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Autonomy
Balmoral Murraine works in a Battery, assembling devices she doesn’t understand for starvation pay. Pasco Eborgersen is the pampered son of an Elite, trying to navigate the temptations of the Pleasure Houses, the self-sacrifice of the Faith, and the high-octane excitement of Steel Ball. They never should have met, and now they will rip the world apart.
What happens when ninety percent of the world lives on skaatch – a jellyfish and insect composite?
What happens when mankind spends more time in alternative life sims instead of in the “real” world?
What happens when economic interest is the sole determinant of global decision making?
What happens when a single secret is discovered that calls into question everything we have ever believed?
Welcome to the Autonomy. Welcome to your future.
What happens when ninety percent of the world lives on skaatch – a jellyfish and insect composite?
What happens when mankind spends more time in alternative life sims instead of in the “real” world?
What happens when economic interest is the sole determinant of global decision making?
What happens when a single secret is discovered that calls into question everything we have ever believed?
Welcome to the Autonomy. Welcome to your future.
466 pages, ebook
Published July 29, 16
2 people are currently reading
48 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
September 18, 2016
Ahoy there me mateys! I received this sci-fi eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. So here be me honest musings . . .
Unlike me last abandoned sci-fi novel, this one went a lot better. I finished it! The story is set on post-apocalyptic Earth. The environment has been trashed and Autonomy runs the world. Their goal - making choices based on economic stability. The greatest resource on Earth happens to be humans because they are expendable and therefore exploitable. The book blurb frankly doesn't do the book justice. The novel takes place beginning in 2035 and ending in 2060 with some gaps.
The story starts following the Boa family, part of the poor class. The first scene is heart-wrenching and immediately drew me in. This personal look into the Boa family gradually widens into multiple viewpoints from all different walks of life as the story continues.
Contrasting with the Boa family are the Eborgersens, part of the Elite ruling class. Of course life isn't all fun and games for the rich either. That is what makes this novel so compelling. The expansive time frame, multiple points of view, changing politics, revolutionaries, and plot twists kept me hooked. Every time I had to put the book down, I was grumpy and impatient to get back to it.
There are several characters that get more focus in the book. Tristan and Pasco Eborgersen and the Boa daughter, Balmoral, are the folks whom the story centers around. I loved all three in different ways. Balmoral is kickass but makes plenty of mistakes. Pasco started out annoying and grew on me. Tristan is just plain nuts.
The only major complaint I had with the book was the ending. The book began to piss me off at 96% when the book's final Big Secret is revealed. I just thought it was stupid. However other people loved the ending so don't take me word for it. Give this book a try. I am still super glad that I read it and would recommend it to sci-fi lovers.
So lastly . . .
Thank you Kristell Ink!
If ye liked this review and want to see me others, visit https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordp...
Unlike me last abandoned sci-fi novel, this one went a lot better. I finished it! The story is set on post-apocalyptic Earth. The environment has been trashed and Autonomy runs the world. Their goal - making choices based on economic stability. The greatest resource on Earth happens to be humans because they are expendable and therefore exploitable. The book blurb frankly doesn't do the book justice. The novel takes place beginning in 2035 and ending in 2060 with some gaps.
The story starts following the Boa family, part of the poor class. The first scene is heart-wrenching and immediately drew me in. This personal look into the Boa family gradually widens into multiple viewpoints from all different walks of life as the story continues.
Contrasting with the Boa family are the Eborgersens, part of the Elite ruling class. Of course life isn't all fun and games for the rich either. That is what makes this novel so compelling. The expansive time frame, multiple points of view, changing politics, revolutionaries, and plot twists kept me hooked. Every time I had to put the book down, I was grumpy and impatient to get back to it.
There are several characters that get more focus in the book. Tristan and Pasco Eborgersen and the Boa daughter, Balmoral, are the folks whom the story centers around. I loved all three in different ways. Balmoral is kickass but makes plenty of mistakes. Pasco started out annoying and grew on me. Tristan is just plain nuts.
The only major complaint I had with the book was the ending. The book began to piss me off at 96% when the book's final Big Secret is revealed. I just thought it was stupid. However other people loved the ending so don't take me word for it. Give this book a try. I am still super glad that I read it and would recommend it to sci-fi lovers.
So lastly . . .
Thank you Kristell Ink!
If ye liked this review and want to see me others, visit https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordp...
October 21, 2016
DISCLAIMER: I received a copy of this book as part of a blog tour.
When I started reading this book, I must be honest, I was not expecting it to bring such an impact. I thought: "Okay, I'll get an introduction to the character, the society and system, and then the story will take off."
Nope.
That was not the case. I don't know. Maybe past experiences are the reason this book left such an impact in the first few pages. Or maybe I just have a sensitive spot for mothers in this position. Either way, this book smacked with a wave that left me thinking: "Whoa! That just happened." Balmoral's character is brought to life in such an interesting way.
The author's writing had me from the start. Great character(s); great reading plot pace. I would say that if you like books such as Divergent then you will like this one. But I would add that this book is its own substance. Its extremely unique and I would totally read it again.
Oct. 24th
When I started reading this book, I must be honest, I was not expecting it to bring such an impact. I thought: "Okay, I'll get an introduction to the character, the society and system, and then the story will take off."
Nope.
That was not the case. I don't know. Maybe past experiences are the reason this book left such an impact in the first few pages. Or maybe I just have a sensitive spot for mothers in this position. Either way, this book smacked with a wave that left me thinking: "Whoa! That just happened." Balmoral's character is brought to life in such an interesting way.
The author's writing had me from the start. Great character(s); great reading plot pace. I would say that if you like books such as Divergent then you will like this one. But I would add that this book is its own substance. Its extremely unique and I would totally read it again.
Oct. 24th
May 12, 2017
Set in the not-too-distant future, this dystopian novel envisions the world after a climate catastrophe has dissolved governments and left a single corporation in control of people’s lives. The lucky Elite live in Sector 1, where the rich and powerful reap the benefits of the laborers in Sectors 2 and 3. “Human resources” are just that—raw material of economic necessity.
Balmoral Murraine is born into the Battery, one of the manufacturing centers of Sector 2. An accident in infancy gives her an uncanny ability to reach into the network that connects rich and poor alike in a simulated virtual reality and manipulate the code, making her the most dangerous woman alive and a threat to the Autonomy.
Houghton does an excellent job of world-building. Blending current technology with future advancements, he creates a very believable scenario where virtual reality is more real than reality itself. The plotting is solid and the characters evolve. While I was disappointed with the so-called life-altering secret that was supposed to change the world, the rest of the story was so good that it didn’t really diminish my enjoyment of it.
The body count is high so I’m not sure I’d call this a young adult novel as others have suggested. But there are so many good topics and themes, of economics, religion, sports and war, that this book would make an excellent choice for book discussion groups, which don’t typically select science fiction stories and maybe should.
Balmoral Murraine is born into the Battery, one of the manufacturing centers of Sector 2. An accident in infancy gives her an uncanny ability to reach into the network that connects rich and poor alike in a simulated virtual reality and manipulate the code, making her the most dangerous woman alive and a threat to the Autonomy.
Houghton does an excellent job of world-building. Blending current technology with future advancements, he creates a very believable scenario where virtual reality is more real than reality itself. The plotting is solid and the characters evolve. While I was disappointed with the so-called life-altering secret that was supposed to change the world, the rest of the story was so good that it didn’t really diminish my enjoyment of it.
The body count is high so I’m not sure I’d call this a young adult novel as others have suggested. But there are so many good topics and themes, of economics, religion, sports and war, that this book would make an excellent choice for book discussion groups, which don’t typically select science fiction stories and maybe should.
December 16, 2016
“Name badge? That tab on his shirt? I didn’t even notice.”
“iNet teaches you not to notice.”
The story is compelling, twisting around three people from completely opposite ends of life. The twins, Pasco and Tristram, are born and brought up in the richest elite where their mother spends all of her time in a sim-world and their father is a politician, gambling the futures of millions. Balmoral is born in the slums to a mother who couldn’t stop working even for Balmoral’s birth, too afraid she would lose her job. They live in a world destroyed by famine and controlled by economics, where humans are a commodity and the overriding need is to produce goods as cheaply as possible. And the lives of everyone are ruled by iNet, accessible and consuming, providing information and temptation – the offered salvation of Faith, the distractions of the Pleasure Houses, the excitement of the Steel Ball.
But there is rebellion. There is revolt. When Balmoral, Pasco and Tristam get sucked into the fight, it tests their beliefs and their morals – and when iNet threatens to take over, to get inside your head and never leave…what does humanity really believe in?
Freaky, unsettling, fast-paced, and a dystopian fiction that’s just a bit too close to the bone to be comforting.
“iNet teaches you not to notice.”
The story is compelling, twisting around three people from completely opposite ends of life. The twins, Pasco and Tristram, are born and brought up in the richest elite where their mother spends all of her time in a sim-world and their father is a politician, gambling the futures of millions. Balmoral is born in the slums to a mother who couldn’t stop working even for Balmoral’s birth, too afraid she would lose her job. They live in a world destroyed by famine and controlled by economics, where humans are a commodity and the overriding need is to produce goods as cheaply as possible. And the lives of everyone are ruled by iNet, accessible and consuming, providing information and temptation – the offered salvation of Faith, the distractions of the Pleasure Houses, the excitement of the Steel Ball.
But there is rebellion. There is revolt. When Balmoral, Pasco and Tristam get sucked into the fight, it tests their beliefs and their morals – and when iNet threatens to take over, to get inside your head and never leave…what does humanity really believe in?
Freaky, unsettling, fast-paced, and a dystopian fiction that’s just a bit too close to the bone to be comforting.
October 18, 2016
Any book that starts with she "felt a pop between her legs followed by wetness" is bound to be interesting! When the next sentence talks about getting a bonus for hitting the baby quota, it had my attention... except, I am an idiot!
As I moved on to the second paragraph, I realized that it was not referring to a baby quota but describes finishing her shift to hit the quota before having the baby. (I thought about taking this part out of my review, but why not let someone else have a laugh t my stupidity? I do all the time!)
Balmoral was dealt a CRAPPY hand. From the second she was born, it kept hitting the fan. She was named Balmoral Murraine for heaven's sake! That was definitely not the name her parents picked for her. She never whines or complains, though. She just figures out a way to live the crappy life she was handed.
This book was awesome! It exceeded my expectations.
It has been refreshing to read YA books lately that have strong female characters that are not wrapped up in a cookie cutter love triangle of some type or super boy crazy.
I wasn't sure if there would be a sequel to this book, but the ending set up for one perfectly. I can't wait to see what happens next with Balmoral and Pasco! The only thing I'm upset about is how long I will have to wait to see what happens next!
I received a copy of this book from Xpresso Book Tours, in exchange for an honest review.
As I moved on to the second paragraph, I realized that it was not referring to a baby quota but describes finishing her shift to hit the quota before having the baby. (I thought about taking this part out of my review, but why not let someone else have a laugh t my stupidity? I do all the time!)
Balmoral was dealt a CRAPPY hand. From the second she was born, it kept hitting the fan. She was named Balmoral Murraine for heaven's sake! That was definitely not the name her parents picked for her. She never whines or complains, though. She just figures out a way to live the crappy life she was handed.
This book was awesome! It exceeded my expectations.
It has been refreshing to read YA books lately that have strong female characters that are not wrapped up in a cookie cutter love triangle of some type or super boy crazy.
I wasn't sure if there would be a sequel to this book, but the ending set up for one perfectly. I can't wait to see what happens next with Balmoral and Pasco! The only thing I'm upset about is how long I will have to wait to see what happens next!
I received a copy of this book from Xpresso Book Tours, in exchange for an honest review.
October 19, 2016
The opening scene in Autonomy made me flinch with sympathy for Li Bao.
Having your waters breaking is bad enough,
but knowing you have keep working until the of the shift while in labour.
The book is divided into three parts, and you begin to realise that the birth of Balmoral, and the twins Pasco and Trisrum.
The world the three children were born into couldn’t be more different.
Balmoral named by Autonomy, and already has to a huge debt incurred just to be born.
I could spent time reciting the book, but if you love Sci fi you should love this.
Its starts slowing really pulling you into the dismal lives of the workers.
