Review: Not as deep as I wanted, but a fun, dark, and action-packed story.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 07 17, 2013
I really wanted to like this one, because I'm a huge fan of thoughtful dystopian worldbuilding. I was a bit disappointed in that aspect, as the dystopian elements of the setting don't feel like they're extrapolations or interpretations of current sociological or political trends. They're dark, but ultimately pretty shallow. The noir tone and dark elements of the world was fun, but it wasn't anything that resonated, or encouraged thought into the world we're currently making do in. I would have preferred to see a bit more beneath the surface of the story. I found myself reading it mostly to see where the story went, rather than because I was engaged with the characters, or because I wanted to look at the setting more. When I finished it, I didn't find myself reflecting on it as a reflection of our world. It was a fun read, but not as heavy and thoughtful as I prefer.I won't say too much about the plot, because it's so very crazy, that to outline any of its curves might spoil the shape of it. The manic pace is a bit infectious, and I read it through in one sitting, without putting it down.I'd love to see Partamyan polish his writing and his characters more. The breakneck pace meant that backstories and subtleties were either lost, or carried exposition heavily. Had the story been slowed down, it would have allowed more room for worldbuilding, as well as shaping the characters a little more thoroughly. Most of the writing was easy to follow, but there were some abrupt or confusing spots, and spots where more description would have been helpful. It has a lot of potential, but I do think Vardan could have done more with the concept and characters to carry the story with a tighter grip.He's got a lot of fun ideas, and I can't wait until he's refined them. I'm looking forward to seeing more of his writing, and seeing how he handles other styles and concepts.(Note: I received a free copy in exchange for my honest review.)