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Plastic Smile
Cas Russell, antisocial mercenary, has decided to Fight Crime. With capital letters, like in one of her friend’s comic books.
After all, she has a real-life superpower: with her instantaneous mathematical ability, she can neuter bombs or out-shoot an army. And it’s Cas’s own fault violence has been spiking in the world’s cities lately — she’s the one who crushed the organization of telepaths that had been keeping the world’s worst offenders under control. Now every drive-by or gang shooting reminds Cas how she’s failed, and taking out these scumbags one at a time is never going to be enough.
She needs to find a way to stop all the violence. At once.
But Cas’s own power has a history, one she can’t remember — or control. A history that’s creeping into the cracks in her mind and fracturing her sanity . . . just when she’s gotten herself on the hit list of every crime lord on the West Coast.
Cas isn’t going to be able to save the world. She might not even be able to save herself.
After all, she has a real-life superpower: with her instantaneous mathematical ability, she can neuter bombs or out-shoot an army. And it’s Cas’s own fault violence has been spiking in the world’s cities lately — she’s the one who crushed the organization of telepaths that had been keeping the world’s worst offenders under control. Now every drive-by or gang shooting reminds Cas how she’s failed, and taking out these scumbags one at a time is never going to be enough.
She needs to find a way to stop all the violence. At once.
But Cas’s own power has a history, one she can’t remember — or control. A history that’s creeping into the cracks in her mind and fracturing her sanity . . . just when she’s gotten herself on the hit list of every crime lord on the West Coast.
Cas isn’t going to be able to save the world. She might not even be able to save herself.
294 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 30, 2016
9 people are currently reading
159 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
September 28, 2016
Or three and a half stars? A good read, but different from the others in the series. Cas is struggling with memories, but the overall theme is 'what price for free will?' Interesting dilemmas posed.
June 14, 2016
I love everything about this series, and it just keeps getting better. If you enjoyed the first three, you'll definitely want this one.
More coherent thoughts to follow in due course :-)
More coherent thoughts to follow in due course :-)
August 10, 2016
An enjoyable, fast-paced entry in this series.
February 25, 2022
In this book we find Cas at perhaps her lowest and least consistent point of the story so far. Or maybe that's *at perhaps her most consistently, logically-inconsistent point of the story...
Cas refusing help is getting a little over the top now. Defying the logic she holds so fundamentally dear, we find Cas not listening to reason and even preferencing destruction. Like the metaphor of watching a train wreck, when you watch Cas destroy herself you can feel utterly powerless, incapable of helping someone who won't be helped.
I'm not actually referring to Cas avoiding looking into her history, I've personally found it a bit yuck that Checker and Arthur persist on that front against her will, notwithstanding their noble intent. But there are times when she should have stopped, or she should have taken the proffered hand, and didn't. Simon following Cas around on her Arkacite break in was quite silly because it didn't stop Cas in her tracks. I presume this is all intended as part of the confusion she experiences due to scratching at the surface of her mysterious past but it's beginning to feel excessive.
The psychic phenomena are back, but this time it is paralleled and contrasted with (less voodoo, tech-based) subliminal mind control techniques. We learn about a brain wave manipulation device which Cas tries to implement as a weapon against crime and anyone could guess that this was always going to go south quickly.
Given the staunch opposition to Pithica's plans for world peace by means of psychic influence, it is not just odd but outright hypocritical that the team would attempt a scheme which involves diminishing the free will of others. This is an intentional choice by the author of course, but was probably one of the harder aspects of the story to swallow.
Get your Rio fix on. Rio is back to play a part in both main threads, connecting some of the dots in Cas Russell's past, but also getting involved in her current do gooder mission to forcibly save LA from itself. When Rio is in town, inevitably heads will roll.
This story wasn't as strong as the last one for me, it's a little less fun and more frantic, especially as the tension builds toward the end. Friendships are put to the test. Methods and motivations are put under the microscope. The mathematics is a little more than an embellishment in this book but doesn't feature as prominently as in the last book. Even though the backstory is gradually coming to fore there seemed to be much less character development too.
Still a fine read and worth all 5 of my stars. But I'm going to expect more mathematics and a shocking reveal in the next books.
Cas refusing help is getting a little over the top now. Defying the logic she holds so fundamentally dear, we find Cas not listening to reason and even preferencing destruction. Like the metaphor of watching a train wreck, when you watch Cas destroy herself you can feel utterly powerless, incapable of helping someone who won't be helped.
I'm not actually referring to Cas avoiding looking into her history, I've personally found it a bit yuck that Checker and Arthur persist on that front against her will, notwithstanding their noble intent. But there are times when she should have stopped, or she should have taken the proffered hand, and didn't. Simon following Cas around on her Arkacite break in was quite silly because it didn't stop Cas in her tracks. I presume this is all intended as part of the confusion she experiences due to scratching at the surface of her mysterious past but it's beginning to feel excessive.
The psychic phenomena are back, but this time it is paralleled and contrasted with (less voodoo, tech-based) subliminal mind control techniques. We learn about a brain wave manipulation device which Cas tries to implement as a weapon against crime and anyone could guess that this was always going to go south quickly.
Given the staunch opposition to Pithica's plans for world peace by means of psychic influence, it is not just odd but outright hypocritical that the team would attempt a scheme which involves diminishing the free will of others. This is an intentional choice by the author of course, but was probably one of the harder aspects of the story to swallow.
Get your Rio fix on. Rio is back to play a part in both main threads, connecting some of the dots in Cas Russell's past, but also getting involved in her current do gooder mission to forcibly save LA from itself. When Rio is in town, inevitably heads will roll.
This story wasn't as strong as the last one for me, it's a little less fun and more frantic, especially as the tension builds toward the end. Friendships are put to the test. Methods and motivations are put under the microscope. The mathematics is a little more than an embellishment in this book but doesn't feature as prominently as in the last book. Even though the backstory is gradually coming to fore there seemed to be much less character development too.
Still a fine read and worth all 5 of my stars. But I'm going to expect more mathematics and a shocking reveal in the next books.
July 15, 2016
One of my favorite things about Cas Russell is how she's developed as a character from book one of this series--from completely amoral and anti-social to tentatively having friendships to now, in book four, having firmer friendships and feelings and maybe more than a smudge of humanity.
Can feels guilt for the crime wave L.A. is experiencing and tries a method to bring the impulse and peer pressure which leads to crime to a halt, with, of course,some unintended circumstances. We learned a lot more about Cas and her background and how she came to be and I can't wait to find out more about her past. As always, the secondary characters were fantastic--plenty of Rio in this one--and the ending really did leave you wanting more.
Can feels guilt for the crime wave L.A. is experiencing and tries a method to bring the impulse and peer pressure which leads to crime to a halt, with, of course,some unintended circumstances. We learned a lot more about Cas and her background and how she came to be and I can't wait to find out more about her past. As always, the secondary characters were fantastic--plenty of Rio in this one--and the ending really did leave you wanting more.
July 13, 2016
The Cas Russell books are great fun--driven, partially-amnesiac woman with very poor social skills uses her superpowers (which are mostly math!) for morally questionable gain. It's been fantastic to watch Cas figure out friendships and start using her powers for good. In this installment, she figures out a way to reduce crime in Los Angeles--but it's ethically questionable to say the least and has some unexpected repercussions. Cas finds herself in opposition to some criminals and even some of her allies. Along the way, the specter of her past comes into play. I was delighted to learn more about who Cas used to be, and it only whetted my appetite for more answers, as it brought up a lot more questions. Really looking forward to the next volume.
September 15, 2016
Russell's Attic Series
I read many good books, and very seldom one that is truly an outstandingly one. The Russell's Attic books are truly brilliant. S L Huang writes eloquently and intricately. Characters are authentic and the rich plot draws you into their highly original, yet commonplace world. Remarkable, inspired and highly original. Five stars do even come close to the brilliance of this work. I highly recommended
S L Huang and the Russell's Attic books to you... you will not regret it. Un-put-down-able!
I recommend it to
I read many good books, and very seldom one that is truly an outstandingly one. The Russell's Attic books are truly brilliant. S L Huang writes eloquently and intricately. Characters are authentic and the rich plot draws you into their highly original, yet commonplace world. Remarkable, inspired and highly original. Five stars do even come close to the brilliance of this work. I highly recommended
S L Huang and the Russell's Attic books to you... you will not regret it. Un-put-down-able!
I recommend it to
July 17, 2016
Ooh, more about Cas's brain! Very happy to delve a lot deeper into that mystery this time around. I enjoyed the engagement with the ethics of mind-control here too. The action in the last 1/3 or so didn't completely work for me (I think the endings of this series often feel a bit odd), but I loved spending time with these characters again.
BUT CLIFFHANGER!! Augh! I have to wait until 2017 for the next one! (At least it's already written, according to Huang.)
BUT CLIFFHANGER!! Augh! I have to wait until 2017 for the next one! (At least it's already written, according to Huang.)
July 14, 2016
Another fantastic Russell's Attic book. I have zero idea how S. L. Huang keeps turning out this page-turners with great characters and provocative speculative elements, but I cannot wait for the next one.
May 19, 2017
This book was not my favorite. I just don't feel like Cas is growing as a character. She is very frustrating!
October 19, 2016
Plastic Smile is the fourth novel in the Russell’s Attic series, a usually action oriented science fiction series about an anti-heroic woman with superpowers based on math. I suggest reading the series in order, starting with the first book, Zero Sum Game. This review may contain spoilers for prior books.
As part of her attempt to become a better person, Cas Russell has decided to fight crime. Being Cas, she decides to find the most mathematically efficient way of crime fighting. She hits upon a device that emits subsonic signals that break up group thought. Subliminal brain control over the entire Los Angles area. What could go wrong?
At the same time, Cas finally agreed to let Checkers look into her background. However, it may be too late. The nightmares and flashes of memory have been building up to the point where Cas is barely able to function. She may be on the brink of a complete mental collapse.
Compared to the other installments, Plastic Smile was not as fast paced or full or action. The pacing in general felt sort of wonky, since it didn’t follow the normal formula of Cas chasing after a defined bad guy and them trying to kill her. However, Plastic Smile more than made up for this by finally revealing answers about Cas’s background! This is something I’ve been wanting to know since book one, so I was so excited to have it here.
Cas’s deteriorating mental state is a large part of the focus in Plastic Smile, and I really loved this plot line. I adore books where the protagonist is on the edge of a mental breakdown, so it should be no surprise that I liked this so much.
Cas is a great protagonist, and one of the best antiheroines I’ve encountered in science fiction. In addition, I’ve really grown to like the supporting cast. A prickly loner finding friends is a character arc I’m sure to love.
Russell’s Attic is the sort of series I turn to where I want something fun and snappy. It’s probably my favorite self published series, and I encourage everyone else to give it a try. I would love to see it get more attention.
The Illustrated Page.
As part of her attempt to become a better person, Cas Russell has decided to fight crime. Being Cas, she decides to find the most mathematically efficient way of crime fighting. She hits upon a device that emits subsonic signals that break up group thought. Subliminal brain control over the entire Los Angles area. What could go wrong?
At the same time, Cas finally agreed to let Checkers look into her background. However, it may be too late. The nightmares and flashes of memory have been building up to the point where Cas is barely able to function. She may be on the brink of a complete mental collapse.
Compared to the other installments, Plastic Smile was not as fast paced or full or action. The pacing in general felt sort of wonky, since it didn’t follow the normal formula of Cas chasing after a defined bad guy and them trying to kill her. However, Plastic Smile more than made up for this by finally revealing answers about Cas’s background! This is something I’ve been wanting to know since book one, so I was so excited to have it here.
Cas’s deteriorating mental state is a large part of the focus in Plastic Smile, and I really loved this plot line. I adore books where the protagonist is on the edge of a mental breakdown, so it should be no surprise that I liked this so much.
Cas is a great protagonist, and one of the best antiheroines I’ve encountered in science fiction. In addition, I’ve really grown to like the supporting cast. A prickly loner finding friends is a character arc I’m sure to love.
Russell’s Attic is the sort of series I turn to where I want something fun and snappy. It’s probably my favorite self published series, and I encourage everyone else to give it a try. I would love to see it get more attention.
The Illustrated Page.
October 12, 2016
It's astonishing, however, it's not so compelling. The idea is great, but somehow it's falling behind the other three. It gave a feeling of "bridgey" book to the big events on the next book. Not so much math this time.
The idea of using brainwave to control human mind has appeared on kingsman movie, so it's not an entirely new idea.
However, the style, the uniqueness, the nuance, is getting better. the quality is improving with a great sustained writing style which I enjoy. Cheers.
The idea of using brainwave to control human mind has appeared on kingsman movie, so it's not an entirely new idea.
However, the style, the uniqueness, the nuance, is getting better. the quality is improving with a great sustained writing style which I enjoy. Cheers.
July 18, 2016
I really like this one -- Cas is forced to confront more of her past, as people and memories start showing up all over the place. In the meantime, she distracts herself with a pet project to use mind control to reduce crime, which pits her directly against Rio (yes, he's back!). Terrifying and fascinating, and with an excellent ending!
December 17, 2016
Cas Russel is still young and sassy, but the series is getting old. I found that every book was a little less good than the previous one. Zero Sum Game set the bar quite high, but I think it's reached a point where I'll hesitate in buying the next one.
I still enjoyed it :)
I still enjoyed it :)
July 4, 2016
This series just gets better and better.
July 4, 2016
Cas Russell is a fantastic character and I can't wait for the next book.
August 13, 2016
Another fun entry in the Cas Russell books: superhero math powers on LA's streets with a strong supporting cast that isn't white bread.
August 19, 2016
Yet another brilliant book in this series. it will be a long wait for the next one.
July 11, 2016
Awesome as always. Can't wait for the next one!
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews