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Blackout #1
Blackout
For 16-year-old Skyler, fear is a way of life.Ever since the Wall split the UK in two, her survival as an illegal Northern refugee in the South has been a relentless knife-edge balance between evading the brutal, corrupt Board and clinging to her reputation as the South's best hacker. But Skyler's sick of living in fear - and she's got nothing left to lose. So when fellow Northerner Mackenzie unwittingly hands her a chance to exact revenge on the regime that destroyed her home and family, she seizes it.She's about to start a fire.Shortlisted for the 2016 Mslexia Children's Novel Competition and longlisted for the 2016 Bath Children's Novel Award, BLACKOUT is a story of resistance, friendship and survival.
360 pages, Paperback
First published May 8, 2018
5 people are currently reading
154 people want to read
About the author
Kit Mallory
2 books28 followersKit Mallory lives in Bath, UK, and writes YA speculative fiction about underdogs, kickass girls who like to kiss other girls, and mental health. Her debut novel Blackout was shortlisted for the 2016 Mslexia Children's Novel Competition and longlisted for the 2016 Bath Children's Novel Award. She was almost certainly a mermaid in a former life.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
July 20, 2019
This book is June's Sapphic Book Club read hosted by @sapphicliterature.
★★★,5☆ | Uh, oh. I forgot to write it and my notes are scarce so let's keep it brief.
The good:
★the characters are amazing. The whole trio is super lovable and they're all individuals with fully fleshed out personalities. I'm gonna give them their own stars because...
★Skyler <3 every team needs a badass hacker.
★Angel <3 I love that she was both the killer AND the healer of the group.
★Mackenzie <3 he was my favourite because of the national stereotype thieves are always close to my heart.
★the friendships. I just like people being friends? Friendships here were really well-written. Really. It made me want to be buddies with them and take down the government.
★and the variety of relationships. I liked the whole net of connections between everyone. The good and the bad.
★Mackenzie’s OCD. Until this book, I only saw the part with counting and repeating things and not the anxiety. this is usually where I say it’s great that people can learn from this and fix their misconceptions about mental health issues but this time I was that person. This time I learned something and it feels great to know that.
★the location. It's always refreshing to read something not US-centric?
★how it ties to current events. I don't usually enjoy dystopias but the way this one was presented really spoke to me on a this-is-what-I-fear-may-happen-to-us level.
The bad:
☆the flashbacks. There was nothing signalling them and I was confused about the timeline way too many times.
☆the main romantic relationship. I mean, I liked it? But it wasn't 100% convincing somehow. I just felt it lacked something? But I'm not sure what and I won't guess it now. It wasn't exactly bad -- I just expected something more.
☆Skyler's best friend's arc. I just sometimes didn't understand his reasoning and had a feeling that he just acted depending on what plot needed him to do and not like an actual human being with free will would?
☆plot. Let's just say it here that this is clearly character-driven story and some parts of the plot just didn't make 100% sense here and there. It's consistent enough I wasn't SUPER bothered by it but you just need to not to overthink it at times and just keep reading.
☆why nobody is using solar energy?? or any renewable energy?? I get that the fuel is scarce but we could be living on renewable energy right now so what?? Did people just forget how it worked??
Uh, oh. It didn't turn out that brief after all. Hmm...
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June 24, 2018
This book was provided for free as the June 2018's Sapphic Book Club read hosted by sapphicbookclub.
So, it took me quite a while to get through the book (or at least it felt like ages). Which doesn't mean it was bad, it was all in all an alright read. But it took me a long time to get into the story.
The setting is nothing I really expected, even after reading the blurb. It felt like the DDR is happening in our contemporary time right now - plus it's an very slightly sci-fi inspired dystopia.
So there's internet, basically the Stasi, terrible politics and thugs. And then there's also deadly viruses, starving people and a wasteland outside of the wall. And in the middle of it all, people drive horse carriages.
The main characters are alright. Even tho I like both hackers and thiefs in stories, I didn't think I'd like Skyler or Mackenzie much in the beginning. What I later really liked was reading about their backstory together - and that helped me care for them more.
But I wished their relationship had been described better in the first half of the book. For me it came across as if they just genuienly didn't like each other, instead of being uncomfortable around each other because the other one was a reminder of that terrible past.
And then there was Angel - and I'm really happy that there was Angel. I think I wouldn't have started to like the book if she hadn't been there to balance or knot together the story and other characters the way she did. And it's not that often that one character acts both as the 'healer', the one with all the connections and the 'fighter' in a group. I'm happy that she had those different sides and skills, it made her quite interesting.
[Review on Tumblr]
So, it took me quite a while to get through the book (or at least it felt like ages). Which doesn't mean it was bad, it was all in all an alright read. But it took me a long time to get into the story.
The setting is nothing I really expected, even after reading the blurb. It felt like the DDR is happening in our contemporary time right now - plus it's an very slightly sci-fi inspired dystopia.
So there's internet, basically the Stasi, terrible politics and thugs. And then there's also deadly viruses, starving people and a wasteland outside of the wall. And in the middle of it all, people drive horse carriages.
The main characters are alright. Even tho I like both hackers and thiefs in stories, I didn't think I'd like Skyler or Mackenzie much in the beginning. What I later really liked was reading about their backstory together - and that helped me care for them more.
But I wished their relationship had been described better in the first half of the book. For me it came across as if they just genuienly didn't like each other, instead of being uncomfortable around each other because the other one was a reminder of that terrible past.
And then there was Angel - and I'm really happy that there was Angel. I think I wouldn't have started to like the book if she hadn't been there to balance or knot together the story and other characters the way she did. And it's not that often that one character acts both as the 'healer', the one with all the connections and the 'fighter' in a group. I'm happy that she had those different sides and skills, it made her quite interesting.
[Review on Tumblr]
June 17, 2018
This book was read for Sapphic Book Club, hosted by sapphicliterature.
I see so many people enjoying this book but, honestly, this wasn't my cup of tea. And it's such a bummer, because I really wanted to like this, it sounded exactly like a story I'd love. But nope, somehow this book just didn't appeal to me.
The plot was interesting, I loved how this set in UK. It was an adventure, and I don't actually have much complaints about the story itself. Basically, everything else just kind of disappointed me. And none of it is even bad, this book simply didn't work for me. It was an okay book! I can see why so many people like it. I just didn't happen to be one of those people.
First, characters. This book took time to actually develop main characters. There was a lot of dialogue, and the backgrounds were built for characters to give better reasonings for the choices they made through the book and to explain how they became the people who they were. However, I didn't find the characters interesting, and for the most part of the story I didn't care about them. When I had to learn about their past, it felt unnecessary and I just wanted to focus more on the plot. And because there was so much building for the background, in the end I felt like the plot wasn't developed enough and things just happened so fast.
Oh, and also the flashbacks! There were some chapters that were set in past, and it just frustrated me so much when it wasn't actually pointed out. Sometimes I had to really piece things together, that hey this is actually a flashback, and it didn't feel good to me. I want something to actually show me that this chapter is a flashback, instead of me having to figure it out. It broke the flow.
Writing wasn't bad (really, none of this book was bad, it just didn't work), even though the pace was sometimes a bit off. I felt like there was too much dialogue, I wanted to explore things more, but either they were talking about their past or the story just kept going forward. I didn't connect with anything specific, and because of that I just found myself speeding up reading even more. That's why this read was unsatisfying to me, despite the potential this story had.
February 1, 2019
3.5
I’m not okay. It’s true what they say: You don’t know how much you actually cared until an ending like that!!!!
I’m going to go cry now.
Review soon😭😭😭
I’m not okay. It’s true what they say: You don’t know how much you actually cared until an ending like that!!!!
I’m going to go cry now.
Review soon😭😭😭
May 4, 2018
Blackout is set in the not-to-distant future in a divided UK. Three years prior to the beginning of the book a wall was built dividing the north and south. Those in the South had some chance to etch out a comfortable life for themselves, but for those in the North life as they knew it collapsed.
Skyler and Mackenzie are from the North but circumstances and heavy losses saw them find their way over the wall to the South. There, they do what it takes to survive in a world that would see them dead. Skyler is a hacker working for a sadistic crime lord. Mackenzie is a thief, working for whoever can pay him. Everything changes when Mackenzie picks up a USB on his most recent mission, neither Mackenzie nor Skyler know what’s on it but the Board will kill whoever necessary to get it back.
Skyler is an unlikable protagonist, which is exactly what makes her such a likeable one. Skyler is selfish and angry and isn’t afraid to do what it takes to look after herself. She has walls around her heart because the more you care about people the more you have to lose but one woman might just make her way through them.
Mackenzie on the other hand hasn’t quite been able to harden his heart and, though being a thief does mean working for some unsavoury people, he has never truly been able to cut off his feelings. But as Mackenzie and Skyer’s journey starts taking dangerous paths and Mack’s OCD worsens as his anxiety grows, there is little doubt someone will get hurt.
Blackout is an exciting and dark first instalment in the series and one that I thoroughly enjoyed. I liked that Mallory didn’t shy away from the reality of Skyler and Mackenzie’s situation. They have no choice but to cross lines they’d rather not and there aren’t perfect solutions that mean nobody dies.
The rise of the Board and the wall is eerily similar to current world events so there is no need to suspend belief as to how such a future could arise with a foundation built on fear, mistrust and hate for the ‘other’. That said it would be nice to know a little more about the Board and who is involved and how they operate. Though given Blackout is only book one more information might be coming in book two and they are being kept mysterious for a reason.
The last 15% of Blackout really kept me glued to my kindle and my heart pounding. It was everything you could want in an ending, wrapping up certain elements to keep you satisfied but a cliffhanger that leaves you ready for book two.
With mental illness rep, soft boys and queer girls Blackout is a great start to a dystopian series that I would definitely recommend.
★★★★
*I received an eARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own*
This review and more can be found at https://wildheartreads.wordpress.com/
Skyler and Mackenzie are from the North but circumstances and heavy losses saw them find their way over the wall to the South. There, they do what it takes to survive in a world that would see them dead. Skyler is a hacker working for a sadistic crime lord. Mackenzie is a thief, working for whoever can pay him. Everything changes when Mackenzie picks up a USB on his most recent mission, neither Mackenzie nor Skyler know what’s on it but the Board will kill whoever necessary to get it back.
“After the Board came to power the world changed the way a hunter stalks its prey: an inch at a time, all paranoia and imagined flickers of shadow, so that while you were being torn to pieces you were still wondering whether you were overreacting.”
Skyler is an unlikable protagonist, which is exactly what makes her such a likeable one. Skyler is selfish and angry and isn’t afraid to do what it takes to look after herself. She has walls around her heart because the more you care about people the more you have to lose but one woman might just make her way through them.
Mackenzie on the other hand hasn’t quite been able to harden his heart and, though being a thief does mean working for some unsavoury people, he has never truly been able to cut off his feelings. But as Mackenzie and Skyer’s journey starts taking dangerous paths and Mack’s OCD worsens as his anxiety grows, there is little doubt someone will get hurt.
Blackout is an exciting and dark first instalment in the series and one that I thoroughly enjoyed. I liked that Mallory didn’t shy away from the reality of Skyler and Mackenzie’s situation. They have no choice but to cross lines they’d rather not and there aren’t perfect solutions that mean nobody dies.
The rise of the Board and the wall is eerily similar to current world events so there is no need to suspend belief as to how such a future could arise with a foundation built on fear, mistrust and hate for the ‘other’. That said it would be nice to know a little more about the Board and who is involved and how they operate. Though given Blackout is only book one more information might be coming in book two and they are being kept mysterious for a reason.
“There’s gonna be blood, no matter what. You’re going to have to find a way of being okay with that.”
The last 15% of Blackout really kept me glued to my kindle and my heart pounding. It was everything you could want in an ending, wrapping up certain elements to keep you satisfied but a cliffhanger that leaves you ready for book two.
With mental illness rep, soft boys and queer girls Blackout is a great start to a dystopian series that I would definitely recommend.
★★★★
*I received an eARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own*
This review and more can be found at https://wildheartreads.wordpress.com/
May 7, 2018
Quite The Novel Idea ~ Novel Ink
Well wasn't this an unexpectedly fun thrill ride of a book? I'm not that into dystopian books these days but I found myself really enjoying it quite a bit! Blackout is a tense, fun and exciting start to a new series that I can't wait to continue.
To start off, I just want to say that it's so refreshing to read a dystopian book that doesn't take place in the US, but in the UK! That is so awesome and something I personally haven't seen much so far. The world-building is, for me, excellent and I just got enough info without it being dumped on my head. It felt real and the stakes were just high enough to feel realistic and it made everything so tense! And the tension just built throughout the book and then when the end came, it hit me like a brick and left me wanting more!
So when it comes to the writing, I have no complaints. But then again, I don't have any complaints about the characters either! I loved all of them. Angel is a badass who used to be a dancer. She's fierce and loyal and so amazing. And Mackenzie is just the little sassy thief with a heart of mush. I adored him to pieces. And he was so relatable to me with his own mental health problems and I just... I can't even with him okay? The only one I had trouble connecting to was Skyler for some reason? She's an awesome hacker and kind of a badass too, but I just never fully connected to her as much as I wanted to.
There's also a sweet f/f romance that my heart was just so happy with. It built slowly and it still is at the end of the book and it never took over the plot, which was nice because there was a lot at stake and I would have hated it if the romance made all that fade to the background. BUT IT DIDN'T. Hurray! So A+ for the romance too.
Honestly I don't have much to complain about. I really enjoyed Blackout a lot and it's a solid, good start to a new dystopian series with wonderfully and excellent diverse rep. Definitely a book I'm going to recommend to people a lot. For sure.
Well wasn't this an unexpectedly fun thrill ride of a book? I'm not that into dystopian books these days but I found myself really enjoying it quite a bit! Blackout is a tense, fun and exciting start to a new series that I can't wait to continue.
To start off, I just want to say that it's so refreshing to read a dystopian book that doesn't take place in the US, but in the UK! That is so awesome and something I personally haven't seen much so far. The world-building is, for me, excellent and I just got enough info without it being dumped on my head. It felt real and the stakes were just high enough to feel realistic and it made everything so tense! And the tension just built throughout the book and then when the end came, it hit me like a brick and left me wanting more!
So when it comes to the writing, I have no complaints. But then again, I don't have any complaints about the characters either! I loved all of them. Angel is a badass who used to be a dancer. She's fierce and loyal and so amazing. And Mackenzie is just the little sassy thief with a heart of mush. I adored him to pieces. And he was so relatable to me with his own mental health problems and I just... I can't even with him okay? The only one I had trouble connecting to was Skyler for some reason? She's an awesome hacker and kind of a badass too, but I just never fully connected to her as much as I wanted to.
There's also a sweet f/f romance that my heart was just so happy with. It built slowly and it still is at the end of the book and it never took over the plot, which was nice because there was a lot at stake and I would have hated it if the romance made all that fade to the background. BUT IT DIDN'T. Hurray! So A+ for the romance too.
Honestly I don't have much to complain about. I really enjoyed Blackout a lot and it's a solid, good start to a new dystopian series with wonderfully and excellent diverse rep. Definitely a book I'm going to recommend to people a lot. For sure.
September 24, 2018
* I received the book in exchange for an honest review*
I was reluctant to start the book as it came in the middle of my extra-romance period when I could barely read non-romance books. But it turned out my reluctance was unwarranted.
The story is happening in the UK, which is unusual setting for the topic of the book, but it is a nice change from all the US-based ones.
I liked the characters. Mackenzie, despite being a master thief deals with OCD and other issues. Skyler is an angry, excellent hacker living in the basement of one of the worst people in the South. Both of them are Northerners living illegally in the south and have history between them (not romantic one though). Angel is a mystery. No one really knows anything about her, just that she can be ruthless and is yet also a healer. There is also a f/f couple in it, even though they are still getting their feelings sorted and getting together.
It is set in a dystopian not-too-far future UK with a tyrant government – The Board, who control everything. They’ve even built the wall in the north and rounded up all the northerners living in the south. The rhetoric of The Board was terrifying as it seemed oh-so-familiar.
I liked how the story progressed and I couldn’t stop reading. I liked how the ‘bad guys’…the northerners who had no choice but to go illegal after The Board took over, banded together to oppose it.
There are also morality debates – yes, one of the things they do is act of terrorism towards the Board. It is bad in some cases. Or how Mackenzie opposes killing all the people even when they work for the Board. It’s not just black or white, there are nuances and is trying to break a dictatorship okay even if majority of population doesn’t want to/dare to do it?
And the ending was both amazing and ughhh. The last part mostly because I have gotten used to HEA in romances and as this is not one, and as this is the first book (with a sequel coming), the ending wasn’t like that. However, it did make me want a sequel right that moment! 🙂
I enjoyed the book a lot and would recommend it to people who like dystopian settings (but if you need just a bit of angst and a HEA, then it’s not for you).
Oh, and don’t miss the Guest Post by Kit Mallory: Beyond Coming Out: The Evolution of F/F Stories!
I was reluctant to start the book as it came in the middle of my extra-romance period when I could barely read non-romance books. But it turned out my reluctance was unwarranted.
The story is happening in the UK, which is unusual setting for the topic of the book, but it is a nice change from all the US-based ones.
I liked the characters. Mackenzie, despite being a master thief deals with OCD and other issues. Skyler is an angry, excellent hacker living in the basement of one of the worst people in the South. Both of them are Northerners living illegally in the south and have history between them (not romantic one though). Angel is a mystery. No one really knows anything about her, just that she can be ruthless and is yet also a healer. There is also a f/f couple in it, even though they are still getting their feelings sorted and getting together.
It is set in a dystopian not-too-far future UK with a tyrant government – The Board, who control everything. They’ve even built the wall in the north and rounded up all the northerners living in the south. The rhetoric of The Board was terrifying as it seemed oh-so-familiar.
I liked how the story progressed and I couldn’t stop reading. I liked how the ‘bad guys’…the northerners who had no choice but to go illegal after The Board took over, banded together to oppose it.
There are also morality debates – yes, one of the things they do is act of terrorism towards the Board. It is bad in some cases. Or how Mackenzie opposes killing all the people even when they work for the Board. It’s not just black or white, there are nuances and is trying to break a dictatorship okay even if majority of population doesn’t want to/dare to do it?
And the ending was both amazing and ughhh. The last part mostly because I have gotten used to HEA in romances and as this is not one, and as this is the first book (with a sequel coming), the ending wasn’t like that. However, it did make me want a sequel right that moment! 🙂
I enjoyed the book a lot and would recommend it to people who like dystopian settings (but if you need just a bit of angst and a HEA, then it’s not for you).
Oh, and don’t miss the Guest Post by Kit Mallory: Beyond Coming Out: The Evolution of F/F Stories!
June 5, 2018
I was really excited to see a near-future dystopia set in the UK, and the fact that it features an F/F relationship made it an instant buy for me. This was an evocative and tense read – the plot was gripping, the fear and paranoia of life under the Board’s regime came through really strongly, and the parallels with the UK’s current political landscape were clear without being overdone.
The relationships in this book were fascinating – Skyler, Mackenzie and Angel have all been hurt in different ways by life under the Board, and I loved seeing them all gradually learning to lower the defences they’d built up and trust each other. I’m excited to read more in this compelling world.
The relationships in this book were fascinating – Skyler, Mackenzie and Angel have all been hurt in different ways by life under the Board, and I loved seeing them all gradually learning to lower the defences they’d built up and trust each other. I’m excited to read more in this compelling world.
May 27, 2018
This book cured my reading slump, made me emotional and gay, and want to start a revolution all within 24 hours.
September 2, 2018
Blackout is a brilliant debut novel. The idea of a wall being built between the North and South of the UK seems too realistic for comfort. I totally loved the writing style of Kit Mallory and can’t wait until her next book is published. No explicit sex but some scenes between Angel and Skyler were incredibly tender and moving. I loved reading about Mackenzie again real depth of character being written about him. The story was well thought out and fast paced. I hope to read more of Angel, Skyler and Mackenzie in the near future. Kit Mallory is a very talented writer and one to put on the must-read list. Thoroughly enjoyed reading and highly recommend this book.
April 13, 2018
I was lucky enough to read an advance copy of this novel, and I absolutely adored it. I am genuinely champing at the bit for the second instalment, and the first book hasn't even been 'officially' released yet! What a nightmare - but nothing compared to the nightmare Skylar, Angel and Mackenzie face...
Set in a (not too distant?) future, the UK is suffering an energy drought. Power has become the main commodity, and thus it is carefully rationed by the sinister Board. In order to extend resources, a terrible decision was made: a wall was put up, separating the north from the south, with the south being saved and the north being abandoned.
Thus we meet Skylar and Mackenzie, two northerners who managed to escape to the south and are now eking out a living in the margins. Skylar works as a hacker for a criminal, granted a computer and power to run it on in exchange for her techno-wizardry, while Mackenzie has found himself an unlikely but extremely successful thief. When Mackenzie steals an encrypted USB on what should have been a regular job, he begs Skylar's help in understanding what exactly it is he's got his hands on. From this moment on, their lives are irrevocably changed, and now both must decide exactly how far it is they're prepared to go in order to save their once-home from an even worse fate than being walled-off and forgotten about...
This novel is fast-paced, exciting, and very dystopian. There are moments that are genuinely harrowing, and the world that Skylar and Mackenzie inhabit is beautifully and subtly drawn. At no moment did I feel I was facing death-by-exposition, a deft trick on behalf of Kit Mallory's world building. However, this is first and foremost a character-driven story, with Skylar, Angel and Mackenzie eliciting my sympathy and, at times, my ire. They all feel extraordinary real, to the point where I was discussing their lives and motivations as if they were real people! And while this is unarguably Skylar's story, the two other main protagonists, Mackenzie and Angel, are richly drawn and never given over to cliche. No one is perfect in this world, but their imperfections are meaningful and a natural result of their experiences. There are also moments of warmth and, dare I say it, camaraderie in this dark world, and each one feels well-earned and natural.
Blackout is a stunning debut novel from an author you will want to follow - if only to spend more time with Skylar, Mackenzie and Angel! More please, Kit Mallory!
Set in a (not too distant?) future, the UK is suffering an energy drought. Power has become the main commodity, and thus it is carefully rationed by the sinister Board. In order to extend resources, a terrible decision was made: a wall was put up, separating the north from the south, with the south being saved and the north being abandoned.
Thus we meet Skylar and Mackenzie, two northerners who managed to escape to the south and are now eking out a living in the margins. Skylar works as a hacker for a criminal, granted a computer and power to run it on in exchange for her techno-wizardry, while Mackenzie has found himself an unlikely but extremely successful thief. When Mackenzie steals an encrypted USB on what should have been a regular job, he begs Skylar's help in understanding what exactly it is he's got his hands on. From this moment on, their lives are irrevocably changed, and now both must decide exactly how far it is they're prepared to go in order to save their once-home from an even worse fate than being walled-off and forgotten about...
This novel is fast-paced, exciting, and very dystopian. There are moments that are genuinely harrowing, and the world that Skylar and Mackenzie inhabit is beautifully and subtly drawn. At no moment did I feel I was facing death-by-exposition, a deft trick on behalf of Kit Mallory's world building. However, this is first and foremost a character-driven story, with Skylar, Angel and Mackenzie eliciting my sympathy and, at times, my ire. They all feel extraordinary real, to the point where I was discussing their lives and motivations as if they were real people! And while this is unarguably Skylar's story, the two other main protagonists, Mackenzie and Angel, are richly drawn and never given over to cliche. No one is perfect in this world, but their imperfections are meaningful and a natural result of their experiences. There are also moments of warmth and, dare I say it, camaraderie in this dark world, and each one feels well-earned and natural.
Blackout is a stunning debut novel from an author you will want to follow - if only to spend more time with Skylar, Mackenzie and Angel! More please, Kit Mallory!
May 1, 2018
Blackout by Kit Mallory is a post-apocalyptic story of survival, fighting for what is right and friendship. Skyler is an illegal Northern refugee who has been living in the South as a hacker. She’s been living in the cellar of one of the most ruthless of men in the North in order to continue living on the inhabitable side of the wall. When the opportunity comes knocking with the possibility of taking down the people who destroyed the North, how can she pass it by? Even if she goes down with them?
She can’t help but steal the extra drive off of Mackenzie. She gets far more than she ever thought she was end up with. She’s on the run from both the Board and Daniel Redruth’s men as she tries to find enough electricity, someone to fix her gear and a safe place to extract all the information that she can in order to make a move.
During the process Skyler ends up with a group of people who are just as dedicated to taking the Board down as she is. There’s Angel who is a contract killer and a healer, the twins, Mackenzie and others on the seedier side of the law who all aim to help. They each have their own history and reason for wanting to take down Redruth and the Board.
What I enjoyed about Blackout was the fact that I was able to get lost in the story. I was there with Skyler, Angel and Mackenzie. I could feel the tension, the anxiety and the fear that each of these characters felt throughout the book. The further along in their plans, the more and more I could see the attraction between Skyler and Angel. It was a subtle undercurrent. They cared about each other from the first meeting, developed a friendship and it ultimately culminated in a romantic attraction.
There are time jumps throughout that told as memories. These scenes are situated in a way that reads fluidly and helped push the story along. Usually I’m not a fan of this kind of writing but it helped me understand the motivations and how these teenagers grew to who they are.
And that ending?! Wow.
The romantic relationship isn’t the shining star in this novel but don’t let that stop you from reading this. I really enjoyed every page of this book.
She can’t help but steal the extra drive off of Mackenzie. She gets far more than she ever thought she was end up with. She’s on the run from both the Board and Daniel Redruth’s men as she tries to find enough electricity, someone to fix her gear and a safe place to extract all the information that she can in order to make a move.
During the process Skyler ends up with a group of people who are just as dedicated to taking the Board down as she is. There’s Angel who is a contract killer and a healer, the twins, Mackenzie and others on the seedier side of the law who all aim to help. They each have their own history and reason for wanting to take down Redruth and the Board.
What I enjoyed about Blackout was the fact that I was able to get lost in the story. I was there with Skyler, Angel and Mackenzie. I could feel the tension, the anxiety and the fear that each of these characters felt throughout the book. The further along in their plans, the more and more I could see the attraction between Skyler and Angel. It was a subtle undercurrent. They cared about each other from the first meeting, developed a friendship and it ultimately culminated in a romantic attraction.
There are time jumps throughout that told as memories. These scenes are situated in a way that reads fluidly and helped push the story along. Usually I’m not a fan of this kind of writing but it helped me understand the motivations and how these teenagers grew to who they are.
And that ending?! Wow.
The romantic relationship isn’t the shining star in this novel but don’t let that stop you from reading this. I really enjoyed every page of this book.
August 2, 2018
Full review available at:
https://sapphistication.wordpress.com...
This book felt very, very real. The day I started reading it, there was a new story showing on one of the TVs at work about the rights of EU citizens to live in England, so Mallory’s world of extreme prejudice where the north of our country is annexed and left to die for the sake of resources and someone to blame didn’t seem that far fetched. It’s a rare thing to find dystopian books set in England – usually they’re pretty evidently America-based, and since I’ve never been there I can allow myself to feel somewhat removed from what is happening on the pages. This one, however, struck home. One side of my family comes from ‘up North’ (Yorkshire I believe), my Granddad is the most northern man you have ever met, complete with flat-cap. Not only was this a novel set in a country I know very well, it was also one in which half of my family would be taken away. As I was reading the thoughts kept drifting through my mind, would they let me stay? Would I survive? Would I fight?
Even if you’ve never been to Jolly old England, home of rain, marmite and queuing, never fear. You don’t need to have been to Birmingham to experience how brilliant this book is. Mallory’s writing style is a joy, an equal mix of serious and scary, and funny and human. We see through Skyler’s childhood the slow – and then unnervingly rapid – movement of prejudice and blame across the country. It’s an argument we all know too well from the news today regarding immigration – it’s these people stealing your jobs and your food and making everything more expensive! No, don’t look at us, we’re on your side, we’re the good guys! Look at them! Blame them! With the judicial application of scapegoating and violence, the nation watches from two very different sides as a wall is built dividing it and those falling either side either live or die depending on this arbitrary marker of territory.
https://sapphistication.wordpress.com...
This book felt very, very real. The day I started reading it, there was a new story showing on one of the TVs at work about the rights of EU citizens to live in England, so Mallory’s world of extreme prejudice where the north of our country is annexed and left to die for the sake of resources and someone to blame didn’t seem that far fetched. It’s a rare thing to find dystopian books set in England – usually they’re pretty evidently America-based, and since I’ve never been there I can allow myself to feel somewhat removed from what is happening on the pages. This one, however, struck home. One side of my family comes from ‘up North’ (Yorkshire I believe), my Granddad is the most northern man you have ever met, complete with flat-cap. Not only was this a novel set in a country I know very well, it was also one in which half of my family would be taken away. As I was reading the thoughts kept drifting through my mind, would they let me stay? Would I survive? Would I fight?
Even if you’ve never been to Jolly old England, home of rain, marmite and queuing, never fear. You don’t need to have been to Birmingham to experience how brilliant this book is. Mallory’s writing style is a joy, an equal mix of serious and scary, and funny and human. We see through Skyler’s childhood the slow – and then unnervingly rapid – movement of prejudice and blame across the country. It’s an argument we all know too well from the news today regarding immigration – it’s these people stealing your jobs and your food and making everything more expensive! No, don’t look at us, we’re on your side, we’re the good guys! Look at them! Blame them! With the judicial application of scapegoating and violence, the nation watches from two very different sides as a wall is built dividing it and those falling either side either live or die depending on this arbitrary marker of territory.
May 6, 2018
4.5 stars
I thought this was a stand alone and then THAT ENDING, so I'm pretty glad it's a series.
I started off not sure about this, but honestly I loved the characters quickly. Mackenzie is an utter sweetheart (protect him, my precious, anxious child) and I love how equally badass and vulnerable Skyler is. I'm still not sure about Angel, but I like her relationship with Skyler, and love the inclusion of a f/f romance. I LOVE the friendship between Mackenzie and Skyler, though. It's so dynamic and I honestly just want them to be besties.
As for the story, this is epically dystopian without being too overbearingly sci-fi (to be fair I love sci-fi so this wouldn't be an issue, but if you like your dystopia light, this book is for you!) The Board is a huge part of this book and influences everything directly, but the more urgent threat are criminals, thugs, and enforcers. In short, it's pretty damn exciting and thrilling and edge-of-your-seat stuff. I haven't read a dystopian book as good as this in years, and I can't wait to continue the series!
High-stakes, action-packed yet full of heart, emotion, and humanity. If you're looking for an original science fiction book, I can't recommend this enough!
I thought this was a stand alone and then THAT ENDING, so I'm pretty glad it's a series.
I started off not sure about this, but honestly I loved the characters quickly. Mackenzie is an utter sweetheart (protect him, my precious, anxious child) and I love how equally badass and vulnerable Skyler is. I'm still not sure about Angel, but I like her relationship with Skyler, and love the inclusion of a f/f romance. I LOVE the friendship between Mackenzie and Skyler, though. It's so dynamic and I honestly just want them to be besties.
As for the story, this is epically dystopian without being too overbearingly sci-fi (to be fair I love sci-fi so this wouldn't be an issue, but if you like your dystopia light, this book is for you!) The Board is a huge part of this book and influences everything directly, but the more urgent threat are criminals, thugs, and enforcers. In short, it's pretty damn exciting and thrilling and edge-of-your-seat stuff. I haven't read a dystopian book as good as this in years, and I can't wait to continue the series!
High-stakes, action-packed yet full of heart, emotion, and humanity. If you're looking for an original science fiction book, I can't recommend this enough!
August 3, 2018
This was the May Sapphic book of the month for the Sapphic book club.
This book was enjoyable, but definitely took me a while to get through; not because of inaccessible language or anything, I think it was just the heavy subject matter? Anyways, this book was dark, but sort of optimistic at the same time; horrible dystopian world with all the dark grim happenings that implies, but the book follows the characters fighting against that grim darkness and working towards a better world. The very end got a bit dodgy for me: first, fair warning, massive cliffhanger ending, but second I really didn't like one of the characters it introduced. He wound up coming off a bit "Angry bitter violent oppressed person is bad, as compared to the good compassionate oppressed people who want to try and deal with the people committing genocide nonviolently." I don't think that's what the author intended at all, based on the rest of the book, but that character wasn't really fleshed out so it rubbed me the wrong way. Overall though, I'd definitely recommend it.
May 11, 2018
Review on blog
What an epic story, this is exactly what i needed right now after the last few bland books i read. It intrigued me from the first chapter and kept my interested peak all the way through to that explosive (literally) ending. Brutal, and intimidatingly engaging, this is one great book you are not going to want to miss.
The writing style is the kind that i love. It draws you in from the get-go and never lets up; even in the parts you would think to lag, like laying low in an old house. It’s just so descriptive with an edge of intensity to it, that putting down the book was a difficult task to do.
The story itself is very engaging. We meet our characters in the middle of a dystopian future where a wall divides Great Britain. The northerners (nearly all dead or living like animals), and the southerners (better off but not anywhere near an ideal living solution). The Board runs the country and keeps everything in a state of disarray. This setting alone is intriguing but all the mystery and dangerous atmosphere that surrounds it makes it ten times better.
Then we have the characters. I would say there are two main ones, but the side characters play a big role as well. Skylar, the brave hacker who doesn’t give a damn about anyone and their opinions. And then Mackenzie, the paranoid, anxious, incredible kind guy who is the best thief in the south. These two are so different from each other and it’s obvious they don’t get along too well with all their arguing, but they make an awesome team.
Personally, i loved the representation in this book. We have two gay characters that are freaking adorable. A person with anxiety issues who, in all honesty, made me think about what it would be like to live with that high anxiety and paranoia all the time. Mallory just did such a fantastic job of really getting you to know and understand her characters the best you can and it really made the story more enjoyable for me.
With the high-intensity writing, scary gangs, and paranoia around every page you turn, this was one kickass dystopian that gripped me from beginning to end. I can’t believe that Mallory has left us with the most action-packed, suspenseful ending ever when there’s just so much left unsaid. I cannot wait for this sequel to come out so I can get back with the gang again. Great book!
What an epic story, this is exactly what i needed right now after the last few bland books i read. It intrigued me from the first chapter and kept my interested peak all the way through to that explosive (literally) ending. Brutal, and intimidatingly engaging, this is one great book you are not going to want to miss.
The writing style is the kind that i love. It draws you in from the get-go and never lets up; even in the parts you would think to lag, like laying low in an old house. It’s just so descriptive with an edge of intensity to it, that putting down the book was a difficult task to do.
The story itself is very engaging. We meet our characters in the middle of a dystopian future where a wall divides Great Britain. The northerners (nearly all dead or living like animals), and the southerners (better off but not anywhere near an ideal living solution). The Board runs the country and keeps everything in a state of disarray. This setting alone is intriguing but all the mystery and dangerous atmosphere that surrounds it makes it ten times better.
Then we have the characters. I would say there are two main ones, but the side characters play a big role as well. Skylar, the brave hacker who doesn’t give a damn about anyone and their opinions. And then Mackenzie, the paranoid, anxious, incredible kind guy who is the best thief in the south. These two are so different from each other and it’s obvious they don’t get along too well with all their arguing, but they make an awesome team.
Personally, i loved the representation in this book. We have two gay characters that are freaking adorable. A person with anxiety issues who, in all honesty, made me think about what it would be like to live with that high anxiety and paranoia all the time. Mallory just did such a fantastic job of really getting you to know and understand her characters the best you can and it really made the story more enjoyable for me.
With the high-intensity writing, scary gangs, and paranoia around every page you turn, this was one kickass dystopian that gripped me from beginning to end. I can’t believe that Mallory has left us with the most action-packed, suspenseful ending ever when there’s just so much left unsaid. I cannot wait for this sequel to come out so I can get back with the gang again. Great book!
May 6, 2019
Kit Mallory’s dystopian young adult novel, Blackout, is full of as much stellar character development as it is breathless action. Mallory delivers the story with a sense of urgency but doesn’t neglect character backstory or the events informing the text’s destitute politics. This leaves the reader feeling like they’ve spent far more than mere hours getting to know the characters and inhabiting their world.
The setting is a near-future UK run by a group called the Board and divided by a wall separating North from South. Several young adult characters are introduced to the reader including Skyler, a young undocumented Northerner surviving in the shadows of the South. Skyler is a brilliant hacker and it is her point-of-view that is focalized through much of the text. Mackenzie, a sensitive young man with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, is another Northerner who has ended up in the South where he ekes out a space for himself as a thief. A third character, Angel, is a Southerner with a mysterious past. She is an equally skilled fighter and healer. She’s also a lesbian whose love story ends up being a central part of the story.
Blackout offers a critique of divisive and dehumanizing political rhetoric that warrants the treatment of marked “others” as well as an extreme imagining of its disastrous effects. In fact, the relevance of the text to real world contemporary politics makes it difficult to lose oneself entirely in the story. This isn’t a bad thing, timely speculative stories about future possibilities that prompt deep thoughts about the real present are exactly what young adult readers (and the rest of us) need right now.
Some reviews have suggested that the book is slow. I didn’t think so at all. But, I’m a huge fan of dystopian fiction and like texts to unfold with rich detail. In fact, I am distracted by action if it’s not clearly motivated and I’m not invested in characters. That wasn’t the case with Blackout! I found the characters fascinating and followed every punch and kick like I was watching them land on the bodies of people I cared deeply about.
This is a great summer read. I’m looking forward to the sequel!
The setting is a near-future UK run by a group called the Board and divided by a wall separating North from South. Several young adult characters are introduced to the reader including Skyler, a young undocumented Northerner surviving in the shadows of the South. Skyler is a brilliant hacker and it is her point-of-view that is focalized through much of the text. Mackenzie, a sensitive young man with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, is another Northerner who has ended up in the South where he ekes out a space for himself as a thief. A third character, Angel, is a Southerner with a mysterious past. She is an equally skilled fighter and healer. She’s also a lesbian whose love story ends up being a central part of the story.
Blackout offers a critique of divisive and dehumanizing political rhetoric that warrants the treatment of marked “others” as well as an extreme imagining of its disastrous effects. In fact, the relevance of the text to real world contemporary politics makes it difficult to lose oneself entirely in the story. This isn’t a bad thing, timely speculative stories about future possibilities that prompt deep thoughts about the real present are exactly what young adult readers (and the rest of us) need right now.
Some reviews have suggested that the book is slow. I didn’t think so at all. But, I’m a huge fan of dystopian fiction and like texts to unfold with rich detail. In fact, I am distracted by action if it’s not clearly motivated and I’m not invested in characters. That wasn’t the case with Blackout! I found the characters fascinating and followed every punch and kick like I was watching them land on the bodies of people I cared deeply about.
This is a great summer read. I’m looking forward to the sequel!
April 10, 2019
Ok so this book was….WOW!!!!!!
Just Wow!!!!
This story takes you on one hell of an adventure with some very frightened, but extremely brave and commendable teenager, who take on the ultimate dictatorship, and some pretty nasty people in order to bring justice for millions of people who have no idea what lies in store for them.
Skyler, a sixteen-year old with attitude, a temper, and serious hacker skills gets her hands on a usb stick which she wants to decode to find out what evil schemes The Board have planned now, but it’s not that simple!
She finds herself on the run, with her friend Mackenzie, and Angel who she has feelings for.
In this complex, thrilling story, Skyler faces her fears, overcomes emotions, and discovers things about those around her, those she thought she knew, her past, her future, and her present in the most heartbreaking ways.
I was literally on the edge of my seat reading this book. Felt every emotion, and visually I could see everything as it happened, so vividly. This was an amazing book, but it would make a brilliant TV drama too, it was that impactful.
Addicted to every chapter, and didn’t want to put it down as I was hooked from the very start. It was a complete thrill to encounter this dark, yet epic adventure with Skyler, but by the end of the book I was certain I had stopped breathing, and I was so emotionally broken. Every bit of this fantastic story got to me. It’s truly one of those books that when you read it, it gets you thinking, and then it somehow just has this massive impact on you, and your life.
It is scary to think how realistic this story could become, and I love the idea that good people like Skyler would still fight for what’s right in times like that. I really, really, can’t wait for more from these characters. And, as far as debut novels go, this one was AMAZING!!!!
A truly fantastic book that I highly recommend, and can honestly say I urge anyone to pick up this book and not love it. So good!
Just Wow!!!!
This story takes you on one hell of an adventure with some very frightened, but extremely brave and commendable teenager, who take on the ultimate dictatorship, and some pretty nasty people in order to bring justice for millions of people who have no idea what lies in store for them.
Skyler, a sixteen-year old with attitude, a temper, and serious hacker skills gets her hands on a usb stick which she wants to decode to find out what evil schemes The Board have planned now, but it’s not that simple!
She finds herself on the run, with her friend Mackenzie, and Angel who she has feelings for.
In this complex, thrilling story, Skyler faces her fears, overcomes emotions, and discovers things about those around her, those she thought she knew, her past, her future, and her present in the most heartbreaking ways.
I was literally on the edge of my seat reading this book. Felt every emotion, and visually I could see everything as it happened, so vividly. This was an amazing book, but it would make a brilliant TV drama too, it was that impactful.
Addicted to every chapter, and didn’t want to put it down as I was hooked from the very start. It was a complete thrill to encounter this dark, yet epic adventure with Skyler, but by the end of the book I was certain I had stopped breathing, and I was so emotionally broken. Every bit of this fantastic story got to me. It’s truly one of those books that when you read it, it gets you thinking, and then it somehow just has this massive impact on you, and your life.
It is scary to think how realistic this story could become, and I love the idea that good people like Skyler would still fight for what’s right in times like that. I really, really, can’t wait for more from these characters. And, as far as debut novels go, this one was AMAZING!!!!
A truly fantastic book that I highly recommend, and can honestly say I urge anyone to pick up this book and not love it. So good!
February 20, 2019
Blackout is a really enjoyable YA dystopian novel, set in a near-future UK where the government has been replaced by the dictatorial Board. The Board has successfully used "us and them" politics to demonise supposed drains on the economy – including, apparently, the entire country north of Birmingham. A massive wall has been erected to keep those parasitic Northerners out of the South, although most of the North's population has died anyway, after the Board shut off all supply lines. Life in the South is no picnic either, marked by harsh poverty, authoritarianism, and a fearsome criminal underworld. The gloomy, oppressive atmosphere is well-depicted over the course of the book.
This is a heavily character-driven novel, which is always my preference. Some of the characters are stronger than others (crime boss Daniel Redruth, in particular, seemed particularly one-note), but the relationships between them, usually characterised by tensions about how trustworthy anyone really is, are quite good. This is also a dialogue-heavy novel (which is fine by me), and there are regular flashbacks to show the characters' formative experiences and how the genocide of the North came about. Some of the other reviews have complained about the flashbacks being confusing, but I didn't feel that way.
The main thing that I was a bit doubtful about was the romantic subplot. The problem may have been that there was so much else going on in the novel that it didn't feel like the relationship had enough time to develop properly; most of those scenes felt a bit disjointed to me.
Overall, I'd thoroughly recommend this book. It's not perfect but it is very good, with timely commentary on the increasingly common "us and them"-style rhetoric.
This is a heavily character-driven novel, which is always my preference. Some of the characters are stronger than others (crime boss Daniel Redruth, in particular, seemed particularly one-note), but the relationships between them, usually characterised by tensions about how trustworthy anyone really is, are quite good. This is also a dialogue-heavy novel (which is fine by me), and there are regular flashbacks to show the characters' formative experiences and how the genocide of the North came about. Some of the other reviews have complained about the flashbacks being confusing, but I didn't feel that way.
The main thing that I was a bit doubtful about was the romantic subplot. The problem may have been that there was so much else going on in the novel that it didn't feel like the relationship had enough time to develop properly; most of those scenes felt a bit disjointed to me.
Overall, I'd thoroughly recommend this book. It's not perfect but it is very good, with timely commentary on the increasingly common "us and them"-style rhetoric.
July 10, 2019
I bought this book whilst at Ellcon last year and put it to one side when I realised it was a young adult book. However, after an event in Crawley, where the author read an excerpt I realised I HAD to read it!
I was not disappointed. The characters were well-rounded and recognisable. You really felt for them as well as hoping they would succeed! Definitely a feel good in a bad situation book.
It was well written and nicely edited. The concept was believable and well revealed to the reader over the course of the book. There was just the right amount of Romance for a dystopian story - it didn't mar the main plot and felt as if it evolved naturally.
A tear jerker at times! Grab some tissues!
Definitely 5 stars. Brilliant read.
I was not disappointed. The characters were well-rounded and recognisable. You really felt for them as well as hoping they would succeed! Definitely a feel good in a bad situation book.
It was well written and nicely edited. The concept was believable and well revealed to the reader over the course of the book. There was just the right amount of Romance for a dystopian story - it didn't mar the main plot and felt as if it evolved naturally.
A tear jerker at times! Grab some tissues!
Definitely 5 stars. Brilliant read.
June 3, 2019
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I have been after a proper dystopian adventure for ages and this definitely fits the bill. The characters are really likeable - switching perspectives between two main characters. I love the friendships that are built as well as the portrayal of certain character characteristics. As someone who lives in Great Britain it is also very thought provoking. I also personally like how the book flits back every now and then to give you a glimpse of life 'before'... I think it means more to the reader than just reading it in chronological order or it just being portrayed in conversations. Just be prepared for a cliffhanger at the end... bring on book 2!!
August 13, 2018
This book was great. It had a great narrative voice that went back and forth between the two main characters. There was also some nice diversity in the characters, including poc, lgbtq characters, and at least one who was neurodivergent. I really liked how the author afforded all of the characters respect: for example, there were no stupid mistakes as plot devices and the characters were competent despite their age. While I predicted the twist it didn’t take away from my enjoyment at all. I really want to read the next in this series!
August 18, 2021
I don't normally read YA, as I'm very much not young anymore - but a friend said I'd enjoy it.
They were right, and I'm totally delighted that someone is making fiction like this for the young adult I was, and there's still loads of out there.
I do like a bit of "this happens a week next Tuesday dystopia", and this had plenty of that - the world feels real and lived in, and feels like the place I live. (I read this prior to the covid pandemic, but I stand by the "this feels real".)
They were right, and I'm totally delighted that someone is making fiction like this for the young adult I was, and there's still loads of out there.
I do like a bit of "this happens a week next Tuesday dystopia", and this had plenty of that - the world feels real and lived in, and feels like the place I live. (I read this prior to the covid pandemic, but I stand by the "this feels real".)
July 22, 2019
A cracking read. Loved the depth of characters, the feisty Skyler, the imaginative future dystopia of the UK. I quite literally ran out of words for this story of survival, and look forward to the sequel.
February 10, 2025
Finished and went straight on to the second book.
Really interesting take on a near-future reality where energy is in short supply.
Fresh characters and something I haven’t seen before.
I’d recommend.
Really interesting take on a near-future reality where energy is in short supply.
Fresh characters and something I haven’t seen before.
I’d recommend.
May 27, 2019
DNF.
Wasn't my thing after all. I hoped I'd like it, but found it boring.
Some one else may like it.
Wasn't my thing after all. I hoped I'd like it, but found it boring.
Some one else may like it.
July 15, 2018
A really smart Near future dystopian thriller with some fascinating characters working out if worth taking a stand
Full review https://t.co/AK9MfFoWi9?amp=1
Full review https://t.co/AK9MfFoWi9?amp=1
October 9, 2018
I purchased the ebook of Blackout after getting to know Kit Mallory during Twitter's #LGBTWIP event. The novel presents an authoritarian future uncomfortably close to a real life possibility.
When an energy crisis hits the UK, a hot mess of corporations and wealthy people take over the government and establish an tyrannical regime known as "the Board." After a massive hate campaign to demonize the citizens of the UK's north, the Board overnight builds a wall to separate the North from the South and cuts off all power and water to the North. Even after leaving these Northern thousands to die, the Board insists there's not enough resources, so strict rationing and omnipresent police are the new normal.
Enter Skyler, a wizard hacker. Enter Mackenzie, a master thief. Enter Angel, a mysterious woman with a reputation for healing and killing. After they accidentally uncover the Board's latest harrowing plan, they decide it's time to not just survive the Board's brutality, but to actively fight against it.
Friends, reading Blackout was really, really hard. Mallory's eye for rain-soaked detail left haunting images in my mind. Both Skyler and Mackenzie are illegal refugees from the North, and Mallory takes pains to explore how deeply this affects nearly every aspect of their life, from lack of medical care to choice of living place. Sorrow and mourning were visceral, touchable things. While the premise is reminiscent of Saci Lloyd's The Carbon Diaries, Blackout is much, much darker, and perhaps that difference is reflective of how much has changed since 2009, with Brexit.
The identity rep, which initially drew me to the book, seems pretty spot-on. It's cheering to see other reviewers with matching identities be happy. This might be my American background talking, but one area left unexplored was race/ethnicity. From my understanding, Asian and Middle-Eastern UK citizens are often the target of discrimination, especially if they practice Islam. The novel uses Northerner as its speculative fiction cipher, but I guess I wanted that complicated. For all the vivid world-building, the characters were described blink-and-you-miss-it briefly. Does our reality of race touch this fictional world at all?
In any case, Blackout is a fantastic piece of YA dystopia fiction, and I dearly hope it stays fiction. I recommend it to anyone who'd like to brave a grim and terrifying possibility, with a side of two women kissing and excellent OCD rep. I await the sequel with no tiny amount of (the good kind of) dread.
When an energy crisis hits the UK, a hot mess of corporations and wealthy people take over the government and establish an tyrannical regime known as "the Board." After a massive hate campaign to demonize the citizens of the UK's north, the Board overnight builds a wall to separate the North from the South and cuts off all power and water to the North. Even after leaving these Northern thousands to die, the Board insists there's not enough resources, so strict rationing and omnipresent police are the new normal.
Enter Skyler, a wizard hacker. Enter Mackenzie, a master thief. Enter Angel, a mysterious woman with a reputation for healing and killing. After they accidentally uncover the Board's latest harrowing plan, they decide it's time to not just survive the Board's brutality, but to actively fight against it.
Friends, reading Blackout was really, really hard. Mallory's eye for rain-soaked detail left haunting images in my mind. Both Skyler and Mackenzie are illegal refugees from the North, and Mallory takes pains to explore how deeply this affects nearly every aspect of their life, from lack of medical care to choice of living place. Sorrow and mourning were visceral, touchable things. While the premise is reminiscent of Saci Lloyd's The Carbon Diaries, Blackout is much, much darker, and perhaps that difference is reflective of how much has changed since 2009, with Brexit.
The identity rep, which initially drew me to the book, seems pretty spot-on. It's cheering to see other reviewers with matching identities be happy. This might be my American background talking, but one area left unexplored was race/ethnicity. From my understanding, Asian and Middle-Eastern UK citizens are often the target of discrimination, especially if they practice Islam. The novel uses Northerner as its speculative fiction cipher, but I guess I wanted that complicated. For all the vivid world-building, the characters were described blink-and-you-miss-it briefly. Does our reality of race touch this fictional world at all?
In any case, Blackout is a fantastic piece of YA dystopia fiction, and I dearly hope it stays fiction. I recommend it to anyone who'd like to brave a grim and terrifying possibility, with a side of two women kissing and excellent OCD rep. I await the sequel with no tiny amount of (the good kind of) dread.
August 31, 2020
I had an idea that Angel and Skyler were going in a certain direction, though to me, it felt a little bit strange because I got the impression of a mentor/mentee type platonic relationship between them, even though they were only a few years apart in age. I'm glad that it ended the way it did - and look forward to reading the next book.
I got a copy in exchange for an honest review.
I got a copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 24, 2019
✨ Read the full list of my favourite books of 2018 at awmblogs.home.blog ✨
Blackout is a dark dystopian set in the UK—yes, you heard me right. The UK! A dystopian not set in America! Because of that, it was so refreshing to read, and I loved the idea of a UK quite literally divided by north and south. Plus, the parallels it drew to current events didn’t require much suspension of my disbelief. Along with a f/f relationship, excellent mental health rep, and plenty of twists, Blackout is a perfectly fresh take on a familiar genre, and I need the sequel ASAP.
Blackout is a dark dystopian set in the UK—yes, you heard me right. The UK! A dystopian not set in America! Because of that, it was so refreshing to read, and I loved the idea of a UK quite literally divided by north and south. Plus, the parallels it drew to current events didn’t require much suspension of my disbelief. Along with a f/f relationship, excellent mental health rep, and plenty of twists, Blackout is a perfectly fresh take on a familiar genre, and I need the sequel ASAP.
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