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gotoboston's review against another edition
4.0
This was really interesting. Probably one of the most unique books I've read in a long while. This book had a lot going for it. Dark themes of colonization, a rebellion, all wrapped up in a techopunk story with motorcycles and racing.
It was really a lot of fun and I very much enjoyed it. Though, I'm hesitant to say I loved it. Maybe I might in the future bump this rating up.
It was really a lot of fun and I very much enjoyed it. Though, I'm hesitant to say I loved it. Maybe I might in the future bump this rating up.
macthekat's review
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
I will make one pun: what a wild ride!
This was a hard read but also a wild and amazing read. It's fast pasted and full of action, but it also grabbes with colonialism andv the hard work of revolution
This was a hard read but also a wild and amazing read. It's fast pasted and full of action, but it also grabbes with colonialism andv the hard work of revolution
amyjoy's review
4.0
This is an original, exciting, action packed, gritty fantasy. It took me a little bit of time to get into because there's so much world building to be done, but I think the world Maresca made is great. It feels fresh and original, and I like that it's Central American inspired and not another Western European all white world. The main characters are all brown skinned, and sexuality is super fluid for all the characters. A secondary character is ace, and everyone is pretty chill about it. Her friends tease her, but they support her.
elisenic's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
mahiyaa's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
flauntlet's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
r_loretta's review against another edition
4.0
I had to let this book sink in a little before writing this review. Ever since I read A Murder of Mages, I have been a fan of Maresca. When I found out he was writing a book outside of the Maradiane sequence, I was excited. Even more so when I read the synopsis of it on Maresca's blog. The thing that stuck most with me is "motorcycle Jesus gang." I'm not sure why but that is how my friend and I proceeded to reference this book whenever it was brought up between us.
This book didn't disappoint. The depth of world building in it is phenomenal. This books was so unique and I love that about this book. I loved the culture and the relationships between the characters. I did find the caste system and the names that the castes and people were referred to at times confusing but that always happens to me with intricately detailed books.
Without spoiling anything, I didn't give this book 5 stars because I'm still not sure how I feel about the ending. It was kinda genius in a way but left me wanting more.
This book didn't disappoint. The depth of world building in it is phenomenal. This books was so unique and I love that about this book. I loved the culture and the relationships between the characters. I did find the caste system and the names that the castes and people were referred to at times confusing but that always happens to me with intricately detailed books.
Without spoiling anything, I didn't give this book 5 stars because I'm still not sure how I feel about the ending. It was kinda genius in a way but left me wanting more.
arkron's review against another edition
4.0
Synopsis: The country Pinogoz has racist oppressors, implementing a harsh caste system. Out in the suburbs, people give "happily" their food and petrol for the oversea military, and starve thereby.
Nália is a member of a Robin Hood like motorcycle gang who rob petrol from government trains. But Wenthi, a police officer, arrests her despite of her superior ability with her modified bike.
Never before has anonye managed to catch those thieves, and Wenthi gets another chance to proof himself to his superiors. He gets the mission to infiltrate the undercaste suburb and find the head of the rebels.
A special mushroom drug merges Nália's consciousness with his own so that he can access her knowledge and abilities. Slowly, he works his way from the bottom of society into the center of the gangs.
What he finds there makes him ask his own history, convictions, and his country's foundations.
Review: Motorcycle, mushroom drugs, racing ladies, and mixed gender romances - how cool is that?
Maresca shoots off a high velocity plot which never lets you off from start to finish. The atmosphere is thick and stylish with pimped motorcycles, high-stake races, police hunts, and mushroom loaded Bacchanalia.
The LGBTQIA folks will cheer at this novel, which conjugates each and every letter of the acronym, up to a well integrated asexual woman who heavily dislikes those sexual activities.
It is not that easy to classify the work into one of the typical subgenres. First of all, it is a Dieselpunk story - think of technology equal to the 1940s, i.e. without computers, surveillance drones, or mobile phones. Together with the police state, racial discrimination, and caste system, you'll get a rich dystopia full of comments about social systems. Adding to that is the fantasy like magic of joined group consciousness induced by the mushroom which lets Wenthi develop to a superhero.
There are rough and criminal acts, but one can easily identify with Nália, because her folks are so heavily oppressed and in high need of her "good" deeds. On the other side, it would be easy to just hate the oppressors, if Maresca wouldn't have done such a fine job with the other main protagonist Wenthi. He represents the orderly type, the hope of the middle class, and caring for the all the people of his country. He doesn't like the idea of a civil war, and sees himself torn between several front-lines - that of his own family, his police friends, and the insights into the rebellion's background.
This action stuffed novel works very well as a standalone, but I wouldn't be too surprised to see a sequel.
Recommended for readers of high-octane character-driven dystopian Dieselpunk.
Nália is a member of a Robin Hood like motorcycle gang who rob petrol from government trains. But Wenthi, a police officer, arrests her despite of her superior ability with her modified bike.
Never before has anonye managed to catch those thieves, and Wenthi gets another chance to proof himself to his superiors. He gets the mission to infiltrate the undercaste suburb and find the head of the rebels.
A special mushroom drug merges Nália's consciousness with his own so that he can access her knowledge and abilities. Slowly, he works his way from the bottom of society into the center of the gangs.
What he finds there makes him ask his own history, convictions, and his country's foundations.
Review: Motorcycle, mushroom drugs, racing ladies, and mixed gender romances - how cool is that?
Maresca shoots off a high velocity plot which never lets you off from start to finish. The atmosphere is thick and stylish with pimped motorcycles, high-stake races, police hunts, and mushroom loaded Bacchanalia.
The LGBTQIA folks will cheer at this novel, which conjugates each and every letter of the acronym, up to a well integrated asexual woman who heavily dislikes those sexual activities.
It is not that easy to classify the work into one of the typical subgenres. First of all, it is a Dieselpunk story - think of technology equal to the 1940s, i.e. without computers, surveillance drones, or mobile phones. Together with the police state, racial discrimination, and caste system, you'll get a rich dystopia full of comments about social systems. Adding to that is the fantasy like magic of joined group consciousness induced by the mushroom which lets Wenthi develop to a superhero.
There are rough and criminal acts, but one can easily identify with Nália, because her folks are so heavily oppressed and in high need of her "good" deeds. On the other side, it would be easy to just hate the oppressors, if Maresca wouldn't have done such a fine job with the other main protagonist Wenthi. He represents the orderly type, the hope of the middle class, and caring for the all the people of his country. He doesn't like the idea of a civil war, and sees himself torn between several front-lines - that of his own family, his police friends, and the insights into the rebellion's background.
This action stuffed novel works very well as a standalone, but I wouldn't be too surprised to see a sequel.
Recommended for readers of high-octane character-driven dystopian Dieselpunk.
misterwisp's review against another edition
4.0
Weird and different! Interesting and unexpected. Worthwhile overall.
There is a good mix of action and character stuff. The book is set in a caste society that has suffered a couple waves of colonization, is currently under military occupation, and is located on a strategically significant spot in an ongoing world war. The story deals with all the issues arising from that, so there is a lot going on!
Intrigue, oppression, exploitation, changing perspectives, justice and injustice, identity, purpose, people struggling to survive...lots to dig into. Plus mushrooms that psychically link you with your revolutionary friends of course.
It all remains grounded in the character journeys though and manages not to feel heavy or depressing. It think it's because it shows that people are still fighting for a better world in spite of it all so there is a element of hope throughout.
Certain parts of the book in particular feel like a genuine attempt to grapple with what it really means to build a better society/country in the face of a history of so much foreign influence and injustice. Do you try and recreate what existed before, or go forward and make something new? Some of that feels relevant and is going to stay with me.
It's fun and easy to read. The characters feel like believable people. The psychic mushroom stuff is cool. The world building is incredibly rich and it's delivered without prolonged info dumps. Certain parts of the ending feel a little bit rushed to me but it was still a satisfying conclusion ultimately. So was the ride getting there. I liked it! The author delivers an enjoyable time with this book. Give it a try :)
(CW-There is quite a lot of sexual content, but not in the way you might expect. It's not steamy or salacious or like an erotica. In terms of functionality in the story, its more just the way characters connect with each other and comes across as commonplace. There are both sexual and romantic queer relationships, group situations, and an asexual side character. Nothing is graphically or specifically described at all. Things are alluded to and then happen off page.
Overall it feels like a pretty healthy representation of sex and sexuality. Nobody is shamed or degraded for those things. There is no violence or abuse of that type. However, if your comfort threshold for the presence of these things in your reading is low then this book might make you uncomfortable.)
There is a good mix of action and character stuff. The book is set in a caste society that has suffered a couple waves of colonization, is currently under military occupation, and is located on a strategically significant spot in an ongoing world war. The story deals with all the issues arising from that, so there is a lot going on!
Intrigue, oppression, exploitation, changing perspectives, justice and injustice, identity, purpose, people struggling to survive...lots to dig into. Plus mushrooms that psychically link you with your revolutionary friends of course.
It all remains grounded in the character journeys though and manages not to feel heavy or depressing. It think it's because it shows that people are still fighting for a better world in spite of it all so there is a element of hope throughout.
Certain parts of the book in particular feel like a genuine attempt to grapple with what it really means to build a better society/country in the face of a history of so much foreign influence and injustice. Do you try and recreate what existed before, or go forward and make something new? Some of that feels relevant and is going to stay with me.
It's fun and easy to read. The characters feel like believable people. The psychic mushroom stuff is cool. The world building is incredibly rich and it's delivered without prolonged info dumps. Certain parts of the ending feel a little bit rushed to me but it was still a satisfying conclusion ultimately. So was the ride getting there. I liked it! The author delivers an enjoyable time with this book. Give it a try :)
(CW-There is quite a lot of sexual content, but not in the way you might expect. It's not steamy or salacious or like an erotica. In terms of functionality in the story, its more just the way characters connect with each other and comes across as commonplace. There are both sexual and romantic queer relationships, group situations, and an asexual side character. Nothing is graphically or specifically described at all. Things are alluded to and then happen off page.
Overall it feels like a pretty healthy representation of sex and sexuality. Nobody is shamed or degraded for those things. There is no violence or abuse of that type. However, if your comfort threshold for the presence of these things in your reading is low then this book might make you uncomfortable.)
svrakiss's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 stars at least. God this was so good and an absolute blast. a bit slow to start but so worth it. i did think some of the parts in the last 30 or so pages were dumb but these were minor and did not detract from how much I fucking loved this.