What do you think?
Rate this book
Survival
Ignorance is cheap. And then it costs you everything.
The world has suffered economic collapse and multiple environmental crises. In a flooded city, Ava Murasaki is searching for her activist sister Sophia. Meanwhile, Valerie Newlin lives in the secure complex of the Scylla Corporation, the world's only remaining multinational. There, she finds evidence of something horrifying in the Corporation medical research data. Set in a searingly real near-future, Survival is a story of what people will face for those they love.
A devastating vision of a post-climate change world in which governments have collapsed and corporations rule with an iron fist.
Survival is accompanied by four of Watts' previously published dystopian and post-apocalyptic stories.
The world has suffered economic collapse and multiple environmental crises. In a flooded city, Ava Murasaki is searching for her activist sister Sophia. Meanwhile, Valerie Newlin lives in the secure complex of the Scylla Corporation, the world's only remaining multinational. There, she finds evidence of something horrifying in the Corporation medical research data. Set in a searingly real near-future, Survival is a story of what people will face for those they love.
A devastating vision of a post-climate change world in which governments have collapsed and corporations rule with an iron fist.
Survival is accompanied by four of Watts' previously published dystopian and post-apocalyptic stories.
- GenresScience FictionDystopia
216 pages, Paperback
First published March 14, 2018
3 people are currently reading
20 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Watts
9 books21 followersRachel Watts is a writer of literary fiction and scary futuristic tales.
Her young adult novella Survival will be released in early 2018.
Her young adult novella Survival will be released in early 2018.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
December 29, 2018
Cover:
I really love this cover! It is as if something exploded and yeah it really suits the story. Want to know why? Read the book!!!
Synopsis:
Ignorance is cheap. And then it costs you everything.
The world has suffered economic collapse and multiple environmental crises. In a flooded city, Ava Murasaki is searching for her activist sister Sophia. Meanwhile, Valerie Newlin lives in the secure complex of the Scylla Corporation, the world's only remaining multinational. There, she finds evidence of something horrifying in the Corporation medical research data. Set in a searingly real near-future, Survival is a story of what people will face for those they love.
A devastating vision of a post-climate change world in which governments have collapsed and corporations rule with an iron fist.
Writing:
The writing was very simplistic. It didn't really have difficult words. I had no problem with imagining how it would look like if I were a character myself in the book.
Characters:
I couldn't connect to the characters at all... They were ok. I didn't really care what happened to them or would happen to them.
Plot:
I thought that the plot was interesting. I was annoyed at some times, because they did some stupid things, but that is quite normal xD. Overall I had fun reading this book and I really loved the setting of it! It really adds to the story it tells!
So in short: Survival is a quick read. It isn't the best book in the world and it won't stay with you for a long long time, but it was still a fun book to read. I did however think that the book could give us a lot more information
I really love this cover! It is as if something exploded and yeah it really suits the story. Want to know why? Read the book!!!
Synopsis:
Ignorance is cheap. And then it costs you everything.
The world has suffered economic collapse and multiple environmental crises. In a flooded city, Ava Murasaki is searching for her activist sister Sophia. Meanwhile, Valerie Newlin lives in the secure complex of the Scylla Corporation, the world's only remaining multinational. There, she finds evidence of something horrifying in the Corporation medical research data. Set in a searingly real near-future, Survival is a story of what people will face for those they love.
A devastating vision of a post-climate change world in which governments have collapsed and corporations rule with an iron fist.
Writing:
The writing was very simplistic. It didn't really have difficult words. I had no problem with imagining how it would look like if I were a character myself in the book.
Characters:
I couldn't connect to the characters at all... They were ok. I didn't really care what happened to them or would happen to them.
Plot:
I thought that the plot was interesting. I was annoyed at some times, because they did some stupid things, but that is quite normal xD. Overall I had fun reading this book and I really loved the setting of it! It really adds to the story it tells!
So in short: Survival is a quick read. It isn't the best book in the world and it won't stay with you for a long long time, but it was still a fun book to read. I did however think that the book could give us a lot more information
September 24, 2018
Note: I received a copy of this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest opinion.
"Surviving doesn't mean becoming monsters."
Rachel Watts has a knack for dystopian writing. I am not generally a fan of these kind of books because I have a harder time connecting to the characters and situations, but Watt's writing is done so well that I found myself not only intrigued by the story, but also enjoying it. Her short stories at the end are just as appealing.
This is a very fast paced novella that takes you to a very frightening futuristic setting. I like that the story focused around two girls instead of merely one, and that their stories came together to connect them and their fight against the Corporation. Survival is truly the perfect name for this book (and I'm kind of in love with the cover, so there's that).
An issue that I always find I have with novellas is the lack of time. Novellas by definition are much shorter than novels, and therefore I never feel like the author has quite enough time to introduce readers to what is going on, and there seems to be even less time to create reasonable character development. Most often in novellas the characters have just seemingly changed between two pages, one moment being something and the next being something entirely different. The character issues here weren't too hard to look past because there was so much going on that it probably wouldn't have even made sense to slow down and analyze the changes in the characters like Valeria or Ava. The changes just happen and you do notice them but it's kind of a passing thought with everything else going on in the book. However, I do wish there would have been more of an introduction into what exactly was going on. Of course the author has to keep an air of mystery in the beginning because readers can't yet know exactly what is happening in the Corporation, but a little more background in the beginning about how the city came to be what it was would've been a good addition. That's really my only issue with this story.
With all of this being said though, I really liked the book. I hope that the author intends for this to become a series, because I think that keeping the story going could help with the two issues I just mentioned about character development and background information. Another book (or two) will really help the reader build the world in their mind. I also think that this book creates an atmosphere that readers will want to remain in until the heroes of the story prevail.
"Surviving doesn't mean becoming monsters."
Rachel Watts has a knack for dystopian writing. I am not generally a fan of these kind of books because I have a harder time connecting to the characters and situations, but Watt's writing is done so well that I found myself not only intrigued by the story, but also enjoying it. Her short stories at the end are just as appealing.
This is a very fast paced novella that takes you to a very frightening futuristic setting. I like that the story focused around two girls instead of merely one, and that their stories came together to connect them and their fight against the Corporation. Survival is truly the perfect name for this book (and I'm kind of in love with the cover, so there's that).
An issue that I always find I have with novellas is the lack of time. Novellas by definition are much shorter than novels, and therefore I never feel like the author has quite enough time to introduce readers to what is going on, and there seems to be even less time to create reasonable character development. Most often in novellas the characters have just seemingly changed between two pages, one moment being something and the next being something entirely different. The character issues here weren't too hard to look past because there was so much going on that it probably wouldn't have even made sense to slow down and analyze the changes in the characters like Valeria or Ava. The changes just happen and you do notice them but it's kind of a passing thought with everything else going on in the book. However, I do wish there would have been more of an introduction into what exactly was going on. Of course the author has to keep an air of mystery in the beginning because readers can't yet know exactly what is happening in the Corporation, but a little more background in the beginning about how the city came to be what it was would've been a good addition. That's really my only issue with this story.
With all of this being said though, I really liked the book. I hope that the author intends for this to become a series, because I think that keeping the story going could help with the two issues I just mentioned about character development and background information. Another book (or two) will really help the reader build the world in their mind. I also think that this book creates an atmosphere that readers will want to remain in until the heroes of the story prevail.
March 25, 2018
Ignorance is cheap. And then it costs you everything.
Summary
Survival takes place in a post apocalyptic future, in a world destroyed by the rising sea levels. The goverment has fallen and now Scylla Corporations is in control.
Ava is looking for her sister who disappeared a year ago. Valerie finds proof of horrifying things done by Scylla and she escapes with the evidence. An unlikely frienship is formed. Is it possible for two girls to stand a chance against an omnipresent corporation?
Writing
The writing style is pretty simple, but effective. I had no problems with visualising what I was reading.
Characters
I couldn't connect with any of the characters. I didn't like or dislike them. I didn't really care what happened to them. They lacked depth and it made me feel disconnected from the story.
Plot
The plot is interesting and action packed. There were a few moments where I was rolling my eyes, because after all they were fighting against a powerful, oppresive corporation and it didn't really feel like it. But I was having a lot of fun. And the unique setting - a city half-submerged under water - added a lot to the story.
Overall
This is a really fun, quick read. It's definitely not a book that will stay with you for a long while, but it's fun nonetheless. My biggest complain is that we don't really know why the world looks this way. It was never explained. The setting is so interesting that I feel like the book suffered a lot because of the lack of information.
I recieved a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
February 27, 2018
3.5 stars
*free eBook for review*
"Ignorance is cheap, Ava. Then it costs you everything."
I'm not much of a sci-fi/futuristic reader (I have nothing against the genre, I just tend to gravitate less towards those books), but I enjoyed this novella and I hope there's a second instalment—I want to know what happens to Ava and Valerie next! Their friendship (and female badassery in general) was an awesome component of the story—I'm a total sucker for a) strong women in fiction and b) women supporting women in fiction.
I really liked the pacing of the book—when a character is on the run, the pace quickens... when a character is injected with a mysterious drug and their world starts to blur and slow down, the pace slows downs—and this is a credit to the author's writing.
The short stories at the end of the novella were a great addition and felt like a continuation of the story—is this what the world is like following the happenings of the final scene? Who knows...one can only imagine...the possibilities are endless...
However, I do think the novella could have used an extra edit/tidy up to help with reading flow.
Survival 2?
*free eBook for review*
"Ignorance is cheap, Ava. Then it costs you everything."
I'm not much of a sci-fi/futuristic reader (I have nothing against the genre, I just tend to gravitate less towards those books), but I enjoyed this novella and I hope there's a second instalment—I want to know what happens to Ava and Valerie next! Their friendship (and female badassery in general) was an awesome component of the story—I'm a total sucker for a) strong women in fiction and b) women supporting women in fiction.
I really liked the pacing of the book—when a character is on the run, the pace quickens... when a character is injected with a mysterious drug and their world starts to blur and slow down, the pace slows downs—and this is a credit to the author's writing.
The short stories at the end of the novella were a great addition and felt like a continuation of the story—is this what the world is like following the happenings of the final scene? Who knows...one can only imagine...the possibilities are endless...
However, I do think the novella could have used an extra edit/tidy up to help with reading flow.
Survival 2?
Read
August 24, 2019This review was first published on the Underground Writers website: http://underground-writers.org/review...
This fast-paced novella from Rachel Watts is a quick and easy read for those of you with a bite for dystopian fiction. In the not-too-distant future, Earth has suffered environmental disaster and the world’s only remaining multi-national, the Scylla Corporation, holds the reigns to humanity’s survival. Valerie, who has lived her entire life inside the Scylla secure complex where food is plentiful and disease is carefully kept at bay, discovers a terrible secret about how the Corporation is maintaining its control and sets about trying to reveal the truth. Escaping from the complex with highly sensitive information, Valerie meets Ava, a tough-skinned resident of the flooded city outside the complex who is grieving for her recently disappeared sister Sophia. Together they must find a way to disseminate the information and rally the people to bring down Scylla.
Although the city remains unnamed throughout, it was easily my favourite part of this story. The descriptions of the flooded city with its makeshift markets that constantly move as the water rises and falls, the cramped conditions and entire families room-sharing, and the way the people drop their coins into vinegar to avoid disease all feel so eerily realistic. Watts has created a world in which everyone has lost everything and yet still live as if they have everything left to lose.
Of course, the problem with the novella format is that with a plot this jam-packed something had to give and in this case, it was the opportunity to spend that extra time delving into the post-apocalyptic world and its inhabitants. While we learn bits and pieces from Ava and Valerie along the way, their own histories remain largely hidden with only vague hints at the lives they’ve led so far. In this way, it’s difficult to connect with them on a fully emotional level, and some scenes that should have really tugged at the heart-strings failed to hit their mark as a result. However, if you’ve always struggled with science-fiction or fantasy due to the long-winded nature of the prose, then this might be right up your alley.
Fast-paced and easy to read, the political intrigue keeps the story moving forward as you are constantly left asking: who is friend and who is foe? The repetition of the line ‘ignorance is cheap; then it costs you everything’ paired with the environmental disaster that has caused this dystopian future continuously reminds the reader to question how much longer we can afford to remain blissfully ignorant of the world’s corporations’ activities. Utilising simple prose, the message of this story is clear and compelling. In the words of Ava’s sister, Sophia, ‘…it is my responsibility. And it’s yours. We live in it.’
This fast-paced novella from Rachel Watts is a quick and easy read for those of you with a bite for dystopian fiction. In the not-too-distant future, Earth has suffered environmental disaster and the world’s only remaining multi-national, the Scylla Corporation, holds the reigns to humanity’s survival. Valerie, who has lived her entire life inside the Scylla secure complex where food is plentiful and disease is carefully kept at bay, discovers a terrible secret about how the Corporation is maintaining its control and sets about trying to reveal the truth. Escaping from the complex with highly sensitive information, Valerie meets Ava, a tough-skinned resident of the flooded city outside the complex who is grieving for her recently disappeared sister Sophia. Together they must find a way to disseminate the information and rally the people to bring down Scylla.
Although the city remains unnamed throughout, it was easily my favourite part of this story. The descriptions of the flooded city with its makeshift markets that constantly move as the water rises and falls, the cramped conditions and entire families room-sharing, and the way the people drop their coins into vinegar to avoid disease all feel so eerily realistic. Watts has created a world in which everyone has lost everything and yet still live as if they have everything left to lose.
Of course, the problem with the novella format is that with a plot this jam-packed something had to give and in this case, it was the opportunity to spend that extra time delving into the post-apocalyptic world and its inhabitants. While we learn bits and pieces from Ava and Valerie along the way, their own histories remain largely hidden with only vague hints at the lives they’ve led so far. In this way, it’s difficult to connect with them on a fully emotional level, and some scenes that should have really tugged at the heart-strings failed to hit their mark as a result. However, if you’ve always struggled with science-fiction or fantasy due to the long-winded nature of the prose, then this might be right up your alley.
Fast-paced and easy to read, the political intrigue keeps the story moving forward as you are constantly left asking: who is friend and who is foe? The repetition of the line ‘ignorance is cheap; then it costs you everything’ paired with the environmental disaster that has caused this dystopian future continuously reminds the reader to question how much longer we can afford to remain blissfully ignorant of the world’s corporations’ activities. Utilising simple prose, the message of this story is clear and compelling. In the words of Ava’s sister, Sophia, ‘…it is my responsibility. And it’s yours. We live in it.’
July 12, 2019
This book was entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought:
Title: Survival
Author: Rachel Watts
Star Rating: 4.5 Stars
Number of Readers: 16
Stats
Editing: 8/10
Writing Style: 8/10
Content: 8/10
Cover: 10/10
Of the 16 readers:
13 would read another book by this author.
16 thought the cover was good or excellent.
16 felt it was easy to follow.
13 would recommend this story to another reader to try.
10 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
6 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
16 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
13 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
‘This is a cool dystopian novel. There’s so much going on from the first page. I think the author is best at building tension.’ Male reader, aged 15
‘The future world is interesting and all the climate change and flooding elements seem to be well thought out. I liked the Ava character best. I thought the characters were a bit shallow in the story and did not develop too much. But I liked the plot, and the author’s amazing at describing the dark setting.’ Female reader, aged 16
‘I liked all the twists in the story. I think dystopian novels are the best ever. I’m a fan of The Hunger Games. In this story, the characters are not as strong as, say, Everdeen, but I did root for them. I would happily read another in the set.’ Boy, aged 16
‘Well-written, entertaining and fast-paced.’ Editor, aged 42
‘I read this all in a few days. Every exciting and the author kept me guessing until the very end. She’s very talented.’ Boy reader, aged 14
To Sum It Up:
‘A fast-paced, highly imaginative dystopian novel. A FINALIST and highly recommended.’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
Title: Survival
Author: Rachel Watts
Star Rating: 4.5 Stars
Number of Readers: 16
Stats
Editing: 8/10
Writing Style: 8/10
Content: 8/10
Cover: 10/10
Of the 16 readers:
13 would read another book by this author.
16 thought the cover was good or excellent.
16 felt it was easy to follow.
13 would recommend this story to another reader to try.
10 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
6 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
16 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
13 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
‘This is a cool dystopian novel. There’s so much going on from the first page. I think the author is best at building tension.’ Male reader, aged 15
‘The future world is interesting and all the climate change and flooding elements seem to be well thought out. I liked the Ava character best. I thought the characters were a bit shallow in the story and did not develop too much. But I liked the plot, and the author’s amazing at describing the dark setting.’ Female reader, aged 16
‘I liked all the twists in the story. I think dystopian novels are the best ever. I’m a fan of The Hunger Games. In this story, the characters are not as strong as, say, Everdeen, but I did root for them. I would happily read another in the set.’ Boy, aged 16
‘Well-written, entertaining and fast-paced.’ Editor, aged 42
‘I read this all in a few days. Every exciting and the author kept me guessing until the very end. She’s very talented.’ Boy reader, aged 14
To Sum It Up:
‘A fast-paced, highly imaginative dystopian novel. A FINALIST and highly recommended.’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
April 13, 2018
Two women discover that the search for the truth can be dangerous in ways that they could never imagine. Ava has been looking for her missing sister, while Valerie is on a mission to stop the injustices that her company has been unleashing on the unsuspected.
This science fiction/dystopian novel has some good elements, in regards to the plot, but the characters are not developed enough for readers to get a clear sense as to their identities. The bleak world is well described, as readers will be able to imagine the region and its desolation. The author does a good job drawing the characters together for a common goal, but really does not convince the reader that the events could have unfolded in the manner for which they did. It just did not seem in Ava's nature, especially, to enter into a highly dangerous situation so willingly. Valerie has some good qualities, but some of the choices she makes do not seem in keeping with her characterization. In an effort to keep the plot moving forward, the author loses sight of the characters to a large extent. The story has good bones, but could be made better with a more fleshed out plot and more character development. Survival is a fast read, so it is one that readers who like science fiction/dystopian can complete at a day at the beach.
I voluntarily read and reviewed this book, being under no obligation to give my opinion.
This science fiction/dystopian novel has some good elements, in regards to the plot, but the characters are not developed enough for readers to get a clear sense as to their identities. The bleak world is well described, as readers will be able to imagine the region and its desolation. The author does a good job drawing the characters together for a common goal, but really does not convince the reader that the events could have unfolded in the manner for which they did. It just did not seem in Ava's nature, especially, to enter into a highly dangerous situation so willingly. Valerie has some good qualities, but some of the choices she makes do not seem in keeping with her characterization. In an effort to keep the plot moving forward, the author loses sight of the characters to a large extent. The story has good bones, but could be made better with a more fleshed out plot and more character development. Survival is a fast read, so it is one that readers who like science fiction/dystopian can complete at a day at the beach.
I voluntarily read and reviewed this book, being under no obligation to give my opinion.
June 30, 2021
Rachel donated this book to the Authors for Fireys campaign on twitter in January 2020. I won the auction for the book, donated the money to a bushfire relief charity, and Rachel sent me her book. She also sent me a lovely letter as it was sent the day Canberra had ceased to be on fire but was pummeled by a freak hailstorm which destroyed a path through the center of the city. So, wonderful person.
Problem with someone so very lovely, it does make me hesitant to read their book. But I do wish I read this sooner.
This story is a great spin on a gritty dystopian future in a "post climate change comes home to roost" world, with the first few floors of buildings in their city under water. It's a great spin on the all encompassing corporation that is beyond scrutiny and controls most of the world shtick. The characters balance on the cusp of trope, but also have personality and story to make them different.
It's dark though. It's rather dark. And for me that is okay, but if you want the world to be wrapped up in a bow and fine at the end, this is not the book for you.
And that doubly goes for the short stories at the end of this edition. I want to know more about them all, but they are all dark. Absolutely intriguing, but dark. But to me that's a solid spoon of realism in the futurism she is imagining. We keep going as we are, and it's a dark place we will land. Here's hoping stories like this help us realise it soon so we can divert.
Problem with someone so very lovely, it does make me hesitant to read their book. But I do wish I read this sooner.
This story is a great spin on a gritty dystopian future in a "post climate change comes home to roost" world, with the first few floors of buildings in their city under water. It's a great spin on the all encompassing corporation that is beyond scrutiny and controls most of the world shtick. The characters balance on the cusp of trope, but also have personality and story to make them different.
It's dark though. It's rather dark. And for me that is okay, but if you want the world to be wrapped up in a bow and fine at the end, this is not the book for you.
And that doubly goes for the short stories at the end of this edition. I want to know more about them all, but they are all dark. Absolutely intriguing, but dark. But to me that's a solid spoon of realism in the futurism she is imagining. We keep going as we are, and it's a dark place we will land. Here's hoping stories like this help us realise it soon so we can divert.
April 13, 2018
I wouldn't want to live in the future depicted in this book! It's scary, and quite nerve-wracking.
Two young women meet in a flooded wasteland in which life is a hard thing to get through. Constant scavenging for food and looking for safe places to sleep, this world is doomed. Valerie lives in the secure section that government runs, since she is on staff. When she comes across some suspicious testing and lab results that her father has documented on his computer, she decides there are some
worrisome things going on. Knowing most of the world outside of her secure place is dangerous, but unaware of secret testing that affects all of them, she travels a distance to get the word out.
Ava works at a bar in the rough area of town and has been trying to find her sister who disappeared. When a strange woman shows up in her work place, who obviously doesn't belong, Ava decides to help her because maybe she knows what happened to her sister, Sophie. It's a vivid story, with some
twists that are surprising, but worth the time to read. I recommend this book.
Two young women meet in a flooded wasteland in which life is a hard thing to get through. Constant scavenging for food and looking for safe places to sleep, this world is doomed. Valerie lives in the secure section that government runs, since she is on staff. When she comes across some suspicious testing and lab results that her father has documented on his computer, she decides there are some
worrisome things going on. Knowing most of the world outside of her secure place is dangerous, but unaware of secret testing that affects all of them, she travels a distance to get the word out.
Ava works at a bar in the rough area of town and has been trying to find her sister who disappeared. When a strange woman shows up in her work place, who obviously doesn't belong, Ava decides to help her because maybe she knows what happened to her sister, Sophie. It's a vivid story, with some
twists that are surprising, but worth the time to read. I recommend this book.
April 4, 2018
A fast-paced dystopian novel where the world has been inundated with floods - everyone living above sea level or in makeshift boats to get by.
A kickass female friendship blossoms between rogue Ava and Valerie, who works for Scylla (the evil corporation trying to control everyone). Not gonna lie but I definitely see something more between these two ;)
I say this book is fast-paced because everything happens so quickly! I need more back story to these characters! I want to see more of their journey!
All in all, a quick read filled with all your classic dystopian traits.
also SPOILER (kind of)
A kickass female friendship blossoms between rogue Ava and Valerie, who works for Scylla (the evil corporation trying to control everyone). Not gonna lie but I definitely see something more between these two ;)
I say this book is fast-paced because everything happens so quickly! I need more back story to these characters! I want to see more of their journey!
All in all, a quick read filled with all your classic dystopian traits.
also SPOILER (kind of)
"People are resourceful, people are survivors."
April 1, 2018
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This post apocalyptic book starts out well; rising sea levels have destroyed much of the Earth's cities, leaving big corporations and government in charge. Survival means a changing way of life for Ava, looking for her sister Sophia, and Valerie Newlin, working for one of those corporations, discovers more than she had ever imagined. Well written and well-paced.
This post apocalyptic book starts out well; rising sea levels have destroyed much of the Earth's cities, leaving big corporations and government in charge. Survival means a changing way of life for Ava, looking for her sister Sophia, and Valerie Newlin, working for one of those corporations, discovers more than she had ever imagined. Well written and well-paced.
June 15, 2018
I quite enjoyed reading this dystopia/sci-fi novel. I loved the dystopian world the book was set in. It is a world post a flood after a dam got broken.
From start to end this book is full of suspense. It urges you to keep on turning the pages.
I feel that there would be a sequel even though the book is not a part of any series, because it ended in a cliffhanger.
I am eagerly waiting for the part 2...... because I am really desperate to know what would to happen next.
From start to end this book is full of suspense. It urges you to keep on turning the pages.
I feel that there would be a sequel even though the book is not a part of any series, because it ended in a cliffhanger.
I am eagerly waiting for the part 2...... because I am really desperate to know what would to happen next.
October 24, 2018
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my review.
This whole world was unique and riveting and dangerous. I found the characters interesting and the plot kept me hanging on. Some of the way it turned out made me angry in a way, as if it could have gone in a different direction. Overall, I enjoyed it.
This whole world was unique and riveting and dangerous. I found the characters interesting and the plot kept me hanging on. Some of the way it turned out made me angry in a way, as if it could have gone in a different direction. Overall, I enjoyed it.
April 10, 2018
I had a tough time connecting with the characters. Did not finish!
February 25, 2018
Rachel Watt’s debut novel has as its setting a near apocalyptic future Earth where climate change and rising sea levels have wreaked havoc. It’s not quite annihilation of the human race status but events in the decades leading up to the novel’s setting have certainly been on an unprecedented scale. The author has certainly done her research and gives a believable world-scape for readers to immerse themselves in. One example is the reference to Japan’s inundation – a scenario not unlikely given recent reports of this country’s flood-prevention technology coming close to overload.
Enter the two protagonists; Valerie works in the Scylla labs for the corporation and discovers an unspeakable secret about experiments carried out on unfortunates extracted from the general populace. Ava works at a bar in the Bosch. Her sister, Sophia has disappeared. She comes to suspect that Scylla have abducted her for their experiments. All her enquiries reach dead ends or dire warnings about her investigating further.
These two meet up when the unlikely pair are thrown together after the Scylla pay a visit to the bar where Ava works, looking for Valerie. Valerie escapes detection but it soon becomes clear they must both cover their tracks while trying to get to the bottom of their respective mysteries.
As they try to evade the eyes of Scylla’s almost omnipresent personnel, we are given a glimpse of the world in which they live. A local economy of noodle bars and squid fisheries supports the upper social classes while the poor try to eke out a living. The rich, meanwhile. ensconce themselves in their enclaves. This is a truly divided society.
The tale moves on to Ava and Valerie’s infiltration of the Scylla complex and their exposure of the Corporation’s experiments and machinations. To describe any more of the plot is to give away spoilers so I’ll leave it at that.
The author has created an immersive and absorbing world in which to place her characters, and this to me was the strength of the story. The plot itself is a bit Star-Wars like. There’s an evil empire/oppressive government and a woman who escapes with important data. There’s a resistance/activist movement too. But no death star. That said, there’s enough here to separate Ava and Valerie’s story from that of Skywalker and Leia Organa. Occasionally the motivations and decisions the characters make seem a little contrived but, to counter this there are enough surprises to keep the reader on their toes.
At first I found Ava and Valerie hard to differentiate between in terms of their character, but as the story developed they took on their own personas and had me rooting for them as the closing chapter came.
This first offering shows great promise and I’m sure we’ll be hearing a lot more from Rachel Watts in the future.
Enter the two protagonists; Valerie works in the Scylla labs for the corporation and discovers an unspeakable secret about experiments carried out on unfortunates extracted from the general populace. Ava works at a bar in the Bosch. Her sister, Sophia has disappeared. She comes to suspect that Scylla have abducted her for their experiments. All her enquiries reach dead ends or dire warnings about her investigating further.
These two meet up when the unlikely pair are thrown together after the Scylla pay a visit to the bar where Ava works, looking for Valerie. Valerie escapes detection but it soon becomes clear they must both cover their tracks while trying to get to the bottom of their respective mysteries.
As they try to evade the eyes of Scylla’s almost omnipresent personnel, we are given a glimpse of the world in which they live. A local economy of noodle bars and squid fisheries supports the upper social classes while the poor try to eke out a living. The rich, meanwhile. ensconce themselves in their enclaves. This is a truly divided society.
The tale moves on to Ava and Valerie’s infiltration of the Scylla complex and their exposure of the Corporation’s experiments and machinations. To describe any more of the plot is to give away spoilers so I’ll leave it at that.
The author has created an immersive and absorbing world in which to place her characters, and this to me was the strength of the story. The plot itself is a bit Star-Wars like. There’s an evil empire/oppressive government and a woman who escapes with important data. There’s a resistance/activist movement too. But no death star. That said, there’s enough here to separate Ava and Valerie’s story from that of Skywalker and Leia Organa. Occasionally the motivations and decisions the characters make seem a little contrived but, to counter this there are enough surprises to keep the reader on their toes.
At first I found Ava and Valerie hard to differentiate between in terms of their character, but as the story developed they took on their own personas and had me rooting for them as the closing chapter came.
This first offering shows great promise and I’m sure we’ll be hearing a lot more from Rachel Watts in the future.
