Review
An e-copy of the book has been provided by the publisher, Penguin Random House International, in exchange for an honest review.
“It’s a popular myth that the most deadly animal in history is the human, because murder and war and genocide can be laid at the feet of our species. However, the deadliest animal is of course the mosquito. Fortunately, both species can now be significantly improved.”
Before anything else, let me first point out that after reaching 50% of the book, it felt like such an absolute drag. I was highly considering DNF-ing the novel. Thought otherwise. And began to just skim from this point forward.
I wouldn’t say that this book was bad; however, it definitely did not connect with me in any way, shape, or form. To be perfectly clear, I wanted so badly to love this book. The substance, on its own, is beautiful, poignant, and eye-opening; though interestingly bleak. It would not be a shocker if this book was considered something more than just its story. The construction of the prose feels strongly like a literary fiction—giving a strong focal point in the futuristic surrounding environment and its effects to humanity.
The book is a six-part short story collection interconnected to create the entire novel. In summary, the story is set in a body modification prevalent future. There are, of course, people who are pro and against this human modifications. It provided a strong catalyst in the story along with the factional separation of humanity. The mental deterioration from the paranoia of escaping normality and unstoppable curiosity of the sciences this novel shows is extremely powerful. Each short a dark and gruesome tale that can be trigger warning extensive to some readers. And I mean it by “each short.” Everything in this novel is stressful!
As for the characters, they didn’t sing to me the way I wanted them too; though they didn’t feel tacky at all. In fact, I did enjoy the development and changes in the personalities that some of them experienced—giving them better depth. The writing style felt a little too purple and convoluted that I ended up being so out of it for most of the novel. If there is anything consistent about this book, it is the confusing way each story is delivered.
In conclusion, I think this book has a beauty in it that just isn’t parallel with myself. It felt like the author compacted so much in this novel that it was too overwhelming for me. The weaving of the stories felt a little too weak; perhaps omitting some parts of the writing that weren’t strongly necessary and substituting them with a stronger foundation for the interconnection of the stories would have salvaged this book for me.
About the Author
Arwen Elys Dayton is best known for her 2012 novel Resurrection and the YA Seeker trilogy. She began her career as a teenage staff writer at a foundation that produced Peabody Award-winning educational shows for PBS. Soon afterward, she began writing novels.
She spends months doing research for her stories. Her explorations have taken her around the world to places like the Great Pyramid (which she explored by flashlight when researching Resurrection), Hong Kong and its many islands, lots of ruined castles in Scotland, and the cold cities around the Baltic Sea. She enjoys creating complete worlds inhabited by characters who charm, frustrate or inspire.
Arwen lives with her husband and their three children on the West Coast of the United States. You can visit her at arwenelysdayton.com and follow @arwenelysdayton on Instagram, or reach her by email at arwenelysdayton@gmail.com.
She is represented by Jodi Reamer at Writers House.