The aimless lives where the only way to survive is to plug into their virtual worlds through inet lenses to escape somewhere better.
The book is addictive I couldn’t put it down, reading through the night.
This is a must read for the fans. If you don’t you’ll miss out.
I received this in exchange for an honest review.
Having your waters breaking is bad enough,
but knowing you have keep working until the of the shift while in labour.
The book is divided into three parts, and you begin to realise that the birth of Balmoral, and the twins Pasco and Trisrum.
The world the three children were born into couldn’t be more different.
Balmoral named by Autonomy, and already has to a huge debt incurred just to be born.
I could spent time reciting the book, but if you love Sci fi you should love this.
Its starts slowing really pulling you into the dismal lives of the workers.
The aimless lives where the only way to survive is to plug into their virtual worlds through inet lenses to escape somewhere better.
The book is addictive I couldn’t put it down, reading through the night.
This is a must read for the fans. If you don’t you’ll miss out.
I received this in exchange for an honest review.
February 12, 2017
“Autonomy,” by Jude Houghton (Grimbold, 2015). Opens with the best description of utter, hopeless, degraded, hardly human poverty I’ve ever read. Talk about a dystopia, this is the dystopiest! Earth, from 2035 into the 2060s. All the planet’s natural resources have been completely exhausted; the atmosphere is poisoned; the primary food is skaatch (jellyfish and insects). The only resource left is human beings. They work in their millions, on treadle-mills that make power; in factories assembling microchips, for 80 hours a week, for barely above starvation pay; women who can’t do that any more go to the Mamfac, where their milk is pumped for dozens of infants at a time until the mothers are completely drained. What keeps them going? They spend almost all their time in computer sims, and they believe in the Faith, which tells them of a wonderful life after death. Of course, the higher classes, Elites and above, live comfortable lives in the Mansion (formerly Manhattan), carefully walled off from the rest of the world. The only factor in making decisions? Is it economic, will it produce more than it consumers. Balmoral Murraine is the freakish daughter of Li and Angrua in Churin, dropped on her head as a newborn but now almost supernatural in her control of the internet where most life takes place. Early on, when she thought she was playing a game, she destroyed a special school for Elite children and killed hundreds of them---which the Elites think is part of an attack by rebels of the Dish. Among the Elite are two brothers, Tristram and Pasco Eborgersen, sons of Dagmar Eborgersen, whose brother Maglan takes control of the world in a coup—but Dagmar is assassinated in what probably was set up by Maglan himself. Tristram becomes a sandman, a psychopathic killer; Pasco, it’s not clear what he is, though he is not as smart or deadly as his brother. Anyway, the Elite are trying to destroy the Dish and Balmoral before their rebellion wins, while Balmoral and Pasco are racing to uncover the secret a professor had uncovered which will destroy the current system. Ingenious plotting, horrifying but plausible world, very ambiguous ending. Fascinating book.
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October 18, 2016
In a not too distant future, the world has been ravaged. Facing extinction after a global collapse, a corporation swoops in to save the day. Now if you want to live, you work for the company. If you cannot perform your duties, you have nothing. They control all, they see all, they hear all. The Autonomy is a collective of business people who have saved the world and enslaved the planet. Creating a further divide between the rich and the poor, the elites live a life pampered and oblivious, preparing to continue the lifestyle. The other 90% of the world live in horrid conditions, those who can work often work double or triple shifts. Families live in one room hovels, if they are lucky. Those who aren’t as lucky may live in a one room hovel with 4 other families. The corporations run everything, they even name the children. The air is dirty and the food is Skaatch, made up of jellyfish and insects. Life is hard and many people spend any free time forgetting about what is around them by entering the sims through their mandated iNet glasses. Many depend on the Faith to get them through the day. They log in and rack up their a points, telling themselves today’s hardships will earn them rewards in the afterlife.
Not everyone can accept this life forced onto them. Slaving for the Autonomy and ignoring through the Faith and other sims, cannot blind them from the unfairness and the horrors of the world. You cannot have dictatorship without rebellion, and this rebellion has arrived. The Dish will fight to free the world; it will bring war to The Autonomy.
The author has created a world that could be; a dystopian 1984, that I found myself easily able to accept. The creation of the world is clear and fully saturated. It is easy to picture the characters and their surroundings. The characters are rich and developed and I found myself heavily immersed in their well being. Balmoral captured my attention easily from her birth, to her first adventures in iNet. She intuitively understands the iNet and can do things with it as a small child, that others didn’t know could be done. A child of sector 2, she was raised with nothing and went to work young. She is smart and has a desire to know what’s happening around her.
Tristram and Pasco, twin sons whose elite father was killed by the Dish, are fascinating characters we also watch from birth. The brothers, very different from each other as children, have grown into interesting characters. Tristram is working for his uncle, who is the head of Securicom and essentially The Autonomy. Pasco is a gambler and didn’t take the harder turn his brother did after losing their father. It was easy to understand how they became who they were and feel for each brother. Their personalities and plights were well developed and fascinating.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story and think it would be enjoyed by anyone who likes dystopian sci-fi. Due to some more adult content, I would recommend it for older readers.
Not everyone can accept this life forced onto them. Slaving for the Autonomy and ignoring through the Faith and other sims, cannot blind them from the unfairness and the horrors of the world. You cannot have dictatorship without rebellion, and this rebellion has arrived. The Dish will fight to free the world; it will bring war to The Autonomy.
The author has created a world that could be; a dystopian 1984, that I found myself easily able to accept. The creation of the world is clear and fully saturated. It is easy to picture the characters and their surroundings. The characters are rich and developed and I found myself heavily immersed in their well being. Balmoral captured my attention easily from her birth, to her first adventures in iNet. She intuitively understands the iNet and can do things with it as a small child, that others didn’t know could be done. A child of sector 2, she was raised with nothing and went to work young. She is smart and has a desire to know what’s happening around her.
Tristram and Pasco, twin sons whose elite father was killed by the Dish, are fascinating characters we also watch from birth. The brothers, very different from each other as children, have grown into interesting characters. Tristram is working for his uncle, who is the head of Securicom and essentially The Autonomy. Pasco is a gambler and didn’t take the harder turn his brother did after losing their father. It was easy to understand how they became who they were and feel for each brother. Their personalities and plights were well developed and fascinating.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story and think it would be enjoyed by anyone who likes dystopian sci-fi. Due to some more adult content, I would recommend it for older readers.
April 11, 2017
Welcome to the Autonomy. Welcome to your future.
In Jude Houghton’s bleak near-future SF thriller, the world is run by big business and workers are considered only for their value to the company. Human rights are a waste of resources. The rich live in apartments, amuse themselves by watching violent ball games, and pay no attention to the poor, who often live five families to a small trailer, working 14 hour shifts in the Batteries, plugged into a VR religion that promises rewards in the next life if they work hard in this one. Everyone knows their place in this rigid, stratified society. Until Balmoral Murraine, sold to the Battery at birth, her work a payment for her brother’s education. Her unique brain knows how to manipulate the systems that govern her life.
Pasco Eborgsen, born to the elite but never comfortable among them, is the nephew of the most powerful man in the Autonomy. When he meets Balmoral, a meeting that should never have happened, his life takes a dramatic turn. And between them, maybe Pasco and Balmoral can bring some sort of hope to the beleaguered citizens of the Autonomy…
Autonomy is a complicated book, with many interlacing plot strands, and the first few chapters describing Balmoral’s family life are almost unremittingly bleak. You really feel for Balmoral – she’s a character that it’s not easy to warm to, almost emotionless and eerily calm, but you do sympathise with her. Pasco is the heart of the book, likable, sometimes a bit hopeless, battered by fate but still hanging on to his morality is a world where morality has been sacrificed for profit.
The action is wide-ranging, from the bleakness of Battery life in Churin (which appears to be somewhere in China – names have been changed so the reader must try to work out roughly where the action is taking place) to the skyscrapers of the Elite and the sewers below them, where a renegade cell fights to bring down the Autonomy from beneath.
Autonomy is the kind of book that takes your breath away and leaves you thinking and taking a second look at the world around you. Perhaps we are not so far from the nightmare of the Autonomy? It’s a chilling, prophetic look at the future that leaves the reader unsettled, but not entirely without hope…
In Jude Houghton’s bleak near-future SF thriller, the world is run by big business and workers are considered only for their value to the company. Human rights are a waste of resources. The rich live in apartments, amuse themselves by watching violent ball games, and pay no attention to the poor, who often live five families to a small trailer, working 14 hour shifts in the Batteries, plugged into a VR religion that promises rewards in the next life if they work hard in this one. Everyone knows their place in this rigid, stratified society. Until Balmoral Murraine, sold to the Battery at birth, her work a payment for her brother’s education. Her unique brain knows how to manipulate the systems that govern her life.
Pasco Eborgsen, born to the elite but never comfortable among them, is the nephew of the most powerful man in the Autonomy. When he meets Balmoral, a meeting that should never have happened, his life takes a dramatic turn. And between them, maybe Pasco and Balmoral can bring some sort of hope to the beleaguered citizens of the Autonomy…
Autonomy is a complicated book, with many interlacing plot strands, and the first few chapters describing Balmoral’s family life are almost unremittingly bleak. You really feel for Balmoral – she’s a character that it’s not easy to warm to, almost emotionless and eerily calm, but you do sympathise with her. Pasco is the heart of the book, likable, sometimes a bit hopeless, battered by fate but still hanging on to his morality is a world where morality has been sacrificed for profit.
The action is wide-ranging, from the bleakness of Battery life in Churin (which appears to be somewhere in China – names have been changed so the reader must try to work out roughly where the action is taking place) to the skyscrapers of the Elite and the sewers below them, where a renegade cell fights to bring down the Autonomy from beneath.
Autonomy is the kind of book that takes your breath away and leaves you thinking and taking a second look at the world around you. Perhaps we are not so far from the nightmare of the Autonomy? It’s a chilling, prophetic look at the future that leaves the reader unsettled, but not entirely without hope…
October 22, 2016
Balmoral Murraine works in a Battery where most everyone works unless they are a part of the elites. Balmoral and her family are one of the lucky few who live in their own trailer in the stacks where some live with multi-families in the same dwelling. Balmoral and her family work fourteen hour shifts and sometime they even pull a double. It takes the whole family working just to have enough to eat.
In Balmoral’s world everyone is connected to iNet but is not allowed to be on iNet when they are working. But Balmoral was born with a gift of hacking so she doesn’t follow the rules very well after all she knows how to get around the rules without getting caught, most of the time that is.
Pasco Eborgersen is part of the elite crowd and has had most things handed to him on a silver platter as well as his twin brother. Pasco and his brother lost their father when they were teenagers and went to live with their uncle.
Pasco runs into a little bad luck but after running into Balmoral his luck is changing or so he thinks in the beginning. He soon finds out that just being with Balmoral could cost him his life. Pasco starts having feelings for Balmoral and wants nothing more than to keep her safe. Now Balmoral and Pasco are on the run just trying to stay alive. If they are caught they know it will be the end of both to them.
I have to say that I really loved the whole concept and the world that Jude Houghton created for Autonomy. I love stories where the world that is created could become our reality. Autonomy is one story that will stay with me for a long, long, long time to come. I am so glad I was given this opportunity to read it.
I would highly recommend Autonomy to anyone who loves a good dystopian or science fiction novel. Autonomy is one book you might just want to add to your collection.
In Balmoral’s world everyone is connected to iNet but is not allowed to be on iNet when they are working. But Balmoral was born with a gift of hacking so she doesn’t follow the rules very well after all she knows how to get around the rules without getting caught, most of the time that is.
Pasco Eborgersen is part of the elite crowd and has had most things handed to him on a silver platter as well as his twin brother. Pasco and his brother lost their father when they were teenagers and went to live with their uncle.
Pasco runs into a little bad luck but after running into Balmoral his luck is changing or so he thinks in the beginning. He soon finds out that just being with Balmoral could cost him his life. Pasco starts having feelings for Balmoral and wants nothing more than to keep her safe. Now Balmoral and Pasco are on the run just trying to stay alive. If they are caught they know it will be the end of both to them.
I have to say that I really loved the whole concept and the world that Jude Houghton created for Autonomy. I love stories where the world that is created could become our reality. Autonomy is one story that will stay with me for a long, long, long time to come. I am so glad I was given this opportunity to read it.
I would highly recommend Autonomy to anyone who loves a good dystopian or science fiction novel. Autonomy is one book you might just want to add to your collection.
February 5, 2017
I don't typically read science fiction, not that I'm adverse to it, it's just not my "go to" genre. I purchased this book because I know the author's wife and I started to read it more out of politeness than a true desire to to so.
There are plenty of reviews giving a synopsis of the book so I won't go into great detail.
The government, Autonomy, rules - not governs - its overworked, underfed but faithful population down to their most nuanced movements via advanced technology. Every decision is made solely on economic outcomes, lives be damned.
There is a dedicated and growing resistance however, and their violent rebellion threatens Autonomy's very survival, along with one simple yet devastating revelation that in all certainty will plunge the government into an irreversible tailspin.
I was hooked from the first page. I could feel the first scenarios, I could smell them. The plot is fascinating, poignant, terrifying and encouraging. Written before the current U.S. political predicament, one can't help but see the possibility that this novel foretells our future if our environment is abused and the quest for wealth is allowed to go unchecked. Can so many lives be callously discarded for the comfort of the few powerful and wealthy...
There are plenty of reviews giving a synopsis of the book so I won't go into great detail.
The government, Autonomy, rules - not governs - its overworked, underfed but faithful population down to their most nuanced movements via advanced technology. Every decision is made solely on economic outcomes, lives be damned.
There is a dedicated and growing resistance however, and their violent rebellion threatens Autonomy's very survival, along with one simple yet devastating revelation that in all certainty will plunge the government into an irreversible tailspin.
I was hooked from the first page. I could feel the first scenarios, I could smell them. The plot is fascinating, poignant, terrifying and encouraging. Written before the current U.S. political predicament, one can't help but see the possibility that this novel foretells our future if our environment is abused and the quest for wealth is allowed to go unchecked. Can so many lives be callously discarded for the comfort of the few powerful and wealthy...
October 4, 2016
Jude Houghton has captured her characters in a net of fully fleshed, walking, breathing individuals. They really came alive for me as I was reading the stunning world where they exist. I cared about them, feared them, and wanted to run from some of them. This novel met all my expectations for an adventure in a time yet to be. The sadness creeps in to contemplate the way of things illustrated as they might be in our future. As these poor souls struggle to keep going in a harsh, unforgiving landscape, I feel this should be required reading for any who aspire to bring about change that may find us falling off the planet.
As you might imagine, I was moved deeply by this work of art that had me consciously slowing down my reading so as to really attempt to grasp all that the author intended. There has been enough said concerning the plot and storyline. I prefer to focus on the intricacies of the style of writing that both inspired me to continue my exploration of the world and times gone by, and thereby have a glimpse of tomorrow. That is what Autonomy has done for me.
As you might imagine, I was moved deeply by this work of art that had me consciously slowing down my reading so as to really attempt to grasp all that the author intended. There has been enough said concerning the plot and storyline. I prefer to focus on the intricacies of the style of writing that both inspired me to continue my exploration of the world and times gone by, and thereby have a glimpse of tomorrow. That is what Autonomy has done for me.
October 26, 2016
Once you get used to the jargon and the discombobulated feeling of not knowing what's going on around you, hang on for a ride that will have you reading up past your bedtime. Classically deprived of the lushness of typical life, this dystopian tale winds down many roads and as such can be a bit confusing at times. Though there are some big questions unanswered by the end, the author certainly gives you enough to keep you interested. Though YA in genre, I found that this was rather refreshingly free of the condescending or trite nature which seems to be plaguing this age group of books as of late. I was drawn more to Balmoral than Pasco, and was hoping to see some character growth continuing throughout but overall this was a fast paced and engrossing novel. IF you like action in your science fiction and coming of age stories, this one will be right up your alley!
3.5 stars and my thanks to the author and tour host for the review opportunity!
3.5 stars and my thanks to the author and tour host for the review opportunity!
unfinished
November 28, 2016**I received a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and not influenced by my source.**
DNF'd at 16%, Part 1 start of Chapter 5
This just had a very long exposition. I'm all for setting the scene--and in a complex world like this, you do need to spend more time establishing the world--but this just wasn't keeping my interest. I like the plot that is advertised to happen sooner rather than later.
