zackbel's review
2.0
DNF at just over 50%, This book had three core issues. Plot, characters, and worldbuilding. Those three make up about the entire book, so its not a good sign.
** Worldbuilding
The world of Salvus confused me. It did not seem to have a very good, fundamental basis to exist. The concept, while mildly interesting, had not been delved into any deeper than "can I write about it?". Major problems exist, like how on Earth did Salvus come to be? Is this even Earth (I genuinely couldn't tell)? How does this society function, or feed it self, or police itself? What even is the technology of this world, is it science fiction, or is it modern times (again, I couldn't tell)?
There seems to be a sort of wild-west flavour to the world outside of Salvus, with an abandoned, most apocalyptic world. I loved it. It was a really interesting idea and it gave the characters real flavour.
Yet people still get jobs, there's gas stations and convenience stores. What exactly is the reality here?
Salvus itself has many flaws - how do you wall an entire city, unless this is a sci-fi setting? There is mind control, but apparently society largely works the same? How does this city fund itself? If it built walls to defend itself, who exactly was it fighting, and why do they apparently not care anymore?
The worldbuilding could have heartily been improved by moving the whole concept to a post-apocalyptic setting.
** Characters
Van is, quite plainly, a dick. He's angry at everyone, including his fated mate, the world, his bosses, his romantic interest. I can love that type of character, actually. But it feels like Van has no other personality traits. He doesn't have interests, or hobbies, or apparently even one friend. He's dis-likeable with a capital every letter. He practically uses Omar as a sex toy. Which, I get was the point . . . but he's not a compelling character either.
Omar I just felt sorry for. But he doesn't have much of a personality either. He has no interests. We get told his reading interests are "the same as all other alphas". He has no hobbies. No friends. I don't think he even had a job, at least not that was mentioned.
Neither of these characters makes logical decisions. Both of them abandon their entire life on the spot on a whim. They don't even pre-plan anything. Both of them go hang out with random people they just met, who could be serial killers for all they know, at the drop of a hat.
Both of them know these people are lying to them, or hiding things, and just brush it off. Van takes far too long to realise he's stepped into a horrible dystopia. He brushes off every sign of it for as long as possible.
** Plot
The plot of Salvus is not necessarily bad. It just meanders. Everything takes ages to arrive, and when it does its over so quick. It relies on characters making stupid decisions to get places.
A lot more tightening up, and this book could be pretty good. A lot of the concepts are solid. Execution is less so.
** Worldbuilding
The world of Salvus confused me. It did not seem to have a very good, fundamental basis to exist. The concept, while mildly interesting, had not been delved into any deeper than "can I write about it?". Major problems exist, like how on Earth did Salvus come to be? Is this even Earth (I genuinely couldn't tell)? How does this society function, or feed it self, or police itself? What even is the technology of this world, is it science fiction, or is it modern times (again, I couldn't tell)?
There seems to be a sort of wild-west flavour to the world outside of Salvus, with an abandoned, most apocalyptic world. I loved it. It was a really interesting idea and it gave the characters real flavour.
Yet people still get jobs, there's gas stations and convenience stores. What exactly is the reality here?
Salvus itself has many flaws - how do you wall an entire city, unless this is a sci-fi setting? There is mind control, but apparently society largely works the same? How does this city fund itself? If it built walls to defend itself, who exactly was it fighting, and why do they apparently not care anymore?
The worldbuilding could have heartily been improved by moving the whole concept to a post-apocalyptic setting.
** Characters
Van is, quite plainly, a dick. He's angry at everyone, including his fated mate, the world, his bosses, his romantic interest. I can love that type of character, actually. But it feels like Van has no other personality traits. He doesn't have interests, or hobbies, or apparently even one friend. He's dis-likeable with a capital every letter. He practically uses Omar as a sex toy. Which, I get was the point . . . but he's not a compelling character either.
Omar I just felt sorry for. But he doesn't have much of a personality either. He has no interests. We get told his reading interests are "the same as all other alphas". He has no hobbies. No friends. I don't think he even had a job, at least not that was mentioned.
Neither of these characters makes logical decisions. Both of them abandon their entire life on the spot on a whim. They don't even pre-plan anything. Both of them go hang out with random people they just met, who could be serial killers for all they know, at the drop of a hat.
Both of them know these people are lying to them, or hiding things, and just brush it off. Van takes far too long to realise he's stepped into a horrible dystopia. He brushes off every sign of it for as long as possible.
** Plot
The plot of Salvus is not necessarily bad. It just meanders. Everything takes ages to arrive, and when it does its over so quick. It relies on characters making stupid decisions to get places.
A lot more tightening up, and this book could be pretty good. A lot of the concepts are solid. Execution is less so.
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