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The Cure
Welcome to Metravā.
The year is 3433.
Here are some things you need to know:
Run by the governmental body, Peār, Metravā is inhabited by U-mans, a genetically modified race of humans who do not sleep, who work fifteen hours a daāy, and who are fused with their U-chip at birth.
Everyone is the same, everyone blends in, and no one stands out.
That is until Knijä Taū is born.
The year is 3433.
Here are some things you need to know:
Run by the governmental body, Peār, Metravā is inhabited by U-mans, a genetically modified race of humans who do not sleep, who work fifteen hours a daāy, and who are fused with their U-chip at birth.
Everyone is the same, everyone blends in, and no one stands out.
That is until Knijä Taū is born.
- GenresScience FictionDystopia
130 pages, Paperback
First published August 15, 2016
3 people are currently reading
889 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
August 22, 2016
This is how you do dystopian fiction!
The Cure is set some 1,000 years in the future, in the fictional planet of Metravā. The human race has been 'enhanced' by the fusing of U-Chips to the body, which alter all 'imperfections' from skin, eye and hair colour, to weight, height and waist size. An Aryan race Hitler would be proud of its left in its wake. That is, until the birth of Knijä Taū and her faulty chip...
I loved the diary-entry-style formatting of this novel and how the multiple perspectives all worked together to provide both a full story and a cohesive view of life in this futuristic setting. In just over 100 pages the world was brought to life, despite the limited world-building, and everything was fully explained without defecting from the plot.
The story, despite the futuristic setting and technology, was one that did not feel too dissimilar from our present day lives, as the alterations the chip provides are something many already do; with the help of meticulously-planned diet and exercise regimes, plastic surgeons, hair dye, coloured contacts, make-up and the surgeons knife. There is nothing wrong in working on your body to make yourself happy, but this provides an idea of where our futures could be heading if we continue to make appearance the pinnacle of our ideologies concerning perfection.
The Cure is set some 1,000 years in the future, in the fictional planet of Metravā. The human race has been 'enhanced' by the fusing of U-Chips to the body, which alter all 'imperfections' from skin, eye and hair colour, to weight, height and waist size. An Aryan race Hitler would be proud of its left in its wake. That is, until the birth of Knijä Taū and her faulty chip...
I loved the diary-entry-style formatting of this novel and how the multiple perspectives all worked together to provide both a full story and a cohesive view of life in this futuristic setting. In just over 100 pages the world was brought to life, despite the limited world-building, and everything was fully explained without defecting from the plot.
The story, despite the futuristic setting and technology, was one that did not feel too dissimilar from our present day lives, as the alterations the chip provides are something many already do; with the help of meticulously-planned diet and exercise regimes, plastic surgeons, hair dye, coloured contacts, make-up and the surgeons knife. There is nothing wrong in working on your body to make yourself happy, but this provides an idea of where our futures could be heading if we continue to make appearance the pinnacle of our ideologies concerning perfection.
June 23, 2016
I looooved this story! But 130 pages definitely wasn't enough. I want more!
Will write up a proper review soon.
Will write up a proper review soon.
August 14, 2016
A book that packed a punch!
J.R. Knight contacted me if I wanted to review his book, upon reading what it was about, I jumped at the opportunity and agreed. I’m not the biggest sci-fi fan to be completely honest, but this book sounded so intriguing and amazing, I just couldn’t pass up. It was the perfect mixture of uniqueness and cleverness. J.R. Knight is a genius for coming up with such novella. I was instantly transported to the world he built. I thought I would have a hard time to get into it since it is a scifi book, but J.R. Knight made it so engaging I forgot how uncomfortable I used to be when reading a scifi book.
The setting was laid out perfectly, it was the mixture of scifi and dystopian world that I appreciate a lot. Knija was different, she was trying her best to fit in a world where you shouldn’t be extraordinary. In this novel we follow her journey and struggles of hiding her true identity to the world. I thought it was well executed, I loved its ingenuity, the way each chapters are narrated and how it all came together. The only issue I had was it was too short, I wanted to read so much more, I wanted to see more depth and be able to live in the world JR Knight made just a little longer. I wanted the ending to be elaborated more. This book definitely has potential, and I wouldn’t be surprised if JR Knight will be a household name under the scifi genre in the years to come.
I loved the details in this book, it was especially crafted and well thought-out. A book that definitely packed a punch! The characters played various role and are all important to the development of the story. The narration made it vivid, my imagination worked really well, it’s like watching a movie, and to be honest that doesn’t happen often.
The story was about standing out in a world that has been pulling you down. It is about embracing your uniqueness and “flaws” and using it to your advantage. It is about finding your real self amidst everything mediocre, it is about going against the current of what society has been dictating. I did not miss the message this book was trying to send across. Embracing everything that makes you different. I loved that JR Knight was able to conjure up such kind of story and incorporating it with scifi elements. Definitely a must read for readers who just started venturing out to scifi.
J.R. Knight contacted me if I wanted to review his book, upon reading what it was about, I jumped at the opportunity and agreed. I’m not the biggest sci-fi fan to be completely honest, but this book sounded so intriguing and amazing, I just couldn’t pass up. It was the perfect mixture of uniqueness and cleverness. J.R. Knight is a genius for coming up with such novella. I was instantly transported to the world he built. I thought I would have a hard time to get into it since it is a scifi book, but J.R. Knight made it so engaging I forgot how uncomfortable I used to be when reading a scifi book.
