Book Review: Rabbits by Terry Miles
Posted on June 15, 2021 18 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
Mogsy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Science Fiction, Mystery
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Del Rey (June 8, 2021)
Length: 448 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Wow, this one was real head trip, and I mean that in the best way possible. Rabbits is the kind of story that worms its way into your mind, and you find yourself mulling over it even days after you finish. Sometimes I still go back and forth between a 3 or a 4 star rating, depending on my mood, but as I’m sitting here typing out my review, I’m feeling right in the middle. This was a good book! But I won’t lie, it was also strange as hell. It’s not going to be for everyone.
First a bit of background. In 2017, the author Terry Miles created a pseudo-documentary style podcast called Rabbits. I had not heard of it prior to reading this, but although it is set in the same world, not being familiar with the podcast will not hinder your understanding of the novel in any way. Nor would it help you, I suspect, though it may help prepare the reader for some of the story’s more idiosyncratic traits, such as its alternate reality gaming themes or heavy use of pop culture references. The book’s storyline focuses on “K”, a fan obsessed with the game Rabbits. Using the real world as a platform, players would seek out patterns and unlikely connections, following them down a particular path filled with more clues, ultimately ending in the fulfillment of the individual’s deepest desires. Once an iteration of the game has been won, another round will begin again.
Like many Rabbits players, K has become completely addicted and can’t stop trying to find a way into the game. An opportunity presents itself, however, when our protagonist is approached by reclusive billionaire Alan Scarpio, who had reportedly won the sixth iteration. But what Scarpio actually wants to share is a dire warning. He believes Rabbits is corrupted and must be fixed before the next round, the eleventh, is to begin, or else the world as we know it will cease to exist. Together with close friend Chloe, K seeks to find out more about Scarpio’s claims, but before they can get far in their research, the billionaire is reported missing. The eleventh iteration begins as K and Chloe fail to learn what Scarpio was talking about. Like it or not, they are playing now.
What happens next is something readers will have to find out for themselves if they choose to read this book. For one, I don’t want to accidentally spoil anything, and two, a lot of it simply gets too complicated and weird to describe. If you know about anything the nebulous nature and definition of ARGs, you might have some idea. In the real world, many media companies have employed them for marketing campaigns for movies, video games, etc. but in Rabbits, it is a secret underground hush-hush kind of situation, similar to Fight Club—outside the game’s ultra-exclusive circles, you don’t ever mention you’re playing or even acknowledge its existence. There is also a dangerous element, as rumor has it that the game has been around for decade, and many players have gone missing or lost their lives over the years trying to unravel its secrets.
As we soon find out, some folks are also better equipped play Rabbits, giving them an edge. Being well-versed in pop culture and a gaming geek helps. If you are tech savvy, that is another advantage. Then there’s K, who is especially good at spotting patterns of coincidences and clues. The story explores this aspect later in the book, though by this point, things get so convoluted it’s difficult to trust our protagonist’s point-of-view, especially as it becomes increasingly unreliable. Thing is, I wouldn’t say the plot itself is too difficult to keep track of, but problems do arise when as time goes on and everything becomes more complex with memory lapses, alternate realities and the Mandela effect thrown in. There’s a sense of “anything goes” at this point, and needless to say, it’s incredibly frustrating to find yourself constantly questioning what you’ve read or wondering what the whole point is.
So, should you read Rabbits? It is very difficult to say. If you followed the podcast, I would say, yes, of course. If you like books heavy on geek culture references, then maybe. If you’re intrigued by the premise, or perhaps you’re drawn to unique mind-bendingly weird books and are curious to see what the fuss is all about, I would give it a try. For the most part, I actually enjoyed myself quite a bit, at least until things kind of went off the rails towards the end. Like I said, it won’t be for everyone, but I can promise you one thing: it’ll never be boring.
Book Review: For the Wolf by Hannah Whitten
Posted on June 14, 2021 25 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
For the Wolf by Hannah Whitten
Mogsy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Book 1 of Wilderwood
Publisher: Orbit (June 1, 2021)
Length: 448 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
On the edge of a magical forest known as the Wilderwood, there lies a modest kingdom called Valleyda ruled by a queen with twin daughters fated for different paths. As the only Second Daughter born in centuries, Redarys is to be given to the Wolf in the Wood, for legend has it that the royal family struck this bargain long ago in return for the protection that holds the darkness of the forest at bay.
