Sign in with Facebook
Snjez's Reviews > Upgrade
Upgrade
by
by
I appreciate the idea and the level of research behind this story, but sadly it failed to grab me like the other two books I've read by this author, Dark Matter and Recursion.
The beginning was really strong and seemed promising, but at some point the story took a direction I didn't anticipate and, what's more important, wasn't comfortable with. The rest of the storyline didn't work so well for me, nor the resolution at the end.
The middle part was slow and at times it seemed like nothing was happening. The story is very science-heavy, but more in a way that felt info-dumpy to me. It didn't help that I found Logan hard to connect with and, as the story progressed, quite unlikable.
The audiobook is really good, though.
The beginning was really strong and seemed promising, but at some point the story took a direction I didn't anticipate and, what's more important, wasn't comfortable with. The rest of the storyline didn't work so well for me, nor the resolution at the end.
The middle part was slow and at times it seemed like nothing was happening. The story is very science-heavy, but more in a way that felt info-dumpy to me. It didn't help that I found Logan hard to connect with and, as the story progressed, quite unlikable.
The audiobook is really good, though.
Sign into ŷ to see if any of your friends have read
Upgrade.
Sign In »
Reading Progress
December 2, 2021
– Shelved
December 2, 2021
– Shelved as:
to-read
July 13, 2022
–
Started Reading
July 13, 2022
– Shelved as:
0-audiobooks
July 16, 2022
– Shelved as:
sci-fi
July 16, 2022
– Shelved as:
mystery-thriller
July 16, 2022
– Shelved as:
dystopian
July 16, 2022
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-50 of 54 (54 new)
message 1:
by
Elisa
(new)
-
added it
Jul 16, 2022 01:09PM
Great review, Snjez. Sadly, I agree although I didn’t mind Logan and not only was I frustrated as hell, my heart felt heavy at the end of Part 1. I really didn’t like the direction it was taking and suspected early on how it would all turn out. He saved the world I assume but at what personal cost? The science stuff was also very info dumpy. Those codes 🤦🏻♀� I probably would have thrown my kindle across the room if I’d read to the end. I’m still disappointed tbh but Wesmie have definitely helped. I really hoped it would be better for you though 😢 X
reply
|
flag
Elisa wrote: "Great review, Snjez. Sadly, I agree although I didn’t mind Logan and not only was I frustrated as hell, my heart felt heavy at the end of Part 1. I really didn’t like the direction it was taking an..."Thank you, Elisa! 💕 I'm also very disappointed I didn't enjoy it. I was really looking forward to it. I don't know, it just wasn't what I expected. Obviously you can't put spoilers in a blurb, but if I had known certain things before picking it up, I wouldn't have read it.
I didn't dislike Logan at first, but he started to frustrate me later on. He is very introspective and we spend a big part of the book in his head and his thoughts are mostly scientific. It got boring. The whole story development didn't work for me. 🤷♀�
I need something fluffy after this. 😅
I thought all the changes/stimuli he was noticing went on and on. Like, I get it - he’s superhuman now 🙄 Had I been privy to certain spoilers, I wouldn’t have picked it up either. Dark Matter and Recursion were so good, I didn’t even think to check out other reviews. That’s £7.99 I’ll never get back 😂 After such a fab start, this is by far, my most disappointing DNF! I hope you find the fluffiest book ever, Snjez 🤗
Ugh!.It's disappointing when a story takes an unexpected turn and it's not one you enjoy. I'm sorry it didn't work for you. I hope your next read is fabulous!! Great review, Snjez 💜
Aw i’m sorry to hear that you didn’t like this much and that it was a bit of a disappointment after the other two books..😕
Elisa wrote: "I thought all the changes/stimuli he was noticing went on and on. Like, I get it - he’s superhuman now 🙄 Had I been privy to certain spoilers, I wouldn’t have picked it up either. Dark Matter and R..."I agree. Most of the time it felt like reading a textbook of anatomy, and I don't care about that. Just a basic example - he doesn't say his muscles hurt, he names all the muscles that hurt. And it was like that for everything. So yeah, not the subject I'm interested in and I didn't like the storyline nor the resolution. 🤷♀�
I also haven't checked the reviews, I wanted to read it the moment it comes out. 😅 Luckily, I listened to the audiobook on Scribd, so it didn't cost me anything extra. But, yes, very disappointing indeed.
Thanks, Elisa! 💕
Andi wrote: "Ugh!.It's disappointing when a story takes an unexpected turn and it's not one you enjoy. I'm sorry it didn't work for you. I hope your next read is fabulous!! Great review, Snjez 💜"Thank you, Andi! 💕 I'm also sorry it didn't work for me. It was one of my most anticipated books of the year and I was really looking forward to reading it. 😕
Snjez wrote: "Elisa wrote: "I thought all the changes/stimuli he was noticing went on and on. Like, I get it - he’s superhuman now 🙄 Had I been privy to certain spoilers, I wouldn’t have picked it up either. Dar..."Oh dear, I’m glad I threw in the towel when I did. What happened to Kara and his colleagues from GPA?