The setting was laid out perfectly, it was the mixture of scifi and dystopian world that I appreciate a lot. Knija was different, she was trying her best to fit in a world where you shouldn’t be extraordinary. In this novel we follow her journey and struggles of hiding her true identity to the world. I thought it was well executed, I loved its ingenuity, the way each chapters are narrated and how it all came together. The only issue I had was it was too short, I wanted to read so much more, I wanted to see more depth and be able to live in the world JR Knight made just a little longer. I wanted the ending to be elaborated more. This book definitely has potential, and I wouldn’t be surprised if JR Knight will be a household name under the scifi genre in the years to come.
I loved the details in this book, it was especially crafted and well thought-out. A book that definitely packed a punch! The characters played various role and are all important to the development of the story. The narration made it vivid, my imagination worked really well, it’s like watching a movie, and to be honest that doesn’t happen often.
The story was about standing out in a world that has been pulling you down. It is about embracing your uniqueness and “flaws” and using it to your advantage. It is about finding your real self amidst everything mediocre, it is about going against the current of what society has been dictating. I did not miss the message this book was trying to send across. Embracing everything that makes you different. I loved that JR Knight was able to conjure up such kind of story and incorporating it with scifi elements. Definitely a must read for readers who just started venturing out to scifi.
August 6, 2016
This is J.R Knight's first published work, a brilliant 127 page novella called The Cure. I was interested in reading this book because a) the plot sounded intriguing and b) the author is from Melbourne and I always feel like finding more Australian authors. I was lucky enough to be sent a pre-release copy from the author for review but the official book is available this month on the 15th and I would recommend it as I personally enjoyed it and I plan on reading it again soon. Also, they have the best illustrations at the start of every chapter.
The Cure is based in the year 3433 on the planet of Metravā. The planet governmental body is called Peār and the people of Metravā aren't really people anymore, they're U-mans. U-mans are a genetically modified race of humans that don't sleep, work fifteen hours a daāy, and who are fused with their U-chip at birth. Their U-chip is a link to Peār and everything else. Their U-chip also serves as a tracking system for the government and the U-man must always be perfect. Everyone is the same, everyone blends in, and no one stands out until Knijä Taū is born.
When I first received the book I was worried I would be constantly slipping back to the guide for the different words in the book for their advanced species but it wasn't hard to slip into at all and it didn't disrupt the flow at all. Being a novella, the story goes by so incredibly quickly and that is good and bad. It's good because you're whizzing through the story but bad because some parts feel a little jolting in their swiftness and you're not fully impacted. That's not necessarily a bad thing though because there's an attraction in these short stories that only take a moment but stay in our minds for a lifetime. I would suggest this book to fans of Illuminae, 1984, The Giver or Brave New World.
Favourite Quotes...
- "This is the start of the rebellion."
- "I think she is alarming?"
- "Tonight you will uncover the truth of our history."
Spoilers and Thoughts below...
The Cure is based in the year 3433 on the planet of Metravā. The planet governmental body is called Peār and the people of Metravā aren't really people anymore, they're U-mans. U-mans are a genetically modified race of humans that don't sleep, work fifteen hours a daāy, and who are fused with their U-chip at birth. Their U-chip is a link to Peār and everything else. Their U-chip also serves as a tracking system for the government and the U-man must always be perfect. Everyone is the same, everyone blends in, and no one stands out until Knijä Taū is born.
When I first received the book I was worried I would be constantly slipping back to the guide for the different words in the book for their advanced species but it wasn't hard to slip into at all and it didn't disrupt the flow at all. Being a novella, the story goes by so incredibly quickly and that is good and bad. It's good because you're whizzing through the story but bad because some parts feel a little jolting in their swiftness and you're not fully impacted. That's not necessarily a bad thing though because there's an attraction in these short stories that only take a moment but stay in our minds for a lifetime. I would suggest this book to fans of Illuminae, 1984, The Giver or Brave New World.
Favourite Quotes...
- "This is the start of the rebellion."
- "I think she is alarming?"
- "Tonight you will uncover the truth of our history."
Spoilers and Thoughts below...
June 19, 2016
Greetings U-Mans ~ヾ(・ω・) !
I recieved an Arc in exchange for my honest review, so here wo go ☆ﾐ(o*･ω･)ﾉ :
Rating 4.45
I loved the introduction, where everything basic is explained in a 'welcome package', it gives just enought information on the world, without overwhelming the reader within the first two pages of the book.
The language and writing style are unique and perfect for this book, the change of words, the language and the names are all explained and make sense in the context of the plot, they are not just thrown in for the sake of cool, original sounding names. The love of detail is so astonishing in this book, we get a very detailed look on this futuristic society and their way of life, sometimes I felt so immersed in the story, I half expected an add to pop up, reminding me of reality.
The characters motivations are flashed out brilliantly, we don't get stuck with a single person, but get the points of view of many others, each with their own ideas and struggles. Even though this book is rather short, it explores the characters to a solid depth. Our MC is the hero by default, not a 'special someone' who was destined for this. Anyone else coud have taken that role. There is no romance to derail the plot either.
The only nitpicking I'm going to do is, that especially to the end, it was a bit too fast paced, I'd have wanted a bit more insight into knijä's inner world in the last few chapters to be true. And, as a biologist, I got a few minor things in the biological department of this book that I would call out to, but, these were few and were mostly overshadowed by the tons of good points I found in this work.
What I loved most though was the whole idea of a society, which is ruled by conformity.
(x(x_(x_x(O_o)x_x)_x)x)
This might sound quiet alien compared to our current world, but I think we are closer to Metravã than we think we are and mostly than we want to be.
We live in a world were it's considered unhealthy not to be happy all the time. When we aren't happy, we get meds that make us happy. We are told to be happy, even if we work a job we hate, or if our job expects inhuman performances of us, because being angry would make us realize unfairness. We are given a ping pong table, massaging chairs or other fancy relaxasion options, so that we comply. This book touches these subjects, of every aspect of our lives being controlled and everyone turning into copies of each other, even if not physically. It questions our status quo and and makes us wonder if we actually have a choice in matters or if we simply do as we are dictated.
This book doesn't go the way Dystopian books like divergent go, saying the government is bad, or that technology will be our downfall. It shows us the dangers of being like everyone else and it questions our current situation.
I loved this little masterpiece and I'd recommend it to everyone looking for a short but SMART piece! What deliciousness! (っ˘ڡ˘ς) Looking forward to the authors next project! (─‿‿─)♡
I recieved an Arc in exchange for my honest review, so here wo go ☆ﾐ(o*･ω･)ﾉ :
Rating 4.45
I loved the introduction, where everything basic is explained in a 'welcome package', it gives just enought information on the world, without overwhelming the reader within the first two pages of the book.
The language and writing style are unique and perfect for this book, the change of words, the language and the names are all explained and make sense in the context of the plot, they are not just thrown in for the sake of cool, original sounding names. The love of detail is so astonishing in this book, we get a very detailed look on this futuristic society and their way of life, sometimes I felt so immersed in the story, I half expected an add to pop up, reminding me of reality.
The characters motivations are flashed out brilliantly, we don't get stuck with a single person, but get the points of view of many others, each with their own ideas and struggles. Even though this book is rather short, it explores the characters to a solid depth. Our MC is the hero by default, not a 'special someone' who was destined for this. Anyone else coud have taken that role. There is no romance to derail the plot either.
The only nitpicking I'm going to do is, that especially to the end, it was a bit too fast paced, I'd have wanted a bit more insight into knijä's inner world in the last few chapters to be true. And, as a biologist, I got a few minor things in the biological department of this book that I would call out to, but, these were few and were mostly overshadowed by the tons of good points I found in this work.
What I loved most though was the whole idea of a society, which is ruled by conformity.
(x(x_(x_x(O_o)x_x)_x)x)
This might sound quiet alien compared to our current world, but I think we are closer to Metravã than we think we are and mostly than we want to be.
We live in a world were it's considered unhealthy not to be happy all the time. When we aren't happy, we get meds that make us happy. We are told to be happy, even if we work a job we hate, or if our job expects inhuman performances of us, because being angry would make us realize unfairness. We are given a ping pong table, massaging chairs or other fancy relaxasion options, so that we comply. This book touches these subjects, of every aspect of our lives being controlled and everyone turning into copies of each other, even if not physically. It questions our status quo and and makes us wonder if we actually have a choice in matters or if we simply do as we are dictated.
This book doesn't go the way Dystopian books like divergent go, saying the government is bad, or that technology will be our downfall. It shows us the dangers of being like everyone else and it questions our current situation.
I loved this little masterpiece and I'd recommend it to everyone looking for a short but SMART piece! What deliciousness! (っ˘ڡ˘ς) Looking forward to the authors next project! (─‿‿─)♡
September 2, 2016
*Disclaimer: I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.*
This novella has all the elements required to get someone’s attention.
One, the cover is very simple, very photogenic and it catches the eyes. The moment I saw some of my favorite bookstagrammers showing it off, I knew I needed it in my life.
Two, there is no love interest in this book. It all focused on Knija and the love she had for her family and her best friend, and that alone made the story a million times better. She was independent, smart in her decisions and she didn’t need anyone to make her feel any more or less different. She already has a whole package of qualities that made her stand out and she definitely knew her place.
Reading a novella for the first time was quite an experience. I love how Jake managed to provide all the necessary details and give full sense to how everything worked out in the end, without leaving any missing strings or unsolved details, although I wanted to see more of what life was like after The Cure, where everyone gets so disoriented and how they’ll deal with the ending of the book.
To read my full review, click here: https://lebookworm7.wordpress.com/201...
This novella has all the elements required to get someone’s attention.
One, the cover is very simple, very photogenic and it catches the eyes. The moment I saw some of my favorite bookstagrammers showing it off, I knew I needed it in my life.
Two, there is no love interest in this book. It all focused on Knija and the love she had for her family and her best friend, and that alone made the story a million times better. She was independent, smart in her decisions and she didn’t need anyone to make her feel any more or less different. She already has a whole package of qualities that made her stand out and she definitely knew her place.
Reading a novella for the first time was quite an experience. I love how Jake managed to provide all the necessary details and give full sense to how everything worked out in the end, without leaving any missing strings or unsolved details, although I wanted to see more of what life was like after The Cure, where everyone gets so disoriented and how they’ll deal with the ending of the book.
To read my full review, click here: https://lebookworm7.wordpress.com/201...
August 7, 2016
Definitely want more from Jake!
