The Girl With All The Gifts by M.R. Carey

The Girl with All the Gifts by M.R. Carey
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

I am angry I paid money for this book.
I found the synopsis very misleading and made the book far more interesting than it actually was. Even the first two chapters held some hope for an engaging read that would justify the many positive and praising quotes that are plastered all over the front and back cover of the book until I realized that this was the highlight of the book.
It is very tiring when an author beats around the bush in an attempt to create suspense.
The plot is unoriginal and a bit boring, especially since the author feels no desire to establish a connection with the reader.
The characters are flat, could not hold my attention and it is impossible to identify with any of them.
Once in a while I do enjoy a story belonging to the thriller/horror genre, but this book really did not live up to any of the promises it made. I am aware that many readers truly loved this story, but it just wasn’t for me, I was hoping for more.

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Oasis (The Last Human #1) by Dima Zales

Oasis by Dima Zales
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Oasis (The Last Humans #1)
I was given this ARC by NetGalley in return for an honest review.
What an adventure of a story! I was not quite sure what to expect to find when I began reading this story, since the synopsis was intriguing enough, but did not really give a good idea of what the reader could expect. Many a times I was almost too distracted wondering where the story would head to pay attention to the many nuances and references to the popular culture and cult classics. As well, throughout most the story I was convinced this first book in the series was designed for introductory purposes until two nail-biting chapters and a very satisfying conclusion that kept enough interest for the reader to look for the second installment and at the same time provide enough information to not drive the reader nuts.
The writing was easy flowing, quick-witted and suited the story just perfectly. The synopsis posted on NetGalley does warn of some strong language, which is evident on the first page, but it is done to the minimum and only to emphasize the character’s frustrations and inner struggle.
The characters are refreshing, especially the protagonist. Personally, I always end up reading a story with a female protagonist, but welcome and enjoy stories that include male protagonists and especially one that is as easy to understand as Theo. The secondary characters add to the overall ambience of the dystopian story, creating a sense of exclusion as experienced by the protagonist.
The plot unfolded slowly and kept me guessing about five times each chapter where the story will lead from each point of no return. The only slightly distracting attribute that kept me from enjoying this story completely and 100% were the very many, and I must add fun, hints to movies, books and shows that had me puzzling to which ones the author was referring. A small, almost insignificant, point, but one that had my head spinning.
Overall, this was a great Young Adult dystopian story that actually focused on the sci-fi with elements of other classic dystopian books such as The Giver, instead of unnecessary romance and love triangles. Twists and unexpected plot turns makes this story a great read that lets one forget about the world around them. I will definitely continue with the series. I would recommend this story to anyone, who enjoys action filled computer oriented sci-fi stories.

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