thionite's review

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sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.25

sophbattison's review

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challenging reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

oddity123's review

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challenging informative tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Absolutely one of the most terrifying things I’ve ever read. Especially given the upcoming election. It’s so incredibly realistic and well researched. I just can’t even process it. Wish I could purge it from my brain. I highly recommend reading it AFTER. The 2024 election. OR in 2028, depending on how things go. 

hazelgreen's review

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5.0

This was as terrifying as it was excellent. I found myself more and more horrified but absolutely could not put it down. It walks the line well between shocking enough for good reading but also realistic enough to be believable. Once you read this you'll be building a bunker in the back yard!

daveyk's review

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4.0

Deeply researched speculative fiction about what a nuclear war with North Korea could have looked like during Trump's presidency. This was terrifying in its plausibility and quite unlike anything I've read before. Highly recommend giving it a go.

usfsigepjoe's review

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4.0

It is odd to say I "enjoyed" reading a book about a speculative nuclear attack on the US, but that's the word I'd have to use. I like how Lewis tied Kim thinking the bombing of his palace was the start of something worse (similar to the Iraq war) and also why Barksdale AFB would have been a target.

Lewis' characterization of the president is spot on. He WOULD be in Florida when this happens, and I could see his aides deciding to not alert him to issues during his golf game, hopefully avoiding his wrath for "interrupting" him. The result of him being coddled for two plus years about DPRK's nuclear capabilities, and his general demeanor flows through the pages.

I read a few reviews that said they thought the final statement by the president wasn't needed, and I disagree. Of course he'd still be tweeting about "fake news" and "Crooked Hilary" after a nuclear attack instead of trying to rally the country.

bookish_scientist's review

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challenging dark medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

oxleyio's review

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5.0

Scary and scarily plausible.

samikki's review against another edition

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4.0

Nykyisin uutiset ohittavat usein mielikuvituksellisuudessaan ja yllättävyydessään entisaikojen dystooppiset tarinat. Siksi tämä kirja oli erityisen kiehtovaa (ja karmivaa) luettavaa: otetaan nykyinen maailma ja rakennetaan sen päälle tarina siitä, miten seuraava maailmansota syttyy. Kirja ei käytä liikaa mielikuvitusta vaan on uskottava ja todellisuuteen perustuva, joka on samalla sen vahvuus ja heikkous.

danapcass's review

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OKAY OKAY 2020 COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE