Tokyo: Noriko's Story

The Change #6

by Guy Adams

Where Were You When The World Changed?

This is Noriko. See her run. See her run for her life.

She must stay ahead of the Electric Samurai. She must avoid becoming caught by the strings of the Puppeteers. She must survive the Ward of the Fire Ghosts. But most of all she must stay ahead of HA/HA.

HA/HA wants what’s best for you. HA/HA is your friend. HA/HA is your mother. Obey. Behave. And never, ever, run...

The final instalment in this 6 book novella series, aimed at the Young Adult market, and featuring protagonists trapped in a world irrevocably changed.

140 pages, Paperback

First published October 5, 2017

Reviews

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay well I have now completed the series - finally I have been able to see one through well that is a start sadly though at the end of the year.

Well I will admit that this book has certainly made up for the previous instalment - there is certainly a shock value in here (although there is also a rather obvious plot twist - but no worries no spoilers).

The book to me sets a new story in a new location - and I remain as adamant if not more now that the series is either going to be added to or is in fact part of larger series. I will not go in to too much detail but if you have follow the series so far you will know of the 6 books there are two sets of two books which share the same characters and have some subtle links to each other - while the other two are standalone.

Now the concept is a fun one because it pretty much means in this world anything goes but it does then suggest that the author (Guy Adams) has a few more stories to tell and I hope he does - as honestly at the ned of this book (and yes there is a proper end to it) does feel that you have a huge potential for more adventures.

So all I can say is that the Change had a strong ending and I for one hope that we return to it one day.

[Marjolein (UrlPhantomhive) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full review to come!

[Emilija · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the publishers, Rebellion Publishing, for providing an ARC of this book through NetGalley.

This was probably my favourite of the six The Change novellas. I loved Noriko, and I'm so happy that the series ended without an open-end. I feel like it gives an answer to the rest of the series, which I'm incredibly happy about. I also liked how this book was completely different to the other five books in this series, as London, Paris and New York (presumably America in its entirely) had fallen to chaos, whereas Tokyo had a ruler, and a system by which to live. I also really liked the narrator, and while we don't know who the narrator is, I thought that he was pretty good.

[Y.S. Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

NARRATION/VOICE
The style of narration in Noriko's Story isn't for everyone. Some prefer a book's narrator to keep his or her thoughts directed within the page. However, the narrator in Noriko's Story seems to reach outside of it to speak to the reader, telling us what to feel and what it is feeling. This is intriguing but risky.

ABOUT THE STORY
Noriko's Story is about... well, Noriko. The story setting is that of a dystopian Tokyo where a rogue AI, unsuitably called HA/HA, has taken over the city and running it as humanely as a psychotic AI can.

The spine of the story features Torino's quest to find her parents who had been missing since the beginning of HA/HA's coup. Through her eyes, we explore the harsh ways in which HA/HA manages Tokyo and the lives of the people living under its rule. Apart from HA/HA's efforts to capture humans who are outside of its rule (Toriko included), the book also shows us some of the feats of the rebels trying to survive and fight back. Surprisingly, there is also a sprinkle of disgruntled robots not happy with the HA/HA's style of ruling who are also rebelling the only way they know how. .

CONCLUSION
Noriko's Story is a blend of sci-fi and fantasy. There is also a bit of fighting, killing and such. The narrator's voice takes some time getting used to, but it is not boring by any means. For me as a reader, this book serves more as a starter rather than the main meal. Noriko's Story does more to set me up for what is to come rather than making a big deal of what is happening. A fairly interesting book.

Noriko's Story is published by Solaris. Many thanks to them for the review copy.

[Ross Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The (seemingly) final instalment in the Change series takes another turn and moves setting to the Japanese capital Tokyo. Where we have seen western cities pretty much out of control and descended into either Walking Dead style chaos or Mad Max style tribalism, we now have Tokyo. Everything is controlled by an AI called HA/HA. Noriko's story is told by a narrator, whose identity isn't revealed until late on and is a nice twist. She is on the run from the Electric Samurai, sentinel-like robots that police the city, just trying to get home. As with the rest of the series, she meets strange people along the way and sees unusual events.
Unlike with the previous books, this one has a satisfying ending. Sadly, it didn't close off the loose ends from the other books as I had hoped.

[Deama · Rating 4 out of 5]

This "last" installment in The Change (I say "last" because it just can't be okay!?) features a whole different character and a completely different narrative too, told as a story, to us the readers, about Noriko. Set in Japan, Tokyo, it follows Noriko as she sets out to find her parents. In a Tokyo now run by an AI HA/HA she comes across encounters with strange people and things and what she discovers will leave you feeling sympathy for this character.

This novella ultimately starts and ends with this character with no further cause for her, her journey being over. It was a quick, light and enjoyable read.

Received via Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Sarahkmartinuk · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book from Netgalley to review. Here is the blurb

"This is Noriko. See her run. See her run for her life. She must stay ahead of the Electric Samurai. She must avoid becoming caught by the strings of the Puppeteers. She must survive the Ward of the Fire Ghosts. But most of all she must stay ahead of HA/HA. HA/HA wants what’s best for you. HA/HA is your friend. HA/HA is your mother. Obey. Behave. And never, ever, run... "

Again this book was ok and it was the final in the series. I think this leaves too many unanswered questions for me. This series has so much more potential and I think it is a shame that so many story lines are left hanging...

[Wayne McCoy · Rating 3 out of 5]

'The Change: Tokyo - Noriko's Story' by Guy Adams is the sixth and final book in a very strange series of novellas.

In a world suddenly changed, it seems no major city is untouched. In Tokyo, a girl named Noriko is running from the Electric Samurai run by HA/HA and being controlling the city. Noriko navigates a strangely transformed city full of Fire Ghosts and Puppeteers.

The six books in the series are primarily linked by weird events happening. We never find out why or if things will go back to normal. The characters are not as memorable as the weird world transformation, but it's an ok series.

[Sue Wallace · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Change by guy Adams.
TokyoNoriko's Story
Where Were You When The World Changed?This is Noriko. See her run. See her run for her life.
A good read with good characters. I do like this series. 3*.

[Rebekah Crain · Rating 4 out of 5]

After how disappointed I was with book five, I was extremely hesitant going into this installment. I’m happy to report though that I worried in vain. Book six, The Change: Tokyo proved to be a fast paced story that kept me intrigued. The setting and characters were quirky and fresh, while the action held true to that of the original books. A thoroughly enjoyable, short read!

Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this review opportunity.