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End Game #1
Reaper
In the year 2519, people on Earth don’t grow old and die any longer, their bodies are frozen and they start a new life in the virtual reality of the Game.
Jex is almost eighteen, working twelve hour shifts, and dreaming of when she’ll be legally adult and begin her long-planned idyllic life in Game. When a bomber attacks a Game server complex, one of the virtual worlds of Game crashes, and eleven thousand immortal players die during emergency defrost. Death has struck Game for the first time in centuries, and Jex is questioned as a suspect in the bombing.
With this on her record, Jex will never be allowed to enter Game, but then one of the legendary founder players of Game offers her the chance to join his investigation into the bombing. Jex must help Hawk catch the true bomber to protect the worlds of Game and save her own future, but the bomber is far more dangerous than anyone realizes.
Jex is almost eighteen, working twelve hour shifts, and dreaming of when she’ll be legally adult and begin her long-planned idyllic life in Game. When a bomber attacks a Game server complex, one of the virtual worlds of Game crashes, and eleven thousand immortal players die during emergency defrost. Death has struck Game for the first time in centuries, and Jex is questioned as a suspect in the bombing.
With this on her record, Jex will never be allowed to enter Game, but then one of the legendary founder players of Game offers her the chance to join his investigation into the bombing. Jex must help Hawk catch the true bomber to protect the worlds of Game and save her own future, but the bomber is far more dangerous than anyone realizes.
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 8, 2016
16 people are currently reading
130 people want to read
About the author
Janet Edwards
32 books494 followersLatest release:- Adversary, the fifth book in the Hive Mind series.
Please visit Janet's website to get more information, and sign up for her newsletter if you'd like to be kept informed of future releases.SET IN THE HIVE FUTURE
PERILOUS: Hive Mind A Prequel Novella
TELEPATH
DEFENDER
HURRICANE
BORDERLINE
ADVERSARY
SET IN THE 25th CENTURY PORTAL FUTURE
SCAVENGER ALLIANCE
SCAVENGER BLOOD
SET IN THE 28th CENTURY PORTAL FUTURE
Set in 2781
HERA 2781: A Drago Short Story
HESTIA 2781: A Drago Novel
ARRAY 2781: A Drago Novel
SOL 2781: A Drago novel
Set in 2788, the year before the Earth Girl Trilogy
EARTH 2788: The Earth Girl Short Stories
EARTH AND FIRE: An Earth Girl Novella 1
EARTH AND AIR: An Earth Girl Novella 2
FRONTIER: An Epsilon Sector Novella
Set in 2789, the Main Earth Girl Trilogy
EARTH GIRL
EARTH STAR
EARTH FLIGHT
Set in 2789 directly after the Earth Girl Trilogy
EARTH PRIME: The Earth Girl Aftermath Stories 1
SET IN THE GAME FUTURE
REAPER
EARTH GIRL:-
◾Voted an American Library Association YALSA Teens' Top Ten title for 2014.
◾A Tayshas 2014 choice.
◾Kirkus starred review for a book of exceptional merit.
◾A Kirkus best book of 2013.
◾Booklist starred review for being outstanding in its genre.
◾Booklist Editors’ Choice: Books for Youth, 2013.
◾An Amazon.co.uk best Young Adult book of 2012.
◾A Kobobooks.com best Young Adult book of 2012.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
February 6, 2017
Бр-р... Самый страшный из миров, придуманных Эдвардс, имхо.
Всё перевёрнуто с ног на голову.
Но при этом - как всегда у Эдвардс - продумано до мелочей, логично и последовательно.
Единственное - и Майкл, и Джекс оба ужасно напоминали мне Джарру))) Правда, Майкл заодно и Лукаса тоже. А Натан - Фиана и Кеона одновременно.С другой стороны, наверное, так и должно быть. Декорации другие, но люди остаются людьми.
И, как всегда у Эдвардс, история вроде бы и завершена, но ужасно хочется поскорее узнать, что же там дальше случается с героями. А ждать придётся долго((
Всё перевёрнуто с ног на голову.
Но при этом - как всегда у Эдвардс - продумано до мелочей, логично и последовательно.
Единственное - и Майкл, и Джекс оба ужасно напоминали мне Джарру))) Правда, Майкл заодно и Лукаса тоже. А Натан - Фиана и Кеона одновременно.С другой стороны, наверное, так и должно быть. Декорации другие, но люди остаются людьми.
И, как всегда у Эдвардс, история вроде бы и завершена, но ужасно хочется поскорее узнать, что же там дальше случается с героями. А ждать придётся долго((
December 11, 2016
Во-первых, очень хочется пожелать автору нормальных обложек, которые не будут отпугивать потенциальных читателей. Что "Телепату", что "Жнецу"... явно не повезло.
А во-вторых, я сейчас сильно-сильно-сильно постараюсь не скатиться в восторженный сумбур, однако это очень трудно, учитывая, что Эдвардс опять это сделала.
Эдвардс создала уже третий вариант будущего человечества - логичный, продуманный, цельный и удивительный мир, жуткий и прекрасный одновременно.
От крутости происходящего меня начало потряхивать уже главе на второй. На пятой-шестой-седьмой восприятие мира развернулось на 180 градусов, и мне уже хотелось встряхнуть этих бессмертных идиотов. Ну а потом все так завертелось, что с мыслями собираюсь только теперь...
Эта история сводит вместе троих.
Джекс и Натан - восемнадцатилетние, ожидающие попадания в Игру, а пока работающие на складах с телами игроков. По идее, им уже пора погружаться в виртуальную реальность, но буквально незадолго до их совершеннолетия вышел новый законопроект, что отодвинул возраст вступления еще на год - теперь надо ждать девятнадцати. Подростки в гневе, тут и там слышатся недовольные роптания, хотя вездесущие записывающие устройства немного сдерживают волнения.
