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Viridis
After years of fighting a war she doesn't believe in, Jade Cavvar is being awarded for her efforts. But when an assassin makes an attempt on her life, Jade is forced down a path she never dreamed she'd walk. Stolen away from her home, she is brought to the land of her enemy, where she must discover her reason for living and scramble to find a way to stop the war before it ends in the death of millions.
And while Jade battles for freedom, her best friend, Aris Sell, must grapple with her disappearance. Aris' paranoia forces her to scrutinize those she's battled alongside for years, and when she unveils a secret hidden from the masses, she triggers irreversible events that threaten everyone in the Known Galaxy.
Content Gore, foul language, sexual situations, sexual assault reference. Intended for mature audiences. Reader discretion advised.
And while Jade battles for freedom, her best friend, Aris Sell, must grapple with her disappearance. Aris' paranoia forces her to scrutinize those she's battled alongside for years, and when she unveils a secret hidden from the masses, she triggers irreversible events that threaten everyone in the Known Galaxy.
Content Gore, foul language, sexual situations, sexual assault reference. Intended for mature audiences. Reader discretion advised.
377 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 19, 2018
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October 14, 2019This book is not lgbtqia+!
Hello all, I am writing this to clarify something that I see happening fairly frequently on here - because Viridis got listed as LGBT, it is misleading readers and that's not at all what I want. Viridis is not LGBT. It is a scifi novel that does have LGBT characters in it, but only one is ever really clearly shown/discussed, and that person is a villain. I did not want to tag it as LGBT because of this, and did not tag it as such, but it seems to keep getting mislabeled. Please! If you are someone who is picking up this book looking for a gay ole time, this is not the book for you! I am so sorry to those who were misled, I am at a loss as to why this is categorized in the manner it is, but have been trying to fix the issue.
Thanks all for your reviews - I hope to improve for the next novel I write <3
Hello all, I am writing this to clarify something that I see happening fairly frequently on here - because Viridis got listed as LGBT, it is misleading readers and that's not at all what I want. Viridis is not LGBT. It is a scifi novel that does have LGBT characters in it, but only one is ever really clearly shown/discussed, and that person is a villain. I did not want to tag it as LGBT because of this, and did not tag it as such, but it seems to keep getting mislabeled. Please! If you are someone who is picking up this book looking for a gay ole time, this is not the book for you! I am so sorry to those who were misled, I am at a loss as to why this is categorized in the manner it is, but have been trying to fix the issue.
Thanks all for your reviews - I hope to improve for the next novel I write <3
March 1, 2022
TLDR: The biggest issues I had were flashbacks hindering the story, repetition, lack of smaller conflicts, very little world-building, tone inconsistency, one-dimensional characters, a failure to handle mature topics, and telling instead of showing. You can give it a try if the book's summary sounds interesting, because it does have a lot of potential. But for me, it felt like too much of a draft.
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Before anything, I can see why other people may enjoy this book. If it sounds like a story you’d be interested in, I’d say read the sample and if you like it, give it a try. I do, however, have to rate it based on my own experience.
[My review is based on the first edition.]
For me, I have to give it one star because I had to force myself through it. I like the potential this book has, and there’s not a huge singular problem with it, but a lot of small things that made it impossible for me to fall in love with it as I wanted to. I feel bad, but most of the good I have to say about the book is that it had potential and I liked how it could have been really cool if it had gone through more critical editing. As it is, I don't think it got to its fully realized state, and it needed several more drafts at least before it got there.
The flashbacks in particular killed the pacing and undermined how exposition could have been naturally executed chronologically instead of being delivered through context clues and awkward dialogue. Flashbacks were used throughout the book to fill the audience in on things we should've already known to be invested in previous scenes. Any time I started getting into a ‘past’ scene, it would cut away to the present, where sometimes nothing was happening, and were never resolved. A lot of the time the scenes didn't tie into or lead up to anything else, so they were often pointless and could have been exchanged for something completely different and nothing would change.
The way it was formatted made it feel like a game of catch up instead of getting immersed in the characters' lives and going on a journey with them. Chronologically, we could have been introduced to characters and seen them in action, grown attached, and actually cared when something happened to them.
Related, the world-building could have been better if not for the flashbacks. It was sketchy at best, never coming out and explaining to the reader what we need to know to understand the culture and setting, or in some cases, telling us too late to have an emotional impact. It was like because the characters already knew everything about the world, the book didn't know how to explain it to the audience without being obvious about it, and therefore just didn't.
If the story was chronological instead of told through time jumps, we could have learned everything as the characters did in a perfectly natural way. I would have loved if the story started from when Jade entered the army so we could learn all about Helixes, what the eye colors actually mean and how they work, see why and how she gave Aris her nickname, etc. It would have been a blast getting to see those things and Jade earning her reputation instead of just being told about it and expected to believe it.
From what I know, the book originated as a Star Wars fanfiction, so I think in turning it into an original story, the new world-building got left behind under the assumption readers already know everything. It was a missed opportunity, and I think that made my rating drop because of how cool the book could have been if it didn't treat itself like it was boring and just wanted to skip to what it deemed as the important parts. Instead, it could have built the tension and suspense by letting the audience first have a clear view of all the possibilities. In other words, first explain and show what a Helix is so we can then be worried about who might have which one later on.
Also, there was a lot of repetition that could have been cut down. Similar monologues happened over and over and took time away from other things that could have made better use of 500 pages. Such as important world-building and character development.
A lack of smaller conflicts also contributed to making the story feel it went on longer than needed, because it didn’t feel like a lot happened for it to be 500+ pages. Usually, there’s an overarching plot and, within that, smaller plots the characters have to get through to accomplish their greater goal.
As it was, things largely just worked out for the characters from point A to point B, at times in ways that were far too convenient and failed to leave me sitting on the edge of my seat. Nothing was set up in earlier scenes to be brought back later, so there's no chance to even question what's going to happen next. With smaller conflicts and hardships, it would have more substance as well as give the story a greater chance to show instead of tell. The 500+ pages easily could have been cut down to 300 max.
For example, we're told the characters have no money, a conflict comes up where they need money, and out of nowhere, they have enough money sitting around to use without needing to do anything to get it. It contradicts what set up there was and solves the conflict that didn't even need to be there in the first place. It was a waste of time to act like having no money was ever an issue. We're told one thing but shown something completely different.
Which brings me to the biggest issue I had, and others seemed to as well. There was a lot of telling and not much showing. It's disappointing when we finally get to see other species and places, but the book itself seemed to find everything about it boring and just shoved the information in paragraph after paragraph very quickly to get it over with. It felt like a wiki listing and none of the characters left much of an impression. The book didn't seem to be having any fun, so I don't know how readers are expected to.
Likewise, the tone of the book felt very unsure of itself. There are topics in the story addressing trauma, child soldiers, violence and gore, sexual assault, rape, etc. But when it came to alcohol abuse, it was played off as more of a funny quirk than a serious issue. The jokes came off like 2010's "Random XD" humor that were like a sitcom trying to weasel its way into Game of Thrones while trying to maintain the tone of both. It's just hard to feel a joke is all that funny when you only ever get to see the punchline with zero set up or connection to the characters' experience that would make those things funny.
Another thing that felt off was Jade’s PTSD. It was written well enough to convey she had trauma, but as someone with PTSD, I felt the details of it weren’t thought out quite enough. I couldn’t for the life of me tell you what Jade’s actual triggers were or why, and some things should have been triggers but weren’t. She didn't have any coping mechanisms, healthy or unhealthy. You could argue alcoholism, but it's never treated as much beyond a funny quirk. Overall, the PTSD could have been more polished and researched. Her being triggered really only came into the story when the plot needed it and then instantly left.
Rape TW for this paragraph and the next. I think one of the most tasteless things the book did was practically excuse rape because it was done to someone who was against the main characters. The aftermath followed the rapist's POV and went on to describe it as 'orgasmic', blamed the victim, and came completely out of nowhere. Maybe with more editing it could have been an impactful moment, but as it was, it was completely insensitive and could be massively triggering with no further purpose. It really seemed to be trying to make the rapist sympathetic and redeemable. The fact it was immediately followed by a whole chapter dedicated to the rapist's sad backstory only made it worse.
Again, I think this might come down to a tone issue. The rest of the book came across like it was trying to teach the audience about how evil acts affect the world and the people in it, so for it to switch to the rapist's POV and show how sad their backstory was immediately after doing something so horrific, it reads like the audience is meant to learn compassion for rapists and consider their side of the story. The fact the victim didn't get a name and will likely never be mentioned again adds to that. I hope that wasn't the intention, but it came across like it was.
One last thing that bothered me is how shallow the characters were. All the good and bad characters could be identified by how much they loved Jade and Aris right upon meeting them. If they loved and trusted them the second they met, you knew they were a good guy. If they challenged and disliked them at all, they were a bad guy. The book was trying to tackle serious and often gray area issues through a mature lens, but these things made it suffer in the execution.
I could maybe overlook the good characters falling in love with Jade and Aris immediately if they were charismatic and nice, but they weren’t. Both were mean-spirited and self-serving without much for charm toward others. Jade is constantly physically and emotionally abusive, yet characters love her. Two different characters even fall in love with her despite her being horrible to them the whole time. Main characters don’t have to be likable, but other characters around them (not just bad guys) should respond to that accordingly for them to be morally grey characters.
Other than that, ‘She’ was used to start way too many sentences, it was distracting how hard the writing was trying to avoid using 'said', and character’s voices sound too similar to each other. They all spoke in the exact same way with the same sense of humor and wording, including characters who were royalty. Another thing that could have been polished with more editing. There are also numerous spelling, grammar, and formatting mistakes throughout the book, many of which were still not fixed with the second edition.
There are other things I could go on about, largely because I do think there’s a lot of potential with more polishing, but I’ll leave it here. I think the only real problem I have is it was released too soon and should have been given more time to find itself. It's too bad, because it really did have good potential, but ended up only a decent rough draft.
---------
Before anything, I can see why other people may enjoy this book. If it sounds like a story you’d be interested in, I’d say read the sample and if you like it, give it a try. I do, however, have to rate it based on my own experience.
[My review is based on the first edition.]
For me, I have to give it one star because I had to force myself through it. I like the potential this book has, and there’s not a huge singular problem with it, but a lot of small things that made it impossible for me to fall in love with it as I wanted to. I feel bad, but most of the good I have to say about the book is that it had potential and I liked how it could have been really cool if it had gone through more critical editing. As it is, I don't think it got to its fully realized state, and it needed several more drafts at least before it got there.
The flashbacks in particular killed the pacing and undermined how exposition could have been naturally executed chronologically instead of being delivered through context clues and awkward dialogue. Flashbacks were used throughout the book to fill the audience in on things we should've already known to be invested in previous scenes. Any time I started getting into a ‘past’ scene, it would cut away to the present, where sometimes nothing was happening, and were never resolved. A lot of the time the scenes didn't tie into or lead up to anything else, so they were often pointless and could have been exchanged for something completely different and nothing would change.
The way it was formatted made it feel like a game of catch up instead of getting immersed in the characters' lives and going on a journey with them. Chronologically, we could have been introduced to characters and seen them in action, grown attached, and actually cared when something happened to them.
Related, the world-building could have been better if not for the flashbacks. It was sketchy at best, never coming out and explaining to the reader what we need to know to understand the culture and setting, or in some cases, telling us too late to have an emotional impact. It was like because the characters already knew everything about the world, the book didn't know how to explain it to the audience without being obvious about it, and therefore just didn't.
If the story was chronological instead of told through time jumps, we could have learned everything as the characters did in a perfectly natural way. I would have loved if the story started from when Jade entered the army so we could learn all about Helixes, what the eye colors actually mean and how they work, see why and how she gave Aris her nickname, etc. It would have been a blast getting to see those things and Jade earning her reputation instead of just being told about it and expected to believe it.
From what I know, the book originated as a Star Wars fanfiction, so I think in turning it into an original story, the new world-building got left behind under the assumption readers already know everything. It was a missed opportunity, and I think that made my rating drop because of how cool the book could have been if it didn't treat itself like it was boring and just wanted to skip to what it deemed as the important parts. Instead, it could have built the tension and suspense by letting the audience first have a clear view of all the possibilities. In other words, first explain and show what a Helix is so we can then be worried about who might have which one later on.
Also, there was a lot of repetition that could have been cut down. Similar monologues happened over and over and took time away from other things that could have made better use of 500 pages. Such as important world-building and character development.
A lack of smaller conflicts also contributed to making the story feel it went on longer than needed, because it didn’t feel like a lot happened for it to be 500+ pages. Usually, there’s an overarching plot and, within that, smaller plots the characters have to get through to accomplish their greater goal.
As it was, things largely just worked out for the characters from point A to point B, at times in ways that were far too convenient and failed to leave me sitting on the edge of my seat. Nothing was set up in earlier scenes to be brought back later, so there's no chance to even question what's going to happen next. With smaller conflicts and hardships, it would have more substance as well as give the story a greater chance to show instead of tell. The 500+ pages easily could have been cut down to 300 max.
For example, we're told the characters have no money, a conflict comes up where they need money, and out of nowhere, they have enough money sitting around to use without needing to do anything to get it. It contradicts what set up there was and solves the conflict that didn't even need to be there in the first place. It was a waste of time to act like having no money was ever an issue. We're told one thing but shown something completely different.
Which brings me to the biggest issue I had, and others seemed to as well. There was a lot of telling and not much showing. It's disappointing when we finally get to see other species and places, but the book itself seemed to find everything about it boring and just shoved the information in paragraph after paragraph very quickly to get it over with. It felt like a wiki listing and none of the characters left much of an impression. The book didn't seem to be having any fun, so I don't know how readers are expected to.
Likewise, the tone of the book felt very unsure of itself. There are topics in the story addressing trauma, child soldiers, violence and gore, sexual assault, rape, etc. But when it came to alcohol abuse, it was played off as more of a funny quirk than a serious issue. The jokes came off like 2010's "Random XD" humor that were like a sitcom trying to weasel its way into Game of Thrones while trying to maintain the tone of both. It's just hard to feel a joke is all that funny when you only ever get to see the punchline with zero set up or connection to the characters' experience that would make those things funny.
Another thing that felt off was Jade’s PTSD. It was written well enough to convey she had trauma, but as someone with PTSD, I felt the details of it weren’t thought out quite enough. I couldn’t for the life of me tell you what Jade’s actual triggers were or why, and some things should have been triggers but weren’t. She didn't have any coping mechanisms, healthy or unhealthy. You could argue alcoholism, but it's never treated as much beyond a funny quirk. Overall, the PTSD could have been more polished and researched. Her being triggered really only came into the story when the plot needed it and then instantly left.
Rape TW for this paragraph and the next. I think one of the most tasteless things the book did was practically excuse rape because it was done to someone who was against the main characters. The aftermath followed the rapist's POV and went on to describe it as 'orgasmic', blamed the victim, and came completely out of nowhere. Maybe with more editing it could have been an impactful moment, but as it was, it was completely insensitive and could be massively triggering with no further purpose. It really seemed to be trying to make the rapist sympathetic and redeemable. The fact it was immediately followed by a whole chapter dedicated to the rapist's sad backstory only made it worse.
Again, I think this might come down to a tone issue. The rest of the book came across like it was trying to teach the audience about how evil acts affect the world and the people in it, so for it to switch to the rapist's POV and show how sad their backstory was immediately after doing something so horrific, it reads like the audience is meant to learn compassion for rapists and consider their side of the story. The fact the victim didn't get a name and will likely never be mentioned again adds to that. I hope that wasn't the intention, but it came across like it was.
One last thing that bothered me is how shallow the characters were. All the good and bad characters could be identified by how much they loved Jade and Aris right upon meeting them. If they loved and trusted them the second they met, you knew they were a good guy. If they challenged and disliked them at all, they were a bad guy. The book was trying to tackle serious and often gray area issues through a mature lens, but these things made it suffer in the execution.
I could maybe overlook the good characters falling in love with Jade and Aris immediately if they were charismatic and nice, but they weren’t. Both were mean-spirited and self-serving without much for charm toward others. Jade is constantly physically and emotionally abusive, yet characters love her. Two different characters even fall in love with her despite her being horrible to them the whole time. Main characters don’t have to be likable, but other characters around them (not just bad guys) should respond to that accordingly for them to be morally grey characters.
Other than that, ‘She’ was used to start way too many sentences, it was distracting how hard the writing was trying to avoid using 'said', and character’s voices sound too similar to each other. They all spoke in the exact same way with the same sense of humor and wording, including characters who were royalty. Another thing that could have been polished with more editing. There are also numerous spelling, grammar, and formatting mistakes throughout the book, many of which were still not fixed with the second edition.
There are other things I could go on about, largely because I do think there’s a lot of potential with more polishing, but I’ll leave it here. I think the only real problem I have is it was released too soon and should have been given more time to find itself. It's too bad, because it really did have good potential, but ended up only a decent rough draft.
September 10, 2020
For anyone thinking of buying this book because it’s an LGBT Sci-Fi: This book is not for you. (edit: Since the next part of my review hinges on this book being in the LGBT genre, I'll add this here, since the author has decided to say that's incorrect. I found this book through a Tumblr post written by the author where she tagged it as an LGBT Sci-Fi, LGBT book, and described it as a novel featuring a cast of LGBT characters, so the author now saying she has no idea why others are choosing to tag it that way is straight up gaslighting readers who were queerbaited into buying the book. Putting the blame on readers and bookstores who were kind enough to buy and host your book instead of admitting your mistake and taking responsibility is incredibly unprofessional.
The author was more than happy to constantly describe it as an LGBT novel until more than one person said they had a problem with it. Only then did she start saying she never meant for it to be in the genre. My review was the first to mention this (in February 2019), and you can look in the comments under my review where she makes zero attempt to correct the information, since I was the only one to complain at that time. She didn't acknowledge there was a mistake or try to fix it until months after my review (August 2019), when others started making the same complaints. I'll include screenshots as evidence for what I'm saying.
She even made a post on Twitter calling it an LGBT novel days before my review was made. I'm upset she decided to throw bookstores and readers supporting her (myself included) under the bus for this rather than being professional and explaining she meant for it to be a story with an ace lead, but it obviously didn't come off as well as she'd hoped, and thus removed it from the genre. I would have accepted that far more than her playing the victim. I don't appreciate being an LGBT member used to make money off of and then getting blamed for "misinterpreting the author's intentions". Those screenshots make it pretty clear what the intentions were.
Now back to my original review.)
The main character is supposed to be asexual, but they’re only coded as such and it’s never explicitly said, so without reading the author’s social media posts saying the character was ace, you would probably completely miss it. Anything that is a sign of her not being interested in sex could easily be a symptom of her PTSD as opposed to an orientation, as any physical contact (even platonic) is met with her having flashbacks.
But the bigger issue I have with this being listed under the LGBT category is that the only character confirmed LGBT in the story itself... is a bi/pansexual rapist. Seriously. She is the only LGBT character open about her sexuality, and she fantasizes about raping women especially (which was upsetting and triggering), and often acts on it. Near the end, the author even tries to make the readers sympathize with her by giving hints of her ""tragic"" backstory, and having her not rape the drunk main character (who she endlessly tortured before this). Even then, she's imagining how great it would be to rape the MC, but doesn't because the MC wasn't putting up enough of a fight to get off on. And it felt like the author was setting up a redemption arc for the rapist and even had her and her victim acting like friends near the end?? Because the MC was so impressed she wasn't raped????
Feels like really bad taste to put this under the LGBT section when that’s the only character 100% confirmed LGBT in the text. Not to mention, bisexual individuals already have to deal with stereotypes of being hypersexual, cheaters, and unable to think of anything other than sex (which is this character's entire identity), so that made this book even more offensive in its portrayal. This queerbaiting is the most offensive I've ever seen.
Even without that, this is one of the worst books I’ve ever spent money on. The pacing is so terrible I never once got lost in the world of the book. Instead, I struggled to get through page after page of sentences structured the same way, boring scenes, and abusive main characters passed off as heroes and good guys. Even 3/4ths of the way through and the reader is still learning about the basics of the world that’s common sense for all the characters, even minor ones with no names who just show up to get stabbed.
Don’t even get me started on the amount of telling instead of showing. This is basically someone just telling everyone their idea for a story and everything that’s going to happen instead of a proper book. And it feels like a lot of it was just made up as the author went along. I actually had to look it up to see if this was a sequel because of how out of the loop I felt. As far as I can tell, this is the first one.
Pass on this book and support better ones.
The author was more than happy to constantly describe it as an LGBT novel until more than one person said they had a problem with it. Only then did she start saying she never meant for it to be in the genre. My review was the first to mention this (in February 2019), and you can look in the comments under my review where she makes zero attempt to correct the information, since I was the only one to complain at that time. She didn't acknowledge there was a mistake or try to fix it until months after my review (August 2019), when others started making the same complaints. I'll include screenshots as evidence for what I'm saying.
She even made a post on Twitter calling it an LGBT novel days before my review was made. I'm upset she decided to throw bookstores and readers supporting her (myself included) under the bus for this rather than being professional and explaining she meant for it to be a story with an ace lead, but it obviously didn't come off as well as she'd hoped, and thus removed it from the genre. I would have accepted that far more than her playing the victim. I don't appreciate being an LGBT member used to make money off of and then getting blamed for "misinterpreting the author's intentions". Those screenshots make it pretty clear what the intentions were.
Now back to my original review.)
The main character is supposed to be asexual, but they’re only coded as such and it’s never explicitly said, so without reading the author’s social media posts saying the character was ace, you would probably completely miss it. Anything that is a sign of her not being interested in sex could easily be a symptom of her PTSD as opposed to an orientation, as any physical contact (even platonic) is met with her having flashbacks.
But the bigger issue I have with this being listed under the LGBT category is that the only character confirmed LGBT in the story itself... is a bi/pansexual rapist. Seriously. She is the only LGBT character open about her sexuality, and she fantasizes about raping women especially (which was upsetting and triggering), and often acts on it. Near the end, the author even tries to make the readers sympathize with her by giving hints of her ""tragic"" backstory, and having her not rape the drunk main character (who she endlessly tortured before this). Even then, she's imagining how great it would be to rape the MC, but doesn't because the MC wasn't putting up enough of a fight to get off on. And it felt like the author was setting up a redemption arc for the rapist and even had her and her victim acting like friends near the end?? Because the MC was so impressed she wasn't raped????
Feels like really bad taste to put this under the LGBT section when that’s the only character 100% confirmed LGBT in the text. Not to mention, bisexual individuals already have to deal with stereotypes of being hypersexual, cheaters, and unable to think of anything other than sex (which is this character's entire identity), so that made this book even more offensive in its portrayal. This queerbaiting is the most offensive I've ever seen.
Even without that, this is one of the worst books I’ve ever spent money on. The pacing is so terrible I never once got lost in the world of the book. Instead, I struggled to get through page after page of sentences structured the same way, boring scenes, and abusive main characters passed off as heroes and good guys. Even 3/4ths of the way through and the reader is still learning about the basics of the world that’s common sense for all the characters, even minor ones with no names who just show up to get stabbed.
Don’t even get me started on the amount of telling instead of showing. This is basically someone just telling everyone their idea for a story and everything that’s going to happen instead of a proper book. And it feels like a lot of it was just made up as the author went along. I actually had to look it up to see if this was a sequel because of how out of the loop I felt. As far as I can tell, this is the first one.
Pass on this book and support better ones.
February 20, 2019
I just finished this book a few days ago--I was surprised to find it here on Goodreads since it's so new and self-published!
Firstly I'd like to say congratulations on getting this book published--it was very clearly a labor of love. I stumbled across this author's ad on Facebook, and looked at her publishing page, then eventually her website. It was so fun to see all the fan art that had been done for the characters in this book, and so clear that the author was pouring a lot of blood sweat and tears into this work! So again, congratulations for getting Viridis published, I really enjoyed it.
Okay, okay, now to the review.
There are about four planets that are visited in Viridis and I was delighted to find they each had a drastically different feel to them. Nevar is the first planet, where our heroine, Jade Cavvar is from. It is a wasteland aside from the massive, multi-level city constructed by humans and various races of aliens, who now inhabit it. Nevar is only visited briefly, with Jade not spending much of the book on it, but from it the reader can gather that the city is rich with life, but also claustrophobic and industrial, giving those who live on the lower levels little room to fully enjoy the city. Jade Cavvar and her roommate/war buddy/best friend share an apartment together and eat some ramen that did not sound particularly appetizing. This seemed to me like a nod to Firefly, whose Asian influence defined many aspects of the show.
Jade and Aris begin the novel with a party--Aris dressed to the nines, and Jade in a suit of armor. While I will go into the characters later, I did want to mention that this immediately set Jade apart from the rest of the crowd and it was fun to see her strong, stubborn personality right off the bat. Another aspect of Nevar culture is shown to the reader. The absolute pride in their military and how prominent it is in their society. While there were many soldiers (aka Blues) at the party, there was plenty of nobility in attendance as well, which gave me the impression that the nobles (Golds) don't really care about the war/the risks the soldiers take. So... sort of a politically corrupt system, perhaps? Again, not much time is spent on Nevar, but it was enough to give me an idea of what the planet and its people were like.
Another planet, and the last I will discuss so as to avoid spoilers for the novel, is Hallow, an icy planet inhabited by small, furry aliens called Halo. They are akin to short, bipedal wolves with feathers on their hands and feet. Hallow is a stop that breaks the tension for a little bit, and allows the characters to relax before the plot picks up again and the reader is thrust into the action. Not only do we get to see Thaddeous, the prince of Jade's enemies, get tipsy, but the reader gets to see him loosen up around the Halo, who are clearly his friends. An interesting part about this planet was how their coming of age ceremony, where the youths participating would venture out into the treacherous, snowy terrain to prove they could survive the elements. It is tradition for the Halo and I found myself shivering at the thought of trying to survive unrelenting blizzards for days on end.
While there weren't ten pages of detail about these planets, and the others I did not touch on, I was able to envision them and draw my own conclusions about them from the text. But I did find each planet to be unique from the last and I do hope there's a sequel so we can learn even more about them!
The characters in Viridis range from good to I would never want to run into you in a dark alley, ever. The main cast is comprised of Jade Cavvar, Aris Sell, Chloe the robot, Thaddeous Malkov, A'doxa Calavar and the enigmatic Mad Queen.
Jade Cavvar is the war hero with regrets. She's the heroine of the story and most of the chapters are told through her perspective. She is rough and stubborn, and thoroughly hotheaded. Jade is the type of character to punch first and ask questions later, and her brash actions often result in disaster. She may be a war hero, but goodness, she does not use her head too often. With bouts of PTSD throughout the novel, we uncover more about her past in the war and the woman who hurt her. Jade is always accompanied by her helmet, Chloe, who serves as the comedic relief now and then with her quick wit. Given the color of Jade's eyes (green), she is seen as a demon among her people, so she dons Chloe to keep her eyes shielded. Chloe also provides useful information not only for Jade but for the reader as well, and is a tool for Jade to battle her hallucinations when they decide to appear. As a last note: Jade is also asexual and I believe aromantic, a kind of character not often portrayed in media. This was done well, and Jade's sexuality is portrayed mostly by her revulsion of romantic and sexual relationships, as well as her naivety around them.
Aris Sell is Jade's best friend/war buddy/roommate. She is the brains to Jade's brawns. When the novel isn't in Jade's perspective, it's in Aris' as she tries to track down Jade, who went missing after the big war hero party in chapter one. She seems bubbly and almost like a socialite given her behavior at the party, where she flits around like a butterfly, stopping only to converse with a new group. There is a darker element to Aris, however, and it is slowly revealed as she finds out more about Jade on her journey to save her. Aris is incredibly intelligent and is the kind of person who uses her words deliberately. I kept this in mind especially in the last chapter.
Thaddeous Malkov is the Prince of the Reds, a group of humans who have red eyes. Unlike Nevar, where each eye color is given a social group (Golds nobility, Blues soldiers, Browns civilians and Hazels veterans), the Reds are just... Reds, with no particular class structure based on appearances. He is enthusiastic, a gentleman, and almost clueless at times. But his devotion to his people is the most admirable trait of his, though sometimes it may go too far. He seems simplistic on the surface, a sort of pretty-boy noble, but his intelligence and dedication to stop the war without fighting give him another layer altogether.
A'doxia Calavar is the character I think I'd never like to meet in a dark alley, ever. She's the seductress of the cast, but in like a sort of murdery way. It is shown through flashbacks and hallucinations Jade has that A'doxia hurt Jade years ago, going so far as to sexually assault her in addition to physically beat her. The scenes weren't too graphic for me, but if you're sensitive to the subject, just beware that it is a situation in Viridis. A'doxia is a frightening character who seems to have a change of heart in the end. She and Jade have some time together, and though Jade is drunk, are able to have a conversation. A'doxia's obsession changes to something more... familial? She decides to take care of Jade rather than harm her. Two are thrust together at the end of the novel, with Jade being uneasy about the arrangement, though too focused on seeing Aris again to make too big a deal of it. A'doxia strikes me as a character who can grow and change a lot in how she behaves--potentially there is room for her to redeem herself.
A'doxia is also an LGBT character, though I think she may be bisexual? She never labels herself in the text, but she is shown to have interest in women and men.
Lastly, there is the Mad Queen. I won't go too far into her character as she's purposefully left to be a mystery. For a majority of the novel, we are told she is dangerous, having been the cause of the bloodiest attacks in the war. Be that as it may, when we meet the Mad Queen later in the novel, I get the feeling that she, too, is a grey area. Her desire to hurt the Blues, and those on Jade's homeworld stems from the desire to protect her people. She is bad to Jade, but from the Reds' perspectives, she is a hero.
That mindset is important when reading this novel, I think.
I found the pacing was good throughout Viridis. It slowed down at times, but only for a chapter or so, then picked back up and thrust me as a reader right back into the action. There were lovely slow moments, like when Jade and Thaddeous are on Hallow, drinking, or they're sailing along floating islands. There are quiet moments, where Aris is listening to records of those who may have also had Green eyes. It is tense, and slow, but wonderful to see her absorbing the information on a dingy ship to the next planet in search of her friend.
The characters are realistic, as is the dialogue. Nothing read as forced or robotic in any way. the chapters were rather short, but that worked for Viridis' formatting. I didn't feel like I was being spoon-fed exposition and as I read I was allowed to come to my own conclusions about characters and the storyline.
All in all, Viridis is a story about friendship, and fighting for those you love. How far would you go to protect them? What distance would you travel to get them back? For the sci-fi lovers, the action lovers, and those who don't need romance to get pulled into a plot, Viridis is a wonderful read.
Firstly I'd like to say congratulations on getting this book published--it was very clearly a labor of love. I stumbled across this author's ad on Facebook, and looked at her publishing page, then eventually her website. It was so fun to see all the fan art that had been done for the characters in this book, and so clear that the author was pouring a lot of blood sweat and tears into this work! So again, congratulations for getting Viridis published, I really enjoyed it.
Okay, okay, now to the review.
There are about four planets that are visited in Viridis and I was delighted to find they each had a drastically different feel to them. Nevar is the first planet, where our heroine, Jade Cavvar is from. It is a wasteland aside from the massive, multi-level city constructed by humans and various races of aliens, who now inhabit it. Nevar is only visited briefly, with Jade not spending much of the book on it, but from it the reader can gather that the city is rich with life, but also claustrophobic and industrial, giving those who live on the lower levels little room to fully enjoy the city. Jade Cavvar and her roommate/war buddy/best friend share an apartment together and eat some ramen that did not sound particularly appetizing. This seemed to me like a nod to Firefly, whose Asian influence defined many aspects of the show.
Jade and Aris begin the novel with a party--Aris dressed to the nines, and Jade in a suit of armor. While I will go into the characters later, I did want to mention that this immediately set Jade apart from the rest of the crowd and it was fun to see her strong, stubborn personality right off the bat. Another aspect of Nevar culture is shown to the reader. The absolute pride in their military and how prominent it is in their society. While there were many soldiers (aka Blues) at the party, there was plenty of nobility in attendance as well, which gave me the impression that the nobles (Golds) don't really care about the war/the risks the soldiers take. So... sort of a politically corrupt system, perhaps? Again, not much time is spent on Nevar, but it was enough to give me an idea of what the planet and its people were like.
Another planet, and the last I will discuss so as to avoid spoilers for the novel, is Hallow, an icy planet inhabited by small, furry aliens called Halo. They are akin to short, bipedal wolves with feathers on their hands and feet. Hallow is a stop that breaks the tension for a little bit, and allows the characters to relax before the plot picks up again and the reader is thrust into the action. Not only do we get to see Thaddeous, the prince of Jade's enemies, get tipsy, but the reader gets to see him loosen up around the Halo, who are clearly his friends. An interesting part about this planet was how their coming of age ceremony, where the youths participating would venture out into the treacherous, snowy terrain to prove they could survive the elements. It is tradition for the Halo and I found myself shivering at the thought of trying to survive unrelenting blizzards for days on end.
While there weren't ten pages of detail about these planets, and the others I did not touch on, I was able to envision them and draw my own conclusions about them from the text. But I did find each planet to be unique from the last and I do hope there's a sequel so we can learn even more about them!
The characters in Viridis range from good to I would never want to run into you in a dark alley, ever. The main cast is comprised of Jade Cavvar, Aris Sell, Chloe the robot, Thaddeous Malkov, A'doxa Calavar and the enigmatic Mad Queen.
Jade Cavvar is the war hero with regrets. She's the heroine of the story and most of the chapters are told through her perspective. She is rough and stubborn, and thoroughly hotheaded. Jade is the type of character to punch first and ask questions later, and her brash actions often result in disaster. She may be a war hero, but goodness, she does not use her head too often. With bouts of PTSD throughout the novel, we uncover more about her past in the war and the woman who hurt her. Jade is always accompanied by her helmet, Chloe, who serves as the comedic relief now and then with her quick wit. Given the color of Jade's eyes (green), she is seen as a demon among her people, so she dons Chloe to keep her eyes shielded. Chloe also provides useful information not only for Jade but for the reader as well, and is a tool for Jade to battle her hallucinations when they decide to appear. As a last note: Jade is also asexual and I believe aromantic, a kind of character not often portrayed in media. This was done well, and Jade's sexuality is portrayed mostly by her revulsion of romantic and sexual relationships, as well as her naivety around them.
Aris Sell is Jade's best friend/war buddy/roommate. She is the brains to Jade's brawns. When the novel isn't in Jade's perspective, it's in Aris' as she tries to track down Jade, who went missing after the big war hero party in chapter one. She seems bubbly and almost like a socialite given her behavior at the party, where she flits around like a butterfly, stopping only to converse with a new group. There is a darker element to Aris, however, and it is slowly revealed as she finds out more about Jade on her journey to save her. Aris is incredibly intelligent and is the kind of person who uses her words deliberately. I kept this in mind especially in the last chapter.
Thaddeous Malkov is the Prince of the Reds, a group of humans who have red eyes. Unlike Nevar, where each eye color is given a social group (Golds nobility, Blues soldiers, Browns civilians and Hazels veterans), the Reds are just... Reds, with no particular class structure based on appearances. He is enthusiastic, a gentleman, and almost clueless at times. But his devotion to his people is the most admirable trait of his, though sometimes it may go too far. He seems simplistic on the surface, a sort of pretty-boy noble, but his intelligence and dedication to stop the war without fighting give him another layer altogether.
A'doxia Calavar is the character I think I'd never like to meet in a dark alley, ever. She's the seductress of the cast, but in like a sort of murdery way. It is shown through flashbacks and hallucinations Jade has that A'doxia hurt Jade years ago, going so far as to sexually assault her in addition to physically beat her. The scenes weren't too graphic for me, but if you're sensitive to the subject, just beware that it is a situation in Viridis. A'doxia is a frightening character who seems to have a change of heart in the end. She and Jade have some time together, and though Jade is drunk, are able to have a conversation. A'doxia's obsession changes to something more... familial? She decides to take care of Jade rather than harm her. Two are thrust together at the end of the novel, with Jade being uneasy about the arrangement, though too focused on seeing Aris again to make too big a deal of it. A'doxia strikes me as a character who can grow and change a lot in how she behaves--potentially there is room for her to redeem herself.
A'doxia is also an LGBT character, though I think she may be bisexual? She never labels herself in the text, but she is shown to have interest in women and men.
Lastly, there is the Mad Queen. I won't go too far into her character as she's purposefully left to be a mystery. For a majority of the novel, we are told she is dangerous, having been the cause of the bloodiest attacks in the war. Be that as it may, when we meet the Mad Queen later in the novel, I get the feeling that she, too, is a grey area. Her desire to hurt the Blues, and those on Jade's homeworld stems from the desire to protect her people. She is bad to Jade, but from the Reds' perspectives, she is a hero.
That mindset is important when reading this novel, I think.
I found the pacing was good throughout Viridis. It slowed down at times, but only for a chapter or so, then picked back up and thrust me as a reader right back into the action. There were lovely slow moments, like when Jade and Thaddeous are on Hallow, drinking, or they're sailing along floating islands. There are quiet moments, where Aris is listening to records of those who may have also had Green eyes. It is tense, and slow, but wonderful to see her absorbing the information on a dingy ship to the next planet in search of her friend.
The characters are realistic, as is the dialogue. Nothing read as forced or robotic in any way. the chapters were rather short, but that worked for Viridis' formatting. I didn't feel like I was being spoon-fed exposition and as I read I was allowed to come to my own conclusions about characters and the storyline.
All in all, Viridis is a story about friendship, and fighting for those you love. How far would you go to protect them? What distance would you travel to get them back? For the sci-fi lovers, the action lovers, and those who don't need romance to get pulled into a plot, Viridis is a wonderful read.
June 14, 2020
Disclaimer: I received this e-book from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Viridis
Author: Lauren Hemphill
Book Series: Standalone?
Rating: 2/5
Recommended For...: Adult audiences
Publication Date: November 19, 2018
Genre: Adult Fantasy
Recommended Age: can’t recommend, dnf-ed. Lots of gore and sexual assault/rape are in this book.
Publisher: Winter Publishing
Pages: 520
Synopsis: After years of fighting a war she doesn't believe in, Jade Cavvar is being awarded for her efforts. But when an assassin makes an attempt on her life, Jade is forced down a path she never dreamed she'd walk. Stolen away from her home, she is brought to the land of her enemy, where she must discover her reason for living and scramble to find a way to stop the war before it ends in the death of millions.
And while Jade battles for freedom, her best friend, Aris Sell, must grapple with her disappearance. Aris' paranoia forces her to scrutinize those she's battled alongside for years, and when she unveils a secret hidden from the masses, she triggers irreversible events that threaten everyone in the Known Galaxy.
Review: I couldn’t read this book. The book really shouldn’t be in the LGBT section as it’s harmful in my opinion since the only lgbt character is a sexual assaulter/rapist and the book is super uncomfortable. I'm not sure if the book is still in that section, it was when I first got the book and it's in my notes but I do not see it anymore (and plus the author stated it shouldn't have been and apologized and was trying to figure out why it was). I had to stop reading at 62% and it really upset me mentally, not because of the missectioning (which I believe has been fixed) but because it was really rough subject material for me.
Verdict: Not for me but if you're into this then it's for you!
Book: Viridis
Author: Lauren Hemphill
Book Series: Standalone?
Rating: 2/5
Recommended For...: Adult audiences
Publication Date: November 19, 2018
Genre: Adult Fantasy
Recommended Age: can’t recommend, dnf-ed. Lots of gore and sexual assault/rape are in this book.
Publisher: Winter Publishing
Pages: 520
Synopsis: After years of fighting a war she doesn't believe in, Jade Cavvar is being awarded for her efforts. But when an assassin makes an attempt on her life, Jade is forced down a path she never dreamed she'd walk. Stolen away from her home, she is brought to the land of her enemy, where she must discover her reason for living and scramble to find a way to stop the war before it ends in the death of millions.
And while Jade battles for freedom, her best friend, Aris Sell, must grapple with her disappearance. Aris' paranoia forces her to scrutinize those she's battled alongside for years, and when she unveils a secret hidden from the masses, she triggers irreversible events that threaten everyone in the Known Galaxy.
Review: I couldn’t read this book. The book really shouldn’t be in the LGBT section as it’s harmful in my opinion since the only lgbt character is a sexual assaulter/rapist and the book is super uncomfortable. I'm not sure if the book is still in that section, it was when I first got the book and it's in my notes but I do not see it anymore (and plus the author stated it shouldn't have been and apologized and was trying to figure out why it was). I had to stop reading at 62% and it really upset me mentally, not because of the missectioning (which I believe has been fixed) but because it was really rough subject material for me.
Verdict: Not for me but if you're into this then it's for you!
June 27, 2022
This book dares to ask the real question.
What if an able-bodied, cis white woman was the most oppressed person, not just in the world, but the entire galaxy? With a thinly veiled allegory about racism, this book--intentionally or not--reads like something those "fighting against white genocide" would love. A white character is the most persecuted, just for the way she looks, and told she needs to be eradicated. She's even more oppressed and hated than the disabled Black woman, who has no agency beyond coddling the white characters. It's hard not to bring it up, but everything about this was made worse upon finding out the author looks identical to the ✨most oppressed character✨.
Really leaves a bad taste. I think we're well past any need for white authors to appropriate stories of racism in order to make it about themselves and their savior complex.
What if an able-bodied, cis white woman was the most oppressed person, not just in the world, but the entire galaxy? With a thinly veiled allegory about racism, this book--intentionally or not--reads like something those "fighting against white genocide" would love. A white character is the most persecuted, just for the way she looks, and told she needs to be eradicated. She's even more oppressed and hated than the disabled Black woman, who has no agency beyond coddling the white characters. It's hard not to bring it up, but everything about this was made worse upon finding out the author looks identical to the ✨most oppressed character✨.
Really leaves a bad taste. I think we're well past any need for white authors to appropriate stories of racism in order to make it about themselves and their savior complex.
August 27, 2019
What I Did Like:
-The ending. The action in this one picked up toward that back half and wrapped up in an ending I REALLY liked. The author has been dropping hints that’s she’s working on a sequel so that’s exciting. I like where this one is right now and I like the idea that we may get more of it.
-Aris is intriguing. I like questionable characters who keep me guessing. I���ll read more for Aris alone.
-Jade’s PTSD is believable and intriguing. She comes across as someone who is deeply traumatized and do believe she’s well written in that regard.
-Thaddeus. Again, I like morally questionable characters. Give me someone who surprises me all day.
-Gorgeous cover!
Who Should Read This One:
-Futuristic books set in space about wars between groups, you’ll love this one. It’s not the same story you’ve heard and the twists make it interesting.
My Rating: I went 3 stars on this one. The beginning was a low three but the ending was leaning toward a 4. Overall, solid debut novel from an up-and-coming author fantasy fans should be watching.
For the Full Review (including what I didn’t like): https://youtu.be/UaZR0jojFZY
-The ending. The action in this one picked up toward that back half and wrapped up in an ending I REALLY liked. The author has been dropping hints that’s she’s working on a sequel so that’s exciting. I like where this one is right now and I like the idea that we may get more of it.
-Aris is intriguing. I like questionable characters who keep me guessing. I���ll read more for Aris alone.
-Jade’s PTSD is believable and intriguing. She comes across as someone who is deeply traumatized and do believe she’s well written in that regard.
-Thaddeus. Again, I like morally questionable characters. Give me someone who surprises me all day.
-Gorgeous cover!
Who Should Read This One:
-Futuristic books set in space about wars between groups, you’ll love this one. It’s not the same story you’ve heard and the twists make it interesting.
My Rating: I went 3 stars on this one. The beginning was a low three but the ending was leaning toward a 4. Overall, solid debut novel from an up-and-coming author fantasy fans should be watching.
For the Full Review (including what I didn’t like): https://youtu.be/UaZR0jojFZY
April 16, 2019
Interesting Premise
Hemphill writes a good story with Viridis. I enjoyed reading about the characters, and how the story unfolded. However, I felt there were details that could be more specific, and the story was more "tell" than "show". The first chapter lays the groundwork for what is to come, and presents Hemphill's writing style. I came to like Jade, but it took a little while, same for her friend Aris. It's an interesting premise, and journey, more like fight of life and death. I do look forward to reading more by this author.
Hemphill writes a good story with Viridis. I enjoyed reading about the characters, and how the story unfolded. However, I felt there were details that could be more specific, and the story was more "tell" than "show". The first chapter lays the groundwork for what is to come, and presents Hemphill's writing style. I came to like Jade, but it took a little while, same for her friend Aris. It's an interesting premise, and journey, more like fight of life and death. I do look forward to reading more by this author.
February 14, 2021
Full Video Review Here!
Now, we come to my favorite part of any story! The characters! Instead of an overall summary, I’ll go through them one-by-one.
However, I do have an issue with how Jade’s PTSD is displayed. Her trauma is shown through a hallucination of the person that tortured her. Although this is not a symptom of PTSD, it does show the horror Jade went through.
Overall, I give Viridis 4 stars. Although the characters, world-building, and plot were excellent, my issue with how mental illness was portrayed really detracted from my enjoyment with the book.
However, that doesn’t mean that I didn’t enjoy reading it and I do still recommend it. It is very good and entertaining, especially for a debut. I hope Ms. Hemphill will keep improving her craft and wish her the best of luck on her writing journey!
Transcript
PLOT
Overall, I really enjoyed the story! Although it does start off a bit slow and there are a few slightly-confusing chapters after the first one, and a few in the middle, this book really gets going toward the end. Watching Jade slowly befriend one of her enemies was interesting to see. Furthermore, she also had to deal with the person that caused her PTSD and each encounter was very bone-chilling to say the least!
Watching Aris put together the pieces was another great PoV, especially when we got to see her strategize. It was a tad frustrating knowing where Jade was while Aris didn’t, but the fact that she was discovering another secret was entertaining enough.
There are also smaller, but interesting themes sprinkled through the book such as survivor’s guilt, the horrors of war, and government welfare.
WORLD-BUILDING
So far, this series is somewhat solid in its world building and society. For example, there is a caste system in which the eye color you have determines your career and status for life. Those with hazel eyes are common citizens with average jobs. Red or blue eyes land a person into the role of a soldier, who serve those with golden eyes who are the ruling class. Those few with heterochromia are said to have special powers to kill or help demons, which are people with green eyes.
One aspect I enjoyed most was the religion in the novel and how each one differed on planet to planet. Speaking of planets, the small worlds were also very unique and fun to explore. From the red deserts of Totar to the icy peaks of Hollow, it was a ride getting to see each planet involved in the war and the main species/culture that resides there.
That said, it would’ve been nice to stay on Jade’s home planet for a while longer. The most the reader spent on it was around one to two chapters which, although nice, wasn’t enough to form an attachment to it. It would’ve made the stakes between the Reds and Blues higher if one got to see what Jade has to lose besides her best friend and barely-mentioned parents.
I would’ve also liked to see more of the economy in Nevar, along with more history, but that’s just my minor in Sociology talking. Regardless, it was still very good and hopefully the sequel will give me more!
CHARACTERS
Now, we come to my favorite part of any story! The characters! Instead of an overall summary, I’ll go through them one-by-one.
JADE CAVVAR
As the MC, Jade is very fleshed out and entertaining. She’s stubborn, hot-headed, and muscular. Although she isn’t the sharpest tool in the shed, she is more than capable in a fight.
This makes her a perfect foil for Aris and really highlights the best parts of their friendship. It’s clear throughout the novel that Jade really looks up to Aris and that they support each other.
However, I do have an issue with how Jade’s PTSD is displayed. Her trauma is shown through a hallucination of the person that tortured her. Although this is not a symptom of PTSD, it does show the horror Jade went through.
The biggest problem I have with this is that Jade often physically attacks the hallucinations which are often seen on top of other people. Although it makes sense for her character, it causes Jade to physically hurt people close to her and bring up the untrue, harmful stereotype that all people with mental illness are violent.
I feel like this situation could’ve been handled better and that sensitivity readers were definitely needed here.
ARIS SELL
Besides Jade, Aris is one of my favorite characters. Although she doesn’t get as much screen time as her counterpart, what time Aris does get allows her to shine. I loved the dynamic of Aris desperately wanting to find her friend while struggling with her feelings of jealously and bitterness towards Jade.
The scene where Aris was panicking when she found out Jade was kidnapped was one of my favorite scenes as it showed how emotional Aris can be without Jade around to fill that role.
A’DOXIA
I’ll just be honest here: I hate this character. I hate her so much. The English language itself does not have enough words to describe my hate!
However, considering what she did to Jade, and how A’doxia continues her inexcusable behavior over and over, it was pretty clear that the reader most likely was never meant to like her in the first place. Props to Ms. Hemphill not holding back!
THADDEOUS MALKOV
Finally, we arrive at the last main character, Thaddeous and he’s pretty decent. I do like the friendship he had with Jade and though I didn’t like him at the beginning, he slowly grew on me. That said, there is a slight twist near the end that sets him back to square one in terms of likability, but he gets his just desserts in the end.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Overall, I give Viridis 4 stars. Although the characters, world-building, and plot were excellent, my issue with how mental illness was portrayed really detracted from my enjoyment with the book.
However, that doesn’t mean that I didn’t enjoy reading it and I do still recommend it. It is very good and entertaining, especially for a debut. I hope Ms. Hemphill will keep improving her craft and wish her the best of luck on her writing journey!
January 26, 2020
Viridis had me from the beginning. A casual introduction then right into the action and politics. I loved the authors science fiction world and spin she put it on. This was truly a world(s) I loved exploring every bit of. The character development and reactions were excellent. I enjoyed the mysteries which some were later unraveling.
January 13, 2020
Fast paced and relentless in its intensity, Viridis packs a real punch! Reminiscent of Brandon Sanderson's work, Hemphill's ability to build a complex and thorough world while keeping page turning action to the max speaks for itself. Can't wait to read more from this author!
June 13, 2023
⭐️
incredibly shallow book about racism & bigotry. no depth. no complexity. bad editing. it's made even more shallow when the white author seems to think it's okay to pretend to be Asian on both a social media account & bad webcomic dedicated to educating people on Asian culture? it's all done using information learned from Asian people, profiting off the knowledge & study they've shared, only to repost their information without credit or citation & acting like it's her own.
any lesson to be learned from this book is thrown away by yet another white person thinking they're woke enough to be the exception to appropriation & that she has a right to talk over poc & using their culture & work for profit. including this book profiting off the racism poc face with no real understanding. the author doesn't seem to realize if her book was real, she would be one of the oppressors, making every theme in Viridis a bad attempt at virtue signaling with no actual care.
some stories are not yours to tell.
incredibly shallow book about racism & bigotry. no depth. no complexity. bad editing. it's made even more shallow when the white author seems to think it's okay to pretend to be Asian on both a social media account & bad webcomic dedicated to educating people on Asian culture? it's all done using information learned from Asian people, profiting off the knowledge & study they've shared, only to repost their information without credit or citation & acting like it's her own.
any lesson to be learned from this book is thrown away by yet another white person thinking they're woke enough to be the exception to appropriation & that she has a right to talk over poc & using their culture & work for profit. including this book profiting off the racism poc face with no real understanding. the author doesn't seem to realize if her book was real, she would be one of the oppressors, making every theme in Viridis a bad attempt at virtue signaling with no actual care.
some stories are not yours to tell.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews