Robin Rouse

I think this book is at least equal to Jordan Peele's "Get Out." Yes, it takes a while to set up. No, it isn't instant thriller. Yes, there is something quite sinister going on and when it gets there it is not ridiculous or unrealistic because, remember, this is SCI-FI/thriller. I read many, MANY 1- and 2-star reviews and I can't help but notice that many of them are mad because of the race issue and some even say Alyssa Cole is clearly a racist. OK. I know many people are tired of hearing about race issues (imagine the exhaustion of those of us who actually LIVE race issues) but try as you might to ignore the history of this country and the current very real issue of gentrification (come on, you know it's true; be honest to yourselves if not to other people), there is no denying that the issue dealt with in this novel is the TRUTH. Sure, it's magnified because it's FICTION, it's SCI-FI, it's a THRILLER; so yes, it's unrealistic. Do the same people who hate this fact of this book also have a problem with all other sci-fi and thrillers because they're unrealistic? I doubt it highly. As readers, let's remember imaginary puissance: you have to accept the world that is created and consider the genre. Unless you also can't stand The Wizard of Oz, Star Trek, Star Wars, The Birds, Alien, Ghost Busters and countless other "unrealistic" stories. The truth is this book is very well done. No, it doesn't get there fast; it takes some time to lay the groundwork - but really, along the way, clues are absolutely being given (if you're paying attention instead of spending your time passing judgments based on your personal prejudices). Try to read it without your exhaustion of "the race issue" (because, again, your exhaustion with it makes it no less real to me and millions of other people who live it every day) and be patient, which every good reader should be anyway, right? It'll be worth the wait. It might also open your "truth" eye to some inconvenient truths. But like I said in the title of this review, that's one reason many people don't like it. I get it. Re the swearing: it isn't any worse than anything you see on TV and in movies. Grow up! And I'll tell you now, if you don't like sex scenes, you won't miss anything important to the story if you skip past the ONE in this book. Happy reading!