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Hers, Untamed (Hers #1)
5.5
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Alyssa Cressfield always wanted a pet—a big, sexy man who would look impressive on a leash. Now,...
Science_Fiction Romance
End of Faith
10.0
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Ninety-five percent of the world’s population perishes in the worst pandemic since the Black...
thriller dystopian fiction dystopia Rena Willemin End of Faith
Bluescreen
7.0
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Los Angeles in 2050 is a city of open doors, as long as you have the right connections. That...
Sci-fi dystopian privacy trust friendship
LeftSideCut (3778 KP) rated The Matrix (1999) in Movies
Sep 3, 2021
Put simply, The Matrix is almost the perfect action/science-fiction/mind fuck movie. It has a deliciously dystopian concept that leans into the state of the real world today (well, 1999 to be exact but it still works now). It has an aesthetic style that still looks incredible, and was unarguably ahead of its time. This includes some truly inspired set pieces. It has a fantastic cast of actors playing well realised characters, from the tranquil nature of the good guys, to the uncomfortably sinister Terminator-esque agents. It has an instantly recognisable music score. Everything about it just flows, and two+ hours fly by in no time.
Sure, The Matrix was the catalyst for countless copycats and IRL edgelords (I remember seeing this back in 2000 as a humble 12 year old, thinking it was the coolest fucking thing ever, before having my perceptions unceremoniously shattered by the influx of middle aged men walking around my tiny countryside hometown in leather dusters) but it did it first, and looked good doing it. I can even get past the blaring breakbeat music, because it's The Matrix dammit.
All these years later, a fair chunk of the dialogue is cheesy as all hell, and occasionally a little cringey, but other than that, it still stands the test of time.
Also, Rage Against the Machine.
Sure, The Matrix was the catalyst for countless copycats and IRL edgelords (I remember seeing this back in 2000 as a humble 12 year old, thinking it was the coolest fucking thing ever, before having my perceptions unceremoniously shattered by the influx of middle aged men walking around my tiny countryside hometown in leather dusters) but it did it first, and looked good doing it. I can even get past the blaring breakbeat music, because it's The Matrix dammit.
All these years later, a fair chunk of the dialogue is cheesy as all hell, and occasionally a little cringey, but other than that, it still stands the test of time.
Also, Rage Against the Machine.
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Pieces of Her Soul (Soul Tenders #1) in Books
Oct 14, 2021
169 of 250
Kindle
Pieces of her Soul ( Soul Tenders book 1)
By Serena Lindahl
Once read a review will be written via Smashbomb and link posted in comments
In the words of her schoolmaster, Kiarra is an erratic disaster. In the well-ordered and balanced society of the kingdom of Megreria, she is a failure. Every person in Megreria has an occupation in a specific House and a designated Soul Match.
Not Kiarra. She has delayed her exams until the last allowable minute, but her mind refuses to focus on one House. When she meets one man from each of the five Houses, her inability to choose extends to her heart. The rules demand she choose though, one House and one man.
What happens when she feels drawn to all five Houses and all five men who have captured her attention, and possibly her heart? Will she be doomed to a life of a Commoner? Will society and the kingdom shun her? Or have the Fates already chosen her destiny?
I really enjoyed this! For a reverse harem it was the type I like when you get to know each one before all the sec and entanglement starts. I love the characters they are well written as is the world building. I love that dystopian feel. Very good would highly recommend.
Kindle
Pieces of her Soul ( Soul Tenders book 1)
By Serena Lindahl
Once read a review will be written via Smashbomb and link posted in comments
In the words of her schoolmaster, Kiarra is an erratic disaster. In the well-ordered and balanced society of the kingdom of Megreria, she is a failure. Every person in Megreria has an occupation in a specific House and a designated Soul Match.
Not Kiarra. She has delayed her exams until the last allowable minute, but her mind refuses to focus on one House. When she meets one man from each of the five Houses, her inability to choose extends to her heart. The rules demand she choose though, one House and one man.
What happens when she feels drawn to all five Houses and all five men who have captured her attention, and possibly her heart? Will she be doomed to a life of a Commoner? Will society and the kingdom shun her? Or have the Fates already chosen her destiny?
I really enjoyed this! For a reverse harem it was the type I like when you get to know each one before all the sec and entanglement starts. I love the characters they are well written as is the world building. I love that dystopian feel. Very good would highly recommend.
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Divergent in Books
Dec 1, 2023
182 of 235
Book
Divergent ( Book 1)
By Veronica Roth
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
One choice can transform you. Pass initiation. Do not fail!
Thrilling urban dystopian fiction debut from exciting young author. In sixteen-year-old Beatrice Prior's world, society is divided into five factions -- Abnegation (the selfless), Candor (the honest), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent) -- each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue, in the attempt to form a "perfect society." At the age of sixteen, teens must choose the faction to which they will devote their lives. On her Choosing Day, Beatrice renames herself Tris, rejects her family's group, and chooses another faction. After surviving a brutal initiation, Tris finds romance with a super-hot boy, but also discovers unrest and growing conflict in their seemingly "perfect society." To survive and save those they love, they must use their strengths to uncover the truths about their identities, their families, and the order of their society itself.
I absolutely loved this book I did not put it down! It was just so easy to read and I loved everything about it. I like the film but hated Triss but in the book she is much more likeable. Really enjoyed it! How has it taken me this long to read it I’ll never know!
Book
Divergent ( Book 1)
By Veronica Roth
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
One choice can transform you. Pass initiation. Do not fail!
Thrilling urban dystopian fiction debut from exciting young author. In sixteen-year-old Beatrice Prior's world, society is divided into five factions -- Abnegation (the selfless), Candor (the honest), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent) -- each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue, in the attempt to form a "perfect society." At the age of sixteen, teens must choose the faction to which they will devote their lives. On her Choosing Day, Beatrice renames herself Tris, rejects her family's group, and chooses another faction. After surviving a brutal initiation, Tris finds romance with a super-hot boy, but also discovers unrest and growing conflict in their seemingly "perfect society." To survive and save those they love, they must use their strengths to uncover the truths about their identities, their families, and the order of their society itself.
I absolutely loved this book I did not put it down! It was just so easy to read and I loved everything about it. I like the film but hated Triss but in the book she is much more likeable. Really enjoyed it! How has it taken me this long to read it I’ll never know!
David McK (3364 KP) rated The Long Walk in Books
Nov 13, 2022
I like going for long walks.
Not sure I'd like to participate in The Long Walk, though!
An early King novel, writing under the pseudonym Richard Bachamn, this is (or was, I think, at the time of writing) a near-future-set dystopian novel where the national pastime has become The Long Walk that happens once a year, where 100 teenager contestants (all male, although I don't know whether that's part of the rules or not!) participate in The Long Walk: basically, walk for days on end without being allowed to drop below a certain pace (4 miles per hour), and with 3 warnings given before you're out for good.
Out out, as in that (more modern) episode of Dr Who with the Weakest Link ripoff - shot by the soldiers pacing the Walkers in their relative safety and comfort.
The novel, as a whole, relies on character development, which there is no denying happens throughout. I just wish, well, that something actually *happened* (apart from a few brief scenes), and that more background had been given into how this state of affairs came about.
It also has a very open-ended 'ending' (it just sort of stops), which is a matter of taste whether you prefer that or not - personally, I could have done with a bit more clarity around that!
Not sure I'd like to participate in The Long Walk, though!
An early King novel, writing under the pseudonym Richard Bachamn, this is (or was, I think, at the time of writing) a near-future-set dystopian novel where the national pastime has become The Long Walk that happens once a year, where 100 teenager contestants (all male, although I don't know whether that's part of the rules or not!) participate in The Long Walk: basically, walk for days on end without being allowed to drop below a certain pace (4 miles per hour), and with 3 warnings given before you're out for good.
Out out, as in that (more modern) episode of Dr Who with the Weakest Link ripoff - shot by the soldiers pacing the Walkers in their relative safety and comfort.
The novel, as a whole, relies on character development, which there is no denying happens throughout. I just wish, well, that something actually *happened* (apart from a few brief scenes), and that more background had been given into how this state of affairs came about.
It also has a very open-ended 'ending' (it just sort of stops), which is a matter of taste whether you prefer that or not - personally, I could have done with a bit more clarity around that!
Hers, United (Hers, #5)
9.0
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Riley Griffin has two problems. They’re called Talon and Dagger. The two male hybrids were...
Science Fiction Menage Erotic Romance
ClareR (5667 KP) rated The Warehouse in Books
Sep 25, 2019
A brilliant, if disturbing, dystopian thriller!
What will the future hold for us, with climate change becoming ever more a part of our lives, capitalism taking over every part of society and big business pushing out the small, local businesses? Well, The Warehouse looks at all of these things in a near-future dystopian thriller.
The Cloud rules pretty much everything. We learn of its genesis from one of the narrators: Gibson. He is the founder of The Cloud, and built the business up from nothing. He is nearing the end of his life, and he has decided to blog during his remaining weeks as he visits all of The Cloud installations in the US.
Paxton used to have his own small business, but after The Cloud takes his product and sells it at a much cheaper price, his company folds. He finds himself without a job, home and money. So he decides to go and work for Cloud. Those who work there, live on site in small apartments. The children of workers are educated at Cloud schools, workers are entertained on site, and there are restaurants, shops and cinemas - all within the Cloud ‘town’. There is no reason to ever leave these huge towns (it reminded me of the Victorian models of towns built around coal mines or factories- the owners would provide accommodation near to work, so that there would be no excuse not to go to work. If you lost your job, you lost your home.).
Zinnia also gets a job at Cloud at the same time as Paxton, but she has an ulterior motive for being there. She’s an undercover spy for a competitor, and she has been given a job to do by someone that she’s never met.
Capitalism does not do well out of this book. It’s like the author has taken the idea of capitalism to its furthest point to show us what will happen if we and our governments continue to give big business the freedoms and money that we do. Every aspect of the workers lives is monitored through a wristband that they must wear at all times. In my e was no way that these people could ever imagine that they were free. They weren’t. Accidents at work were brushed under the carpet, as were assaults (sexual and physical), and drug dealing. Everything was done to the advantage of The Cloud.
I really enjoyed this, and it not only entertained, it gave me food for thought. What would our world be like bereft of humanity and morality? Well actually, I think it would be pretty much like living in The Cloud facility! And the thing is, it’s all perfectly plausible! This is a great read.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bantam Press for my copy of this book to read and review.
The Cloud rules pretty much everything. We learn of its genesis from one of the narrators: Gibson. He is the founder of The Cloud, and built the business up from nothing. He is nearing the end of his life, and he has decided to blog during his remaining weeks as he visits all of The Cloud installations in the US.
Paxton used to have his own small business, but after The Cloud takes his product and sells it at a much cheaper price, his company folds. He finds himself without a job, home and money. So he decides to go and work for Cloud. Those who work there, live on site in small apartments. The children of workers are educated at Cloud schools, workers are entertained on site, and there are restaurants, shops and cinemas - all within the Cloud ‘town’. There is no reason to ever leave these huge towns (it reminded me of the Victorian models of towns built around coal mines or factories- the owners would provide accommodation near to work, so that there would be no excuse not to go to work. If you lost your job, you lost your home.).
Zinnia also gets a job at Cloud at the same time as Paxton, but she has an ulterior motive for being there. She’s an undercover spy for a competitor, and she has been given a job to do by someone that she’s never met.
Capitalism does not do well out of this book. It’s like the author has taken the idea of capitalism to its furthest point to show us what will happen if we and our governments continue to give big business the freedoms and money that we do. Every aspect of the workers lives is monitored through a wristband that they must wear at all times. In my e was no way that these people could ever imagine that they were free. They weren’t. Accidents at work were brushed under the carpet, as were assaults (sexual and physical), and drug dealing. Everything was done to the advantage of The Cloud.
I really enjoyed this, and it not only entertained, it gave me food for thought. What would our world be like bereft of humanity and morality? Well actually, I think it would be pretty much like living in The Cloud facility! And the thing is, it’s all perfectly plausible! This is a great read.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bantam Press for my copy of this book to read and review.
Sarah (7798 KP) rated The Last Girl in Books
Dec 11, 2017
A good first part
This is a very intriguing idea for a story, although bleak dystopian futures appear to be all the rage at the moment. Set in the near future where women have virtually stopped giving birth to girls, where a group of young women are being held in a centre called the ARC - it starts off well and centres around Zoey in her daily routine. This first part is interesting, as you learn about life in the ARC and it keeps you hooked as you try and figure out with Zoey what’s going on. For me this is the best part of the book, as it goes a little downhill from there.
The second half is believable, but potentially far fetched depending solely on survival instinct of someone who has been institutionalised her entire life. Not bad, but I had to allow for a little embellishment and didn’t quite believe 100%. Shame as it’s a very well written and enjoyable book.
The characters themselves are all fairly interesting, although I did wish to see more of certain characters who sadly haven’t made it to the next book. Zoey herself is a strong female lead, obviously taking its lead from the Hunger Games etc. The whole book reminds me a lot of the Wool trilogy, and of Joe Hill’s The Fireman too.
In all, a very good enjoyable first part, and am definitely looking forward to reading the rest of the trilogy.
The second half is believable, but potentially far fetched depending solely on survival instinct of someone who has been institutionalised her entire life. Not bad, but I had to allow for a little embellishment and didn’t quite believe 100%. Shame as it’s a very well written and enjoyable book.
The characters themselves are all fairly interesting, although I did wish to see more of certain characters who sadly haven’t made it to the next book. Zoey herself is a strong female lead, obviously taking its lead from the Hunger Games etc. The whole book reminds me a lot of the Wool trilogy, and of Joe Hill’s The Fireman too.
In all, a very good enjoyable first part, and am definitely looking forward to reading the rest of the trilogy.