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Wake
It’s 2020 and California girl Camilla Brightly is an expat working for a PR firm that specializes in raising public awareness about their clients’ products, even ones like eco-friendly bouncy castles and almost-vegan honey. Their most recent project? Everyone on staff has to get their “domestic helpmates”—anything from dishwashers to disco balls—networked via a new client’s “smart” home automation system. Camille doesn’t want Big Brother knowing that the only thing in her freezer is a vodka smoothie, but that’s not the worst of her problems.
A hacker intent on taking down one of her firm’s customers stumbles across a secret Camilla didn’t even know she was keeping, and her refrigerator turns out to be so smart it’s figured out how to stalk her. On top of that, there’s an environmental crisis brewing in the depths of a glacier halfway across the world that’s a threat to everyone on the planet. Global warming has reached a tipping point—and so has Camilla. She can’t stop the impending apocalypse but can she save herself?
With the help of an adorably nerdy co-worker and his polyamorous cousin, Camilla has to untangle herself from her less-than-harmonious home, foil a blackmailer, and face down an ecological disaster that might change life as she knows it forever. “Wake”—the prequel to “An Etiquette Guide to the End Times”—is a novel of climate change, unruly appliances, and finding a place to belong.
A hacker intent on taking down one of her firm’s customers stumbles across a secret Camilla didn’t even know she was keeping, and her refrigerator turns out to be so smart it’s figured out how to stalk her. On top of that, there’s an environmental crisis brewing in the depths of a glacier halfway across the world that’s a threat to everyone on the planet. Global warming has reached a tipping point—and so has Camilla. She can’t stop the impending apocalypse but can she save herself?
With the help of an adorably nerdy co-worker and his polyamorous cousin, Camilla has to untangle herself from her less-than-harmonious home, foil a blackmailer, and face down an ecological disaster that might change life as she knows it forever. “Wake”—the prequel to “An Etiquette Guide to the End Times”—is a novel of climate change, unruly appliances, and finding a place to belong.
234 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 5, 2015
12 people are currently reading
450 people want to read
About the author
Maia Sepp
6 books62 followersMaia Sepp is an author of humorous contemporary and dystopian fiction. She left the tech sector to write about sock thievery, migraines, and the future.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
June 16, 2015
A copy of Wake was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review, and because she intentionally added a thrum. How could I resist?
I enjoyed Maia Sepp's other End Times writing, a novella called An Etiquette Guide to the End Times, which I remember making me laugh. This is the story of the time right before that novella, about how the rising water levels occur. Key characters include a California girl (who has lived all over) working for a Toronto marketing firm, an iceberg scientist (her Dad) and a bunch of other characters that add a fun spirit to the novel. I particularly enjoyed the story of the almost-sentient kitchen appliances, because it seems like a believable end product of where our technology could head.
I laughed a lot, and emailed some Toronto friends in particular because I thought they would like it. I would have loved for it to be longer, although I like these almost episodic short novels in the End Times world, and I will look forward to what comes next, whether it is before the fridge or after the chickens.
I enjoyed Maia Sepp's other End Times writing, a novella called An Etiquette Guide to the End Times, which I remember making me laugh. This is the story of the time right before that novella, about how the rising water levels occur. Key characters include a California girl (who has lived all over) working for a Toronto marketing firm, an iceberg scientist (her Dad) and a bunch of other characters that add a fun spirit to the novel. I particularly enjoyed the story of the almost-sentient kitchen appliances, because it seems like a believable end product of where our technology could head.
I laughed a lot, and emailed some Toronto friends in particular because I thought they would like it. I would have loved for it to be longer, although I like these almost episodic short novels in the End Times world, and I will look forward to what comes next, whether it is before the fridge or after the chickens.
June 3, 2015
"It's the end of the world as we know it..." (R.E.M.) This should be Camilla's theme song. The year is 2020 and Camilla Lou Brightly is having a little bit of bad luck. The ice in Greenland is melting and scientists like her father are predicting dire consequences. Meanwhile, Camilla is working for a PR firm that numbers among its most recent clients a firm that specializes in networking the smart appliances in homes so that you can do things like make coffee from your couch.
After her home is networked, someone starts blackmailing her over a secret she didn't know she had. Her refrigerator begins behaving in a sentient manner. And if that wasn't enough, she has been witness to a "nut-napping."
With a little help from her friends at work, Camilla investigates what's going on and works hard to restore her life as best she can.
The best thing about this novel is the sense of humor that is present throughout the book. There is a tongue in cheek way of looking at things. Yes, Camilla has problems, but for the most part she can find the good or bizarre in the situations. She strikes me mostly as a glass half full kind of woman. She is capable of worrying a situation to death and blurting out the wrong thing at the wrong time, but it doesn't take much to turn around her mood.
The plot of the book moves forward at a steady pace. The geological event worsens at about the same rate as the problems in Camilla's life. It's told from Camilla's point of view. The other important characters in the book seem to be well developed also.
I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.
After her home is networked, someone starts blackmailing her over a secret she didn't know she had. Her refrigerator begins behaving in a sentient manner. And if that wasn't enough, she has been witness to a "nut-napping."
With a little help from her friends at work, Camilla investigates what's going on and works hard to restore her life as best she can.
The best thing about this novel is the sense of humor that is present throughout the book. There is a tongue in cheek way of looking at things. Yes, Camilla has problems, but for the most part she can find the good or bizarre in the situations. She strikes me mostly as a glass half full kind of woman. She is capable of worrying a situation to death and blurting out the wrong thing at the wrong time, but it doesn't take much to turn around her mood.
The plot of the book moves forward at a steady pace. The geological event worsens at about the same rate as the problems in Camilla's life. It's told from Camilla's point of view. The other important characters in the book seem to be well developed also.
I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.
June 6, 2015
A fantastically funny, yet horrifyingly realistic prequel to Maia Sepp's apocalyptic novella, An Etiquette Guide to the End Times! In Wake, Sepp gives us a tale that rings true; we are currently living in a climate of climate change, and life as we know it could cease at any given moment. But would any of us be able to cope as well as our heroine, Camilla Brightly? And is no one else terrified of Morty, the omniscient, talking fridge???
July 8, 2015
Maia Sepp’s new novel Wake, takes place before her previous book, The Etiquette Guide To The End Times. I don’t usually like prequels (SORRY MAIA!) because they have to be so, so good to let readers overlook that the definition of prequel means they know how everything’s going to end up.
But this prequel is based around Camilla, a minor character from the Etiquette Guide and someone I really, really wanted to know better. In The Etiquette Guide To The End Times, Olive says Camilla used to do PR, back when there was anything to publicize, and in Wake, we get to see it.
Full review, couple of mild spoilers.
But this prequel is based around Camilla, a minor character from the Etiquette Guide and someone I really, really wanted to know better. In The Etiquette Guide To The End Times, Olive says Camilla used to do PR, back when there was anything to publicize, and in Wake, we get to see it.
Full review, couple of mild spoilers.
March 24, 2017
Why did it take me so long to read this? I really enjoyed An Etiquette Guide to the End of Times, it should have been a no brainer to jump right into this. Anyway, at least I got there eventually.
This was a lot of fun and really, really timely. Climate change, the internet of things, keeping your privacy private (especially online). Added bonus, Camilla was a gas.
This was a lot of fun and really, really timely. Climate change, the internet of things, keeping your privacy private (especially online). Added bonus, Camilla was a gas.
July 1, 2015
Loved getting to know Camilla and more of The End's back story. Am so eager for the next book that I have started rereading An Etiquette Guide to the End of Times...I never reread books this soon after finishing the first read!
January 9, 2018
Rating: 2 1/2 stars
Entertaining! And a little bit scary....
This novella manages to tap into two of my personal sometime-phobias in one story: personal data invasion, and the climate change tipping point. Plus a little taste of 'Authority' stepping a little close to abuse of power. I'm not sure why these last two aspects were in there, as they really were very incidental to the main plot. I'm guessing there's some yet to be revealed relevance to the ongoing story, given this one is apparently a prequel to 'An Etiquette Guide to the End Times' (which I haven't read - yet). The data theft/invasion aspect was a little too close to possible to be comfortable, though in this story our naive young heroine At any rate, an enjoyable quick read.
Entertaining! And a little bit scary....
This novella manages to tap into two of my personal sometime-phobias in one story: personal data invasion, and the climate change tipping point. Plus a little taste of 'Authority' stepping a little close to abuse of power. I'm not sure why these last two aspects were in there, as they really were very incidental to the main plot. I'm guessing there's some yet to be revealed relevance to the ongoing story, given this one is apparently a prequel to 'An Etiquette Guide to the End Times' (which I haven't read - yet). The data theft/invasion aspect was a little too close to possible to be comfortable, though in this story our naive young heroine At any rate, an enjoyable quick read.
June 10, 2019
The thing about this book is every so often something will happen that is shocking or thought provoking or scary...and these story morsels just add more depth to an already solid story. The characters be one more defined and focused as the pages turn. The main character is a mess at times and yet is always endearing (at least to me). A book that has the tipping point for climate change, a blackmailing plot, invasion of privacy, love interest, and coming of age into adulthood...well, is amazing!
August 28, 2018
I loved this! I feel like Hal, Morty, and Marvin would all be best buds and the galaxy would be doomed. But seriously, this book was awesome! Not was a quick read, funny, and had vivid characters that were fun to get to know.
May 13, 2018
Whilst I really enjoyed the first book, this fell a little flat for me. It was a nice read, and luckily not too long, but there was definitely something missing. I just didn't connect as much. I still like the slightly refreshing take on the apocalyptic genre, but the stuff about climate change felt a bit ridiculous - the majority of people are really not that dismissive/uninterested in climate change, most people really don't mock scientists like characters in this book do. Felt a bit annoying tbh.
Overall it was a nice read, and maybe reading it sooner after reading the first one (this being a prequel) might've helped.
Overall it was a nice read, and maybe reading it sooner after reading the first one (this being a prequel) might've helped.
June 8, 2015
I was already a Maia Sepp fan from reading The Migraine Mafia. When I saw that An Etiquette Guide to the End Times was available, I put it on my TBR list, but never followed through. When Wake popped up as available on my NetGalley dashboard, I knew I had to get it and read it right away.
I would classify Wake as a dystopian, but there are some soft sci-fi elements and a very soft whodunit. The eighteen months since she released The Migraine Mafia, Ms. Sepp has improved her writing. Plus, with Wake being a prequel to AEGET, it allows the reader to keep going in the story universe. There was even a link in the eBook to download AEGET, which I promptly did and can’t wait to read it.
The only complaint I really have with Wake, is that the villain seems all Snidely Whiplash clichéd. When the villain was revealed, I was just “Oh, okay,” and I moved on. There was no thundering of the gods while I kicked myself for not figuring it out sooner. In retrospect, I think I suspected who the villain was less than half way through the book.
One thing that frustrated me (but in a good way) was a certain level of ineptness from the protagonist, but like the lovable misfit, Stephanie, from the Plum series by Janet Evanovich, or Mel Parker by Jennifer Gilby Roberts, Camilla just works.
Wake was a fun read, and anyone who likes Evanovich or Gilby-Roberts will definitely like it.
I would classify Wake as a dystopian, but there are some soft sci-fi elements and a very soft whodunit. The eighteen months since she released The Migraine Mafia, Ms. Sepp has improved her writing. Plus, with Wake being a prequel to AEGET, it allows the reader to keep going in the story universe. There was even a link in the eBook to download AEGET, which I promptly did and can’t wait to read it.
The only complaint I really have with Wake, is that the villain seems all Snidely Whiplash clichéd. When the villain was revealed, I was just “Oh, okay,” and I moved on. There was no thundering of the gods while I kicked myself for not figuring it out sooner. In retrospect, I think I suspected who the villain was less than half way through the book.
One thing that frustrated me (but in a good way) was a certain level of ineptness from the protagonist, but like the lovable misfit, Stephanie, from the Plum series by Janet Evanovich, or Mel Parker by Jennifer Gilby Roberts, Camilla just works.
Wake was a fun read, and anyone who likes Evanovich or Gilby-Roberts will definitely like it.
September 3, 2017
While global warming, identity theft, and an almond heist would seem an unlikely trio of themes, Maia Sepp blends them together to form an intriguing mystery novel.
Camilla Brightly is an American expat in Toronto trying to build a career as a young associate at a PR firm. Her life is upended when she becomes a person of interest in the hijacking of an almond truck and a mysterious blackmailer attempts to draw her into a scheme to destroy her employer. Under the watchful eyes of the police and her own “HarmoneeHome” network, Camilla’s own identity may betray her if the enlisted help of tech-savvy friends can’t expose those who set her up. All the while she watches disaster unfolding on TV as the polar ice caps begin to collapse into the ocean, and it appears that her paranoid scientist father may have been right about the coming end of days.
With a story that keeps the reader asking questions and humor vaguely reminiscent of Paul Neilan and Babe Walker, Wake is a witty and well-written novel from a talented independent author.
Camilla Brightly is an American expat in Toronto trying to build a career as a young associate at a PR firm. Her life is upended when she becomes a person of interest in the hijacking of an almond truck and a mysterious blackmailer attempts to draw her into a scheme to destroy her employer. Under the watchful eyes of the police and her own “HarmoneeHome” network, Camilla’s own identity may betray her if the enlisted help of tech-savvy friends can’t expose those who set her up. All the while she watches disaster unfolding on TV as the polar ice caps begin to collapse into the ocean, and it appears that her paranoid scientist father may have been right about the coming end of days.
With a story that keeps the reader asking questions and humor vaguely reminiscent of Paul Neilan and Babe Walker, Wake is a witty and well-written novel from a talented independent author.
March 14, 2016
Maia Sepp's books are always a fun read. Great character development and quirky main players make this book an entertaining way to spend several evenings. I find I need to pace myself so I don't read the whole book in one go so I can enjoy it longer.
July 12, 2015
When Camilla sets out for a life of her own,she has no idea of the challenges ahead of her. THANK YOU GOODREADS FIRSTREADS FOR THIS FREE BOOK!!!
November 22, 2015
Another fun and interesting book by Maia Sepp. I enjoyed "Migraine Mafia" and found this one to be just as well-written.
January 17, 2016
It is my first ecological apocalypse novel, but it is more a mixture of cyber security and PR junior position kind of issues. The narrative goes unsurprisingly but the writing is enjoyable.
October 24, 2016
Really liked this one. Now I have to dig up the other, which I read first, and read it again!
December 11, 2016
A good, engaging read that had continued story progression. Characters are well described and likable, with an intriguing plot.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews