spookyjane's review against another edition
Couldn't stand Han, and the other 2 POV characters were good to okay. Shame because I love the concept and idea of the story, but I can't get past characters I'm not invested in or immediately dislike.
phantasmwitch's review against another edition
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
apauli02's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
sammyfitz's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
quirkycatsfatstacks's review against another edition
4.0
I originally fell in love with Madeleine Roux's writing back when Salvaged came out (not that long ago, actually). And now she's bringing readers another science fiction thriller, Reclaimed, and I am all sorts of here for it.
The Ganymede compound is offering what seems to be too good to be true. They're offering a fresh start – a total erasure of all the bad memories, leaving one feeling finally and totally free. As the saying goes, what often looks too good to be true...
Yet, some cannot look away from this opportunity. Take Senna; she's gone through hell and back and still to this day faces public outcry whenever her face is recognized. It feels like the only way forward is to remove the person she used to be. To remove the nightmares of her past.
“It means we can help you,” Patron told him, offering what smile they could given their strange, alien face. “It means the technology can take it all away.”
Wow. Once again, Madeleine Roux has managed to create a novel that simultaneously punches you in the face and the feels. Reclaimed is a tense science fiction novel that raises questions of self, identity, trauma, and the limits of technology.
In other words, this book is going to make you think. It's also going to work hard to make you feel something towards the three leading perspectives, all of whom have different reasons for wanting specific memories erased.
I'll admit that I didn't like all three characters at first. It took me quite a while to appreciate their complexity. That changed before the book was done, though I'll admit the harsher and sadder parts of their story still hurt to think about. That's how you know a character was written well, I suppose.
Overall, I really enjoyed this read and found myself quickly devouring the contents. I think the thing I love the most is that it blended science fiction with horror and thriller elements, thanks mainly to how human beings process trauma. It was fascinating.
Thanks to Ace and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Check out more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
The Ganymede compound is offering what seems to be too good to be true. They're offering a fresh start – a total erasure of all the bad memories, leaving one feeling finally and totally free. As the saying goes, what often looks too good to be true...
Yet, some cannot look away from this opportunity. Take Senna; she's gone through hell and back and still to this day faces public outcry whenever her face is recognized. It feels like the only way forward is to remove the person she used to be. To remove the nightmares of her past.
“It means we can help you,” Patron told him, offering what smile they could given their strange, alien face. “It means the technology can take it all away.”
Wow. Once again, Madeleine Roux has managed to create a novel that simultaneously punches you in the face and the feels. Reclaimed is a tense science fiction novel that raises questions of self, identity, trauma, and the limits of technology.
In other words, this book is going to make you think. It's also going to work hard to make you feel something towards the three leading perspectives, all of whom have different reasons for wanting specific memories erased.
I'll admit that I didn't like all three characters at first. It took me quite a while to appreciate their complexity. That changed before the book was done, though I'll admit the harsher and sadder parts of their story still hurt to think about. That's how you know a character was written well, I suppose.
Overall, I really enjoyed this read and found myself quickly devouring the contents. I think the thing I love the most is that it blended science fiction with horror and thriller elements, thanks mainly to how human beings process trauma. It was fascinating.
Thanks to Ace and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Check out more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
lady_logomancer's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this book! With the MC Senna being scapegoated for something that was not her fault, she hides for a year with a friend. Lonely and feeling like a burden, she applies to be part of a cutting edge program designed to delete your worst memories. As soon as she and two other patients go to the remote treatment location on one of Jupiter’s moons, things start to get really weird!
Listen, I love me a bananas book and this totally qualifies. Senna knows something is wrong pretty early on but she’s there for a reason and she’s determined to finish this thing out. She’s super vulnerable and I felt like reaching in the book and grabbing her out a few times. It’s like watching a trapped bird and dying to open the window for her.
Once you start getting the awesome model and fellow patient Zurri involved though, things really get interesting. Zurri takes no shit from anyone, I seriously loved her. Sure, she’s kind of meant to be brash and spoiled but I liked her the best, a strong woman will always get my vote.
The third patient, Han is just a teenage boy and I didn’t connect with him as much but he’s still an important part of the triad.
I don’t want to spoil anything so I’ll just say that this books is creepy as hell, atmospheric, maddening and entertaining. If you are a fan of movies like Annihilation or Ex Machina you’ll like this.
Thank you to @netgalley and @berkleypub for my gifted copy of Reclaimed!
Listen, I love me a bananas book and this totally qualifies. Senna knows something is wrong pretty early on but she’s there for a reason and she’s determined to finish this thing out. She’s super vulnerable and I felt like reaching in the book and grabbing her out a few times. It’s like watching a trapped bird and dying to open the window for her.
Once you start getting the awesome model and fellow patient Zurri involved though, things really get interesting. Zurri takes no shit from anyone, I seriously loved her. Sure, she’s kind of meant to be brash and spoiled but I liked her the best, a strong woman will always get my vote.
The third patient, Han is just a teenage boy and I didn’t connect with him as much but he’s still an important part of the triad.
I don’t want to spoil anything so I’ll just say that this books is creepy as hell, atmospheric, maddening and entertaining. If you are a fan of movies like Annihilation or Ex Machina you’ll like this.
Thank you to @netgalley and @berkleypub for my gifted copy of Reclaimed!
lpcoolgirl's review against another edition
5.0
This was a fantastic read, loved the thriller mystery and these characters, and I had a great time reading it!
metafiktion's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Who would’ve thought that in a genre of infinite possibilities, the most horrifying antagonist would still be a run-of-the-mill creepy, rapey narcissist of a man? (Every single woman, that’s who.) I wasn’t super convinced by the interplay between the scientific and moral elements in this novel but overall still a pretty solid story.
kungfusquirrel's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0