Reviews

Have You Decided on Your Question: A Novelette by Lyndsey Croal

fjalar's review

dark reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

booksasmeals's review

4.0

A very fun, entertaining piece about artificial intelligence set in in Edinburgh, Scotland. Hard to say much without spoilers, but I recommend if you're seeking a lighter, less-depressing version of a Black Mirror episode. :)

ellen_forkin's review

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

sucreslibrary's review

3.0

a perfectly serviceable sci fi novelette, though it doesn't really pull any punches or do anything shocking.

hauntedorchid's review

4.0

Zoe is reluctant when she first tries an alternate reality simulation, but an encounter with a man from her past soon changes her mind. An enjoyable sci-fi novelette with a dark Sliding Doors vibe, which raises interesting questions about how much of what we think is love is really in our imagination.

mentat_stem's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

The simulation is much like what we experience when we get to know someone. We extrapolate a future in our mind.

The privacy concerns, the dangers of addiction, getting lost in what might have been.

This is a short, but clear, examination of obsession. I like the way the story is framed by the near future speculative element, but it stands on its own as a character study.

goobersmom57's review

challenging dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.0

dfs's review

dark medium-paced

4.0

 Better than expected.

The ending hit hard... I was flabbergasted that this novelette concluded in that fashion. The characters are fleshed out, but the pacing of this chronicle was slow in the beginning. After you finish this Sci-Fi tale, the book cover will make a lot more sense; however, trying to market it as is before a reader dives into the prose may be a challenge. I like how the author carefully placed foreshadowing in this chronicle. You can tell that the writer worked hard on this text.

If you're into short stories, then I recommend this book.

jack_b's review

dark emotional sad

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

4.0

A fascinating SF horror asking a question we all ask ourselves sometimes - what if we could live our life over again.
Zoe hates her current life and decides to try a life simulator that offers her a glimpse into a different life, revealing that she could have met Adam, fallen in love with him and have a life together. But her HEA turns into something much darker.

paulmoore's review

fast-paced

4.0

What a great short story that was!

A very interesting premise which I wish had been explored a little more. Although I can't complain about the length of it either as it ticked all boxes for me in a very short time.