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Fragile Remedy
Sixteen-year-old Nate is a GEM—Genetically Engineered Medi-tissue created by the scientists of Gathos City as a cure for the elite from the fatal lung rot ravaging the population. As a child, he was smuggled out of the laboratory where he was held captive and into the Withers—a quarantined, lawless region. Nate manages to survive by using his engineering skills to become a Tinker, fixing broken tech in exchange for food or a safe place to sleep. When he meets Reed, a kind and fiercely protective boy that makes his heart race, and his misfit gang of scavengers, Nate finds the family he’s always longed for—even if he can’t risk telling them what he is.
But Gathos created a genetic failsafe in their GEMs—a flaw that causes their health to rapidly deteriorate as they age unless they are regularly dosed with medication controlled by Gathos City. As Nate’s health declines, his hard-won freedom is put in jeopardy. Violence erupts across the Withers, his illegal supply of medicine is cut off, and a vicious attack on Reed threatens to expose his secret. With time running out, Nate is left with only two options: work for a shadowy terrorist organization that has the means to keep him alive, or stay — and die — with the boy he loves.
But Gathos created a genetic failsafe in their GEMs—a flaw that causes their health to rapidly deteriorate as they age unless they are regularly dosed with medication controlled by Gathos City. As Nate’s health declines, his hard-won freedom is put in jeopardy. Violence erupts across the Withers, his illegal supply of medicine is cut off, and a vicious attack on Reed threatens to expose his secret. With time running out, Nate is left with only two options: work for a shadowy terrorist organization that has the means to keep him alive, or stay — and die — with the boy he loves.
392 pages, Paperback
First published March 16, 2021
32 people are currently reading
5782 people want to read
About the author
Maria Ingrande Mora
13 books145 followersMaria Ingrande Mora (they/she) is the acclaimed author of Fragile Remedy (Flux, 2021) a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection, Ranger Academy (2024), and The Immeasurable Depth of You (Peachtree Teen, 2023), Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award finalist, which earned three starred reviews, with Kirkus calling it “[r]aw and compassionate.” A queer single parent, Maria Ingrande Mora lives in St. Petersburg, FL with their two teenagers and three cats.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 212 reviews
July 30, 2020
Personal Rating: I’d swim through the sludge channel to join Reed’s gang
Reasons to Read: The immersive prose, the queer found family, the plot that keeps you guessing, the hope among the bleakness
Is that a trope more heartwarming than queer found family? This book has such a grim and gritty setting (described so vividly that you’d never want to go there), but the story ends up surprisingly heartwarming. It takes place on the Withers, an island quarantined decades ago due to a since-eradicated “lung rot” epidemic (what’s with me and unintentionally reading epidemic books in 2020?!). The protagonist Nate is a GEM, Genetically Engineered Medi-tissue, a type of human created during the epidemic to be used as medical fodder. He was born in the high-tech and glamorous Gathos City, but was smuggled to the Withers for his own safety, because he would’ve been treated like an object if he didn’t get out.
The blood of GEMs has a drug-like intoxicating quality and can heal even critical wounds, which makes them highly valuable and sought after on the gritty streets of the Withers. The biggest threat comes from the Breakers, a group on the hunt for GEMS with big money to pay. Here’s where Nate’s biggest dilemma comes in: the gang he runs with doesn’t know he’s a GEM, and though they’re a close-knit found family, some of them have shown a burning desire to find a GEM and turn them in for the cash reward, which would be enough that they’d stop having to worry about feeding themselves. If Nate keeps hiding his identity, he’s putting them all in unwitting danger. If he comes clean, they could report him out of desperation for the money.
What’s worse, a GEM’s body starts deteriorating once they reach a certain age, and they need a medicine called Remedy to stop the process. The only person Nate can get Remedy from is Alden, a trinket shop owner / drug dealer who he has a very complicated relationship with. Alden had taken Nate in and given him a place to stay, but fed on his blood so intensely that Nate had to run away. But since Alden is the only one who knows how to cook Remedy, Nate has to keep returning for doses behind his gang’s back. Nate’s secrets are a wedge between him and Reed, the beefy, green-eyed leader of his gang–who he has fallen in love with.
Nate and Reed’s relationship was very sweet, with Reed always being concerned for Nate’s health and Nate being too afraid to tell the truth, but my favorite dynamic was actually that of Nate and Alden. Alden is a character you genuinely don’t know if you can trust in any given scene. There are moments where he seems to care about Nate, but Nate also had to run away from him for a very good reason. There are so many layers to their relationship that I legit could not tell if Alden was manipulating Nate. I really appreciated this complex portrayal of a queer character, who are often unquestionably good people. Sure, it’s important to offset the villain coding of queer characters that have happened so often in the past, but it’s no fun to have them just be Good. Let them be morally gray too!!
The various multilayered conflicts kept up a sense of doom, danger, and tension throughout the entire book. I literally had no idea how things would turn out. The writing itself was also very visceral, describing the grimness and filth of the Withers very efficiently. There’s one descriptor, “sun-ripe piss,” that is now one of my favourite descriptors of all time. But, as bleak as the situation is, the story is ultimately about queer people sticking together and supporting each other through the impossible. Preorder it if that sounds like your thing!
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February 12, 2020
Fantastic, diverse, lovable set of characters whom we join in a dystopian world where the haves and have-nots are severely divided not only by wealth and privilege but by location as well.
Withers is the quarantine zone. Even though there is no longer danger from "lungrot", the people remain segregated in this run-down, poverty stricken town wholly dependent on the wealthy Gathos City for their basic necessities such as food and medicine.
As often happens in real life, people who find themselves alone and struggling can and do form their own "families". I call them families instead of groups because they tend to treat each other very much like true blood relations including all the love, bickering and care with each other.
Our protagonist started life in Gathos City as a GEM (genetically engineered medi-tissue), but in an effort to save his life, his parents secreted him away to the care of an elderly lady living in Withers. Unfortunately, she didn't live long enough to finish raising him and he found himself alone on the streets. Fortunate enough to join a group of other outcasts doing their best to survive without escaping into drugs or immoral behavior. Their world is gritty, dark, and unforgiving. Their struggles draw us readers in to cheer, fear and fight with them.
Maria Ingrande Mora is a fresh new voice in the genre of sci-fi dystopian novels.
Review ARC graciously provided by the publisher via NetGalley
Withers is the quarantine zone. Even though there is no longer danger from "lungrot", the people remain segregated in this run-down, poverty stricken town wholly dependent on the wealthy Gathos City for their basic necessities such as food and medicine.
As often happens in real life, people who find themselves alone and struggling can and do form their own "families". I call them families instead of groups because they tend to treat each other very much like true blood relations including all the love, bickering and care with each other.
Our protagonist started life in Gathos City as a GEM (genetically engineered medi-tissue), but in an effort to save his life, his parents secreted him away to the care of an elderly lady living in Withers. Unfortunately, she didn't live long enough to finish raising him and he found himself alone on the streets. Fortunate enough to join a group of other outcasts doing their best to survive without escaping into drugs or immoral behavior. Their world is gritty, dark, and unforgiving. Their struggles draw us readers in to cheer, fear and fight with them.
Maria Ingrande Mora is a fresh new voice in the genre of sci-fi dystopian novels.
Review ARC graciously provided by the publisher via NetGalley
March 20, 2021
Actual rating: 4.5 (rounded up)
A thousand thanks to Flux, North Star Editions, and NetGalley for providing me with this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
The writing here is pretty fantastic and immersive, especially for a debut novel. The world building came at a good, steady pace, and didn’t feel like info-dumping like most SF stories I’ve read. The plot as a whole didn’t take long to wrap my head around, and I eventually gathered the ins-and-outs.
The characters were a mixed bag (but in a good way)— Nate was a favorite, as well as Pixel (cool and adorable) and Alden (because I dig a character with depth, even when they’re teetering between crooked and sympathetic). The fact that there is lgbt rep (several of the characters), trans rep, as well as having the main character be biracial (I’m guessing from his surname and father’s name, and also his physical description), and the love interest another person of color... it was great! (To note: This is an own voices book. The author is a queer woman).
I don’t think there was one character I disliked (even including all the fleeting side characters and awful antagonists). There are a few small redemption arcs, too, that I’m glad came out . Let me just say it again: I am awed that this is a debut novel!
What really surprised me was how often I got teary-eyed or emotional. That doesn’t happen often, and again, it really goes to show how wonderfully Ingrande Mora realizes her characters, their relationships, and dramatic plotting. Also, let me tell you, I liiiiiiived for the angst!!! It’s certainly not a light and fluffy book; There is blood and violence, poverty and sickness, dirt and grime, death and sadness and anger. But Nate’s ragtag group was a shining spot of hope and family.
If I had to make a complaint, it would only be the story at times suffers from redundancy: Nate’s constant worries and anxieties— his thoughts on Reed and Alden and all else— tends to always contain the same arguments over and over again (but it’s all thankfully less-so after the 50% mark as new troubles arise).
This book was a surprise, and I am glad to have found it (and been given the chance to read it!). We can expect great things from this author.
A thousand thanks to Flux, North Star Editions, and NetGalley for providing me with this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
The writing here is pretty fantastic and immersive, especially for a debut novel. The world building came at a good, steady pace, and didn’t feel like info-dumping like most SF stories I’ve read. The plot as a whole didn’t take long to wrap my head around, and I eventually gathered the ins-and-outs.
The characters were a mixed bag (but in a good way)— Nate was a favorite, as well as Pixel (cool and adorable) and Alden (because I dig a character with depth, even when they’re teetering between crooked and sympathetic). The fact that there is lgbt rep (several of the characters), trans rep, as well as having the main character be biracial (I’m guessing from his surname and father’s name, and also his physical description), and the love interest another person of color... it was great! (To note: This is an own voices book. The author is a queer woman).
I don’t think there was one character I disliked (even including all the fleeting side characters and awful antagonists). There are a few small redemption arcs, too, that I’m glad came out . Let me just say it again: I am awed that this is a debut novel!
What really surprised me was how often I got teary-eyed or emotional. That doesn’t happen often, and again, it really goes to show how wonderfully Ingrande Mora realizes her characters, their relationships, and dramatic plotting. Also, let me tell you, I liiiiiiived for the angst!!! It’s certainly not a light and fluffy book; There is blood and violence, poverty and sickness, dirt and grime, death and sadness and anger. But Nate’s ragtag group was a shining spot of hope and family.
If I had to make a complaint, it would only be the story at times suffers from redundancy: Nate’s constant worries and anxieties— his thoughts on Reed and Alden and all else— tends to always contain the same arguments over and over again (but it’s all thankfully less-so after the 50% mark as new troubles arise).
This book was a surprise, and I am glad to have found it (and been given the chance to read it!). We can expect great things from this author.
January 14, 2021
I loved this unique story!
This was so interesting and kept me intrigued from the beginning. The idea of genetically developing humans with DNA that can replicate and heal itself and then using them to heal others isn't as farfetched as it seems. Science can be amazing, but how far is too far and where is the line drawn? Nate was a sweet, intelligent kid and I felt so bad that he was on his own and lying to his friends because he couldn't truly trust anyone. His relationship with Pixel was my favorite, she's adorable and must be protected. Reed and the girls were good friends and I'm glad Nate had them and they cared for him.
The story was well paced and the world building was great. I definitely understood what was happening without needing major info dumps. This concludes wonderfully and I devoured it all in one sitting. I'm excited for this to come out so everyone can check it out!
Thank you to NetGalley and North Star Editions for this advance copy. All opinions are honest and my own.
This was so interesting and kept me intrigued from the beginning. The idea of genetically developing humans with DNA that can replicate and heal itself and then using them to heal others isn't as farfetched as it seems. Science can be amazing, but how far is too far and where is the line drawn? Nate was a sweet, intelligent kid and I felt so bad that he was on his own and lying to his friends because he couldn't truly trust anyone. His relationship with Pixel was my favorite, she's adorable and must be protected. Reed and the girls were good friends and I'm glad Nate had them and they cared for him.
The story was well paced and the world building was great. I definitely understood what was happening without needing major info dumps. This concludes wonderfully and I devoured it all in one sitting. I'm excited for this to come out so everyone can check it out!
Thank you to NetGalley and North Star Editions for this advance copy. All opinions are honest and my own.
July 10, 2022
DNF at ~80%.
Man, I really wanted to finish this book, but ultimately I didn't want to keep torturing myself and gave up. The 1 star goes to the effort of including poc and lgbtq characters, but that's it.
Nothing worked well in here for me.
I think a big reason was that I disliked the protag Nate with a passion. The book sets you up to sympathise with him, but oh my god, this sniveling featherbrain just made decision after decision that were so, so poorly written and chosen. I got so /tired/ of having to read his thought processes because they frustrated me to the high heavens, and not in a cool literary way.
There was zero chemistry between Nate and Reed. I hated the lack of communication between them about literally anything. There were all these dramatic moments that didn't add anything to the story, like, oh no, they had a fight!!! one of them stormed out of the room!!! oh noes!!! it was so painful to read.
Which brings me to the pacing, which is something else I can gripe about. For the longest time the story doesn't feel like it's going anywhere, then it went all sorts of strange ways, and then nowhere again.
I can safely say that Alden is the only character I somewhat liked, because I love me some morally grey queer characters who have muddled motives. Even for him tho the writing here and there failed to do him justice. Especially when we see him last -- the whole scene was just so weird??
The writing overall felt clunky, in fact, and though I did see the effort put into describing the setting in the most detailed, heartfelt disgusting way, it missed a lot of things. It seemed strange no one had tried to find the edges of the Withers, and a lot of worldbuilding was just...missing for me. A lot of things about the people and communities that I'm too tired to type about didn't match up with each other. Maybe there were some crazy reveals at the end, I don't know.
The book tried to do a "I'm a good person! and Therefore I shall Save and Not Kill these people that have just blithely attacked me while I'm nursing broken bones/wounds/etc..." and the endeavor fell on its face. Ugh. Not the most coherent review, I know, but I had to get some of my complaints out of my system. There's a lot more, but the book is so wholly unappetising that I don't want to go back in to describe it all properly.
Man, I really wanted to finish this book, but ultimately I didn't want to keep torturing myself and gave up. The 1 star goes to the effort of including poc and lgbtq characters, but that's it.
Nothing worked well in here for me.
I think a big reason was that I disliked the protag Nate with a passion. The book sets you up to sympathise with him, but oh my god, this sniveling featherbrain just made decision after decision that were so, so poorly written and chosen. I got so /tired/ of having to read his thought processes because they frustrated me to the high heavens, and not in a cool literary way.
There was zero chemistry between Nate and Reed. I hated the lack of communication between them about literally anything. There were all these dramatic moments that didn't add anything to the story, like, oh no, they had a fight!!! one of them stormed out of the room!!! oh noes!!! it was so painful to read.
Which brings me to the pacing, which is something else I can gripe about. For the longest time the story doesn't feel like it's going anywhere, then it went all sorts of strange ways, and then nowhere again.
I can safely say that Alden is the only character I somewhat liked, because I love me some morally grey queer characters who have muddled motives. Even for him tho the writing here and there failed to do him justice. Especially when we see him last -- the whole scene was just so weird??
The writing overall felt clunky, in fact, and though I did see the effort put into describing the setting in the most detailed, heartfelt disgusting way, it missed a lot of things. It seemed strange no one had tried to find the edges of the Withers, and a lot of worldbuilding was just...missing for me. A lot of things about the people and communities that I'm too tired to type about didn't match up with each other. Maybe there were some crazy reveals at the end, I don't know.
The book tried to do a "I'm a good person! and Therefore I shall Save and Not Kill these people that have just blithely attacked me while I'm nursing broken bones/wounds/etc..." and the endeavor fell on its face. Ugh. Not the most coherent review, I know, but I had to get some of my complaints out of my system. There's a lot more, but the book is so wholly unappetising that I don't want to go back in to describe it all properly.
April 22, 2020
Rating: 3.5
I really liked the characters (especially Nate, Reed, Alden and Pixel), but I didn't like where the plot went at about 70% into it. I didn't like the villain. I think the character could have been a good person instead of a, sometime over the top, bad person.
I really liked the characters (especially Nate, Reed, Alden and Pixel), but I didn't like where the plot went at about 70% into it. I didn't like the villain. I think the character could have been a good person instead of a, sometime over the top, bad person.
March 9, 2021
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange of an honest review.
This book talks about the social difference between riches and poors (highlighted by physical separations), addiction, murder, death, torture, the importance and meaning of family, above all the one you can create, love and relationship.
Nate is a GEM (Genetically Engineered Medical Surrogate) and he was created by Gathos City, to keep the healthy alive and happy (his blood has healing and wondrous proprieties). To save and give him a chance to live and not to be abused all the time, his parents smuggled him out into the Withers, a place separated from the elite city, a lawless place where he learned to survive as a Tinker, finding his own family with a scavenging gang. But Nate's days are threatened and counted, since the scientists of Gathos City buiilt a failsafe, making the GEMs' bodies deteriorate with age, if they don't take regularly their medicine. When remedy's supply (his saving medicine) is threatened and Reed, the boy he loves, is badly hurt, Nate finds himself into a difficult position.
I really, really loved Fragile Remedy. Nate is an amazing main character, weighed down by his past. He was abused by cruel scientists and he's burdened by own lies, since he's scared to tell the gang he's beginning to see as a family the truth about his origin, scared they, to survive, could sell him out.
Into a zone where people look for GEMs and their blood, where they are devastated by the drug named chem and subjects to Gathos City's whims, Nate doesn't know who to trust. His relationship with Alden, his remedy supplier, is complex and abusive, weighed down by wants and needs and feelings, while in the one with Reed there are so many lies and half-truths, even though it's clear they really love each other and the other with Pixel, the young girl in the gang, is sweet and protective.
I loved the characters' complex relationships. They would do anything to protect each other and to survive and when one of them is in danger they are ready to do the impossibile, against the cruelty of greed and people. Their creating a family with each other was a wonderful thing and their loyalty, their love was inspiring and absolute. It was comforting and sweet reading how they have each other's backs, how they support and love one other. Intelligent Nate, resolute Reed, sarcastic Sparks, strong Brick and sweet Pixel.
This book wrecked me, emotionally, because it was impossible not to love its characters. Not to want to protect and love Nate, Reed, Brick, Sparks and Pixel, cheering for their safety and happy ending.
I loved the family they created, their fierce loyalty to each other. The complexity of Nate and Alden's relationship and the intense and complicated one with Reed are beautifully written and it was a pleasure to discover their intricacies.
How both Alden and Reed were ready to fight the world for Nate, each of them in his own way. I loved the writing style and I felt so involved I cried and laughed with the characters, feeling sad, cheering for them, squealing in delight. The author got me hooked since the very beginning, pushing me to read more and more, because I needed to see them safe and sound, to see how the story would pan out.
I liked how, through a story about love, survival, family and relationships, the author talked about the abuse the riches inflict on poor people. The gap was clear through physical separation (the gates) and because the Withers were depending on the City's supplies (food, remedy and so on). It was interesting reading the way its inhabitants struggled to survive, many surrending themselves to drugs, and others struggling to have a home in a place abandoned by many. Reading how many people in the Withers choose to drug themselves indicated their suffered and bleak life. How, to escape a grim and hopeless reality people were attracted by drugs, wanting to forget, to "fly", as they said in the book. Wonderful and inspiring was reading, instead, how Reed's gang mantained their morals and wanted to avoid conflicts with the majior players: the A-Volts, the Breakers, but they were ready, though, when one of their own was threatened and hurt..
Fragile Remedy lays important questions about morality and science, pushing the reader to think the lenght the science should go.
If a clone was created to save people's lives, what should his/her rights be? He/she should be considered a human being? What exactly being humans mean? Should science appeal to humanity and decency or shouldn't? The end justify the means and so on.
I found the social message really important and on point. It was intense thinking about that, above all because the reader sees through Nate's eyes, his feeling trapped, used and hurt, his life created to be in other's service, his own blood used to heal others while weakening him, his own life depending on medicine his captors created. Nate's reality was awful and incredibly complex and he wanted to survive and, at the same time, he was ready to sacrifice himself for the people he loved the most.
It was hard to read about Nate's story, because I felt acutely his feeling trapped, his hopelessness, above all with Agatha.
I was impressed by Alden's character, too, because both he and Nate, in their own ways, were forced to do things to survive, things that left them wrecked with shame and guilt. Alden's life, like Nate's wasn't easy, so he resolved to drugs and to forgetting. I loved Alden's personality and appearance, so flashy, so flirty and sarcastic all the time. He's one of my favourite characters.
Reading through Nate's POV was an intense experience. It was sweet, embarassed and cute when he was with Reed and I loved their interactions. Nate and Reed, they are amazing together and their relationship was a slow burn, until, the wonderful and hopeful ending. Their touches, their gazing, their being embarassed were absolutely cute and loving. The way they are fiercely protective of each other and their family, how unsure were of the other feelings. I loved everything.
The review will be posted on Lu's books on June 16.
This book talks about the social difference between riches and poors (highlighted by physical separations), addiction, murder, death, torture, the importance and meaning of family, above all the one you can create, love and relationship.
Nate is a GEM (Genetically Engineered Medical Surrogate) and he was created by Gathos City, to keep the healthy alive and happy (his blood has healing and wondrous proprieties). To save and give him a chance to live and not to be abused all the time, his parents smuggled him out into the Withers, a place separated from the elite city, a lawless place where he learned to survive as a Tinker, finding his own family with a scavenging gang. But Nate's days are threatened and counted, since the scientists of Gathos City buiilt a failsafe, making the GEMs' bodies deteriorate with age, if they don't take regularly their medicine. When remedy's supply (his saving medicine) is threatened and Reed, the boy he loves, is badly hurt, Nate finds himself into a difficult position.
I really, really loved Fragile Remedy. Nate is an amazing main character, weighed down by his past. He was abused by cruel scientists and he's burdened by own lies, since he's scared to tell the gang he's beginning to see as a family the truth about his origin, scared they, to survive, could sell him out.
Into a zone where people look for GEMs and their blood, where they are devastated by the drug named chem and subjects to Gathos City's whims, Nate doesn't know who to trust. His relationship with Alden, his remedy supplier, is complex and abusive, weighed down by wants and needs and feelings, while in the one with Reed there are so many lies and half-truths, even though it's clear they really love each other and the other with Pixel, the young girl in the gang, is sweet and protective.
I loved the characters' complex relationships. They would do anything to protect each other and to survive and when one of them is in danger they are ready to do the impossibile, against the cruelty of greed and people. Their creating a family with each other was a wonderful thing and their loyalty, their love was inspiring and absolute. It was comforting and sweet reading how they have each other's backs, how they support and love one other. Intelligent Nate, resolute Reed, sarcastic Sparks, strong Brick and sweet Pixel.
This book wrecked me, emotionally, because it was impossible not to love its characters. Not to want to protect and love Nate, Reed, Brick, Sparks and Pixel, cheering for their safety and happy ending.
I loved the family they created, their fierce loyalty to each other. The complexity of Nate and Alden's relationship and the intense and complicated one with Reed are beautifully written and it was a pleasure to discover their intricacies.
How both Alden and Reed were ready to fight the world for Nate, each of them in his own way. I loved the writing style and I felt so involved I cried and laughed with the characters, feeling sad, cheering for them, squealing in delight. The author got me hooked since the very beginning, pushing me to read more and more, because I needed to see them safe and sound, to see how the story would pan out.
I liked how, through a story about love, survival, family and relationships, the author talked about the abuse the riches inflict on poor people. The gap was clear through physical separation (the gates) and because the Withers were depending on the City's supplies (food, remedy and so on). It was interesting reading the way its inhabitants struggled to survive, many surrending themselves to drugs, and others struggling to have a home in a place abandoned by many. Reading how many people in the Withers choose to drug themselves indicated their suffered and bleak life. How, to escape a grim and hopeless reality people were attracted by drugs, wanting to forget, to "fly", as they said in the book. Wonderful and inspiring was reading, instead, how Reed's gang mantained their morals and wanted to avoid conflicts with the majior players: the A-Volts, the Breakers, but they were ready, though, when one of their own was threatened and hurt..
Fragile Remedy lays important questions about morality and science, pushing the reader to think the lenght the science should go.
If a clone was created to save people's lives, what should his/her rights be? He/she should be considered a human being? What exactly being humans mean? Should science appeal to humanity and decency or shouldn't? The end justify the means and so on.
I found the social message really important and on point. It was intense thinking about that, above all because the reader sees through Nate's eyes, his feeling trapped, used and hurt, his life created to be in other's service, his own blood used to heal others while weakening him, his own life depending on medicine his captors created. Nate's reality was awful and incredibly complex and he wanted to survive and, at the same time, he was ready to sacrifice himself for the people he loved the most.
It was hard to read about Nate's story, because I felt acutely his feeling trapped, his hopelessness, above all with Agatha.
I was impressed by Alden's character, too, because both he and Nate, in their own ways, were forced to do things to survive, things that left them wrecked with shame and guilt. Alden's life, like Nate's wasn't easy, so he resolved to drugs and to forgetting. I loved Alden's personality and appearance, so flashy, so flirty and sarcastic all the time. He's one of my favourite characters.
Reading through Nate's POV was an intense experience. It was sweet, embarassed and cute when he was with Reed and I loved their interactions. Nate and Reed, they are amazing together and their relationship was a slow burn, until, the wonderful and hopeful ending. Their touches, their gazing, their being embarassed were absolutely cute and loving. The way they are fiercely protective of each other and their family, how unsure were of the other feelings. I loved everything.
The review will be posted on Lu's books on June 16.
January 10, 2020
This YA science fiction is totally engrossing, with its best feature being its strong and nuanced development of the main characters. Through the stories of Nate, Reed, and Alden, the book tells a story that is as old as time, even as the book itself is set in a future world. It is a story of love, loss, wanting to belong somewhere, and learning to love with all the risks that come with loving someone, including their loss and possible betrayal.
Where the book is slightly less successful is in fleshing out the conflict between Gathos City and the Withers. I think if this conflict had been fleshed out a bit more, the dystopian element of the book, i.e. its engagement with contemporary social and environmental crises, would have emerged more clearly. Still the book touches on many contemporary topics that should be of interest to young and not-so young readers: the moral and political implications of genetic research and reproductive technologies, the social ramifications of environmental destruction, the social and economic costs of the opioid crisis, and the relationship between wealth disparity and the allocation of resources. And thus, it is well worth reading as a story of love and loss and as a piece of dystopian fiction.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an advance copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Where the book is slightly less successful is in fleshing out the conflict between Gathos City and the Withers. I think if this conflict had been fleshed out a bit more, the dystopian element of the book, i.e. its engagement with contemporary social and environmental crises, would have emerged more clearly. Still the book touches on many contemporary topics that should be of interest to young and not-so young readers: the moral and political implications of genetic research and reproductive technologies, the social ramifications of environmental destruction, the social and economic costs of the opioid crisis, and the relationship between wealth disparity and the allocation of resources. And thus, it is well worth reading as a story of love and loss and as a piece of dystopian fiction.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an advance copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
May 14, 2020
“How do you know it wasn’t people from the wreck?” He looked at Reed.
“I wasn’t watching all that,” Reed rubbed the back of his head. “I was watching you.”
On my blog.
Rep: gay mc, Black gay li, trans side character
CWs: implied human experimentation, abuse, descriptions of gore, starvation, drug abuse
Galley provided by publisher
Nothing quite hits like a found family in a dystopian situation hits. There’s something about the whole potentially-mistrustful people thrown together by circumstances who come to trust and love each other that is just it.