March 28, 2018
Set in a apocalyptic/post apocalyptic world, Survival brings together two unlikely characters who both seek the truth. Ava wants to know what happened to her sister who disappeared and is sure it has to do with the Scylla Corporation. Meanwhile, Valerie has part of the truth of the going’s on at Scylla, buried 25 stories underground. “Ignorance is cheap. Then it costs you everything.”
Rachel Watts has brought beautiful imagery to a post apocalyptic time. She has pieced together such an effortless world with characters who fit right in. From the moment I read the prologue, I knew I’d have to keep reading until I had closure. Survival kept me turning the page until the very end.
I only wish that the story was a bit longer and that Watts would have fed her readers more details on the characters themselves. There was so much thought put into the world she built, I longed to have a more intimate connection with Ava, Valerie and the rest. I believe more could have come from this story but I do hope that there will be another book to follow.
I was offered a digital copy of Survival in exchange for a fair review. These opinions are my own and no way influenced by the author, publisher, or anyone affiliated with this book.
Rachel Watts has brought beautiful imagery to a post apocalyptic time. She has pieced together such an effortless world with characters who fit right in. From the moment I read the prologue, I knew I’d have to keep reading until I had closure. Survival kept me turning the page until the very end.
I only wish that the story was a bit longer and that Watts would have fed her readers more details on the characters themselves. There was so much thought put into the world she built, I longed to have a more intimate connection with Ava, Valerie and the rest. I believe more could have come from this story but I do hope that there will be another book to follow.
I was offered a digital copy of Survival in exchange for a fair review. These opinions are my own and no way influenced by the author, publisher, or anyone affiliated with this book.
March 17, 2018
I got this book for free at NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.
3.5 stars.
I found myself really enjoying and liking this book. Ava and Valerie are unlikely friends (maybe more.... companion.) and they run into each other by accident. I found this book intriguing and very fun. However, I would have like to see more background information to this exciting world. A fast read and exciting one. There were somethings I felt were missing, like for example the background story to this world. Why did the world collapse the way it did? The Director is a scapegoat for the rest of the board - what does the board think they can achieve? I'm hoping and thinking there will be a sequel to this! I have lots of questions. However, I found the whole story intriguing and I'd absolutely recommend it to other people.
The short stories included are amazing, and I found them intriguing especially "Innovative Storage Solutions". The bureaucracy Jasmine runs into is super interesting to see and especially those glimpses you get into her life.
3.5 stars.
I found myself really enjoying and liking this book. Ava and Valerie are unlikely friends (maybe more.... companion.) and they run into each other by accident. I found this book intriguing and very fun. However, I would have like to see more background information to this exciting world. A fast read and exciting one. There were somethings I felt were missing, like for example the background story to this world. Why did the world collapse the way it did? The Director is a scapegoat for the rest of the board - what does the board think they can achieve? I'm hoping and thinking there will be a sequel to this! I have lots of questions. However, I found the whole story intriguing and I'd absolutely recommend it to other people.
The short stories included are amazing, and I found them intriguing especially "Innovative Storage Solutions". The bureaucracy Jasmine runs into is super interesting to see and especially those glimpses you get into her life.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 23, 2018
I discovered Rachel Watts through her short story in Dark Magic: Witches, Hackers and Robots and was super excited to see a novella. It did not disappoint. Survival is a wild ride (in squid infested waters) told through evocative, sparse prose and a terrifying window into an all too realistic future. I love the addition of bonus short stories at the end - just when you think the ride is over you get to go again.
February 7, 2018
As a kid I really loved Victor Kellehers post apocalyptic stories, so this was right up my alley.
I particularly enjoyed Watts writing as a character was drugged and attempting to escape, it made me feel sluggish/dreamlike.
Two thumbs up!
I particularly enjoyed Watts writing as a character was drugged and attempting to escape, it made me feel sluggish/dreamlike.
Two thumbs up!
May 10, 2018
A good quick read. The story is set in a post apocalyptic world with good characters and reasonably fast paced action. The back-story is a little lacking and I didn't get a chance to really connect with some of the characters. Despite this, the story was good enough to keep me reading until the end.
Advanced reading copy provided by NetGalley for an honest review.
Advanced reading copy provided by NetGalley for an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews