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Voiceless Duology #1
Voiceless
Adelaide Te Ngawai was thirteen when Maunga Richards stole her voice.
Addy is plunged into silence when a high school bully inflicts her with an incurable disease that leaves her unable to speak, write, or create. Vox Pox—a man-made malady that’s been terrorizing the city for months. Resilient, Addy fights to survive. To not be silenced. But then her brother, Theo, is infected as well.
Desperate for any information that might help cure Theo, Addy follows Maunga into a newly developed virtual psychoreality simulator and discovers a conspiracy deeper than she’d ever imagined. How far will she go to save her brother?
“A stunning debut from a fresh force in young adult fiction. With swift, deft prose set in a fantastic future, Wilson finds her voice in Voiceless.”—Tosca Lee, New York Times bestselling
Addy is plunged into silence when a high school bully inflicts her with an incurable disease that leaves her unable to speak, write, or create. Vox Pox—a man-made malady that’s been terrorizing the city for months. Resilient, Addy fights to survive. To not be silenced. But then her brother, Theo, is infected as well.
Desperate for any information that might help cure Theo, Addy follows Maunga into a newly developed virtual psychoreality simulator and discovers a conspiracy deeper than she’d ever imagined. How far will she go to save her brother?
“A stunning debut from a fresh force in young adult fiction. With swift, deft prose set in a fantastic future, Wilson finds her voice in Voiceless.”—Tosca Lee, New York Times bestselling
238 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 11, 2017
100 people are currently reading
358 people want to read
About the author
E.G. Wilson
4 books20 followersE.G. Wilson is a speculative fiction author whose releases include the YA SF Voiceless Duology. A natural morning lark, she writes her best in the early morning hours — for preference, well before dawn in front of a roaring fire.
Introduced to NaNoWriMo in 2012, she has completed the challenge every year since. She loves mountains, hates broad beans, and believes life is too short to wear matching socks.
Wilson lives in South Canterbury, New Zealand.
Introduced to NaNoWriMo in 2012, she has completed the challenge every year since. She loves mountains, hates broad beans, and believes life is too short to wear matching socks.
Wilson lives in South Canterbury, New Zealand.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
February 18, 2018
1.5*
Wow that had to be the worst plotted book I ever read. Nothing about the story makes sense. So underdeveloped. Random things just thrown in there. Flattest characters ever. Nonsensical motivations.
From the halfway point I skimmed all the way to the end. I finally got Netgalley to work for me and got a book a year old. Never again. New releases are shit even the old ones that aren't even new anymore.
Wow that had to be the worst plotted book I ever read. Nothing about the story makes sense. So underdeveloped. Random things just thrown in there. Flattest characters ever. Nonsensical motivations.
From the halfway point I skimmed all the way to the end. I finally got Netgalley to work for me and got a book a year old. Never again. New releases are shit even the old ones that aren't even new anymore.
August 20, 2017
Voiceless by E.G. Wilson left ME VOICELESS with a huge headache and a tortured left side of my parietal lobe!
Now the blurb of this book is scam. Let me tell you this book is 90% useless descriptions of useless things such as ''she went into the water and then she had sand between her toes'' and ''she cleaned her feet with the hoodie of her brother, but before that made an apologetic face because she would do that with his hoodie.... ', or a detailed tutorial on how to remove blood from various textile such as socks, skirt and boots! AMAZING thanks for that info it was very useful now I can clean blood strains should I ever need to. Never ending walking into the TheraRPG simulator or whatever where NOTHINGNESS is the main thing that HAPPENS
Aghh the painnn the disappointment and the anger are f///..ng real.
Seriously this book could have been great, but this was not the case sorry to those who liked it, but to me it was a torture. I was sooo close to DNF it, but I decided to finish it because I like to challenge myself and this was the only reason why I finished reading it.
The only positive thing about this book is that it is set in New Zealand and it is always nice to see books based on different cultures especially on those you do not see often in books so this is a big plus.
SPOILER FREE SECTION
The only interesting part was from page 1 to page 35 where something actually happened. Addy loses her voice and her creativity because she got Vox Pox that is infecting people at random and there is no cure for it. And a girl from her school Maunga has injected her this kind of virus. But then Addy's brother gets Pox too and Addy now is seeking answerers and cure to help her brother. Ok hooked? Yesss because I was the premise sounded so cool and great and epic that I was like pleasee let me read this book I would totally love it, but ohh boyyyy I cannot even explain you the immense pain it has caused me. I was praying for it to finish and end everything.
I promise I will refrain myself from profanity, but I do not guarantee you there will be none, although I will censure them.
Everything started of good we had the 13 year old Addy with her voice stolen and how she is coping with that, ok but for f'''k sake where was the depression part? Where was the struggling part to adapt? Where was the consequences part of this so traumatizing event in the life of a 13 year old girl? Do I have missing pages in my copy??
Because this is the only explanation I could think of...
Please, like please making extensive descriptions is ok, great I got to see more of the world or of the scene, but having an entire book filled with never ending descriptions about everything NO THANKS , just don't nope. NO. It is boring, it has nothing to do with the plot and it is annoying like seriously f../;;;ng annoying.
I did not like it all, never been so disappointed in a book, even Piglettes was better than this.. I gave it 1 star but this does not imply that you will not like the book, in fact it might be exactly your book and you would end up loving it!
SPOILER SECTION
Ok can someone enlighten me how did 3 years passed since Addy got Pox and only now she decided to confront Maunga in the TheraRPG simulation?? Like how did that happen and how did she got to get this program with the help of a classmate she barely talked to and no money....
Did I miss it? Did I miss that part? Or do I really have missing pages?? o.O
How did Addy came to the conclusion that this simulator will help her find our why Maunga stole her voice and help her return it to her like WTH HAVE I MISSED! HOW DO WE GET TO THIS POINT?!!
Addy fell flat, with no depth at all, because we do not see any struggles due to the Pox, we do not see any interaction with Theo her brother, they spoke to each other like 3 -4 times in the whole book and she is ready to sacrifice herself for him... Like ok I get it he is her brother, her family, but where do we see their bond and love for each other?? I wanted to see thiss part! After the endless useless descriptions of what is Addy doing into the virtual simulator she meets Seth which is one of the ghost in the system oh btw she is now 16, because we skipped 3 non eventful years.... and out of the blue he offers to help her find Maunga and they go on a quest... yeah you can already imagine another endless descriptive part of their journey and nothing that has to do with the plot or hint what is going on. Finally they meet Maunga and surprisee Seth is her boyfriend!! That is not entirely him but a clone of the real Seth. And of course now you would expect something to happen right? Because Addy finally met Maunga but NO! Maunga tells Addy she is sorry for her brother and tell her how she and Seth get together and all that bullsh''t...I'm so angry atm.
Skipping because I just cannot write much I will end up in some nervous crisis or something.
At the end turns out that Maunga was forced to steal Addy's voice a scientist in Breach (that is the laboratory that created TheraRPG) made her do it. And Maunga needs Addy's help which I did not fully understood was for Seth but it turns out he committed suicide and he is alive only in the simulator... off I lost the track long time ago and basically Addy sacrifices herself offering Caroline the mad scientist herself as a testing mouse in exchange for the cure for Pox.. The motive you ask?? Oh THERE IS NO MOTIVE SHE CREATED POX FOR SCIENCE! Yep.. nothing else is explained just because.
I don't know what would make me feel better - to tear this book page by page or burn it page by page.
Basically yes this was my rant review, I hope you would end up liking it and would read the second book as well.
Now the blurb of this book is scam. Let me tell you this book is 90% useless descriptions of useless things such as ''she went into the water and then she had sand between her toes'' and ''she cleaned her feet with the hoodie of her brother, but before that made an apologetic face because she would do that with his hoodie.... ', or a detailed tutorial on how to remove blood from various textile such as socks, skirt and boots! AMAZING thanks for that info it was very useful now I can clean blood strains should I ever need to. Never ending walking into the TheraRPG simulator or whatever where NOTHINGNESS is the main thing that HAPPENS
Aghh the painnn the disappointment and the anger are f///..ng real.
Seriously this book could have been great, but this was not the case sorry to those who liked it, but to me it was a torture. I was sooo close to DNF it, but I decided to finish it because I like to challenge myself and this was the only reason why I finished reading it.
The only positive thing about this book is that it is set in New Zealand and it is always nice to see books based on different cultures especially on those you do not see often in books so this is a big plus.
SPOILER FREE SECTION
The only interesting part was from page 1 to page 35 where something actually happened. Addy loses her voice and her creativity because she got Vox Pox that is infecting people at random and there is no cure for it. And a girl from her school Maunga has injected her this kind of virus. But then Addy's brother gets Pox too and Addy now is seeking answerers and cure to help her brother. Ok hooked? Yesss because I was the premise sounded so cool and great and epic that I was like pleasee let me read this book I would totally love it, but ohh boyyyy I cannot even explain you the immense pain it has caused me. I was praying for it to finish and end everything.
I promise I will refrain myself from profanity, but I do not guarantee you there will be none, although I will censure them.
Everything started of good we had the 13 year old Addy with her voice stolen and how she is coping with that, ok but for f'''k sake where was the depression part? Where was the struggling part to adapt? Where was the consequences part of this so traumatizing event in the life of a 13 year old girl? Do I have missing pages in my copy??
Because this is the only explanation I could think of...
Please, like please making extensive descriptions is ok, great I got to see more of the world or of the scene, but having an entire book filled with never ending descriptions about everything NO THANKS , just don't nope. NO. It is boring, it has nothing to do with the plot and it is annoying like seriously f../;;;ng annoying.
I did not like it all, never been so disappointed in a book, even Piglettes was better than this.. I gave it 1 star but this does not imply that you will not like the book, in fact it might be exactly your book and you would end up loving it!
SPOILER SECTION
Ok can someone enlighten me how did 3 years passed since Addy got Pox and only now she decided to confront Maunga in the TheraRPG simulation?? Like how did that happen and how did she got to get this program with the help of a classmate she barely talked to and no money....
Did I miss it? Did I miss that part? Or do I really have missing pages?? o.O
How did Addy came to the conclusion that this simulator will help her find our why Maunga stole her voice and help her return it to her like WTH HAVE I MISSED! HOW DO WE GET TO THIS POINT?!!
Addy fell flat, with no depth at all, because we do not see any struggles due to the Pox, we do not see any interaction with Theo her brother, they spoke to each other like 3 -4 times in the whole book and she is ready to sacrifice herself for him... Like ok I get it he is her brother, her family, but where do we see their bond and love for each other?? I wanted to see thiss part! After the endless useless descriptions of what is Addy doing into the virtual simulator she meets Seth which is one of the ghost in the system oh btw she is now 16, because we skipped 3 non eventful years.... and out of the blue he offers to help her find Maunga and they go on a quest... yeah you can already imagine another endless descriptive part of their journey and nothing that has to do with the plot or hint what is going on. Finally they meet Maunga and surprisee Seth is her boyfriend!! That is not entirely him but a clone of the real Seth. And of course now you would expect something to happen right? Because Addy finally met Maunga but NO! Maunga tells Addy she is sorry for her brother and tell her how she and Seth get together and all that bullsh''t...I'm so angry atm.
Skipping because I just cannot write much I will end up in some nervous crisis or something.
At the end turns out that Maunga was forced to steal Addy's voice a scientist in Breach (that is the laboratory that created TheraRPG) made her do it. And Maunga needs Addy's help which I did not fully understood was for Seth but it turns out he committed suicide and he is alive only in the simulator... off I lost the track long time ago and basically Addy sacrifices herself offering Caroline the mad scientist herself as a testing mouse in exchange for the cure for Pox.. The motive you ask?? Oh THERE IS NO MOTIVE SHE CREATED POX FOR SCIENCE! Yep.. nothing else is explained just because.
I don't know what would make me feel better - to tear this book page by page or burn it page by page.
Basically yes this was my rant review, I hope you would end up liking it and would read the second book as well.
March 24, 2018
Addy is 13 when Maunga steals her voice, her creativity, her ability to express herself- to communicate. It was a man made disease called Vox Pox Maunga selfishly used on Addy in a study class. Maunga was a bully but something like this, Addy couldn't comprehend the cruelty of it. There was no cure.
Addy fights and struggles for the next three years with the reality of her new life. She was in the most extreme sense of the word- invisible. Vox Pox became an obsession along with getting back at Maunga.
Addy spent all her money on a new VR therapy that had the possibility to cure all kinds of things called TheraRPG. Once she gets there everything isn't quite what it seems.
The book was amazing! I didn't want to put it down and can't wait to read the second one! I kept thinking of Inception in parts of the book more visually than anything else.
Book given for a fair and honest review by NetGalley & publisher.
Addy fights and struggles for the next three years with the reality of her new life. She was in the most extreme sense of the word- invisible. Vox Pox became an obsession along with getting back at Maunga.
Addy spent all her money on a new VR therapy that had the possibility to cure all kinds of things called TheraRPG. Once she gets there everything isn't quite what it seems.
The book was amazing! I didn't want to put it down and can't wait to read the second one! I kept thinking of Inception in parts of the book more visually than anything else.
Book given for a fair and honest review by NetGalley & publisher.
February 28, 2018
I got sent this book in exchange for a honest review, all my opinions are my own and thank you so much to the publishers for sending me this book!
This book was really good and I highly enjoyed it, this follows our main protagonist as she is infected by a disease that makes her mute, as soon as her brother catches it she goes out and tries to help him.
This book was really entertaining and it was like The world of The Lunar Chronicles mixed in with the Divergent Plotline minus the romance.
This book had a really cool world and the technology was advanced.
Overall the book was really cool and action packed and I really reccomend it to you!
This book was really good and I highly enjoyed it, this follows our main protagonist as she is infected by a disease that makes her mute, as soon as her brother catches it she goes out and tries to help him.
This book was really entertaining and it was like The world of The Lunar Chronicles mixed in with the Divergent Plotline minus the romance.
This book had a really cool world and the technology was advanced.
Overall the book was really cool and action packed and I really reccomend it to you!
July 4, 2017
This review and more can be found on Living for the Books
This book was definitely unique and I was instantly intrigued by the idea that the main character had her voice stolen. It wasn't exactly what I was expecting, but I did enjoy it and I ended up finishing it much faster than normal.
The world that the author created was really interesting. It took me awhile to figure out that it wasn't set in a made up place, but in New Zealand. There were a lot of words that I didn't really understand and at first I thought they were made up because I know next to nothing about New Zealand. The setting definitely made the book stand out more. I also enjoyed the technology aspect of the world. I loved the idea of the virtual psychoreality simulator because it sounds so cool and something I would be interested in trying if I could.
The majority of the book takes place within the virtual psychoreality simulator and while I think that whole idea was really cool, it also seemed to take up a lot more time than necessary. The beginning of Addy's journey through that virtual reality was a little bit confusing and the chapters involving the house was repetitive to the point where I wanted the book to move on, even though I was interested in the simulation.
Where the story fell flat, was with the characters and particularly with their motivations. The characters were for the most part, fairly well developed, but they were lacking a believable motivation for their actions. Yes, explanations are given, but they aren't really satisfying and it made the characters less real for me. The reason for the Vox Pox disease didn't really seem that clear to me and I was really hoping there would be something more to it, but ended up being a kind of disappointing ending to the plot.
I'm on the fence about whether I'll continue with the next book. I really wanted to enjoy this book a lot more because the idea seemed so unique and interesting. Plus, I really liked the development that Addy goes through during the story, so if the next one sounds good I'll probably pick it up.
*I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book was definitely unique and I was instantly intrigued by the idea that the main character had her voice stolen. It wasn't exactly what I was expecting, but I did enjoy it and I ended up finishing it much faster than normal.
The world that the author created was really interesting. It took me awhile to figure out that it wasn't set in a made up place, but in New Zealand. There were a lot of words that I didn't really understand and at first I thought they were made up because I know next to nothing about New Zealand. The setting definitely made the book stand out more. I also enjoyed the technology aspect of the world. I loved the idea of the virtual psychoreality simulator because it sounds so cool and something I would be interested in trying if I could.
The majority of the book takes place within the virtual psychoreality simulator and while I think that whole idea was really cool, it also seemed to take up a lot more time than necessary. The beginning of Addy's journey through that virtual reality was a little bit confusing and the chapters involving the house was repetitive to the point where I wanted the book to move on, even though I was interested in the simulation.
Where the story fell flat, was with the characters and particularly with their motivations. The characters were for the most part, fairly well developed, but they were lacking a believable motivation for their actions. Yes, explanations are given, but they aren't really satisfying and it made the characters less real for me. The reason for the Vox Pox disease didn't really seem that clear to me and I was really hoping there would be something more to it, but ended up being a kind of disappointing ending to the plot.
I'm on the fence about whether I'll continue with the next book. I really wanted to enjoy this book a lot more because the idea seemed so unique and interesting. Plus, I really liked the development that Addy goes through during the story, so if the next one sounds good I'll probably pick it up.
*I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 6, 2017
An electronic copy of this novel was a courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. Thank you!
The book starts when Addy is only 13 years old, and then jumps some three years into the future, into the time when Addy had already gotten used to living with Vox Pox, a mysterious, human-made sickness that has infected over 500 people already. But when Addy's brother Theo also falls victim to the sickness, he serves as a catalyst for Addy's attempt to find the cure.
There are several aspects which made this book stand out from your usual YA fantasy/sci-fi adventure. I really liked that Addy's motivation was her brother (even though we don't see them interacting as much as I'd have liked), and this is an instance in which she reminded me of Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games.
Another really interesting point was actually the whole setting, i.e. New Zealand. I don't think I've ever read a book set there, so this was a refreshing change, and also somewhat of a culture shock, mostly in terms of, er, terminology (e.g. the usage of 'Kaiako' instead of 'Teacher'). This Maori element really added to the story, and it's a reason why I wish that not so much of the story had been set in the virtual reality. The whole virtual/alternate experience had me dozing off a couple of times, but it still had a couple of surprising plot twists.
Finally, I appreciate that there is no love interest in this novel, nor is there a prospect of one appearing in the second and final book, from what I can tell; Adelaide will probably have her hands full with getting herself out of a pickle. I also hope that Theo's character will get a more prominent role in the sequel.
The message of story is really important. I think the struggles Adelaide and other voiceless people go through can also be applied to the ones who aren't literally mute. But the voices of many groups of people are still (intentionally or not) overheard, even in this so-called modern society.
The book starts when Addy is only 13 years old, and then jumps some three years into the future, into the time when Addy had already gotten used to living with Vox Pox, a mysterious, human-made sickness that has infected over 500 people already. But when Addy's brother Theo also falls victim to the sickness, he serves as a catalyst for Addy's attempt to find the cure.
There are several aspects which made this book stand out from your usual YA fantasy/sci-fi adventure. I really liked that Addy's motivation was her brother (even though we don't see them interacting as much as I'd have liked), and this is an instance in which she reminded me of Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games.
Another really interesting point was actually the whole setting, i.e. New Zealand. I don't think I've ever read a book set there, so this was a refreshing change, and also somewhat of a culture shock, mostly in terms of, er, terminology (e.g. the usage of 'Kaiako' instead of 'Teacher'). This Maori element really added to the story, and it's a reason why I wish that not so much of the story had been set in the virtual reality. The whole virtual/alternate experience had me dozing off a couple of times, but it still had a couple of surprising plot twists.
Finally, I appreciate that there is no love interest in this novel, nor is there a prospect of one appearing in the second and final book, from what I can tell; Adelaide will probably have her hands full with getting herself out of a pickle. I also hope that Theo's character will get a more prominent role in the sequel.
The message of story is really important. I think the struggles Adelaide and other voiceless people go through can also be applied to the ones who aren't literally mute. But the voices of many groups of people are still (intentionally or not) overheard, even in this so-called modern society.
July 17, 2017
How important is our identity, and how far would you go to protect it? It’s the powerful question asked in Voiceless.
When 13 year-old Addy has her voice stolen, she thinks she’s lost it all. Not only does the strange illness, vox-pox, steal your physical voice, but it also steals your creative spark. Artists can’t draw, dancers can’t dance, and for Addy, she can no longer evoke while writing. When an unlikely solution and possible cure arises, she’ll risk it all, traveling into a different realm, facing more danger than she could possibly imagine.
This YA novel grabs you and takes you on an adventure full of unexpected ups and downs. The descriptive virtual world and set of characters add depth and realism to the alternate world. Just when you think you know it all, you realize there is more lurking beneath the surface.
An unlikely hero will do what’s necessary when it’s the only choice. I’m looking forward to seeing where the next book in this series leads.
When 13 year-old Addy has her voice stolen, she thinks she’s lost it all. Not only does the strange illness, vox-pox, steal your physical voice, but it also steals your creative spark. Artists can’t draw, dancers can’t dance, and for Addy, she can no longer evoke while writing. When an unlikely solution and possible cure arises, she’ll risk it all, traveling into a different realm, facing more danger than she could possibly imagine.
This YA novel grabs you and takes you on an adventure full of unexpected ups and downs. The descriptive virtual world and set of characters add depth and realism to the alternate world. Just when you think you know it all, you realize there is more lurking beneath the surface.
An unlikely hero will do what’s necessary when it’s the only choice. I’m looking forward to seeing where the next book in this series leads.
July 16, 2017
I finished this book with tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat. Voiceless is a fantastic sci-fi debut for E.G. Wilson. The writing is fresh, the plot is interesting, and the characters are intriguing and lovable. Wilson incorporates New Zealand and Maori elements into her futuristic novel. This fusion of Kiwiana and science fiction brings a unique twist to the sci-fi scene. Wilson does an excellent job of making her characters three-dimensional and dynamic, something that is increasingly rare in Young Adult Fiction. Wilson's ability to make the reader feel for her characters is stellar. Additionally, the story has strong descriptions that really put you in the mindset of the main character. Like all stories, this one has its few flaws and minor disconnects (some of which may be resolved in the sequel), but the story overall is enjoyable and engaging. I can't wait to read Wilson's sequel: Expression.
August 21, 2017
I received a free copy through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks for this copy.
4 stars out of 5
This is one of my favourite genres and I really liked the book. The story follows Adelaide 'Addy' who has her voice stolen by Maunga. Addy becomes mute, and with it goes her talent for writing. This is a man-made disease, but this fact is not known in the public eye. People don't know how they get the disease, called Vox Pox, but Addy does. Mainly creative people are targetted. They lose their talents, which makes them depressed, sometimes suicidal.
Addy can cope with her muteness, but when her brother Theo is also infected by Vox Pox, she takes action.
I really enjoyed reading this book and I'm curious for the sequel.
It did take me some getting used to the strange names of New Zealand.
I also didn't like how Addy is so selfless. Eventually, she forgives Maunga, which I don't understand. I mean, the girl is a real bitch...
Can we also take a minute to appreciate the amazing cover? *wauw*
4 stars out of 5
This is one of my favourite genres and I really liked the book. The story follows Adelaide 'Addy' who has her voice stolen by Maunga. Addy becomes mute, and with it goes her talent for writing. This is a man-made disease, but this fact is not known in the public eye. People don't know how they get the disease, called Vox Pox, but Addy does. Mainly creative people are targetted. They lose their talents, which makes them depressed, sometimes suicidal.
Addy can cope with her muteness, but when her brother Theo is also infected by Vox Pox, she takes action.
I really enjoyed reading this book and I'm curious for the sequel.
It did take me some getting used to the strange names of New Zealand.
I also didn't like how Addy is so selfless. Eventually, she forgives Maunga, which I don't understand. I mean, the girl is a real bitch...
Can we also take a minute to appreciate the amazing cover? *wauw*
August 14, 2017
Voiceless is a debut novel written by E.G. Wilson. This book had an interesting premise but I felt that it fell short of my expectations.
Voiceless takes place in a futuristic New Zealand. It is interesting that the characters are of the Maori tribe—a culture that I know little about. There’s quite a bit of slang used in this book and I’m unsure if it is cultural or fictional. The author isn’t to fault for my ignorance; but it did hamper my ability to appreciate the story.
Additionally, character development fell flat. The opportunity to build a beautiful relationship between siblings was squandered. The reader is expected to accept a strong bond between Addy and Theo. Yet, there are only a couple of instances in which the two interact in any profound way.
This story has promise and I am curious where the series will lead. My only hope is to have less repetition and onomatopoeia in the next installment. Unfortunately, these are prevalent in the Young Adult genre and I won’t hold out much hope.
I have to thank my friend for introducing me to the word “onomatopoeia” as it is a word I was previously not familiar with. I suppose after my continued ranting, she felt the need to educate me. There’s no need for it in a YA book. Young Adults are not in preschool and should not need to be told the sound that a door makes upon closing.
Boom! Bang! Crash! When a word is formed from the sound that an associated thing makes, call it an example of onomatopoeia.
vocabulary.com
A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review, and have not been compensated for this. All opinions are my own.
This review was originally posted to A Simply Enchanted Life
Voiceless takes place in a futuristic New Zealand. It is interesting that the characters are of the Maori tribe—a culture that I know little about. There’s quite a bit of slang used in this book and I’m unsure if it is cultural or fictional. The author isn’t to fault for my ignorance; but it did hamper my ability to appreciate the story.
Additionally, character development fell flat. The opportunity to build a beautiful relationship between siblings was squandered. The reader is expected to accept a strong bond between Addy and Theo. Yet, there are only a couple of instances in which the two interact in any profound way.
This story has promise and I am curious where the series will lead. My only hope is to have less repetition and onomatopoeia in the next installment. Unfortunately, these are prevalent in the Young Adult genre and I won’t hold out much hope.
I have to thank my friend for introducing me to the word “onomatopoeia” as it is a word I was previously not familiar with. I suppose after my continued ranting, she felt the need to educate me. There’s no need for it in a YA book. Young Adults are not in preschool and should not need to be told the sound that a door makes upon closing.
Boom! Bang! Crash! When a word is formed from the sound that an associated thing makes, call it an example of onomatopoeia.
vocabulary.com
A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review, and have not been compensated for this. All opinions are my own.
This review was originally posted to A Simply Enchanted Life
September 21, 2020
!!!!!!!
I'll post a review when it's not almost two am but WOW.
EDITED.
I received this copy in exchange for an honest review from Pikko's House publishing. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you Pikko's House!
I made the mistake of checking reviews on Goodreads when I received a copy of this novel, because I stumbled onto a not so great one and got a little bit worried that I would not enjoy the book. The premise had gripped me when I had read the synopsis, but the review spoke of a slow moving plot and a less than engaging voice.
None of which I found while I was reading.
The story starts with a bang, and when you have an opening line like “Adelaide Te Ngawai was thirteen when Maunga Richards stole her voice…”, you know you’re in for quite the ride. The premise promised - a person stealing voices - was well-crafted, the mystery surrounding the reasons evident throughout the novel, with hints of answers in the pages if you were looking. The fact that the loss of the voice was not the only thing these victims were going through raised the stakes.
Adelaide losing her creativity with her voice struck such a strong chord with me. The fact that she was able to pull herself together, push forward and on, was a feat I admire. I would not be able to survive losing my ability to craft stories, my ability to create, I am quite sure of that.
Her determination to save her brother from the Vox Pox was an admirable situation, and she was a very realistic character. Even if the world was a distant sci-fi inspired future, the characters were very grounded and realistic, and their relationships were multi-faceted.
I am a sucker for quests and journeys in stories, so perhaps that is why I loved this one as much as I did. The virtual reality journey Adelaide goes through was very well-written. It was confusing at times, but as Adelaide was as confused as I was, it enhanced the atmosphere for me.
The resolution of the novel left me wanting more, and I am quite bummed that as far as I can find, there is no information out on book two.
I loved the fact that the story was set in New Zealand. I lived in Auckland for three years, and I could hear the accents and the slight bit of Maori I recognised gave me a thrill.
One thing that did bug me was the description of Maunga being “more Maori” than most, and her being the supposed villain for most of the novel. It rubbed me the wrong way that the character that seemed to be the most of colour (this phrasing seems off, I know, but I cannot think of a better way to phrase it) was the bad guy. Of course, by the end of the novel, I know this is not true, and she becomes an ally, but it did irk me in the beginning.
I'll post a review when it's not almost two am but WOW.
EDITED.
I received this copy in exchange for an honest review from Pikko's House publishing. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you Pikko's House!
I made the mistake of checking reviews on Goodreads when I received a copy of this novel, because I stumbled onto a not so great one and got a little bit worried that I would not enjoy the book. The premise had gripped me when I had read the synopsis, but the review spoke of a slow moving plot and a less than engaging voice.
None of which I found while I was reading.
The story starts with a bang, and when you have an opening line like “Adelaide Te Ngawai was thirteen when Maunga Richards stole her voice…”, you know you’re in for quite the ride. The premise promised - a person stealing voices - was well-crafted, the mystery surrounding the reasons evident throughout the novel, with hints of answers in the pages if you were looking. The fact that the loss of the voice was not the only thing these victims were going through raised the stakes.
Adelaide losing her creativity with her voice struck such a strong chord with me. The fact that she was able to pull herself together, push forward and on, was a feat I admire. I would not be able to survive losing my ability to craft stories, my ability to create, I am quite sure of that.
Her determination to save her brother from the Vox Pox was an admirable situation, and she was a very realistic character. Even if the world was a distant sci-fi inspired future, the characters were very grounded and realistic, and their relationships were multi-faceted.
I am a sucker for quests and journeys in stories, so perhaps that is why I loved this one as much as I did. The virtual reality journey Adelaide goes through was very well-written. It was confusing at times, but as Adelaide was as confused as I was, it enhanced the atmosphere for me.
The resolution of the novel left me wanting more, and I am quite bummed that as far as I can find, there is no information out on book two.
I loved the fact that the story was set in New Zealand. I lived in Auckland for three years, and I could hear the accents and the slight bit of Maori I recognised gave me a thrill.
One thing that did bug me was the description of Maunga being “more Maori” than most, and her being the supposed villain for most of the novel. It rubbed me the wrong way that the character that seemed to be the most of colour (this phrasing seems off, I know, but I cannot think of a better way to phrase it) was the bad guy. Of course, by the end of the novel, I know this is not true, and she becomes an ally, but it did irk me in the beginning.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 29, 2017
A girl is attacked at 13, losing her voice and talents to the injection of man-made plague known as the Vox Pox. In 3 years, having regained the basic ability to write, she watches as her brother succumbs to the same illness. So, for convoluted and unclear reasons, she finally drums up the courage to face her attacker in a virtual reality world, which is supposed to help heal broken minds and unstable emotions.
This short synopsis tells you the meat of the book, but what it (and others like it) can't mention is that this is not another in a line of "dangerous contest with teenage romance abound" novels, but one that is much more focused on the repercussions of having something taken from you and the feeling it leaves. Wilson is less concerned with the complex inner workings of the VR in which Addy, our protagonist, spends the bulk of the novel, letting it be as wild as possible, with Escherian houses, impossible time/distance stretching and compressing, favouring simplicity of action to hard sci-fi explanations of every minute detail. As Adelaide traverses the dangerous landscape of this reality in search of her foe, a hefty chunk of the writing is devoted to her feelings of uncertainty, depression, and being lost (literally and figuratively). And, as a bigger threat is revealed, the perspective shifts, changing the ongoing thought narrative from "How could one be so vile as to do this?" to "Could I be evil enough?". It's a welcome change of pace, giving the last third of the book something more to chew on, and the events that it defines and leads to should make for a rather engaging sequel.
The book also has two big pluses in the absolute absence of a romantic storyline and a sizeable helping of New Zealand/Maori culture, with words and turns of phrase thrown in casually, looking quite organic and giving an unusual "colour" to the story. It's almost kind of a fantasy vibe, if I may be forgiven for such preposterous words. The NZ culture is completely unknown to me, so seeing these new words, these new terms, it's akin to opening a sword & magic novel with all of its Grothk the Great and "frak it!" and whatnot. It's not the biggest defining trait of the book, but it's a stellar choice, one that brings a lot of character to the novel and making it stand out even in sequences which would be standard otherwise. The inclusion of Maori sayings and identity is welcome and truly refreshing.
I'm struggling to call the book amazing because some of the plot turns and character motivations are baffling and unconvicingly convenient, but I have no qualms in calling this a pleasant, engrossing read that has me eagerly waiting for the sequel. And if E. G. Wilson ever decides to write some books about NZ/Maori culture or folklore, I'll be in line to get it.
This short synopsis tells you the meat of the book, but what it (and others like it) can't mention is that this is not another in a line of "dangerous contest with teenage romance abound" novels, but one that is much more focused on the repercussions of having something taken from you and the feeling it leaves. Wilson is less concerned with the complex inner workings of the VR in which Addy, our protagonist, spends the bulk of the novel, letting it be as wild as possible, with Escherian houses, impossible time/distance stretching and compressing, favouring simplicity of action to hard sci-fi explanations of every minute detail. As Adelaide traverses the dangerous landscape of this reality in search of her foe, a hefty chunk of the writing is devoted to her feelings of uncertainty, depression, and being lost (literally and figuratively). And, as a bigger threat is revealed, the perspective shifts, changing the ongoing thought narrative from "How could one be so vile as to do this?" to "Could I be evil enough?". It's a welcome change of pace, giving the last third of the book something more to chew on, and the events that it defines and leads to should make for a rather engaging sequel.
The book also has two big pluses in the absolute absence of a romantic storyline and a sizeable helping of New Zealand/Maori culture, with words and turns of phrase thrown in casually, looking quite organic and giving an unusual "colour" to the story. It's almost kind of a fantasy vibe, if I may be forgiven for such preposterous words. The NZ culture is completely unknown to me, so seeing these new words, these new terms, it's akin to opening a sword & magic novel with all of its Grothk the Great and "frak it!" and whatnot. It's not the biggest defining trait of the book, but it's a stellar choice, one that brings a lot of character to the novel and making it stand out even in sequences which would be standard otherwise. The inclusion of Maori sayings and identity is welcome and truly refreshing.
I'm struggling to call the book amazing because some of the plot turns and character motivations are baffling and unconvicingly convenient, but I have no qualms in calling this a pleasant, engrossing read that has me eagerly waiting for the sequel. And if E. G. Wilson ever decides to write some books about NZ/Maori culture or folklore, I'll be in line to get it.
October 1, 2017
When Addy was 13 Maunga Richards stole her voice. Living with Vox Pox, Addy must relearn to write and live with her brothers invention for her to communicate. But when Theo is infected as well, Addy goes to confront Maunga to try and get Theo's voice back. But when in a virtual psychoreality simulator she learns about a conspiracy bigger than her and Maunga.
Enjoyed the world building both inside and outside the simulator. The lack of physics within the simulator really helped to make it seem strange and eerie at times. The advanced technology in New Zealand was really interesting to read about. It being based in New Zealand also made it a bit more unique as it felt slightly like it would lead to a dystopian future but it wasn't based in America.
Addy was an interesting main character. Obviously she was shocked and scared when she first gets Vox Pox, but she perseveres throughout. She learns to type and communicate, and live her life the best she could. Her main issue was her brother losing his creativity along with his voice. This was the catalyst to her trying to confront Maunga and go to the simulator. I enjoyed the differing relationships between Addy and Theo, Addy and Maunga and also Addy and Seth. Plus they evolved throughout the book.
I enjoyed Vox Pox as this man made illness. I also enjoyed the psychoreality simulator. But I didn't fully understand the link between the two? Yes the woman was in the simulator with them, but I didn't understand why Addy paid so much money to go into it. The plotline could have progressed without the simulator, unless I'm missing a link between the illness and simulator?
Overall I enjoyed Voiceless although I felt the ending lacked closure but didn't give enough hints for the second book. I have no idea what Expression is going to be about but I am excited to read on with Addy's story. I received Voiceless* by E.G. Wilson as an e-book from the publisher via Netgalley. This is an unbiased and honest review.
Enjoyed the world building both inside and outside the simulator. The lack of physics within the simulator really helped to make it seem strange and eerie at times. The advanced technology in New Zealand was really interesting to read about. It being based in New Zealand also made it a bit more unique as it felt slightly like it would lead to a dystopian future but it wasn't based in America.
Addy was an interesting main character. Obviously she was shocked and scared when she first gets Vox Pox, but she perseveres throughout. She learns to type and communicate, and live her life the best she could. Her main issue was her brother losing his creativity along with his voice. This was the catalyst to her trying to confront Maunga and go to the simulator. I enjoyed the differing relationships between Addy and Theo, Addy and Maunga and also Addy and Seth. Plus they evolved throughout the book.
I enjoyed Vox Pox as this man made illness. I also enjoyed the psychoreality simulator. But I didn't fully understand the link between the two? Yes the woman was in the simulator with them, but I didn't understand why Addy paid so much money to go into it. The plotline could have progressed without the simulator, unless I'm missing a link between the illness and simulator?
Overall I enjoyed Voiceless although I felt the ending lacked closure but didn't give enough hints for the second book. I have no idea what Expression is going to be about but I am excited to read on with Addy's story. I received Voiceless* by E.G. Wilson as an e-book from the publisher via Netgalley. This is an unbiased and honest review.
December 28, 2017
Despite its charms -- and they are considerable -- this YA sf novel falls short of its promise. In a colorful, near-future New Zealand, sure to appeal to American audiences, a plague called "Vox Pox" robs its victims not only of their ability to speak but of their creativity, their ability to communicate meaningfully. In the case of our heroine, a budding writer, this means she can barely type out a few words now and again. Her despair and gradual adjustment are touchingly depicted, one of the book's strong points. Also intriguing is the mystery behind her discovery that the Vox Pox is being deliberately spread through injection, not natural infection. A new virtual reality technology offers the promise of improvement if not cure, and she jumps on the chance to regain her voice. All of this excited my curiosity and held my attention in the first part of the book.
Here, alas, the story breaks down. The Mean Girl who infected our heroine is there, in the VR world, and demands her help but never gives an explanation of what is going on, not in the timely manner one might expect given their previous fraught history. It turns out that the scientist who created the VR also created the Vox Pox, but her motivations for such a horrendous thing remain murky. Nobody questions irrational behavior or insists upon an accounting. The result is one character after another moving like puppets through artificial pseudo-confrontations for the sake of the plot. The emotional complexity and sensitivity of the heroine's affliction are washed away in senseless interactions, long stretches of boring narrative travel, and an unsatisfying ending.
Here, alas, the story breaks down. The Mean Girl who infected our heroine is there, in the VR world, and demands her help but never gives an explanation of what is going on, not in the timely manner one might expect given their previous fraught history. It turns out that the scientist who created the VR also created the Vox Pox, but her motivations for such a horrendous thing remain murky. Nobody questions irrational behavior or insists upon an accounting. The result is one character after another moving like puppets through artificial pseudo-confrontations for the sake of the plot. The emotional complexity and sensitivity of the heroine's affliction are washed away in senseless interactions, long stretches of boring narrative travel, and an unsatisfying ending.
July 19, 2018
Thank you to the publishers for providing an ARC of this book through NetGalley.
DNF at 38%.
This plot sounded really cool and really different, but the book felt like it was going nowhere. Even at 38%, nothing had really happened, and most of what was going on was quite confusing. Nothing really made sense. There’s a lot of unnecessary useless descriptions, and the book skips out on things that would have made Addy’s character not as flat as a board, such as the struggles of having the Vox Pox, actually having some form of interaction with her family and why did the book suddenly skip three years? How exactly did Addy figure that going into the virtual simulator would mean that she would figure out why Maunga gave her the Pox? I’m so confused. This entire book is so confusing.
DNF at 38%.
This plot sounded really cool and really different, but the book felt like it was going nowhere. Even at 38%, nothing had really happened, and most of what was going on was quite confusing. Nothing really made sense. There’s a lot of unnecessary useless descriptions, and the book skips out on things that would have made Addy’s character not as flat as a board, such as the struggles of having the Vox Pox, actually having some form of interaction with her family and why did the book suddenly skip three years? How exactly did Addy figure that going into the virtual simulator would mean that she would figure out why Maunga gave her the Pox? I’m so confused. This entire book is so confusing.
May 19, 2017
Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book!
Wow, what a mind trip!! It took me just a bit to get sucked into this book but once I did, I could not put it down! Very interesting story line... reminded me a bit of The Matrix. I will be anxiously awaiting book two so I can see how this ends.
Wow, what a mind trip!! It took me just a bit to get sucked into this book but once I did, I could not put it down! Very interesting story line... reminded me a bit of The Matrix. I will be anxiously awaiting book two so I can see how this ends.
March 15, 2018
A rather strange book, but sci-fi with heart.
When Addy is 13 her voice is stolen. There are others like her - creative people whose skills are taken.
We follow her quest to learn who’s responsible.
When Addy is 13 her voice is stolen. There are others like her - creative people whose skills are taken.
We follow her quest to learn who’s responsible.
July 16, 2017
I received a copy of the book from the publisher on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Voiceless is the debut novel of E.G. Wilson, and while it's not the strongest debut ever, I feel that it is a pretty respectable one, especially with such a unique premise. The main character, Addy's, voice was stolen when she was 13 by a school bully named Maunga. From there, we follow Addy as she struggles with what happens to her. At the age of sixteen, Addy tries this test, called VPR, which sends someone into this world that's a bit of the subconscious, a bit of another world. She goes there to confront Maunga about why, exactly, she stole her voice.
While I didn't feel that this book was fantastic and wonderful, I did enjoy it and was absorbed enough to finish in a couple days. I stayed up at night to finish it because it was an easy, fun read. It was definitely a book that I could see being a favorite of a middle-grade reader. There were quite a few things I also thought this book did well.
The setting in this book is really unique and prominent. Voiceless is set in a futuristic New Zealand, but the really interesting thing is that most of the characters are Maori, which is not a culture that you ever see in literature, much less YA literature, MUCH LESS YA fantasy literature. But the thing I also liked about this book was that it wasn't focused on the Maori culture- it was just seamlessly integrated into the story. You could tell from the names (first and last), the casual greetings put in, the casual tidbits of culture spread throughout the book. So that was really cool for me. It's also set in the future, so there a lot of cool technology that we get to experience as well. Overall, the setting was just really well done.
The plot of this book is already really unique and interesting. Maunga, the girl that steals Addy's voice, does so by injecting her with a man-made virius called Vox Pox. Little is known about Vox Pox, except that it steals your voice and your creativity. So dancers lose their ability, painters can't paint, etc. For Addy, she loses the ability to write. Everything she writes is basic. But this is just the set-up of the actual plot, which takes place in the VPR, where Addy goes on a journey to confront the person who did this to her in the first place and find out why.
Now, sadly, I have to talk about the weaknesses of this book, and I also think that there were quite a few weaknesses here. The first being the characters. A large part of the problem is with Addy. We follow Addy from ages 13 to 16, but this novel isn't long because it skips around. The problem with that is that we don't really see Addy struggling with the depression she says she gets after Vox Pox. We hear about it (it's never called depression though but like, why not?? What's with the dumb "black fog" imagery?? Just say depression, it literally doesn't matter) but honestly we never see Addy depressed. We see her pull away from friends and work really hard to be able to speak through writing but that's... really it. And to me, that's a big flaw. If you want to skip around in time, that's fine, but at least give us snapshots to the important things (like the depression you keep saying the main character has???)
Another thing is that the character's motivations are all really flimsy. Maunga's motivation to give Addy Vox Pox isn't revealed until the end and even then it's just kind of a set-up for a bigger, badder boss (who is, by the way, the most random of characters.) Except that bigger, badder boss's motivation is like... non-existent. So you just end up unsatisfied with the whole WHY of the novel, the mystery that keeps you reading.
And then there's Addy. Addy is a really flat character. The author tries to give her some dimension by having her battle depression, but because we don't see her going through it, she remains one dimensional. And it's really sad, because on the surface she does have what it takes to be a great protagonist, but because she has no depth she falls flat. She seems to be self-sacrificing, but I really don't understand WHY she has to be. And her reason for sacrificing herself is her brother, but we hardly see them having meaningful interactions at ALL throughout the whole book. So her motivations are just as flat as she is.
In the end, this story has an interesting plot that just can't carry it through all the flaws in the characters and in the motivations. There's not enough WHY to carry on through the HOW of this novel. I am hoping that the flaws in this book are resolved in the sequel however. I will be giving the sequel a read, but I'm hesitant to say I recommend this book or series because of the big weaknesses it displayed.
Voiceless is the debut novel of E.G. Wilson, and while it's not the strongest debut ever, I feel that it is a pretty respectable one, especially with such a unique premise. The main character, Addy's, voice was stolen when she was 13 by a school bully named Maunga. From there, we follow Addy as she struggles with what happens to her. At the age of sixteen, Addy tries this test, called VPR, which sends someone into this world that's a bit of the subconscious, a bit of another world. She goes there to confront Maunga about why, exactly, she stole her voice.
While I didn't feel that this book was fantastic and wonderful, I did enjoy it and was absorbed enough to finish in a couple days. I stayed up at night to finish it because it was an easy, fun read. It was definitely a book that I could see being a favorite of a middle-grade reader. There were quite a few things I also thought this book did well.
The setting in this book is really unique and prominent. Voiceless is set in a futuristic New Zealand, but the really interesting thing is that most of the characters are Maori, which is not a culture that you ever see in literature, much less YA literature, MUCH LESS YA fantasy literature. But the thing I also liked about this book was that it wasn't focused on the Maori culture- it was just seamlessly integrated into the story. You could tell from the names (first and last), the casual greetings put in, the casual tidbits of culture spread throughout the book. So that was really cool for me. It's also set in the future, so there a lot of cool technology that we get to experience as well. Overall, the setting was just really well done.
The plot of this book is already really unique and interesting. Maunga, the girl that steals Addy's voice, does so by injecting her with a man-made virius called Vox Pox. Little is known about Vox Pox, except that it steals your voice and your creativity. So dancers lose their ability, painters can't paint, etc. For Addy, she loses the ability to write. Everything she writes is basic. But this is just the set-up of the actual plot, which takes place in the VPR, where Addy goes on a journey to confront the person who did this to her in the first place and find out why.
Now, sadly, I have to talk about the weaknesses of this book, and I also think that there were quite a few weaknesses here. The first being the characters. A large part of the problem is with Addy. We follow Addy from ages 13 to 16, but this novel isn't long because it skips around. The problem with that is that we don't really see Addy struggling with the depression she says she gets after Vox Pox. We hear about it (it's never called depression though but like, why not?? What's with the dumb "black fog" imagery?? Just say depression, it literally doesn't matter) but honestly we never see Addy depressed. We see her pull away from friends and work really hard to be able to speak through writing but that's... really it. And to me, that's a big flaw. If you want to skip around in time, that's fine, but at least give us snapshots to the important things (like the depression you keep saying the main character has???)
Another thing is that the character's motivations are all really flimsy. Maunga's motivation to give Addy Vox Pox isn't revealed until the end and even then it's just kind of a set-up for a bigger, badder boss (who is, by the way, the most random of characters.) Except that bigger, badder boss's motivation is like... non-existent. So you just end up unsatisfied with the whole WHY of the novel, the mystery that keeps you reading.
And then there's Addy. Addy is a really flat character. The author tries to give her some dimension by having her battle depression, but because we don't see her going through it, she remains one dimensional. And it's really sad, because on the surface she does have what it takes to be a great protagonist, but because she has no depth she falls flat. She seems to be self-sacrificing, but I really don't understand WHY she has to be. And her reason for sacrificing herself is her brother, but we hardly see them having meaningful interactions at ALL throughout the whole book. So her motivations are just as flat as she is.
In the end, this story has an interesting plot that just can't carry it through all the flaws in the characters and in the motivations. There's not enough WHY to carry on through the HOW of this novel. I am hoping that the flaws in this book are resolved in the sequel however. I will be giving the sequel a read, but I'm hesitant to say I recommend this book or series because of the big weaknesses it displayed.
Currently reading
January 20, 2018Slow but good
If you can get past the weird slow beginning it has a surprising plot that can catch you off guard.
If you can get past the weird slow beginning it has a surprising plot that can catch you off guard.
July 8, 2017
I received a copy of this title to read & review for Wicked Reads
Young Adult age-range: 12+
E. G. Wilson is a new-to-me author. I'd highly recommend to fans of virtual-reality/gaming/MMORPGs & Dystopian fiction.
At 13, a budding writer, Addie is injected by her bully/older classmate with a virus that silences its victim. Unable to write or speak, Addie loses all of her creativity.
Years later, a virtual reality program is announced, one Addie is desperate to use.
With 500+ silenced victims, Addie uses the program to have a voice & call out the young woman who silenced her.
Voiceless uses a vast virtual reality world, AI, and ghosts imprinted into the program to create a vivid & intriguing story.
All genders, young & young at heart, will enjoy the game-play-esque writing style, mixed with the sense of powerlessness, selflessness, loss & empowerment, as Addie & her unlikely ally try to stop the one silencing people.
There is an underlying romance thread, but it doesn't involve our narrator.
Thoroughly intrigued, I can't wait to get my hands on the next installment.
Young Adult age-range: 12+
E. G. Wilson is a new-to-me author. I'd highly recommend to fans of virtual-reality/gaming/MMORPGs & Dystopian fiction.
At 13, a budding writer, Addie is injected by her bully/older classmate with a virus that silences its victim. Unable to write or speak, Addie loses all of her creativity.
Years later, a virtual reality program is announced, one Addie is desperate to use.
With 500+ silenced victims, Addie uses the program to have a voice & call out the young woman who silenced her.
Voiceless uses a vast virtual reality world, AI, and ghosts imprinted into the program to create a vivid & intriguing story.
All genders, young & young at heart, will enjoy the game-play-esque writing style, mixed with the sense of powerlessness, selflessness, loss & empowerment, as Addie & her unlikely ally try to stop the one silencing people.
There is an underlying romance thread, but it doesn't involve our narrator.
Thoroughly intrigued, I can't wait to get my hands on the next installment.
June 15, 2017
This would be a book I re-read. I'd pick it up when the series continued, or when E.G. Wilson puts out another series. I'd introduce myself to Addy and the wonderful world that is Voiceless again and again. Everything about this book is fantastically woven into an all-night read. It's smashed full of drama and description. It even has some of that teenage sass that people tend to laugh at. I was surprised to feel Addy grow as the book progressed with each plot twist and turn. You can feel Addy figure herself out as the reader does. It was enchanting. A thrilling book! I'm looking forward to see what else E.G. Wilson comes up with in the future. I'll definitely be keeping an eye on her.
Thank you NetGalley and AmberJack Publishing for the e-book in exchange for an honest opinion.
Thank you NetGalley and AmberJack Publishing for the e-book in exchange for an honest opinion.
July 16, 2017
I can honestly say this book is one of the most unique I've read. It's a debut novel, and falls into a few traps debuts tend to. However, this world is unlike any other.
It's a quick read and I'm looking forward to finding out what happens in the second book!!
It's a quick read and I'm looking forward to finding out what happens in the second book!!
June 3, 2017
I have been friends with E.G. Wilson and have closely followed her writing endeavors for the past five years. Needless to say, I went into this book with great excitement and wasn't disappointed, although there are a few criticisms that I have although they might not be as major to some people as to me.
Voiceless is set in a futuristic New Zealand where a new disease called Vox Pox has begun to appear. This disease not only disables the ability of the infected to speak, but also steals away their entire creative ability. When Adelaide, a young writer, is infected with this disease by the seemingly heartless Maunga Richards, she learns how to live with it. That is until her brother Theo is also infected with the disease. It is then that Addy decides that she must find out why Maunga stole her voice and find a cure by entering a virtual psychoreality simulator.
During her time in the simulator, Addy finds herself face-to-face with different kinds of trials that bend the imagination and play with one's mind. Eventually, she finds what she is looking for but also realizes that not everything is as it seems.
I love Wilson's imagination. There are some things in this book that I would not have been able to conjure myself, especially all the scientific aspects-- I guess that is why she writes in sci-fi and I don't! However, I would have liked to see more of the simulator and experience some more of the dangers that it could present to the characters. In quite a few cases, I felt that there was a lack of true peril.
The characters were well-crafted in my opinion, my favorite being Seth whose story I will not speak of for the sake of keeping the surprise.
Despite there not being an entirely true climax, the ending to the story was exciting and will cause readers to want to read the sequel, Expression, as soon as it comes out.
Voiceless is set in a futuristic New Zealand where a new disease called Vox Pox has begun to appear. This disease not only disables the ability of the infected to speak, but also steals away their entire creative ability. When Adelaide, a young writer, is infected with this disease by the seemingly heartless Maunga Richards, she learns how to live with it. That is until her brother Theo is also infected with the disease. It is then that Addy decides that she must find out why Maunga stole her voice and find a cure by entering a virtual psychoreality simulator.
During her time in the simulator, Addy finds herself face-to-face with different kinds of trials that bend the imagination and play with one's mind. Eventually, she finds what she is looking for but also realizes that not everything is as it seems.
I love Wilson's imagination. There are some things in this book that I would not have been able to conjure myself, especially all the scientific aspects-- I guess that is why she writes in sci-fi and I don't! However, I would have liked to see more of the simulator and experience some more of the dangers that it could present to the characters. In quite a few cases, I felt that there was a lack of true peril.
The characters were well-crafted in my opinion, my favorite being Seth whose story I will not speak of for the sake of keeping the surprise.
Despite there not being an entirely true climax, the ending to the story was exciting and will cause readers to want to read the sequel, Expression, as soon as it comes out.
January 8, 2018
Goodreads Synopsis:
Adelaide Te Ngawai was thirteen when Maunga Richards stole her voice.
Addy is plunged into silence when a high school bully inflicts her with an incurable disease that leaves her unable to speak, write, or create. Vox Pox—a man-made malady that’s been terrorizing the city for months. Resilient, Addy fights to survive. To not be silenced. But then her brother, Theo, is infected as well.
Desperate for any information that might help cure Theo, Addy follows Maunga into a newly developed virtual psychoreality simulator and discovers a conspiracy deeper than she’d ever imagined. How far will she go to save her brother?
My Review:
I received a copy of Voiceless from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Vox Pox is a kind of illness that has been released into the new world, and is ruining lives. If you get it, you not only lose your voice, but also all your creative skills. You can't speak, type, or even write. Thirteen year old Addy has just been injected with it by a bully in her class. How did she do that? Why did she do it? You find all that and way more out in this book.
It follows Addy through years of her life being voiceless and lost but slowly growing stronger. She's able to overcome it. Though it's the future and the technology is much better, Vox Pox is relatively new and there isn't a way to cure it. Often people commit suicide after they get it because it's just so hard not being able to communicate with the world around you. Luckily, Addy's brother has a way with tech, and can pretty much build whatever he needs. He works on helping her transition into her new life without a voice. On top of that, a new kind of immersive virtual reality therapy has become available on the market that might be able to help her. Will she have the courage to speak out about what has been done to her, even though she has no voice? Does it go deeper than that? This book is exciting and completely unique to anything I've read lately. It stands out and really sucks you into the story. I couldn't wait to see what happened next.
Overall I really enjoyed reading this and found that the characters really developed throughout the story. I definitely want to check out the next book in the duology, especially after that ending! Definitely check out this book for yourself.
Here's a link to the book on Amazon.
https://www.amazon.ca/Voiceless-Duolo...
Thanks for reading! Check out this review and more at my blog.
(Radioactivebookreviews.wordpress.com)
Adelaide Te Ngawai was thirteen when Maunga Richards stole her voice.
Addy is plunged into silence when a high school bully inflicts her with an incurable disease that leaves her unable to speak, write, or create. Vox Pox—a man-made malady that’s been terrorizing the city for months. Resilient, Addy fights to survive. To not be silenced. But then her brother, Theo, is infected as well.
Desperate for any information that might help cure Theo, Addy follows Maunga into a newly developed virtual psychoreality simulator and discovers a conspiracy deeper than she’d ever imagined. How far will she go to save her brother?
My Review:
I received a copy of Voiceless from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Vox Pox is a kind of illness that has been released into the new world, and is ruining lives. If you get it, you not only lose your voice, but also all your creative skills. You can't speak, type, or even write. Thirteen year old Addy has just been injected with it by a bully in her class. How did she do that? Why did she do it? You find all that and way more out in this book.
It follows Addy through years of her life being voiceless and lost but slowly growing stronger. She's able to overcome it. Though it's the future and the technology is much better, Vox Pox is relatively new and there isn't a way to cure it. Often people commit suicide after they get it because it's just so hard not being able to communicate with the world around you. Luckily, Addy's brother has a way with tech, and can pretty much build whatever he needs. He works on helping her transition into her new life without a voice. On top of that, a new kind of immersive virtual reality therapy has become available on the market that might be able to help her. Will she have the courage to speak out about what has been done to her, even though she has no voice? Does it go deeper than that? This book is exciting and completely unique to anything I've read lately. It stands out and really sucks you into the story. I couldn't wait to see what happened next.
Overall I really enjoyed reading this and found that the characters really developed throughout the story. I definitely want to check out the next book in the duology, especially after that ending! Definitely check out this book for yourself.
Here's a link to the book on Amazon.
https://www.amazon.ca/Voiceless-Duolo...
Thanks for reading! Check out this review and more at my blog.
(Radioactivebookreviews.wordpress.com)
April 18, 2023
It was nice to have a book that is set in Timaru. There were a few good original ideas, but the thing I didn't particularly like was that it had virtual reality in it, because nearly every dystopian themed book I read has something to do with virtual reality in some way and it comes to a point where you think maybe people could be more original and think of better things...? Overall, it was still a good book. Excited for the prequel, which the author wrote in 6 weeks which is crazy.
Not to mention that that same author is from our very own Mountainview High School. WHOOP :)
Not to mention that that same author is from our very own Mountainview High School. WHOOP :)
October 14, 2017
Really enjoyed that this book was set locally, in Timaru and futuristically. Loved the psychological twists in it and the lack of gratuitous sex and bad language. Really enjoyed the integration of Maori characters and language. It is an interesting read that is easily achievable. It was received well by the class of Year 6 and 7 children to whom I read it.
February 9, 2018
I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Well, this book wasn’t worth the read.
First of all, keek. Keek (or keeking) is a ‘swear word’ that the author made up. And its really, really annoying. Trust me.
Another annoying is the way the author changed normal words to try and make them sound more futuristic. For example, medicine was called ‘medico’. You can probably imagine how lame that gets after a while.
Many of the characters in the book have weird names that I can’t even begin to pronounce. What is the point of that? Why couldn’t the author just give people normal names?
The world-building in this book was pretty much non-existent. There was no explaining what things where how things worked or anything. Everything just appeared and happened, no explanations.
There was this thing (or was it a person) In the book called, Breach. Sometimes it was referred to like it was a person and other times it was referred to as if it was a place. I still don’t know exactly what it was but I’m thinking place?
There were these weird random Interludes in the book. They were written in a manner that made it sound like there was some secret organization of voiceless people who were going to rise up and start killing all the talking people to get their revenge. There was nothing like that at all in the actual story. Not sure what those Interludes were.
The most interesting and enjoyable part of the whole book was reading about the Tube. It sounded fun, I’d want to try it.
The title of this book was misleading. Yes, the main characters loses her voice and can’t talk but for more than half the book she can talk because she’s in some VR computer thing trying to find the girl who stole her voice.
While the main character (Addy) in in the VR computer program thing, she spends about two chapters wandering this house that has weird stairs, long halls, gravity shifting rooms and things like that. Those whole two chapters are a waste of your time because in the grand scope of things, it meant nothing. After all that time in the weird house, it did nothing to further the plot, it was just filler.
Speaking of the plot, there wasn’t much to it until you get to the last few chapters in the book. This left me real confused during the first half of the book, wondering what the point was.
This book was not at all interesting or engrossing.
Well, this book wasn’t worth the read.
First of all, keek. Keek (or keeking) is a ‘swear word’ that the author made up. And its really, really annoying. Trust me.
Another annoying is the way the author changed normal words to try and make them sound more futuristic. For example, medicine was called ‘medico’. You can probably imagine how lame that gets after a while.
Many of the characters in the book have weird names that I can’t even begin to pronounce. What is the point of that? Why couldn’t the author just give people normal names?
The world-building in this book was pretty much non-existent. There was no explaining what things where how things worked or anything. Everything just appeared and happened, no explanations.
There was this thing (or was it a person) In the book called, Breach. Sometimes it was referred to like it was a person and other times it was referred to as if it was a place. I still don’t know exactly what it was but I’m thinking place?
There were these weird random Interludes in the book. They were written in a manner that made it sound like there was some secret organization of voiceless people who were going to rise up and start killing all the talking people to get their revenge. There was nothing like that at all in the actual story. Not sure what those Interludes were.
The most interesting and enjoyable part of the whole book was reading about the Tube. It sounded fun, I’d want to try it.
The title of this book was misleading. Yes, the main characters loses her voice and can’t talk but for more than half the book she can talk because she’s in some VR computer thing trying to find the girl who stole her voice.
While the main character (Addy) in in the VR computer program thing, she spends about two chapters wandering this house that has weird stairs, long halls, gravity shifting rooms and things like that. Those whole two chapters are a waste of your time because in the grand scope of things, it meant nothing. After all that time in the weird house, it did nothing to further the plot, it was just filler.
Speaking of the plot, there wasn’t much to it until you get to the last few chapters in the book. This left me real confused during the first half of the book, wondering what the point was.
This book was not at all interesting or engrossing.
September 23, 2017
I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
“They couldn’t talk, couldn’t scream, they couldn’t even weep out loud.But it was more than that. They lost their creative abilities."
Title: Voiceless (Book #1)
Author: E.G. Wilson
Recommended to fans of: Nexis by A.L. Davroe
Series: Voiceless Duology
Publisher: Atthis Arts, LLC
Format: ARC
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Rating: 2/5 (DNF)
[Synopsis] (Taken from goodreads)
Adelaide Te Ngawai was thirteen when Maunga Richards stole her voice.
Addy is plunged into silence when a high school bully inflicts her with an incurable disease that leaves her unable to speak, write, or create. Vox Pox—a man-made malady that’s been terrorizing the city for months. Resilient, Addy fights to survive. To not be silenced. But then her brother, Theo, is infected as well.
Desperate for any information that might help cure Theo, Addy follows Maunga into a newly developed virtual psychoreality simulator and discovers a conspiracy deeper than she’d ever imagined. How far will she go to save her brother?
(Thoughts)
(DISCLAIMER: This is my opinion only, may contain spoilers for the book, may contain coarse language)
The names had me doing tongue twisters, they are interesting but difficult to pronounce
Addy’s world came crashing down as she suddenly has Vox Pox and had lost her writing ability
Aww, Theo is so sweet, he customised a keypad for her
Addy tries for a programme that claims to be able to cure Vox Pox
I felt that the programme was too convenient for the story, the programme should have been mentioned first before she got the Vox Pox
It’s a nice and relatable concept, since many people DO feel that their voices aren’t being heard
Seth offers to help Addy
I felt that the world should have been established more
I stopped reading halfway of the book
The book’s excitement level eventually declined into a plateau
The concept was great, but by half of the book I was really bored as there was no new surprises, shift in character arc, development between characters and story
The concept gave me really high expectations for this book and personally, I felt that it fell flat
Have you read this book? What are your thoughts and opinions? Leave a comment down below! :)
“They couldn’t talk, couldn’t scream, they couldn’t even weep out loud.But it was more than that. They lost their creative abilities."
Title: Voiceless (Book #1)
Author: E.G. Wilson
Recommended to fans of: Nexis by A.L. Davroe
Series: Voiceless Duology
Publisher: Atthis Arts, LLC
Format: ARC
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Rating: 2/5 (DNF)
[Synopsis] (Taken from goodreads)
Adelaide Te Ngawai was thirteen when Maunga Richards stole her voice.
Addy is plunged into silence when a high school bully inflicts her with an incurable disease that leaves her unable to speak, write, or create. Vox Pox—a man-made malady that’s been terrorizing the city for months. Resilient, Addy fights to survive. To not be silenced. But then her brother, Theo, is infected as well.
Desperate for any information that might help cure Theo, Addy follows Maunga into a newly developed virtual psychoreality simulator and discovers a conspiracy deeper than she’d ever imagined. How far will she go to save her brother?
(Thoughts)
(DISCLAIMER: This is my opinion only, may contain spoilers for the book, may contain coarse language)
The names had me doing tongue twisters, they are interesting but difficult to pronounce
Addy’s world came crashing down as she suddenly has Vox Pox and had lost her writing ability
Aww, Theo is so sweet, he customised a keypad for her
Addy tries for a programme that claims to be able to cure Vox Pox
I felt that the programme was too convenient for the story, the programme should have been mentioned first before she got the Vox Pox
It’s a nice and relatable concept, since many people DO feel that their voices aren’t being heard
Seth offers to help Addy
I felt that the world should have been established more
I stopped reading halfway of the book
The book’s excitement level eventually declined into a plateau
The concept was great, but by half of the book I was really bored as there was no new surprises, shift in character arc, development between characters and story
The concept gave me really high expectations for this book and personally, I felt that it fell flat
Have you read this book? What are your thoughts and opinions? Leave a comment down below! :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 25, 2017
At 13, Addy is infected with VoxPox and loses both the voice and the ability to write, leaving her story telling abilities dead. Over the years, Addy learns how to adapt and survive to her new life. Addy makes some progress, managing to communicate through her holo. It’s an unfortunate, but liveable life. That is until her older brother gets VoxPox and Addy knows she needs to search for a cure.
Voiceless is set in a futuristic New Zealand. It’s filled with sibling bonds, corrupt companies, the dangerous future of technology. Addy is on a mission to save her brother, not herself. She’s selfless and understandable for anyone who has someone they care about.
Where Voiceless fails is in development. The plot itself is refreshing and intriguing, but also underdeveloped.
Addy is so determined to risk her life for her older brother, but their relationship is empty. There’s some moments of closeness, such as Theo’s birthday gift and Addy’s worry, but the strength is not developed enough. Maybe this is due to how quickly the plot moved in early chapters. Addy loses her voice immediately and from then on the story jumps three years in a matter of chapters. The setting—through minor characters and the futuristic setting—is empty. Because of this, I found the plot then slowed for a while.
As it picks up again, Maunga, Addy’s suspect for infecting her, becomes the highlight of the book. The complexities and backstory make Maunga the most developed character in the book. Even still, I wanted more. I wanted to understand her.
Overall, Voiceless has potential as the first in a series. I hope the questions and development will progress in the sequel.
Voiceless is set in a futuristic New Zealand. It’s filled with sibling bonds, corrupt companies, the dangerous future of technology. Addy is on a mission to save her brother, not herself. She’s selfless and understandable for anyone who has someone they care about.
Where Voiceless fails is in development. The plot itself is refreshing and intriguing, but also underdeveloped.
Addy is so determined to risk her life for her older brother, but their relationship is empty. There’s some moments of closeness, such as Theo’s birthday gift and Addy’s worry, but the strength is not developed enough. Maybe this is due to how quickly the plot moved in early chapters. Addy loses her voice immediately and from then on the story jumps three years in a matter of chapters. The setting—through minor characters and the futuristic setting—is empty. Because of this, I found the plot then slowed for a while.
As it picks up again, Maunga, Addy’s suspect for infecting her, becomes the highlight of the book. The complexities and backstory make Maunga the most developed character in the book. Even still, I wanted more. I wanted to understand her.
Overall, Voiceless has potential as the first in a series. I hope the questions and development will progress in the sequel.
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