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Connection
The only choice left is to make is war.They ran. They fought. They stood between the jaws of death and the City that had persecuted them. But with hope of a real future for humanity and themselves, they want more than survival.Bas’s mind and body has deteriorated under the heartless control of the City, but even as he finds new allies, he is faced with a battle for what’s left of himself.Cowl is struggling to adjust to his new handicap. He has no love left to give to Menrva.Menrva feels more alone now than ever. Her pregnancy has put her already precarious leadership on fragile ground, behind enemy lines. When the City discovers Menrva’s pregnancy, she, Bas, and the others are forced to abandon their people to save this unborn child.Exposed to an alien planet which is already infested with Wreckers driven by the revenge-hungry biobot Eris, and surrounded by dangers old and new, Bas, Cowl, and Menrva know only one thing for They will not accept defeat this time. Is there hope left for mankind, or have they gone too far to turn the tides?
- GenresScience Fiction
499 pages, Paperback
Published May 20, 2021
6 people want to read
About the author
J.E. Purrazzi
36 books58 followers I grew up on a steady diet of adventure both real and imagined. It was never quite enough. So what is a girl to do? The answer: live in a fantasy world.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 22, 2021
I'll be honest, I struggled a little bit with this one. Mostly because I was hoping to get a different sort of story from the finale than the direction this took. And part of that is probably on me and my expectations and preferences. I really wanted to see the beginnings of building this new civilization, navigating political challenges, and, yes, finally dealing with Eris.
Instead this is more of a high action survival story on an alien planet with a very pregnant woman (and eventually newborn baby!). And while I thought the world-building of the flora and fauna of the planet was cool, I was hoping for a plot that was a little bit less action and a little bit more politics and interpersonal relationships. Those were the elements that really made me love book 2 in the series. So how much you enjoy this might depend on what you go in looking for.
There were definitely still moments that did a great job with developing the characters and their relationships with each other, and I also found the final ending and epilogue to be very satisfying. I just wanted more of it!
One other thing that might not bother everyone, is I found it difficult to suspend disbelief with some of the things surrounding childbirth and recovery. Having had two kids myself I kept thinking there was no way Menrva could do all that so quickly! Plus there's a lot of blood loss that happens after giving birth and I have no idea how they dealt with that. In the jungle. With wild animals hunting them... Again, this won't stand out to everyone but it kind of pulled me out of the story.
Overall, I do think this is a great series with wonderful characters and an interesting world. This installment just wasn't quite what I had been hoping for. But I will continue to read from this author in the future! I received an advance copy of this book for review. All opinions are my own.
Instead this is more of a high action survival story on an alien planet with a very pregnant woman (and eventually newborn baby!). And while I thought the world-building of the flora and fauna of the planet was cool, I was hoping for a plot that was a little bit less action and a little bit more politics and interpersonal relationships. Those were the elements that really made me love book 2 in the series. So how much you enjoy this might depend on what you go in looking for.
There were definitely still moments that did a great job with developing the characters and their relationships with each other, and I also found the final ending and epilogue to be very satisfying. I just wanted more of it!
One other thing that might not bother everyone, is I found it difficult to suspend disbelief with some of the things surrounding childbirth and recovery. Having had two kids myself I kept thinking there was no way Menrva could do all that so quickly! Plus there's a lot of blood loss that happens after giving birth and I have no idea how they dealt with that. In the jungle. With wild animals hunting them... Again, this won't stand out to everyone but it kind of pulled me out of the story.
Overall, I do think this is a great series with wonderful characters and an interesting world. This installment just wasn't quite what I had been hoping for. But I will continue to read from this author in the future! I received an advance copy of this book for review. All opinions are my own.
May 14, 2021
Where to begin with this one? This was one of those books where you finish and sit back and don’t want to pick up another book for a week, while you ponder on this one. Because the themes give you so much to think about and there’s so much action and growth to process.
The story picks up smoothly with the consequences of Disintegration, on both societal and personal levels. As with the rest of the series, the story is fast-paced, with heart-pumping action and high stakes. There were twists and turns that I did not see coming but had me turning pages late into the night. The antagonists are terrifying as always but it’s the way we come to understand their thought processes and motivations that makes them truly scary. Eris in particular is a show-stopper. The humor sprinkled in (especially from Cowl) is a good counterpoint to the serious and sometimes tragic events (and the nerd in me will never not be happy to see a programming joke).
I love these characters. Main and side characters both. Cowl, Bas, and Menrva are back with all their complexities and flaws and struggles with the world around them and each other (which occasionally had me frustrated!). I was so happy to see them all in the same place again (because the dynamics between them are excellent!). But that doesn’t mean it’s all smooth sailing as the bonds they share continue to be put to the test. I love how each one of them grows in this story! The arcs continue beautifully throughout this series.
I also love how the theme of the importance of life, which I see throughout the series, really becomes its strongest in Connection. With all the morally gray areas the different characters see or inhabit and the ethical dilemmas, this principle is never in doubt. It’s well done and such a moving part of the story.
I really enjoyed the setting as well. It was refreshing to get out of the Hub and into the new earth. The alien world of Timur feels really fleshed out with its simultaneously cool and frightening flora and fauna. It’s intimidating enough in its own right without the Wrecker infestation.
The ending left me with some questions I’d like to know the answers to (some more seriously, some merely for curiosity) but overall it is a satisfying end to this trilogy. Part of me hopes it’s because we will see these characters again in the future.
In short, this was an awesome conclusion to the Malfunction series that you probably should not start before bed if you want to sleep anytime soon. But when you do start, please come find me because I am in desperate need of someone to talk about this story with!
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
The story picks up smoothly with the consequences of Disintegration, on both societal and personal levels. As with the rest of the series, the story is fast-paced, with heart-pumping action and high stakes. There were twists and turns that I did not see coming but had me turning pages late into the night. The antagonists are terrifying as always but it’s the way we come to understand their thought processes and motivations that makes them truly scary. Eris in particular is a show-stopper. The humor sprinkled in (especially from Cowl) is a good counterpoint to the serious and sometimes tragic events (and the nerd in me will never not be happy to see a programming joke).
I love these characters. Main and side characters both. Cowl, Bas, and Menrva are back with all their complexities and flaws and struggles with the world around them and each other (which occasionally had me frustrated!). I was so happy to see them all in the same place again (because the dynamics between them are excellent!). But that doesn’t mean it’s all smooth sailing as the bonds they share continue to be put to the test. I love how each one of them grows in this story! The arcs continue beautifully throughout this series.
I also love how the theme of the importance of life, which I see throughout the series, really becomes its strongest in Connection. With all the morally gray areas the different characters see or inhabit and the ethical dilemmas, this principle is never in doubt. It’s well done and such a moving part of the story.
I really enjoyed the setting as well. It was refreshing to get out of the Hub and into the new earth. The alien world of Timur feels really fleshed out with its simultaneously cool and frightening flora and fauna. It’s intimidating enough in its own right without the Wrecker infestation.
The ending left me with some questions I’d like to know the answers to (some more seriously, some merely for curiosity) but overall it is a satisfying end to this trilogy. Part of me hopes it’s because we will see these characters again in the future.
In short, this was an awesome conclusion to the Malfunction series that you probably should not start before bed if you want to sleep anytime soon. But when you do start, please come find me because I am in desperate need of someone to talk about this story with!
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 26, 2021
This is an incredibly rewarding conclusion to the trilogy. Purrazzi explores the effects of the Connection established in book one in even deeper detail. The new world keeps getting bigger, and every new detail is captivating. Even with all the new changes the arc of each character resolves perfectly. The fast action beats and new setting keep the reader intrigued. Cowl, Bas and Menrva finally make it, though not all in one piece, which makes the ending all the more satisfying.
To be honest, I am sad this trilogy has come to an end. It has far exceeded my expectations as a reader, and has easily become one of my favorite speculative fiction reads of all time.
This is a trilogy you do not want to skip over! It will get you in all the feels.
To be honest, I am sad this trilogy has come to an end. It has far exceeded my expectations as a reader, and has easily become one of my favorite speculative fiction reads of all time.
This is a trilogy you do not want to skip over! It will get you in all the feels.
August 16, 2022
What a wild ride from start to finish! This probably wasn't the best choice for me to read right before going to sleep, because it got my adrenaline pumping chapter after chapter. 😆
Not everything turned out as I expected, both in good and bad ways. I didn't get as much development with all of the character arcs as I was hoping for, especially Cowl's. Poor guy! I know he wasn't always the most considerate or patient, but he deserved more appreciation than the others gave him! (Please note that this is probably a biased opinion since Cowl was my favorite character.)
On the other hand, I'm very happy that none of the main characters died! I wasn't expecting it at all. That epilogue was simply adorable and something they all deserved after everything they'd been through.
Not everything turned out as I expected, both in good and bad ways. I didn't get as much development with all of the character arcs as I was hoping for, especially Cowl's. Poor guy! I know he wasn't always the most considerate or patient, but he deserved more appreciation than the others gave him! (Please note that this is probably a biased opinion since Cowl was my favorite character.)
On the other hand, I'm very happy that none of the main characters died! I wasn't expecting it at all. That epilogue was simply adorable and something they all deserved after everything they'd been through.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 10, 2021
I love the premise of this book! Menrva, Bas, and Cowl have the opportunity to start a new life, but with so many challenges to overcome, their struggle made for an emotional and action-packed journey. Purrazzi did a fantastic job with the worldbuilding in this novel. Exploring Timur was a fascinating venture with the extensive flora and fauna—both deadly and beautiful—and always vividly described.
I also enjoyed that there was a lot of character development through dealing with the problems that came up throughout the story. I liked seeing each character have a chance to work through the issues they had been facing and experience their thoughts and emotions through it all. There were some things within Menrva’s storyline that I didn’t always agree with or found a bit harder to believe, but I was satisfied with how things worked out in the very end.
I think this series has the perfect blend of bittersweet moments, intense battles, extreme risk, and fulfilling triumph. I wish a couple of sequences would have had a bit more development, but overall, this was an attention-grabbing biopunk series that I’m glad I had the opportunity to read.
I also enjoyed that there was a lot of character development through dealing with the problems that came up throughout the story. I liked seeing each character have a chance to work through the issues they had been facing and experience their thoughts and emotions through it all. There were some things within Menrva’s storyline that I didn’t always agree with or found a bit harder to believe, but I was satisfied with how things worked out in the very end.
I think this series has the perfect blend of bittersweet moments, intense battles, extreme risk, and fulfilling triumph. I wish a couple of sequences would have had a bit more development, but overall, this was an attention-grabbing biopunk series that I’m glad I had the opportunity to read.
November 19, 2021
A great and riveting final book to the trilogy! It keeps you reading until you can get to the finish. I wonder what this new world has in store.
December 31, 2025
“The way through was to endure. Endure to the end, and look for hope there. Maybe that's what [they] needed. Hope. Hope and something to fight for.”
“[Healing is] possible . . . but you have to fight for it.”
Connection soars as a heartfelt conclusion to what has now emerged as a personal top-three favorite book series. If I were to mention one negative thing about the book, though, it would be that it takes quite a while to start entirely feeling like a conclusion for me. The “middle act” of the narrative consists of a group of six characters working together, apart from the rest of humanity—but not much seems to occur to advance the plot, and the larger group dynamics takes away somewhat from the more intimate character relationships that I was already invested in between the main trio. However, it all works toward a beautiful and powerful conclusion in the final act. The final third or so of Connection has emerged as my favorite section of any book in the entire trilogy. Moore clearly invested so much thought and effort into wrapping up every character arc and seamlessly completing every narrative theme. There arise countless moments that rip the readers’ hearts out, numerous moments that cause them to smile, and a multitude of moments that make them stop and ponder. Not to even mention how impressive the worldbuilding of Timur proves. I love all the zany, creepy creatures that populate the planet!
I found myself constantly reflecting on Moore’s antagonists throughout the series. Markus, Pope, Nolan, Lunany, and Eris all prove so vivid—and also they all feel so distinct from one another, in regard to personality, worldview, and motivation alike. Aside from Nolan, none of them come across as entirely evil; Eris, Pope, and Lunany all have complex, multi-layered, and sometimes even understandable motivations. Yet it is not only Moore’s antagonists that shine. While still not the most vivid of characters, Titan, Ella, Viktor, and Dennis remain impossible not to care about. And the main three characters of Bas and Menrva and Cowl all have their arcs wrapped up perfectly. I can hardly believe how intimately I have come to know them over the course of these books.
Thank you, Moore, for writing a top-three favorite book series of mine—and by far my favorite self-published series.
“[Healing is] possible . . . but you have to fight for it.”
Connection soars as a heartfelt conclusion to what has now emerged as a personal top-three favorite book series. If I were to mention one negative thing about the book, though, it would be that it takes quite a while to start entirely feeling like a conclusion for me. The “middle act” of the narrative consists of a group of six characters working together, apart from the rest of humanity—but not much seems to occur to advance the plot, and the larger group dynamics takes away somewhat from the more intimate character relationships that I was already invested in between the main trio. However, it all works toward a beautiful and powerful conclusion in the final act. The final third or so of Connection has emerged as my favorite section of any book in the entire trilogy. Moore clearly invested so much thought and effort into wrapping up every character arc and seamlessly completing every narrative theme. There arise countless moments that rip the readers’ hearts out, numerous moments that cause them to smile, and a multitude of moments that make them stop and ponder. Not to even mention how impressive the worldbuilding of Timur proves. I love all the zany, creepy creatures that populate the planet!
I found myself constantly reflecting on Moore’s antagonists throughout the series. Markus, Pope, Nolan, Lunany, and Eris all prove so vivid—and also they all feel so distinct from one another, in regard to personality, worldview, and motivation alike. Aside from Nolan, none of them come across as entirely evil; Eris, Pope, and Lunany all have complex, multi-layered, and sometimes even understandable motivations. Yet it is not only Moore’s antagonists that shine. While still not the most vivid of characters, Titan, Ella, Viktor, and Dennis remain impossible not to care about. And the main three characters of Bas and Menrva and Cowl all have their arcs wrapped up perfectly. I can hardly believe how intimately I have come to know them over the course of these books.
Thank you, Moore, for writing a top-three favorite book series of mine—and by far my favorite self-published series.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews