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diamondxgirl
This is the most beautiful graphic novel I've read and I literally sobbed the entire way through it. What a beautiful way to honor Love is Love in the wake of the Orlando massacre. I can't recommend this book enough.
This book explores a lot of tough issues in a surprising way. Didn't feel like YA or it would be a four star for me.
When Swoon Reads said they were publishing books outside the swoon arena, I had no idea they would take the full leap into the thriller arena! You Don't Know My Name is the first in the Black Angels Chronicles, so titled because the secret government agency she works for is so named.
Reagan is born into the Black Angels, which is basically the only way to get into the club. As you can imagine, this causes some conflict as she's not sure this is the life she wants. Talk about pressure! Then there's this whole danger aspect about being an unsanctioned secret spy. It's kind of a lot to deal with as a teen; Reagan's panic and trauma is explored, which is refreshing. There's an illusion of a romance, which I hope is developed in the next book. I need this ship to sail!
The writing is strong, though the pacing for the first 40% of the book is slower than I would have liked. I prefer to be dropped into the middle of the action. From the mid point through the end, it's action packed and the ending will leave you gasping and clutching your chest, screaming NEXT BOOK PLEASE!
Reagan is born into the Black Angels, which is basically the only way to get into the club. As you can imagine, this causes some conflict as she's not sure this is the life she wants. Talk about pressure! Then there's this whole danger aspect about being an unsanctioned secret spy. It's kind of a lot to deal with as a teen; Reagan's panic and trauma is explored, which is refreshing. There's an illusion of a romance, which I hope is developed in the next book. I need this ship to sail!
The writing is strong, though the pacing for the first 40% of the book is slower than I would have liked. I prefer to be dropped into the middle of the action. From the mid point through the end, it's action packed and the ending will leave you gasping and clutching your chest, screaming NEXT BOOK PLEASE!
So, where do I start with this review? I LOVED Willful Machines. Everything about this book is phenomenal, from the writing to the characters to the story that was perfectly paced and ready for you to highlight and tab. It's SO quotable.
Usually when I saw a grin that big on people, it made me want to shake them and ask them what there was to be so damn happy about. But not with Nico. His grin just made my knees feel squishy.
This book makes me knees feel squishy. ANYWAYS. Willful Machines stars Lee Fisher, a shy boy who is trapped in the closet thanks to antiquated thoughts held by his father who is also the President, and Nico, the new kid in town who is smoking hot, slightly mysterious, and determined to get to know Lee better. They're joined by a cast of supporting characters that include the President, Lee's (dead) scientist mother, Bex (Lee's BFF), and Lee's grandfather, who runs the school Lee and Nico go to. Oh, and Charlotte, the zombie AI who may or may not be causing havoc around the world.
But aren’t our choices determined by our programming too? Our genes and our environment and all that? Aren’t we basically just robots ourselves?
Set in an undetermined (but futuristic) timeline, the world of Willful Machines is most terrifying because of how realistic it is. This is the dystopia that could happen in our lifetimes. The people fear robots, who have become so human-like that they demand rights or they will fight back. It's a civil war that no one is going to win. The humans have practically become archaic in their thinking to "protect" themselves; again, no one is winning. It's practically nonsensical, which is too close to the world we live in now.
“The real question isn’t whether 2Bs are alive,” she said. “It’s whether humans are anything more than machines. But I have a feeling you knew that already.”
Willful Machines, much like Boy Robot and The Diabolic, explores what it means to be human. It explores free will in a way that will have you questioning yourself like no other book has. The arguments posed on either side will have you deep in thought.
Within the story, there's a significant romance subplot between Lee and Nico. If you're not cheering for them, then you might have a heart of ice. Their romance is so dang cute. There's also a lot of action/thriller, especially in the back half of the story. There's something for everyone here, packaged in writing that keeps you entertained the whole way through.
Willful Machines is a book I let sit on my TBR for far too long. Don't make the same mistake!
Usually when I saw a grin that big on people, it made me want to shake them and ask them what there was to be so damn happy about. But not with Nico. His grin just made my knees feel squishy.
This book makes me knees feel squishy. ANYWAYS. Willful Machines stars Lee Fisher, a shy boy who is trapped in the closet thanks to antiquated thoughts held by his father who is also the President, and Nico, the new kid in town who is smoking hot, slightly mysterious, and determined to get to know Lee better. They're joined by a cast of supporting characters that include the President, Lee's (dead) scientist mother, Bex (Lee's BFF), and Lee's grandfather, who runs the school Lee and Nico go to. Oh, and Charlotte, the zombie AI who may or may not be causing havoc around the world.
But aren’t our choices determined by our programming too? Our genes and our environment and all that? Aren’t we basically just robots ourselves?
Set in an undetermined (but futuristic) timeline, the world of Willful Machines is most terrifying because of how realistic it is. This is the dystopia that could happen in our lifetimes. The people fear robots, who have become so human-like that they demand rights or they will fight back. It's a civil war that no one is going to win. The humans have practically become archaic in their thinking to "protect" themselves; again, no one is winning. It's practically nonsensical, which is too close to the world we live in now.
“The real question isn’t whether 2Bs are alive,” she said. “It’s whether humans are anything more than machines. But I have a feeling you knew that already.”
Willful Machines, much like Boy Robot and The Diabolic, explores what it means to be human. It explores free will in a way that will have you questioning yourself like no other book has. The arguments posed on either side will have you deep in thought.
Within the story, there's a significant romance subplot between Lee and Nico. If you're not cheering for them, then you might have a heart of ice. Their romance is so dang cute. There's also a lot of action/thriller, especially in the back half of the story. There's something for everyone here, packaged in writing that keeps you entertained the whole way through.
Willful Machines is a book I let sit on my TBR for far too long. Don't make the same mistake!
This one is far more intense than the first one! The mystery and thriller is pumped up, as is the romance.
After having read Willful Machines, I hadn't quite switched my brain to prepare for how dark, gritty, and deep Tattoo Atlas would be. Boy, it is thought-provoking. Tim Floreen has done it again.
“I just don’t think I believe evil is some disease you can treat, like malaria.”
There are quite a cast of characters in Tattoo Atlas, from Rem, the main protagonist who witnessed his best friend murdered by a classmate, Franklin, said classmate who is now up for the cure for evil, Callie, Lydia, and Tor, Rem's other close friends, and Rem's mom, the scientist behind the implant that cures evil.
I supposed it was like we’d been saying last night: people changed all the time, for all sorts of reasons. But if people changed all the time, what was it we fell in love with when we fell in love with someone? An idea? An illusion? There had to be something there that didn’t change, right?
In the same vein of Willful Machines, Tattoo Atlas explores nature versus nurture and the concept of "evil" (murder) being something you can turn off with a switch (ish). Rem explores his own feelings - even if Franklin can be turned off, can he look at him the same way? It's the chicken and the egg conversation; are you a cured person first or always a monster?
Tattoo Atlas doesn't shy away from the violent culture we live in. Along the way, Rem's friends continue to be murdered and you're left wondering if the implant is working (or even can work), is there a copycat killer, or is there something more to be explored? There's a lot of conversation about what it means to be nice versus what it means to be good.
“I just don’t think I believe evil is some disease you can treat, like malaria.”
There are quite a cast of characters in Tattoo Atlas, from Rem, the main protagonist who witnessed his best friend murdered by a classmate, Franklin, said classmate who is now up for the cure for evil, Callie, Lydia, and Tor, Rem's other close friends, and Rem's mom, the scientist behind the implant that cures evil.
I supposed it was like we’d been saying last night: people changed all the time, for all sorts of reasons. But if people changed all the time, what was it we fell in love with when we fell in love with someone? An idea? An illusion? There had to be something there that didn’t change, right?
In the same vein of Willful Machines, Tattoo Atlas explores nature versus nurture and the concept of "evil" (murder) being something you can turn off with a switch (ish). Rem explores his own feelings - even if Franklin can be turned off, can he look at him the same way? It's the chicken and the egg conversation; are you a cured person first or always a monster?
Tattoo Atlas doesn't shy away from the violent culture we live in. Along the way, Rem's friends continue to be murdered and you're left wondering if the implant is working (or even can work), is there a copycat killer, or is there something more to be explored? There's a lot of conversation about what it means to be nice versus what it means to be good.
I have a lot of thinking before writing this review. Also, I'm ready to read that book about Brad. ;)