In a matriarchal society the future for males is bleak. Kept in homes until twenty, milked for their sperm. To keep society functioning without males. Property of a global company they are highly prized. Reproduction is tightly controlled and just the preserve of the wealthy. Adam escapes to search for his brother. He dreams of reuniting with his brother and being a family, free from the constraints of his gender. He soon discovers he is not equipped for this world dominated by women. As he meets three girls, all with different ideas on keeping him safe. All promising to help him find his brother. All wanting something in return. Only one promises the life he desires. Only one truly understands him. Only one knows where his brother is. He will have to choose as he re-evaluates his priorities.
"Adam" by C.M. Stolworthy presents a compelling and thought-provoking short dystopian/romance novel that explores a futuristic society's struggle with (from what I understand) the human race’s ever-changing advances with medications and vaccines. While the concept is intriguing, the execution leaves something to be desired, preventing the novel from reaching its full potential.
The story revolves around the titular character, Adam, who embarks on a journey of self-discovery who has been genetically engineered to be ‘perfect’. Stolworthy delves into themes of love, identity, and the strength within individuals to live the life that they want, rather than being restricted to the life they are told they must live. The exploration of the ethical and emotional implications of genetic engineering is commendable and sparks intriguing philosophical discussions.
One of the strengths of "Adam" is the character development of Adam himself. The protagonist's transformation, as he grapples with moral dilemmas and confronts his inner demons, is captivating. As readers, we are taken on an emotional rollercoaster, witnessing Adam's growth, and making connections with his struggles. Despite this, the relationships between Adam and the other characters also feel underdeveloped, hindering the reader's ability to fully invest in their connections. I feel as though the novel could have been longer if we got to explore those relationships further and I believe that readers would feel more connection to the characters. Additionally, some of the dialogue and character interactions come across as forced and unconvincing, detracting from the overall authenticity of the story.
The pacing of the novel can be somewhat disjointed, with certain sections dragging and others feeling rushed. This inconsistency disrupts the flow of the story, making it difficult to maintain a consistent level of engagement. In conclusion, Adam by C.M. Stolworthy presents an engaging and thought-provoking dystopian tale with a well-written protagonist and immersive storytelling. However, the inconsistent pacing, unresolved plot elements, and underdeveloped secondary characters hinder the novel from reaching its full potential. Fans of the genre will likely enjoy the journey of self-discovery that Adam embarks on, but some readers might find themselves craving deeper exploration and a more coherent narrative.
It was ok reading, had 21 chapters. It was easy to follow the plot of the story. Well written but unfortunately it wasn't my cup of tea as its a dystopian novel which is a bit like the films the hills have eyes where something wipes out a population and it was the same in this story it wiped out men and they basically had to bring the men count back up by using these special Adams to do so
In, a matriarchal society the future for males is bleak. Kept in homes until twenty, milked for their sperm. There only function to provide a select few with the means to reproduce. Property of a global company.
One boy dares to dream.
Meet Adam as he fights against a system and a world that wants to use him and then throw him away.
He was bred purely to keep the human race from extinction. He knows that, knows his purpose. Adam doesn't want that he wants freedom the choice to make his own decisions.
Overhearing a conversation reveals a secret that spurs him to escape. Only to find Escaping is the easy part. He has choices, life altering choices. All he has to do is decide who to trust, as three very different girls enter his life all with different expectations. All with one unifying goal to keep him safe and alive
Thank you to Hidden Gems Books for this free ARC of Adam by C.M. Stolworthy, this review is voluntary and unbiased.
What I liked :
I enjoyed the plot, the idea that a contraceptive could infect the environment, kill men, make women infected infertile is interesting. Combined with how men in this novel are enslaved, trained and even genetically tempered to be submissive and willing breeding machines for the elite, this book is especially interesting given the times we live in with the debates on women's bodily autonomy.
I science fiction dystopian will men are only using for breeding purposes till but one Adam escape and meeting 3 girls who work with him each having their own goals a good but felt like it using some of classic fiction tropes but fun story for readers of a maturity, level of 15+