The book starts off with the birth of our protagonist Knija, who is made the focal point for the rebellion.
This is Sci-Fi Dystopian about a totalitarian state and is absolutely on point!
It felt like the author had a vision and wanted to execute it without faltering or branching out. The writing is smart, with a few slightly altered words which very nicely set the U-mans (a new breed of Humans) apart from humans.
I like how the narration is via thoughts of the characters, makes it more personal and doesn’t feel like 'story-telling'.
I'd have loved a few more characters but I guess that was not the intention of the JRK and I'd rather have a perfected Novella than an unsure Novel.
The book has a very constant pace and something or the other keeps going on. Another plus is that the chapters are not unnecessarily long.
The artificial world created is very interesting and I think this is a great start, I'm looking forward to your next books JRK!
The book starts off with the birth of our protagonist Knija, who is made the focal point for the rebellion.
This is Sci-Fi Dystopian about a totalitarian state and is absolutely on point!
It felt like the author had a vision and wanted to execute it without faltering or branching out. The writing is smart, with a few slightly altered words which very nicely set the U-mans (a new breed of Humans) apart from humans.
I like how the narration is via thoughts of the characters, makes it more personal and doesn’t feel like 'story-telling'.
I'd have loved a few more characters but I guess that was not the intention of the JRK and I'd rather have a perfected Novella than an unsure Novel.
The book has a very constant pace and something or the other keeps going on. Another plus is that the chapters are not unnecessarily long.
The artificial world created is very interesting and I think this is a great start, I'm looking forward to your next books JRK!
June 15, 2016
great stuff from a debut author. Thanks for the ARC J.R, good read!
July 28, 2016
*I received this book from the author in return for an honest review and rating. All opinions are my own and are not affected by this factor. Thank you so much Jake for sending me a copy of your novella!*
Rating: 3.75/5
The main component that I loved about this novella was the layout of the book itself and the formatting of the writing! It was something that was original and unique about the book and added to the story in so many ways, a picture says a thousand words as the saying goes. The novella starts with a short foreword from the author which I though was great addition, usually I avoid forewords as they become rambling things that just don't interest me, but Jake made it personal and comforting. It was a brilliant start to the book, even if it was not part of the actual story.
The introduction to the actual plot was a small work of genius, formatted as a welcome packet, it allowed the reader to become informed with the setting and key features of it without dumping a huge amount of info and boring them. The story then continues into the POV of a Metravian (not sure how to say it but that sounds about right!) doctor who starts a rebellion, the end point of which is unknown at that point, with a faulty U-Chip.
The style of the writing was specialised to the plot of the book and gave a larger spectrum of understanding to the reader, through something other than just descriptions. The words used, the phrasing of the language and the perspectives from the different characters all added to the setting. The result of this meant that the landscape and setting of the plot was incredibly developed, leaving no room for confusion for the reader! The reader automatically gets a hugely detailed futuristic setting, through very few info dumps and long pieces of description.
The plot was clever and complex in a way that didn't come across as complicated or confusing to me as a reader and strayed away from dystopian stereotypes by not classifying the government as 'harmful' or technology as 'damaging'. The cause of the conflict was mostly left unblamed in the society and I liked this originality as a novella.
The one reason that I didn't give this book a higher rating is that I felt out of touch with the characters. Although the switching of POV between four or five characters added to the plot, I didn't get to know any of them in a specific way. I felt like the writing was so focused on the plot that the characters had been left out a little bit. I couldn't see any depth to them, didn't have any feelings about them. In some ways this may be because of the situation almost all of the characters are in, being modified by technology to be the same, to have no individual emotions. Characters are often one of the most important features of a story to me, and this was where the novel lacked.
One last aspect of the story I also liked was the lack of romance. I've read many sci-fi novels where the romance completely takes over and leaves the plot and secondary characters pretty desolate! The lack of it allowed the plot to take a higher standpoint within the novel, and for the words to be well spent.
In conclusion, The Cure was an awesome read with a fantastically genius plot and layout, but did't quite do it for me in terms of character depth! I would recommend it to anyone looking for a good, snappy sci-fi read, or as an introduction to the sci-fi genre. Thank you once again Jake for sending me a copy to review! The Cure releases on the 15th August 2016 and the first fifteen chapters are available on his website (www.jakerobertknight.com) if you want a sneak peek.
Rating: 3.75/5
The main component that I loved about this novella was the layout of the book itself and the formatting of the writing! It was something that was original and unique about the book and added to the story in so many ways, a picture says a thousand words as the saying goes. The novella starts with a short foreword from the author which I though was great addition, usually I avoid forewords as they become rambling things that just don't interest me, but Jake made it personal and comforting. It was a brilliant start to the book, even if it was not part of the actual story.
The introduction to the actual plot was a small work of genius, formatted as a welcome packet, it allowed the reader to become informed with the setting and key features of it without dumping a huge amount of info and boring them. The story then continues into the POV of a Metravian (not sure how to say it but that sounds about right!) doctor who starts a rebellion, the end point of which is unknown at that point, with a faulty U-Chip.
The style of the writing was specialised to the plot of the book and gave a larger spectrum of understanding to the reader, through something other than just descriptions. The words used, the phrasing of the language and the perspectives from the different characters all added to the setting. The result of this meant that the landscape and setting of the plot was incredibly developed, leaving no room for confusion for the reader! The reader automatically gets a hugely detailed futuristic setting, through very few info dumps and long pieces of description.
The plot was clever and complex in a way that didn't come across as complicated or confusing to me as a reader and strayed away from dystopian stereotypes by not classifying the government as 'harmful' or technology as 'damaging'. The cause of the conflict was mostly left unblamed in the society and I liked this originality as a novella.
The one reason that I didn't give this book a higher rating is that I felt out of touch with the characters. Although the switching of POV between four or five characters added to the plot, I didn't get to know any of them in a specific way. I felt like the writing was so focused on the plot that the characters had been left out a little bit. I couldn't see any depth to them, didn't have any feelings about them. In some ways this may be because of the situation almost all of the characters are in, being modified by technology to be the same, to have no individual emotions. Characters are often one of the most important features of a story to me, and this was where the novel lacked.
One last aspect of the story I also liked was the lack of romance. I've read many sci-fi novels where the romance completely takes over and leaves the plot and secondary characters pretty desolate! The lack of it allowed the plot to take a higher standpoint within the novel, and for the words to be well spent.
In conclusion, The Cure was an awesome read with a fantastically genius plot and layout, but did't quite do it for me in terms of character depth! I would recommend it to anyone looking for a good, snappy sci-fi read, or as an introduction to the sci-fi genre. Thank you once again Jake for sending me a copy to review! The Cure releases on the 15th August 2016 and the first fifteen chapters are available on his website (www.jakerobertknight.com) if you want a sneak peek.
August 26, 2016
Thank you for sending me this book as a goodreads give-away. It actually took me two or three days to finish reading it, with sporadic time spent on tram or train at a peaceful pace, which was quite enjoyable. I will try to be honest (at least from my personal reading experience) in this review and there will be some plot-related thoughts so 【spoiler alert】.
Something to note： in Chapter 15 (p. 95) after the "49 TAODAP" I think the next word should be casualties instead of causalities but I could be wrong.
Speaking of the spelling, altering some of the contemporary ones into fairly novel words is an interesting shot, since it provides some extra futuristic flavor. But in my opinion, when the narrative is predominantly in modern English, altering some of the most critical words associated with the advanced technology or artifacts (like the sun) that changed the U-man's life should be sufficient without causing too much confusion.
Overall I enjoyed the concept of the story as it brought up several interesting features of a monotonous (where everyone is the same) and tyrannically governed society. The imagination is boundless and colorful but I wouldn't agree on the correlation between the eagerness towards technology and the lost of personality (Suuni's words in Chapter 19). Personally with some knowledge in biology and biochemistry I found some of the functions of the U-chip fundamentally hard to accept, but some ideas like the manipulation of cancer to fight disease and promote longevity is intriguing, since previously my occupation deterred me from thinking this way .
Although considerable effort was made to demonstrate the cruel ruling and the consequential "emotionless" U-man race, this somehow backfired on the consistency of the story telling, as it would be nearly impossible to imagine that the government (or Suuni's father) was unable to discover the rebellion in the first place; also Knija's parents and other U-men showed emotions according to the descriptions, and some discordance appeared (for instance at one time certain people were immune to Nitrobullets but the next moment they weren't). The most significant puzzle that baffled me was actually the same question asked by Knija - "why me?" It seemed somehow far-fetched if the ultimate climax following almost 20 years' struggle and cultivation was to press a button which in my opinion can be pressed by anyone, especially Suuni given that she possessed the capability of independent thinking. I could understand the need of raising an experimental human individual but if she had to disguise all the time keeping her at the extremely safe base camp (if it exists) would have been far more efficient and reasonable. Maybe these problems remained unsolved because of the constraint from the overall length, but allocating more content on detailed explanations would have been really beneficial.
The narrative as extractions of thoughts was interesting, but sometimes I felt a little over-flooded with repeated personal thoughts. But it could just be me because in my culture in the literature people's thoughts are usually reflected by their behavior, which would add another layer for the readers to consider instead of passively absorbing the contents directly.
Thanks again for this opportunity and I look forward to your next novel!
Something to note： in Chapter 15 (p. 95) after the "49 TAODAP" I think the next word should be casualties instead of causalities but I could be wrong.
Speaking of the spelling, altering some of the contemporary ones into fairly novel words is an interesting shot, since it provides some extra futuristic flavor. But in my opinion, when the narrative is predominantly in modern English, altering some of the most critical words associated with the advanced technology or artifacts (like the sun) that changed the U-man's life should be sufficient without causing too much confusion.
Overall I enjoyed the concept of the story as it brought up several interesting features of a monotonous (where everyone is the same) and tyrannically governed society. The imagination is boundless and colorful but I wouldn't agree on the correlation between the eagerness towards technology and the lost of personality (Suuni's words in Chapter 19). Personally with some knowledge in biology and biochemistry I found some of the functions of the U-chip fundamentally hard to accept, but some ideas like the manipulation of cancer to fight disease and promote longevity is intriguing, since previously my occupation deterred me from thinking this way .
Although considerable effort was made to demonstrate the cruel ruling and the consequential "emotionless" U-man race, this somehow backfired on the consistency of the story telling, as it would be nearly impossible to imagine that the government (or Suuni's father) was unable to discover the rebellion in the first place; also Knija's parents and other U-men showed emotions according to the descriptions, and some discordance appeared (for instance at one time certain people were immune to Nitrobullets but the next moment they weren't). The most significant puzzle that baffled me was actually the same question asked by Knija - "why me?" It seemed somehow far-fetched if the ultimate climax following almost 20 years' struggle and cultivation was to press a button which in my opinion can be pressed by anyone, especially Suuni given that she possessed the capability of independent thinking. I could understand the need of raising an experimental human individual but if she had to disguise all the time keeping her at the extremely safe base camp (if it exists) would have been far more efficient and reasonable. Maybe these problems remained unsolved because of the constraint from the overall length, but allocating more content on detailed explanations would have been really beneficial.
The narrative as extractions of thoughts was interesting, but sometimes I felt a little over-flooded with repeated personal thoughts. But it could just be me because in my culture in the literature people's thoughts are usually reflected by their behavior, which would add another layer for the readers to consider instead of passively absorbing the contents directly.
Thanks again for this opportunity and I look forward to your next novel!
August 8, 2016
4.5/5 stars
I received a free copy of this book via the author. This will not affect my review in any way.
When I first read the synopsis for The Cure, I was intrigued immediately. It sounded like something right up my alley, and I wanted to read it. A dystopian, sci-fi novel that took place on a separate planet, sign me up!
I was entranced as soon as I started reading The Cure. It hooked me from the beginning to where I just had to keep turning the pages.
I don’t expect much from self-published novels. Some of them are good but I’ve rarely read one that I loved.
The Cure blew me away.
The formatting of the book was odd yet intriguing. It was taken from thoughts and translated into our language, so there were a few odd words (hence the dictionary in the back of the book). I just found that to be incredibly cool and original.
I loved the world of Metrava though it sounds terrifying to be constantly surrounded by technology. The setting sort of reminded me of Fahrenheit 451. I really liked how descriptive the world was and how you could just see the corruption.
Everything in this book seemed so thought out and so well planned. Props to Knight for writing such a solid world.
The characters did fall a bit short.
Granted they are for a futuristic society where the U-mans are taught to blend in and don’t think for themselves. I felt as if they weren’t as well written as they could of been. Knija didn’t stand out a lot from the U-mans although she was a human (when she wasn’t blending in). You didn’t really see her dealing with her emotions and struggling to hide them, which I would have liked.
The Cure is a novella. It’s not a complete story and you don’t get to see what happens next. I’m not a fan of novellas because they are never enough. I would love a complete book of The Cure. The world was just amazing, I would love to explore it more.
The Cure was a quick, addicting read that leaves you wanting more of this dystopian world Knight has created. I wish there was more so that I could definitely read it, but I will be reading more of Knight’s work in the future.
I received a free copy of this book via the author. This will not affect my review in any way.
When I first read the synopsis for The Cure, I was intrigued immediately. It sounded like something right up my alley, and I wanted to read it. A dystopian, sci-fi novel that took place on a separate planet, sign me up!
I was entranced as soon as I started reading The Cure. It hooked me from the beginning to where I just had to keep turning the pages.
I don’t expect much from self-published novels. Some of them are good but I’ve rarely read one that I loved.
The Cure blew me away.
The formatting of the book was odd yet intriguing. It was taken from thoughts and translated into our language, so there were a few odd words (hence the dictionary in the back of the book). I just found that to be incredibly cool and original.
I loved the world of Metrava though it sounds terrifying to be constantly surrounded by technology. The setting sort of reminded me of Fahrenheit 451. I really liked how descriptive the world was and how you could just see the corruption.
Everything in this book seemed so thought out and so well planned. Props to Knight for writing such a solid world.
The characters did fall a bit short.
Granted they are for a futuristic society where the U-mans are taught to blend in and don’t think for themselves. I felt as if they weren’t as well written as they could of been. Knija didn’t stand out a lot from the U-mans although she was a human (when she wasn’t blending in). You didn’t really see her dealing with her emotions and struggling to hide them, which I would have liked.
The Cure is a novella. It’s not a complete story and you don’t get to see what happens next. I’m not a fan of novellas because they are never enough. I would love a complete book of The Cure. The world was just amazing, I would love to explore it more.
The Cure was a quick, addicting read that leaves you wanting more of this dystopian world Knight has created. I wish there was more so that I could definitely read it, but I will be reading more of Knight’s work in the future.
February 22, 2017
Awesome book by an incredible up and coming author! Well done on this lovely piece of literature!
August 14, 2016
So there were a lot of good and bad aspects alike, of this novella, the concept and world-building definitely being two of it's strong points. Despite it's length, Knight manages to effectively set up a world that is very obviously different from ours on the surface, but one that mirrors our own the more you learn about it.
One of it's weaknesses, however, was the serious lack of subtlety regarding the themes. Everytime something transpired within the plot, there was a very obvious, direct, real-world comparison that felt very 'in your face' and very distracting.
As well as the lack of subtlety, the plot started to feel very generic past the halfway mark, once all of the exposition was done. There were whole sections you could take out and place into any other YA Dystopian novel and you would be hard-pressed to tell the difference. Nothing set the climax of the novella apart from others of it's kind, making it forgettable, unfortunately.
That said though, the sentiment behind the ending, and the story itself, were very nice to read. The characters, though not much of a connection is developed between them and the reader due to lack of time, carry the story, especially in the second half when the plot falters.
So all in all, 'The Cure' is an interesting novella that discusses very timely, real-world problems, but it could have done with a lot more refinement and originality in places. I actually would recommend to read it, if it sounds interesting, since it comes out today and doesn't take much time at all to get through!
One of it's weaknesses, however, was the serious lack of subtlety regarding the themes. Everytime something transpired within the plot, there was a very obvious, direct, real-world comparison that felt very 'in your face' and very distracting.
As well as the lack of subtlety, the plot started to feel very generic past the halfway mark, once all of the exposition was done. There were whole sections you could take out and place into any other YA Dystopian novel and you would be hard-pressed to tell the difference. Nothing set the climax of the novella apart from others of it's kind, making it forgettable, unfortunately.
That said though, the sentiment behind the ending, and the story itself, were very nice to read. The characters, though not much of a connection is developed between them and the reader due to lack of time, carry the story, especially in the second half when the plot falters.
So all in all, 'The Cure' is an interesting novella that discusses very timely, real-world problems, but it could have done with a lot more refinement and originality in places. I actually would recommend to read it, if it sounds interesting, since it comes out today and doesn't take much time at all to get through!
August 20, 2016
Full review on my blog: https://livingforonemorechapter.wordp...
I was sent this novella in return for an honest review after contacting the author ensuing his instagram post looking for bloggers. J. R. Knight is a debut indie author and I am thrilled that he sent me a copy. I can say this was a very interesting and different read that I thoroughly enjoyed. However, there was a few minor points which were meh so I had to give this read a 4/5 stars.
I've not really read a lot of sci-fi but I have been meaning to. This was a good start as it's a sci-fi dystopian read so it seemed easier to understand and follow for a newbie like me. The novella starts out with a welcome pack which was just so brilliantly clever, I thought the info dump would be a bit boring but it was done so well and it was interesting.
I did feel the story was not long enough for me to become attached to any of the characters in fact I didn't feel like I knew Knija at all, which is disappointing because it was such an interesting book I would have like to have felt for the characters.
Overall, I would highly suggest giving this novella a read as it was an interesting story and an even more interesting world. A genuinely good read and cant wait to see more from this author.
These are all my own options and obviously will differ between people.
I was sent this novella in return for an honest review after contacting the author ensuing his instagram post looking for bloggers. J. R. Knight is a debut indie author and I am thrilled that he sent me a copy. I can say this was a very interesting and different read that I thoroughly enjoyed. However, there was a few minor points which were meh so I had to give this read a 4/5 stars.
I've not really read a lot of sci-fi but I have been meaning to. This was a good start as it's a sci-fi dystopian read so it seemed easier to understand and follow for a newbie like me. The novella starts out with a welcome pack which was just so brilliantly clever, I thought the info dump would be a bit boring but it was done so well and it was interesting.
I did feel the story was not long enough for me to become attached to any of the characters in fact I didn't feel like I knew Knija at all, which is disappointing because it was such an interesting book I would have like to have felt for the characters.
Overall, I would highly suggest giving this novella a read as it was an interesting story and an even more interesting world. A genuinely good read and cant wait to see more from this author.
These are all my own options and obviously will differ between people.
July 28, 2016
* I was sent a copy of The Cure in return for an honest review. It has in no way impacted my thoughts on the book.
For some reason The Cure caught my eye, even though I would never normally pick up a sci-fi dystopian novel (which is the genre it appeared to be when I picked it up, although I'm now not so sure sci-fi OR dystopian is the right word).
Still, it caught my attention from the blurb alone, and continued throughout the book. Even if the beginning was mostly background, the idea of the world not dissimilar to our own, really, made me wonder. The characters were detailed and full of depth, despite the book being so short, and the plot itself was fast moving and incredible to watch unfold. I can't say much more, really, because the wonder of this book was its easy-read and the sheer amount of detail it provided in such a short space. The whole world was so vivid, it seemed to be right there in front of you.
Definitely a book I will be suggesting to friends, and definitely one I will be reading again. I will definitely need to start reading more books like this!
For some reason The Cure caught my eye, even though I would never normally pick up a sci-fi dystopian novel (which is the genre it appeared to be when I picked it up, although I'm now not so sure sci-fi OR dystopian is the right word).
Still, it caught my attention from the blurb alone, and continued throughout the book. Even if the beginning was mostly background, the idea of the world not dissimilar to our own, really, made me wonder. The characters were detailed and full of depth, despite the book being so short, and the plot itself was fast moving and incredible to watch unfold. I can't say much more, really, because the wonder of this book was its easy-read and the sheer amount of detail it provided in such a short space. The whole world was so vivid, it seemed to be right there in front of you.
Definitely a book I will be suggesting to friends, and definitely one I will be reading again. I will definitely need to start reading more books like this!
September 13, 2016
The plot in itself isn't something new altogether but I liked the execution of it. The basic idea reinforcing the importance of uniqueness of every individual.
Set in a future where free will is about to cease to exist, this sci-fi is the struggle to not let technology dominate humans.
The use of technology which we regale in could be dangerous to us a specie which is going to stop us from being who we are really meant to be. Every one will be each other's clone.
Come to think of it, the use of technology, even today is more than is actually needed. It has made such an impact on out lives that we deem ourselves incomplete without our gadgets.
Even though, the story is set in a year thousands of years in the future, there are instances in the story which seem all too real even today.
I enjoyed reading this one! A 4 starer for me.
To see one of my favourite passages from the book, head over to www.hinalovestoread.wordpress.com
Set in a future where free will is about to cease to exist, this sci-fi is the struggle to not let technology dominate humans.
The use of technology which we regale in could be dangerous to us a specie which is going to stop us from being who we are really meant to be. Every one will be each other's clone.
Come to think of it, the use of technology, even today is more than is actually needed. It has made such an impact on out lives that we deem ourselves incomplete without our gadgets.
Even though, the story is set in a year thousands of years in the future, there are instances in the story which seem all too real even today.
I enjoyed reading this one! A 4 starer for me.
To see one of my favourite passages from the book, head over to www.hinalovestoread.wordpress.com
November 6, 2016
It was amazing. I wish that there would be sub titles to who was talking at each chapter because I was mostly confused on who was talking when. The ending could use a bit more detail though. Like it leaves you hanging knowing that everyone reverts back to being human, but what happens after that? Panic? Do people accept it? I personally wanted to know what the people did afterwards. Also wish that there was a little more depth to the book. Like and emotional connection where you could feel what the character is feeling. But even through all of that the book was fantastic.
June 26, 2016
I was luck enough to receive a copy of this book and I read it in one sitting. The world is intricate and very detailed, and I found myself keeping to read so I could finish it! I wish it was longer as I wanted more world exploration, and I wanted to know more about the main character Knija and her struggling. Perfect book as introduction to science fiction.
March 1, 2023
this book was all levels of awesome!! the world, words, details. though a small book, i assure you the story was huge. i wish there was more, but in truth it was perfect.
maybe the author can give us more of the Metravā world one of these days. ;)
maybe the author can give us more of the Metravā world one of these days. ;)
August 25, 2016
I thoroughly enjoyed this little novella. It really pulled me out of a scary reading slump. Full review to come.
October 30, 2016
Wow wow wow!!! Awesome dystopian! I needed moreeeee! 130 pages wasn't enough I need so much more of the amazing and fabulous Knijä ❤️❤️❤️ this book really highlights major worries about the future of the human race, with hints at Nazi's idealism (Aryan race) and total control of the global population from moods and emotions to how many children each family can have, etc! I found it amazingly terrifying because I wouldn't be all that surprised if this book was our future!
Also it was such a clever way to tell a story, with a whole new language and cool new words (I needed the help from the glossary tbh!) it really made me appreciate the natural world as it is now and free will! Free will, I love ya!!! It makes you think of all the things we take for granted today, and appreciate everything just a little more :)
I'll be getting into Jake's other works shortly, for sure! :) xx
Also it was such a clever way to tell a story, with a whole new language and cool new words (I needed the help from the glossary tbh!) it really made me appreciate the natural world as it is now and free will! Free will, I love ya!!! It makes you think of all the things we take for granted today, and appreciate everything just a little more :)
I'll be getting into Jake's other works shortly, for sure! :) xx
August 11, 2016
Thank you J.R. Knight for the ARC of your book, I’m so happy I got to read it.
The book is available from August 15, 2016 #jrknightwritesabook
”Keep everything about you that is whole and unique and different—sacred; wear every ounce of dissimilarity with privilege like a badge of honour. Never conform and never give in.”
Great words to live by, by the way.
There are these kinds of books having a rather unusual plot--can turn out wonderfully or collapse horribly, all but separated by execution and how well the details of the plot have been drawn out.
This book is one of them and the author has almost aced both the aforementioned aspects.
The Cure might be a 127 pages long novella but is equivalent to a full-length action-packed novel with all the elements.
The plot revolves around Knija, who is different from the others around her, always making efforts to blend in with the people of Metravā, which is run by the governmental body—Peār, is inhabited by U-mans, a genetically modified race of humans who do not sleep, who work fifteen hours a daāy, and who are fused with their U-chip at birth.
Where everyone is the same, everyone blends in, and no one stands out.
Well-written, this book had me hooked in from the very beginning. The plot has potential and the Author might be onto something big with it, if executed well in the next books (if there are books after this novella).
Though, I would’ve liked more description of the current settings, surroundings etc. because the plot the Author has created is so interesting and unique, that I’d like to know more about the world where the whole plot is based, in general.
Overall, for a debut novel, this book surpasses every expectation. I would definitely like to read more of the author’s upcoming works.
June 10, 2016
~ ARC Review ~
I was super surprised by this book! The Cure is a easy quick read, it took me not even a day to finish it. I really liked the future world and the detail of the technology and I connected with the main character and her struggle to fit into a world of robots. It was really different from everything that I had read, and definitely a book to make you think. I normally read scifi books with a romance, but this one was plot driven, so I kept reading to find out what would happen next. It didn't really need a romance storyline, so I'm glad there wasn't one.
* The ending left me like: OMG WHAT WILL HAPPEN NOW, so be prepared. Would love a sequel!
The Cure
I was super surprised by this book! The Cure is a easy quick read, it took me not even a day to finish it. I really liked the future world and the detail of the technology and I connected with the main character and her struggle to fit into a world of robots. It was really different from everything that I had read, and definitely a book to make you think. I normally read scifi books with a romance, but this one was plot driven, so I kept reading to find out what would happen next. It didn't really need a romance storyline, so I'm glad there wasn't one.
* The ending left me like: OMG WHAT WILL HAPPEN NOW, so be prepared. Would love a sequel!
The Cure
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