And that is what Fragile Remedy delivers.
In this world, rich people keep genetically engineered “bodies” as a cure for fatal lung-rot. Nate is one such “body”, but he is hidden in the Withers, a quarantined region. He is part of a small gang, led by Reed, but they do not know his secret.
YA dystopia used to be one of my favourite genres (not to say it’s totally fallen from favour now, I just read it less), so I always knew I would enjoy this book. It is a fast-paced dystopia, but still centered around a family, and fighting for your family.
I think it’s clear from the above what my favourite part of this book was. I mean, let’s be real, was it ever likely to be anything else? (Although I will admit that Nate and Reed came close.) Give me a found family fighting together and I’ll attach myself to them like a limpet. Yes, it did also help that Nate and Reed were so good, but I would have liked the whole family either way.
If there was anything I liked less about the book, it’s that it all felt a little superficial to me, plotwise. I’m not sure why, and it’s not like every book has to be some deep and meaningful story. It’s just that this felt sort of light on the ground. But hey, the characters and my love for them definitely made up for that.
So if you’re looking for a good, standalone dystopia, focusing on family (and, really, who isn’t), this is the one for you.
February 13, 2021
This arc seems to have such good reviews, and sadly I just cant share that love for it.
Firstly this book just threw me into the world with no explanation. It wasn’t until the halfway point until i even kinda started to understand the world building. And after finishing i still don’t get a lot of it. There were just so many elements and made up future-lingo that were thrown in without a description.
The romance in this book was so confusing. First it seems like its an established relationship, then they say they aren’t together, then they kiss three times so as a reader i assumed that meant they were together now, but then they weren’t together again, and at the end they say they didnt even know the other liked them. It was Confusing and frustrating to read, and even without all the drama they still had no chemistry. The MC and LI barely interacted and when they did they didnt even seem to like each other.
All the characters feel very flat, and the main character didnt have any development and I found him very annoying. And the plot was all over the place, I could never keep track of what was supposed to be happening at any given moment. There were so many overly dramatic scene just thrown in and glossed over. And the whole Val thing frustrated me so much, she kept being set up and alluded to be a main character and just kept disappearing for hundreds of pages at a time. And by the end everyone just forgot about her all over again. The only reason I’m giving this a 2 instead of a 1, is because despite all its flaws it interested me enough that I didnt DNF it.
Firstly this book just threw me into the world with no explanation. It wasn’t until the halfway point until i even kinda started to understand the world building. And after finishing i still don’t get a lot of it. There were just so many elements and made up future-lingo that were thrown in without a description.
The romance in this book was so confusing. First it seems like its an established relationship, then they say they aren’t together, then they kiss three times so as a reader i assumed that meant they were together now, but then they weren’t together again, and at the end they say they didnt even know the other liked them. It was Confusing and frustrating to read, and even without all the drama they still had no chemistry. The MC and LI barely interacted and when they did they didnt even seem to like each other.
All the characters feel very flat, and the main character didnt have any development and I found him very annoying. And the plot was all over the place, I could never keep track of what was supposed to be happening at any given moment. There were so many overly dramatic scene just thrown in and glossed over. And the whole Val thing frustrated me so much, she kept being set up and alluded to be a main character and just kept disappearing for hundreds of pages at a time. And by the end everyone just forgot about her all over again. The only reason I’m giving this a 2 instead of a 1, is because despite all its flaws it interested me enough that I didnt DNF it.
March 9, 2021
I would like to thank the author and publisher for providing me a free copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!
As you all probably know, science fiction is not a genre I find myself liking a lot and I am trying to get into reading more of these books.
And now I’m wondering why the hell I never liked them before.
It was a little slow at first, but everything about it was so intricately written and I loved it more than I ever expected to.
I’m not going to get into the details of this book because I have a whole blog post dedicated to it, so if you’re interested to know more about Fragile Remedy, check that out! https://raniasramblingreads.wordpress...
As you all probably know, science fiction is not a genre I find myself liking a lot and I am trying to get into reading more of these books.
And now I’m wondering why the hell I never liked them before.
It was a little slow at first, but everything about it was so intricately written and I loved it more than I ever expected to.
I’m not going to get into the details of this book because I have a whole blog post dedicated to it, so if you’re interested to know more about Fragile Remedy, check that out! https://raniasramblingreads.wordpress...
February 13, 2021
I got this eARC from Netgalley in exhange for a honest review
2.75 stars.
I was a bit unsure about the story, but i liked Nate alot. He was very easy to like and grew on me pretty quickly. Though i was a bit unsure about his love interest, i liked him enoguh but did not feel attatched in any way though. But the writing as easy to follow and had a nice flow.
2.75 stars.
I was a bit unsure about the story, but i liked Nate alot. He was very easy to like and grew on me pretty quickly. Though i was a bit unsure about his love interest, i liked him enoguh but did not feel attatched in any way though. But the writing as easy to follow and had a nice flow.
Read
March 16, 2021Hello dear readers. With just two weeks until Fragile Remedy's launch, I want to make sure you have access to content warnings: https://www.mariamora.net/books
Thank you so much for letting Nate and his found family into you heart. Walk well.
Thank you so much for letting Nate and his found family into you heart. Walk well.
March 12, 2020
When the fatal lung rot breaks out in Gathos City, GEMs are created (Genetically Engineered Medi-tissue). Nate is one who was smuggled out of Gathos City and now lives in the slums of the Withers. He’s a tinker who hangs with a rag tag bunch. As GEMs get older though their health deteriorates and they need medicine called Remedy that is controlled by Gathos City. As chem addicts in the Withers start to cause issues Nate’s supply of Remedy dries up. Now he’s in a fight for his life.
I have never read anything quite like this before. The whole concept is new to me and unique. I really enjoyed the story line. Nate and his group of friends are so different from one another, but they work so well together. There are secrets that they all keep, but it’s for everyone’s safety. The characters are great too. Loyal and caring. The author does a great job with world building and paints a pretty vivid picture of the Withers for the reader.
My only negative thought on the book is that it dragged in some spots. Nate is very worried that others will find out that he’s a GEM and turn him in for money and he dwells on it. He’s also worried about his friends getting into trouble for having him around. Nate’s unconventional relationship with his Remedy dealer is a bit disturbing and I think Nate should have addressed it sooner.
All and all I enjoyed the book and I look forward to her next one.
(Advanced readers copy courtesy of NetGalley)
I have never read anything quite like this before. The whole concept is new to me and unique. I really enjoyed the story line. Nate and his group of friends are so different from one another, but they work so well together. There are secrets that they all keep, but it’s for everyone’s safety. The characters are great too. Loyal and caring. The author does a great job with world building and paints a pretty vivid picture of the Withers for the reader.
My only negative thought on the book is that it dragged in some spots. Nate is very worried that others will find out that he’s a GEM and turn him in for money and he dwells on it. He’s also worried about his friends getting into trouble for having him around. Nate’s unconventional relationship with his Remedy dealer is a bit disturbing and I think Nate should have addressed it sooner.
All and all I enjoyed the book and I look forward to her next one.
(Advanced readers copy courtesy of NetGalley)
June 27, 2021
On the one hand, I really liked this - I liked the characters, it had a found family which I loved, it was an interesting take on the dystopia genre. And I really enjoyed reading this, I could hardly put it down. But on the other hand, I kept seeing so much potential and ways in which this book would have become a clear 5 star read and even an all time favourite for me, and it felt so close I could almost touch it, but it just never quite lived up to that.
May 5, 2021
I really, really should have DNF'd this book.
It was sooooooo BORING.
Worldbuilding was pretty much non-existent.
Characters were not well drawn, other than perhaps Aldon.
I guess maybe there was a plot?
What even was this?
It was sooooooo BORING.
Worldbuilding was pretty much non-existent.
Characters were not well drawn, other than perhaps Aldon.
I guess maybe there was a plot?
What even was this?
March 26, 2021
Now that I am done with my sob fest, I'll try finding coherent words to describe this book. Honestly it was really difficuly for me to go through this one. It pained me so much. This is a sci-fi dystopian novel set in a post apocalyptic/ post pandemic world.
The writing is pretty straightforward and simple. The descriptions are really vivid and detailed that it actually gave me creeps and I am sure it will give me nightmares. Their world is dark, gritty and completely unforgiving. The writing is so raw that is bound to invoke emotions. The themes and topics dealt are heavy and dark. The whole tone of the story is very gloomy and bleak, with our squad trying to find what little hope they can.
The story follows Nate who is a GEM who are genetically engineered experiments initially made in order to cure the lung rot. As the blood of these GEMs are a source of huge benefits, people started harvesting and abusing them. Nate escapes to abandoned area of the city called Withers, where he runs with a gang barely surviving to meet his daily needs. But as he comes of a certain age his condition starts getting worse which can be only cured through a remedy which is very rare and highly regulated. In his battle for survival he gets caught up in the gang politics of Withers and brings down the dangers to his whole gang.