Elisa wrote: "Oh dear, I’m glad I threw in the towel when I did. What happened to Kara and his colleagues from GPA?"I'll pm you . 😉
Imme wrote: "Aw i’m sorry to hear that you didn’t like this much and that it was a bit of a disappointment after the other two books..😕"Thanks so much, Imme! 💗 I was so sure I'd love it. 🤷♀�
Oh what a shame that book 3 was such a disappointment. I haven’t read this series but it’s always worse when you’re invested and it all goes to shit 🥴
Sarah wrote: "Oh what a shame that book 3 was such a disappointment. I haven’t read this series but it’s always worse when you’re invested and it all goes to shit 🥴"Oh, it's not a series. All the books are standalones and have nothing to do with each other. It's just that I enjoyed the other two books I've read by this author, so I had high hopes for this one. It's very disappointing that I didn't like it in the end. 😕
It's so disappointing when a series which was going strong, hits a speed bump and tanks on the 3rd or 4th book.. 🙄 I feel your pain my friend 😬, I've had that happen to me a few times.. Hope there is another book and it's a comeback.. 👍 Great honest review btw.
Thanks for the honest review, Snjez! �
Vanna (on a semi-hiatus due to onslaught of work) wrote: "It's so disappointing when a series which was going strong, hits a speed bump and tanks on the 3rd or 4th book.. 🙄 I feel your pain my friend 😬, I've had that happen to me a few times.. Hope there ..."Thanks so much, Vanna! 💕 I think my review gave the wrong impression that this book is a part of a series, so I made some changes. 😉 All three books are standalones, but unlike this one, I really enjoyed the other two. Maybe that's why my expectations were too high. 🤷♀�
Rosh wrote: "Thanks for the honest review, Snjez! �"Thank you, Rosh! 💗
Next please..🤞 Sorry this was a miss Snjez. 😪
Shile (Hazard's Version) RL sucks on semi hiatus wrote: "Next please..🤞 Sorry this was a miss Snjez. 😪"Thank you, Shile! 💕 I went into it expecting to love it. 😕
Fab review, Snjez! Loved the "Dark Matter" too! At least you enjoyed the audio! 💚
Nazanin wrote: "Fab review, Snjez! Loved the "Dark Matter" too! At least you enjoyed the audio! 💚"Thanks so much, Nazanin! 💕 Yes, for the most part I loved DM, but I remember I wasn't too happy with the explanation of what was happening. Maybe I should reread that one. 😉
Nailed it with what you said about Logan being difficult to connect with, and the “info-dumpy� nature of a lot of the story. I hadn’t been able to put together the words for how that was striking me while listening to the audio book, but you totally nailed it there.
Wes wrote: "Nailed it with what you said about Logan being difficult to connect with, and the “info-dumpy� nature of a lot of the story. I hadn’t been able to put together the words for how that was striking m..."I think it's especially apparent when you're listening to the audiobook, because you can't skim over those parts. 😅 Thank you, Wes! Really glad it was a winner for you overall. 🙂
Logan is supposed to be more difficult to connect with as the story progresses, due to his increasing intellect. Which also explains why the story seems to have a lot more information dumps
Jordan wrote: "Logan is supposed to be more difficult to connect with as the story progresses, due to his increasing intellect. Which also explains why the story seems to have a lot more information dumps"It makes sense what you said. 🙂 I think that listening to the audiobook made this story sound even more "dry", because you can't skim through scientific parts.
"The story is very science-heavy, but more in a way that felt info-dumpy to me." It felt to me like the author did a lot of research on the weapons, genetic concepts, logistics, etc. and really wanted to show his work; in ways that didn't really support the narrative.
Elizabeth wrote: ""The story is very science-heavy, but more in a way that felt info-dumpy to me." It felt to me like the author did a lot of research on the weapons, genetic concepts, logistics, etc. and really wan..."Well said, Elizabeth! I agree with you. It felt like reading a textbook.
I agree completely with you. I loved the first bit but after that was bored and found myself unable to connect with Logan
I also wondered if the style of writing of being overly scientific and descriptive was a stylistic choice to reflect how different Logan viewed the world? Regardless, it made me like the story less.
Kristen wrote: "I also wondered if the style of writing of being overly scientific and descriptive was a stylistic choice to reflect how different Logan viewed the world? Regardless, it made me like the story less."I think you might be right, Kristen. It's possible that it was a conscious choice on the author's part, but it didn't work for me, either. Even though I don't usually have a problem with a lot of science in books or liking characters like Logan. It just didn't happen here. 🤷♀�
I'm half way through and bored! I am a HS bio teacher and thought it might be a good EC assignment for my students during our DNA unit but the info is very general and we are well beyond it.
cheryl roution wrote: "I'm half way through and bored! I am a HS bio teacher and thought it might be a good EC assignment for my students during our DNA unit but the info is very general and we are well beyond it."Oh, that's interesting! I was wondering what an expert on the subject would say about all the scientific parts of the story. 🙂
This is exactly how I felt. Thank you!
Kacie wrote: "This is exactly how I felt. Thank you!"Sorry to hear this one was underwhelming for you, too, Kacie!
This pretty much sums up how I felt about the book, except I didn't find Lohan unlikeable, just not particularly interesting. Hearing the audiobook definitely helped, don't know if I would've finished the book otherwise.
Cam wrote: "This pretty much sums up how I felt about the book, except I didn't find Lohan unlikeable, just not particularly interesting. Hearing the audiobook definitely helped, don't know if I would've finis..."I could go with "not particularly interesting", too. 🙂 I think it was later on in the story that I started to find him unlikable. But yes, the audiobook helped. 🙂
Couldn't finish it. I just didn't like the characters, and it felt like science text book.
Totally agree Snjez, I loved dark matter and recursion, but this one didn’t hook me as well. Premise was great, but book could have been better
AE wrote: "Couldn't finish it. I just didn't like the characters, and it felt like science text book."I agree, AE. The combination of the two didn't make this an exciting reading experience. 😕
Eric wrote: "Totally agree Snjez, I loved dark matter and recursion, but this one didn’t hook me as well. Premise was great, but book could have been better"I agree with you, Eric! The premise sounded really interesting and I was looking forward to reading it. Sorry it didn't meet your expectations, either!
Yeah, I agree. I didn’t really like Logan and it made it difficult to hold any intrest in the story.Logan's main argument for not joining Kara is 'surely there is a better way' despite never spending effort in trying to figure it out. Instead, he chose to do nothing but gamble and be a nomad. Moreover, he could have joined Kara and asked for assistance on finding alternative ways while she did her own thing.
Then he also claims to be the intelligent one who's good at reading people, but he never tries to predict and out play people's long term plans. He just constantly does the most predictable things.
The story just isn't for me.
Foxner wrote: "Yeah, I agree. I didn’t really like Logan and it made it difficult to hold any intrest in the story.Logan's main argument for not joining Kara is 'surely there is a better way' despite never spen..."
You make good points, Foxner. It was hard to relate to Logan as a character and the things he did. Sorry it didn't work for you, but yes, I felt the same way about it.
Oh, what was that direction the story takes you didn't anticipate and weren't comfortable with?I agree with Logan not being very relatable or very interesting, we've had much more interesting "smart heroes" in other books!
DzéԱ wrote: "Oh, what was that direction the story takes you didn't anticipate and weren't comfortable with?I agree with Logan not being very relatable or very interesting, we've had much more interesting "sma..."
(view spoiler) Glad we agree on Logan. 🙂 I was so looking forward to this book, but, sadly, I was disappointed in the end.
Agreed. No clue how anyone gave this book 5stars
Leon wrote: "Agreed. No clue how anyone gave this book 5stars"I guess people enjoy different things in books 😉, but for me this was disappointing. Sorry to hear it didn't work for you, either!
"...if I had known certain things before picking it up, I wouldn't have read it."Hi Snjez, I'm curious what those "certain things" are that you wish you had known before picking this up. I enjoyed Dark Matter and would like to read more by this author but I'm only interested it good stories. 😉 Thanks!
Melissa wrote: ""...if I had known certain things before picking it up, I wouldn't have read it."Hi Snjez, I'm curious what those "certain things" are that you wish you had known before picking this up. I enjoye..."
Are you sure you want me to tell you? 😅 Because it will spoil the storyline for you if you decide to read it.
Have you tried reading Recursion? I really enjoyed that one. 😊
Snjez wrote: "Melissa wrote: ""...if I had known certain things before picking it up, I wouldn't have read it."Hi Snjez, I'm curious what those "certain things" are that you wish you had known before picking t..."
I'm okay with spoilers. 😊 Based on some of the comments, I'm not sure I will try this. Until I forget about this exchange and say, "this looks interesting." 😆 I'll look at Recursion, thanks!!
Melissa wrote: "I'm okay with spoilers. 😊 Based on some of the comments, I'm not sure I will try this. Until I forget about this exchange and say, "this looks interesting." 😆 I'll look at Recursion, thanks!!"I'll put it under the spoiler tag. 😉 (view spoiler)
Fingers crossed if you decide to read Recursion! 🤗
Ahh, got it. Thank you!! That is a turn for sure. Recursion sounds interesting though not enough to try right now. I did add it to my list at the library, which thankfully has it.
