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Refraction
A loner cursed with a psychic power learns he was part of an illicit experiment as a baby and embarks on a perilous hunt to find those responsible.If Aiden Manchester had to have a superpower, why couldn't it be something useful? Like predicting the future? Or Jedi mind tricks? Instead, Aiden is afflicted with 'manifestations', mysterious balls of goo which materialise mid-air while he sleeps.But then, Aiden learns he was a 'Quiver Kid', one of seven orphaned children drafted for an illicit experiment at Tau Nine-One. Setting out to find the perpetrators and his fellow victims, Aiden's quest quickly turns lethal when he's kidnapped by a maniacal Quiver Kid with a dark agenda.As he uncovers the dangerous truth about his past, Aiden's very essence is called into question. Will a hellish confrontation at Tau Nine-One reveal the ultimate purpose of the Quiver Kids?File Fantasy [ Strangest Things | Manifest Destiny | X-Kids | Chunkie ]
407 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 10, 2020
29 people are currently reading
182 people want to read
About the author
Christopher Hinz
53 books75 followersChristopher Hinz is an author of science fiction thrillers – novels, comic books, screenplays and more.
Born in 1951 in Reading, PA, USA, his early passion for all things SF led to the writing of his first “book” in elementary school. A four-page epic, it featured a giant monster brought back from Mars who escapes and climbs the tallest building in Chicago, only to be blasted from that perch with a nuclear cannon. The inevitable fallout, along with other youthful digressions, steered Hinz away from science fiction writing – and Chicago – for many years.
His first mature work,LIEGE-KILLER, was originally published in 1987 by St. Martin’s Press. ANACHRONISMS, ASH OCK and THE PARATWA soon followed. The latter two novels, together with LIEGE-KILLER, form “The Paratwa Saga.”
A subsequent foray into comic books led to a number of publications, including creator-owned GEMINI BLOOD (with artist Tommy Lee Edwards) and DEAD CORPS (with artist Steve Pugh) for DC Comics, and BLADE for Marvel Comics, also with Pugh. An evolution into screenwriting resulted in the sale of BINARY, a script based on LIEGE-KILLER.
In addition to other SF projects, he has worked a variety of Earth-based jobs, including picture framer, turret-lathe operator, TV technical director and newspaper staff writer. He has played in rock bands, modeled dioramas and designed and marketed an auto racing board game. He currently creates new stories from the semi-seclusion of a wooded realm in Berks County, Pennsylvania.
Born in 1951 in Reading, PA, USA, his early passion for all things SF led to the writing of his first “book” in elementary school. A four-page epic, it featured a giant monster brought back from Mars who escapes and climbs the tallest building in Chicago, only to be blasted from that perch with a nuclear cannon. The inevitable fallout, along with other youthful digressions, steered Hinz away from science fiction writing – and Chicago – for many years.
His first mature work,LIEGE-KILLER, was originally published in 1987 by St. Martin’s Press. ANACHRONISMS, ASH OCK and THE PARATWA soon followed. The latter two novels, together with LIEGE-KILLER, form “The Paratwa Saga.”
A subsequent foray into comic books led to a number of publications, including creator-owned GEMINI BLOOD (with artist Tommy Lee Edwards) and DEAD CORPS (with artist Steve Pugh) for DC Comics, and BLADE for Marvel Comics, also with Pugh. An evolution into screenwriting resulted in the sale of BINARY, a script based on LIEGE-KILLER.
In addition to other SF projects, he has worked a variety of Earth-based jobs, including picture framer, turret-lathe operator, TV technical director and newspaper staff writer. He has played in rock bands, modeled dioramas and designed and marketed an auto racing board game. He currently creates new stories from the semi-seclusion of a wooded realm in Berks County, Pennsylvania.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
November 11, 2020
Refraction marks the return of award-winning science-fiction writer Christopher Hinz and is a decidedly quirky thriller set in the near-future. We are introduced to protagonist Aiden Manchester who is very much a societal recluse and an introvert who lives with his sister and niece. When he receives a letter with a hidden code from his deceased father providing him with key details of his true identity — revealing he was adopted from a secret government agency known as Tau Nine-One that was forced to close it's doors after its unusual experiments on infants came to light nearly three decades ago — he is motivated to find out more about his origins. Those who emerged from this clandestine program become known as ”quiver kids" and while investigating his childhood and past he unwittingly comes to the attention of Red, a fellow quiver kid who warns him that grave consequences come from looking too deeply into a scandal the government has tried their utmost to bury. Those considering venturing down this path may wish to think again...
This is a thrilling, compulsive and potent mix of sci-fi thriller and coming-of-age story where protagonist Aiden traces his origins. From there ensues a high stakes and dangerous investigation bringing to light that which the dystopian government would rather keep in the dark. With excellent worldbuilding, a developed and engaging cast of characters and an intricate, exciting and tense plot, this is an intense and atmospheric read from the very beginning. I thoroughly enjoyed escaping to this entertaining near-future world. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Angry Robot for an ARC.
This is a thrilling, compulsive and potent mix of sci-fi thriller and coming-of-age story where protagonist Aiden traces his origins. From there ensues a high stakes and dangerous investigation bringing to light that which the dystopian government would rather keep in the dark. With excellent worldbuilding, a developed and engaging cast of characters and an intricate, exciting and tense plot, this is an intense and atmospheric read from the very beginning. I thoroughly enjoyed escaping to this entertaining near-future world. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Angry Robot for an ARC.
October 27, 2020
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.
A rather generic thriller with a sci-fi twist, Refraction is a quick-paced story about a man attempting to uncover his history.
The novel deals with a man named Aiden who discovers that he was adopted after being a subject of a government study as a baby. This leads him down a path he never expected, all because of an alien rock called a “quiver”.
This is one of those books that would be better as a movie. I could easily understand and picture what was going on, but it has the potential to be more interesting on screen than on the page.
I’ll say what I enjoyed. As I mentioned, it was easy to read. It requires almost no concentration to follow the story, the plot points tie up nicely, and there is good continuity (for example, Aiden is hurt and he continues to suffer pain from the wounds throughout. Oftentimes people recover instantly). I was intrigued by the mystery.
Honestly, though, there wasn’t a lot else that I enjoyed. The pace reminded me of a teenager learning to drive stick - it jolts forward, then stops, then jolts, then stops. While I enjoyed learning all the quiver kids’ powers as the story went along, the “big reveal” at the end was rather lackluster. I did like how it wasn’t a “gather the team” story, like in a superhero movie.
Unfortunately, the main character was very boring and I didn’t care about him at all. In fact, everyone was very boring, mainly because the dialogue was either stilted or used to provide exposition. Most of the talking in this novel was explanation; there’s not a lot of humor and even threats fell rather flat.
The only character with any real personality was Michael, and that’s because he’s over-the-top despicable. He was so gross. Did he have to talk about rape all the time? It was too much. There was no attempt to humanize him. He’s a villain through-and-through (which isn’t very interesting). His motives were extremely flat.
Of course, I’m going to mention Jessie, the main female character. Is she a smoke show? Of course, she is. Can’t have any normal-looking women walking around. I did like her attitude, sexual agency, and refusal to be victimized. Unfortunately, she read to me like a fantasy of a badass woman and not a real person. Likewise, her sexual agency comes off as aggression, which, while I’m sure it wasn’t the intention, made it seem like female sexuality is some sort of threat. Also, no woman would ever get naked to distract men. Even bra and underwear would be ridiculous, but full-on naked? Give me a break. Her power was projectile-based. She didn’t even need to distract anyone. This scene was ridiculous.
There was no real attempt to be diverse. Everyone in the book, except for a nurse, was white. Oh, right, there was “Chef”, a Native man who falls under the “mystical Native” trope quite hard. It’s 2020, guys. Come on.
Oh, and as a side note, I’m five years older than Aiden and Jessie and I have never seen Basic Instinct or Fatal Attraction. Jessie would more likely use references like “Black Widow” and “Scarlet Witch”.
Overall, I’m giving it a 3 because it kept me entertained, I liked the mystery aspect of it, and for the word Chunkies.
A rather generic thriller with a sci-fi twist, Refraction is a quick-paced story about a man attempting to uncover his history.
The novel deals with a man named Aiden who discovers that he was adopted after being a subject of a government study as a baby. This leads him down a path he never expected, all because of an alien rock called a “quiver”.
This is one of those books that would be better as a movie. I could easily understand and picture what was going on, but it has the potential to be more interesting on screen than on the page.
I’ll say what I enjoyed. As I mentioned, it was easy to read. It requires almost no concentration to follow the story, the plot points tie up nicely, and there is good continuity (for example, Aiden is hurt and he continues to suffer pain from the wounds throughout. Oftentimes people recover instantly). I was intrigued by the mystery.
Honestly, though, there wasn’t a lot else that I enjoyed. The pace reminded me of a teenager learning to drive stick - it jolts forward, then stops, then jolts, then stops. While I enjoyed learning all the quiver kids’ powers as the story went along, the “big reveal” at the end was rather lackluster. I did like how it wasn’t a “gather the team” story, like in a superhero movie.
Unfortunately, the main character was very boring and I didn’t care about him at all. In fact, everyone was very boring, mainly because the dialogue was either stilted or used to provide exposition. Most of the talking in this novel was explanation; there’s not a lot of humor and even threats fell rather flat.
The only character with any real personality was Michael, and that’s because he’s over-the-top despicable. He was so gross. Did he have to talk about rape all the time? It was too much. There was no attempt to humanize him. He’s a villain through-and-through (which isn’t very interesting). His motives were extremely flat.
Of course, I’m going to mention Jessie, the main female character. Is she a smoke show? Of course, she is. Can’t have any normal-looking women walking around. I did like her attitude, sexual agency, and refusal to be victimized. Unfortunately, she read to me like a fantasy of a badass woman and not a real person. Likewise, her sexual agency comes off as aggression, which, while I’m sure it wasn’t the intention, made it seem like female sexuality is some sort of threat. Also, no woman would ever get naked to distract men. Even bra and underwear would be ridiculous, but full-on naked? Give me a break. Her power was projectile-based. She didn’t even need to distract anyone. This scene was ridiculous.
There was no real attempt to be diverse. Everyone in the book, except for a nurse, was white. Oh, right, there was “Chef”, a Native man who falls under the “mystical Native” trope quite hard. It’s 2020, guys. Come on.
Oh, and as a side note, I’m five years older than Aiden and Jessie and I have never seen Basic Instinct or Fatal Attraction. Jessie would more likely use references like “Black Widow” and “Scarlet Witch”.
Overall, I’m giving it a 3 because it kept me entertained, I liked the mystery aspect of it, and for the word Chunkies.
November 10, 2020
A sci-fi novel with interesting concepts that doesn't realize its full potential
November 10, 2020
Categories: Clunky clichés / Derivative drivel / High octane, edge of your seat sleepfest
•
Unfortunately...this novel did just not do it for me. The early chapters were intriguing, setting up the mystery that was to be unravelled, the protagonist's mundane life that was about to be upturned, the interesting non-power that would surely reveal itself to be a point on which the plot pivoted...
But no. The intrigue fell away and the story maintained a level of slightly boring the whole way through. If it weren't for the short chapters, I probably wouldn't have been able to push myself to finish it. The dialogue from the many different characters all felt very samey and I often had trouble differentiating between speakers. Speaking of dialogue -- a lot of exposition came through dialogue; however, it was not as much exposition that came through info-dumps. Carefully, well maintained info dumps for the most part, but dumps nonetheless.
On a purely subjective matter, I also felt like issues of racial and sexual identity were dealt with problematically within the novel. The only Black woman is a nanny-maid-carer to a mentally disabled woman, the only Native American character is referred to as 'Chef' because he didn't like the nickname 'Chief', and arguably the only female character who features consistently is treated like some perverted kind of imaginary sex doll (she literally gets naked for the sole purpose of catching the enemy by surprise, never mind her persistent attempts to bed the protagonist).
And don't get me started on the awful analogies of colours and spectrums and 'refraction' (the title says it all, I guess).
The whole thing is like one of those incredibly cheesy -- very forgettable -- action-thrillers that try not to rock the boat in terms of genre convention and that feature the 'everyman' protagonist who ends up being transformed from loser to hero by the end of the narrative. Count me out.
•
Find this and other reviews on my Instagram!
•
Unfortunately...this novel did just not do it for me. The early chapters were intriguing, setting up the mystery that was to be unravelled, the protagonist's mundane life that was about to be upturned, the interesting non-power that would surely reveal itself to be a point on which the plot pivoted...
But no. The intrigue fell away and the story maintained a level of slightly boring the whole way through. If it weren't for the short chapters, I probably wouldn't have been able to push myself to finish it. The dialogue from the many different characters all felt very samey and I often had trouble differentiating between speakers. Speaking of dialogue -- a lot of exposition came through dialogue; however, it was not as much exposition that came through info-dumps. Carefully, well maintained info dumps for the most part, but dumps nonetheless.
On a purely subjective matter, I also felt like issues of racial and sexual identity were dealt with problematically within the novel. The only Black woman is a nanny-maid-carer to a mentally disabled woman, the only Native American character is referred to as 'Chef' because he didn't like the nickname 'Chief', and arguably the only female character who features consistently is treated like some perverted kind of imaginary sex doll (she literally gets naked for the sole purpose of catching the enemy by surprise, never mind her persistent attempts to bed the protagonist).
And don't get me started on the awful analogies of colours and spectrums and 'refraction' (the title says it all, I guess).
The whole thing is like one of those incredibly cheesy -- very forgettable -- action-thrillers that try not to rock the boat in terms of genre convention and that feature the 'everyman' protagonist who ends up being transformed from loser to hero by the end of the narrative. Count me out.
•
Find this and other reviews on my Instagram!
September 10, 2020
If I were to use the term “potboiler” for Christopher Hinz’s novel, Refraction (Angry Robot, published on 10 November 2020), that is not to do it a disservice. Quite the opposite, in fact. For a work which contains some known science fictional tropes and new ideas, bound up in the format of a high-octane thriller, I have to say I enjoyed every moment of it.
Opening with an unpromising group of characters – trainspotters, no less (sorry, I meant no offence, I meant of course “rail enthusiasts”) – who get into a spot of bother observing a vintage train and carriages transporting teams to and the Tau One research facility whose purpose is at this point unknown, we move swiftly into thriller territory with armed men on the offensive.
We next jump straight into the main storyline and the lead protagonist, Aiden Manchester, who lives on the edge of society with his sister and niece. Disenfranchised, impoverished and unmotivated, Aiden’s life changes dramatically when he discovers a letter, secured in a safe which only he (unknown to him) can open. A letter from his late father revealing something of his true identity. Aiden, along with a group of other individuals, nicknamed the “quiver kids” was the subject of experiments at the Tau One facility, having been affected in some way by an ancient artefact in the shape of an orb, suspected of being alien in origin. Beyond increasing their IQs the orb developed in each of the children disparate “powers”, some involving the involuntary manifestation which Aiden calls “chunkies”. These are jellylike substances which either do nothing, become weapons or portals to somewhere not of this earth.
In one scene, a former quiver kid, Jessica, manifests a chunky, aimed at an attacker. What happens next is far too close to the facehugger scene in the first “Alien” film, tentacles included, for my personal taste. Jessica is also the subject of an ill-judged, rather voyeuristic ploy to distract the enemy, which basically involves her getting naked. This tactic came across as more of a teenage sexual fantasy than a plausible plot device, sadly. However, those carps aside, I was still able to enjoy the book enormously.
In the final section, we learn the reasons for six children having separate powers, when Aiden is transported into a terrifying otherworld. His journey through the portal (yes, we have seen portal devices before, too), is original and genuinely disturbing.
In conclusion, while I had some reservations about Refraction, I felt it was beautifully paced, crisply written and contained flashes of originality, even brilliance. It’s just begging to be made into a movie – and I would definitely go see it.
Opening with an unpromising group of characters – trainspotters, no less (sorry, I meant no offence, I meant of course “rail enthusiasts”) – who get into a spot of bother observing a vintage train and carriages transporting teams to and the Tau One research facility whose purpose is at this point unknown, we move swiftly into thriller territory with armed men on the offensive.
We next jump straight into the main storyline and the lead protagonist, Aiden Manchester, who lives on the edge of society with his sister and niece. Disenfranchised, impoverished and unmotivated, Aiden’s life changes dramatically when he discovers a letter, secured in a safe which only he (unknown to him) can open. A letter from his late father revealing something of his true identity. Aiden, along with a group of other individuals, nicknamed the “quiver kids” was the subject of experiments at the Tau One facility, having been affected in some way by an ancient artefact in the shape of an orb, suspected of being alien in origin. Beyond increasing their IQs the orb developed in each of the children disparate “powers”, some involving the involuntary manifestation which Aiden calls “chunkies”. These are jellylike substances which either do nothing, become weapons or portals to somewhere not of this earth.
In one scene, a former quiver kid, Jessica, manifests a chunky, aimed at an attacker. What happens next is far too close to the facehugger scene in the first “Alien” film, tentacles included, for my personal taste. Jessica is also the subject of an ill-judged, rather voyeuristic ploy to distract the enemy, which basically involves her getting naked. This tactic came across as more of a teenage sexual fantasy than a plausible plot device, sadly. However, those carps aside, I was still able to enjoy the book enormously.
In the final section, we learn the reasons for six children having separate powers, when Aiden is transported into a terrifying otherworld. His journey through the portal (yes, we have seen portal devices before, too), is original and genuinely disturbing.
In conclusion, while I had some reservations about Refraction, I felt it was beautifully paced, crisply written and contained flashes of originality, even brilliance. It’s just begging to be made into a movie – and I would definitely go see it.
September 13, 2020
i don't hate it, but i don't love it, either.
there are some unique concepts here, unfortunately weighted down by tired tropes and racist and misogynistic stereotypes: racist, because of a native american character renamed from chief to chef, after an army commander with a "bad case of the PCs" demanded a change of nicknames; misogynistic, because most women seem to be labeled solely by their relative attractiveness and how desirable they are to the men. there's a really uncomfortable scene where a woman strips down mid-fight, to "throw off the enemy" and gain an upper hand; she's then knocked unconscious, and taken by a man who fully intends to assault her (and has already tried to in the past.) he is, thankfully, unequivocally presented as a villain, with no 'redemption' attempted to be offered, which is where a lot of media tends to go wrong. i'm also not really a fan of the approach of mental illness and disabilities within the narrative; the presentation feels antiquated.
as for the plot itself, the beginning feels slow - almost too slow for my enjoyment. it isn't really until the end, the last 20% or so, that i really found myself enjoying and appreciating the worldbuilding; i would've enjoyed the entire book more had it been more insight into white's purpose rather than the intense focus on red's quest for more power. aiden is an interesting character, and his journey of self-discovery does have its moments; i appreciated the conclusion, especially in regards to his family - and how he accepts his adopted family as his family, despite the initial struggle and distancing while attempting to reconcile the facts of his adoption.
i'm left with too many questions to be fully satisfied; while there's an obvious conclusion, there's also a setup for a sequel, which i feel like i'd appreciate more, if it expanded on the lore and provided more context. as a standalone book, i'm not really a fan; if it were made into a series, then it would be a decent enough starting point.
arc provided via netgalley in exchange for an honest review!
there are some unique concepts here, unfortunately weighted down by tired tropes and racist and misogynistic stereotypes: racist, because of a native american character renamed from chief to chef, after an army commander with a "bad case of the PCs" demanded a change of nicknames; misogynistic, because most women seem to be labeled solely by their relative attractiveness and how desirable they are to the men. there's a really uncomfortable scene where a woman strips down mid-fight, to "throw off the enemy" and gain an upper hand; she's then knocked unconscious, and taken by a man who fully intends to assault her (and has already tried to in the past.) he is, thankfully, unequivocally presented as a villain, with no 'redemption' attempted to be offered, which is where a lot of media tends to go wrong. i'm also not really a fan of the approach of mental illness and disabilities within the narrative; the presentation feels antiquated.
as for the plot itself, the beginning feels slow - almost too slow for my enjoyment. it isn't really until the end, the last 20% or so, that i really found myself enjoying and appreciating the worldbuilding; i would've enjoyed the entire book more had it been more insight into white's purpose rather than the intense focus on red's quest for more power. aiden is an interesting character, and his journey of self-discovery does have its moments; i appreciated the conclusion, especially in regards to his family - and how he accepts his adopted family as his family, despite the initial struggle and distancing while attempting to reconcile the facts of his adoption.
i'm left with too many questions to be fully satisfied; while there's an obvious conclusion, there's also a setup for a sequel, which i feel like i'd appreciate more, if it expanded on the lore and provided more context. as a standalone book, i'm not really a fan; if it were made into a series, then it would be a decent enough starting point.
arc provided via netgalley in exchange for an honest review!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 11, 2020
Special thanks to Netgalley & the book publisher, for allowing me to read and review this book, in exchange for my honest opinion. And extra thanks to the publisher for sending me an Epub copy after not finding the available pdf unreadable, for my old eyes.
I finished the book last night… and over all, I liked it. But I don’t really have a lot to say. It’s not quite my typical reading - I steer more towards science fiction. I would say this book is a a crime/mystery, primarily, with a side dish of supernatural.
It was definitely unique, which is great. I haven’t read anything quite like it. So, top points for creativity of the details. It is extremely complex, with a lot of moving parts. In the beginning, it an be a bit of a challenge to try and keep it all straight in your head.
Trigger warnings for: abductions, torture, abuse, rape, murder, conspiracy theories, Covert government operations, child experimentation.
**** Mild spoilers ahead***
Likes:
• Characters had enough detail they all came alive in my mind. And the supernatural 6, had enough detail to set them apart, and tell us why they were different.
• The book was well written, and the plot was extremely complex, and seemed to tie up all it’s threads.
Mixed Bag:
• I had no idea where this story was going for several chapters, having not read the book blurb recently enough to know what I was getting in to. And the way this story starts, it takes a long time to feel like you know what’s happening.. Generally.
• The Chunkies. How… quaint? But why? I was hoping for more details on these things - the who, what, when, where, why of it. There was a fair amount of description, and variation between the person actualizing them. But I never felt like I got to understand exactly why they happened, or what they were, or even really their actual purpose - on the ‘true story level’ of it all. (*There is quite a lot of detail, (it does cover much of this superficially.) and they are used in several very creative ways, so it isn’t lacking in that sense.)
Dislikes:
• Narrated by an unseen voice, and it is OVERLOADED with 'telling'. So, so , so much telling. This book told me everything. I did not enjoy this format.
• Over-run with frilly language - way too much. It gets extremely tiring. The waitress didn't come take their orders, ‘the Waitress with a ruddy face, and a no-nonsense attitude, came and took their order.’
• I didn’t really connect with this story, or care much about the characters, and was happy when I finished reading it.
I finished the book last night… and over all, I liked it. But I don’t really have a lot to say. It’s not quite my typical reading - I steer more towards science fiction. I would say this book is a a crime/mystery, primarily, with a side dish of supernatural.
It was definitely unique, which is great. I haven’t read anything quite like it. So, top points for creativity of the details. It is extremely complex, with a lot of moving parts. In the beginning, it an be a bit of a challenge to try and keep it all straight in your head.
Trigger warnings for: abductions, torture, abuse, rape, murder, conspiracy theories, Covert government operations, child experimentation.
**** Mild spoilers ahead***
Likes:
• Characters had enough detail they all came alive in my mind. And the supernatural 6, had enough detail to set them apart, and tell us why they were different.
• The book was well written, and the plot was extremely complex, and seemed to tie up all it’s threads.
Mixed Bag:
• I had no idea where this story was going for several chapters, having not read the book blurb recently enough to know what I was getting in to. And the way this story starts, it takes a long time to feel like you know what’s happening.. Generally.
• The Chunkies. How… quaint? But why? I was hoping for more details on these things - the who, what, when, where, why of it. There was a fair amount of description, and variation between the person actualizing them. But I never felt like I got to understand exactly why they happened, or what they were, or even really their actual purpose - on the ‘true story level’ of it all. (*There is quite a lot of detail, (it does cover much of this superficially.) and they are used in several very creative ways, so it isn’t lacking in that sense.)
Dislikes:
• Narrated by an unseen voice, and it is OVERLOADED with 'telling'. So, so , so much telling. This book told me everything. I did not enjoy this format.
• Over-run with frilly language - way too much. It gets extremely tiring. The waitress didn't come take their orders, ‘the Waitress with a ruddy face, and a no-nonsense attitude, came and took their order.’
• I didn’t really connect with this story, or care much about the characters, and was happy when I finished reading it.
November 10, 2020
I would like to thank Angry Robot Books and Netgalley for the digital copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Refraction by Christopher Hinz is a sci-fi thriller about a man unravelling the truth behind his mysterious psychic power.
When I read the synopsis, I didn't hesitate to request an early access of Refraction because of its unique premise. This somehow reminds me of X-Men, but instead of having really cool, useful superpowers, the main character was afflicted with manifestations he called "chunkies" which were mysterious balls of goo which materialise mid-air while he slept. As much as there were parts that I enjoyed, there were also some parts that I didn't like or give me satisfaction.
Just like I've said, I was very intrigued about the 'weird power' that the main character possessed. It made me ask lots of questions that I was looking forward to know as the story went. I liked all the 'quiver kids' powers, too. They were new and refreshing. This novel is one of those types wherein it didn't require a lot of attention to follow the plot. As for me, sometimes I just wanted to read some SFF book without having the burden to memorize or retain heavy scientific stuff to fully enjoy the story, and I could say that Refraction was such an easy read.
Unfortunately, I had some things that I didn't enjoy in this novel. First, although the first chapters caught my interest, somehow towards the end right on the big reveal, the buildup just stopped in the middle and fell away. The ending felt rushed and I was left confused about what just happened. The explanation behind the mystery was unsatisfactory and lacking. Second, the characters were bland. They lacked depth, and it was hard for me to sympathize. The dialogues were used to provide exposition rather than to show each attitude and voices. Most of the time, everything was just told to the protagonist instead of discovering it by himself. Lastly, I wasn't a fan of the racial and sexual objectification of women that were dealt in this novel. There was not enough diversity, and there was an instance where a female character got almost naked to distract men. I just didn't see the point of that scene.
Overall, Refraction has unique concepts and mystery that I still found entertaining. Although I didn't like it as much as I expected, others might enjoy this novel more than I did.
3/5 stars!
Refraction by Christopher Hinz is a sci-fi thriller about a man unravelling the truth behind his mysterious psychic power.
When I read the synopsis, I didn't hesitate to request an early access of Refraction because of its unique premise. This somehow reminds me of X-Men, but instead of having really cool, useful superpowers, the main character was afflicted with manifestations he called "chunkies" which were mysterious balls of goo which materialise mid-air while he slept. As much as there were parts that I enjoyed, there were also some parts that I didn't like or give me satisfaction.
Just like I've said, I was very intrigued about the 'weird power' that the main character possessed. It made me ask lots of questions that I was looking forward to know as the story went. I liked all the 'quiver kids' powers, too. They were new and refreshing. This novel is one of those types wherein it didn't require a lot of attention to follow the plot. As for me, sometimes I just wanted to read some SFF book without having the burden to memorize or retain heavy scientific stuff to fully enjoy the story, and I could say that Refraction was such an easy read.
Unfortunately, I had some things that I didn't enjoy in this novel. First, although the first chapters caught my interest, somehow towards the end right on the big reveal, the buildup just stopped in the middle and fell away. The ending felt rushed and I was left confused about what just happened. The explanation behind the mystery was unsatisfactory and lacking. Second, the characters were bland. They lacked depth, and it was hard for me to sympathize. The dialogues were used to provide exposition rather than to show each attitude and voices. Most of the time, everything was just told to the protagonist instead of discovering it by himself. Lastly, I wasn't a fan of the racial and sexual objectification of women that were dealt in this novel. There was not enough diversity, and there was an instance where a female character got almost naked to distract men. I just didn't see the point of that scene.
Overall, Refraction has unique concepts and mystery that I still found entertaining. Although I didn't like it as much as I expected, others might enjoy this novel more than I did.
3/5 stars!
October 16, 2021
This review originally published in Looking For a Good Book. Rated 2.5 of 5
Aiden Manchester has super-powers, but not a particularly useful one. While he sleeps he somehow manages to create balls of goo that manifest in midair. Strange? Yes. Helpful? Aiden hasn't seen any benefits yet. But then Aiden learns that he was once a "Quiver Kid" ... one of seven orphaned infants who were used for experiments at Tau Nine-One, a dubious scientific center.
Learning about this history, Aiden begins to seek answers from former employees at Tau Nine-One and he's also looking for some of the other "Quiver Kids." Of course the other former Quiver Kids have some pretty special abilities, making Aiden's look pretty lame by comparison. Now, gee, what was the purpose of the experiments on those kids?
The Quiver Kids were each given a unique name, a color, but even here, we learn later on, those administering the tests were messing with the kids, and Aiden slowly reveals more and more of his own history as he tracks down the other Quiver Kids. One Kid, however, isn't too happy with Aiden, and Aiden's real power becomes clear to him, but he still has to find a way to tap into it.
My description here is pretty basic and simple, but so, too, is this book. The book sets off in one direction, never deviating, never offering any subplots, but with new information revealed along the way. This is sometimes fine if there's a build-up of excitement, but this builds slowly and the actual action is a bit too little, too late.
The 'surprise' was definitely interesting and compelling and I wanted to really get into this, but instead we get a focus on the villain in the story.
Our protagonist is a bit on the dull side and our antagonist is quite a stereotype and over-the-top.
I also found the info-dumping too easy. I sometimes make notes in my Kindle when something strikes me (good and bad) and in this book my only note was about the info-dumping - primarily the fact that the impetus for the story comes from a letter to Aiden from his father.
Based on the kernel of an interesting idea and how easy this is to read, I am giving it a generous two and a half stars.
Looking for a good book? Refraction by Christopher Hinz uses too many stereotype tropes but manages to present an interesting idea.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Aiden Manchester has super-powers, but not a particularly useful one. While he sleeps he somehow manages to create balls of goo that manifest in midair. Strange? Yes. Helpful? Aiden hasn't seen any benefits yet. But then Aiden learns that he was once a "Quiver Kid" ... one of seven orphaned infants who were used for experiments at Tau Nine-One, a dubious scientific center.
Learning about this history, Aiden begins to seek answers from former employees at Tau Nine-One and he's also looking for some of the other "Quiver Kids." Of course the other former Quiver Kids have some pretty special abilities, making Aiden's look pretty lame by comparison. Now, gee, what was the purpose of the experiments on those kids?
The Quiver Kids were each given a unique name, a color, but even here, we learn later on, those administering the tests were messing with the kids, and Aiden slowly reveals more and more of his own history as he tracks down the other Quiver Kids. One Kid, however, isn't too happy with Aiden, and Aiden's real power becomes clear to him, but he still has to find a way to tap into it.
My description here is pretty basic and simple, but so, too, is this book. The book sets off in one direction, never deviating, never offering any subplots, but with new information revealed along the way. This is sometimes fine if there's a build-up of excitement, but this builds slowly and the actual action is a bit too little, too late.
The 'surprise' was definitely interesting and compelling and I wanted to really get into this, but instead we get a focus on the villain in the story.
Our protagonist is a bit on the dull side and our antagonist is quite a stereotype and over-the-top.
I also found the info-dumping too easy. I sometimes make notes in my Kindle when something strikes me (good and bad) and in this book my only note was about the info-dumping - primarily the fact that the impetus for the story comes from a letter to Aiden from his father.
Based on the kernel of an interesting idea and how easy this is to read, I am giving it a generous two and a half stars.
Looking for a good book? Refraction by Christopher Hinz uses too many stereotype tropes but manages to present an interesting idea.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
October 18, 2020
I received a copy of this from NetGalley and Angry Robot, the Publisher, in return for an honest review.
This book had such a unique premise that I instantly wanted to read it upon learning what it was about. Strange powers? Mysterious experiments? An evil person with a similar power? I had the sense it would be something like a really weird comic book. However, as much as I liked parts of it, I felt that other parts took me out of the plot, which made it a long read for me.
First of all, I liked the weird powers. It was very unique and new. It does get old reading about the same old superpowers, so this spin was very much appreciated. Actually, everything about the superpowers I liked. Each "quiver kid" had manifestations that developed differently, so even though they were similar, they weren't the same. I also really liked the characters. The antagonist was sort of obvious in all his moves. It felt sort of like "me. want. power." without any real character development on his part. The MC, however, had a great arc, especially given the fact that the whole book took place over one week.
The thing that took me out of it was the pacing. It would speed ahead in plot then come to almost a standstill where things were explained to me. I know this sounds stereotypical, but I really did want more "show don't tell" throughout. Everything was told to the MC, he didn't really figure anything out on his own. There weren't really flashbacks either, which I think could have been used to the books advantage instead of relying on another character explaining the past.
The ending seemed fast compared to all the buildup. And it sort of just stopped right in the middle if the climax. Right when we are about the figure something out, right when the MC was about to be told something very important, we are thrust out of the setting and to another time. It made it feel somewhat incomplete in my opinion.
Now, these are really just preferences. I know there are a ton of readers out there that love the cat-and-mouse feel of tempos. I just happen to enjoy a quicker pace in my books. Overall, this was a really original story that explored some ideas that I hadn't read about before. I know Hinz has written quite a few books and I do plan on checking some of his other works out. Especially if the ideas behind them seem to be as unique as 'Refraction'.
This book had such a unique premise that I instantly wanted to read it upon learning what it was about. Strange powers? Mysterious experiments? An evil person with a similar power? I had the sense it would be something like a really weird comic book. However, as much as I liked parts of it, I felt that other parts took me out of the plot, which made it a long read for me.
First of all, I liked the weird powers. It was very unique and new. It does get old reading about the same old superpowers, so this spin was very much appreciated. Actually, everything about the superpowers I liked. Each "quiver kid" had manifestations that developed differently, so even though they were similar, they weren't the same. I also really liked the characters. The antagonist was sort of obvious in all his moves. It felt sort of like "me. want. power." without any real character development on his part. The MC, however, had a great arc, especially given the fact that the whole book took place over one week.
The thing that took me out of it was the pacing. It would speed ahead in plot then come to almost a standstill where things were explained to me. I know this sounds stereotypical, but I really did want more "show don't tell" throughout. Everything was told to the MC, he didn't really figure anything out on his own. There weren't really flashbacks either, which I think could have been used to the books advantage instead of relying on another character explaining the past.
The ending seemed fast compared to all the buildup. And it sort of just stopped right in the middle if the climax. Right when we are about the figure something out, right when the MC was about to be told something very important, we are thrust out of the setting and to another time. It made it feel somewhat incomplete in my opinion.
Now, these are really just preferences. I know there are a ton of readers out there that love the cat-and-mouse feel of tempos. I just happen to enjoy a quicker pace in my books. Overall, this was a really original story that explored some ideas that I hadn't read about before. I know Hinz has written quite a few books and I do plan on checking some of his other works out. Especially if the ideas behind them seem to be as unique as 'Refraction'.
September 17, 2020
Aiden Manchester is a 20 something college drop-out, unable to keep a job or a relationship because of a big secret: he creates random blobs of matter in his sleep. He is just trying to get by, living with his sister and niece when a new letter from his deceased father appears and sets him on a path to figure out his strange ability once and for all.
I think this was an interesting premise. I haven't read anything that resembles this kind of foray into powers and other dimensions and I enjoyed the writing. It was well paced and entertaining.
One of my bigger issues with the book is the way it presents it's female characters. None of them have any major arcs or intriguing storylines and the only one who does, Jessie, was sexualized to the point of actually being naked in the last act for no real reason. If that was supposed to be empowering, it wasn't. The only other female character with some backstory is hardly believable. She is the 'traitor' out to get revenge for the mistreatment of her father but her character doesn't appear to be very convincing. How did she get a job at the same ultra high-security, top-clearance level facility as him just by changing her last name? And if she really is trying to harm the facility, why did the money matter? If she's willing to be on the run and even get plastic surgery to escape, why make a deal with Red in the first place just for a life off the grid.
I think the premise can be explored further but the nuance afforded to Aiden desperately needs to be extended to the female characters in the novel.
Thank you to Netgalley/Angry Robot for the ARC
I think this was an interesting premise. I haven't read anything that resembles this kind of foray into powers and other dimensions and I enjoyed the writing. It was well paced and entertaining.
One of my bigger issues with the book is the way it presents it's female characters. None of them have any major arcs or intriguing storylines and the only one who does, Jessie, was sexualized to the point of actually being naked in the last act for no real reason. If that was supposed to be empowering, it wasn't. The only other female character with some backstory is hardly believable. She is the 'traitor' out to get revenge for the mistreatment of her father but her character doesn't appear to be very convincing. How did she get a job at the same ultra high-security, top-clearance level facility as him just by changing her last name? And if she really is trying to harm the facility, why did the money matter? If she's willing to be on the run and even get plastic surgery to escape, why make a deal with Red in the first place just for a life off the grid.
I think the premise can be explored further but the nuance afforded to Aiden desperately needs to be extended to the female characters in the novel.
Thank you to Netgalley/Angry Robot for the ARC
August 25, 2020
Refraction by Christopher Hinz
Expect the unexpected with the latest Hinz fiction.
Aiden Manchester discovers that the reason he has a rather unusual superpower is due to being experimented on like a ‘lab rat’ as a baby. Aiden feels he is a freak and wants answers, leading the young man on a journey of self-discovery, which is full of torment, secrets, adventures, and new friends.
The first chapter already sets the stage for clues, with an intriguing and violent opening. Each character featured is unique, creating a vivid image in the minds-eye, but more importantly, both selfless and selfish traits, opening a window of curiosity and self-comparison.
A taste of sick is left in the mouth on several levels as the antagonist comes into play. An army style setting alongside lots of money seems to enable him to be above the law.
If you enjoy a fast-paced book, you will love Refraction. The plot continuously turns, feeling like your heart is going to the gym for a workout. The easy-reading book, divided into sections, connects pieces of a puzzle. The back story is so intriguing that one is left questioning if secret experiments ever took place in the real world.
Expect the unexpected with the latest Hinz fiction.
Aiden Manchester discovers that the reason he has a rather unusual superpower is due to being experimented on like a ‘lab rat’ as a baby. Aiden feels he is a freak and wants answers, leading the young man on a journey of self-discovery, which is full of torment, secrets, adventures, and new friends.
The first chapter already sets the stage for clues, with an intriguing and violent opening. Each character featured is unique, creating a vivid image in the minds-eye, but more importantly, both selfless and selfish traits, opening a window of curiosity and self-comparison.
A taste of sick is left in the mouth on several levels as the antagonist comes into play. An army style setting alongside lots of money seems to enable him to be above the law.
If you enjoy a fast-paced book, you will love Refraction. The plot continuously turns, feeling like your heart is going to the gym for a workout. The easy-reading book, divided into sections, connects pieces of a puzzle. The back story is so intriguing that one is left questioning if secret experiments ever took place in the real world.
October 29, 2020
Refraction definitely has to become one of the best sci-fi books this year/next year ! It was a fantastic read that drew me in entirely despite it being a pretty long book ! Here's what I thought of it !
First of all, the plot is super interesting. Aiden, who has a lame superpower (producing weird brown blobs out of thin air during his sleep) finds out he was a lab rat when he was a baby, and 6 other kids have also been subjected to the same experiments he was. Soon, Aiden is found by one of those babies, Red, who is set on eliminating the others. Aiden ends up joining a quest to stop Red from accomplishing this deed, discovering more and more about his past in the process.
I loved the fact that we get both thriller and sci-fi in the same book. Seeing Aiden discovering his past, learning about his powers, about the others who have powers etc. is fascinating. I felt invested in the story and in the characters, which is something I'm always looking for in a book !
Every character was unique, had an interesting backstory ! I'm glad they are all put on the spotlight at some point, and that the side characters weren't mere decoration or tools for the hero to use. Shout out to Magenta for being especially amazing ! She might have been my favorite character here ! Everyone is essential to the story, to fit together in one big puzzle we get to discover later on. Fabulous !
Regarding the pace of the book, I would say it's really fast paced. For me, it was both an advantage and an inconvenient, because everything happens so fast it can sometimes be a little hard to follow. It might have been the reason why the ending and the meaning of everyone's powers got a little lost on me. I'm not sure I truly understood the point of the powers and where it's leading everyone. That being said, that rythm also kept me reading at the speed of light, also keeping me on the edge of my seat (my bed actually !) during the whole read.
That last fact is also definitely due to the fact that Christopher Hinz is a great author, who knows how to keep the reader's attention. Congratulations to him for that, I look forward to read some more books by him now !
First of all, the plot is super interesting. Aiden, who has a lame superpower (producing weird brown blobs out of thin air during his sleep) finds out he was a lab rat when he was a baby, and 6 other kids have also been subjected to the same experiments he was. Soon, Aiden is found by one of those babies, Red, who is set on eliminating the others. Aiden ends up joining a quest to stop Red from accomplishing this deed, discovering more and more about his past in the process.
I loved the fact that we get both thriller and sci-fi in the same book. Seeing Aiden discovering his past, learning about his powers, about the others who have powers etc. is fascinating. I felt invested in the story and in the characters, which is something I'm always looking for in a book !
Every character was unique, had an interesting backstory ! I'm glad they are all put on the spotlight at some point, and that the side characters weren't mere decoration or tools for the hero to use. Shout out to Magenta for being especially amazing ! She might have been my favorite character here ! Everyone is essential to the story, to fit together in one big puzzle we get to discover later on. Fabulous !
Regarding the pace of the book, I would say it's really fast paced. For me, it was both an advantage and an inconvenient, because everything happens so fast it can sometimes be a little hard to follow. It might have been the reason why the ending and the meaning of everyone's powers got a little lost on me. I'm not sure I truly understood the point of the powers and where it's leading everyone. That being said, that rythm also kept me reading at the speed of light, also keeping me on the edge of my seat (my bed actually !) during the whole read.
That last fact is also definitely due to the fact that Christopher Hinz is a great author, who knows how to keep the reader's attention. Congratulations to him for that, I look forward to read some more books by him now !
September 8, 2021
A sci-fi novel about a young adult man named Aiden Manchester living with a curious problem: since puberty, he has developed an ability he can't control. While sleeping, he sometimes inadvertently creates a disgusting gob of gelatinous goo; a smelly, sticky, brownish substance, that materializes out of thin air somewhere in his proximity. He calls these messy surprises, that then fall to the floor (or ground, whatever) "chunkies."
This is probably one of the most out of the box special powers I ever read a young protagonist developing in such a novel, that follows a lot of basic tropes otherwise. I wondered what could make an author decide to build a novel around such a superhero gift. How attractive would this talent be? Still, the oddity of it won me over and I kept reading, curious.
Aiden turns out to be one of a group of Quiver Kids, who seem to have gotten their gifts (which vary, with some connecting elements) at or shortly after birth. The novel is his quest to learn more about his past and thus his identity and his destiny.
Trigger warning for those who wet the bed a lot as kids since similarities might disturb them. Also, not recommended for those with active imaginations but weak stomachs. 😊
This is probably one of the most out of the box special powers I ever read a young protagonist developing in such a novel, that follows a lot of basic tropes otherwise. I wondered what could make an author decide to build a novel around such a superhero gift. How attractive would this talent be? Still, the oddity of it won me over and I kept reading, curious.
Aiden turns out to be one of a group of Quiver Kids, who seem to have gotten their gifts (which vary, with some connecting elements) at or shortly after birth. The novel is his quest to learn more about his past and thus his identity and his destiny.
Trigger warning for those who wet the bed a lot as kids since similarities might disturb them. Also, not recommended for those with active imaginations but weak stomachs. 😊
October 10, 2021
A generation ago, a handful of babies in a secret laboratory were exposed to a mysterious, possibly extraterrestrial material and then placed with normal families and observed. Aiden Manchester is one such child, now grown. He’s ignorant of his origins but beset by an uncontrollable and rather disgusting talent for manifesting piles of sticky brown goo when he sleeps. His otherwise placid life is upended by the search for the other children, as well as the scientists that experimented on them, a search that quickly twists the story into a thriller when he’s kidnapped by one of the other kids. That one is a homicidal psychopath, by the way, bent on eliminating all the others, who each have a unique gift and piece of the puzzle.
Aiden makes allies of varying degrees of ferociousness and competence along the way, although their goals are never precisely aligned with his. This is a refreshing change from the common “fellowship” quests, where everyone wants the same thing and always acts in unison. I honestly did not see where the story was headed. It’s a wild ride with a likeable hero who in the end uses his wits and insight against villainous treachery. For me that’s a sure formula for success!
Aiden makes allies of varying degrees of ferociousness and competence along the way, although their goals are never precisely aligned with his. This is a refreshing change from the common “fellowship” quests, where everyone wants the same thing and always acts in unison. I honestly did not see where the story was headed. It’s a wild ride with a likeable hero who in the end uses his wits and insight against villainous treachery. For me that’s a sure formula for success!
February 28, 2025
If I ever have to read the word "chunkie" again I will vomit.
This book is written by an author who either a) doesn't trust the reader to understand what's going on or b) doesn't trust their own writing to be able to convey what's going on. It was one of the most clear examples of telling not showing I've read in a minute. Don't worry if you didn't pick up why the character was doing x y or z, the next sentence will lay it out in dry detail.
Beyond that, what really dropped this one down to a one star is the amount of sexual violence against women! The main antagonists one character trait is that he looooooves raping women. And one of the main women characters? Well she's the one that got away - before he could rape her! This same women then proceeds to throw herself sexually at the protagonist, mere hours after meeting for the very first time. It read as out of character, but I knew and proceed to learn so little about her that who knows!
The ending was confusing and I also found I really didn't care. I only finished it because it was a pretty easy read.
This book is written by an author who either a) doesn't trust the reader to understand what's going on or b) doesn't trust their own writing to be able to convey what's going on. It was one of the most clear examples of telling not showing I've read in a minute. Don't worry if you didn't pick up why the character was doing x y or z, the next sentence will lay it out in dry detail.
Beyond that, what really dropped this one down to a one star is the amount of sexual violence against women! The main antagonists one character trait is that he looooooves raping women. And one of the main women characters? Well she's the one that got away - before he could rape her! This same women then proceeds to throw herself sexually at the protagonist, mere hours after meeting for the very first time. It read as out of character, but I knew and proceed to learn so little about her that who knows!
The ending was confusing and I also found I really didn't care. I only finished it because it was a pretty easy read.
January 15, 2021
Let me just say that this was one of the most interesting, and well put together books I've read in a long time. I did put it off for a while when I was taking a break from reading, but I wish I didn't. There wasn't a single thing about this book that wasn't intriguing, and I couldn't get enough of it. I also wouldn't change anything about it. Completely unique, I hope I can read more books this different in the future, because if you've read it, you just know that it's going to be something that's stuck in your head for a while after you finish it.
Check out my full review here!
https://radioactivebookreviews.wordpr...
Check out my full review here!
https://radioactivebookreviews.wordpr...
April 19, 2021
Refraction was a tricky book but seem to waver between hard science fiction and a more relaxed feeling urban science fiction. I never seemed to fully grasp which way the author was heading, which can be enjoyable when genres are blended well, but this time left me slightly confused as the book veered between the two. Christophers Hinz’s characters are well fleshed and feel authentic to the story he is telling. His action flows well and he isn’t afraid to put his protagonists into dangerous situations that help expound on their character. I’m not sure what I would have changed to make this book more my cup of tea but I will keep my eyes out for more things from Hinz in the future.
September 8, 2020
A fast-paced, highly engaging Sci-Fi thriller that I had difficulty putting down.
The first chapter sets the tone very quickly, and you won't have much time to get acquainted with Aiden Manchester before his life takes a complicated turn and you embark on a journey to uncover the truth about his birth and the merry gang of quiver kids.
The beginning chapters are a bit longer than the subsequent chapters, as it follows the speed of plot development.
I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.
The first chapter sets the tone very quickly, and you won't have much time to get acquainted with Aiden Manchester before his life takes a complicated turn and you embark on a journey to uncover the truth about his birth and the merry gang of quiver kids.
The beginning chapters are a bit longer than the subsequent chapters, as it follows the speed of plot development.
I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.
December 18, 2021
I really wasn't sure what to make of this, but it was a really good book, interesting, engaging and really well paced. I liked the characters, and though the premise felt a bit 'oh, why?' when I read it (it's a bit....trope-laden), but it was handled really well and I liked it. I have in fact, read it twice and grabbed a copy for my daughter's Kindle.
Good, solid sci-fi, melded with a coming of age story, what more can you ask?
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Good, solid sci-fi, melded with a coming of age story, what more can you ask?
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 10, 2020
Interesting! An engaging work that grabs you and won't let you go until you finish.
Given the description, I was expecting a superhero book....what this read like, though, was a mystical thriller? Heavy on the thriller, light on the mysticism. Given that I mostly avoid thrillers like the plague, the fact that I enjoyed this is probably a testament to how well written this book is. If you like thrillers, pick this up!
Given the description, I was expecting a superhero book....what this read like, though, was a mystical thriller? Heavy on the thriller, light on the mysticism. Given that I mostly avoid thrillers like the plague, the fact that I enjoyed this is probably a testament to how well written this book is. If you like thrillers, pick this up!
October 17, 2020
Another Christopher Hinz book, another great story. All the tropes are checked - remote government facility, infants being exposed to an unknown substance that creates powerful talents , mercenaries, a psychotic industry leader seeking to obtain more power, there's even a train heist. If you are looking for a Saturday matinee with all the chills and thrills you remember, this book is for you.
July 31, 2023
The first five percent and the last five percent of this book were sci fi. Those were the best parts.
The rest was men with generic one syllable action names running around waving guns, women breasting boobily and being lusted over, and villains being villainously sexist. General ew. (Highlight - a woman stripping down to a matching pair of magenta coloured underwear in the middle of an action sequence to distract opponents. Wish I was joking).
Why do people write things like this.
The rest was men with generic one syllable action names running around waving guns, women breasting boobily and being lusted over, and villains being villainously sexist. General ew. (Highlight - a woman stripping down to a matching pair of magenta coloured underwear in the middle of an action sequence to distract opponents. Wish I was joking).
Why do people write things like this.
December 1, 2020
Really enjoyed reading this novel over a weekend.
The plot is excellent and very fast paced, the need to find out what happens next drove me to read more chapters in a sitting than I had planned.
Will definitely be reading any further novels by Christopher Hinz, hoping for a sequel to this novel to tie up the lose threads left at the conclusion and to see where the story is taken next.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the early copy.
The plot is excellent and very fast paced, the need to find out what happens next drove me to read more chapters in a sitting than I had planned.
Will definitely be reading any further novels by Christopher Hinz, hoping for a sequel to this novel to tie up the lose threads left at the conclusion and to see where the story is taken next.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the early copy.
April 11, 2021
I enjoyed this entry into a world with limited and strange psychic powers. It seemed set up to have sequels, with lots of only partially explained phenomena, but I'm not sure it ever got one.
June 16, 2021
3.5 stars. Good storytelling, but a preposterous setup. Or rather, the setup is good but the solution to the mystery is unbelievable.
August 21, 2024
Decent premise but very poorly executed. The potential for MK Ultra like plot is there but the worldbuilding is very vague and the characters lack any depth.
November 23, 2020
I liked the ideas and found it a good mix of different genres.
Unfortunately I also found the story quite slow and it didn't keep my attention.
Not my cup of tea.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
Unfortunately I also found the story quite slow and it didn't keep my attention.
Not my cup of tea.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
October 6, 2022
4 stars. I have to say I did enjoy the book quite a lot and struggle to understand the current average ratings.
Hinz did little to discourage me from my opinion that authors that have previously or still work in the graphic arts business - as writers there or even as illustrators (perhaps even ESPECIALLY as illustrators?) - write truly interesting books. There's an alacrity that's at the same time very thorough in terms of how these writers describe things, as if their familiarity with illustration translates into what's needed in book form. It read VERY fast and seemed much shorter than it actually wound up being. So yes, the writing was very good, there were a number of surprises - some obviously quite bizarre at that - and I was overjoyed to see that the editing was excellent as well. The character development was about as deep as it needed to be here, albeit sometimes feeling a bit rushed (and sometimes it was that way because, well, folks needed to get their asses in gear)! OK, yes, I'm not a fan of quick chapter change-overs but for the most part the pacing didn't suffer.
Where I was less than - overwhelmed maybe? - was due to my own failing at trying to compare this with one of my current favorite series, namely Jackson Ford's "Sh*t" books. Um, not to imply that the books aren't good, it's just each title... you know what, you'll figure it out, if not google "The Frost Files". I don't mean offense by any stretch of the imagination, but "Refraction" is good, but it's not in league with those books.
Getting back to the point I was trying to make (was I?): comparing any book to the first 3 of THAT series is not only a ludicrous attempt at, well, anything and also unfair. Even trying to pigeonhole this book into some sort of set genre within the superhero sci-fi world would be I think equally futile. It's my experience that the minute you mention 'cyberpunk' elements or relate something to recent story-lines in the X-Men Universe - like that one that has some truly bizarre mutants coming together so that their powers can actually re-birth deceased colleagues - things get all tense and people stop using their full vocabulary! Oh and by the way, if you don't believe me: google the X-Man "Goldballs" and the rest of "The Five" and tell me there aren't some similarly weird shenanigans going on in "Refraction" (no, not any kind of exact plotting, just general bizarreness).
Bottom-line though is that Hinz's own step into some altered state weirdness was pretty cool, even if the ending fizzled a bit for me. Like having a really good dinner but no dessert menu included. Having said that, there's some real philosophical, let's all get really stoned on a secluded mountain top stuff there at the end that is worth a read. I still haven't decided that's the way it should have been vs. was that really the way I wanted it to be but as we know, that's not the reader's decision! Oh well, I notice my island is gone and I'm falling again...
Enjoy!
Hinz did little to discourage me from my opinion that authors that have previously or still work in the graphic arts business - as writers there or even as illustrators (perhaps even ESPECIALLY as illustrators?) - write truly interesting books. There's an alacrity that's at the same time very thorough in terms of how these writers describe things, as if their familiarity with illustration translates into what's needed in book form. It read VERY fast and seemed much shorter than it actually wound up being. So yes, the writing was very good, there were a number of surprises - some obviously quite bizarre at that - and I was overjoyed to see that the editing was excellent as well. The character development was about as deep as it needed to be here, albeit sometimes feeling a bit rushed (and sometimes it was that way because, well, folks needed to get their asses in gear)! OK, yes, I'm not a fan of quick chapter change-overs but for the most part the pacing didn't suffer.
Where I was less than - overwhelmed maybe? - was due to my own failing at trying to compare this with one of my current favorite series, namely Jackson Ford's "Sh*t" books. Um, not to imply that the books aren't good, it's just each title... you know what, you'll figure it out, if not google "The Frost Files". I don't mean offense by any stretch of the imagination, but "Refraction" is good, but it's not in league with those books.
Getting back to the point I was trying to make (was I?): comparing any book to the first 3 of THAT series is not only a ludicrous attempt at, well, anything and also unfair. Even trying to pigeonhole this book into some sort of set genre within the superhero sci-fi world would be I think equally futile. It's my experience that the minute you mention 'cyberpunk' elements or relate something to recent story-lines in the X-Men Universe - like that one that has some truly bizarre mutants coming together so that their powers can actually re-birth deceased colleagues - things get all tense and people stop using their full vocabulary! Oh and by the way, if you don't believe me: google the X-Man "Goldballs" and the rest of "The Five" and tell me there aren't some similarly weird shenanigans going on in "Refraction" (no, not any kind of exact plotting, just general bizarreness).
Bottom-line though is that Hinz's own step into some altered state weirdness was pretty cool, even if the ending fizzled a bit for me. Like having a really good dinner but no dessert menu included. Having said that, there's some real philosophical, let's all get really stoned on a secluded mountain top stuff there at the end that is worth a read. I still haven't decided that's the way it should have been vs. was that really the way I wanted it to be but as we know, that's not the reader's decision! Oh well, I notice my island is gone and I'm falling again...
Enjoy!
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