Scan barcode
abaugher's review against another edition
3.0
This is a good idea, some parts are well written, but there are lots of awkward moments where the author could have fleshed out the story a bit more but didn't. I wanted to stop early on but couldn't just leave the characters in a hole deep in the ground, so I finished it and it hasn't really been the time loss that I thought it might be, and I may even read the second book. Authors grow and mature and come into their true talent with practice, and I saw the potential for this author to do just that.
jilly7922's review against another edition
4.0
This book is a dystopian set in the future, taking place after an apocalyptic event that caused most of human kind to die. It starts off years later in a new society formed living under ground because the air on earth called Variant will kill anyone it touches. However, things are changing, and changing fast, when a generation of children are engineered to be able to survive on Earth breathing in the air known as Variant. In reading this book you will find that things aren't always as they seem to be.
Overall I rated this book four stars out of five. I am surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. Because I will say as I began reading this, I was thinking I wasn't going to like it. However, as I read on further (good thing) I found that I was truly enjoying this book and glad that I did not put this book down for good. I loved the intertwined plots and themes in this book. It was an exciting, hard to put down book. I will say I really enjoyed the creativity of the author, unlike other books the creativity was displayed well in this story. I would highly recommend this book. However, for those of you who are sensitive to horror elements, this book may not be for you. I, in particular am not a general fan of horror novels, but I did enjoy this book because the elements of horror were only a small part of the book. I am looking forward to reading the second book in this series, when I finish it you all will be the first to know.
I would like to thank The Reading Room and J. N. Chaney, for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Until the next page,
Jill
Come and read my blog at http://turnthepagereviewsbyjill.blogspot.com/
Overall I rated this book four stars out of five. I am surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. Because I will say as I began reading this, I was thinking I wasn't going to like it. However, as I read on further (good thing) I found that I was truly enjoying this book and glad that I did not put this book down for good. I loved the intertwined plots and themes in this book. It was an exciting, hard to put down book. I will say I really enjoyed the creativity of the author, unlike other books the creativity was displayed well in this story. I would highly recommend this book. However, for those of you who are sensitive to horror elements, this book may not be for you. I, in particular am not a general fan of horror novels, but I did enjoy this book because the elements of horror were only a small part of the book. I am looking forward to reading the second book in this series, when I finish it you all will be the first to know.
I would like to thank The Reading Room and J. N. Chaney, for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Until the next page,
Jill
Come and read my blog at http://turnthepagereviewsbyjill.blogspot.com/
littleroseygirl's review against another edition
5.0
unique, riveting, and fascinating. definitely going to find a way for the sequel to fit into my reading challenge
jwillis81's review against another edition
3.0
After really loving Renegade Star, I was excited to read something else by the same author, and the blurb for this book seemed really interesting. I love post-apocalyptic fiction and thought that if this story was anywhere close to as good as Renegade Star, I'd be in for a treat. Unfortunately, this one came up short for me. The worldbuilding was interesting but the book was just way too slow and didn't have a lot of action or excitement to it. I'll definitely check out the next Renegade Star book, but I'm not sure I'll proceed any further with this particular series.
shelbymarie32's review against another edition
5.0
I was intrigued with this, then I was addicted. A book about an underground city sounded interesting enough and I knew I would like this but I ended up loving it and enjoying it so much more than I thought I would. The book started in an already well established world and the story focuses on the characters and the inevitable of reaching the surface. And as all that happens you get to see and understand how this world came to be.
This is a lot more than just trying to get back to the surface, there is politics, what it means to live, survival, Etc. The characters at first seem a little bland but as the story furthers along the characters start showing their personalities and everyone has their own voice. There is quite a bit going on, many points of view. At the beginning of every chapter you read a recording from the past and a glimpse at how an underground city came to be. The writing is very good and flows well. It definitely hooked me from the start. And I'm quite eager to read on after the ending. The ending was so good and the epilogue was even better. I actually didn't expect it although I should have but I didn't.
I highly recommend this to anyone and everyone. It's a quick gripping read with so much going on and leaving you wonder what could be next?
This is a lot more than just trying to get back to the surface, there is politics, what it means to live, survival, Etc. The characters at first seem a little bland but as the story furthers along the characters start showing their personalities and everyone has their own voice. There is quite a bit going on, many points of view. At the beginning of every chapter you read a recording from the past and a glimpse at how an underground city came to be. The writing is very good and flows well. It definitely hooked me from the start. And I'm quite eager to read on after the ending. The ending was so good and the epilogue was even better. I actually didn't expect it although I should have but I didn't.
I highly recommend this to anyone and everyone. It's a quick gripping read with so much going on and leaving you wonder what could be next?
irongold's review against another edition
4.0
Great ending with an epic final battle. Writing was well done. Only problem was some occasional language.
reads_must's review against another edition
4.0
The Amber Project
The Variant Saga #1
Dystopian
J. N. Chaney
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The synopsis of this book grabbed my attention and I couldn't wait to read it.
The pacing was very slow for the first 30%. I actually almost left it as a DNF because I was struggling but I persevered and at around the 55% mark, it got a lot more interesting and then I couldn't stop reading.
Sometimes the technology and the details became info dumps and were a little confusing.
Part of the storyline is told through transcripts of audio recordings and it took me a little while to get used to them. There are time jumps through the book too and sometimes I had to go back and check the times and places.
I really liked the exploration of the surface and what the characters discovered. It was the most interesting part of the plot, for me.
The characters were well developed. Alex was annoying and I couldn't wait for him to get what he deserved, I liked Mei and her intelligence and Terry, the MMC, had good character growth.
I'm very curious about the ending and what happens next, so I will definitely check out the next book.
The Variant Saga #1
Dystopian
J. N. Chaney
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The synopsis of this book grabbed my attention and I couldn't wait to read it.
The pacing was very slow for the first 30%. I actually almost left it as a DNF because I was struggling but I persevered and at around the 55% mark, it got a lot more interesting and then I couldn't stop reading.
Sometimes the technology and the details became info dumps and were a little confusing.
Part of the storyline is told through transcripts of audio recordings and it took me a little while to get used to them. There are time jumps through the book too and sometimes I had to go back and check the times and places.
I really liked the exploration of the surface and what the characters discovered. It was the most interesting part of the plot, for me.
The characters were well developed. Alex was annoying and I couldn't wait for him to get what he deserved, I liked Mei and her intelligence and Terry, the MMC, had good character growth.
I'm very curious about the ending and what happens next, so I will definitely check out the next book.
pelargonia's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25