И вдруг - взрыв сервиса. Тысячи игроков мертвы. Естественно, террористами тут же объявляют недовольных детишек и тащат на допрос всех, оказавшихся поблизости.
Джекс и Натан в их числе. Их быстро оправдывают и отпускают, но пометка в деле уже есть. Какой игровой мир возьмет к себе новичка, подозреваемого во взрыве и убийстве?
И тогда в дело вступает Ястреб. Один из легендарных Игроков Основателей. Именно он, не выходя из Игры, а общаясь в реальном мире с помощью управляемого дройда, начинает расследование. В какой-то момент он понимает, что за его сотни лет в Игре мир изменился до неузнаваемости, а потому ему нужна помощь, чтобы ориентироваться в этом хаосе.
Ястреба ждет множество открытий. Он в ужасе от того, что нынешние дети лишены детства. До десяти лет они проживают в общежитиях и учатся, а потом идут работать на склады тел, чтобы обеспечить себя в Игре. Взрослые редко возвращаются в реальность - только женщины иногда, чтобы родить и тем самым, опять же, заработать денег для Игры. По сути это серый унылый мир, полный брошенных детей, не знающих радости и веселья и живущих только в предвкушении Игры. Они знают все тысячи выдуманных миров и заранее решают, куда хотят попасть. Стать оборотнем в Готике? Или русалкой в Акве? Или пожить в Средневековье? А может, сражаться с драконами? Дети существуют в ожидании исполнения своей заветной мечты и бесконечных путешествий по фантастическим мирам.
Джекс еще повезло, ее отец звонил ей каждую неделю, а это значит, что он "хороший родитель". С матерью она тоже иногда общается, потому, можно сказать, счастливица.
Ястреб, живший в реальности сотни лет назад, знаком с совершенно другим видом счастья. А еще именно по нему видно, насколько Игра тормозит развитие в плане опыта и взросления. В итоге мы получаем столетних подростков, для которых время течет совершенно иначе. Они не нуждаются в сне и еде, они изучают миры, умирают и воскресают, не задумываясь раздают свою ДНК, чтобы какая-нибудь нуждающаяся в деньгах женщина родила живого ребенка и оставила его в реальности. Четырехсотлетний Ястреб мало чем отличается от юных Джекс и Натана. Он даже куда наивнее их, прямо блаженный какой-то.
И хотя основное время, конечно, уделено поискам подрывника и расследованию, за взаимодействием главной троицы очень интересно наблюдать. Они до неузнаваемости меняют жизнь друг друга.
И... я, наверное, умолкну. Читайте, если вам понравились другие романы Эдвардс, она себе не изменяет. Всего не передать словами, столько там мелких деталей и деталюшек, горьких и правдоподобных прогнозов и скрытых авторских приколов.
А во-вторых, я сейчас сильно-сильно-сильно постараюсь не скатиться в восторженный сумбур, однако это очень трудно, учитывая, что Эдвардс опять это сделала.
Эдвардс создала уже третий вариант будущего человечества - логичный, продуманный, цельный и удивительный мир, жуткий и прекрасный одновременно.
От крутости происходящего меня начало потряхивать уже главе на второй. На пятой-шестой-седьмой восприятие мира развернулось на 180 градусов, и мне уже хотелось встряхнуть этих бессмертных идиотов. Ну а потом все так завертелось, что с мыслями собираюсь только теперь...
Эта история сводит вместе троих.
Джекс и Натан - восемнадцатилетние, ожидающие попадания в Игру, а пока работающие на складах с телами игроков. По идее, им уже пора погружаться в виртуальную реальность, но буквально незадолго до их совершеннолетия вышел новый законопроект, что отодвинул возраст вступления еще на год - теперь надо ждать девятнадцати. Подростки в гневе, тут и там слышатся недовольные роптания, хотя вездесущие записывающие устройства немного сдерживают волнения.
И вдруг - взрыв сервиса. Тысячи игроков мертвы. Естественно, террористами тут же объявляют недовольных детишек и тащат на допрос всех, оказавшихся поблизости.
Джекс и Натан в их числе. Их быстро оправдывают и отпускают, но пометка в деле уже есть. Какой игровой мир возьмет к себе новичка, подозреваемого во взрыве и убийстве?
И тогда в дело вступает Ястреб. Один из легендарных Игроков Основателей. Именно он, не выходя из Игры, а общаясь в реальном мире с помощью управляемого дройда, начинает расследование. В какой-то момент он понимает, что за его сотни лет в Игре мир изменился до неузнаваемости, а потому ему нужна помощь, чтобы ориентироваться в этом хаосе.
Ястреба ждет множество открытий. Он в ужасе от того, что нынешние дети лишены детства. До десяти лет они проживают в общежитиях и учатся, а потом идут работать на склады тел, чтобы обеспечить себя в Игре. Взрослые редко возвращаются в реальность - только женщины иногда, чтобы родить и тем самым, опять же, заработать денег для Игры. По сути это серый унылый мир, полный брошенных детей, не знающих радости и веселья и живущих только в предвкушении Игры. Они знают все тысячи выдуманных миров и заранее решают, куда хотят попасть. Стать оборотнем в Готике? Или русалкой в Акве? Или пожить в Средневековье? А может, сражаться с драконами? Дети существуют в ожидании исполнения своей заветной мечты и бесконечных путешествий по фантастическим мирам.
Джекс еще повезло, ее отец звонил ей каждую неделю, а это значит, что он "хороший родитель". С матерью она тоже иногда общается, потому, можно сказать, счастливица.
Ястреб, живший в реальности сотни лет назад, знаком с совершенно другим видом счастья. А еще именно по нему видно, насколько Игра тормозит развитие в плане опыта и взросления. В итоге мы получаем столетних подростков, для которых время течет совершенно иначе. Они не нуждаются в сне и еде, они изучают миры, умирают и воскресают, не задумываясь раздают свою ДНК, чтобы какая-нибудь нуждающаяся в деньгах женщина родила живого ребенка и оставила его в реальности. Четырехсотлетний Ястреб мало чем отличается от юных Джекс и Натана. Он даже куда наивнее их, прямо блаженный какой-то.
И хотя основное время, конечно, уделено поискам подрывника и расследованию, за взаимодействием главной троицы очень интересно наблюдать. Они до неузнаваемости меняют жизнь друг друга.
И... я, наверное, умолкну. Читайте, если вам понравились другие романы Эдвардс, она себе не изменяет. Всего не передать словами, столько там мелких деталей и деталюшек, горьких и правдоподобных прогнозов и скрытых авторских приколов.
September 15, 2021
I think I maybe enjoyed this a little bit more this time around, though my original review is still appropriate.
Original Review (9/25/2018):
This book left a weird taste in my brain. The world feels to me like a dystopia, but i'm not sure the author sees it as such.
Original Review (9/25/2018):
This book left a weird taste in my brain. The world feels to me like a dystopia, but i'm not sure the author sees it as such.
July 31, 2018
It's 2519 and everyone 18 and older who is qualified moves to live in Game, their bodies frozen and their minds transferred to computer code where they live, and in the four centuries of Game there are now 50 billion people there, living on various Game planets.
Jex is nearly 18 when a new bill is passed raising the Game entry age to 19. She and a friend from work, Nathan, are brought in for questioning when a bombing destroys the servers for one of the planet and 11,000 people die when they are urgently defrosted and their minds sent back to them. Just being questioned they are no longer qualified to enter Game. Innocent, they are asked to help find out who the bomber is to protect the world of Game because there is no way Earth could handle 50 billion people defrosting and returning.
Fraught with action and danger, this is a fun read. I didn't like it as much as Janet Edwards' other books, but I really don't care for this sort of novel where minds move into data streams and the whole gaming concept. If you like that sort of thing in a y/a novel, then by all means try it out.
Jex is nearly 18 when a new bill is passed raising the Game entry age to 19. She and a friend from work, Nathan, are brought in for questioning when a bombing destroys the servers for one of the planet and 11,000 people die when they are urgently defrosted and their minds sent back to them. Just being questioned they are no longer qualified to enter Game. Innocent, they are asked to help find out who the bomber is to protect the world of Game because there is no way Earth could handle 50 billion people defrosting and returning.
Fraught with action and danger, this is a fun read. I didn't like it as much as Janet Edwards' other books, but I really don't care for this sort of novel where minds move into data streams and the whole gaming concept. If you like that sort of thing in a y/a novel, then by all means try it out.
September 10, 2020
In my opinion, this was the weakest out of Janet Edwards so far - still good tho, but it had its flaws.
But still: 4.5 out of 5 stars!
I have to admit, this book has an interesting world - a little bit Matrix and SAO, but quite different from what I've read so far.
This story is set in the so-called "Game future", where everyone enters the virtual-ish reality called "Game". That means their bodies are frozen at the age of 19 (former 18, it was changed before the storyline starts) and the conciousness of the individual is uploaded to the servers.
We follow Jex, a not yet 18 year old girl, who is involved in the investigation of a bombing of one of the server locations. We follow her as her life dreams get destroyed and reinstated, and encountering people and things she'd never thought to encounter.
Then there is Nathan, a young man, shortly over 18. Who gets involved in the whole mess as well.
And lastly Hawk, a founding player of the "Game". He is a quite dashing and famous person, who leads the whole investigation - because people said so^^ Btw, he is over 400 xD
I flew through this book. I read it in like under 24 hours. It was written awesomely (like all books by Janet Edwards), but I have to admit this is the frist book by her that had (in my eyes) obvious flaws. Some parts felt rushed and/or strange - because they came from nowhere. Sometimes Jex' thinking wasn't easy to follow or confusing (it is told from her perspective, so we are in her head).
But leaving that aside it was a fun read - you can see similarities to Telepath and Earth Girl, but it's its own story and provides a totally different feeling!
When I'm interpreting the number correctly then this is the first book in a series - and I'm really wondering what's goingto happen next. In my eyes this could be a stand-alone, but let's see^^
And there is one last thing I need to add: NO LOVE TRIANGLE! I repeat: NO LOVE TRIANGLE!!
But still: 4.5 out of 5 stars!
I have to admit, this book has an interesting world - a little bit Matrix and SAO, but quite different from what I've read so far.
This story is set in the so-called "Game future", where everyone enters the virtual-ish reality called "Game". That means their bodies are frozen at the age of 19 (former 18, it was changed before the storyline starts) and the conciousness of the individual is uploaded to the servers.
We follow Jex, a not yet 18 year old girl, who is involved in the investigation of a bombing of one of the server locations. We follow her as her life dreams get destroyed and reinstated, and encountering people and things she'd never thought to encounter.
Then there is Nathan, a young man, shortly over 18. Who gets involved in the whole mess as well.
And lastly Hawk, a founding player of the "Game". He is a quite dashing and famous person, who leads the whole investigation - because people said so^^ Btw, he is over 400 xD
I flew through this book. I read it in like under 24 hours. It was written awesomely (like all books by Janet Edwards), but I have to admit this is the frist book by her that had (in my eyes) obvious flaws. Some parts felt rushed and/or strange - because they came from nowhere. Sometimes Jex' thinking wasn't easy to follow or confusing (it is told from her perspective, so we are in her head).
But leaving that aside it was a fun read - you can see similarities to Telepath and Earth Girl, but it's its own story and provides a totally different feeling!
When I'm interpreting the number correctly then this is the first book in a series - and I'm really wondering what's goingto happen next. In my eyes this could be a stand-alone, but let's see^^
And there is one last thing I need to add: NO LOVE TRIANGLE! I repeat: NO LOVE TRIANGLE!!
February 9, 2017
First, the cover of the Kindle edition is ludicrous. Second, it is painful to watch potentially good story desperately clawing through bad writing and idiotic characters, but still hopelessly sinking to the bottom of the muck.
What initially appealed to me was the concept of world where the sole purpose of living is to be 18 and to be allowed to enter Game - limitless virtual reality, while the physical bodies remain frozen, all 50 billion of them on Earth. The concept itself is sound, and internally consistent and logical, which is a plus. The plot switches between the physical world and Game, and there are glimpses of truly fascinating stuff, like what happens when a glitch in programming make the sword cause blunt force trauma, instead of a cut? What about animals - do they evolve with autonomous artificial intelligence? And what about the players whose personalities remain frozen at 18, but they have lived 400 years in Game? "You can learn new things, you can make new friends and enemies, but your personality stays the same. Kind, spiteful, wise or foolish. Whatever you are when you enter Game, you’re stuck with it." Alas, these curious concepts are not explored beyond mentioning in passing, or are reduced to pompous moralising that "It took me decades to understand the full importance of rooting your Game appearance in reality. Game is just a fantasy, a living dream. Your Game persona is a thin layer of illusion, masking your true self that was shaped by experiences in the real world".
On top of that the prose is incredibly poor. For example, the only word to describe anything remotely complex is "special" - "this was a special experimental droid", "it’s an experimental model with a lot of special anti-surveillance features", "cubicle had a lot of special accessories", "the special device in this personal messenger", "he made himself these special items". The dialogues mostly feel like crude blocks stuck one on top of the other without any thought of making them blend, without any polish - "I want to discuss my thoughts about the bombing with you", "I’ll need you to go through those for me and explain any important points", "I’ll call you whenever I need to discuss problems".
The resolution? Plain ridiculous, for after the exaggeratedly dramatic flourishes leading to the final battle between the main hero and the villain all you get as a description of this epic fight is Huh?...
What initially appealed to me was the concept of world where the sole purpose of living is to be 18 and to be allowed to enter Game - limitless virtual reality, while the physical bodies remain frozen, all 50 billion of them on Earth. The concept itself is sound, and internally consistent and logical, which is a plus. The plot switches between the physical world and Game, and there are glimpses of truly fascinating stuff, like what happens when a glitch in programming make the sword cause blunt force trauma, instead of a cut? What about animals - do they evolve with autonomous artificial intelligence? And what about the players whose personalities remain frozen at 18, but they have lived 400 years in Game? "You can learn new things, you can make new friends and enemies, but your personality stays the same. Kind, spiteful, wise or foolish. Whatever you are when you enter Game, you’re stuck with it." Alas, these curious concepts are not explored beyond mentioning in passing, or are reduced to pompous moralising that "It took me decades to understand the full importance of rooting your Game appearance in reality. Game is just a fantasy, a living dream. Your Game persona is a thin layer of illusion, masking your true self that was shaped by experiences in the real world".
On top of that the prose is incredibly poor. For example, the only word to describe anything remotely complex is "special" - "this was a special experimental droid", "it’s an experimental model with a lot of special anti-surveillance features", "cubicle had a lot of special accessories", "the special device in this personal messenger", "he made himself these special items". The dialogues mostly feel like crude blocks stuck one on top of the other without any thought of making them blend, without any polish - "I want to discuss my thoughts about the bombing with you", "I’ll need you to go through those for me and explain any important points", "I’ll call you whenever I need to discuss problems".
The resolution? Plain ridiculous, for after the exaggeratedly dramatic flourishes leading to the final battle between the main hero and the villain all you get as a description of this epic fight is Huh?...
March 7, 2024
This is a fascinating future universe set in a far advanced version of virtual reality. Players can actually live in the Game. Humans have gained a form of immortality by having their bodies frozen and their minds free to forever wander the thousands of virtual worlds. Life in the Game is so realistic and idyllic that once players enter it, most of them never leave. In fact, teens are not even considered real people until they’ve become adult and entered the Game themselves.
Jex has her future self and her future world all planned out. When she becomes legally adult, she’ll finally be able to become a real person and her true self. Her father is on an admissions committee and will be sponsoring her so she can become a resident on her dream world of Ganymede. Then comes the first setback, a new bill that means teens have to wait another year to become adult and enter Game. Another year of working twelve hour shifts and waiting for their real lives to begin.
Jex is angry and disappointed about having to wait a whole extra year for her dreams. When an explosion kills thousands of people in Game though, her dreams may be gone for good. Jex is working at the body stacks when a man in her patrolling section dies from a sudden defrost. Jex is brought in for questioning in connection to the bombing and that’s enough to put a black mark on her record and keep her from entering Game. Just like that, Jex is a Game reject and her future is destroyed.
Jex has no idea what to do but then an opportunity arises to help catch the bomber so she agrees to help. A legendary Founder player named Hawk is leading the investigation, and he also happens to be Jex’s all time hero. Jex and her friend Nathan join the investigation as Hawk’s assistants to advise him on the real world. They have a chance to find the person who ruined their lives and if they’re lucky, maybe they can persuade Hawk to help them get their records cleared.
The investigation turns out to be far more complicated than anyone expected. They have to chase leads both in the real world and in Game to find the person behind the attack. Along the way they discover dark secrets and hidden dangers that could lead to permanent deaths. Jex finds herself risking her life to save people she doesn’t even know and rescue the Game itself. There cannot be a mass exodus from Game because the real world can’t support a sudden surge of billions of players defrosting.
My only problem with the book is that I wasn’t a huge fan of the romance between Jex and Hawk. She seems to be a lot more mature than he is. He went into Game with a lot of different issues and is clearly still struggling with them. There’s also the bizarre four hundred year age difference, they’re from completely different centuries which isn’t as weird because of Game but is still an issue. Their relationship dynamics were odd and I just didn’t think they were a good fit for each other.
Overall I really did enjoy Reaper, it’s a very interesting alternative future for gaming and virtual reality. The inner workings and mechanics of the Game are fascinating and nicely incorporated into the story. The unexpected side effects of freezing people in time is also very thought provoking. There are strong themes on the importance of personal growth and real life experiences. It’s done in a subtle, thought-provoking way and I found it very compelling alongside all the drama and action.
Jex has her future self and her future world all planned out. When she becomes legally adult, she’ll finally be able to become a real person and her true self. Her father is on an admissions committee and will be sponsoring her so she can become a resident on her dream world of Ganymede. Then comes the first setback, a new bill that means teens have to wait another year to become adult and enter Game. Another year of working twelve hour shifts and waiting for their real lives to begin.
Jex is angry and disappointed about having to wait a whole extra year for her dreams. When an explosion kills thousands of people in Game though, her dreams may be gone for good. Jex is working at the body stacks when a man in her patrolling section dies from a sudden defrost. Jex is brought in for questioning in connection to the bombing and that’s enough to put a black mark on her record and keep her from entering Game. Just like that, Jex is a Game reject and her future is destroyed.
Jex has no idea what to do but then an opportunity arises to help catch the bomber so she agrees to help. A legendary Founder player named Hawk is leading the investigation, and he also happens to be Jex’s all time hero. Jex and her friend Nathan join the investigation as Hawk’s assistants to advise him on the real world. They have a chance to find the person who ruined their lives and if they’re lucky, maybe they can persuade Hawk to help them get their records cleared.
The investigation turns out to be far more complicated than anyone expected. They have to chase leads both in the real world and in Game to find the person behind the attack. Along the way they discover dark secrets and hidden dangers that could lead to permanent deaths. Jex finds herself risking her life to save people she doesn’t even know and rescue the Game itself. There cannot be a mass exodus from Game because the real world can’t support a sudden surge of billions of players defrosting.
My only problem with the book is that I wasn’t a huge fan of the romance between Jex and Hawk. She seems to be a lot more mature than he is. He went into Game with a lot of different issues and is clearly still struggling with them. There’s also the bizarre four hundred year age difference, they’re from completely different centuries which isn’t as weird because of Game but is still an issue. Their relationship dynamics were odd and I just didn’t think they were a good fit for each other.
Overall I really did enjoy Reaper, it’s a very interesting alternative future for gaming and virtual reality. The inner workings and mechanics of the Game are fascinating and nicely incorporated into the story. The unexpected side effects of freezing people in time is also very thought provoking. There are strong themes on the importance of personal growth and real life experiences. It’s done in a subtle, thought-provoking way and I found it very compelling alongside all the drama and action.
September 9, 2019
Let me preface this by saying that I LOVE Janet Edwards' other works. Like literally everything I've ever read by her is amazing. I'm in hearteyes with her worldbuilding.
That said, this book was a little bit disappointing. I started reading with high hopes that this would succeed where Ready Player One failed - that is, in addressing the serious real-world issues that caused an entire world full of people to give up on real life and go live in a fantasy world.
And to her credit, Edwards *does* go into the details of Jex's world quite a bit. I particularly liked the contrast between how Jex reacts to everyday things, and then how Hawk reacts, as he realizes how much the world has changed in 400 years. The problem was, THEY DID NOTHING ABOUT IT. Hawk was like "dang this world has gotten so bad" and then proceeds to ignore it in favor of catching an in-Game killer who's jeopardizing the future viability of the Game. Jex literally gives zero F's about the real world, since she and all children are conditioned from birth to see real life as worthless and the Game as their only future hope.
Another issue I had was the lack of action in many of the scenes. Now, I do love plenty of exposition and character development, and I'm not a huge fan of relentless action either. BUT this book took it a bit too far, to the point where it started feeling like a bunch of talking heads. Half the book is Jex and Hawk sitting around deep in conversation. That would have been great in moderation, and I'm actually glad that they didn't fall in instalove before having some time to sit around and chat about their lives. But it was too much, and the action sequences didn't break it up well, which meant it got a little boring in some places.
Also, having just read/watched Ready Player One, I was a little disappointed with the Game world(s). The Oasis gets described in loving detail in RP1, with specific details on the different things you can do on planet X or Y, and makes it sound like a place you might actually want to leave real life for. But the Game in this book was described as basically an alternate life. Like you create a Sim of yourself and then move into a house and have parties with your neighbors? And that's it? Oh also you freeze your body so you're immortal, and you don't have to sleep. But other than a few mentions of battle worlds, or monsters you can fight, Game doesn't actually... sound... like a game. If it was called something else, I might not have had this problem with it, but yeah it just sounded super lame compared to the Oasis. :/
IDK if I will read more in the Game universe. If the future plotline of this series includes them trying to make the real world a better place, then I might. The tactic of shoving people into the Game as soon as possible, while churning out more babies for child labor to keep the whole system running, is terrible and unsustainable, and needs to be addressed before I'll accept any more catch-the-bomber murder mysteries in this universe.
That said, this book was a little bit disappointing. I started reading with high hopes that this would succeed where Ready Player One failed - that is, in addressing the serious real-world issues that caused an entire world full of people to give up on real life and go live in a fantasy world.
And to her credit, Edwards *does* go into the details of Jex's world quite a bit. I particularly liked the contrast between how Jex reacts to everyday things, and then how Hawk reacts, as he realizes how much the world has changed in 400 years. The problem was, THEY DID NOTHING ABOUT IT. Hawk was like "dang this world has gotten so bad" and then proceeds to ignore it in favor of catching an in-Game killer who's jeopardizing the future viability of the Game. Jex literally gives zero F's about the real world, since she and all children are conditioned from birth to see real life as worthless and the Game as their only future hope.
Another issue I had was the lack of action in many of the scenes. Now, I do love plenty of exposition and character development, and I'm not a huge fan of relentless action either. BUT this book took it a bit too far, to the point where it started feeling like a bunch of talking heads. Half the book is Jex and Hawk sitting around deep in conversation. That would have been great in moderation, and I'm actually glad that they didn't fall in instalove before having some time to sit around and chat about their lives. But it was too much, and the action sequences didn't break it up well, which meant it got a little boring in some places.
Also, having just read/watched Ready Player One, I was a little disappointed with the Game world(s). The Oasis gets described in loving detail in RP1, with specific details on the different things you can do on planet X or Y, and makes it sound like a place you might actually want to leave real life for. But the Game in this book was described as basically an alternate life. Like you create a Sim of yourself and then move into a house and have parties with your neighbors? And that's it? Oh also you freeze your body so you're immortal, and you don't have to sleep. But other than a few mentions of battle worlds, or monsters you can fight, Game doesn't actually... sound... like a game. If it was called something else, I might not have had this problem with it, but yeah it just sounded super lame compared to the Oasis. :/
IDK if I will read more in the Game universe. If the future plotline of this series includes them trying to make the real world a better place, then I might. The tactic of shoving people into the Game as soon as possible, while churning out more babies for child labor to keep the whole system running, is terrible and unsustainable, and needs to be addressed before I'll accept any more catch-the-bomber murder mysteries in this universe.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 4, 2017
I really enjoyed this one. Edwards has a knack for writing strong young characters with plenty of depth and suitable lack of experience, but who don’t come over as whiny and annoying. It’s harder to achieve than she makes it look, as once again I found myself completely beguiled by Jex, who has a grindingly hard life in common with all children who now grow up in a post-Gamer world. Once the unthinkable happens and a bomb explodes, the high-handed and clumsy law enforcers simply scoop up all the teenagers who were working near and around the frozen stacks of bodies and question them. Such an event on their records will immediately bar them from being accepted by any of the games, dooming her to living in the grey, twilight existence of the real world.
The depiction of the general neglect and bleak surroundings now pervading reality, while all the talented and able adults are away in virtual reality is well done. I found the worldbuilding very nicely handled, given the way Edwards braids into the unfolding investigation. For this is a thriller as Jex finds herself involved in the desperate hunt for the ruthless bomber who has killed thousands and is poised to strike again.
This thriller is a real page-turner, as there are all sorts of plot twists. I also very much liked the unfolding romance which works well. There is plenty of humour when we see the ideal lantern-jawed hero transformed into a geeky teenager who ran headlong into a game rather than cope with real-life relationships. All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this entertaining YA science fiction offering, which comes highly recommended.
9/10
The depiction of the general neglect and bleak surroundings now pervading reality, while all the talented and able adults are away in virtual reality is well done. I found the worldbuilding very nicely handled, given the way Edwards braids into the unfolding investigation. For this is a thriller as Jex finds herself involved in the desperate hunt for the ruthless bomber who has killed thousands and is poised to strike again.
This thriller is a real page-turner, as there are all sorts of plot twists. I also very much liked the unfolding romance which works well. There is plenty of humour when we see the ideal lantern-jawed hero transformed into a geeky teenager who ran headlong into a game rather than cope with real-life relationships. All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this entertaining YA science fiction offering, which comes highly recommended.
9/10
May 8, 2018
If I give up on a book at about 90%, that book probably sucks, because it managed to fuck up making the third act exciting. The part of a story that has in most cases the fastest pacing, the highest stakes and the biggest investment into the characters. All of those are inherently exciting.
That I just abandoned this book there shows that I simply did not care any-more, and had cared less and less the further I got into the second half of the book. I probably only read this far because I love all of Janet Edward's other books and was hoping against hope that she'd somehow write an amazing third act that retroactively makes everything before it better by re-contextualising it in cool way, or something.
The author did not redeem this book. I can't even tell you what she did wrong in the last third (I just don't remember), other than have all the founder players in the Game come across as bickering teenagers, that all the technobabble made no sense and was inplausible and that ultimately I did not get why people would voluntarily spend their lives the Game.
Let it be known, that Janet Edwards is an awesome reader and I every one of her books. Except this one. It sucks.
That I just abandoned this book there shows that I simply did not care any-more, and had cared less and less the further I got into the second half of the book. I probably only read this far because I love all of Janet Edward's other books and was hoping against hope that she'd somehow write an amazing third act that retroactively makes everything before it better by re-contextualising it in cool way, or something.
The author did not redeem this book. I can't even tell you what she did wrong in the last third (I just don't remember), other than have all the founder players in the Game come across as bickering teenagers, that all the technobabble made no sense and was inplausible and that ultimately I did not get why people would voluntarily spend their lives the Game.
Let it be known, that Janet Edwards is an awesome reader and I every one of her books. Except this one. It sucks.
May 9, 2017
What an amazing creative interesting new world. Loved it so much. Janet Edwards really knows how to create these very engaging & interesting characters & world. Out of all her creations this is not a world I'd like to live in but am fascinated by it. It's again a cannot mis & a must read. You start & wont want to put the book down it's that engaging as always. The characters are great Jex, Nathan & hawk are amazing creations you invest in from the first chapter to the end.
October 1, 2018
I loved it! Hope there is more to come!
November 12, 2019
First half was great, second half- not so much.
October 18, 2022
Amazing book!
March 15, 2017
Loved everything about this book; Janet Edwards is able to create such unique worlds that are so well built you can easily "see" it. This one has it all, a great story, characters, plenty of suspense and drama with a little romance mixed in so it will appeal to readers of all ages.
This review was originally posted on Books In Brogan
This review was originally posted on Books In Brogan
September 2, 2023
Overview: A really good standalone SF detective/mystery adventure that sucks you into a fascinating world with likeable and interesting characters and a good sprinkling of humour, then quietly gets you to ponder the meaning and purpose of life.
After 1st Reading:
Janet Edwards does it again. In this book she sets a great "whodunnit" in a future in which the purpose of life has become saving up enough money to upload your mind into the virtual worlds most of humanity lives in. As a result most of the drudgery in the real world is done by youngsters saving up for that golden ticket.
About a third of the way in I was a bit annoyed with the blurb which doesn't do justice to the scope of the story - but now that I come to trying to explain this book, I realise that it's rather hard to explain why this book is as good as it is without spoilers. Let's just say that the story keeps getting bigger and better as it goes.
Janet Edwards two greatest skills are character building and world building, and this book gave her free reign to do both.
I would think it a crime if there wasn't a sequel.
That was a good fun read!
After 2nd Reading
I remembered this was good, but it was even better the second time around. That is the sign of a good author! This is a fast paced adventure story with characters you care for and a good seasoning of humour. At the same time it really does raise questions about society and our priorities as a people, and even about the value of human life and the nature of consciousness - all while managing to be a good fashioned detective-mystery.
I'd love a sequel!
After 3rd Reading
I can say that this is definitely a good book for two main reasons:
1: I Read it for the 3rd time and it's gotten better each time.
2: Even though I'd already read this twice before, I still found it difficult to put down, I was grabbing every moment I could get to pick it up again just to read a little bit more.
After 4th Reading
It's still awesome and a firm favorite. This world, like all the worlds of Janet Edwards, feels real and has so much potential. I really wish I could explore it further.
On each reading I've said I'd love a sequel - I so would, not only do I love the characters, but the setting is so fascinating that I'd love to see how it develops after the events of this book.
My only caveat is that EVERYTHING that Ms Edwards has written is so good that I don't want to take her away from writing in her other settings. I seriously recommend trying out the Hive Mind books (Telepath), The Earth Girl books or the Drago stories (starting with the novella Hera 2781: A Drago Short Story). Every one of them is combines excellent characters and a setting that just drags me in and gets me wanting to find out more.
Perhaps we could upload Ms Edwards to Celestius, and then overclock the server?
While I'd love to see more in the End Game series, I'm just grateful for every story she writes.
After 1st Reading:
Janet Edwards does it again. In this book she sets a great "whodunnit" in a future in which the purpose of life has become saving up enough money to upload your mind into the virtual worlds most of humanity lives in. As a result most of the drudgery in the real world is done by youngsters saving up for that golden ticket.
About a third of the way in I was a bit annoyed with the blurb which doesn't do justice to the scope of the story - but now that I come to trying to explain this book, I realise that it's rather hard to explain why this book is as good as it is without spoilers. Let's just say that the story keeps getting bigger and better as it goes.
Janet Edwards two greatest skills are character building and world building, and this book gave her free reign to do both.
I would think it a crime if there wasn't a sequel.
That was a good fun read!
After 2nd Reading
I remembered this was good, but it was even better the second time around. That is the sign of a good author! This is a fast paced adventure story with characters you care for and a good seasoning of humour. At the same time it really does raise questions about society and our priorities as a people, and even about the value of human life and the nature of consciousness - all while managing to be a good fashioned detective-mystery.
I'd love a sequel!
After 3rd Reading
I can say that this is definitely a good book for two main reasons:
1: I Read it for the 3rd time and it's gotten better each time.
2: Even though I'd already read this twice before, I still found it difficult to put down, I was grabbing every moment I could get to pick it up again just to read a little bit more.
After 4th Reading
It's still awesome and a firm favorite. This world, like all the worlds of Janet Edwards, feels real and has so much potential. I really wish I could explore it further.
On each reading I've said I'd love a sequel - I so would, not only do I love the characters, but the setting is so fascinating that I'd love to see how it develops after the events of this book.
My only caveat is that EVERYTHING that Ms Edwards has written is so good that I don't want to take her away from writing in her other settings. I seriously recommend trying out the Hive Mind books (Telepath), The Earth Girl books or the Drago stories (starting with the novella Hera 2781: A Drago Short Story). Every one of them is combines excellent characters and a setting that just drags me in and gets me wanting to find out more.
Perhaps we could upload Ms Edwards to Celestius, and then overclock the server?
While I'd love to see more in the End Game series, I'm just grateful for every story she writes.
March 12, 2020
Когда я устаю от нашего ЖФ, я стараюсь перейти к YA, если и там засада, то приходится вострить лыжи в сторону заграницы. И как же замечательно, что есть такой автор как Джанет Эдвардс, к которой я хожу в это особое настроение)).
Что мне помимо прочего нравится у Эдвардс, ну помимо богатого воображения, то что миры, которые она описывает, могут быть по-своему и прекрасные, и жуткие. В общем, даже не знаю, как описать понятней - они не идеальные, с какой-то червоточинкой. И это делает их особенно реальными и достоверными. Им веришь. Не как бывает у нас попала девица-сиротка в маг.мир, сразу ей отсыпали умений, отсутствие болезней и ректора на пару сотен лет постарше, который, судя по поведению, только-только перерос пубертат. И вот они в этом прекрасном мире женятся, живут вечность и плодят таких же бессмертных детишек. Благолепие!
Нет, и такое можно читануть, но подобное чтиво проходит сразу мимо мозга и ни одна извилина не утруждает себя работой. Разве что одинокая со скепсисом, мол неужто гормон за столетия не наигрался?
И вот за то, что у Эдвардс этого нет, что она обязательно да пояснит с чего тут закавыка, я готова ей простить почти все.
Ну и, возвращаясь к Жнецу. Тут мир перетек в своего рода Игру. Люди по достижении 18-ти лет отправляются в морозильные ячейки, где долгие годы-столетия хранятся их тела, а сознание отправляется в виртуальные миры. Где есть свои отношения и своя жизнь, ну и чисто игровые примочки из серии героических сражений и монстро-мочилова. Даже смерть есть достоверная по ощущениям (не от болезней и старости, понятное дело), но как бы понарошку, так, перезагрузка.
И все бы хорошо, но с размножением тут нарисовалась естественная проблемка - ну кому охота размораживаться, чтобы выносить ребенка, растить его, испытывать стресс, боль и все такое прочее? Разве что ради продления подписки.. а подрощенные дети даром что зарубки не ставят, когда окажутся в Игре.
Вот и получается, что реальное подменилось виртуальным - настоящие права есть у игроков, а то, что творится в реале, мало кого заботит. Более того, из-за такой ситуации практически все взрослое население живет в Игре (и из Игры может управлять дроидами для общения с реальными людьми), а за многочисленными ячейками с телами вынуждены следить дети с 10 лет (окончание школы) до 18 (тот радостный момент, когда можно попасть в Игру). Но особые мякотки, естественно, вскроются постепенно.
И тут, внезапно происходит ряд вещей: выходит особый билль, который отдаляет несовершеннолетие подростков на год, а следом кто-то подрывает сервера одного из игровых миров, что провоцирует экстренное размораживание игроков, повлекшее за собой более 11 тысяч смертей. И тут все как заверте..
В общем, не буду пересказывать сюжет но могу с ясностью заявить, что мне понравилось. Подростки реально похожи на подростков, а антиутопический мир с элементами утопии хорошенько меня взбодрил.
Единственное, что я не совсем понимаю, о чем еще можно написать в этой серии. Вряд ли о мировой революции, я ее и в Защитнике-то не дождалась..
Что мне помимо прочего нравится у Эдвардс, ну помимо богатого воображения, то что миры, которые она описывает, могут быть по-своему и прекрасные, и жуткие. В общем, даже не знаю, как описать понятней - они не идеальные, с какой-то червоточинкой. И это делает их особенно реальными и достоверными. Им веришь. Не как бывает у нас попала девица-сиротка в маг.мир, сразу ей отсыпали умений, отсутствие болезней и ректора на пару сотен лет постарше, который, судя по поведению, только-только перерос пубертат. И вот они в этом прекрасном мире женятся, живут вечность и плодят таких же бессмертных детишек. Благолепие!
Нет, и такое можно читануть, но подобное чтиво проходит сразу мимо мозга и ни одна извилина не утруждает себя работой. Разве что одинокая со скепсисом, мол неужто гормон за столетия не наигрался?
И вот за то, что у Эдвардс этого нет, что она обязательно да пояснит с чего тут закавыка, я готова ей простить почти все.
Ну и, возвращаясь к Жнецу. Тут мир перетек в своего рода Игру. Люди по достижении 18-ти лет отправляются в морозильные ячейки, где долгие годы-столетия хранятся их тела, а сознание отправляется в виртуальные миры. Где есть свои отношения и своя жизнь, ну и чисто игровые примочки из серии героических сражений и монстро-мочилова. Даже смерть есть достоверная по ощущениям (не от болезней и старости, понятное дело), но как бы понарошку, так, перезагрузка.
И все бы хорошо, но с размножением тут нарисовалась естественная проблемка - ну кому охота размораживаться, чтобы выносить ребенка, растить его, испытывать стресс, боль и все такое прочее? Разве что ради продления подписки.. а подрощенные дети даром что зарубки не ставят, когда окажутся в Игре.
Вот и получается, что реальное подменилось виртуальным - настоящие права есть у игроков, а то, что творится в реале, мало кого заботит. Более того, из-за такой ситуации практически все взрослое население живет в Игре (и из Игры может управлять дроидами для общения с реальными людьми), а за многочисленными ячейками с телами вынуждены следить дети с 10 лет (окончание школы) до 18 (тот радостный момент, когда можно попасть в Игру). Но особые мякотки, естественно, вскроются постепенно.
И тут, внезапно происходит ряд вещей: выходит особый билль, который отдаляет несовершеннолетие подростков на год, а следом кто-то подрывает сервера одного из игровых миров, что провоцирует экстренное размораживание игроков, повлекшее за собой более 11 тысяч смертей. И тут все как заверте..
В общем, не буду пересказывать сюжет но могу с ясностью заявить, что мне понравилось. Подростки реально похожи на подростков, а антиутопический мир с элементами утопии хорошенько меня взбодрил.
Единственное, что я не совсем понимаю, о чем еще можно написать в этой серии. Вряд ли о мировой революции, я ее и в Защитнике-то не дождалась..
February 4, 2017
This was highly enjoyable. It has elements you may be familiar with from previous Janet Edwards books, very competent female MC, romance plot lines that don't involve too much angst on the 'does he like me' front. There is also a future-not-really-dystopia, as will her previous books, that is nevertheless quite distinct from either the Earth Girl trilogy or the Hive Mind series. The investigation was a relatively weak part of the story, Jex appeared to often make giant leaps and bounds that a) the rest of her personality/activities didn't really point to her being such a brilliant puzzle solver and b) often were just a little to convenient.
All in all, I'm excited to read more books from the End Game series.
All in all, I'm excited to read more books from the End Game series.
February 5, 2017
Another excellent book from Janet Edwards. While similar to other books like Ready player one it still remains different. World building that we've come to expect from her books and the same level of details featured in her other books. Highly recommend this to fantasy fans.
April 20, 2017
The Cover and Name might not be the best, but the book was excellent! I admit to not wanting to read initially due to the name and not understanding the concept of the book, but once I started, I thought Janet Edwards did a fantastic job with the book. It kept my attention the entire time. Her characters were incredibly interesting. I have to confess that I have rarely found an author who writes as well as she does and I grew up on the greats (Tolkien, Asimov, Brooks, etc.)
She truly has a gift for thinking up creative plots and following them through. I have often thought with other books (like Harry Potter), that if only so and so hadn't died or the book had gone this way...it would have been more fulfilling. I never feel that way with one of Janet Edwards. Each book is thoughtfully crafted, interesting, and detailed.
Thank you, Ms. Edwards.
She truly has a gift for thinking up creative plots and following them through. I have often thought with other books (like Harry Potter), that if only so and so hadn't died or the book had gone this way...it would have been more fulfilling. I never feel that way with one of Janet Edwards. Each book is thoughtfully crafted, interesting, and detailed.
Thank you, Ms. Edwards.
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