What do you think?
Rate this book
Perfect World #1
Perfect World
London, 2115
It is the year 2115 and the world is very different. With climate changes, natural disasters and war shaping the landscape, England has become a nation made up of several super cities and wasteland in between.
Eric Rawlins is a genetically engineered superhero created by the London Security Agency (L.S.A) to defend and protect the city against both national and international threats. With his superior abilities, celebrity status and beautiful girlfriend, Eric appears to have the perfect life. However, it is an illusion created by the L.S.A in order to control him.
Eric's nemesis is the charismatic Adam Larimore. The only son of billionaire business tycoon Victor Larimore, Adam is gifted with a genius level IQ as well as the same longevity as Eric.
When the actions of the L.S.A throw the two of them together Eric finds himself questioning everything that he has ever known as well as discovering the true course of events that led to Adam turning to a life of crime. As they become closer Eric realises that the L.S.A may be the real threat to London. But can he trust Adam or is he part of Adam’s plan for revenge against those who have wronged him?
It is the year 2115 and the world is very different. With climate changes, natural disasters and war shaping the landscape, England has become a nation made up of several super cities and wasteland in between.
Eric Rawlins is a genetically engineered superhero created by the London Security Agency (L.S.A) to defend and protect the city against both national and international threats. With his superior abilities, celebrity status and beautiful girlfriend, Eric appears to have the perfect life. However, it is an illusion created by the L.S.A in order to control him.
Eric's nemesis is the charismatic Adam Larimore. The only son of billionaire business tycoon Victor Larimore, Adam is gifted with a genius level IQ as well as the same longevity as Eric.
When the actions of the L.S.A throw the two of them together Eric finds himself questioning everything that he has ever known as well as discovering the true course of events that led to Adam turning to a life of crime. As they become closer Eric realises that the L.S.A may be the real threat to London. But can he trust Adam or is he part of Adam’s plan for revenge against those who have wronged him?
Paperback
First published July 18, 2014
5 people are currently reading
413 people want to read
About the author
Shari Sakurai
8 books68 followersShari Sakurai is a British author of paranormal, horror, science fiction and fantasy novels that almost always feature a LGBTQ protagonist and/or antagonist. She has always loved to write and it is her escape from the sometimes stressful modern life!
Aside from writing, Shari enjoys reading, watching movies, listening to (loud!) music, going to rock concerts and learning more about other societies and cultures. Japanese culture is of particular interest to her and she often incorporates Japanese themes and influences into her work.
Shari loves a challenge and has taken part and won the National Novel Writing Month challenge thirteen times!
Aside from writing, Shari enjoys reading, watching movies, listening to (loud!) music, going to rock concerts and learning more about other societies and cultures. Japanese culture is of particular interest to her and she often incorporates Japanese themes and influences into her work.
Shari loves a challenge and has taken part and won the National Novel Writing Month challenge thirteen times!
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
May 14, 2015
In the year 2115 the world is drastically different. Natural disasters, climate change, and war has transformed the landscape into a wasteland. Set in a futuristic England, we meet Eric Rawlins, a well-trained, intelligent, genetically engineered man who was created by the London Security Agency (L.S.A.) to protect the innocent.
Eric seems to have it all -- good looks, skills, and a perfect life -- until he finds himself up against Adam Larimore, the son of a billionaire, who is on a mission of his own. Eric's quest for peace is derailed, as he embarks on a journey into the mind and secrets of the enemy, stumbling upon a discovery that will test his loyalties and cause him to question the very foundation of his beliefs... and his ideas about who the enemy really is.
Read full review here: http://www.moonrisebookblog.com/2015/...
Eric seems to have it all -- good looks, skills, and a perfect life -- until he finds himself up against Adam Larimore, the son of a billionaire, who is on a mission of his own. Eric's quest for peace is derailed, as he embarks on a journey into the mind and secrets of the enemy, stumbling upon a discovery that will test his loyalties and cause him to question the very foundation of his beliefs... and his ideas about who the enemy really is.
Read full review here: http://www.moonrisebookblog.com/2015/...
August 7, 2016
This is a fun post-apocalyptic (you don't often see those two together!) story about 22nd-century London. The world has been ravaged by global warming, Britain has fallen apart, and now half of London has been taken over by an evil mastermind. Luckily there's genetically-engineered superhero Eric to take him on.
I really liked the twist
SPOILER ALERT!!!!!!!
of having the male hero and the male villain fall into a romantic relationship (fraught with tension, obviously: who is using whom?). I found some aspects of the writing a little clunky, but overall it was a pleasant read and the an unusual addition to the post-apocalyptic genre.
I really liked the twist
SPOILER ALERT!!!!!!!
of having the male hero and the male villain fall into a romantic relationship (fraught with tension, obviously: who is using whom?). I found some aspects of the writing a little clunky, but overall it was a pleasant read and the an unusual addition to the post-apocalyptic genre.
April 17, 2020
3.5? I keep changing my rating between 3 and 4, give us half stars Goodreads!!
So I've had this book for a while and thought I should probably actually get around to reading it.
The main premise of this is the ol' super hero vs super villain in a dystopian future.
The world building is interesting, it's set in London but lots of crazy shiz has happened to the world so a lot of the country is inhabitable. The places that do hold people have invisible barriers to keep enemies out.
We follow Eric, who is the town's favourite perfect hero, but looks can be deceiving, and behind closed doors his life is ruled and regulated by those in charge. Eat this, say that, have this relationship, go do all our bidding whenever we want you to.
On the flip side we have Adam, the local super villain who just wants to destroy London, wreak havoc, kill innocent people...or does he? o_O
I liked both of the main characters well enough, they had a lot of very stereotypical attributes (Eric is buff and beautiful, but naive, Adam is the all black wearing, emo looking baddie with daddy issues) but I kind of didn't mind? If felt purposeful. Heroes and villains, light and dark, a play on the superhero genre. I do think they could have been a bit more fleshed out though. Especially the sudden relationship. I wanted to see more awkward flirting and confusion between anger and lust. 'I'm so angry at you right now or do I want to smooch your face off??' vibes. It felt like it went soft too quickly for two people that have been at each others neck their whole adult life.
I definitely think Adam was more interesting than Eric. His backstory was well thought out, I liked the way it unfolds in the story. How we - and Eric - learn about it. There were a few nice twists throughout that kept you guessing.
Eric on the other hand was a bit too 'shutterstock superhero'. I wanted to see him wrestling with his emotions more. In terms of ~suddenly~ having feelings for his arch nemesis - a boy - and in terms of his whole life and career getting turned upside down.
So I wanted to see him processing what happened and only saw him as a commodity.
Perfect World ends on a big cliffhanger which sets up the next book as
So I've had this book for a while and thought I should probably actually get around to reading it.
The main premise of this is the ol' super hero vs super villain in a dystopian future.
The world building is interesting, it's set in London but lots of crazy shiz has happened to the world so a lot of the country is inhabitable. The places that do hold people have invisible barriers to keep enemies out.
We follow Eric, who is the town's favourite perfect hero, but looks can be deceiving, and behind closed doors his life is ruled and regulated by those in charge. Eat this, say that, have this relationship, go do all our bidding whenever we want you to.
On the flip side we have Adam, the local super villain who just wants to destroy London, wreak havoc, kill innocent people...or does he? o_O
I liked both of the main characters well enough, they had a lot of very stereotypical attributes (Eric is buff and beautiful, but naive, Adam is the all black wearing, emo looking baddie with daddy issues) but I kind of didn't mind? If felt purposeful. Heroes and villains, light and dark, a play on the superhero genre. I do think they could have been a bit more fleshed out though. Especially the sudden relationship. I wanted to see more awkward flirting and confusion between anger and lust. 'I'm so angry at you right now or do I want to smooch your face off??' vibes. It felt like it went soft too quickly for two people that have been at each others neck their whole adult life.
I definitely think Adam was more interesting than Eric. His backstory was well thought out, I liked the way it unfolds in the story. How we - and Eric - learn about it. There were a few nice twists throughout that kept you guessing.
Eric on the other hand was a bit too 'shutterstock superhero'. I wanted to see him wrestling with his emotions more. In terms of ~suddenly~ having feelings for his arch nemesis - a boy - and in terms of his whole life and career getting turned upside down.
So I wanted to see him processing what happened and only saw him as a commodity.
Perfect World ends on a big cliffhanger which sets up the next book as
July 22, 2016
I went into Perfect World with high hopes. I was disappointed. I enjoyed the premise, the dystopian setting. However, there was zero chemistry between the leading men. None. Zilch. Or maybe I'm immune to their particular brand of chemistry. Not exactly sure and not sure if I care enough to try to figure it out.
Wait! That's it! I didn't care about the characters. I did try but there wasn't much in terms of a relationship. The MCs didn't earn my interest. Maybe I've been spoiled by previous reading choices: ICoS, Cut & Run, Sidewinder, the Nightrunner series... Books with characters who fought tooth and nail with every fiber of their being to be with the ones they love, to save the ones they love. But these guys, Eric and Adam, just didn't have the passion. Oof...
Wait! That's it! I didn't care about the characters. I did try but there wasn't much in terms of a relationship. The MCs didn't earn my interest. Maybe I've been spoiled by previous reading choices: ICoS, Cut & Run, Sidewinder, the Nightrunner series... Books with characters who fought tooth and nail with every fiber of their being to be with the ones they love, to save the ones they love. But these guys, Eric and Adam, just didn't have the passion. Oof...
May 10, 2019
As part of OWS Con 2019, I decided to read and review Shari Sakurai’s dystopian science fiction novel Perfect World. It’s an interesting book that turned out to be nothing at all like I expected when I first started reading. I can normally spot plot twists, but in this case I’ll admit that the author took me completely by surprise.
The main character, Eric Rawlins, at first seems like any other ace pilot/James Bond type. He’s genetically enhanced to be strong, fast, and handsome. But while Eric at first struck me as a bit of a cliche, as the book progresses he develops into a true hero, showing a surprising amount of moral courage, decency, and compassion. I really enjoyed that the author gave Eric vulnerability and empathy—it made his character deeper and more complex, and honestly, made him a more enjoyable and likable hero to root for. I also liked that Eric moves from seeing moral problems as black and white, but comes to understand that people and situations can be grey and complicated.
I don’t want to give away too much about the other characters, in part because to do so would spoil one of the twists of the book, but I’m impressed by how much complexity Sakurai allows her characters. They often have conflicting motivations and desires, and even characters who feel one note at first develop in surprising but organic ways.
It’s hard to discuss the plot in depth because so much of it is dependent on some surprising and original twists, but needless to say, the book completely subverted some of my expectations. If the first chapter gives the impression that the book is going to be a simplistic good guy vs. bad guy Jame Bond-type plot, be prepared for some serious surprises. In the end, I appreciated how much of the plot felt earned. Eric’s initial casting of himself as a hero going up against a cruel villain feels jarring, especially when we learn about the levels of control the LSA has over him as well as the civilian population. Eric’s realizations over the course of the book feel disorienting in a good way, like someone waking up from a dream.
Overall, while there’s a little clunky writing sometimes, I enjoyed this book and once I started getting into it I could hardly stop reading. If you are looking for dystopian science fiction with some LGBT romance, I’d definitely recommend Perfect World!
The main character, Eric Rawlins, at first seems like any other ace pilot/James Bond type. He’s genetically enhanced to be strong, fast, and handsome. But while Eric at first struck me as a bit of a cliche, as the book progresses he develops into a true hero, showing a surprising amount of moral courage, decency, and compassion. I really enjoyed that the author gave Eric vulnerability and empathy—it made his character deeper and more complex, and honestly, made him a more enjoyable and likable hero to root for. I also liked that Eric moves from seeing moral problems as black and white, but comes to understand that people and situations can be grey and complicated.
I don’t want to give away too much about the other characters, in part because to do so would spoil one of the twists of the book, but I’m impressed by how much complexity Sakurai allows her characters. They often have conflicting motivations and desires, and even characters who feel one note at first develop in surprising but organic ways.
It’s hard to discuss the plot in depth because so much of it is dependent on some surprising and original twists, but needless to say, the book completely subverted some of my expectations. If the first chapter gives the impression that the book is going to be a simplistic good guy vs. bad guy Jame Bond-type plot, be prepared for some serious surprises. In the end, I appreciated how much of the plot felt earned. Eric’s initial casting of himself as a hero going up against a cruel villain feels jarring, especially when we learn about the levels of control the LSA has over him as well as the civilian population. Eric’s realizations over the course of the book feel disorienting in a good way, like someone waking up from a dream.
Overall, while there’s a little clunky writing sometimes, I enjoyed this book and once I started getting into it I could hardly stop reading. If you are looking for dystopian science fiction with some LGBT romance, I’d definitely recommend Perfect World!
November 8, 2020
In the future, the world is not as it was. Because of climate change, tsunamis, all kinds of natural disasters, and wars almost destroyed the world.
The story is set in London. Eric is a perfect agent of L.S.A, genetically engineered to be a hero. He fights and protects the city from Adam, son of a billionaire, who is genius and uses his powers for bad, to take the city from L. S. A.
Somehow they end up together, but instead of hating each other, they fall in love.
This is how I always imagined, a lot of superhero movies should end (like Batman and Joker, there is definitely some chemistry there:) and Superman and Lex Luther). That was my favorite part of the story. :) It was just perfect. :)
It's a classic superhero vs. villain story, with a fun little twist. :)
While I like the storyline and characters, especially Adam💜, I had a hard time connecting to the writing style.
received from Author
The story is set in London. Eric is a perfect agent of L.S.A, genetically engineered to be a hero. He fights and protects the city from Adam, son of a billionaire, who is genius and uses his powers for bad, to take the city from L. S. A.
Somehow they end up together, but instead of hating each other, they fall in love.
This is how I always imagined, a lot of superhero movies should end (like Batman and Joker, there is definitely some chemistry there:) and Superman and Lex Luther). That was my favorite part of the story. :) It was just perfect. :)
It's a classic superhero vs. villain story, with a fun little twist. :)
While I like the storyline and characters, especially Adam💜, I had a hard time connecting to the writing style.
received from Author
July 12, 2022
Between natural disasters and humans, the world isn’t the same. The Perfect World is set in London and Eric is a perfect agent of the L.S.A. He was genetically engineered. He’s a hero and is fighting Adam who is a genius, he uses his powers evilly, he wants to take the city from L.S.A. They hate each other but end up falling in love. Overall, this was great! I loved the apocalyptic aspect of the story! Nice pacing and well written.
February 12, 2015
It's England in the future. Eric is a genetically enhanced human who works for the London Security Agency. He is hunting down Adam Larimore, who is a terrorist. When he helps Larimore escape, he finds out about the reality of his world and becomes deeply involved with Larimore.
Okay, this book was extremely well written, Shuri can write. It gains a high score for readability. Unfortunately the characterisation and general plot in the first half of the book really let it down. I will admit that I was massively losing interest by the time Eric helps Adam escape. It reads a lot like anime fanfiction. Things happen because the author wants them to, not because she's listening to her characters.
The reason I mention anime is that the main villain is straight out of 'every' yaoi anime I have ever seen. Long black hair, slender, sensitive with a snarky sense of humour. And like most villains in animes, he is much maligned.
The world building is good, but underdeveloped. Apparently the world fell into anarchy and warfare for resources. That I can accept, but I can't accept the heavy futurism that's occurring at the same time (if there are few resources-where does the tech come from?). There is no basis for how this society is functioning if England is isolated. There's no explanation for the industry and engineering, much less how people are fed if there are only cities.
5 stars for the writing minus 2 for the rest
Okay, this book was extremely well written, Shuri can write. It gains a high score for readability. Unfortunately the characterisation and general plot in the first half of the book really let it down. I will admit that I was massively losing interest by the time Eric helps Adam escape. It reads a lot like anime fanfiction. Things happen because the author wants them to, not because she's listening to her characters.
The reason I mention anime is that the main villain is straight out of 'every' yaoi anime I have ever seen. Long black hair, slender, sensitive with a snarky sense of humour. And like most villains in animes, he is much maligned.
The world building is good, but underdeveloped. Apparently the world fell into anarchy and warfare for resources. That I can accept, but I can't accept the heavy futurism that's occurring at the same time (if there are few resources-where does the tech come from?). There is no basis for how this society is functioning if England is isolated. There's no explanation for the industry and engineering, much less how people are fed if there are only cities.
5 stars for the writing minus 2 for the rest
December 11, 2015
CLIFF HANGER!!!
May 15, 2017
2049, several tsunamis had destroyed most of the world. War, poverty & pestilence ran ramped.
PPL were killed, & the crime rate soared.
England had formed the London Security Agency (LSA) to protect itself from enemy countries.
Ivan Williams was head of it.
Dome shaped sensor shields were built to protect the cities inhabitants.
The London Hospital of Advanced Genetic Sciences (LHAGS) controlled the DNA & birth rate.
2071, Victor Larimore (father, Larimore Systems chairman/owner) had a contract to build computers & advanced weapons.
3/5/2112 Sector 4, Old Greenwich, North London,
2115, The Serpentines, Sector 1, North London. Eric Rawlins (genetically engineered superhero) wanted to help Adam Victor James Larimore (19, Venewood, Ward 2, 1 Camden, Sector 1, Larimore Systems) change his ways.
The 2 of them are gay & very much in love.
Victor James Larimore (father, Larimore Systems founder/owner) paid Annaliese Merrik (surrogate mother) $50 million lbs. to have the ideal child.
Officer Joel Banks brought Adam before Ivan. He read him the charges.
Vandalizing Government property & assaulting a police officer.
Officer Reynolds was in the hospital.
Victor had to shell out a $1/2 million lbs. for his son’s stupidity.
A meeting was held to discuss Ares II software upgrade for the defense system.
Those in attendance are: Prime Minister Max Roberts (60+), Jeff Ingham (Head of the LSA), Simon Matheson (LSA Chief Tech.), & Victor.
Adam was giving the presentation.
The former 2062, Population growth & control plan had been revised 2099-2119.
Officer Joel Banks had stopped Adam & Leon, but only arrested Adam.
The Old Greenwich & District Memorial Centre was jamb packed full to capacity for Victor’s funeral.
Eleanor “Ellie” Larimore (46, wife/Adam’s stepmother), Joseph “Joe” (Adam’s stepbrother Jr. position, Larimore Systems), & Adam were in the front row.
Other family & friends were in adjacent seats.
Marcus Barrow (Director of LS HR) gave the eulogy.
Raymond Ellison (40+, Victor’s solicitor, Sector 1 Central Government Legal Dept.) was going to read & go over the will.
Ms. Sylvia E. Underwood (legal secretary) was a witness.
The entire Venewood mansion/estate & ownership of LS will go to Joseph Stephen Nichols.
Adam was furious.
He later went to Venewood to see Joseph about the matter at hand again. Ellie was there also.
Next Adam went to see Ivan Williams (Godfather).
Ivan was not happy to see him.
Warning: This book contains extremely graphic adult content, or violence, which is only suitable for mature readers. It may be offensive to some readers.
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review, only an honest one. All thoughts & opinions are entirely my own.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. Wow, a very well written futuristic paranormal thriller book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great futuristic paranormal thriller movie, an animated cartoon, or better yet a mini TV series. To be continued. A very easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free Goodreads; Making Connections; Making Connections discussion group talk; Farnhurst Publishing; Author; PDF book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
PPL were killed, & the crime rate soared.
England had formed the London Security Agency (LSA) to protect itself from enemy countries.
Ivan Williams was head of it.
Dome shaped sensor shields were built to protect the cities inhabitants.
The London Hospital of Advanced Genetic Sciences (LHAGS) controlled the DNA & birth rate.
2071, Victor Larimore (father, Larimore Systems chairman/owner) had a contract to build computers & advanced weapons.
3/5/2112 Sector 4, Old Greenwich, North London,
2115, The Serpentines, Sector 1, North London. Eric Rawlins (genetically engineered superhero) wanted to help Adam Victor James Larimore (19, Venewood, Ward 2, 1 Camden, Sector 1, Larimore Systems) change his ways.
The 2 of them are gay & very much in love.
Victor James Larimore (father, Larimore Systems founder/owner) paid Annaliese Merrik (surrogate mother) $50 million lbs. to have the ideal child.
Officer Joel Banks brought Adam before Ivan. He read him the charges.
Vandalizing Government property & assaulting a police officer.
Officer Reynolds was in the hospital.
Victor had to shell out a $1/2 million lbs. for his son’s stupidity.
A meeting was held to discuss Ares II software upgrade for the defense system.
Those in attendance are: Prime Minister Max Roberts (60+), Jeff Ingham (Head of the LSA), Simon Matheson (LSA Chief Tech.), & Victor.
Adam was giving the presentation.
The former 2062, Population growth & control plan had been revised 2099-2119.
Officer Joel Banks had stopped Adam & Leon, but only arrested Adam.
The Old Greenwich & District Memorial Centre was jamb packed full to capacity for Victor’s funeral.
Eleanor “Ellie” Larimore (46, wife/Adam’s stepmother), Joseph “Joe” (Adam’s stepbrother Jr. position, Larimore Systems), & Adam were in the front row.
Other family & friends were in adjacent seats.
Marcus Barrow (Director of LS HR) gave the eulogy.
Raymond Ellison (40+, Victor’s solicitor, Sector 1 Central Government Legal Dept.) was going to read & go over the will.
Ms. Sylvia E. Underwood (legal secretary) was a witness.
The entire Venewood mansion/estate & ownership of LS will go to Joseph Stephen Nichols.
Adam was furious.
He later went to Venewood to see Joseph about the matter at hand again. Ellie was there also.
Next Adam went to see Ivan Williams (Godfather).
Ivan was not happy to see him.
Warning: This book contains extremely graphic adult content, or violence, which is only suitable for mature readers. It may be offensive to some readers.
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review, only an honest one. All thoughts & opinions are entirely my own.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. Wow, a very well written futuristic paranormal thriller book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great futuristic paranormal thriller movie, an animated cartoon, or better yet a mini TV series. To be continued. A very easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free Goodreads; Making Connections; Making Connections discussion group talk; Farnhurst Publishing; Author; PDF book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
November 7, 2019
I received a free e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
If you follow me on Twitter, then you know I'm a huge fan of Vicious, as well as an Evervale shipper. So when I got this review request, I was over the moon! Superhero novels are quite rare in the traditional publishing space, so this was a pleasant surprise.
My rating: 3.5/5 stars
WHAT I LIKED
1. The characters
At a first glance, the characters seem simple. Eric, our protagonist, is a kind superhero who believes in justice and equality. Adam, our villain, is an evil genius who hides a vulnerable side. But they started to grow on me as I read on. Eric seems kind of dumb but... he's so precious. I usually prefer antiheroes so I was surprised that I adored this genuinely good guy. PURE BOY.
Also lmao Adam dresses like a 2000s emo kid and that's just the funniest thing ever, imagining a super genius supervillain who looks like a teenager who posted emo song lyrics on Myspace.
2. The latter half of the romance
I wasn't fond of the build-up to the romance but once it started going... it was very sweet! Not sure if this counts as a spoiler but... Adam learns how to be selfless to prove that he loves Eric. Sobs. Villain redemption is my weakness.
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE
1. Info dumping
This is a problem with most SFF novels, and I don't like it. There was a lot of narrative info-dumping that I felt could have been showed, not told. Eh.
2. Build up to the romance
See, the author pitched this as an enemies to lovers romance, so I was already fully expecting the romance. And yet it caught me off guard. I was like, "why is this happening already??" I expected a little more build up. You know... sharing feelings and backstories and "you're not alone" "neither are you" "nobody knows me" "but I do" before the smooching. They do end up connecting on a deeper level, don't worry, but the physical attraction got there first. So it's just a personal preference, I suppose.
3. Sparse prose
I'm the type of reader that prefers lush descriptions and vivid prose. Unfortunately, I felt like the author's writing style was too blunt for my taste. There were also some small grammatical errors. Despite that, it was an easy read and I finished it in two days. And by the end... I already wanted more and got the sequel :))
Quick categories
Steamy hatefuck scale: 3/5
Even when Eric hates Adam... he's still super nice, so we don't have enough steaminess HAHHA
Secret softness scale: 4/5
They start with the physicality but move onto emotional connection, which is very sweet. Once Adam reveals his true self and Eric realizes he isn't so bad, they have a lot of kilig-worthy moments. There was also a really surprising scene where they get into a tub together... which made me ??? confused af because they weren't that close yet... but squee.
Holy shit plot twist scale: 5/5
I was legitimately not expecting the ending plot twist hahah it wasn't even that wild but it definitely made me appreciate the novel more. The romance plays with your expectations and I fell right into the trap... Happily.
For fans of...
This novel is for every single person who shipped a hero and a villain and had to read some fanfic because their ship didn't become canon. This is for US. FOR YOU.
If you follow me on Twitter, then you know I'm a huge fan of Vicious, as well as an Evervale shipper. So when I got this review request, I was over the moon! Superhero novels are quite rare in the traditional publishing space, so this was a pleasant surprise.
My rating: 3.5/5 stars
WHAT I LIKED
1. The characters
At a first glance, the characters seem simple. Eric, our protagonist, is a kind superhero who believes in justice and equality. Adam, our villain, is an evil genius who hides a vulnerable side. But they started to grow on me as I read on. Eric seems kind of dumb but... he's so precious. I usually prefer antiheroes so I was surprised that I adored this genuinely good guy. PURE BOY.
Also lmao Adam dresses like a 2000s emo kid and that's just the funniest thing ever, imagining a super genius supervillain who looks like a teenager who posted emo song lyrics on Myspace.
2. The latter half of the romance
I wasn't fond of the build-up to the romance but once it started going... it was very sweet! Not sure if this counts as a spoiler but... Adam learns how to be selfless to prove that he loves Eric. Sobs. Villain redemption is my weakness.
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE
1. Info dumping
This is a problem with most SFF novels, and I don't like it. There was a lot of narrative info-dumping that I felt could have been showed, not told. Eh.
2. Build up to the romance
See, the author pitched this as an enemies to lovers romance, so I was already fully expecting the romance. And yet it caught me off guard. I was like, "why is this happening already??" I expected a little more build up. You know... sharing feelings and backstories and "you're not alone" "neither are you" "nobody knows me" "but I do" before the smooching. They do end up connecting on a deeper level, don't worry, but the physical attraction got there first. So it's just a personal preference, I suppose.
3. Sparse prose
I'm the type of reader that prefers lush descriptions and vivid prose. Unfortunately, I felt like the author's writing style was too blunt for my taste. There were also some small grammatical errors. Despite that, it was an easy read and I finished it in two days. And by the end... I already wanted more and got the sequel :))
Quick categories
Steamy hatefuck scale: 3/5
Even when Eric hates Adam... he's still super nice, so we don't have enough steaminess HAHHA
Secret softness scale: 4/5
They start with the physicality but move onto emotional connection, which is very sweet. Once Adam reveals his true self and Eric realizes he isn't so bad, they have a lot of kilig-worthy moments. There was also a really surprising scene where they get into a tub together... which made me ??? confused af because they weren't that close yet... but squee.
Holy shit plot twist scale: 5/5
I was legitimately not expecting the ending plot twist hahah it wasn't even that wild but it definitely made me appreciate the novel more. The romance plays with your expectations and I fell right into the trap... Happily.
For fans of...
This novel is for every single person who shipped a hero and a villain and had to read some fanfic because their ship didn't become canon. This is for US. FOR YOU.
September 6, 2017
I was introduced to this series by reading Adam first. It was only a companion piece, but it was an excellent introduction to the world, the conflict, and the characters. However, I will warn readers that reading Adam first will spoil this novel.
Eric’s got it all. Literally. As the genetically engineered poster boy for the L. S. A, he faces off against the notorious terrorist Adam Larimore. Things aren’t always as they seem, and Eric’s unwavering loyalty will really be put to the test.
I liked the layer and depth to the two factions. Adam and the L. S. A. were constantly trying to outdo and stay ahead of each other. Things that seemed insignificant at the time became the catalyst for something much bigger. However, the reader doesn’t realize it until much later. Character motivations were always in question. The lines between morality were heavily drawn. It was a nice dynamic that kept the reader from getting too comfortable.
As far as romances went, this one showed rather than told character emotions towards one another. It was subtle the whole way, something I really enjoyed. Things felt more natural. It progressed at a reasonable rate, though still a little on the fast side. There were a lot of nuances that went into character interactions. It made them more tense, more dramatized so the reader stayed interested. There were dynamics all over the place. It was great.
When talking about sci-fi, this certainly took a very dystopian view. The world was in shambles, and a corrupt government is maintaining those shambles. The two genres overlap nicely, in a very young adult way.
Dialogue was awkward at some points. Receiving character emotions was difficult. An impassioned scene would arise in which a character was supposed to make the reader sympathize and reciprocate said feelings. Some of those scenes fell flat.
The cliffhanger at the end was really good. It ended on such a note that I want to find out what happens next. There’s a few routes this series could take, and I’m excited to see where it leads.
Eric’s got it all. Literally. As the genetically engineered poster boy for the L. S. A, he faces off against the notorious terrorist Adam Larimore. Things aren’t always as they seem, and Eric’s unwavering loyalty will really be put to the test.
I liked the layer and depth to the two factions. Adam and the L. S. A. were constantly trying to outdo and stay ahead of each other. Things that seemed insignificant at the time became the catalyst for something much bigger. However, the reader doesn’t realize it until much later. Character motivations were always in question. The lines between morality were heavily drawn. It was a nice dynamic that kept the reader from getting too comfortable.
As far as romances went, this one showed rather than told character emotions towards one another. It was subtle the whole way, something I really enjoyed. Things felt more natural. It progressed at a reasonable rate, though still a little on the fast side. There were a lot of nuances that went into character interactions. It made them more tense, more dramatized so the reader stayed interested. There were dynamics all over the place. It was great.
When talking about sci-fi, this certainly took a very dystopian view. The world was in shambles, and a corrupt government is maintaining those shambles. The two genres overlap nicely, in a very young adult way.
Dialogue was awkward at some points. Receiving character emotions was difficult. An impassioned scene would arise in which a character was supposed to make the reader sympathize and reciprocate said feelings. Some of those scenes fell flat.
The cliffhanger at the end was really good. It ended on such a note that I want to find out what happens next. There’s a few routes this series could take, and I’m excited to see where it leads.
June 7, 2022
This book does what all good SF should do, it makes you think about the world we're living in now and the world in the story. It was fascinating to compare the things that have gone on in this story with some things currently going on in the world. So, first off I loved the world building here. Then, when you add in superheroes, villains and a secretive security agency that may not be what it claims to be and you have a real winner of a story. I loved Eric and Adam both as individual characters and watching them getting to know each other and build a relationship. Then, came that cliffhanger ending. Must grab book two asap!
January 13, 2015
Perfect World
By Shari Sakuri
In the distant future, London is ravaged by the great tsunamis of 2049. This was a disaster on a global scale. War and strife followed, the struggle for resources seemed without end - until the LSA was formed. The LSA (London Security Agency) became the greatest asset in restoring order and peace to the world.
With the world's greatest arsenal of weaponry at their disposal, holographic technology that can recreate the old world at a whim; and genetic engineering able to completely map and control the human genome, the LSA eventually established total control over a weary, splintered population -- or so they thought.
Eric Rawlin, the LSA's best genetically engineered super soldier, is the face of hope against all who would threaten this new-found peace, the pinnacle of their achievements. Eric has never questioned his loyalty. He would give his life for the cause, and as with any cause, there will always be those who would seek to end it.
Adam Larimore is such a man: the greatest terrorist the world has ever faced. He is the perfect weapon, with a burning hatred for the LSA, and the means to destroy them.
As Eric moves to put an end to Adam, he must delve deep into the mind of the enemy, into the secrets of his past, and he must, for the first time, question the organization that created him.
Will Eric find the answers he needs in order to defend London, or will he wish he never started looking to begin with?
Shari Sakuri has created an amazingly detailed world in the distant future. I found myself right at home, in this space opera. She describes the tech with great intricacy, down to the dates of its conception.
Eric Rawlin is an absolute bad ass with an immediately likeable personality. It was a pleasure to see how he evolved from soldier to a man, in control if his own life, in this tale. His supporting cast is fleshed out and realistic down to their postmodern wardrobe.
Adam Larimore provides the perfect counterpoint to the flawless order of the LSA. At first, I considered him an ever-present antagonist, always popping up to taunt Eric and drive him forward. Although certain plot points related to him were a little cliché, as the story progressed, I found Adam to be so much more. And the twist between Adam and Eric came as a complete but welcome surprise to me.
The only complaints I have about this book are its few grammatical errors, and a bit of lag towards the middle of the story.
I know the year is young, but I feel it is going to be tough for any book to beat Perfect World. I immensely enjoyed Shari's writing style and beautiful story. There is even a teaser for another one of her books after the epilogue. I'll probably check it out very soon. If you enjoy, sci fi, martial arts, romance, and technology; be sure to give this book a read. I look forward to her next.
J.B Maynard
By Shari Sakuri
In the distant future, London is ravaged by the great tsunamis of 2049. This was a disaster on a global scale. War and strife followed, the struggle for resources seemed without end - until the LSA was formed. The LSA (London Security Agency) became the greatest asset in restoring order and peace to the world.
With the world's greatest arsenal of weaponry at their disposal, holographic technology that can recreate the old world at a whim; and genetic engineering able to completely map and control the human genome, the LSA eventually established total control over a weary, splintered population -- or so they thought.
Eric Rawlin, the LSA's best genetically engineered super soldier, is the face of hope against all who would threaten this new-found peace, the pinnacle of their achievements. Eric has never questioned his loyalty. He would give his life for the cause, and as with any cause, there will always be those who would seek to end it.
Adam Larimore is such a man: the greatest terrorist the world has ever faced. He is the perfect weapon, with a burning hatred for the LSA, and the means to destroy them.
As Eric moves to put an end to Adam, he must delve deep into the mind of the enemy, into the secrets of his past, and he must, for the first time, question the organization that created him.
Will Eric find the answers he needs in order to defend London, or will he wish he never started looking to begin with?
Shari Sakuri has created an amazingly detailed world in the distant future. I found myself right at home, in this space opera. She describes the tech with great intricacy, down to the dates of its conception.
Eric Rawlin is an absolute bad ass with an immediately likeable personality. It was a pleasure to see how he evolved from soldier to a man, in control if his own life, in this tale. His supporting cast is fleshed out and realistic down to their postmodern wardrobe.
Adam Larimore provides the perfect counterpoint to the flawless order of the LSA. At first, I considered him an ever-present antagonist, always popping up to taunt Eric and drive him forward. Although certain plot points related to him were a little cliché, as the story progressed, I found Adam to be so much more. And the twist between Adam and Eric came as a complete but welcome surprise to me.
The only complaints I have about this book are its few grammatical errors, and a bit of lag towards the middle of the story.
I know the year is young, but I feel it is going to be tough for any book to beat Perfect World. I immensely enjoyed Shari's writing style and beautiful story. There is even a teaser for another one of her books after the epilogue. I'll probably check it out very soon. If you enjoy, sci fi, martial arts, romance, and technology; be sure to give this book a read. I look forward to her next.
J.B Maynard
January 13, 2015
In the distant future, London is ravaged by the great tsunamis of 2049. This was a disaster on a global scale. War and strife followed, the struggle for resources seemed without end - until the LSA was formed. The LSA (London Security Agency) became the greatest asset in restoring order and peace to the world.
With the world's greatest arsenal of weaponry at their disposal, holographic technology that can recreate the old world at a whim; and genetic engineering able to completely map and control the human genome, the LSA eventually established total control over a weary, splintered population -- or so they thought.
Eric Rawlin, the LSA's best genetically engineered super soldier, is the face of hope against all who would threaten this new-found peace, the pinnacle of their achievements. Eric has never questioned his loyalty. He would give his life for the cause, and as with any cause, there will always be those who would seek to end it.
Adam Larimore is such a man: the greatest terrorist the world has ever faced. He is the perfect weapon, with a burning hatred for the LSA, and the means to destroy them.
As Eric moves to put an end to Adam, he must delve deep into the mind of the enemy, into the secrets of his past, and he must, for the first time, question the organization that created him.
Will Eric find the answers he needs in order to defend London, or will he wish he never started looking to begin with?
Shari Sakuri has created an amazingly detailed world in the distant future. I found myself right at home, in this space opera. She describes the tech with great intricacy, down to the dates of its conception.
Eric Rawlin is an absolute bad ass with an immediately likeable personality. It was a pleasure to see how he evolved from soldier to a man, in control if his own life, in this tale. His supporting cast is fleshed out and realistic down to their postmodern wardrobe.
Adam Larimore provides the perfect counterpoint to the flawless order of the LSA. At first, I considered him an ever-present antagonist, always popping up to taunt Eric and drive him forward. Although certain plot points related to him were a little cliché, as the story progressed, I found Adam to be so much more. And the twist between Adam and Eric came as a complete but welcome surprise to me.
The only complaints I have about this book are its few grammatical errors, and a bit of lag towards the middle of the story.
I know the year is young, but I feel it is going to be tough for any book to beat Perfect World. I immensely enjoyed Shari's writing style and beautiful story. There is even a teaser for another one of her books after the epilogue. I'll probably check it out very soon. If you enjoy, sci fi, martial arts, romance, and technology; be sure to give this book a read. I look forward to her next.
J.B Maynard
With the world's greatest arsenal of weaponry at their disposal, holographic technology that can recreate the old world at a whim; and genetic engineering able to completely map and control the human genome, the LSA eventually established total control over a weary, splintered population -- or so they thought.
Eric Rawlin, the LSA's best genetically engineered super soldier, is the face of hope against all who would threaten this new-found peace, the pinnacle of their achievements. Eric has never questioned his loyalty. He would give his life for the cause, and as with any cause, there will always be those who would seek to end it.
Adam Larimore is such a man: the greatest terrorist the world has ever faced. He is the perfect weapon, with a burning hatred for the LSA, and the means to destroy them.
As Eric moves to put an end to Adam, he must delve deep into the mind of the enemy, into the secrets of his past, and he must, for the first time, question the organization that created him.
Will Eric find the answers he needs in order to defend London, or will he wish he never started looking to begin with?
Shari Sakuri has created an amazingly detailed world in the distant future. I found myself right at home, in this space opera. She describes the tech with great intricacy, down to the dates of its conception.
Eric Rawlin is an absolute bad ass with an immediately likeable personality. It was a pleasure to see how he evolved from soldier to a man, in control if his own life, in this tale. His supporting cast is fleshed out and realistic down to their postmodern wardrobe.
Adam Larimore provides the perfect counterpoint to the flawless order of the LSA. At first, I considered him an ever-present antagonist, always popping up to taunt Eric and drive him forward. Although certain plot points related to him were a little cliché, as the story progressed, I found Adam to be so much more. And the twist between Adam and Eric came as a complete but welcome surprise to me.
The only complaints I have about this book are its few grammatical errors, and a bit of lag towards the middle of the story.
I know the year is young, but I feel it is going to be tough for any book to beat Perfect World. I immensely enjoyed Shari's writing style and beautiful story. There is even a teaser for another one of her books after the epilogue. I'll probably check it out very soon. If you enjoy, sci fi, martial arts, romance, and technology; be sure to give this book a read. I look forward to her next.
J.B Maynard
November 5, 2014
3.5 rounded up to 4
Some heroes are made not born; in a future London the London Security Agency is supposedly the protecor of the city. They have genetically engineered their own superhero - Eric Rawlins is stronger, faster, heals quicker and is more intelligent than a normal human, but yet he is the human face of the L.S.A. and he is trotted out like a trained pet at every press conference to ease any rumblings of discontent from the populace.
Everything Eric does is in the public spotlight, and the L.S.A. make sure that everything the public knows is only what they want it to know. It doesn't matter that Eric finds himself more attracted to men than women; no, the L.S.A even pick out his girlfriend and insist they get engaged, even though she is in a solid relationship with someone else.
Adam Larimore is the other side of the coin; he is set up as Eric's nemesis, but both of them are engineered the same; Adam too has the longevity, strength and high intelligence that Eric has and the two are well-matched. Adam has taken over North London and the L.S.A. want it back. When Adam is captured and held prisoner at the L.S.A. security facility, Eric come to realise that perhaps the L.S.A. hasn't been telling the truth, not just to the populace but to him as well.
I am in two minds with this book; some parts I liked really well, and others left me feeling a bit deflated. It's very imaginative and intriguing and the plot jogs along a at a good solid pace. It isn't quite a page turner, but it certainly isn't a boring read.
I think it's the romance that falls a bit flat. I personally didn't get the spark between Adam and Eric at all. Now, I admit I am a reader who likes a good engaging plot along with romance, but here I felt like the romance had taken quite a back seat. It didn't help that there were no love scenes in the book. There were a couple of kiss scenes and then fade to black. Nothing wrong with that usually, but here it felt that the love scenes had been there and had then been removed for some reason. They felt missing. There was an explicit torture scene which wasn't skimmed over. I would rather have had less of the torture and more of the sex.
There was also an abundant over use of epithets: the hero, the villian, the younger man etc.
I'm not sure I would even call this a romance as there wasn't a happy ending, there wasn't even a happy for now ending. It ends on a real downer of a cliff-hanger and that was so disappointing. After all that the characters had been through, I felt angry that there wasn't a happy ever after for them. Maybe it's the beginning of a series?
It's a good read, but certainly not a light read.
Some heroes are made not born; in a future London the London Security Agency is supposedly the protecor of the city. They have genetically engineered their own superhero - Eric Rawlins is stronger, faster, heals quicker and is more intelligent than a normal human, but yet he is the human face of the L.S.A. and he is trotted out like a trained pet at every press conference to ease any rumblings of discontent from the populace.
Everything Eric does is in the public spotlight, and the L.S.A. make sure that everything the public knows is only what they want it to know. It doesn't matter that Eric finds himself more attracted to men than women; no, the L.S.A even pick out his girlfriend and insist they get engaged, even though she is in a solid relationship with someone else.
Adam Larimore is the other side of the coin; he is set up as Eric's nemesis, but both of them are engineered the same; Adam too has the longevity, strength and high intelligence that Eric has and the two are well-matched. Adam has taken over North London and the L.S.A. want it back. When Adam is captured and held prisoner at the L.S.A. security facility, Eric come to realise that perhaps the L.S.A. hasn't been telling the truth, not just to the populace but to him as well.
I am in two minds with this book; some parts I liked really well, and others left me feeling a bit deflated. It's very imaginative and intriguing and the plot jogs along a at a good solid pace. It isn't quite a page turner, but it certainly isn't a boring read.
I think it's the romance that falls a bit flat. I personally didn't get the spark between Adam and Eric at all. Now, I admit I am a reader who likes a good engaging plot along with romance, but here I felt like the romance had taken quite a back seat. It didn't help that there were no love scenes in the book. There were a couple of kiss scenes and then fade to black. Nothing wrong with that usually, but here it felt that the love scenes had been there and had then been removed for some reason. They felt missing. There was an explicit torture scene which wasn't skimmed over. I would rather have had less of the torture and more of the sex.
There was also an abundant over use of epithets: the hero, the villian, the younger man etc.
I'm not sure I would even call this a romance as there wasn't a happy ending, there wasn't even a happy for now ending. It ends on a real downer of a cliff-hanger and that was so disappointing. After all that the characters had been through, I felt angry that there wasn't a happy ever after for them. Maybe it's the beginning of a series?
It's a good read, but certainly not a light read.
December 11, 2014
Perfect World caught me completely off guard. I expected an LGBT romance set in a SciFi world. But what I go was a really deep book that focused on many different elements. While Adam and Eric's romance isn't the highlight of the book, it is still sweet and I enjoyed it. I actually like that the author paid more attention to the whole story instead of focusing on the romance.
The pacing was great. There were never moments of lag, and I enjoyed this book all the way until the end. The ending, though. It's a bit of a cliffhanger. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Adam and Eric's story isn't over yet!
**I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
The pacing was great. There were never moments of lag, and I enjoyed this book all the way until the end. The ending, though. It's a bit of a cliffhanger. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Adam and Eric's story isn't over yet!
**I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
January 25, 2015
This novel is refreshingly different - a superhero yarn that focuses on relationships, with faceted characters, plausible action sequences, and villains who aren't what they seem. This dystopian world is well conceived and well drawn, and evolves from an all-too-plausible string of bad-luck disasters from mother Nature. I'm looking forward to the next installment in this series!
I got this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
I got this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews