The Rage Room

by Lisa de Nikolits

What if you made the worst mistake of your life and got the chance to fix it? Only you made it so much worse? From the incomparable crafter of nine cross-genre works of fiction, Lisa de Nikolits expands her horizons to pen a grab- you-by-the-throat, feminist speculative-fiction thriller in the style of Groundhog Day meets The Matrix.

The perfect father kills his family on Christmas Eve, and tries to undo his actions by jumping back in time. The result is murder and mayhem in dystopia. Set in 2055, the world is run by robots and virtual data, while the weather is controlled by satellite dishes. Arts and culture are no more than distant memories. People are angry, placated by prescribed visits to rage rooms to vent their boredom, fury, and discontent. Beneath the sunny skies and behind the garbage-free suburban McMansions live deeply disturbed, materialistic families.

During his time travels and increasingly desperate attempts to reserve his colossal mistake, Sharps Barkley meets the leader of the Eden Collective, a feminist army determined to save the Earth by removing all artificial intelligence and letting the Earth restore itself—if necessary, at the expense of mankind. The Eden Collective uses data gathered from the rage rooms to analyze and predict the potential and actions needed for the Earth to reset and they need to prove that time travel is an effective tool. If Sharps can go back and save his children, then there is hope for the future. Sharps is the 49th experiment and his success is pivotal. Can love prevail over anger?

The Rage Room has a multi-layered plot that is fueled by a feminist-driven courage to take charge and save the world as it exposes the effects of an increasingly digital age on our lives and, ultimately, our humanity.

“In her latest captivating book, Lisa de Nikolits proffers not only a roller coaster of entertainment, but also, sharp political commentary in complicated times. The Rage Room is an intricately woven dystopian world, rich in strong female characters who easily whisk readers to a world of futuristic follies. Move over George Orwell—De Nikolits shows us how the future can be scary, exciting, and above all, female.”
—Kelly S. Thompson, national bestselling author of Girls Need Not Apply: Field Notes from the Forces

“Wow, what a ride! Lisa de Nikolits has written a pulse-pounding thriller set in a troubled future that might just be ours. We see the seeds of The Rage Room in our own digital landscape. Mind-bending yet all too believable in the hands of a masterful storyteller.”
—Terry Fallis, two-time winner of the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour

Genres: Fiction, Dystopia, Science Fiction

300 pages, Paperback

Published October 30, 2020

About the author

Lisa de Nikolits is the author of twelve traditionally published novels. That Time I Killed You is forthcoming in 2026 (Level Best Books).

12. “In her new book MAD DOG AND THE SEA DRAGON, Lisa de Nikolits lends her literary talents to noir, bringing wiseguy mobsters to the new millennium. She brings wiseguy mobsters to the new millennium. She's mastered spec-fic, thrillers, sci-fi, drama, and more; and now, with MAD DOG AND THE SEA DRAGON, Lisa de Nikolits turns to noir!” – AllLitUp.ca

Mad Dog and the Sea Dragon is noir thriller. Christopher Moore comes to mind, or Carl Hiaasen with a dash of Quentin Tarantino, all bundled up in a 50's-styled gangster novel set in modern day times.

The dropdead-gorgeous protagonist, Jessica, dresses like a Hollywood movie star but she's razor sharp. She likes to hang out with Daisy, her leafy sea dragon pal while she waits for her mob boss lover, Enzo Esposito, take her out on the town. Enzo's a big fan of Weegee, the 1940's true crime photographer, and what Jessica discovers, will shock her and put her life in danger. She'll need all her wits about her to get out alive.

11. Everything You Dream is Real: "In this darkly funny, politically charged follow up, de Nikolits, always a fearless writer, taking no prisoners. Whether you've read The Rage Room or not, Everything You Dream is Real is a searing, accessible fable for our collective fears and weaknesses, as fun as it is thought-provoking."

10. The Rage Room: “In her latest captivating book, Lisa de Nikolits proffers not only a roller coaster of entertainment, but also, sharp political commentary in complicated times. The Rage Room is an intricately woven dystopian world, rich in strong female characters who easily whisk readers to a world of futuristic follies. Move over George Orwell—De Nikolits shows us how the future can be scary, exciting, and above all, female.”
—Kelly S. Thompson, national bestselling author of Girls Need Not Apply: Field Notes from the Forces

“Wow, what a ride! Lisa de Nikolits has written a pulse-pounding thriller set in a troubled future that might just be ours. We see the seeds of The Rage Room in our own digital landscape. Mind-bending yet all too believable in the hands of a masterful storyteller.”
—Terry Fallis, two-time winner of the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour

9. The Occult Persuasion and The Anarchist's Solution: "Lisa de Nikolits sets readers on a rollercoaster ride of clever twists and unexpected turns. The Occult Persuasion and the Anarchist’s Solution is a lot of fun and filled with some believable, yet zany characters. It bounces between the viewpoints of Lyndon and Margaux, a retired couple whose marriage speeds steadily downhill after Lyndon decides to call it quits and runs off. It’s the ultimate story of marriage meltdown told in a style all Lisa’s own, and this one should be on everybody’s must-read list." –Dietrich Kalteis, author of Zero Avenue

8. Rotten Peaches, "Wow. Just wow. Lisa de Nikolits’ Rotten Peaches blew me away. A dark, compulsive, and addictive story in which the characters’ secrets and needs conflict with each other and fold back in on themselves in an ever-tightening noose, Rotten Peaches will keep readers gripped until the very last page. Highly recommended!" —Karen Dionne, internationally bestselling author of The Marsh King’s Daughter

7. No Fury Like That, a murder mystery with excellent reviews by Metroland Media and high profile international crime writers. No Fury Like That will be published in Italian, under the title Una furia dell'altro mondo, in 2019.

6. The Nearly Girl was released to rave reviews by magazines, literary journals and readers.

5. Between The Cracks She Fell was released in August of 2015 and received excellent reviews in magazines as well as literary journals. It won the Bronze IPPY Award for Popular Fiction.

4. The Witchdoctor’s Bones launched in Spring 2014 to acclaim from Canadian Living magazine and many

Reviews

[Danielle's · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every so often I like to choose a book that’s outside my usual genre. The Rage Room was that wild card for me and I really enjoyed it. It’s set in a dystopian world which I’m a fan of, however, this was a little different as our main character is found there by his own fault.

Sharps Barkley wants to change the world using time travel but everyone knows changing things has a ripple effect. Sharps finds himself in the Rage Room. His new reality isn’t pleasant but he gets through it with dark twisted humour and a chance to explore his new reality.

Sharps isn’t the hero type but he is entertaining. Set in 2055 we explore the future with the humour of the past. This is an undesirable world for Sharps right til the end. Can he find redemption or will he find his worth?

*This isn’t a romance novel. I think it’s classed as feminist fiction. It’s an interesting thriller which kept me engaged right till the end.

*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review as part of a blog tour. The writing style is good and the creative world comes to life.

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the two other de Nikolits novels which I've read so far I was expecting a slightly off-kilter, sometimes laugh-out-loud funny, sometime satirical, and always propulsive take on the foibles and concerns of our world. I wasn't disappointed.

We have a near future dystopia. Not the kind of dystopia one reads all too often. So, not a climate dystopia, not a big corporations rule the world dystopia, not a Nazis / communists / or some stand-in for them dystopia, and not ... well, you get the idea.

We have Rage Rooms, at least fictional ones. They really shouldn't be fictional. If they were not as tightly controlled as those in the novel, interpersonal communications and interior lives may just be more calm. And I would want one. Just by reading the news one can make lists of prominent figures who need - and could use - one.

And, we have time travel. The actual Jonbar Hinge is hardly the point. Like most time travel stories the point is to "fix" something. And, as well know, fixing things in the present by altering something the past is fraught, and not at all simple.

Much of the character exploration is found in these increasingly futile efforts to make the change, that very small change, which is meant to fix all.

I think I've managed to comment without committing spoiler-age. If you've been paying attention you'll note that de Nikolits has manged to (very successfully) juggle three separate science fictional concepts to tell a story which some view as feminist. If by feminist one means written by a woman with today's female sensibilities then sure, you can call it that. But what I read was simply a superb novel written in the wholly original and patent-able de Nikolits style.

More please.

[Jesse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, what a trip! This time travel story is all over the place! Interesting ideas about a possible dystopian future.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

WOW! What a ride through this dystopian world of time travel and righting wrongs. And of course, the butterfly effect of most time travel here changes not just the past but the future as well, and the protagonist who meddles with time. Not like anything else I've read.

[lea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was getting Fahrenheit 451 and Scythe vibes in the beginning of this. This book had so much going on it was hard to follow at times and I think I liked the premise more than how the book actually ended up. Some of the futuristic elements were interesting and I weirdly could see some of them happening for real. I found none of the characters to be really likeable and some I really hated. I just don't think this book was for me but I appreciate what it was trying to say.

Thanks so much to Netgalley and Publishers for a copy to review.

[Westveil Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a complimentary review copy of The Rage Room from the author via Silver Dagger Book Tours in exchange for an honest review as part of my participation in the blog tour for this title. Thank you to Lisa and Silver Dagger for this opportunity! This has not swayed my opinion. My thoughts are my own and my review is honest.

Set (mostly) in the not too distant future of 2055, Sharps Barkley lives in a world where an Orwellian overlord named Minnie controls everything, access to the internet has been revoked and replaced with interconnected brain implants, hobbyist horticulture and live pet ownership are crimes, and the weather is scheduled. Oh, and everyone takes out their anger and frustration in scheduled sessions at rage rooms where they're free to destroy what they wish until the clock runs out. Sharps is a salesman, making his living selling the latest crap through your brain implants and always saying yes to his boss and father in law. On the outside he's handsome and powerful. On the inside? He's a trembling, neurotic ball of fear and anxiety. The powerful women in his life seem to be pushing for a return to a natural world. His addict wife wants more babies she isn't fit to care for. Enter time travel, attempts to fix and reset the world, and the decision that his family is better off dead.

The Rage Room is a wild ride that held me hostage and kept me turning pages until I had finished in a single day. It's a little bit 1984, a little bit Farenheit 451, just a hint of Psycho, and a whole lot of cyberpunk dystopian thriller of its own unique flavour.

I hated the man Sharps pretends to be and immediately loved and pittied the broken shadow of a man he actually is on the inside. I couldn't help but notice that he shares a surname with a neuroticly fearful and holo-addicted lieutenant in Star Trek: The Next Generation, and I think I caught some Trek references here and there, so I sincerely hope the name was intentionally chosen as an easter egg for us Trekkies.

In the beginning, as Sharps is struggling to return to work after his year long paternity leave following the birth of his first child, I found it intriguing, oddly encouraging, and at the same time uncomfortable to read a overblown verison of the post-partum anxiety experience I'm familiar with, but in the father while the mother goes about her sugar baby addict life without a care in the world. I knew from that early stage that this book would be full of feminist speculation and criticism of our world, and I was so ready for it.

My one complaint is that I really, truly did not need such a complete play by play of conceiving the children. Yes it's a mockery of the babymaker role turned on its head, but I could have done with being left to my own imagination a little more.

All in all this is a great, riveting story that writers of the past like Swift and Orwell would be proud of, but with the sort feminist spin a cis man could never write, and the techno-horror only imaginable by someone living in the 21st century.

Content warning: violence, murder, vivid description of sexual acts, forced medical procedures, and all the oppressive nature expected of a dystopian setting.

--
I read this title for a blog tour! To read the rest of the post and gain easy access to the rest of the tour, visit: www.westveilpublishing.com/?p=3525

[Liz (Quirky Cat) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of The Rage Room in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Lisa de Nikolits' newest novel, The Rage Room, is an impassioned feminist and dystopian fiction, one that is alarming familiar in tone to that of 1984.

Do-overs. It's a concept we've all dreamed about. The chance to fix our mistakes. Both the minor and the major concerns of our past. Yet it's also a fictional concept, that is, until Sharps messed up big time – and got the opportunity of his life.

He's been given the rare chance to go back in time and fixed the wrongs he's made. Not all of them, to be sure. But certainly the biggest mistakes of his life. Actions that he normally never could have taken back.

Sharp's journey may sound like a dream come true, but the complexity of the situation is quickly made apparent, all while raising ethical and moral debates left and right.

“I couldn't let my little guy smell the fear on me. I had to get a grip on things.”

The Rage Room is an intriguing and dark piece of work, let me tell you that much. This is not a novel you pick up for the bubblies, and that's okay. It hits on many similar notes to that of 1984, but with a significantly stronger leaning towards feminist goals and ideology.

For that reason alone, it truly was fascinating to read. I'll confess that it's pretty difficult to like Sharps, but then again, I'm not certain that we're supposed to. He's merely a pawn in this dystopian world – one who has so much less control than he thought. It's alarming and thought-provoking, all in one. That's why I found myself unable to look away, eagerly seeking what next consequence there would be popping up into Sharp's life.

The Rage Room is marketed as a cross between Groundhog Day and The Matrix, both of which are accurate comparisons. I'd like to throw one more into the mix: The Future of Another Timeline. In both instances, the author sought to raise important and difficult conversations through the use of time travel and so much more.

Lisa de Nikolits' novel defies genres, as it merges dystopian, feminist fiction, science fiction, and thriller elements all into one. It's chilling and darling, and it will leave an impression on the minds of its readers.

Check out more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks

[Janice Desroches · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lisa de Nikolits’ The Rage Room, a book Nikolits’ calls speculative prediction, at times evokes the very emotion in us that the title clearly hints that it might. Nikolit's book is set in 2055 where we find the problems of our current world magnified to the point of making it an almost unrecognizable distant memory of the past. The world of 2055 is filled with deeply disturbed people with minimal regard for the welfare of others or the welfare of the planet. We get a glimpse into the future that just might be our own if we choose not to begin to make positive changes now, a plastic world of ever-increasing consumerism, destruction of nature and art, twisted religion and abuse, obsession with looks, all filled with rage which is the driving force behind it all. Prescribed visits to rage rooms act as quick fixes for the anger, boredom, and discontent that plaques the world while hiding disturbing governmental motives at the root of it all. We are taken along on a very disturbing journey through time with Sharps Barkley as he jumps back in time to try to change the choice of his past (killing his wife and kids on Christmas Eve). Barkley finds that his continued regard for only his own self-interests often stand in the way of positive change. Brace yourself for a rage filled journey through time which is sprinkled with humour along the way.

[Angelique · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a weird and wonderful tale.

I Received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

The Rage Room is a dystopian style novel set in the not too distant future. Seriously. 2055 is practically around the corner – which just adds to the creep factor the book already has going for it. Sparks, our neurotic main character kind of messes up his perfectly (on the outside) ordered life and goes on an epic time travel adventure to try and fix his mistakes.

This book takes you on a wonderful journey of self discovery (on Sparks’ side), crazy in laws, some serious violence and a story line that keeps you on the edge of the seat from the word go.

The feminist feel that is brought into the book only adds to the (what I feel) is a completely plausible future which in turns just makes this book even more intense and interesting read. Very thrilling, exciting and really damn difficult to put down.

Ms De Nikolits really created a very believable and colourful world. I am very excited to have come across a new to me author and cannot wait to dig into some more of her work.

[Madona Skaff · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Rage Room’s intricate dystopian world of 2055 can be easily extrapolated from what’s happening today. However the author takes it a step further. She has also populated the world with well developed characters, each with their own unique voices. The main character, Sharps Barkley is someone you can relate to, feel sorry for, occasionally want to strangle – in other words he’s a real person. When Sharps murders his family, then immediately regrets it, he has the opportunity to travel back in time to ‘fix things. Turns out it’s not as straightforward as he thought.

Just when you think you’ve figured things out, the plot takes an unexpected twist. While you’re racing to finish the book in the early hours of the morning because you know you can’t sleep until you find out what happens – the author twists the plot at least two more times.

[Rosemary McCracken · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lisa de Nikolits holds up a mirror to our society in her latest dark thriller, The Rage Room, set in a near dystopian future. Our high-tech world, our consumer values, our political leaders are all held up for scrutiny. Chilling and unsettling, The Rage Room also a fun read and a very FUNNY read at times. The tale's hapless protagonist is Sharps Barkley, whose hero’s journey takes him back in time trying to right his unspeakable wrongs. De Nikolits is at the top of her game as she plays and replays the day Shapes goes AWOL, making him return multiple times desperately seeking redemption. But nothing goes his way. Full of twists and turns, The Rage Room will stay with you long after you turn its final page.
Rosemary McCracken

[Tan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating twist on the time travel narrative.

[Jim Fisher · Rating 4 out of 5]

This just might be Lisa's best novel yet. 😇

[Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Rage Room is eerie and creepy and just not quite right. Yet it's so easy to imagine it being part of our (maybe not so distant) future. Add in some time-travel and a group of women determined to save and heal the earth and you have the perfect recipe for a chilling, gripping story that you won't want to put down. A must-read for any fan of the dystopian genre.

[Terri Favro · Rating 5 out of 5]

What would you do if committed a horrific act and had the opportunity to go back in time and correct it? That's the pivot point of this fast-paced, gripping novel. A dystopian version of "Groundhog Day" with a touch of "The Matrix"...the time travelling anti-hero, Sharps, discovers that when you change the Past, you fix one problem and create a whole host of others. Darkly funny, the novel is set in a world where robots rule the roost and "branding" (with amusingly ridiculous, but believable, product names) is the main livelihood...where climate is tightly controlled, no one has their own teeth (for reasons I won't reveal but turn out to be key to a central plot twist), and people let off steam in (supposedly safely) in Rage Rooms. It's all too easy to believe this is the world we're actually heading for in 2055 (the year the book is set).

[M.H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping thriller with a prescient view of the dark and light of our present times. I'm a huge fan of Lisa's work and in awe of her wild creativity and vision. Beautifully written as always, The Rage Room, defies easy categorization into a specific genre - like all great books. Definitely a must read!

[Stacy · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF at 50%.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced audio book in exchange for an honest review.

I tried really hard to finish this book but at 51% I decided to stop listening. Maybe I’ll go back at some point. If it was a actual book I would have skimmed through and read the last chapter for closure.

There were some interesting futuristic ideas of what the world could look like in 2055. However, Sharps and the other characters are all so unlikeable they didn’t grab me to continue listening.

The narration was well done and easy to listen to.

[Jacquie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the writing, the strange dystopia, the sharp observations about consumer culture, and the difficult nature of the "protagonist". Unfortunately I got very disoriented by the sudden reveal and revelations at the very end of the book, which changed the entire tone for me. Not to say I didn't appreciate the ending, but for its unexpectedness it felt rushed.

[Chloecastrataro · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book absolutely sucked, it’s not feminist at all. There were buzzwords used but the only feminist thing was the fact that the protagonist suffered (hes trash). The main character is super unlikeable which didn’t deter me but there was no character development at all. He’s so unlikeable it was hard to actually get into it. It was an interesting take on the regular time travel story, but all the explanation and scifi technology was crammed into the last chapter and made no sense. I don’t even know what the point was at the end. I love scifi and dystopian books but this was just so messy and poorly done. I liked the writing style as it was funny and engaging. I stayed because the time jumps were the most interesting part but everything besides that sucked. I almost didn’t finish but I was like 10 pages from the end.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A dystopian future where corporations invent nonsense for the rest of us to buy. Quirky characters made this book come alive. Nicely done!

[Lisa Nikolits · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so excited about this book! Here are some fabulous reviews by early readers of the book!

“In her latest captivating book, Lisa de Nikolits proffers not only a roller coaster of entertainment, but also, sharp political commentary in complicated times. The Rage Room is an intricately woven dystopian world, rich in strong female characters who easily whisk readers to a world of futuristic follies. Move over George Orwell—de Nikolits shows us how the future can be scary, exciting, and above all, female.”
—Kelly S. Thompson, national bestselling author of Girls Need Not Apply: Field Notes from the Forces

“Wow, what a ride! Lisa de Nikolits has written a pulse-pounding thriller set in a troubled future that might just be ours. We see the seeds of The Rage Room in our own digital landscape. Mind-bending yet all too believable in the hands of a masterful storyteller.”
—Terry Fallis, two-time winner of the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour

“If dystopian speculative fiction is your thing, with the enticement of time travel, you won’t go wrong with The Rage Room. The world de Nikolits has built is utterly fascinating, and quite horrific, yet believable. I sympathized with the main character, even though he is flawed, but that makes the story even more interesting. What a ride! The plot ratchets up like a train speeding down the tracks out of control. Gripping tension, and at the same time, highly complex, with multiple time travel redos and memories overlapping. I found that fascinating. I was absolutely riveted, and pleased to see that it ends with the hint of more books to come.”
—Melodie Campbell, award-winning author of The Goddaughter series

“In turns unsettling and very funny, The Rage Room is a berserk science-fiction satire of toxic masculinity, narrated by your guide, Sharps, the neurotic, rage-filled Jason Bateman of the future. There are lines and descriptions that will stop you dead in your tracks and make you take notes.”
— Evan Munday, author of The Dead Kid Detective Agency series

“We’ve all wanted to go back to the past to fix the future – but Sharps has messed things up so much in his own high- tech future-world that he has to do it. Lisa de Nikolits takes us – and him – on a wild, high-octane ride into other times and places so bizarre, blighted, funny and wise that they just might seem chillingly familiar. She turns time travel on its proverbial ear and you won’t want to get out of the passenger seat until the last page.”
—Catherine Dunphy, author of Morgentaler, A Difficult Hero

“Why would one go back in time? To make things right, of course. But every time Sharps visits his past, things change in ways he can’t control, and he keeps changing from a worrier to a warrior. I loved all the witty characters, and original, daring twists in this genuine reality fiction beyond imagination!”
—Suzana Tratnik, author of Games with Greta

“Dark, fun, weird, imaginative, The Rage Room is a dystopic ride perfect for the anxieties and conditions of the present day. The paranoia of Sharps Barkley seeps into you, propelling this thriller that will keep you guessing to the very end.”
—David Albertyn, author of Undercard

“With The Rage Room, Lisa de Nikolits takes a deep dive into dystopia. Prepare to be alternately chilled and thrilled as the hapless hero journeys backwards and forwards in time in his increasingly desperate attempts to right his terrible wrongs, and to find some sense in his rapidly disintegrating world.”
—Lorna Poplak, author of Drop Dead: A Horrible History of Hanging in Canada

“Leave it to the wild imagination of Lisa De Nikolits to bring us the dystopian future of The Rage Room, an extraordinarily inventive speculative fiction thriller with a decidedly feminist bent. Fast-paced, funny, bold, and completely engrossing, The Rage Room is an allegory, a cautionary tale, and a rollicking good read that will stay with you long after the last page has been turned.”
—Amy Jones, author of We’re All in This Together and Every Little Piece of Me

“The Rage Room is a hugely intriguing, intense and provocative exploration … an untangling of sorts … a measuring of societal coded messages … a scouring type of scrutiny …beckoning us… calling for curious changes of perception.”
—Shirley McDaniels, Artist

[Bookschatter · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Rage Room is the tenth novel by Lisa de NikolitsLisa de Nikolits and my first taste of her work. I am not sure I have ever read something quite like this; it's a dark satirical dystopian technological sci-fi thriller which provides us with an unsettling glimpse into a future our society might be hurtling towards.

Narrated in the first person by anti-hero Sharps Barkley, we are vividly transported into a not-so-distant future where nature, culture and art are no-more and illegal; everything is controlled by a female religious supreme ruler using artificial intelligence (AI). Consumerism rules, and beyond the shiny super-technological bubbles enjoyed by the rich, lie compounds full of the lower layers of undesirables. Free-thinking is in short supply and virtual digital reality abounds. As do the rage rooms: a safe environment where people can vent their frustrations.

All of the societal elements presented by Nikolits (including the rage rooms) are based on our own present reality; the values portrayed can easily be identified in our own society which make her dystopian world so real and disturbing. The step is truly small. And, as in all societies, different forces are at play.

The Rage Room is Sharps Barkley's journey, as he finds himself an unwitting pawn in a much larger plan. He is deeply flawed, as are all of the characters we encounter - without exception - but, by the end of his venture, full of revelations and growth, I found myself understanding him and sympathising with him.

The pace is relentless with head-spinning twists that hit you just when you thought you had things figured out. More often than not, the narrative is complex as everything is different from what we know and there is a lot of technology involved, therefore it can be difficult to keep up with it. But then I don't think we are supposed to; just as our narrator is struggling, I believe we are supposed to struggle with it all. Be prepared to be dazzled by many terms, from locations renamed using names of saints, to various types of plastics, drugs, products and mind-boggling explanations of futuristic technology, including time travel. At times I truly felt like a rabbit in the headlights.

Be aware that, although the novel opens with a hint at time travel, this doesn't actually come into play until half-way into the story, and Sharps's first visit to the past does not take place until the 55% mark. The Rage Room is about a dystopian futuristic society, and time travel plays a part in it. As I devoured the pages, I had flashes of several films, such as American Psycho (for our Sharps), Demolition Man (for The Sacred Board and their health and safety rules), Dredd (for the living situation of the undesirables, the Blowflies), 1984 (as your actions are never just your own), Total Recall (the theme of memory and manipulation of reality), as well as Back to the Future, High Rise and The Matrix.

The book deals with murder (including of children), suicide, sex, various types of abuse, deceit and contains bad language, however, I never felt that any of it was over-descriptive, or excessive. I also want to reiterate that, although witty and humorous, this is a dark tale, with a strong feminist undertone. Nikolits also makes references to our popular culture of the last few decades.

Undefinable, intelligent, topical and multifaceted, The Rage Room will stay with you for a long time. I know I want to read it again to see if I can pick up nuances I missed the first time around.

[ARC received via Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours]

BooksChatter

[Darcia Helle · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Rage Room is gently mocking, uniquely insightful political and social commentary wrapped up in one of the most creative speculative fiction stories I’ve ever read.

This story is a study in contrasts: dark humor and intense misery, absurd and plausible, satirical and serious, bleak and hopeful. Then a twist that gave me a figurative slap, as if to say, “Were you paying attention?”

Lisa de Nikolits has a gift for stripping characters to their core and showing us their truth.

Humanity’s history shows us that we’re great at running full speed toward things we want but terrible about slowing down to avoid future destruction, especially if it means inconveniencing ourselves in the present. The Rage Room’s dystopian take on our (too) near future will leave you with lots to think about, while keeping you thoroughly entertained.

*I received a review copy as part of the Partners in Crime book tour.*

[Heather Babcock · Rating 5 out of 5]

With her latest novel The Rage Room, Lisa de Nikolits once again proves herself as one of the most exciting writers of Canlit today.

A very dark, dystopian and well written thriller, The Rage Room is set in the year 2055: Mother Nature is dead and astroturf rules, while physical intimacy is quickly on its way to becoming as extinct as the middle class, whose jobs have all been replaced by robots who can "do a much better job."

Like a great episode of the original Twilight Zone series, what is most startling about The Rage Room isn't that this *could* happen but that this *is* happening.

Highly recommended.

[Scott - Book Invasion · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book didn’t live up to the blurbed expectations for me. I felt as though the plot trigger in the story came way too late and by that time I was bored and skimming waiting for something meaningful to happen. Then When it did it was very abrupt and short. Then the cast of characters shifted and I wasn’t invested in this new group. I thought the main character was a decent ‘Everyman’ and I do appreciate the final ‘message’ of the strong, I just felt like I didn’t have a strong foundation and was being muddled around. Almost DNF but I stuck with it and enjoyed the final ‘reveal’ as well.

[Rhoddi · Rating 1 out of 5]

I guess I'm not into books like this, since I had to dnf after 70-80 pages? I don't know how many pages it was, as I just rage quit the book since the scene I'd just read seemed so unreal. I know this is a hyper future/distop novel, but it was...just too much? No subtleties, all blatant telling and slapping you upside the head to get the story or viewpoint in. Maybe that's the style of the book; to shock you with its frenzy and get its point of view into your brain so you think about it later. I'm definitely thinking about it later, but not in a good way.

[Cass (only the darkest reads) · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read a ton of horror so I am no stranger to despicable/unlikeable characters doing awful things, but The Rage Room really tested my capacity.

Reading is supposed to be fun, and this book was torturous. I tried! OH did I try to get through this, but it was a slog. Not a moment of levity.

DNF about 40% in.

[Clare O'Brien · Rating 2 out of 5]

Definitely some interesting ideas, but unlikable characters, general unpleasantness, and a bunch of gobbledygook at the end, (which is presented as though it should be some shocking twist) made this a slog to get through for me personally. Still curious to check out some of the authors other books.

[Megan McSherry · Rating 3 out of 5]

a bit all over the place, and not just because there’s a big time traveling component

[Jastinder Toor · Rating 2 out of 5]

ugh I didn't like it... it got bad at the end