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asfonk's review against another edition
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
barnesm31's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
4.0
It's like 'Ready Player One' but the characters have more depth and nuance, the investigation into the corruption by corporate factions is more real-life believable and the avatars have a more heartbreaking origin. The story has the punk for cyberpunk then R.P.O and the revolution is never total. It's a fight every day to make the world better for people.
aggressive_nostalgia's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence and Police brutality
Moderate: Torture and War
Minor: Sexual assault
kyandesu's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
sad
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? No
5.0
kevinmccarrick's review
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
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
4.5
milliemudd's review
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Death, and Violence
heidi_mcj's review
4.0
Excellent book. I liked the world building and but it did leave me with wanting more!
ohclaire's review
4.0
this was a good book but the ending... kinda devastated me in a bleak way. I really think that this is a book about the present as much as the future and the brutality of the ending kinda broke me tonight.
mimmareads's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.75
Interesting, though not really original dystopian view of the future. Felt like it ended too early, like part of the story was left untold, perhaps for sequal?
s_sheppard18's review
4.0
"It's a beautiful spring morning. The air smells like flowers and blood." -Mallory, the narrator of Firebreak by Nicole Kornher-Stace
I wasn't sure about this book at the beginning; it opened into an action-packed playthrough of the VR game the narrator, Mallory, streams as one of her jobs. I don't typically get engrossed in thrillers for the action, but the author uses Mallory's stream-of-consciousness narration as a tool to introduce her characters and world to us in an authentic way. The fact that Mallory is familiar with real-world weapons of war via gameplay, in a game sold and modeled on the same war that took her parents from her, makes the real-world violent scenarios she survives much more believable (and that much more of a mindf*ck).
I adored the relationships in this book, and the strength of Mallory's found-family. The way her friends rally around her and surprise her is heartwarming in the best way. I love the quiet aro/ace representation. The trauma, outrage, and resilience the characters experience is written with understanding and care, but also unflinching honesty.
This is a must read for people who enjoyed [b:Ready Player One|9969571|Ready Player One (Ready Player One, #1)|Ernest Cline|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1500930947l/9969571._SY75_.jpg|14863741] or [b:Feed|169756|Feed|M.T. Anderson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327891005l/169756._SY75_.jpg|163928]- and if you liked Firebreak, but haven't read those, put them on your list!
I wasn't sure about this book at the beginning; it opened into an action-packed playthrough of the VR game the narrator, Mallory, streams as one of her jobs. I don't typically get engrossed in thrillers for the action, but the author uses Mallory's stream-of-consciousness narration as a tool to introduce her characters and world to us in an authentic way. The fact that Mallory is familiar with real-world weapons of war via gameplay, in a game sold and modeled on the same war that took her parents from her, makes the real-world violent scenarios she survives much more believable (and that much more of a mindf*ck).
I adored the relationships in this book, and the strength of Mallory's found-family. The way her friends rally around her and surprise her is heartwarming in the best way. I love the quiet aro/ace representation. The trauma, outrage, and resilience the characters experience is written with understanding and care, but also unflinching honesty.
This is a must read for people who enjoyed [b:Ready Player One|9969571|Ready Player One (Ready Player One, #1)|Ernest Cline|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1500930947l/9969571._SY75_.jpg|14863741] or [b:Feed|169756|Feed|M.T. Anderson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327891005l/169756._SY75_.jpg|163928]- and if you liked Firebreak, but haven't read those, put them on your list!