jacalata's review against another edition
4.0
Fast paced action, interesting story, unsettling and intriguing universe.
jasmyn9's review against another edition
4.0
While there was a little confusion at first about the history of the Haan, this book can be read as a stand alone.
Sam Shao is an amazing character (although I kept picturing her with long hair for some reason). When she is faced with the wrongful arrest and possible murder of her guardian, she hits the ground running, determined to find a way to get him back. Of course, it can't be easy or we wouldn't have a book to read. She must find a way to rely on a techno-geek almost on the wrong side of the law, and a mysterious Haan that isn't anything like what she has learned to expect from the alien creatures.
What she unearths is so unexpected and exciting it was very difficult to put down. The action came on page after page without overwhelming the reader and with just enough breaks to let me catch my breath (while Sam caught her's as well).
With an epic, movie quality final showdown that includes exploding vehicles, car chases, cannibals, and a countdown to annihilation - the big reveal left me shocked, I didn't see it coming at all. This is a definite must read for sci-fi fans.
Sam Shao is an amazing character (although I kept picturing her with long hair for some reason). When she is faced with the wrongful arrest and possible murder of her guardian, she hits the ground running, determined to find a way to get him back. Of course, it can't be easy or we wouldn't have a book to read. She must find a way to rely on a techno-geek almost on the wrong side of the law, and a mysterious Haan that isn't anything like what she has learned to expect from the alien creatures.
What she unearths is so unexpected and exciting it was very difficult to put down. The action came on page after page without overwhelming the reader and with just enough breaks to let me catch my breath (while Sam caught her's as well).
With an epic, movie quality final showdown that includes exploding vehicles, car chases, cannibals, and a countdown to annihilation - the big reveal left me shocked, I didn't see it coming at all. This is a definite must read for sci-fi fans.
felinity's review against another edition
4.0
Earth now has 15 billions people, and an alien race called the haan to support. Everything is rationed, some areas are under military governance, and something - to Sam, at least, who just saw her guardian being arrested for a false charge - is not quite right. As she tries to find him, the balance between human and haan needs seems to become unbalanced. The haan already take the majority of the food, leaving humans starving, in exchange for the technology and promised defense they wanted.
There's a lot of new tech to comprehend, as well as everything around the haan, but I found myself drawn in within minutes of starting. I don't normally go for this intense, suspenseful, Blade Runner-esque style of SF, but it became compelling. Aliens, high tech, implants, black markets for everything from food to weapons, gate travel, and so much more give this a lot of appeal, but also make the beginning rather complicated. It's worth sticking with it though - after the initial flood of information and terms, they all settle down.
There's a lot of new tech to comprehend, as well as everything around the haan, but I found myself drawn in within minutes of starting. I don't normally go for this intense, suspenseful, Blade Runner-esque style of SF, but it became compelling. Aliens, high tech, implants, black markets for everything from food to weapons, gate travel, and so much more give this a lot of appeal, but also make the beginning rather complicated. It's worth sticking with it though - after the initial flood of information and terms, they all settle down.
nogenreleftbehind's review against another edition
4.0
While there was a little confusion at first about the history of the Haan, this book can be read as a stand alone.
Sam Shao is an amazing character (although I kept picturing her with long hair for some reason). When she is faced with the wrongful arrest and possible murder of her guardian, she hits the ground running, determined to find a way to get him back. Of course, it can't be easy or we wouldn't have a book to read. She must find a way to rely on a techno-geek almost on the wrong side of the law, and a mysterious Haan that isn't anything like what she has learned to expect from the alien creatures.
What she unearths is so unexpected and exciting it was very difficult to put down. The action came on page after page without overwhelming the reader and with just enough breaks to let me catch my breath (while Sam caught her's as well).
With an epic, movie quality final showdown that includes exploding vehicles, car chases, cannibals, and a countdown to annihilation - the big reveal left me shocked, I didn't see it coming at all. This is a definite must read for sci-fi fans.
Sam Shao is an amazing character (although I kept picturing her with long hair for some reason). When she is faced with the wrongful arrest and possible murder of her guardian, she hits the ground running, determined to find a way to get him back. Of course, it can't be easy or we wouldn't have a book to read. She must find a way to rely on a techno-geek almost on the wrong side of the law, and a mysterious Haan that isn't anything like what she has learned to expect from the alien creatures.
What she unearths is so unexpected and exciting it was very difficult to put down. The action came on page after page without overwhelming the reader and with just enough breaks to let me catch my breath (while Sam caught her's as well).
With an epic, movie quality final showdown that includes exploding vehicles, car chases, cannibals, and a countdown to annihilation - the big reveal left me shocked, I didn't see it coming at all. This is a definite must read for sci-fi fans.
book_realm_revisions's review against another edition
5.0
So I read this book in basically one and a half sittings. In a day, I have a book hangover right now. I was silly and didn’t Library order the second book because I DIDN’T KNOW HOW DAMN GOOD IT WAS GOING TO BE! The action does not stop from chapter one, and it sucked me in like a worm hole.
So many twists and turns and it left me with a “I don’t even know how to process this and feel.”
So many twists and turns and it left me with a “I don’t even know how to process this and feel.”
kevinhendricks's review against another edition
3.0
There's a really engaging story here and the action moves pretty quick, but it felt a little disjointed. There were a few big ideas that were too big and not well explored. It ended up feeling like they were tacked on. The story would have worked better with out that extra layer. Also felt like some hints were dropped and never fully explored, though maybe that comes up in the sequel.
veronica87's review against another edition
3.0
This is dark, gritty science fiction - set in a not too pretty future where the planet is overpopulated and people are starving due to there not being enough food. And as if that were not bad enough, humans have to share the very limited resources with a race of alien beings in exchange for newer, better technology. The truth, however is far more complicated. This was like a cross between Bladerunner and The Matrix. I'm not sure how well the answers all came together at the end and I feel like some of the chase scenes went on a bit too long, but overall I'm curious about the aliens and what their full agenda might be so I'll be checking out the second book when it comes out next year.
scribblerscloud_amy's review against another edition
4.0
This has been the first novel by James K Decker that I've read, and I was pleasantly surprised! The idea of a novel about aliens living with people in a futuristic world seems like a very cliché idea, which is why I was skeptical about the overall book. But after getting into the first chapter, I realized that this was different. This novel instantly hooks you and reels you in with nonstop action right from chapter one all the way through to the last page.
The story is written in first person by the main character, Sam Shao, who is a twenty year old orphan living with her adopted father in a world where food is scarce and everyone is struggling to get by. Sam is part of a surrogate program where she raises hann (the alien race that lives among people) infants. This program promises her food as well as gives her a special mental connection to the hann race. When close to hann, Sam can feel their presence and emotions.
One day Sam’s guardian, Dragan, is violently arrested by the military – including a hann disguised as a soldier. This story follows Sam, Vamp, and Nix as they try and rescue Dragan, while discovering dangerous secrets about the hann.
Escalating very quickly, Sam realized that her race is on the verge of extinction and she may be the only person able to save them.
What I absolutely loved about this book is that right when you think you have it figured out, Decker throws you a curve ball and takes the story in a different direction. The theme of the story: Things aren't always what they seem.
The story is written in first person by the main character, Sam Shao, who is a twenty year old orphan living with her adopted father in a world where food is scarce and everyone is struggling to get by. Sam is part of a surrogate program where she raises hann (the alien race that lives among people) infants. This program promises her food as well as gives her a special mental connection to the hann race. When close to hann, Sam can feel their presence and emotions.
One day Sam’s guardian, Dragan, is violently arrested by the military – including a hann disguised as a soldier. This story follows Sam, Vamp, and Nix as they try and rescue Dragan, while discovering dangerous secrets about the hann.
Escalating very quickly, Sam realized that her race is on the verge of extinction and she may be the only person able to save them.
What I absolutely loved about this book is that right when you think you have it figured out, Decker throws you a curve ball and takes the story in a different direction. The theme of the story: Things aren't always what they seem.
siclarke's review
2.0
2.5 stars
I like the characters. The setting / context is innovative. The writing style is decent.
But... I have to ask: how many naps, druggings, kidnappings, escapes, thwarted kidnappings, and assorted losses of consciousness can one person fit into 27 hours?
I don't normally do summaries, but I'll make an exception.
Sam's just a normal girl who happens to foster an alien baby. Oh no! Her dad's been kidnapped and possibly killed. Sam narrowly escapes, and goes on the run. She gets captured by some bad people. Then she escapes, and goes on the run. Then she nearly gets captured, but she escapes. She hides out and takes a nap. Then she nearly gets killed by some bad people. They drug her. When she comes to she escapes, and goes on the run. Then she gets knocked on the head and loses consciousness. When she comes to she escapes. She goes on the run. Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.
Most of the book takes place over the course of 27 hours. Seriously. This book should be a drinking game.
I like the characters. The setting / context is innovative. The writing style is decent.
But... I have to ask: how many naps, druggings, kidnappings, escapes, thwarted kidnappings, and assorted losses of consciousness can one person fit into 27 hours?
I don't normally do summaries, but I'll make an exception.
Sam's just a normal girl who happens to foster an alien baby. Oh no! Her dad's been kidnapped and possibly killed. Sam narrowly escapes, and goes on the run. She gets captured by some bad people. Then she escapes, and goes on the run. Then she nearly gets captured, but she escapes. She hides out and takes a nap. Then she nearly gets killed by some bad people. They drug her. When she comes to she escapes, and goes on the run. Then she gets knocked on the head and loses consciousness. When she comes to she escapes. She goes on the run. Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.
Most of the book takes place over the course of 27 hours. Seriously. This book should be a drinking game.
stackwoodlibrary's review
4.0
Well written, original – shades of Blade Runner – a futuristic thriller rather than straight SF, excellent world-building.
Sam is the female protagonist in this sci-fi story of a future Earth. There aren’t resources enough to feed the over-populated planet; food is often a black market currency, the homeless and criminals are rendered into the illegal and vilified “Scrapcake”. An alien ship crashes into the Earth, the (seemingly) fragile Haan trade technology for food, promising to bring humans (specifically the Chinese, as that’s where they landed) up to their level. A human/haan surrogate system is established and our heroine Sam is a supporter, giving her a closer connection to the alien race.
Sam’s adoptive dad uncovers collusion between some of the military and the Haan Queen. Secrets and conspiracies come to the surface, Sam is no longer sure of whom she can trust, much of what is history/common knowledge are seen to be lies. All lead to an rush of an ending with twists that leave you glad this is the start of a series.
Sam is the female protagonist in this sci-fi story of a future Earth. There aren’t resources enough to feed the over-populated planet; food is often a black market currency, the homeless and criminals are rendered into the illegal and vilified “Scrapcake”. An alien ship crashes into the Earth, the (seemingly) fragile Haan trade technology for food, promising to bring humans (specifically the Chinese, as that’s where they landed) up to their level. A human/haan surrogate system is established and our heroine Sam is a supporter, giving her a closer connection to the alien race.
Sam’s adoptive dad uncovers collusion between some of the military and the Haan Queen. Secrets and conspiracies come to the surface, Sam is no longer sure of whom she can trust, much of what is history/common knowledge are seen to be lies. All lead to an rush of an ending with twists that leave you glad this is the start of a series.