But this is the perfect novel for someone who enjoys detailed world-building. This is definitely an interesting concept and a thought provoking novel.
Check out more spoiler-free book and series reviews on my blog SERIESousBookReviews.com as well as read book series recaps!
DNF'd at 16%, Part 1 start of Chapter 5
This just had a very long exposition. I'm all for setting the scene--and in a complex world like this, you do need to spend more time establishing the world--but this just wasn't keeping my interest. I like the plot that is advertised to happen sooner rather than later.
But this is the perfect novel for someone who enjoys detailed world-building. This is definitely an interesting concept and a thought provoking novel.
Check out more spoiler-free book and series reviews on my blog SERIESousBookReviews.com as well as read book series recaps!
October 28, 2016
Autonomy is one of those books that I cannot decide if I love it or hate it.
There was plenty to love about this eco-dystopia: the characters were complex and intriguing, the dismal world of Autonomy was believable to a terrifying degree, and the plot was on point. If you have read any of my reviews before you would know that usually when those three aspects of a story have my approval, I usually am in love, but I found myself just not enjoying the story.
I must give props to the author because I spent days thinking/ obsessing over the story. Why was something so well written - with a plot that kept me up literally all night so I could finish it - leaving such a bad taste in my mouth?
Maybe one day I’ll figure it out and update this review. Until then, I'll round up my personal 2.5 stars to 3 because I just cannot give it less.
There was plenty to love about this eco-dystopia: the characters were complex and intriguing, the dismal world of Autonomy was believable to a terrifying degree, and the plot was on point. If you have read any of my reviews before you would know that usually when those three aspects of a story have my approval, I usually am in love, but I found myself just not enjoying the story.
I must give props to the author because I spent days thinking/ obsessing over the story. Why was something so well written - with a plot that kept me up literally all night so I could finish it - leaving such a bad taste in my mouth?
Maybe one day I’ll figure it out and update this review. Until then, I'll round up my personal 2.5 stars to 3 because I just cannot give it less.
September 5, 2016
If you are a fan of Dystopian Corporate societies for a setting, this book is a great fit. The writing is superb and the story weaves through one corruption to the next struggle with ease. The man character, Balmoral, is a strong female character with depths of rebellion against a cruel world. One of the most striking chapters to be was actually the first one. You aren't with Balmoral, per say, but her mother and witnessing her birth into this industry of you finish your grueling work or no pay scenario , and the way the interactions and things unfold left me stunned. That first chapter prepares you for the plot that will tug you in every direction, kicking and screaming, yet wanting more! Hope to see more of Jude's work in the near future!
October 24, 2016
Just wow, this book is terrific.
Jude makes you feel for all the characters. Even the villains. But are they really bad people? They all just want the same things and to have a good life. Some go about it the wrong way. This is set in the future and all the characters are intertwined in some way. Which is great to see how everything plays out. Two brothers raised together are not the same. One is very cold towards everyone and doesn't mind being hired for the job he does.
The other just wants to be loved it seems like. Then we meet a young girl who has had a hard life as well. But yet she is intertwined with the brothers.
Now I don't want to give everything away. So I will leave you with this.. Will everyone find out get what they want? Will there finally be peace in their world??
Jude makes you feel for all the characters. Even the villains. But are they really bad people? They all just want the same things and to have a good life. Some go about it the wrong way. This is set in the future and all the characters are intertwined in some way. Which is great to see how everything plays out. Two brothers raised together are not the same. One is very cold towards everyone and doesn't mind being hired for the job he does.
The other just wants to be loved it seems like. Then we meet a young girl who has had a hard life as well. But yet she is intertwined with the brothers.
Now I don't want to give everything away. So I will leave you with this.. Will everyone find out get what they want? Will there finally be peace in their world??
August 26, 2016
I received an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. The book's opening didn't grab me: It was 2 1/2 - 3 stars for the first third, and then it just blew me away. I'm not used to books that gets stronger in the middle, this one definitely does. Stick with it. It's worth it.
Read
September 28, 2018Great story with fresh ideas!
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