imjustcupcake's review
5.0
DEBBI starts out with a bang! I was pulled in immediately and did not want to stop! I did, however, take a mini break to go find George Ebey on Twitter to verify if the series would be in complete novels or if it would continue on in novella form though (complete novels fyi!).
DEBBI is mostly about Helen. A smart girl who has entered a competition to try to earn the rights to controlling a mining drone on the planet Mars. She fears that if she doesn't win, her family will lose all of their money and that they will be out on the street.
This novella was nerdy and geeky and wonderfully written. In the few short pages that we were given of this wonderful world that George Ebey has created, we get to meet quite a few characters - some of which you can tell are going to be key in the forthcoming series. And he manages to make you feel like you know them and that you are connected to them in the limited amount of time a novella allows an author to have.
Also, the video gaming aspect of the competition was amazing! The imagery that George Ebey creates is astounding and I could only wish that I could some how play in a video game like the one he created for the competition some day. The robot battles of the competition were so excellently written. I didn't want those parts to stop!
I knew this story was going to be short. That is the nature of the novella... But I still am sad that it ended. I read through the story so quickly and just wanted more of it. I will be awaiting the release of the first complete novel in the Helen of Mars series, but until then I am glad that this novella exists and that it has introduced me to this marvelous world that George Ebey has created.
My Rating
5 Stars
Find more of my reviews here:
http://readingwithcupcakes.blogspot.com/
This review is based on an eARC provided by the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
DEBBI is mostly about Helen. A smart girl who has entered a competition to try to earn the rights to controlling a mining drone on the planet Mars. She fears that if she doesn't win, her family will lose all of their money and that they will be out on the street.
This novella was nerdy and geeky and wonderfully written. In the few short pages that we were given of this wonderful world that George Ebey has created, we get to meet quite a few characters - some of which you can tell are going to be key in the forthcoming series. And he manages to make you feel like you know them and that you are connected to them in the limited amount of time a novella allows an author to have.
Also, the video gaming aspect of the competition was amazing! The imagery that George Ebey creates is astounding and I could only wish that I could some how play in a video game like the one he created for the competition some day. The robot battles of the competition were so excellently written. I didn't want those parts to stop!
I knew this story was going to be short. That is the nature of the novella... But I still am sad that it ended. I read through the story so quickly and just wanted more of it. I will be awaiting the release of the first complete novel in the Helen of Mars series, but until then I am glad that this novella exists and that it has introduced me to this marvelous world that George Ebey has created.
My Rating
5 Stars
Find more of my reviews here:
http://readingwithcupcakes.blogspot.com/
This review is based on an eARC provided by the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
hdbblog's review
4.0
Well now, color me interested! I'm a fan of Science Fiction at the best of times, but it takes a lot of talent to weave a really good story into a novella length piece. There's a very short period of time to bring in characters, make them feel richly written, and lay out their fates. George Ebey doesn't even blink an eye with DEBBI. He makes full use of all the time that he has, and it makes for one intriguing read.
This novella comes on strong. I was hooked on the idea of a lone robot, battling against the odds for survival. I actually didn't read the synopsis for this before I started it, so I didn't realize that Helen was even a factor. Once I understood that Helen was actually the mastermind behind everything, I was even more impressed. Now it wasn't just about robot battles, which are cool enough, it was also about the heart and the passion behind the robot battles. Helen's character was easy to fall in love with. Her motivations were true, and I can't deny that I loved her fiery retorts towards the end. I'll follow that girl into whatever happens next.
I was pretty excited to find out that this is a prequel novella, because I definitely need more. If you're a fan of strong female characters, epic robot battles, and tension for days, you need to read this. Trust me, it's well worth your time.
This novella comes on strong. I was hooked on the idea of a lone robot, battling against the odds for survival. I actually didn't read the synopsis for this before I started it, so I didn't realize that Helen was even a factor. Once I understood that Helen was actually the mastermind behind everything, I was even more impressed. Now it wasn't just about robot battles, which are cool enough, it was also about the heart and the passion behind the robot battles. Helen's character was easy to fall in love with. Her motivations were true, and I can't deny that I loved her fiery retorts towards the end. I'll follow that girl into whatever happens next.
I was pretty excited to find out that this is a prequel novella, because I definitely need more. If you're a fan of strong female characters, epic robot battles, and tension for days, you need to read this. Trust me, it's well worth your time.
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