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A review by emrodav
Proxy by Alex London
4.0
I was super excited to read Proxy. It has so much going for it in its premise: dystopia, a world run on technology, the central idea that the privileged use the poor for the execution of punishments. And even a gay person of color as the protagonist! I had super high hopes for the book, and, for the most part, it delivered.
The book starts out with Syd, a proxy, who is responsible for handling the punishments of his patron Knox. The whole system is complicated and focused on debt: Syd owes debt for school and other things, and Knox's family has bought the debt so that they can use Syd as a proxy. Yes, it is as complicated and sometimes confusing as it sounds. But it's interesting, I swear! (Especially after Knox's car accident.)
Anyway, a lot of things happen that are too spoilery for me to really add to the review, and it's all really interesting. The first half of the book is really great. You get interested in the system and the characters and it's a really fun, fast-paced read.
The issues I had with the book started once the main characters left the city. The plot starts to fall apart and seems contrived. Too many things happen at once, too many characters (mostly very minor) die in quick succession. It's too much to handle, and you stop caring a little bit. Even the climax fight, and. You're bombarded with action and it just doesn't work.
However, the premise was so strong, and I enjoyed most of the book so much that I can't give it fewer than 4 stars. After all, I read the book mostly in two days. You will need to know what's happening. So despite the weaknesses of the second half, I really loved Proxy, and I can't wait to see what's in store for the next book.
The book starts out with Syd, a proxy, who is responsible for handling the punishments of his patron Knox. The whole system is complicated and focused on debt: Syd owes debt for school and other things, and Knox's family has bought the debt so that they can use Syd as a proxy. Yes, it is as complicated and sometimes confusing as it sounds. But it's interesting, I swear! (Especially after Knox's car accident.)
Anyway, a lot of things happen that are too spoilery for me to really add to the review, and it's all really interesting. The first half of the book is really great. You get interested in the system and the characters and it's a really fun, fast-paced read.
The issues I had with the book started once the main characters left the city. The plot starts to fall apart and seems contrived. Too many things happen at once, too many characters (mostly very minor) die in quick succession. It's too much to handle, and you stop caring a little bit. Even the climax fight, and
Spoiler
when Knox disappears/dies/whatever (I'm not totally sure) it happens in two pages! The entire huge ending gets less page time than the introduction to the starving children they meet en route to Old DetroitHowever, the premise was so strong, and I enjoyed most of the book so much that I can't give it fewer than 4 stars. After all, I read the book mostly in two days. You will need to know what's happening. So despite the weaknesses of the second half, I really loved Proxy, and I can't wait to see what's in store for the next book.