I liked Nate. He is burdened with the guilt of hiding his true self from his gang while he is struggling to just survive. He is so afraid of being found out yet he shows bravery when it comes to stand up for his gang. He is a great tinker and very loyal to his friends. I loved his relationship with Reed, Alden and Pixel. Oh how much I loved little Pix. I was so scared for her. Reed was a lovely character. He was an able leader, very principled who stuck to his beliefs even when it meant to let go off someone he truly cared for. I loved the little moments between Nate and Reed. Specially their game of wishes. That was just the cutest thing😍🥰. But my favorite has to be Alden. He had such a complex relationship with Nate. Even though he did so many questionable things in the past, he deeply cared for Nate. I agree that Alden's relationship with Nate was definitely problematic... but their chemistry was leaping off the pages. He was so tender and caring when Nate fell sick. My heart just melted.🥺 And then the hairbrush scene had to happen. I bawled my eyes in those moments. That has to be one of the most heart breaking things I have read.😭 All the characters were multi layered having so many shades and complexities. It was a delight to read about them.
All in all this one is a solid debut. I am really happy that I picked this up even though it made me cry so bad.
-->3.75
The writing is pretty straightforward and simple. The descriptions are really vivid and detailed that it actually gave me creeps and I am sure it will give me nightmares. Their world is dark, gritty and completely unforgiving. The writing is so raw that is bound to invoke emotions. The themes and topics dealt are heavy and dark. The whole tone of the story is very gloomy and bleak, with our squad trying to find what little hope they can.
The story follows Nate who is a GEM who are genetically engineered experiments initially made in order to cure the lung rot. As the blood of these GEMs are a source of huge benefits, people started harvesting and abusing them. Nate escapes to abandoned area of the city called Withers, where he runs with a gang barely surviving to meet his daily needs. But as he comes of a certain age his condition starts getting worse which can be only cured through a remedy which is very rare and highly regulated. In his battle for survival he gets caught up in the gang politics of Withers and brings down the dangers to his whole gang.
I liked Nate. He is burdened with the guilt of hiding his true self from his gang while he is struggling to just survive. He is so afraid of being found out yet he shows bravery when it comes to stand up for his gang. He is a great tinker and very loyal to his friends. I loved his relationship with Reed, Alden and Pixel. Oh how much I loved little Pix. I was so scared for her. Reed was a lovely character. He was an able leader, very principled who stuck to his beliefs even when it meant to let go off someone he truly cared for. I loved the little moments between Nate and Reed. Specially their game of wishes. That was just the cutest thing😍🥰. But my favorite has to be Alden. He had such a complex relationship with Nate. Even though he did so many questionable things in the past, he deeply cared for Nate. I agree that Alden's relationship with Nate was definitely problematic... but their chemistry was leaping off the pages. He was so tender and caring when Nate fell sick. My heart just melted.🥺 And then the hairbrush scene had to happen. I bawled my eyes in those moments. That has to be one of the most heart breaking things I have read.😭 All the characters were multi layered having so many shades and complexities. It was a delight to read about them.
All in all this one is a solid debut. I am really happy that I picked this up even though it made me cry so bad.
-->3.75
June 19, 2019
I had the opportunity to beta read FRAGILE REMEDY, and I have to say I was blown away. I’m a quick reader, sure, but I devoured this book in less than 36 hours.
The attention to detail, the captivating plot line, the dynamic character development, the well-developed universe, and the natural pace all brought me into Nate’s world like I was right there with him. AND being right there with him, I felt “all the feels” (as we say these days): the warmth of Nate’s relationships with “the gang;” the confusion when he didn’t have all the pieces fit together yet; and of course the mental overload of a long, action- and information-packed day.
In addition to the depth of this story, the way Nate’s attraction to Reed is approached by both the text itself and the characters it contains, is so natural, so unaffected, that for the time I was reading I completely forgot the state of the society in which we live. Just in time for Pride month (in the US), I felt privileged to enter a world in which, amongst all the battles Nate had to fight, a battle for his peers’ love and acceptance of his sexual identity was not one of them. [Extra bonus love for the casual way the trans character is accepted without question!]
All in all, this is one that I could read again and again, and likely will. It was such an honor to get to read FRAGILE REMEDY before the rest of the world, and I can’t wait to see how much everyone else loves it as much as I did.
The attention to detail, the captivating plot line, the dynamic character development, the well-developed universe, and the natural pace all brought me into Nate’s world like I was right there with him. AND being right there with him, I felt “all the feels” (as we say these days): the warmth of Nate’s relationships with “the gang;” the confusion when he didn’t have all the pieces fit together yet; and of course the mental overload of a long, action- and information-packed day.
In addition to the depth of this story, the way Nate’s attraction to Reed is approached by both the text itself and the characters it contains, is so natural, so unaffected, that for the time I was reading I completely forgot the state of the society in which we live. Just in time for Pride month (in the US), I felt privileged to enter a world in which, amongst all the battles Nate had to fight, a battle for his peers’ love and acceptance of his sexual identity was not one of them. [Extra bonus love for the casual way the trans character is accepted without question!]
All in all, this is one that I could read again and again, and likely will. It was such an honor to get to read FRAGILE REMEDY before the rest of the world, and I can’t wait to see how much everyone else loves it as much as I did.
January 31, 2020
Thanks to Flux and Netgalley for this wonderful book.
Sixteen-year-old Nate, a GEM (or genetically modified human) is trying to make his way on the streets of the quarantined island the Withers, to feed his gang by bartering ‘tech’, used parts of old machines. But when an explosion rocks the Withers, things change rapidly, and not for the better. Not only does Nate have to navigate an increasingly chaotic island, he has to do so while chronic illness hangs over him like the Sword of Damocles.
I can’t find words for how much I enjoyed this book. Not only does it tick the diversity boxes, it’s a fantastic story of addiction, found family and the power of big pharma. The writing hooked me from the first page, and the stakes were always high for Nate. The characters suffered real injury and there were meaningful consequences for their actions.
There was very little about this I didn’t like: maybe one reveal at the end felt a bit cliched.
I would have liked to see some of the consequences of the lung-rot. All we were told was that it had been cured using the GEMs. While it was a clever twist to have them work the way they did, I was confused as to why the city was still quarantined. As another reviewer pointed out, fleshing out the Withers’ relationship to Gathos City would have shed a bit more light on this.
Sixteen-year-old Nate, a GEM (or genetically modified human) is trying to make his way on the streets of the quarantined island the Withers, to feed his gang by bartering ‘tech’, used parts of old machines. But when an explosion rocks the Withers, things change rapidly, and not for the better. Not only does Nate have to navigate an increasingly chaotic island, he has to do so while chronic illness hangs over him like the Sword of Damocles.
I can’t find words for how much I enjoyed this book. Not only does it tick the diversity boxes, it’s a fantastic story of addiction, found family and the power of big pharma. The writing hooked me from the first page, and the stakes were always high for Nate. The characters suffered real injury and there were meaningful consequences for their actions.
There was very little about this I didn’t like: maybe one reveal at the end felt a bit cliched.
I would have liked to see some of the consequences of the lung-rot. All we were told was that it had been cured using the GEMs. While it was a clever twist to have them work the way they did, I was confused as to why the city was still quarantined. As another reviewer pointed out, fleshing out the Withers’ relationship to Gathos City would have shed a bit more light on this.
October 3, 2020
3.5
90% of this book was nate being subjected to torture but man i love the found family trope so much
90% of this book was nate being subjected to torture but man i love the found family trope so much
February 17, 2021
I was completely blown away by the young adult dystopian read! I immediately fell in love with Reed, Nate, and the rest of the gang. The world created by the author is a rich and layered tapestry. I loved the family dynamic of Reed's gang. The ending was perfect!
As an overall story, and as someone who gets really invested in characters, I found Fragile Remedy to be an entertaining read. There's a little something for everyone: a tad of yearning romance found family and the fight for survival in a dystopic world. Nate is a hidden GEM who's been smuggled out of Gathos City into the chem-addled Withers, and if he's made, who knows what people are willing to do for his "magic" blood. Ultimately, Nate must keep his identity a secret from everyone he loves, and still find Remedy, the only thing keeping him alive.
This was such a refreshing read for the dystopian genre. The world-building is rich and is revealed through clever narration. The characters are so nuanced, diverse, and fleshed out through their interactions, rather than just info-dumping backstories. The romance between the three leads was so palpable just from Nate's perspective, it's still resonating with me.
I really like how easily I was able to slide into this small corner of this book's universe. Although I wish we could have glimpsed more into Gathos City, I found that disconnect heightened the level of fear the Alley Cats had for their safety, from unseen dangers and overblown rumors.
This book is definitely not for the faint of heart. As much as I loved it, I did struggle with it for a long time. It was hard to get through and harder to experience all their hardship and everything they went through to make it to the other side.
Though this is not a relationship or love-focused story, I did enjoy the romance between Nate and Reed. But more than that I very much enjoyed the friendship between Alden and Nate, Alden wasn't a good person and he hurt a lot of people but he was still a fantastic character and I couldn't help but root for him and his adorable quirkiness.
All and all, I thoroughly enjoyed this read, and am I VERY excited for the rest of the world to enjoy it too. I will definitely be keeping my eyes peeled for more Ingrande Mora, she is a force to be reckoned with.
As an overall story, and as someone who gets really invested in characters, I found Fragile Remedy to be an entertaining read. There's a little something for everyone: a tad of yearning romance found family and the fight for survival in a dystopic world. Nate is a hidden GEM who's been smuggled out of Gathos City into the chem-addled Withers, and if he's made, who knows what people are willing to do for his "magic" blood. Ultimately, Nate must keep his identity a secret from everyone he loves, and still find Remedy, the only thing keeping him alive.
This was such a refreshing read for the dystopian genre. The world-building is rich and is revealed through clever narration. The characters are so nuanced, diverse, and fleshed out through their interactions, rather than just info-dumping backstories. The romance between the three leads was so palpable just from Nate's perspective, it's still resonating with me.
I really like how easily I was able to slide into this small corner of this book's universe. Although I wish we could have glimpsed more into Gathos City, I found that disconnect heightened the level of fear the Alley Cats had for their safety, from unseen dangers and overblown rumors.
This book is definitely not for the faint of heart. As much as I loved it, I did struggle with it for a long time. It was hard to get through and harder to experience all their hardship and everything they went through to make it to the other side.
Though this is not a relationship or love-focused story, I did enjoy the romance between Nate and Reed. But more than that I very much enjoyed the friendship between Alden and Nate, Alden wasn't a good person and he hurt a lot of people but he was still a fantastic character and I couldn't help but root for him and his adorable quirkiness.
All and all, I thoroughly enjoyed this read, and am I VERY excited for the rest of the world to enjoy it too. I will definitely be keeping my eyes peeled for more Ingrande Mora, she is a force to be reckoned with.
December 30, 2019
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and was interested because of the synopsis. I expected to like this book, I did not expect to LOVE IT wholeheartedly, but I did.
From the very first chapter I was hooked. I started reading at noon, and could not put it down. I ignored all my chores for the day and settled in with Nate as he navigated life in the slum.
FRAGILE MEMORY is not just a book, it is an experience. This book is Young Adult Dystopian Fiction at it's Finest.
Go to my blog to read my full review at http://bit.ly/FragileRemedy
DESCRIPTION:
"Sixteen-year-old Nate is a Gem—a Genetically Engineered Medical Surrogate—created by Gathos City scientists as a cure for the elite from the fatal lung rot ravaging the population. As a child, Nate was smuggled out of the laboratory where he was held captive and into the Withers—a quarantined, lawless region. He manages to survive by becoming a Tinker, fixing broken tech in exchange for food or a safe place to sleep. When he meets Reed, a kind and fiercely protective boy that makes his heart race, and his misfit gang of scavengers, Nate finds the family he’s always longed for—even if he can’t risk telling them what he is.
But Gathos created a genetic failsafe in their Gems—a flaw in their DNA that causes their health to rapidly deteriorate as they age unless they are regularly dosed with medication controlled by Gathos City. When violence erupts across the Withers, Nate’s illegal supply of medicine is cut off, and a vicious attack on Reed threatens to expose his secret. With time running out, Nate is left with only two options: work for a shadowy terrorist organization that has the means to keep him alive, or stay—and die—with the boy he loves."
FRAGILE MEMORY is not just a book, it is an experience. This book is Young Adult Dystopian Fiction at it's Finest.
http://bit.ly/FragileRemedy
From the very first chapter I was hooked. I started reading at noon, and could not put it down. I ignored all my chores for the day and settled in with Nate as he navigated life in the slum.
FRAGILE MEMORY is not just a book, it is an experience. This book is Young Adult Dystopian Fiction at it's Finest.
Go to my blog to read my full review at http://bit.ly/FragileRemedy
DESCRIPTION:
"Sixteen-year-old Nate is a Gem—a Genetically Engineered Medical Surrogate—created by Gathos City scientists as a cure for the elite from the fatal lung rot ravaging the population. As a child, Nate was smuggled out of the laboratory where he was held captive and into the Withers—a quarantined, lawless region. He manages to survive by becoming a Tinker, fixing broken tech in exchange for food or a safe place to sleep. When he meets Reed, a kind and fiercely protective boy that makes his heart race, and his misfit gang of scavengers, Nate finds the family he’s always longed for—even if he can’t risk telling them what he is.
But Gathos created a genetic failsafe in their Gems—a flaw in their DNA that causes their health to rapidly deteriorate as they age unless they are regularly dosed with medication controlled by Gathos City. When violence erupts across the Withers, Nate’s illegal supply of medicine is cut off, and a vicious attack on Reed threatens to expose his secret. With time running out, Nate is left with only two options: work for a shadowy terrorist organization that has the means to keep him alive, or stay—and die—with the boy he loves."
FRAGILE MEMORY is not just a book, it is an experience. This book is Young Adult Dystopian Fiction at it's Finest.
http://bit.ly/FragileRemedy
September 21, 2020
HOLY SHIT!
what an amazing read! seeing at this is Maria's debut novel, I am very surprised at the level from which she is starting..
The story follows Nate and his merry band of scavengers trying to survive in the lowest and poorest side of the city known as The Withers. Can I just say how strong and brave I think they all are because they have VIP passes on the world's worse Struggle Bus. Not only that but Nate is a GEM, which means he also struggles with making sure he has enough Remedy in his system in order to survive and function.
This book is definitely not for the faint of heart. As much as I loved it, I did struggle with it for a long time. It was hard to get through and harder to experience all their hardship and everything they went through to make it to the other side.
Though this is not a relationship or love-focused story, I did enjoy the romance between Nate and Reed. But more than that I very much enjoyed the friendship between Alden and Nate, Alden wasn't a good person and he hurt a lot of people but he was still a fantastic character and I couldn't help but root for him and his adorable quirkiness.
All and all, I thoroughly enjoyed this read and I am VERY excited for the rest of the world to enjoy it too. I will definitely be keeping my eyes peeled for more Ingrande Mora, she is a force to be reckoned with.
thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
what an amazing read! seeing at this is Maria's debut novel, I am very surprised at the level from which she is starting..
The story follows Nate and his merry band of scavengers trying to survive in the lowest and poorest side of the city known as The Withers. Can I just say how strong and brave I think they all are because they have VIP passes on the world's worse Struggle Bus. Not only that but Nate is a GEM, which means he also struggles with making sure he has enough Remedy in his system in order to survive and function.
This book is definitely not for the faint of heart. As much as I loved it, I did struggle with it for a long time. It was hard to get through and harder to experience all their hardship and everything they went through to make it to the other side.
Though this is not a relationship or love-focused story, I did enjoy the romance between Nate and Reed. But more than that I very much enjoyed the friendship between Alden and Nate, Alden wasn't a good person and he hurt a lot of people but he was still a fantastic character and I couldn't help but root for him and his adorable quirkiness.
All and all, I thoroughly enjoyed this read and I am VERY excited for the rest of the world to enjoy it too. I will definitely be keeping my eyes peeled for more Ingrande Mora, she is a force to be reckoned with.
thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
October 11, 2022
Keep going, Pixel. Keep going.
i don't know what it is about all the books i've been reading so far this year, but the fact that a majority of them have either been five-stars, made me cry, or both isn't lost on me.
this book is no exception.
the title completely makes me want to break down because the sincere hope that all these characters cling onto pervades this entire story and it all feels so fragile, that when something bad happened or that hope was stripped away from them, it felt like a punch to the gut.
i think one thing to speak of, first of all, is how much i loved this dystopian society. i loved how the author focused on these characters who were left to rot in a wasteland ravaged by illness in the past while those from a higher class got to live in their own utopia. very little in this story do we see these people who live a much finer life than these characters could ever hope for, and rather than feeling like a waste of potential in exploring this divide between these societies, it only further made me feel attached to characters like nate, reed, alden, pixie, juniper, so much. it spoke so much about how despite either having been left for dead or falling into a pit of survival, these people are still living and they still have something to grasp onto, even if all they seem is hopeless.
that doesn't make the trauma and poverty they face any less dark, and in fact, seeing the lengths each of these characters go to, to the point of self-destruction, wasn't something i could possibly ignore. in any other book unlike this one, it would be so easy to dislike these group of people who say and do things that can paint them to be unlikeable, or completely unforgivable. but because this book is what it is, because it stands so strongly on its own, it's clear that no matter you feel about them, seeing them at their lowest is enough to push you to the edge because you see how much they still healed each other, as much as they brought each other pain. one of the strongest aspects of the story was in the found family, a family that's fractured around the beginning stages of this book and yet still seems to be drawn back to each other because all they really have is each other.
you can speculate all you want about what could possibly happen for them if they were to live in this higher society, where stricter laws are in place and the people aren't as desperate in their survival because they live in comfort beyond all means. i think that's the one thing that tugs at my brain, the speculation of how these characters might have reacted to this strange place called Gathos City, but that's all that it really is: speculation, and i loved that. no matter what lays beyond for all of them, seeing an honest and stark look into what happens to those in the gallows and how they attempt to keep going felt like its own comfort, in a way. characters like alden and pixie, they charmed me so much. as sad as it was to see how they lived, what hit even harder was seeing how much tenderness was reflected in small moments.
nate being a GEM felt as if like coming with his own expiration date, and because of that, he pushes the people he loves away, because he didn't see what more he could live for if there's not that long for him--just as those in Gathos City believe about anyone who still lives in the Withers. seeing nate connect to the others and actually have people who are willing to fight for him was everything to me. each of these people weren't exempt from doing disappointing things, but to nate they meant so much to him, and being the main narrator, it resulted in them meaning just as much to me as the reader.
it meant even more seeing nate’s love for tinkering, reflected the same with another character pixie, because that cleverness with handling technology and being very hands-on with the scraps they were left to scavenge made for much sharper & grittier writing. the world building in this book was as immaculate as it was repulsive, and seeing how these characters slinked their way around this part of their city had me enraptured from the very first page. this vile mess never slowed residents down as most of them were constantly on the move in the quest for survival, and it created this dichotomy where it started to grow very familiar in this story and it was hard to picture these characters anywhere else, and that’s not as sad as you would think.
there's so much carnage in this book, and there is a character death that made me cry, but i'll always love when authors still manage to make me feel hope all the way up to the last page. that balance of light & darkness will never not make me feel emotional when i'm reading a story, because the end of this book suggests that there could be so much more explored in this dystopian world. maybe the science of those who are GEMS and stuff like Remedy, which keep GEMs like nate going, could be scratched at even deeper than it was in this story (which still had a lot of depth); maybe it would be satisfying to see the horror & surprise that Gathos City residents would certainly feel when faced with those in the Withers who are still here, even if it came at a cost. there's so many maybe's throughout this story, but i like how open the ending was. i don't think i can imagine that this author could have portrayed her characters in any other way, or given them any other fates, as much as it would relieve me if one of them had still been breathing in the end.
this book, ironically enough, did heal me in some way and as fragile as it seems, i'll never forget my reading experience because of that so that means a lot.
content warnings:
major: drug abuse, depiction of violence, fire/fire injury, death, descriptions of blood & injury, exploration of grief
minor: bits & pieces of gore, allusions to human trafficking
i don't know what it is about all the books i've been reading so far this year, but the fact that a majority of them have either been five-stars, made me cry, or both isn't lost on me.
this book is no exception.
the title completely makes me want to break down because the sincere hope that all these characters cling onto pervades this entire story and it all feels so fragile, that when something bad happened or that hope was stripped away from them, it felt like a punch to the gut.
i think one thing to speak of, first of all, is how much i loved this dystopian society. i loved how the author focused on these characters who were left to rot in a wasteland ravaged by illness in the past while those from a higher class got to live in their own utopia. very little in this story do we see these people who live a much finer life than these characters could ever hope for, and rather than feeling like a waste of potential in exploring this divide between these societies, it only further made me feel attached to characters like nate, reed, alden, pixie, juniper, so much. it spoke so much about how despite either having been left for dead or falling into a pit of survival, these people are still living and they still have something to grasp onto, even if all they seem is hopeless.
that doesn't make the trauma and poverty they face any less dark, and in fact, seeing the lengths each of these characters go to, to the point of self-destruction, wasn't something i could possibly ignore. in any other book unlike this one, it would be so easy to dislike these group of people who say and do things that can paint them to be unlikeable, or completely unforgivable. but because this book is what it is, because it stands so strongly on its own, it's clear that no matter you feel about them, seeing them at their lowest is enough to push you to the edge because you see how much they still healed each other, as much as they brought each other pain. one of the strongest aspects of the story was in the found family, a family that's fractured around the beginning stages of this book and yet still seems to be drawn back to each other because all they really have is each other.
you can speculate all you want about what could possibly happen for them if they were to live in this higher society, where stricter laws are in place and the people aren't as desperate in their survival because they live in comfort beyond all means. i think that's the one thing that tugs at my brain, the speculation of how these characters might have reacted to this strange place called Gathos City, but that's all that it really is: speculation, and i loved that. no matter what lays beyond for all of them, seeing an honest and stark look into what happens to those in the gallows and how they attempt to keep going felt like its own comfort, in a way. characters like alden and pixie, they charmed me so much. as sad as it was to see how they lived, what hit even harder was seeing how much tenderness was reflected in small moments.
nate being a GEM felt as if like coming with his own expiration date, and because of that, he pushes the people he loves away, because he didn't see what more he could live for if there's not that long for him--just as those in Gathos City believe about anyone who still lives in the Withers. seeing nate connect to the others and actually have people who are willing to fight for him was everything to me. each of these people weren't exempt from doing disappointing things, but to nate they meant so much to him, and being the main narrator, it resulted in them meaning just as much to me as the reader.
it meant even more seeing nate’s love for tinkering, reflected the same with another character pixie, because that cleverness with handling technology and being very hands-on with the scraps they were left to scavenge made for much sharper & grittier writing. the world building in this book was as immaculate as it was repulsive, and seeing how these characters slinked their way around this part of their city had me enraptured from the very first page. this vile mess never slowed residents down as most of them were constantly on the move in the quest for survival, and it created this dichotomy where it started to grow very familiar in this story and it was hard to picture these characters anywhere else, and that’s not as sad as you would think.
there's so much carnage in this book, and there is a character death that made me cry, but i'll always love when authors still manage to make me feel hope all the way up to the last page. that balance of light & darkness will never not make me feel emotional when i'm reading a story, because the end of this book suggests that there could be so much more explored in this dystopian world. maybe the science of those who are GEMS and stuff like Remedy, which keep GEMs like nate going, could be scratched at even deeper than it was in this story (which still had a lot of depth); maybe it would be satisfying to see the horror & surprise that Gathos City residents would certainly feel when faced with those in the Withers who are still here, even if it came at a cost. there's so many maybe's throughout this story, but i like how open the ending was. i don't think i can imagine that this author could have portrayed her characters in any other way, or given them any other fates, as much as it would relieve me if one of them had still been breathing in the end.
this book, ironically enough, did heal me in some way and as fragile as it seems, i'll never forget my reading experience because of that so that means a lot.
content warnings:
major: drug abuse, depiction of violence, fire/fire injury, death, descriptions of blood & injury, exploration of grief
minor: bits & pieces of gore, allusions to human trafficking
May 22, 2021
3.5 Stars? Don't know if I'll write a full review, but...
Alden is an imperfect person, but a perfect character, and I love him.
"I don't like people I dislike talking to people I do like."
"You don't like me."
Alden let out a deep sigh. "You tire me." Without another word, he folded himself over Nate's middle like a heavy blanket and passed out.
Only Alden could make falling asleep a dramatic exit.
Alden is an imperfect person, but a perfect character, and I love him.
February 23, 2020
When I first read the description for this book I knew it was something I wanted to read. It sounded like everything I could ever want in a book. Action, a gang of misfits, and a romance, yes please! After a couple of friends raved about it and encouraged me to read it, I did just that and, oh boy, I was not disappointed!
The story follows Nate, a GEM or Genetically Engineered Medi-tissue, who is taken away from the labs of Gathos City to the dangerous region outside the city gates, the Withers. From the word “go” this book throws readers into Nate’s fast paced life in the Withers and really doesn’t let up until the very last page. The plot and pace of this book are only a couple of the things that sucked me in when it comes to this book. Needing to find out what was going to happen to Nate and the other characters in this book kept me flipping pages for hours at a time.
Speaking of characters, they’re the next thing that made me fall so in love with this book. I think Nate was a great main character and getting to experience this world from his perspective allowed readers to get a real feel for the situation GEMs in the Withers are in. Reed and all the members of his gang, especially Pixel, were all absolutely wonderful characters who all contributed a different element to their little found family. Another thing I really enjoyed were the more morally gray characters. These are characters who aren’t pure evil, their motives for their bad deed are understandable, or in some cases justified. In my opinion these include characters like Alden, Agatha, and even Juniper. In particular, Alden was a character that at first I wasn’t sure I liked because of how he treated Nate, and while never justified, his action and motives became clearer as the story went on and put him in this morally gray area.
The final element of this book that really caught my attention and allowed my to immerse myself in the story was the world building. Being able to picture events and location in a book greatly affect my ability to enjoy that story, as I’m sure is the case with most readers. I believe Maria Ingrande Mora does an excellent job with her descriptions of the Withers and all the other locations throughout this story and the eve that occur within. I think she also does a fabulous job of giving backstory in a way that while informative does not hinder the pace of the overall story.
From its fast paced plot to it’s amazing cast of characters and world building, Fragile Remedy was everything I hoped it would be and more! I’m unsure whether or not this is an intended series, but I would be more than happy to read more about any member of the Alley Cats!
I would like to thank Netgalley for sending me an advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The story follows Nate, a GEM or Genetically Engineered Medi-tissue, who is taken away from the labs of Gathos City to the dangerous region outside the city gates, the Withers. From the word “go” this book throws readers into Nate’s fast paced life in the Withers and really doesn’t let up until the very last page. The plot and pace of this book are only a couple of the things that sucked me in when it comes to this book. Needing to find out what was going to happen to Nate and the other characters in this book kept me flipping pages for hours at a time.
Speaking of characters, they’re the next thing that made me fall so in love with this book. I think Nate was a great main character and getting to experience this world from his perspective allowed readers to get a real feel for the situation GEMs in the Withers are in. Reed and all the members of his gang, especially Pixel, were all absolutely wonderful characters who all contributed a different element to their little found family. Another thing I really enjoyed were the more morally gray characters. These are characters who aren’t pure evil, their motives for their bad deed are understandable, or in some cases justified. In my opinion these include characters like Alden, Agatha, and even Juniper. In particular, Alden was a character that at first I wasn’t sure I liked because of how he treated Nate, and while never justified, his action and motives became clearer as the story went on and put him in this morally gray area.
The final element of this book that really caught my attention and allowed my to immerse myself in the story was the world building. Being able to picture events and location in a book greatly affect my ability to enjoy that story, as I’m sure is the case with most readers. I believe Maria Ingrande Mora does an excellent job with her descriptions of the Withers and all the other locations throughout this story and the eve that occur within. I think she also does a fabulous job of giving backstory in a way that while informative does not hinder the pace of the overall story.
From its fast paced plot to it’s amazing cast of characters and world building, Fragile Remedy was everything I hoped it would be and more! I’m unsure whether or not this is an intended series, but I would be more than happy to read more about any member of the Alley Cats!
I would like to thank Netgalley for sending me an advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 15, 2020
** this ARC was provided by the publisher in exchange for a honest review
4.5/5
As I first read the description of this book, I was both intrigued and sure that I was going to like this book.
And I was right.
As a real fan of a good SF/dystopian book, I truly enjoyed ‘Fragile Remedy’ for this ‘The Island’ vibes. The set-up was clear and steady and I was rapidly immersed in the universe and the conflict between Gathos City and the Withers. Dystopian worlds have the tendency of looking a bit the same with a repressive and conservative regime, but I like that this book went a bit further from that especially by questioning the link that exists between wealth and health, the use of of technology on our own bodies. I think pain has never been so well-written in that kind of books and even if it was sometimes quite hard to read (thanks to the beautiful writing-style) I really liked that part of the story.
Pain is nor a motivation or a determination for our main character Nate. He was by far my favorite character of the book because he was complexed and clear as water at the same time. He remains true to himself, true to his heart, without being this big hero. You can always find a way to my heart with the trope of the hero-who-doesn’t-realise-he-is-one. And Nate is one of a kind.
I loved the relationship between the characters. The whole « family is what you choose » is something that always works in that kind of books when all the members of the family have this marvelous connection and personalities. The slow passion that settles between Nate and Reed was absolutely beautiful ; I love how the physical contacts and the looks were written like it was something forbidden but so much desired.
I don’t want to spoil anything so I’ll just leave my review there. But this book is fantastic. I could not believe it was a debut novel as I was reading it. A major tour de force!
(queer rep- POC - m/m)
4.5/5
As I first read the description of this book, I was both intrigued and sure that I was going to like this book.
And I was right.
As a real fan of a good SF/dystopian book, I truly enjoyed ‘Fragile Remedy’ for this ‘The Island’ vibes. The set-up was clear and steady and I was rapidly immersed in the universe and the conflict between Gathos City and the Withers. Dystopian worlds have the tendency of looking a bit the same with a repressive and conservative regime, but I like that this book went a bit further from that especially by questioning the link that exists between wealth and health, the use of of technology on our own bodies. I think pain has never been so well-written in that kind of books and even if it was sometimes quite hard to read (thanks to the beautiful writing-style) I really liked that part of the story.
Pain is nor a motivation or a determination for our main character Nate. He was by far my favorite character of the book because he was complexed and clear as water at the same time. He remains true to himself, true to his heart, without being this big hero. You can always find a way to my heart with the trope of the hero-who-doesn’t-realise-he-is-one. And Nate is one of a kind.
I loved the relationship between the characters. The whole « family is what you choose » is something that always works in that kind of books when all the members of the family have this marvelous connection and personalities. The slow passion that settles between Nate and Reed was absolutely beautiful ; I love how the physical contacts and the looks were written like it was something forbidden but so much desired.
I don’t want to spoil anything so I’ll just leave my review there. But this book is fantastic. I could not believe it was a debut novel as I was reading it. A major tour de force!
(queer rep- POC - m/m)
March 12, 2021
4.5 stars!!! (out March 9th, NOW!!!)
**ARC provided by NetGalley for an honest review.**
#FragileRemedy #NetGalley
Pros:
+ setting: gritty, falling-apart, dystopian Withers (vs. walled Gathos city "utopia" which we see from afar)
+ I loved Nate (the MC). He's a misunderstood, loyal, long-suffering cinnamon roll who has a gift for Tinkering. He's also a GEM (Genetically Engineered Medi-Tissue) in hiding.
+ human-GEM(lab-born "special" humans) elements
+ I loved Reed, the leader of the scavenger gang/found family Nate joins. Reed is strong, kind, and just a good person.
+ a slow-burn m/m romance done so perfectly that my heart nearly couldn't take it
+ a beautiful found family (Reed's scavenger gang) full of diversity (there's a trans woman, POC MC, and m/m romance)
+ Mora's writing style is addictive. I couldn't stop reading.
+ Alden. Alden, Adlen, Alden. What a masterfully done morally-grey character. Drug dealer, addict, loyal friend, loving grandson. One of my fave characters.
Neutral:
/ the book doesn't wrap up because it's a series (which I didn't know going in)
/ there are many scenes with needles/drawing blood (aka my #1 fear) which freaked me out, but not everyone feels that way (and it was very necessary to the plot)
Cons:
- a few plot twists were easily guessed
- a bit of a 1-dimensional antagonist, although we do get a bit of rounding out eventually
TW: graphic depictions of needle use (drawing blood), physical violence, drug use (on and off-page), burning alive (on and off-page), train crash, prostitution (off-page), car crash (off-page), death, funeral fire, a mutually parasitic-toxic friendship
**ARC provided by NetGalley for an honest review.**
#FragileRemedy #NetGalley
Pros:
+ setting: gritty, falling-apart, dystopian Withers (vs. walled Gathos city "utopia" which we see from afar)
+ I loved Nate (the MC). He's a misunderstood, loyal, long-suffering cinnamon roll who has a gift for Tinkering. He's also a GEM (Genetically Engineered Medi-Tissue) in hiding.
+ human-GEM(lab-born "special" humans) elements
+ I loved Reed, the leader of the scavenger gang/found family Nate joins. Reed is strong, kind, and just a good person.
+ a slow-burn m/m romance done so perfectly that my heart nearly couldn't take it
+ a beautiful found family (Reed's scavenger gang) full of diversity (there's a trans woman, POC MC, and m/m romance)
+ Mora's writing style is addictive. I couldn't stop reading.
+ Alden. Alden, Adlen, Alden. What a masterfully done morally-grey character. Drug dealer, addict, loyal friend, loving grandson. One of my fave characters.
Neutral:
/ the book doesn't wrap up because it's a series (which I didn't know going in)
/ there are many scenes with needles/drawing blood (aka my #1 fear) which freaked me out, but not everyone feels that way (and it was very necessary to the plot)
Cons:
- a few plot twists were easily guessed
- a bit of a 1-dimensional antagonist, although we do get a bit of rounding out eventually
TW: graphic depictions of needle use (drawing blood), physical violence, drug use (on and off-page), burning alive (on and off-page), train crash, prostitution (off-page), car crash (off-page), death, funeral fire, a mutually parasitic-toxic friendship
April 23, 2021
Thank you so much to Flux for sending me a copy of this book, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review!
4.5 stars
In a city left a wasteland, after the deadly lung-rot spread through it, Nate ekes out a living selling tech, to help his small gang of friends survive. None of them know he’s a GEM, someone genetically created for their blood to cure lung rot. If anyone knew what he was, they’d turn him back over to his creators, to be drained for the rest of his short life. Although, his life may be short anyway. Without a certain remedy, Nate and GEMs like him always die young and the remedy is running out.
I love a good dystopian book and Fragile Remedy managed to be both nail biting and just plain entertaining. I loved Nate’s gang of unlikely friendship and his complicated relationship with the man who took him in when he was first found. With the city full of people addicted to a drug called Chem, barely any food and ‘Breakers’ looking for people like Nate around every corner, the Withers, where he lives, is a dangerous, desperate place. The actions of the Chem addicted were a little over the top, but that’s the only real criticism I had.
Was Fragile Remedy a believable dystopian story? Not really. But was it fun? Absolutely!
4.5 stars
In a city left a wasteland, after the deadly lung-rot spread through it, Nate ekes out a living selling tech, to help his small gang of friends survive. None of them know he’s a GEM, someone genetically created for their blood to cure lung rot. If anyone knew what he was, they’d turn him back over to his creators, to be drained for the rest of his short life. Although, his life may be short anyway. Without a certain remedy, Nate and GEMs like him always die young and the remedy is running out.
I love a good dystopian book and Fragile Remedy managed to be both nail biting and just plain entertaining. I loved Nate’s gang of unlikely friendship and his complicated relationship with the man who took him in when he was first found. With the city full of people addicted to a drug called Chem, barely any food and ‘Breakers’ looking for people like Nate around every corner, the Withers, where he lives, is a dangerous, desperate place. The actions of the Chem addicted were a little over the top, but that’s the only real criticism I had.
Was Fragile Remedy a believable dystopian story? Not really. But was it fun? Absolutely!
February 15, 2021
★★★☆☆ 3/5
thank you to flux and netgallery for the arc!
i liked this one! the worldbuilding was SO incredibly rich and had so much potential, but the plot kind of skipped over the interesting stuff, and was just... meh. the book was kind of all over the place and super unpredictable, and not really in a fun way. i did connect with all of the characters almost instantly, and i thought they were all very well developed!
thank you to flux and netgallery for the arc!
i liked this one! the worldbuilding was SO incredibly rich and had so much potential, but the plot kind of skipped over the interesting stuff, and was just... meh. the book was kind of all over the place and super unpredictable, and not really in a fun way. i did connect with all of the characters almost instantly, and i thought they were all very well developed!
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