enhanced human - her patches come with a whole set of problems), and if at various points in the book Hester is either despised or fetishised for being the "ultimate frontier" between human and machine, as far as representation goes, hers is honest and arguably accurate. I mean, I speak from an able-bodied perspective, but her pain (both physical and psychological) feels real, and her difficulties, as peculiar as they are, feel real, as do her inner strength and courage. We need more disabled characters in sci-fi, and Wallace is proof there's lot of room for them in the genre. [...]
Excerpt from my review - originally published at Offbeat YA.
Pros: Complex, clever, perversely funny. Packs a lot of surprises for a book so short, anExcerpt from my review - originally published at Offbeat YA.
Pros: Complex, clever, perversely funny. Packs a lot of surprises for a book so short, and even manages to pose a serious question despite reading like a politically incorrect romp. Cons: If you don't like anti-heroes and open endings, this one won't be your cup of tea. WARNING! There's talk of sex and a few F-bombs. Will appeal to: Time-travel aficionados who aren't afraid to dip their toes into dark humour. First off...DISCLAIMER: I requested this title on NetGalley. Thanks to Solaris/Rebellion Publishing for providing an ecopy. This didn't influence my review in any way. Also, please note: this is a very short book (under a hundred pages), so that's why my review is shorter than usual and not broken down into sections.
Since the book's blurb is enthralling (enough for me to request a review copy), but a bit cryptic, here's mine: After the war that broke time itself, the last man living in the last future goes out on a limb to preserve his never-ending peace, until an unexpected visit changes everything. But, you know - whatever. ODATWBY has got a killer premise (no pun intended) however you look at it, and one I've never encountered before. This is such a perfect little book. I mean, it knows what it wants to accomplish, and it's perfect in that regard. I usually reserve 5-star ratings for books that - among other things - sport characters who really vibe with me on some level, but the rules don't apply here. The main character is an anti-hero if you ever saw one...but the author manages to have us sympathise with him. The other characters have their own agenda as well, and will stop at nothing until they get what they want...except they're not evil. Judging from the official blurb, one would expect the lead to perform a noble act or two in order to avoid more destruction, and maybe to go back in time in order to prevent it to happen at all...but that's not the case, because after all, humanity has never been able to abstain from breaking everything that is - even time itself eventually - so why bother? Also, didn't going back in time use to be a huge chunk of the problem, until it became THE problem? And isn't time irreparably damaged anyway? Part philosopher, part misanthrope and part cynic (but with a dark humor streak), the nameless lead - supposedly the last man living in the last future - just want to keep enjoying his high-tech (mock) Arcadia and playing with all of history...or what shards of it remain...except one day (so to speak, because in the last future there aren't "days" anymore) a big, totally unexpected "something" thwarts his plans big time (or so to speak, because time...well, you know the drill). So...this novella is outrageous, over the top, entertaining and hella creative, packed with small and not-so-small twists and (mostly) never-heard-of time-travel outings, and even peppered with the cleverest spin on the grandfather paradox. On the other hand, as I said, it poses a serious question: is there anything humanity can be trusted not to break, although in good faith? Really, the best of both worlds ...more
Excerpt from my review - originally published at Offbeat YA.
Pros: Complex but believable VR setting, painted in mind-blowing details. Sometimes flaweExcerpt from my review - originally published at Offbeat YA.
Pros: Complex but believable VR setting, painted in mind-blowing details. Sometimes flawed, yet well-meaning and brave teens who will tug at your heart. Strong sibling theme. Twists and turns galore. Cons: The ending feels a little rushed. Will appeal to: Those who are fascinated by virtual reality and survival stories. Those who like books with a strong accent on family and a minimal amount of romance.
First off...DISCLAIMER: this title was up for grabs on NetGalley (in the Read Now section). Thanks to Macmillan-Tor/Forge/Tor Teen for providing a temporary ecopy. This didn't influence my review in any way.
THE GREAT ESCAPE
I know that many readers who prefer contemporary and/or fantasy are intimidated by sci-fi. But with Peevyhouse's books (she has three under her belt) it's not the case. You're not fed theories or technical explanations of how things work. In this particular book, you're swallowed into a futuristic setting and a sophisticated digital simulation you don't need to know the rules of, and you're in for an adventure - AND a love story in the widest sense. I don't know if the kind of virtual reality depicted in this book could ever get developed (which is a scary thought, if you ask me, because it feels so mesmerising and, well, real), but what I know is, I was able to suspend my disbelief and enjoy the ride, and I never once questioned the hows and ifs and whys. I think the most notable aspect of this virtual world is that it replicates the alleged post-apocalyptic reality of our planet (the result of a nuclear fallout), and still there are patches of beauty and safe spots the kids connected to it were able to create, and powerful illusions, and impossible escapes (the "strange exits" the book is named after) - but you can escape only for so long before reality catches up with you. (Also, in case you're wondering, the author came up with a logical - if cruel - reason for adults not to be around...). [...]
Excerpt from my review - originally published at Offbeat YA.
Pros: Unique premise. Mind-blowing scenarios. Powerful cast. Puts queer characters front and center as heroes and villains. Cons: Over-the-top story that builds and builds up and hardly gives the reader any breathing space. WARNING! Some instances of brutal/unsettling imagery (including zoomorphic monsters). One brief sexual innuendo (no actual sex on page though). Will appeal to: Those who like adventures in alternate realities, normal kids with preternatural powers, and a logic behind it all - plus a strong queer rep.
First off...DISCLAIMER: I requested this title on NetGalley. Thanks to Sourcebooks Fire for providing a temporary ecopy. This didn't influence my review in any way.
WORKS LIKE A DREAM
I went into Reverie expecting a wild ride through alternate realities (which I have to admit was my first hook - OK, I'm trash ...more
Mini blurb: A diverse band of misfits tries to claim a spaceship in order to to make a home for themselves and stumbles upon an unimaginable horror.
**Mini blurb: A diverse band of misfits tries to claim a spaceship in order to to make a home for themselves and stumbles upon an unimaginable horror.
***
Told in dual narrative by outlaw Zahra and hostage Jaswinder, who have far more in common that you would think (but thank goodness, Wallace doesn't take the banal enemies-to-lovers route), this claustrophobic space horror doubles as a social commentary about the people left behind because they're born in the wrong place, and the way desperate times sometimes call for desperate measures. But it's also a story about scarred kids turning into heroes to protect the ones they love - and ultimately, the world. Despite its premise not being terribly original (but there's a twist) and the amount of sci-fi jargon (that was needed anyway), this one cemented Wallace as one of my auto-buy authors.
Compelling but confusing. This is one of those books where you should pay attention to details in order to be able to understand what's going on, but Compelling but confusing. This is one of those books where you should pay attention to details in order to be able to understand what's going on, but you can't dwell on them because you need to know what happens further...except that "further" more often than not morphs into "before" or "yet again, but in a different manner". And even if - like me - you love time loops, each time it feels like you've only half-digested what info you got. Also, the time-travel aspect is a bit out-there, almost crossing into magic territory. An entertaining read that will leave you with questions, and whose potential isn't completely fulfilled.
Fast-paced and full of turns, this one would make a great adult sci-fi book set in a distant future (minus the weird-instalove part).Rated 2.5 really.
Fast-paced and full of turns, this one would make a great adult sci-fi book set in a distant future (minus the weird-instalove part). The problem is, as a teen's adventure set in our time-frame, and in our good old reality, it doesn't hold. Both the science and the conspiracy are over the top, and there's no way that a single teen "prodigy" (not our lead) could make such a huge scientific breakthrough. The romantic plot is unsettling for at least two reasons. And while I enjoyed reading about a main character with panic disorder, I didn't buy that she would get crippled by it one moment and be able to play hero the other (though I don't know how it really feels to have a panic disorder, and I'm probably not the best judge). Kudos for being entertaining though, and for dealing with familial relationships (though they mostly got skimmed).
Note: definitive review (I don't have enough to say to justify writing a full-length one later, and of course I don't plan to reread this book)....more
Excerpt from my review - originally published at Offbeat YA.
Pros: Eclectic bunch of stories, covering a wide range of genres and (fictitious) eras. WExcerpt from my review - originally published at Offbeat YA.
Pros: Eclectic bunch of stories, covering a wide range of genres and (fictitious) eras. We get a glimpse of how the Change affected some people unaware of the Actuator's existence. But one doesn't necessarily have to be familiar with the series in order to read this collection. Cons: Not every genre tackled in here can be everybody's cup of tea. The quality (and most of all, originality) spectrum varies from high to less impressive. Will appeal to: Those who like eclectic short-story collections. Those who want another perspective about the Actuator.
First off...DISCLAIMER: I am a semi-regular reviewer of Curiosity Quills titles (like this one), but if you look back at my ratings, this never prevented me from being unbiased. And all the books I received from them were generously sent with no strings attached. Note: Apparently, an earlier version of this book featured a story called Cult of the Actuation instead of Cyber Cowboy (both by James Wymore). Judging from the blurb for the first story, it has been later incorporated into Book 1 of the series, Fractured Earth, providing its new ending. Cyber Cowboy was originally included in the Curiosity Quills anthology Primetime (2013).
WAR OF THE WORLDS
Sort-of-disclaimer: I usually don't read anthologies, unless they 1) contain stories by one of my favourite authors, 2) are part of a series I'm reading (like in this case), or 3) have a unifying theme that calls to me like a siren song (like the excellent Windows into Hell, also by Curiosity Quills Press). The reason why I'm wary of short-story collections is that, most of the time, I don't enjoy them as much as novels. They need to be as homogeneous as possible (which isn't an easy feat), or at least to have a strong common theme. The stories in Borderlands loosely fulfill my second condition in that they all give us a taste of the life right after (or simply after) the Change, that is, after the Actuator (a reality-bending machine) has turned the whole world into a patchwork of different, often plain weird realities. On the other hand, such a premise gives the authors ample freedom when it comes to creating a bunch of worlds at odds with one another, or playing with any genre or trope under the sun. This probably accounts for my having mixed reactions to these stories, since some of them are not my scene, but it's not the only reason. I'll come back to that in a minute, but first off, let me tell you that despite my overall rating, there are a few gems in here. [...]
Excerpt from my review - originally published at Offbeat YA.
Pros: Creative premise. Breathless adventure, though there's a time for Rated 3.5 really.
Excerpt from my review - originally published at Offbeat YA.
Pros: Creative premise. Breathless adventure, though there's a time for reflection as well. Constant change of scenery. Cons: Essentially a "male" book, though at least a female character plays a somewhat bigger role. Would have benefited from a little character backstory, or better, interaction, before chaos ensued. Some convenient occurrences. A handful of (harmless) typos that apparently escaped revision. Will appeal to: Alternate realities enthusiasts. RPG fans. Readers who get bored easily.
First off...DISCLAIMER: I am a semi-regular reviewer of Curiosity Quills titles (like this one), but if you look back at my ratings, this never prevented me from being unbiased. It's just that they have so many (sometimes underrated) gems under their belt.
CROSS-WORLD PUZZLE
The premise of this book (well, series) is fantastic, and I couldn't resist its pull. Although not a fantasy aficionado or a role-player, I always enjoy a story where reality as we know it gets upended and pretty much anything can happen, all while the characters have to navigate a suddenly unfamiliar landscape. In a sense, I got more than I bargained for with Fractured Earth. The characters embark on a journey to set things right that causes them to cross a number of different "realms", each one with its rules and dangers, where the very things they bring with them or travel on (not to mention their own physical appearance) can change drastically - sometimes with quite funny or downright weird results. For some reason, I didn't expect the straight-up fantasy/historical angle to be so prevalent, but the story as a whole was enthralling and kept me going, and I'm sure those readers who are more into fantasy and history than me will be delighted. [...]
Excerpt from my review - originally published at Offbeat YA.
Pros: Rich, impassioned tale where science (real and potential) meets phRated 4.5 really.
Excerpt from my review - originally published at Offbeat YA.
Pros: Rich, impassioned tale where science (real and potential) meets philosophy, adventure, danger, friendship and a touch of romance. Characters with authentic voices who get under your skin. Cons: Might require a re-read in order to grasp all the concepts. Some of the alternate realities are not accounted for. Will appeal to: Those who like to rack their brains. Those who are in for a great adventure with a number of twists (well...switches ;)) and a lot of soul.
First off...DISCLAIMER: I am a semi-regular reviewer of Curiosity Quills titles (like this one), but if you look back at my ratings, this never prevented me from being unbiased. It's just that they have so many (sometimes underrated) gems under their belt.
RARE FIND
As a reader, multiverse is one of the genres I'm most interested in. But it's so rare to find a book that - though still leaving you with questions - plays it right and at least tries to explain the gist of it, all while having you ride along with a great cast of characters. The Switch does just that. It relies on many theories - some of them I understand are scientific material - and they are great to read, if not all easy to grasp or always making total sense...but at its core, this book is a celebration of human curiousity and courage, genuine friendship, and a reminder that choices always bear a weight, no matter how many universes you visit. I would be tempted to say The Switch is also one of those books that close the gap between YA and MG - it's clean but not artfully so, some of its characters are slightly younger than your average YA, and it's the kind of adventure that plays like a videogame, with each "level" getting increasingly complicated. On the other hand, some of the concepts this story is built on and around are - as I said - not easy to grasp. I'll say that this one can be enjoyed by younger kids, but will be better savoured by teens and even adults...like me ;). [...]
Roberta R. (Offbeat YA)
>
Books:
dystopian
(49)
Loading...
