A review by jlynnelseauthor
Elusion by Claudia Gabel, Cheryl Klam
2.0
I really enjoyed the world building in this book. I think it was clear and concise in description and function. I also liked that it was set in an unspecified future date. It could be soon or far away. But it feels plausible and isn’t too constricting for the reader to let their imagination run along with the plot. It doesn’t feel so advanced that things are hard to picture, but it is a step up from the present normal. The plot set in this world is about a new product sweeping the nation called Elusion. This is a virtual reality program that the main character, Regan's father creates because the world is dying. Good springboard to build up from. And this plot focuses on family relationships running parallel to the significance of the main character's father creating a program to honor the Earth instead of how life sucks now that the earth is destroyed.
But then we enter the love triange. Yuck. Plus, Regan herself completely manipulates one of the boy's feelings for her and strings him along to get what she wants. Not likeable. Plus the romance gets in the way of them finding answers! It’s annoying. They’re about to investigate something, but then they start flirting instead when they know time is running out. What??? Where the romance was mixed in just did not fit well and made things awkward. One minute it’s a frantic chase to find out something, the next they’re sitting down and making eyes at each other. Errr… so what’s going on here? Regan is also quick to trust Josh instead of her lifelong friend, Patrick. Love at first sight = trusting someone with long-kept family secrets.
I didn’t like the "firewall" problem. I don’t get it... at all. Going inside a firewall like its a physical thing you can walk up to? Is this something from the Matrix? And the end travels through the firewall were fraught with piecemeal elements that were strange and a bit annoying.
However, the biggest disappointment was the ending. A cliffhanger. The authors never indicated there would be another book. I read this book thinking it was a standalone, and instead nothing was wrapped up well. There has to be some gratification or clearly-defined answers given after journeying for so long with a character. I felt like I went nowhere when I was done. The answers given were to smaller problems that did not affect the situation the main characters were left in. Plus the ending was so abrupt, I was wondering if I was missing a few pages in my library rental. I never felt urgency to their situation, and the focus of the plot was inconsistent. Not a hugely satisfying read.
But then we enter the love triange. Yuck. Plus, Regan herself completely manipulates one of the boy's feelings for her and strings him along to get what she wants. Not likeable. Plus the romance gets in the way of them finding answers! It’s annoying. They’re about to investigate something, but then they start flirting instead when they know time is running out. What??? Where the romance was mixed in just did not fit well and made things awkward. One minute it’s a frantic chase to find out something, the next they’re sitting down and making eyes at each other. Errr… so what’s going on here? Regan is also quick to trust Josh instead of her lifelong friend, Patrick. Love at first sight = trusting someone with long-kept family secrets.
I didn’t like the "firewall" problem. I don’t get it... at all. Going inside a firewall like its a physical thing you can walk up to? Is this something from the Matrix? And the end travels through the firewall were fraught with piecemeal elements that were strange and a bit annoying.
However, the biggest disappointment was the ending. A cliffhanger. The authors never indicated there would be another book. I read this book thinking it was a standalone, and instead nothing was wrapped up well. There has to be some gratification or clearly-defined answers given after journeying for so long with a character. I felt like I went nowhere when I was done. The answers given were to smaller problems that did not affect the situation the main characters were left in. Plus the ending was so abrupt, I was wondering if I was missing a few pages in my library rental. I never felt urgency to their situation, and the focus of the plot was inconsistent. Not a hugely satisfying read.