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miffyf's review
5.0
This is an extraordinary novella. Set in a not-too-distant future, the story is visceral, frightening, and all too realistic.
Mirii is a survivor, a young woman on the edge of adulthood and 'freedom'. But how free are you, really, when your whole life has been one of institutionalisation and brutal control? Orphancorp has a ready supply of orphan children at their disposal. Ostensibly a place of caring, Orphancorp is actually state-sanctioned slavery, where only the strongest and smartest have any chance of getting out 'alive'. The system is rigging against any of the orphans actually having a better life on the outside. Undereducated and the under the boot, most children are submissive and compliant.
But not Mirii, and not Vu, a fellow orphan around about the same age. Mirii and Vu form an attachment, of sorts, a desperate and necessarily furtive meeting of mind and body which might compromise all of Mirii's plans for the future.
My only minor gripe is that the novella format didn't allow for a satisfactory resolution to Mirii's story. Thankfully, [b:Psynode|34118457|Psynode|Marlee Jane Ward|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1486284691s/34118457.jpg|55150960] is now published. Can't wait to read it.
Mirii is a survivor, a young woman on the edge of adulthood and 'freedom'. But how free are you, really, when your whole life has been one of institutionalisation and brutal control? Orphancorp has a ready supply of orphan children at their disposal. Ostensibly a place of caring, Orphancorp is actually state-sanctioned slavery, where only the strongest and smartest have any chance of getting out 'alive'. The system is rigging against any of the orphans actually having a better life on the outside. Undereducated and the under the boot, most children are submissive and compliant.
But not Mirii, and not Vu, a fellow orphan around about the same age. Mirii and Vu form an attachment, of sorts, a desperate and necessarily furtive meeting of mind and body which might compromise all of Mirii's plans for the future.
My only minor gripe is that the novella format didn't allow for a satisfactory resolution to Mirii's story. Thankfully, [b:Psynode|34118457|Psynode|Marlee Jane Ward|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1486284691s/34118457.jpg|55150960] is now published. Can't wait to read it.
catherine_mack's review
5.0
Wow! This story comes at you like a sharp punch in the gut. But in a good way. Also enjoyed the tight writing and vivid characters. More please!
Probably more suited to senior members of the school library. There are some adult themes - brilliantly realised.
Probably more suited to senior members of the school library. There are some adult themes - brilliantly realised.
nbarton82's review
2.0
Two stars because it's undoubtedly fine-tuned, well-paced, suspenseful.
Only two stars, because: nothing really happens; several plot points just disappear into nowhere; Ward's world-building is poor and inconsistent (Orphancorp gives kids tablets, but also tortures them and makes them live on bread and water?); use of slang was excessive and annoying; but most importantly, I hated every single character, including Mirii, the main character. An ugly story about ugly, unsympathetic people.
Only two stars, because: nothing really happens; several plot points just disappear into nowhere; Ward's world-building is poor and inconsistent (Orphancorp gives kids tablets, but also tortures them and makes them live on bread and water?); use of slang was excessive and annoying; but most importantly, I hated every single character, including Mirii, the main character. An ugly story about ugly, unsympathetic people.
tomstbr's review
5.0
Damn. Short, sharp and to the point. Great voice, which is something that can be said of Viva la Novella winners in general. Brutal but tender. Does so much in so few pages. There really is no reason not to get it now.
ninj's review against another edition
4.0
Great story about a late teen at a future dystopian orphanage in Australia (Sydney?), what it's like there. Fairly bleak, with control aspects, even though there's a good mix of secondary characters and the various relationships going on. Does have an aussie vibe.
romcm's review
5.0
Young orphan lives in a terrible dystopian future group home, gets up to mischief (sex, drugs, tattoos, black market trading) and is beaten for it. Narrowly escapes a life in prison... And we'll have to read the next instalment to find out what happens on the outside!
joshsimp's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
littleelfman's review
5.0
Bleak, sexy and powerful, this bite-sized novella will fight back while it's in your mouth and be difficult to swallow. But this is only because it captures so many of the feelings around children in detention and mistreated youth perfectly. This dystopia is only a couple of government sanctions away. Wake up and smell the injustice.
emilyob's review
I'm adding this, even though I just read the sequel, [b:Psynode|34118457|Psynode|Marlee Jane Ward|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1486284691s/34118457.jpg|55150960].
And what I want to know is why aren't you sci-fi, futurist loving diversity-loving readers all over this book?
This book is slightly horrifying, strangely beautiful and unabashedly queer. And, for a non sci-fi-loving, non-futuristic-dystopia-loving type, it was bloody good. I mean, it won awards here in Australia. For a reason.
It's short, but it's quite a ride.
Get on it!
(Oh, and I suspect there will be a third book, too.)
(I don't rate YA books because what kind of *hole YA writer judges other YA writers? Out loud, anyway? But if I wasn't, there'd be, like, all kinds of stars.)
And what I want to know is why aren't you sci-fi, futurist loving diversity-loving readers all over this book?
This book is slightly horrifying, strangely beautiful and unabashedly queer. And, for a non sci-fi-loving, non-futuristic-dystopia-loving type, it was bloody good. I mean, it won awards here in Australia. For a reason.
It's short, but it's quite a ride.
Get on it!
(Oh, and I suspect there will be a third book, too.)
(I don't rate YA books because what kind of *hole YA writer judges other YA writers? Out loud, anyway? But if I wasn't, there'd be, like, all kinds of stars.)