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Corinth 2642 AD
In the year 2642, no one person is ethnically like the other. Globalization, war, and other catalysts have given birth to a diverse and multi-ethnic new world.
Not everyone feels this new society is ideal, though. A select group creates their own colony—a pureblood, white supremacist cult complete with arranged marriages and heavily guarded borders. Cara yearns to escape her life in the colonies. For as long as she could remember, the seven colonies, led by her imperial grandfather Julius Bull, have only had one mission: protect the bloodline from contamination and produce the next generation of survivors. So, Cara makes a run for it.
Desperate to keep her dissidence quiet for fear of potentially inciting a power struggle within the colonies, Bull brings in Jimmy Matoo—a Special Investigator from San Francisco whose brother was found dead near one of the colonies the same night Cara disappeared.
For Matoo, the visit to Corinth, Oregon, is eye-opening. He has never seen a white person before and is shocked by their ideas of imperialism, racial purity, and the prospect of arranged marriages in the 27th century. Desperate to find out what really happened to his brother and his connection to Corinth, Jimmy learns that dozens of young people, all destined for loveless, arranged marriages, have gone missing over the years, and some had been found dead on the outskirts of Corinth.
With the clock ticking, San Francisco’s Detective Matoo’s missing persons investigation soon becomes a fight for survival—turns out the residents don’t like a brown fellow in their midst. Can he find Cara, figure out what happened to his brother and save the Bull-Smiths from the Cabal before it’s too late? Maybe. But first, he must find out who in the colony has the means and connections to smuggle the dissidents out without being detected because it could be the difference between life and death.
Not everyone feels this new society is ideal, though. A select group creates their own colony—a pureblood, white supremacist cult complete with arranged marriages and heavily guarded borders. Cara yearns to escape her life in the colonies. For as long as she could remember, the seven colonies, led by her imperial grandfather Julius Bull, have only had one mission: protect the bloodline from contamination and produce the next generation of survivors. So, Cara makes a run for it.
Desperate to keep her dissidence quiet for fear of potentially inciting a power struggle within the colonies, Bull brings in Jimmy Matoo—a Special Investigator from San Francisco whose brother was found dead near one of the colonies the same night Cara disappeared.
For Matoo, the visit to Corinth, Oregon, is eye-opening. He has never seen a white person before and is shocked by their ideas of imperialism, racial purity, and the prospect of arranged marriages in the 27th century. Desperate to find out what really happened to his brother and his connection to Corinth, Jimmy learns that dozens of young people, all destined for loveless, arranged marriages, have gone missing over the years, and some had been found dead on the outskirts of Corinth.
With the clock ticking, San Francisco’s Detective Matoo’s missing persons investigation soon becomes a fight for survival—turns out the residents don’t like a brown fellow in their midst. Can he find Cara, figure out what happened to his brother and save the Bull-Smiths from the Cabal before it’s too late? Maybe. But first, he must find out who in the colony has the means and connections to smuggle the dissidents out without being detected because it could be the difference between life and death.
Kindle Edition
Published September 21, 2021
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About the author
Bindiya Schaefer
1 book44 followersBefore moving to the San Francisco Bay Area, I lived in Dubai, UAE and Bangalore, India where I worked as a defense and aerospace journalist.
When I'm not writing, I'm camping in the California wilderness (where I also write) with my husband and baby-dog.
When I'm not writing, I'm camping in the California wilderness (where I also write) with my husband and baby-dog.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
January 5, 2022
Division
Bindiya Schaefer’s debut book was a surprising gem, delivering a uniquely captivating story packed with drama in a dystopian future. Underlying is a social indictment on how we racially see and treat others in our World, today and potentially into the future. Corinth 2642 AD is a wonderful mix of a dystopian thriller, with contemporary social messages and a plot full of mystery, suspense and danger.
The decades and centuries leading to 2642 AD have witnessed a devasting war that claimed millions of lives, a climate crisis that ravaged the globe, technology advances, globalisation, and the merger of ethnicity, to a generation known as One World. Several colonies decided that pure white communities would not mix, and over the ages, they remained hidden from One World engagement.
Jimmy Matoo is a private investigator in San Francisco and is approached by Julius Bull-Smith, the leader of the seven white US colonies, to find his missing granddaughter Cara. Initially, Jimmy rejects the offer but is informed that his brother was killed outside the Corinth colony in Oregon the same night Cara disappeared. Two mysteries are now at play both entwined in this pacy investigation that will tear into the prejudices and controls of the white supremacy cult. The population issues, breeding limitations, and growing infertility of the colonies are of major concern to the leaders. Their response is to control marriages and pregnancies—a strong motivation for a young girl to skip town. The people of the colonies are sitting on a powderkeg of their own, as some zealous forces want tighter controls, some realising this life is oppressive, and others wondering why they've locked themselves away in this cult. Misinformation about the outside is rife but often the truth is there if you can open your eyes.
One noteworthy takeaway from this book is that with so many major societal issues at play, and a double mystery to solve, maintaining a balance of the multiple threads and keeping nail-biting suspense would be complicated. All aspects work brilliantly to build a believable dystopian world, and never once did it feel disjointed or overwhelming.
When Matoo gets inside Corinth and stays with Bull’s family, the subtleties and not so subtle forms of racism are wonderfully painted. Except for Matoo, the characters are generally unlikeable, but are well-drawn and convey the colony’s prejudices and atmosphere. The spectrum of mistrust, cynicism, and repulsion within the Bull family towards Matoo reflect our World today and are essential to driving the story’s peril and suspense. Even though they know Matoo is helping them, the years of white racist prejudices cannot bring themselves to treat Matoo as an equal. It reminded me of the fable of the Frog and the Scorpion.
I recommend Corinth 2642 AD to any readers who enjoy science fiction, thrillers, investigative mysteries, dystopian settings, contemporary issues, and action-packed adventures. I want to thank Bindiya Schaefer, GenZ Publishing and NetGalley for providing a free ARC in return for an honest review.
Bindiya Schaefer’s debut book was a surprising gem, delivering a uniquely captivating story packed with drama in a dystopian future. Underlying is a social indictment on how we racially see and treat others in our World, today and potentially into the future. Corinth 2642 AD is a wonderful mix of a dystopian thriller, with contemporary social messages and a plot full of mystery, suspense and danger.
The decades and centuries leading to 2642 AD have witnessed a devasting war that claimed millions of lives, a climate crisis that ravaged the globe, technology advances, globalisation, and the merger of ethnicity, to a generation known as One World. Several colonies decided that pure white communities would not mix, and over the ages, they remained hidden from One World engagement.
Jimmy Matoo is a private investigator in San Francisco and is approached by Julius Bull-Smith, the leader of the seven white US colonies, to find his missing granddaughter Cara. Initially, Jimmy rejects the offer but is informed that his brother was killed outside the Corinth colony in Oregon the same night Cara disappeared. Two mysteries are now at play both entwined in this pacy investigation that will tear into the prejudices and controls of the white supremacy cult. The population issues, breeding limitations, and growing infertility of the colonies are of major concern to the leaders. Their response is to control marriages and pregnancies—a strong motivation for a young girl to skip town. The people of the colonies are sitting on a powderkeg of their own, as some zealous forces want tighter controls, some realising this life is oppressive, and others wondering why they've locked themselves away in this cult. Misinformation about the outside is rife but often the truth is there if you can open your eyes.