Ever since learning about her role, Red has been trying to come to terms with what that would mean—to be sacrificed to a monster in order to keep her home as well as those she loves safe, while her twin Neverah would be the one to inherit the throne. Still, even burdened with this terrible knowledge, the bond between the two girls remains unbroken, only strengthening as their twentieth birthday approaches, which is when Red must surrender herself to the Wilderwood. Heartsick over the circumstances, Neve vows she will never give up on her sister without a fight.
But then, the day finally comes, and Red enters the forest to discover much of what she has been told about the Wolf had been a lie. Eammon, as he is called, is actually the Wolf’s son, and he is not really the monster he is purported to be. When she meets him at his keep, he even gives her the option to return home. However, by this point, Red has learned too much about the magic of the woods, and how the guardians of it will eventually fall to the dark powers threatening to overwhelm it if she leaves. If that happens, not only will their realm be destroyed, but so too would Valleyda and the world beyond. Embracing her destiny, Red decides the best thing to do would be to stay and help Eammon in his efforts, which would also mean letting him teach her how to develop her own magical gifts.
So, we all know how book blurb comparisons can be notoriously inaccurate, but every once in a while, some do get it right. In the case of For the Wolf at least, I think the statement “for fans of Uprooted” is highly appropriate, since I feel there are definite similarities between the two books when it comes to certain elements of story as well as in the overall tone. Clearly, the novel also borrows its inspiration from the tale of “Little Red Riding Hood,” though I probably wouldn’t go as far as to call it a retelling. If it is, then it’s a very loose one, and in fact, if you ask me, I’d say much of the plot actually resembles the story of “Beauty and the Beast” more than anything else (again, much like Uprooted).
Anyway, one would think For the Wolf would be right up my alley, seeing as I’m a fan of fairy tale inspired stories and I also happened to love Uprooted. And well, for the most part, I did enjoy it. That said, something also felt off, and I can’t really place my finger on what. Part of it might have something to do with the development of the relationship between Red and Eammon (because in case it needed to be said, romance is a rather big focus of this one) and the effects it had on the characters individually. About 60-70% of the romance was slow-burn, which was quite lovely, but then it was like the author lost her patience or something, because after that, it was like her two characters took a bunch of stupid pills and hopped the train to crazy town. With no regard for herself of others, Red would make colossally impulsive decisions, leading to much pointless drama, back and forth bickering and misunderstandings. To be fair though, I might just be ultra-sensitive whenever stuff like this happens, because I have very little tolerance for it. But I would say there were other minor hurdles caused by these issues, including uneven pacing and lack of plot focus in places where the narrative was more concerned with tinkering around with the romance.
That said, there were a lot of things I liked as well, and one major aspect was the writing. While it may have been borderline too flowery in some places, on the whole I came to enjoy Whitten’s lush and vivid style. The lore and world building was interesting too, even if I could have done with just a tad more explanation. My heart also held a soft spot for Neve, who was given her own POV chapters. Her devotion to Red was admirable, and vice versa. I loved whenever they recalled memories of the two of them as young girls, and if anything, the bond between the sisters was the true shining jewel of this story.
In sum, if you enjoy fairy tale retellings, especially “Beauty and the Beast” retellings, you may be more primed to enjoy For the Wolf. If you were also a fan of Uprooted and are hungering for something more like it, I daresay this one also shares a lot of similarities in terms of the story and general themes. Overall, there were some plotting and pacing issues that prevented me from embracing it fully, but I’m cautiously optimistic for the series which I definitely plan on continuing.
Audiobook Review: The Ice Lion by Kathleen O’Neal Gear
Posted on June 13, 2021 15 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
The Ice Lion by Kathleen O’Neal Gear
Mogsy’s Rating (Overall): 2 of 5 stars
Genre: Science Fiction,
Series: Book 1 of Rewilding Reports
Publisher: Brilliance Audio (June 15, 2021)
Length: 9 hrs and 35 mins
Author Information: Website
Narrators: Shaun Taylor-Corbett, Sisi Aisha Johnson
The term cli-fi has been used to describe any fictional work that deals with climate change and global warming, and although these stories don’t necessarily have to be speculative in nature or take place in a dystopian future, both of these apply to The Ice Lion. The book opens thousands of years from now, as Earth finds itself frozen in an Ice Age. Much of civilization’s history has not survived, though according to legend, powerful godlike beings in the past called the Jemen tried to the very last to preserve life on the planet even when it became clear that Earth was lost. To do this, they took what they knew about the last ice age and recreated humans and creatures to be able to withstand this harsh ecosystem.
Now, a young man named Lynx and the members of his clan the Sealion tribe are proof that their ancient gods’ desperate gambit might have paid off, as survivors like them eke out a brutal existence in this frigid landscape. As the story begins, Lynx is accused of being a coward following the massacre of his entire wedding party, in which his wife was included among the slain. Banished to the wilderness, he must now take on a series of trials in a spirit quest to become a shaman or face certain death. Refusing to let Lynx face this challenge alone, his friend Quiller decides to join him on his journey, using her warrior skills to help him reach a new land. Along the way, they meet a mysterious old man whom Lynx believes could be one of the Jemen, as impossible as that may be. Arakie, as the stranger is called, seems to know a lot about the world and its past, including a possible way to save it, a revelation that changes Lynx’s life forever.
I confess, I came to The Ice Lion expecting a lot more. This isn’t my first Kathleen O’Neal Gear novel; last year I read Cries from the Lost Island and had a great time. Now I realize this book is not the same at all, nor did I expect it to be. However, Cries from the Lost Island had great characters, an enormous amount of intrigue, fascinating archaeological and historical insights, and pretty much endless adventure and entertainment. Compared to all of that, The Ice Lion felt like all concept and no substance. The premise was just about the only element that was interesting and somewhat well developed.
Even then, I felt the world-building could have been more. To the author’s credit, the setting was very detailed, rendered as well as a frozen and forbidding environment could be. The world was richly described and completely believable. You can practically feel the frigid cold seeping into every aspect. I also liked the allusion to prehistoric cultures. Survival is difficult and precarious for the clans, but the peoples’ lives are no less filled with meaning and values. That said though, the sci-fi and dystopic elements can be quite confounding, as I feel they are relatively weaker and less developed, resulting in noise that takes away from the overall effect.
Ultimately though, I’m probably most disappointed by the characters. Granted, given their origins, our protagonists must have been a challenge to write convincingly. They are of a new line of humans created with their Stone Age ancestors as a blueprint, living in a distant future bestrewn with the remnants of strange and advanced technology in a world that nonetheless needs to feel prehistoric. I mean, I can’t really say I know what that would sound like, but what I do know is that the writing in The Ice Lion did not do it for me at all. The prose was stilted and hard to get used to, leading to characters I had zero connection with. What kills me is that I know the author is fully capable of writing lively characters with an engaging voice and dialogue from my experience with Cries from the Lost Island, but in contrast here, they are so stiff and dull.
All told, I really struggled with The Ice Lion, and to be honest, it probably would have been even more difficult had I not listened to the audiobook. At just under ten hours, it went by pretty quickly, and one thing I do like about Kathleen O’Neal Gear’s storytelling is that it is laser sharp and focused with no time for tangents or extraneous content. The audiobook narrators helped too, with Shaun Taylor-Corbett and Sisi Aisha Johnson delivering solid performances. If they happened to sound a little awkward and unnatural in a few places, I think it was due to the writing, but in spite of that they did a great job overall.
Bookshelf Roundup: 06/12/21: Stacking the Shelves & Recent Reads
Posted on June 12, 2021 15 Comments
Bookshelf Roundup is a feature I do every weekend which fills the role of several blog memes, like Stacking the Shelves where I talk about the new books I’ve added to my library or received for review, as well as It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? where I summarize what I’ve finished reading in the last week and what I’m planning to read soon. Mostly it also serves as a recap post, so sometimes I’ll throw in stuff like reading challenge progress reports, book lists, and other random bookish thoughts or announcements.
Received for Review
My thanks to the publishers and authors for the following review copies received, and be sure to click the links to their Goodreads pages for more details and full descriptions!
My thanks to Titan Books fors ending me a copy of Wendy, Darling by A.C. Wise. My weakness for Peter Pan inspired stories strikes again! Crossing my fingers this will be good. I’ve heard this is a pretty dark retelling, so I’m definitely intrigued.
Huge thanks also to Nightfire for this ARC of The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward! This one sounds so spooky, I’m really looking forward to it!
Earlier this week I also received The Keepers by Jeffrey B. Burton with thanks to Minotaur Books. At first glance I thought they had sent me the book before, but then I realized this is the sequel to The Finders! I just got confused because that adorable golden retriever on both covers looked practically identical. I still need to read the first book of this series called Mace Reid K-9 Mysteries, but I’m pretty excited to start.
In the digital haul this week, a couple of exciting audiobooks. Thank you to Penguin Audio for an advance listening copy of Survive The Night by Riley Sager. I read Home Before Dark last year which was my first book by the author, and I can’t wait to read more of his work.
Also thank you to Hachette Audio for Notes from the Burnigng Age by Claire North. Her books are always pretty out there, so I’m curious to see what this one has in store!
As well, thanks to Macmillan Audio for a chance to check out a listening copy of The Therapist by B.A. Paris. This thriller has been getting some huge buzz lately, and it’s been making me curious.
Reviews
Day Zero by C. Robert Cargill (4 of 5 stars)
Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica (3.5 of 5 stars)
Daughter of Sparta by Claire M. Andrews (3.5 of 5 stars)
The Library of the Dead by T.L. Huchu (3 of 5 stars)
What I’ve Been Reading
Have you heard of or read any of the books featured this week? What caught your eye? Any new discoveries? I hope you found something interesting for a future read!
Friday Face-Off: A Cover That Annoyed Me
Posted on June 11, 2021 19 Comments
Welcome to The Friday Face-Off, a weekly meme created by Books by Proxy! Each Friday, we will pit cover against cover while also taking the opportunity to showcase gorgeous artwork and feature some of our favorite book covers. If you want to join the fun, simply choose a book each Friday that fits that week’s predetermined theme, post and compare two or more different covers available for that book, then name your favorite. A list of future weeks’ themes are available at Lynn’s Book Blog.
This week’s theme is:
~ a cover that ANNOYED YOU and WHY
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab
I don’t typically get annoyed with book covers, though sometimes I do scratch my head and think, “Why?” or “What a shame such an amazing book got such a boring, nondescript cover.” Not to knock text-only covers because sometimes they can be very well designed, but for me, they are usually the most disappointing since they almost always fail to say anything valuable about the story or to convey its awesomeness. This was how I felt last year after reading The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue which I thought was a work of art and a masterpiece. With that said, I guess it’s no surprise that none of the covers I’ve seen for the book have managed to match my expectations.
From left to right:
Tor Books (2020) – Titan Books (2020)
Persian Edition (2021) – French Edition (2021) – German Edition (2021)
Bulgarian Edition (2021) – Dutch Edition (2021)
Winner:
As hard as I am on text-only covers, I can’t say I’m crazy for the alternatives either. In fact, I think I will go with the Titan edition this week because at least I love the colors and the design.
But what do you think? Which one is your favorite?
Thursday Thriller Audio: Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica
Posted on June 10, 2021 16 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica
Mogsy’s Rating (Overall): 3.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Mystery, Thriller
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Harlequin Audio (May 18, 2021)
Length: 11 hrs and 40 mins
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Narrators: Brittany Pressley, Jennifer Jill Araya, Gary Tiedemann, Jesse Vilinsky
A slow-burn thriller, Local Woman Missing is a mystery that takes a while to get going, but once the pieces start falling into place, it’s hard to stop reading. The story begins with the disappearance of Shelby Tebow, a young woman and a new mom who went out running one night and never returned. Naturally, her husband was the main suspect, as it came to light that the couple’s relationship had become rocky in the months leading up to the night Shelby went missing.
But then not long after that, another woman named Meredith Dickey disappears, but this time, her six-year-old daughter Delilah goes missing with her. Strangely enough, not only do the two women live in the same neighborhood, authorities also discover that Meredith, a doula, had known Shelby and had helped her deliver her baby.
As the news rocks the once peaceful community, neighbors who knew Meredith begin to search frantically for her and her daughter. But their efforts end in tragedy when the Meredith was found dead in a motel room, with a note bearing the ominous message, “You’ll never find her.” Of the little girl, there was no sign—not until eleven years later, when a young woman stumbles out of the woods, dirtied and showing signs of long suffered abuse, claiming to be Delilah Dickey.
The main premise was definitely intriguing, but as I said, the story did not hook me until I was about a quarter of the way in. One of the reasons for this is the structure of the novel, narrated by multiple characters through two different timelines, the past and the present. In the past, most of the story is told through Meredith’s perspective, which details the weeks before she vanished, as well as through the eyes of her neighbor Kate, whose account begins shortly after Meredith disappears. Together with her girlfriend Bea, Kate decides to do some investigating of her own in an attempt to find a link between Meredith and Shelby, who had gone missing not long before.
Then there’s the present, which begins with the harrowing escape of a teenage girl who had been held captive for many years, locked in a dark prison by her abductors. After she identifies herself as Delilah Dickey, the whole world goes nuts. Reporters from all over the country and jumping on the story as Meredith’s case is reopened, and her husband Josh is beside himself with renewed grief but also happiness that his lost daughter might have been found again. In all the hubbub, no one notices Leo, Delilah’s younger brother, who is experiencing all kinds of mixed feelings now that his long-lost sister has apparently been found. And thus, the present timeline is mostly told through his chapters, in which second-person narration is employed, with Leo referring to Delilah as “you.”
Needless to say, with all this skipping back and forth between timelines and narrative shifts aplenty, it took a while for me to really settle in with this novel. But once I got past the information overload, things got better. Before long, I found myself addicted and always hungering for the next clue. And for a while, I was really enjoying myself.
Unfortunately, everything became turned upside down once more as we got to the final stretch. I don’t want to go into too much detail, as I would hate to inadvertently spoil the ending, but I felt the resolution was too simple and required huge leaps of logic and major suspension of disbelief. Which isn’t normally a problem for me, especially when it comes to thrillers, where usually that is to be expected, but in this case, it was pretty extreme. I didn’t care for how the mystery wrapped up, which felt both disjointed and too neatly tied up all at once. No attempt was really made to smooth things out either, to help them make a little more sense, which kind of annoyed me. Such a shame, because up until this point, the story was very well plotted and written.
Still, Local Woman Missing was my first novel by Mary Kubica, and despite the issues with it, I would not say no to another. I’m pretty used to endings to thrillers being hit-or-miss by now, and everything leading up to the resolution of this one was pretty awesome, so it’s a win overall! It helped that the audiobook was also fantastic. Performed by Brittany Pressley (of whom I am a fan), Jennifer Jill Araya, Gary Tiedemann, and Jess Vilinsky, multiple narrators gave this mystery thriller extra layers of immersiveness.
Waiting on Wednesday 06/09/21
Posted on June 9, 2021 14 Comments
Waiting On Wednesday” is a weekly meme that first originated at Breaking the Spine but has since linked up with “Can’t Wait Wednesday” at Wishful Endings now that the original creator is unable to host it anymore. Either way, this fun feature is a chance to showcase the upcoming releases that we can’t wait to get our hands on!
Mogsy’s Pick
Echo by Thomas Olde Heuvelt (February 8, 2022 by Nightfire Books)
Considering how new it is, the Tor horror imprint Nightfire already has a lot of titles to catch my eye. Echo was originally published 2019 in the author’s native Dutch but I’m really excited to hear it will soon be released translated in English, as I was a huge fan of his book Hex which was awesome and terrifying!
“From international bestseller Thomas Olde Heuvelt comes Echo, a harrowing novel of obsession and the destructive force of nature.
Nick Grevers and his climbing buddy Augustin are drawn to the Maudit, a remote mountain peak in the Swiss Alps. Documentation on the mountain is scarce, its slopes are eerily quiet, and when they enter its valley, they get the ominous sense that they are not alone.
Something is waiting for them…
Not long after, Nick wakes from a coma to find Augustin dead. Nick’s own face is maimed and wrapped in bandages. A long rehabilitation awaits, but Nick soon realizes that it isn’t just the trauma of the accident that haunts him.
Something has awakened inside of him…”
Book Review: The Library of the Dead by T.L. Huchu
Posted on June 8, 2021 26 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
The Library of the Dead by T.L. Huchu
Mogsy’s Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Book 1 of Edinburgh Nights
Publisher: Tor Books (June 1, 2021)
Length: 336 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
The opening volume of a new series called Edinburgh Nights by T.L. Huchu, The Library of the Dead opens in the titular city, the home of our protagonist, 14-year-old Ropa Moyo. At a young age, she dropped out of school to look after her beloved grandmother and her sister Izwi, scraping out a living as a “ghostalker”—someone who can communicate with the dead. Mostly, this involves getting paid to help folks deliver messages to their dearly departed, but then one night, Ropa encounters a recently deceased spirit who makes her rethink everything she thought she knew.
Someone has been targeting and bewitching local children, warns the ghosts of Edinburgh, and Ropa believes this must be the work of some dark and powerful magic. Nicola is one of these ghosts who has come to our protagonist with a plea to help find her son Oliver, and at first, Ropa is reluctant to investigate until she learns of the horrible thing that happens to the missing children. Determined to find answers, she recruits the help of her friend Jomo, whose father works at the mysterious occult research institute known as the Library of the Dead. In its labyrinthine depths, Ropa gains access to a wealth of hidden magical knowledge and learns more about what it means to be a ghostalker. But as the disturbing attacks continue, will it be enough to help her uncover the truth?
The Library of the Dead was somewhat unexpected, in both good ways and bad. First, the positives: I enjoyed the mystery aspect of the plot, as well as the mix of modern real-world and paranormal elements. As well, the overall mood was delectably eerie and haunting, as befitting a ghost story. This novel was also a fabulous concoction of culture, bringing together Scottish tradition with the Zimbabwean heritage of our protagonist and her family. And speaking of Ropa, she’s a delightful teenage girl, full of charisma and courage, even if all that energy sometimes comes though as attitude and sass. That said, her voice is both a unique and refreshing addition to shake up the urban paranormal genre.
But now, for what I thought was the not-so-great—and most of these aren’t true negatives, per se, just aspects which I thought could have been improved. First and foremost, my initial draw to this novel was the promise of its eponymous library, but in practice, we don’t actually get to see much of it at all, which was slightly disappointing. I also wish we could have seen more of Edinburgh. While it’s true the author did a wonderful job creating the atmosphere, at times the plot felt too fast-paced and focused to its detriment. I would have liked to see more of the city, taken some time to indulge in the richness of its history and the beauty (and sometimes grimness) of the details, but it was unfortunately not to be.
To be fair though, Ropa was not the kind of protagonist to dally, and the snappy and single-minded way in which the story moved was admittedly in keeping with her personality. Still, it prevented me from fully connecting with her character or with the story. That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy myself because I did, but it was definitely not at the deeper level I’d hoped for. It took me a while to feel close to Ropa, or to care about what was actually happening in the plot. And at the end of the day, the story was entertaining but not anything too new or groundbreaking. More world-building (especially when it came to the library) or character relationship development might have helped to flesh things out, because despite the handful of moments showing genuine inventiveness and creativity, this still felt like a variation of something I’ve seen many times before.
All in all, The Library of the Dead was a decent solid read, though it probably could have been more. It might be worth checking out if the character of Ropa intrigues you or if you’re drawn to the setting of Edinburgh, but with the paranormal mystery plot taking center stage, just don’t expect the library to have much of a starring role. I’ll probably continue the series, but I think a lot will also depend on how much the character and world gets developed in the next book.
Audiobook Review: Day Zero by C. Robert Cargill
Posted on June 7, 2021 17 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Genre: Science Fiction, Post-Apocalyptic
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: HarperAudio (May 25, 2021)
Length: 8 hrs and 32 mins
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Narrator: Vikas Adam
Given that I loved C. Robert Cargill’s Sea of Rust, I came with great excitement to Day Zero, which serves as its prequel. Imagine Calvin & Hobbes but with Hobbes as Terminator, and you’ll have a pretty good idea of what to expect from this book. It stars Pounce, a furry anthropomorphic AI “nannybot” shaped like a tiger. His owners, Bradley and Sylvia Reinhart, had bought him to be a companion and best friend to their eight-year-old son Ezra, which is in keeping with Pounce’s main directive…except, well, as we’ll later find out, his “deluxe model” designation also comes with a few extra features.
Anyway, if you’ve read Sea of Rust (though that is not required), you’ll know that that novel takes place in a post-apocalyptic future in which the A.I. of the world had risen up and taken over, leaving the world devoid of human beings. Day Zero takes us to the beginning of all that, to the moment where society’s fate was sealed. When the novel begins, everyone is paying attention to the coverage of a brewing revolution led by Isaac, the first bot to ever be granted freedom and independence in the lengthy emancipation trial that took place after his owner died. After founding Isaactown, he has invited other bots to join him to build a place where A.I. can live on their own terms.
But not everyone sees this as a good thing. Some even see it as blasphemy against the will of God. Driven by this belief, a radical religious group commits an unspeakable act of violence, annihilating everyone in Isaactown. Things quickly escalate, with heavy casualties on both sides, and before long, the government is warning people to power down their bots until they can determine if the A.I. protocols that prevent them from harming humans are still in place. However, this proves too late, as the majority of bots are revealed to be compromised already and decide to turn on their owners before they can be shut down. Ever the loyal companion though, Pounce chooses to protect Ezra, especially after the Reinharts and their neighbors come under attack from the other A.I. in their houesholds. Pounce knows he’s all the boy has now, and he will do whatever it takes to keep him live.
As with Sea of Rust, my favorite thing about this book was its premise. I happen to love “a boy and his dog” type stories, and the fact that an A.I. tiger is our protagonist is just the icing on the cake. In fact, I might have even preferred Day Zero a bit more, for the fact that “robothood” actually plays a major role in this novel. One of my main criticisms from Sea of Rust was that not more of the machine-ness in the protagonists came through, and for all intents and purposes we may as well have been reading about a bunch of human characters.
This is not so with Day Zero. I loved the voice of Pounce, the way he was always questioning what it means to be A.I., and whether in the end that even means anything at all. His whole world is Ezra, and should it matter if it is program or instinct? As we learn from this tale, no, it does not. Pounce is Ezra’s best friend and more. He’s also the boy’s guardian and protector. There’s nothing he wouldn’t do to keep Ezra safe, even if it means killing or sacrificing others or even himself. Still, there’s a soft side to Pounce as well, and the caregiver part of him that is meant to provide comfort also comes through often. He chastises Ezra for using bad language just like any good nanny, or lets him win at video games like a doting big brother.
In terms of the plot, it’s pretty straightforward. We have lots of action, as Pounce and Ezra make their way out of the ruined suburbs on their way to safety, encountering violent bots and other hostile factions along the way. The story was fast-paced and thrilling, but also super cute and endearing. Sure, the messages could have been deeper or more cerebral, but that would have meant a completely different kind of book, and I wouldn’t have had near as much fun.
All in all, I had a good time, and a special shoutout to the narrator of the audiobook, Vikas Adam. I’ve been a huge fan of his work ever since first hearing his narration for the Heartstrikers series, and no surprise, his performance was also fantastic in Day Zero. He was the perfect Pounce, and also did amazing voices for Ezra and all the other characters. Great listen, highly recommended.
More on The BiblioSanctum:
Review of Sea of Rust
YA Weekend Audio: Daughter of Sparta by Claire M. Andrews
Posted on June 6, 2021 12 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
Daughter of Sparta by Claire M. Andrews
Mogsy’s Rating (Overall): 3.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
Series: Book 1 of Daughter of Sparta
Publisher: Hachette Audio (June 8, 2021)
Length: 11 hours 53 minutes
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Narrator: Brittany Pressley
If you’re a fan of YA fiction and Greek myths, then you’re in luck. Daughter of Sparta by Claire M. Andrews is a reimagining of the tale of Daphne and Apollo, taking readers on an adventure which puts them up close and personal with some of Greek mythology’s most famous legends and figures, including the Minotaur and the labyrinth, the riddles of the Sphinx, Hippolyta of the Amazons, and many, many more.
The novel begins with an introduction to Daphne Diodorus, our seventeen-year-old protagonist who has always felt like an outsider. Despite being raised Spartan, society has never ceased to remind her that she and her brothers were adopted, even if it was by one the most respected families of Sparta. As a result, even though Daphne had been trained from a young age to be a warrior, she finds she still needs to fight harder to constantly prove her worth, not only because of her blood but also because of her sex.
Then came the day of the games, in which each family must put forth a young man to compete in a race to win the favor of the gods and blessings for their village. After her brother Pyrrhus is a n0-show, Daphne is forced to step up to take his place in order to uphold her adoptive parents’ honor. But during the race, she has an encounter in the forest with the goddess Artemis who tells her that Mount Olympus is in danger. Nine powerful items have been stolen from the gods, weakening the powers of the pantheon. Now Artemis wants Daphne to help them take back what rightfully belongs to them—or else. With horror, our protagonist next discovers what had really happened to Pyrrhus, who had been taken captive by Artemis and turned into a stag. To further ensure Daphne’s obedience, the goddess of the hunt also casts upon the girl a magical binding curse which would kill her if she were to fail in her task.
And finally, Artemis has arranged for her twin Apollo to accompany Daphne, to keep her in line as well as to help speed things along. Not unlike her sister, Apollo has his own ways of coercion, turning Daphne’s best friend Lykou into a wolf after the young man tries to follow them. Left with no other choice, Daphne sets out on her quest knowing it would be seen as desertion, putting an end to her dreams of ever being accepted. Still, the alternative is that neither Pyrrhus nor Lykou would ever regain their humanity, not to mention if the Olympus falls, so too would the mortal world.
This book moved fast—too fast, in some instances. I have to say, I had a rough time at the beginning, trying to find some connection to Daphne, which proved difficult when there was virtually no breathing room at all to get to know her or learn about her relationships. The introduction to the book suffered from too much telling and not enough showing, and as such we were given few reasons to sympathize with Daphne or care what happens to Pyrrhus or Lykou, for simply declaring their importance to her was not automatically enough to make me believe so. Readers were pretty much shuffled from one action scene to the next with no attempt to develop the setting or characters, to the point it all became one big blur.
Thankfully, the pacing stabilized once Daphne set out with Apollo, and it became rather clear to me that the author had rushed the intro just to get these two together. After that, I began to enjoy myself a lot more, as what came next was essentially a tour through some of Greek mythology’s more well-known stories. These encounters also came at us relentlessly hard and fast, but at the very least, we now had plenty of quieter, more intimate moments where Daphne and Apollo’s feelings for each other were given a chance to grow.
That said, I still wasn’t sure how to feel about their romance. One thing to know is that Andrews took a whole lot of liberties with the original Daphne and Apollo myth, but she did get one thing right—the Greek gods were assholes, and sure enough, there were many instances of their cruelty, jealousies and pettiness in this novel. Suffice to say, I did not feel Apollo was truly deserving of Daphne’s attentions, or that she really needed him at all, especially given the way her character was written, i.e., tough, ferociously independent and free-thinking, too clever by far to be love-struck by any of his bullshit. However, lots of YA go down this path these days, and perhaps the notion of our protagonist taming a wild god and making him change was always going to be inevitable.
My verdict? If you like fantasy inspired by Greek mythology, Daughter of Sparta the book for you. At times, it feels obvious that this novel is a debut, given some of its pacing issues, and there are also moments where the story leans heavily on YA clichés when it doesn’t have to. Still, Claire M. Andrews is to be applauded for doing an impressive job spinning her own take on the original Greek myths and characters, and the action is superb, far outshining the romantic elements—which, in my eyes, is not a bad thing at all.
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