City-State Dark

by Carlos .

Revolution is in the air. The City-State of Manhattan has been transformed by an environmental event, the Dry. This game changer has enabled the New World Order. Led by a Doge who is both a political and spiritual figure head, his puppet masters manipulate the masses using what has become the biggest commodity known to man, water. CITY-STATE DARK is an allegorical cautionary tale.

Genres: Fiction

338 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 11, 2017

Reviews

[PamG · Rating 1 out of 5]

I won the kindle edition of this novel in a Goodreads Giveaway.

In the City-State of Manhattan, water is the commodity of the day after a man-caused environmental event called The Dry. The City-State has a doge who is both the spiritual and political leader. The novel does cover a lot of ground from corrupt governments, political shenanigans, environmental stresses, medical experimentation, murder, manipulation of a large number of people, rebellion against oppression, male dominance in a new "city-state order" and personal relationships.

I have read other dystopian novels and enjoyed them. However, I felt disconnected to this novel all of the way through. It was originally written for a tv show and that is how it felt reading it. There was a narrator sitting beside me telling me what I was seeing while I occasionally heard conversations. I just could not enjoy it. Additionally, the characters seemed somewhat flat with very little growth or depth. There were a few editing errors as well. I wanted to like it, but unfortunately, this novel was not for me.

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Carlos captures the dark atmosphere of a dystopian society in his novel City-State Dark, but fails to capture the reader’s attention in his scifi novel that reads more like a television screenplay than prose. The author admits in the afterward, the book was intended as a television series, which makes for an often difficult read. The book borrows themes from movies like the post-apocalyptic Waterworld with water being the new premium in what was once Manhattan. Under the rule of neither “king nor pope” but rather the “Doge”, the people are tortured with lack of water and an oppressive and tyrannical ruler. A character named Cortez, along with his band of rebels, appears to be the hero, but at times it is difficult to follow his motivation or that of the many characters who come and go throughout the lengthy book. The concept is interesting, but requires some fleshing out before it is market ready.

[Glen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I won this book in a goodreads drawing.

Flat tale about Manhattan after a climate event that leaves the island without water. A Doge takes over. I never understood why anyone in America would choose to call themselves a doge.

[Aubry · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm torn on how to rate this novel. I found the story unique and interesting, but it was difficult to read at times. The author admits at the end that this was intended to be written for television, which may be a better choice for this story. This could have been an excellent novel, but it seemed that there was some inconsistency of how the story was being told throughout (oftentimes "we" were looking at something or entering a scene and I was confused as to why I was being pointed out), there were several editing mistakes ("risk adverse" rather than "risk averse" for example), and the deaths within the story came suddenly. I found myself having to re-read pages to make sense of how a person died. They were there one minute, then I found myself going "Wait? What? So-and-so died? Ok..."

I wanted to like the novel more than I did, and it seems like it could benefit from a second edition changing a few things up. Overall, it wasn't a bad read, just a difficult one. I would absolutely watch it if it were turned into a TV show, though.

[Reading For Funs · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received City-State Dark through a Goodreads Giveaway.

The afterword mentioned that City-State Dark was originally written as a television show. The idea behind the story is great, and the writing is rather good but the problem arises from the screenplay style. The constant "we move, we enter, we see" is infuriating when reading, and only served to ruin the book. If City-State Dark was not produced as a television show, then the screenplay should have been fully converted into a novel rather than in this current state. It fails to live up to any potential it could have had as a dystopian thriller, instead, it comes off as bland and deeply confusing.

I really wanted to love City-State Dark because this genre has always fascinated me, but I just couldn't get over the screenplay style. It made for an agonizing read, which is unfortunate considering the vast potential both the author and the story have. City-State Dark would be great for anyone who loves screenplays, but other readers might not be so thrilled.

[Bmquiram · Rating 2 out of 5]

City State Dark by Carlos
2 out of 5 stars

This story is about a dystopian society where leaders of different factions attempt to control the masses through the distribution of water. Everything is dry and water has become rare resulting in a desert like environment.

The story is hard to follow. It doesn’t seem like you are following the point of view of a particular person but instead, it starts off that you are following a train full of an unknown substance. Later you discover that it is water. There could have been drama as the train travels or suspense of where the train is going, but it was straightforward and bland.

The idea of the story was way more interesting than the store ended up being. The book had great potential, but it fell short.

[Sharon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Storyline was a bit challenging to read as a novel. The author's original intent as a TV series may have indeed been a better fit.



Thank you to Goodreads and the book's sponsor for the opportunity to obtain a copy of this book.

[Marissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Goodreads Kindle Copy Win

A dystopian read that was rather dysfunctional at times. It jumped too much which left the read not quite sure where things were headed. Overall plot was lacking and it did not quite flow. Ha some promise but was just so-so.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would love to see this as a movie

I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway. I loved the book. In the end the author stated he originally started writing this as a movie. I would love to see it.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Uniquely different storyline which kept my interest throughout

[Joan Mitchell · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a book that was in my genres.

[Kelly Knapp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very dark and uncomfortable, making the reader think of tube possibilities.

[Lavender]

Placeholder

I won this book via Goodreads Giveaways.

[Aurora · Rating 1 out of 5]

this is a book i won as part of a Goodreads giveaway and the following is my honest review. i am actually starting a DNF shelf and this book is going there.
this would have been a better book for me if one of the characters told this story. I felt interrupted by the narrator in the story the same way you feel interrupted when someone comes up to you and says, good book? what kind of book is it?
I don't even want to know how this book progresses or turns out because the tale started out without emotion.

[Candra Hodge · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't normally like stories that have so many characters/ switch POV so frequently but this book really was enhanced by doing such writing techniques. I really liked the storyline and the twists/ turns included in it.

I got this book in a goodreads giveaway.

[Clipinchick]

I received this book for free from the author/publisher in response for an honest review of the book. I have not had the opportunity to read this book at this time. I will add my
review of this book once I have read the book. Thank k you for allowing me the optometrist review your work. I look forward to reading this book.