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emmymbee's review against another edition
4.0
This book was a little slow to get in to, but I really enjoyed it once you started to delve into the plot and it's characters. Rarely have I had such a turn around in who to support, towards the end I was actually rooting for the 'good guys' to fail, and at least one of the 'bad guys' to win! I look forward to picking up the next book in the series once it's released.
Note: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Note: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
abibliophagist's review
4.0
I received a copy of this through NetGalley to read for an honest review.
The short and simple verdict? I loved it, from start the finish I was hooked and ate it up. The chapters were short, which made it easy to play the 'one more chapter one more chapter' game. The characters were believable, flawed, and truly realistic. None were overly naive, perfect or 'the chosen one'. I loved how raw and unlikeable they could be at times, yet I honestly cared for all of their well beings. Therin Knite keeps the world building simple, focusing primarily on the idea of Arcadian Heights, leaving little to mess up with weak world building. Smart move that really worked for the story.
Othella is a fast paced and intriguing look into what could easily be our near future. In a world that's steadily falling apart at the seams our author Therin Knite gives us humanities last chance, Arcadian Heights. A scientific mecca where the greatest minds are recruited to help rebuild the world one discovery at a time. The problem with human minds however is that they aren't as efficient as they need to be to save our world from the destruction it's facing. Marcus Salt's daughter is recruited to this community and he begins receiving messages for help. When other convince him it's a trick he slowly begins to go crazy. These messages arrive multiple times a day constantly saying the same thing. Then one day he receives a different message, one with damning evidence against what goes on in the community. He enlists Georgette McLain, a reporter, to go under cover and expose the facility. The story is told from the points of view of Marcus, Georgette, and Quentin, co founder and face of Arcadian Heights who is struggling with something worse potentially than the exposure of his creation.
The characters in this are what made it. Georgette was a crazy, narcissistic bitch, Marcus had a few screw's loose and Quentin was a bad guy who wasn't all bad. Their interactions with others were consistent and meaningful, they stayed in character and never lost it, and ultimately they were unique. I cared about them all and they all felt like real, flawed people.
The world was believable, the Author kept the surrounding world a bit vague as to how deteriorated it is. We have enough hints though to satisfy and I prefer this to overly world building and messing up a solid concept with an unrealistic world. Arcadia Heights is simple but believable and the reasoning for their actions is up for moral debate. Its a subject that honestly.. I could get behind, I honestly understood Quentin's actions and I think it helped me empathise with his character more.
The pacing was spot on, I was never bored. The science never got unaccessible, the action never over the top or unnecessary. Nothing went on longer than it needed to and few things were rushed.
My only issue I had involved the very few parts that were rushed. At times, and I mean only a few, character's said or did things a bit unbelievable for the sake of progressing the plot. These scenes were unfortunate but luckily forgettable, allowing me to move on with only minor annoyance.
All in all it was a great read, one I'll read again. I look forward to the next book.
@abibliophagist
The short and simple verdict? I loved it, from start the finish I was hooked and ate it up. The chapters were short, which made it easy to play the 'one more chapter one more chapter' game. The characters were believable, flawed, and truly realistic. None were overly naive, perfect or 'the chosen one'. I loved how raw and unlikeable they could be at times, yet I honestly cared for all of their well beings. Therin Knite keeps the world building simple, focusing primarily on the idea of Arcadian Heights, leaving little to mess up with weak world building. Smart move that really worked for the story.
Othella is a fast paced and intriguing look into what could easily be our near future. In a world that's steadily falling apart at the seams our author Therin Knite gives us humanities last chance, Arcadian Heights. A scientific mecca where the greatest minds are recruited to help rebuild the world one discovery at a time. The problem with human minds however is that they aren't as efficient as they need to be to save our world from the destruction it's facing. Marcus Salt's daughter is recruited to this community and he begins receiving messages for help. When other convince him it's a trick he slowly begins to go crazy. These messages arrive multiple times a day constantly saying the same thing. Then one day he receives a different message, one with damning evidence against what goes on in the community. He enlists Georgette McLain, a reporter, to go under cover and expose the facility. The story is told from the points of view of Marcus, Georgette, and Quentin, co founder and face of Arcadian Heights who is struggling with something worse potentially than the exposure of his creation.
The characters in this are what made it. Georgette was a crazy, narcissistic bitch, Marcus had a few screw's loose and Quentin was a bad guy who wasn't all bad. Their interactions with others were consistent and meaningful, they stayed in character and never lost it, and ultimately they were unique. I cared about them all and they all felt like real, flawed people.
The world was believable, the Author kept the surrounding world a bit vague as to how deteriorated it is. We have enough hints though to satisfy and I prefer this to overly world building and messing up a solid concept with an unrealistic world. Arcadia Heights is simple but believable and the reasoning for their actions is up for moral debate. Its a subject that honestly.. I could get behind, I honestly understood Quentin's actions and I think it helped me empathise with his character more.
The pacing was spot on, I was never bored. The science never got unaccessible, the action never over the top or unnecessary. Nothing went on longer than it needed to and few things were rushed.
My only issue I had involved the very few parts that were rushed. At times, and I mean only a few, character's said or did things a bit unbelievable for the sake of progressing the plot. These scenes were unfortunate but luckily forgettable, allowing me to move on with only minor annoyance.
All in all it was a great read, one I'll read again. I look forward to the next book.
@abibliophagist
shelbymarie32's review against another edition
3.0
I received a copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
For me personally this was just okay. There was really nothing bad about it but nothing that I thought was really good either. I had a hard time empathizing with the characters. I just didn't feel attached at all. the world was interesting and the main story was pretty good. I really liked the story. For me, this is my own opinion, but I didn't like the writing. It wasn't bad. It was quite well written. I think I just wasn't into this authors writing style and I think that may be why the story fell flat for me.
Overall this is a good story that, I, personally couldn't really get into.
Don't let my review discourage you if this interest you. Its a good book just not my cup of tea.
If this interest you I'd recommend it.
For me personally this was just okay. There was really nothing bad about it but nothing that I thought was really good either. I had a hard time empathizing with the characters. I just didn't feel attached at all. the world was interesting and the main story was pretty good. I really liked the story. For me, this is my own opinion, but I didn't like the writing. It wasn't bad. It was quite well written. I think I just wasn't into this authors writing style and I think that may be why the story fell flat for me.
Overall this is a good story that, I, personally couldn't really get into.
Don't let my review discourage you if this interest you. Its a good book just not my cup of tea.
If this interest you I'd recommend it.
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