One noteworthy takeaway from this book is that with so many major societal issues at play, and a double mystery to solve, maintaining a balance of the multiple threads and keeping nail-biting suspense would be complicated. All aspects work brilliantly to build a believable dystopian world, and never once did it feel disjointed or overwhelming.
When Matoo gets inside Corinth and stays with Bull’s family, the subtleties and not so subtle forms of racism are wonderfully painted. Except for Matoo, the characters are generally unlikeable, but are well-drawn and convey the colony’s prejudices and atmosphere. The spectrum of mistrust, cynicism, and repulsion within the Bull family towards Matoo reflect our World today and are essential to driving the story’s peril and suspense. Even though they know Matoo is helping them, the years of white racist prejudices cannot bring themselves to treat Matoo as an equal. It reminded me of the fable of the Frog and the Scorpion.
I recommend Corinth 2642 AD to any readers who enjoy science fiction, thrillers, investigative mysteries, dystopian settings, contemporary issues, and action-packed adventures. I want to thank Bindiya Schaefer, GenZ Publishing and NetGalley for providing a free ARC in return for an honest review.
January 7, 2022
An almost too believable vision of the future as we struggle to come to terms with our past and present. Deftly dealing with white supremacist fears stemming from the fact that POC are conceiving at a faster rate than white people in the US.
Remarkable in how it imagines a mostly post racial society with significant progress on every other social issue you can think of, but it still isn't a utopia. 600 years into the future and the harm we've caused is still being felt. Yet it's a future I imagine many would hope and fight for.
An excellent read that I'll be strongly advocating for.
4.5 stars rounded up
The best book I've read through netgalley to date and I regret not getting to it sooner. Sorry Bindiya!
Remarkable in how it imagines a mostly post racial society with significant progress on every other social issue you can think of, but it still isn't a utopia. 600 years into the future and the harm we've caused is still being felt. Yet it's a future I imagine many would hope and fight for.
An excellent read that I'll be strongly advocating for.
4.5 stars rounded up
The best book I've read through netgalley to date and I regret not getting to it sooner. Sorry Bindiya!
September 1, 2021
This book has been provided by the editor via NetGalley for the purpose of a review.
Gosh, what was this? I mean, what was it in terms of genre? A dystopian novel? A utopia? A (murder) mystery? A little bit of each, I’d say. One thing’s for sure, and that’s why I’m going to say it right away: it was a helluva ride, a damn good read, pardon my French, one of those unputdownable books one reads with bated breath, sweaty palms, and a wholesome yet prickling curiosity for what’ll come next.
The book is set in the far future, in 2642 to be precise. On our planet, everything has changed, the most notable change being that is has become multi-ethnic and that the One World philosophy has made racism disappear in most parts of the world. Yet there remain some secret, hidden spots, the colonies, where white supremacy is still very much alive and heavily protected. The main character, Jimmy Matoo, former police officer and now a private investigator based in San Francisco, learns it the hard way when he is approached by a certain Julius Bull, the leader of the seven US colonies. Julius’s grand-daughter Cara has gone missing, and the old man wants to hire Jimmy to find out why and where to, and above all bring her back to her family. Jimmy’s first reaction is to refuse… until Bull tells Jimmy his brother has been found dead near the border of the colony he lives in, situated in Corinth, Oregon, in the middle of vast wastelands.
What Jimmy discovers in Corinth is a situation that isn’t only completely unfamiliar for him, but also outright dangerous: with his skin color, he will be hard put to get to the bottom of his two investigations. The question is, will he find out who killed his brother and what happened to Cara before he gets caught by one of the town’s inhabitants and killed himself?
How can I discuss this book—quite unbelievably a debut novel—without using words that smack of flattery? A difficult task as it’s a really amazing book. The world-building is perfect, not too much told, the essentials shown; the writing and pace are solid and enjoyable, with the odd cliff-hanger leading from one chapter to the next (no wonder I finished it in almost one go). The main character is easy to relate to, with an interesting backstory and enough depth to make him believable and utterly likeable. The other characters, most of which are colonists with very obnoxious views and in their majority hateful characters, nonetheless are essential to the plot because one could say that their hatred drives the story forward relentlessly and lends it the necessary suspense and icy drama.
Normally I don’t do trigger warnings, but I’ve recently been explained their importance, and while reading this book, I really understood why. There were some blood-curdling scenes even a hard-boiled reader like me was almost shocked by. Maybe it’s because I never “got” neither hateful feelings like racism (sexism, agism, homophobia, you name it) nor violence, but I have to say, certain scenes really made me feel very uncomfortable, some even almost sick. Yet I knew (and I want to insist on that fact) that these scenes were necessary, none of them pointless or spurious, to spin the plot’s logical arc. Yes, the whole story simply unraveled, not without some major surprises, like something that was meant to be and, more importantly, meant to be the way it was.
Therefore, it’s a whole-hearted recommendation from me—a great story written by an amazingly good writer the name of whom I really hope to read on more book covers before long.
Gosh, what was this? I mean, what was it in terms of genre? A dystopian novel? A utopia? A (murder) mystery? A little bit of each, I’d say. One thing’s for sure, and that’s why I’m going to say it right away: it was a helluva ride, a damn good read, pardon my French, one of those unputdownable books one reads with bated breath, sweaty palms, and a wholesome yet prickling curiosity for what’ll come next.
The book is set in the far future, in 2642 to be precise. On our planet, everything has changed, the most notable change being that is has become multi-ethnic and that the One World philosophy has made racism disappear in most parts of the world. Yet there remain some secret, hidden spots, the colonies, where white supremacy is still very much alive and heavily protected. The main character, Jimmy Matoo, former police officer and now a private investigator based in San Francisco, learns it the hard way when he is approached by a certain Julius Bull, the leader of the seven US colonies. Julius’s grand-daughter Cara has gone missing, and the old man wants to hire Jimmy to find out why and where to, and above all bring her back to her family. Jimmy’s first reaction is to refuse… until Bull tells Jimmy his brother has been found dead near the border of the colony he lives in, situated in Corinth, Oregon, in the middle of vast wastelands.
What Jimmy discovers in Corinth is a situation that isn’t only completely unfamiliar for him, but also outright dangerous: with his skin color, he will be hard put to get to the bottom of his two investigations. The question is, will he find out who killed his brother and what happened to Cara before he gets caught by one of the town’s inhabitants and killed himself?
How can I discuss this book—quite unbelievably a debut novel—without using words that smack of flattery? A difficult task as it’s a really amazing book. The world-building is perfect, not too much told, the essentials shown; the writing and pace are solid and enjoyable, with the odd cliff-hanger leading from one chapter to the next (no wonder I finished it in almost one go). The main character is easy to relate to, with an interesting backstory and enough depth to make him believable and utterly likeable. The other characters, most of which are colonists with very obnoxious views and in their majority hateful characters, nonetheless are essential to the plot because one could say that their hatred drives the story forward relentlessly and lends it the necessary suspense and icy drama.
Normally I don’t do trigger warnings, but I’ve recently been explained their importance, and while reading this book, I really understood why. There were some blood-curdling scenes even a hard-boiled reader like me was almost shocked by. Maybe it’s because I never “got” neither hateful feelings like racism (sexism, agism, homophobia, you name it) nor violence, but I have to say, certain scenes really made me feel very uncomfortable, some even almost sick. Yet I knew (and I want to insist on that fact) that these scenes were necessary, none of them pointless or spurious, to spin the plot’s logical arc. Yes, the whole story simply unraveled, not without some major surprises, like something that was meant to be and, more importantly, meant to be the way it was.
Therefore, it’s a whole-hearted recommendation from me—a great story written by an amazingly good writer the name of whom I really hope to read on more book covers before long.
January 25, 2023
If I can't sleep anyway, I may as well write a review. This book had some neat ideas at its core that I thought were interesting and was excited to read about: racial anxiety among the far-right leading to secluded caucasian-only compounds dedicated to xenophobia and breeding more white people so their "species" doesn't go extinct. Gross, but interesting. Unfortunately, the writing (weak or way over-the-top, and sometimes both at once) and characterization really didn't carry it off for me. And the "Millennials were the best thing to happen to humanity and ushered in a new era of utopia" thing started weird and got weirder. I definitely snarked some in my notes and highlights, and it's a reflection of how frustrating I found it that the craft of the writing was just not up to the level of executing those cool ideas.
September 23, 2021
This is the debut novel of the author, although instead it felt the amazing writing skills since paragraph one. And that was all I needed to decide if the book I was starting to read had one of the most outstanding plots I've ever read, its first paragraph. Such a neat and impressive job. I will be waiting for book two. I require a series to finish this story.
September 5, 2021
This book was pretty good. I really enjoyed the concept and the writing. The social commentary is also good I think. The mystery was interesting and suspencefull throughout. The characters were well written and had depth to them.
September 7, 2021
Thanks to NetGalley and the author for this ARC!
Corinth 2642 AD is a sci-fi/dystopian novel set in a future where diversity and harmony has been achieved - but white supremacists have formed secret 'colonies' across the country. The story follows investigator Jimmy Matoo as he attempts to unravel the mystery of a missing girl from one of these colonies, forcing him to set foot in a place where he is not only an unwelcome stranger, but a symbol of everything they stand against.
I really enjoyed this book - it feels very timely in the current world climate, and the reflections on the past (our present) should be thought provoking for everyone. The entire book takes place over just a couple of days, so the mystery is fast-paced and intriguing and keeps you hooked throughout. The characters are very well developed and I appreciated the amount of character growth that occurred over a short space of time. Overall a great read, would definitely recommend!
Corinth 2642 AD is a sci-fi/dystopian novel set in a future where diversity and harmony has been achieved - but white supremacists have formed secret 'colonies' across the country. The story follows investigator Jimmy Matoo as he attempts to unravel the mystery of a missing girl from one of these colonies, forcing him to set foot in a place where he is not only an unwelcome stranger, but a symbol of everything they stand against.
I really enjoyed this book - it feels very timely in the current world climate, and the reflections on the past (our present) should be thought provoking for everyone. The entire book takes place over just a couple of days, so the mystery is fast-paced and intriguing and keeps you hooked throughout. The characters are very well developed and I appreciated the amount of character growth that occurred over a short space of time. Overall a great read, would definitely recommend!
December 17, 2024
In the year 2642, race is no longer an issue. Everyone is multiracial. But a hidden colony of white people is determined to stay pure and become the majority again.
Jimmy Matoo is a private investigator in San Francisco. He is approached by a colony leader, Bull, to help find his missing granddaughter Cara. The entire interaction with Bull is difficult for Jimmy due to how judgemental and racist Bull is towards people of color. He is preparing not to take the job until Bull states that Jimmy's younger brother was killed outside the colony. This comes as news from Jimmy. He's still processing his brother's death, but the information he's getting from Bull about the death of his brother is different from what he and his parents were told. He agrees to help find Cara in exchange for getting more information on what happened to his brother.
Jimmy heads for Corinth, Oregan with Bull to begin his investigation but had no clue what he was getting himself into. The hate he receives there is amazing. Most people in the colony have not even seen someone of color before. They hold primitive beliefs and have not problem expressing their disdain for him. Along with that, Jimmy is shocked by how much pressure the colony puts on girls to reproduce. Teenagers are given prenatal vitamins and have monthly checkups to check fertility rates. The women can't even exercise for fear that it will have adverse effects on their ability to reproduce. No wonder Cara decided to run away. The question Jimmy has is if she was able to escape or was she killed?
This book was awesome. The plot was so different from anything else I've read this year. I loved the concept of One World and how everyone is much more accepting of racial differences. There was such a progression in the way people view societal differences....until we get to the colonies. The colony members held on to their beliefs so tightly and wouldn't even consider the possibility that what they believed was foolish. Jimmy is a strong person because I would have left the colony after 10 minutes of being there!
One of the reasons I enjoyed this book so much is due to my reactions while reading it. How engaged I was and how much I rooted for some of the characters. I do feel the ending was a little too open for my liking, lol. I won't give it away, but I'm wondering if there will be a part two or if the characters will pop up in other works by this author. Even though I would have preferred more closure, I was satisfied with the ending. I give it 4.5 stars.
Jimmy Matoo is a private investigator in San Francisco. He is approached by a colony leader, Bull, to help find his missing granddaughter Cara. The entire interaction with Bull is difficult for Jimmy due to how judgemental and racist Bull is towards people of color. He is preparing not to take the job until Bull states that Jimmy's younger brother was killed outside the colony. This comes as news from Jimmy. He's still processing his brother's death, but the information he's getting from Bull about the death of his brother is different from what he and his parents were told. He agrees to help find Cara in exchange for getting more information on what happened to his brother.
Jimmy heads for Corinth, Oregan with Bull to begin his investigation but had no clue what he was getting himself into. The hate he receives there is amazing. Most people in the colony have not even seen someone of color before. They hold primitive beliefs and have not problem expressing their disdain for him. Along with that, Jimmy is shocked by how much pressure the colony puts on girls to reproduce. Teenagers are given prenatal vitamins and have monthly checkups to check fertility rates. The women can't even exercise for fear that it will have adverse effects on their ability to reproduce. No wonder Cara decided to run away. The question Jimmy has is if she was able to escape or was she killed?
This book was awesome. The plot was so different from anything else I've read this year. I loved the concept of One World and how everyone is much more accepting of racial differences. There was such a progression in the way people view societal differences....until we get to the colonies. The colony members held on to their beliefs so tightly and wouldn't even consider the possibility that what they believed was foolish. Jimmy is a strong person because I would have left the colony after 10 minutes of being there!
One of the reasons I enjoyed this book so much is due to my reactions while reading it. How engaged I was and how much I rooted for some of the characters. I do feel the ending was a little too open for my liking, lol. I won't give it away, but I'm wondering if there will be a part two or if the characters will pop up in other works by this author. Even though I would have preferred more closure, I was satisfied with the ending. I give it 4.5 stars.
September 21, 2021
** Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for giving me a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. **
This book had me on the edge of my seat, I honestly can’t wait until One World is a thing. Reading this book shocked me that there might still be bigotry in the future. I loved this book and the storyline, it was immersive and very believable.
This book had me on the edge of my seat, I honestly can’t wait until One World is a thing. Reading this book shocked me that there might still be bigotry in the future. I loved this book and the storyline, it was immersive and very believable.
August 27, 2021
Thanks to Bindiya and Zenith for an advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
*Contains Minor Spoilers*
Before I’d even started reading I was instantly struck by the powerful, interesting, unique and very timely premise.
It is fascinating, as a Caucasian person, to read a book about a world where people of colour are prominent and the white people are segregated (for want of a better word). This is a world where generally, race doesn’t matter. Nor does sexuality or location or country or borders. There’s no reason why a world like this can’t exist, and it’s so rarely written about. It’s a great concept that is interesting to read.
Considering this is set 600+ years in the future it’s interesting to see what Bindiya thinks the future will look like, as everyone has their own viewpoint on what the world will look like.
The fact that racism is so rare and contained in this world is a positive (not as positive as it being completely eradicated of course) and it really highlights the problems that exist in our real world.
The characters are really individual and identifiable. You like them for their successes and morals, but hate them for their failures and selfishness. The main villain is so delightful evil, he is a real pleasure to read. For a story where white women are predominately used just for childbearing, there was a risk they would become background, one dimensional characters, but they didn’t, and that really takes some skill.
It is not over the top in its racism or gore, or it’s sentimental moments, but it hits the right balance to feel real, but also to entertain you and affect you as required.
There is a definite sense of The Handmaid’s Tale about it, and Bindiya has enough talent, I think, to get close to Margaret Atwood herself.
I sure hope there’s a sequel, or even a series, followed by a hit movie or TV series. This is a story that deserves to be heard.
*Contains Minor Spoilers*
Before I’d even started reading I was instantly struck by the powerful, interesting, unique and very timely premise.
It is fascinating, as a Caucasian person, to read a book about a world where people of colour are prominent and the white people are segregated (for want of a better word). This is a world where generally, race doesn’t matter. Nor does sexuality or location or country or borders. There’s no reason why a world like this can’t exist, and it’s so rarely written about. It’s a great concept that is interesting to read.
Considering this is set 600+ years in the future it’s interesting to see what Bindiya thinks the future will look like, as everyone has their own viewpoint on what the world will look like.
The fact that racism is so rare and contained in this world is a positive (not as positive as it being completely eradicated of course) and it really highlights the problems that exist in our real world.
The characters are really individual and identifiable. You like them for their successes and morals, but hate them for their failures and selfishness. The main villain is so delightful evil, he is a real pleasure to read. For a story where white women are predominately used just for childbearing, there was a risk they would become background, one dimensional characters, but they didn’t, and that really takes some skill.
It is not over the top in its racism or gore, or it’s sentimental moments, but it hits the right balance to feel real, but also to entertain you and affect you as required.
There is a definite sense of The Handmaid’s Tale about it, and Bindiya has enough talent, I think, to get close to Margaret Atwood herself.
I sure hope there’s a sequel, or even a series, followed by a hit movie or TV series. This is a story that deserves to be heard.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 5, 2021
This novel dives into action immediately as private investigator Jimmy takes an unusual case of a missing girl that will change his life forever.
In Corinth 2642 AD, the world has long moved past the racial tensions inherent in its history. As a consequence, the concept of whiteness has been nearly entirely abolished - nearly.
In Corinth, and other towns across the world, there exists a white ethnostate where the people live in a self imposed hell separated from the luxuries and culture of modern society.
And Corinth was the last place Jimmy's missing brother was seen.
Corinth 2642 AD pulls the reader in immediately and carries them throughout with stimulating action and palpable tension. In a world without racism, the perspective of one experiencing it *for the first time* lends a fresh new view to a concept often grappled with.
In Corinth 2642 AD, the world has long moved past the racial tensions inherent in its history. As a consequence, the concept of whiteness has been nearly entirely abolished - nearly.
In Corinth, and other towns across the world, there exists a white ethnostate where the people live in a self imposed hell separated from the luxuries and culture of modern society.
And Corinth was the last place Jimmy's missing brother was seen.
Corinth 2642 AD pulls the reader in immediately and carries them throughout with stimulating action and palpable tension. In a world without racism, the perspective of one experiencing it *for the first time* lends a fresh new view to a concept often grappled with.
September 25, 2021
Check out this review and more on my blog, Maya’s Reviews.
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Thank you to GenZ Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
All quotes are taken from Corinth 2642 AD by Bindiya Schaefer.
// Content warnings: racism, racial attacks, torture, sexism, homophobia, murder, child death, abuse, cult, misogyny //
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// Quick Statistics //
Overall: 5/5 Stars
Plot: 5/5 Stars
Setting: 5/5 Stars
Characters: 5/5 Stars
Writing: 5/5 Stars
Memorability: 5/5 Stars
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// Quick Review //
Corinth 2642 AD is an imaginative, mysterious, and thoughtful novel that will left me stunned with its brilliant and complex characters, fantastic mystery, and real life implications.
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// Other Information //
Publisher: GenZ Publishing
Page Count: 296 pages
Release Date: September 21, 2021
Series: I am desperately hoping that Corinth 2642 AD will be a part of a series, but I cannot confirm or deny that it will be.
Genre: Fiction, Young adult, Adult, Mystery, Science fiction, Dystopian
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// Book Description (via Goodreads) //
In the year 2642, no one person is ethnically like the other. Globalization, war, and other catalysts have given birth to a diverse and multi-ethnic new world.
Not everyone feels this new society is ideal, though. A select group creates their own colony—a pureblood, white supremacist cult complete with arranged marriages and heavily guarded borders. Cara yearns to escape her life in the colonies. For as long as she could remember, the seven colonies, led by her imperial grandfather Julius Bull, have only had one mission: protect the bloodline from contamination and produce the next generation of survivors. So, Cara makes a run for it.
Desperate to keep her dissidence quiet for fear of potentially inciting a power struggle within the colonies, Bull brings in Jimmy Matoo—a Special Investigator from San Francisco whose brother was found dead near one of the colonies the same night Cara disappeared.
For Matoo, the visit to Corinth, Oregon, is eye-opening. He has never seen a white person before and is shocked by their ideas of imperialism, racial purity, and the prospect of arranged marriages in the 27th century. Desperate to find out what really happened to his brother and his connection to Corinth, Jimmy learns that dozens of young people, all destined for loveless, arranged marriages, have gone missing over the years, and some had been found dead on the outskirts of Corinth.
With the clock ticking, San Francisco’s Detective Matoo’s missing persons investigation soon becomes a fight for survival—turns out the residents don’t like a brown fellow in their midst. Can he find Cara, figure out what happened to his brother and save the Bull-Smiths from the Cabal before it’s too late? Maybe. But first, he must find out who in the colony has the means and connections to smuggle the dissidents out without being detected because it could be the difference between life and death.
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// Characters //
The novel follows the story of Jimmy Matoo, an ex SFPD Special Investigation employee, who is now working through the grief of losing both of his brothers, Vir and Aric. Jimmy is hired by Julius Bull, the leader of a hidden colony called Corinth. The Bull family (which includes Julius, Rebecca, Jonathan, Florence, Cara, and Isaac) is the prime example of what a family in Corinth should be: white, straight, cis, and breeding.
All of Schaefer’s characters were complex, unique, and real. While I cannot go into the complexity of each character without spoiling the novel or making this review look like an essay, I do want to say that the way in which Schaefer wrote her characters sets up the rest of the novel to be highly thought invoking and intriguing.
---
// Writing and Setting //
The atmosphere of this novel is very heavy, realistic, and a darker reflection of our world. Schaefer’s writing perfectly brings this to life by being descriptive but not overbearing with details.
The world that Schaefer has created is phenomenal. The world outside of the colonies sounds like as close to a utopia as one can get. Outside of the colonies is One World, a world in which multiethnicity and diversity became a normal thing all over the world. Corinth and the other colonies were created by racist Caucasians to protect their bloodline from being ‘contaminated’ by the blood of non-white people. Corinth is a hellhole of misogyny, racism, and homophobia that I cannot even imagine spending one second in. The women in Corinth are essentially just baby-making machines. They’re limited on exercise, arranged to marry people, etc…. all just so the population of Corinth can rise.
However, here is an example of how diverse and accepting One World is, because I hate Corinth after spending an entire novel there:
---
// Plot //
As I mentioned, Matoo is hired by Julius Bull to come to Corinth. For what, you may be asking? Well, Bull’s granddaughter Cara, golden child and role model for Corinth, ran away from the ugly home she had endured for the entirety of her teen years. I’m just saying, I would do the same. But for Bull, this is potentially scandalous. If they don’t get Cara back, Bull’s power in the colonies could be challenged even more than they already are.
Matoo accepts the job despite Bull’s obvious prejudices because of the fact that Bull has information regarding his brother, Vir’s, recent death for which Matoo has no explanation. When he arrives in Corinth, Matoo is met with situations he has never faced, people who hate him, and a need to discover the spiderweb that is Corinth.
Corinth 2642 AD is fast paced and never with a dull moment.
---
// Overall Review //
The world-building, characters, and plot are all perfectly combined to create an expertly reflective novel that I hope will have a sequel. I need to know, I really do.
---
FOLLOW ME: Twitter || TikTok || Tumblr || BookBub || BookSiren || Anchor || YouTube || Spotify || Google Podcasts || Apple Podcasts
---
Thank you to GenZ Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
All quotes are taken from Corinth 2642 AD by Bindiya Schaefer.
// Content warnings: racism, racial attacks, torture, sexism, homophobia, murder, child death, abuse, cult, misogyny //
---
// Quick Statistics //
Overall: 5/5 Stars
Plot: 5/5 Stars
Setting: 5/5 Stars
Characters: 5/5 Stars
Writing: 5/5 Stars
Memorability: 5/5 Stars
---
// Quick Review //
Corinth 2642 AD is an imaginative, mysterious, and thoughtful novel that will left me stunned with its brilliant and complex characters, fantastic mystery, and real life implications.
---
// Other Information //
Publisher: GenZ Publishing
Page Count: 296 pages
Release Date: September 21, 2021
Series: I am desperately hoping that Corinth 2642 AD will be a part of a series, but I cannot confirm or deny that it will be.
Genre: Fiction, Young adult, Adult, Mystery, Science fiction, Dystopian
---
// Book Description (via Goodreads) //
In the year 2642, no one person is ethnically like the other. Globalization, war, and other catalysts have given birth to a diverse and multi-ethnic new world.
Not everyone feels this new society is ideal, though. A select group creates their own colony—a pureblood, white supremacist cult complete with arranged marriages and heavily guarded borders. Cara yearns to escape her life in the colonies. For as long as she could remember, the seven colonies, led by her imperial grandfather Julius Bull, have only had one mission: protect the bloodline from contamination and produce the next generation of survivors. So, Cara makes a run for it.
Desperate to keep her dissidence quiet for fear of potentially inciting a power struggle within the colonies, Bull brings in Jimmy Matoo—a Special Investigator from San Francisco whose brother was found dead near one of the colonies the same night Cara disappeared.
For Matoo, the visit to Corinth, Oregon, is eye-opening. He has never seen a white person before and is shocked by their ideas of imperialism, racial purity, and the prospect of arranged marriages in the 27th century. Desperate to find out what really happened to his brother and his connection to Corinth, Jimmy learns that dozens of young people, all destined for loveless, arranged marriages, have gone missing over the years, and some had been found dead on the outskirts of Corinth.
With the clock ticking, San Francisco’s Detective Matoo’s missing persons investigation soon becomes a fight for survival—turns out the residents don’t like a brown fellow in their midst. Can he find Cara, figure out what happened to his brother and save the Bull-Smiths from the Cabal before it’s too late? Maybe. But first, he must find out who in the colony has the means and connections to smuggle the dissidents out without being detected because it could be the difference between life and death.
---
// Characters //
The novel follows the story of Jimmy Matoo, an ex SFPD Special Investigation employee, who is now working through the grief of losing both of his brothers, Vir and Aric. Jimmy is hired by Julius Bull, the leader of a hidden colony called Corinth. The Bull family (which includes Julius, Rebecca, Jonathan, Florence, Cara, and Isaac) is the prime example of what a family in Corinth should be: white, straight, cis, and breeding.
All of Schaefer’s characters were complex, unique, and real. While I cannot go into the complexity of each character without spoiling the novel or making this review look like an essay, I do want to say that the way in which Schaefer wrote her characters sets up the rest of the novel to be highly thought invoking and intriguing.
---
// Writing and Setting //
The atmosphere of this novel is very heavy, realistic, and a darker reflection of our world. Schaefer’s writing perfectly brings this to life by being descriptive but not overbearing with details.
The world that Schaefer has created is phenomenal. The world outside of the colonies sounds like as close to a utopia as one can get. Outside of the colonies is One World, a world in which multiethnicity and diversity became a normal thing all over the world. Corinth and the other colonies were created by racist Caucasians to protect their bloodline from being ‘contaminated’ by the blood of non-white people. Corinth is a hellhole of misogyny, racism, and homophobia that I cannot even imagine spending one second in. The women in Corinth are essentially just baby-making machines. They’re limited on exercise, arranged to marry people, etc…. all just so the population of Corinth can rise.
However, here is an example of how diverse and accepting One World is, because I hate Corinth after spending an entire novel there:
"People no longer identified themselves by ethnicity. We were no longer Black, White, Asian, Hispanic, or biracial. We had become a beautiful multiracial generation. A generation that came to be known as One World."
---
// Plot //
As I mentioned, Matoo is hired by Julius Bull to come to Corinth. For what, you may be asking? Well, Bull’s granddaughter Cara, golden child and role model for Corinth, ran away from the ugly home she had endured for the entirety of her teen years. I’m just saying, I would do the same. But for Bull, this is potentially scandalous. If they don’t get Cara back, Bull’s power in the colonies could be challenged even more than they already are.
Matoo accepts the job despite Bull’s obvious prejudices because of the fact that Bull has information regarding his brother, Vir’s, recent death for which Matoo has no explanation. When he arrives in Corinth, Matoo is met with situations he has never faced, people who hate him, and a need to discover the spiderweb that is Corinth.
Corinth 2642 AD is fast paced and never with a dull moment.
---
// Overall Review //
The world-building, characters, and plot are all perfectly combined to create an expertly reflective novel that I hope will have a sequel. I need to know, I really do.
---
FOLLOW ME: Twitter || TikTok || Tumblr || BookBub || BookSiren || Anchor || YouTube || Spotify || Google Podcasts || Apple Podcasts
September 3, 2021
Corinth 2642 A.D. is the debut novel for indie author Bindiya Schaefer. From page one, this science-fiction thriller grips you and doesn’t let go.
This fast-paced story starts in the year 2642, a time when climate change has ravaged the Earth, space travel is considered a family vacation, and people no longer identify themselves by a single ethnicity. Detective Jimmy Matoo answers the door to a surprise guest – the first Caucasian man he’s ever seen. The guest identifies himself as Julius Bull, leader of the secret Caucasian colony of Corinth, one of seven in the United States. Julius calls on Detective Matoo to help him locate his granddaughter, Cara, a seventeen-year-old girl who had recently run away, leaving only a scathing letter disparaging the toxic and hateful values of the colony. After some convincing, Detective Matoo agrees; but he quickly realizes the imminent danger of this job, and that he will have to put his life on the line in order to find out what happened to Cara.
Author Schaefer pulls no punches when it comes to the people in Corinth. The blatant racism and violence that occurs in the town is shocking and (rightfully) uncomfortable. Jimmy Matoo is a saint compared to the way I felt about the citizens of Corinth. Matoo is patient, kind, and empathetic, despite the Bull family’s reception to him.
Fortunately, there are some side characters that, from the beginning, appear to question the values of Corinth and quickly warm up to Matoo. If you’re like me, you need those characters to help keep you sane!
The world-building in the story is well-done and I enjoyed references to our time period that were now considered “ancient history.” The world-building is spread throughout the book, which to me, helps keep the story from becoming stagnant.
My only issue with the book was the ending. I felt that there were several unknowns that the reader was left with. I am not sure if this is because there is a sequel planned or if Schaefer intended for the reader to make their own conclusions. Fortunately, the effect this had on my general enjoyment of the book was minimal.
Overall, I enjoyed the book and recommend it to anyone who appreciates novels that are fast-paced, plot-based, easy to read, and/or based in the science fiction or thriller genres.
Content Warnings: racism, infertility, violence, violence against children, gore, grief
(Note: I was provided an advanced copy of Corinth 2642 A.D. by the publisher via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.)
This fast-paced story starts in the year 2642, a time when climate change has ravaged the Earth, space travel is considered a family vacation, and people no longer identify themselves by a single ethnicity. Detective Jimmy Matoo answers the door to a surprise guest – the first Caucasian man he’s ever seen. The guest identifies himself as Julius Bull, leader of the secret Caucasian colony of Corinth, one of seven in the United States. Julius calls on Detective Matoo to help him locate his granddaughter, Cara, a seventeen-year-old girl who had recently run away, leaving only a scathing letter disparaging the toxic and hateful values of the colony. After some convincing, Detective Matoo agrees; but he quickly realizes the imminent danger of this job, and that he will have to put his life on the line in order to find out what happened to Cara.
Author Schaefer pulls no punches when it comes to the people in Corinth. The blatant racism and violence that occurs in the town is shocking and (rightfully) uncomfortable. Jimmy Matoo is a saint compared to the way I felt about the citizens of Corinth. Matoo is patient, kind, and empathetic, despite the Bull family’s reception to him.
Fortunately, there are some side characters that, from the beginning, appear to question the values of Corinth and quickly warm up to Matoo. If you’re like me, you need those characters to help keep you sane!
The world-building in the story is well-done and I enjoyed references to our time period that were now considered “ancient history.” The world-building is spread throughout the book, which to me, helps keep the story from becoming stagnant.
My only issue with the book was the ending. I felt that there were several unknowns that the reader was left with. I am not sure if this is because there is a sequel planned or if Schaefer intended for the reader to make their own conclusions. Fortunately, the effect this had on my general enjoyment of the book was minimal.
Overall, I enjoyed the book and recommend it to anyone who appreciates novels that are fast-paced, plot-based, easy to read, and/or based in the science fiction or thriller genres.
Content Warnings: racism, infertility, violence, violence against children, gore, grief
(Note: I was provided an advanced copy of Corinth 2642 A.D. by the publisher via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.)
October 1, 2021
In the far future, 2642 AD, the world has suffered through the Millennial war and ethnicity and racism have disappeared. But when Jimmy Matoo is approached by the first white man he's ever seen, he's finds out there are secret colonies of a white supremacist cult determined to become a majority again. Julius Bull is the leader of the colonies and the only one of his people to know about the world's technology. He wants Jimmy to find out what happened to his granddaughter Cara, who disappeared from the colonies. Jimmy refuses at first, until he finds out that his brother was killed right outside Corinth's borders on the night Cara disappeared. The only way to find out what really happened to his brother is to find Cara, but once he arrives there, he realizes he might be lucky to even escape with his own life.
I was amazed to find out this is the author's debut novel. The writing is excellent and I was drawn into the story from the first page. Just like Jimmy, I would be shocked and horrified that generations of children were forced into arranged marriages so young, their only value being the amount of children they could conceive. I'm hoping that the ending of this book was the hint of a sequel?!
I received an advance reader copy of this book through NetGalley. The views and opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and given voluntarily.
I was amazed to find out this is the author's debut novel. The writing is excellent and I was drawn into the story from the first page. Just like Jimmy, I would be shocked and horrified that generations of children were forced into arranged marriages so young, their only value being the amount of children they could conceive. I'm hoping that the ending of this book was the hint of a sequel?!
I received an advance reader copy of this book through NetGalley. The views and opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and given voluntarily.
September 26, 2021
In Corinth 2642 AD the world has evolved, humanity has evolved. Globalization has led to “one world” and the construct of race does not exist anymore, because every human being is a beautiful mix of many different cultures and races. However, there are some who don’t like this new world. Secret colonies that formed to retain their race and outdated views.
This futuristic book is very much a reflection of the issues in our current time and for that alone a really important and relevant work. The world building is fantastic and the future is described vividly.
I could not put down this book and read it in one session. It is hard to describe or categorize this book into one genre, a very unique work. Highly recommend
This futuristic book is very much a reflection of the issues in our current time and for that alone a really important and relevant work. The world building is fantastic and the future is described vividly.
I could not put down this book and read it in one session. It is hard to describe or categorize this book into one genre, a very unique work. Highly recommend
September 27, 2021
Ms. Schaefer's debut is both a stunning and chilling look into the future of humankind. The world Schaefer has built for us is realistic, futuristic, and well-realized--something I think that is difficult to achieve within science fiction, let alone a debut novel! The main character, Jimmy Matoo, is both sympathetic and empathetic to read. The colony of Corinth's overt, blatant racism is realistic in its portrayal, and echoes the very racism we see in our current world. Overall, Schaefer's novel is powerful, and gripping.
August 13, 2021
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Gripping and thought provoking right from page one. This book is extremely well written. The fact that some people in the real world hold the same belief as those in Corinth in this day and age is terrifying. I would have really liked to know more about life outside the coloney. Hopefully the author will explore this in future books...?
Gripping and thought provoking right from page one. This book is extremely well written. The fact that some people in the real world hold the same belief as those in Corinth in this day and age is terrifying. I would have really liked to know more about life outside the coloney. Hopefully the author will explore this in future books...?
October 11, 2021
This book was a sci-fi murder mystery+dystopian+utopian that also had a unique way of looking at how racial identities will be fully blended in the future.
If you like fast-paced mysteries, this is for you!
If you like fast-paced mysteries, this is for you!
November 23, 2021
Bindiya Schaefer’s Corinth 2642 AD is one of those books that left me somewhat conflicted. On the one hand, this was a story with great social commentary. On the other hand, the way some details were given didn’t quite work for me.
Corinth 2642 AD is a soft mystery set in a future world where things are not what they seem. From the start, the mystery had me curious about how the specific details would come together. While it was interesting to watch the pieces unfold, I did find myself working them out far too easily. I think if details had been interwoven a bit better instead of being given in the information dumps, I would have enjoyed it a little more. Although I wasn’t quite as sucked in as I would have liked to be, I did enjoy exploring the world. Some details were a little over the top, and some details were not explored as much as I would have liked, yet it was an interesting world that contained social commentary to make the reader think.
All in all, Corinth 2642 AD was an interesting read. It wasn’t quite what I had expected, but it did have me powering through it in no time.
Corinth 2642 AD is a soft mystery set in a future world where things are not what they seem. From the start, the mystery had me curious about how the specific details would come together. While it was interesting to watch the pieces unfold, I did find myself working them out far too easily. I think if details had been interwoven a bit better instead of being given in the information dumps, I would have enjoyed it a little more. Although I wasn’t quite as sucked in as I would have liked to be, I did enjoy exploring the world. Some details were a little over the top, and some details were not explored as much as I would have liked, yet it was an interesting world that contained social commentary to make the reader think.
All in all, Corinth 2642 AD was an interesting read. It wasn’t quite what I had expected, but it did have me powering through it in no time.
January 15, 2022
I’m marinating on this one. It’s a believable, but creepy, vision of the future. The book describes seven all-Caucasian colonies in a world of mixed race majority and focuses on one colony and missing children. It’s an combination of detective story, thriller, and societal commentary. I kept thinking that this scenario might be an accurate depiction of our future, and then saying surely not. Aren’t we bigger than bigotry?
September 14, 2021
*Trigger Warnings*
Racism, Racial Attacks, Torture, Sexism, Murder, Child death, Abuse, Cult,
In the year 2642, no one person is ethnically like the other. Globalization, war, and other catalysts have given birth to a diverse and multi-ethnic new world. However, not everyone is a fan of this new world and a select group creates their own colony—a pureblood, white supremacist cult complete with arranged marriages and heavily guarded borders. But children are escaping from the colonies. When the leader's granddaughter disappears he brings in Jimmy Matoo—a Special Investigator from San Francisco, who has never seen a white person before, whose brother was found dead near one of the colonies the same night Cara disappeared. Jimmy learns about the strange ways of Corinth, Oregan and about the disappearances of children who wind up dead at the borders
Can he find Cara, figure out what happened to his brother and save the Bull-Smiths from the Cabal before it’s too late? Maybe. But first, he must find out who in the colony has the means and connections to smuggle the dissidents out without being detected because it could be the difference between life and death.
I really enjoyed this book the pacing is good and the plot and execution are both intriguing. I liked the characters and the portrayal of the people in The Colonies was interesting. I loved the world building and the concept of the One World where everyone has been bought together and people are fighting to protect that and help the colonies, however, some of the explanations of new technologies felt a bit like an info dump rather than showing us how they worked, this was also the same for some of the other facts that were given to us that also felt like an info dump, necessary but could have been shown rather than told.
The tension is well done and the relationships between the characters are interesting but could have been explored more. The characters other than Jimmy and Evie felt a bit lacking and I wish they had been explored a bit further.
Also the amount of "these characters are just racist" was a bit much at some point, the fact they grew up in a cult were indoctrinated, just found out about the murder of their father and grandfather is never really looked at when regarding their actions just they are racist end of, which particularly regarding Florence seems a bit weird.
However, despite the writing bring good overall there are instances where there is too much explanation for things that didn't need explanation which pulled me out of the story and made me feel like the author didn't trust the reader to figure things out unless they were told directly.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and can't wait to read more by this author in the future
Racism, Racial Attacks, Torture, Sexism, Murder, Child death, Abuse, Cult,
In the year 2642, no one person is ethnically like the other. Globalization, war, and other catalysts have given birth to a diverse and multi-ethnic new world. However, not everyone is a fan of this new world and a select group creates their own colony—a pureblood, white supremacist cult complete with arranged marriages and heavily guarded borders. But children are escaping from the colonies. When the leader's granddaughter disappears he brings in Jimmy Matoo—a Special Investigator from San Francisco, who has never seen a white person before, whose brother was found dead near one of the colonies the same night Cara disappeared. Jimmy learns about the strange ways of Corinth, Oregan and about the disappearances of children who wind up dead at the borders
Can he find Cara, figure out what happened to his brother and save the Bull-Smiths from the Cabal before it’s too late? Maybe. But first, he must find out who in the colony has the means and connections to smuggle the dissidents out without being detected because it could be the difference between life and death.
I really enjoyed this book the pacing is good and the plot and execution are both intriguing. I liked the characters and the portrayal of the people in The Colonies was interesting. I loved the world building and the concept of the One World where everyone has been bought together and people are fighting to protect that and help the colonies, however, some of the explanations of new technologies felt a bit like an info dump rather than showing us how they worked, this was also the same for some of the other facts that were given to us that also felt like an info dump, necessary but could have been shown rather than told.
The tension is well done and the relationships between the characters are interesting but could have been explored more. The characters other than Jimmy and Evie felt a bit lacking and I wish they had been explored a bit further.
Also the amount of "these characters are just racist" was a bit much at some point, the fact they grew up in a cult were indoctrinated, just found out about the murder of their father and grandfather is never really looked at when regarding their actions just they are racist end of, which particularly regarding Florence seems a bit weird.
However, despite the writing bring good overall there are instances where there is too much explanation for things that didn't need explanation which pulled me out of the story and made me feel like the author didn't trust the reader to figure things out unless they were told directly.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and can't wait to read more by this author in the future
September 29, 2021
Schaefer's debut novel is one you don't want to miss. This is an impossible to put down book that will keep you wanting to read more.
Thank you to Bindiya Schaefer and Netgalley for providing with an ARC of this book! I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Thank you to Bindiya Schaefer and Netgalley for providing with an ARC of this book! I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 23, 2021
Amazing book, pulls you in from the first pages and you can’t put the book to the side. The story line is exciting and it’s nice to see the combination of “old world topics” like racism and a future “one world” in which racism is a topic from the past.
March 1, 2022
Witty, action-packed, beautiful in its descriptiveness, and compelling.
I was very intrigued by the story, world, action, and how everything came together.
This was a great sci-fi read! Don't miss it!
I was very intrigued by the story, world, action, and how everything came together.
This was a great sci-fi read! Don't miss it!
September 22, 2021
A dystopian future tale, missing person investigative thriller, and murder mystery all rolled into one! Lots of edge-of-your-seat, nail-biting action. This is the kind of novel that will keep you up into the wee hours because you cannot put it down. Trigger warning: the blatant, relentless racism of the antagonists makes this a difficult read at some points. This, if anything, makes the story relevant to our current times and is an important read—and cautionary tale—for everyone.
December 14, 2021
I really enjoyed this book. I thought it was very fast paced and easy to understand. The plot was also very interesting and unique. I wasn’t really sure of what to expect from this book except for a dystopian world but this offered so much more.
The characters in this book was amazing to read about. I loved the main character, Jimmy. He was very calm and level headed especially when dealing with certain individuals. The other characters in this book were very entertaining. It was interesting to hear their different opinions about the world they live in.
The plot in this book was amazing. I have never read anything like this before. I thought it was a book which highlighted racism and violence. These themes are triggering but are important to the book. Some part of this book were uncomfortable to read but this made the book feel very real to me.
I love how the author brought the book to life through both the characters and the book. I found this book to be a quick read for me and the events made the book fast paced. I did really enjoy this story, I am eager to know if this will be part of a series. There is so much potential at the end of the book to have more, which is a great sign!
I highly recommend this book to everyone, it was great!
The characters in this book was amazing to read about. I loved the main character, Jimmy. He was very calm and level headed especially when dealing with certain individuals. The other characters in this book were very entertaining. It was interesting to hear their different opinions about the world they live in.
The plot in this book was amazing. I have never read anything like this before. I thought it was a book which highlighted racism and violence. These themes are triggering but are important to the book. Some part of this book were uncomfortable to read but this made the book feel very real to me.
I love how the author brought the book to life through both the characters and the book. I found this book to be a quick read for me and the events made the book fast paced. I did really enjoy this story, I am eager to know if this will be part of a series. There is so much potential at the end of the book to have more, which is a great sign!
I highly recommend this book to everyone, it was great!
November 18, 2021
The book is set in a future where racisim is dead… well …. Almost.
For me it was an interesting mashup of The Grace Year, Longmire, and White Fragility. I liked the world build of a world where interracial marriage, space travel, and radical climate change have developed a more unified world system. The colonies to me read a bit too “preachy.” The colonists are too over – the – top for me from their blatant racism to their breeding systems for children.
The book is a bit mystery and a bit dystopian sci-fi. It is well written and the core story is compelling. I did enjoy the characters in the book, particularly Detective Matoo.
I would give it five stars except I felt often pulled out of the story for the sake of the propaganda. To be fair, the world of racism, torture, sexism, and such moved the plot forward, but I seldom enjoy books that take modern conflicts (albeit in a future world) but build a bit of a straw man for one position.
I received a copy as part of a blog tour. The opinions are my own.
For me it was an interesting mashup of The Grace Year, Longmire, and White Fragility. I liked the world build of a world where interracial marriage, space travel, and radical climate change have developed a more unified world system. The colonies to me read a bit too “preachy.” The colonists are too over – the – top for me from their blatant racism to their breeding systems for children.
The book is a bit mystery and a bit dystopian sci-fi. It is well written and the core story is compelling. I did enjoy the characters in the book, particularly Detective Matoo.
I would give it five stars except I felt often pulled out of the story for the sake of the propaganda. To be fair, the world of racism, torture, sexism, and such moved the plot forward, but I seldom enjoy books that take modern conflicts (albeit in a future world) but build a bit of a straw man for one position.
I received a copy as part of a blog tour. The opinions are my own.
October 7, 2021
I voluntarily received an eArc via NetGally in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Corinth is a Science Fiction novel that draws inspiration and aspects from our own current day in an effort to tackle very heavy topics such as racism and sexism. Though uncomfortable at many points I do believe the author handled the subjects pretty well. The idea of Corinth and the other communities like it in this novel terrify me.
Though not my usual type of read I found it a quick and easy read even though it was tackling hard topics. The main character was quite enjoyable to get to know and was a good utilization of a 'fish out of water trope.' I can't say all the characters were because... well they are a bit problematic. I think my true rating would be around a 3.5/3.75 but I'm going to round it up to a 4 because though its not a perfect book for me, I think it could be for someone else.
TW: Sexism, Racism (including derogatory terms), violence, lack of body autonomy.
Corinth is a Science Fiction novel that draws inspiration and aspects from our own current day in an effort to tackle very heavy topics such as racism and sexism. Though uncomfortable at many points I do believe the author handled the subjects pretty well. The idea of Corinth and the other communities like it in this novel terrify me.
Though not my usual type of read I found it a quick and easy read even though it was tackling hard topics. The main character was quite enjoyable to get to know and was a good utilization of a 'fish out of water trope.' I can't say all the characters were because... well they are a bit problematic. I think my true rating would be around a 3.5/3.75 but I'm going to round it up to a 4 because though its not a perfect book for me, I think it could be for someone else.
TW: Sexism, Racism (including derogatory terms), violence, lack of body autonomy.
November 27, 2024
A debut gem that had me hooked.
If I hadn’t had a migraine all week, I would’ve finished this in just two days.
This was a short read taking place in a future that seems a little too real.
We follow Jimmy, a detective from San Francisco that’s pulled into a disappearance case of a young girl from an all-Caucasian colony in Oregon.
What follows is a mystery that leads Jimmy back to finding out more about his brother’s life while trying to figure out where Cara went and what Hexum wants with him.
Definitely recommend!
If I hadn’t had a migraine all week, I would’ve finished this in just two days.
This was a short read taking place in a future that seems a little too real.
We follow Jimmy, a detective from San Francisco that’s pulled into a disappearance case of a young girl from an all-Caucasian colony in Oregon.
What follows is a mystery that leads Jimmy back to finding out more about his brother’s life while trying to figure out where Cara went and what Hexum wants with him.
Definitely recommend!
February 28, 2022
Wow, this is a great read for a post apocalyptic / dystopian sci-fi type feel.
So many of today's issues meld with new issues and we see how things could evolve. Yikes.
I like that this made me think on a deep level but was also widely entertaining and action packed. Great writing, great story!
So many of today's issues meld with new issues and we see how things could evolve. Yikes.
I like that this made me think on a deep level but was also widely entertaining and action packed. Great writing, great story!
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