Review of The Last City of America
Authors and publishers are not able to post replies in the review topics.
- marta baglioni
- Book of the Month Participant
- Posts: 607
- Joined: 18 May 2021, 12:42
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 41
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-marta-baglioni.html
- Latest Review: Shatter Girl by Shay Miranda
Review of The Last City of America
The world is dying. After Doctor Barnabas Vulcum managed to create Hephaestus, a terrible, devastating virus, the population dropped dramatically. On the ground that once was the United States, only seven cities are left standing. The military was ordered to relocate all the remaining people in one of these cities. Years have passed, and Vulcum is approaching his death. His designated heir, Harold, doesn’t seem to possess the same misanthropic and power-hungry drive, but he worships knowledge with all his soul, and no price is too high to pursue it. In the background, a revolution is stirring.
The Last City in America by Matthew Tysz is a dystopian novel. It follows the story of a multitude of characters thanks to a third-person omniscient narrator.
I especially enjoyed the world-building. It is evident that the author put a considerable amount of energy and time into this incredibly convincing construction. The social and economic impact of a virus such as Hephaestus has been depicted with a cold lucidity, and I can tell you with absolute certainty that it’s both easy and terrifying to lose yourself in this future. I have a fondness for Tysz’s ability to instantly give the reader a clear photograph of the scene, partly as a result of well-aimed metaphors.
The characters are the mainstays of this novel. I appreciated how they were portrayed: the author was not afraid to show their darkest and most twisted aspects, and there isn't always a good side to balance them. Don’t expect wholesome, noble, and righteous heroes because you will not find them. The lack of a moral guide is striking. The author offers us characters that are authentic, psychologically consistent, and with deep backstories.
Now, some negative aspects: with its 658 pages, the book is a bit lengthy, and you have to wait for almost a hundred pages before getting some action. I appreciated the fact that the novel was partitioned into numerous chapters so as to increase the rhythm of the story. Within the same chapter, though, you can encounter various flashbacks and changes of scene that are often not highlighted, and this could generate confusion within the reader. I would have liked some indication of at least the year in which the scene is set. In addition, the substantial number of secondary characters makes it very difficult to follow the story without occasionally going back and checking on the previous pages.
The negative features that I mentioned wouldn’t be enough for me to deduct a star. However, I found more than ten errors. None of these was particularly bothersome, but according to the Guidelines, I can’t rate this book more than 3 out of 4 stars.
I would recommend this novel to an adult audience since there are several violent and erotic scenes. Obviously, the targeted audience is one that is into the dystopian genre, but I think that those readers who like psychological thrillers will also find this novel surprisingly good.
******
The Last City of America
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
-
- Posts: 1113
- Joined: 06 Sep 2020, 15:59
- Currently Reading: Purges of the Soul
- Bookshelf Size: 84
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-ailakhu-yusau-aizhebiomon.html
- Latest Review: Advanced Lotto Rotation System by Joseph Z Vlasic
- Humera955
- Posts: 453
- Joined: 15 Sep 2021, 23:50
- Currently Reading: The Fourth Kinetic
- Bookshelf Size: 52
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-humera955.html
- Latest Review: Smart Love by Vincent Fudge II
thanks for the amazing review
- marta baglioni
- Book of the Month Participant
- Posts: 607
- Joined: 18 May 2021, 12:42
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 41
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-marta-baglioni.html
- Latest Review: Shatter Girl by Shay Miranda
I totally agree: it was hard not to think of COVID while reading. Thanks for commenting!
- marta baglioni
- Book of the Month Participant
- Posts: 607
- Joined: 18 May 2021, 12:42
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 41
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-marta-baglioni.html
- Latest Review: Shatter Girl by Shay Miranda
It is a very good novel, indeed. Just be sure to have spare time because it is a challenging read
- Ellylion
- Posts: 3249
- Joined: 01 Mar 2019, 15:33
- Favorite Book: The Altitude Journals
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 136
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-ellylion.html
- Latest Review: The Islands Tell Of It by Patty Fischer
- marta baglioni
- Book of the Month Participant
- Posts: 607
- Joined: 18 May 2021, 12:42
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 41
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-marta-baglioni.html
- Latest Review: Shatter Girl by Shay Miranda
I understand
Thank you for stopping by!
- Katarina Radovcic
- Posts: 75
- Joined: 08 Sep 2021, 08:19
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 95
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-katarina-radovcic.html
- Latest Review: Scorn of Secrets by B. Truly
-
- Posts: 161
- Joined: 21 Sep 2021, 03:56
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 24
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-nonso-ok.html
- Latest Review: A Murder in Brownsville by Donald Steven Collins
- marta baglioni
- Book of the Month Participant
- Posts: 607
- Joined: 18 May 2021, 12:42
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 41
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-marta-baglioni.html
- Latest Review: Shatter Girl by Shay Miranda
I totally get it Than you for stopping by!Katarina Radovcic wrote: ↑04 Nov 2021, 09:49 Ha, my mind would probably read the Hephaestus virus as COVID, pretty relatable!
- marta baglioni
- Book of the Month Participant
- Posts: 607
- Joined: 18 May 2021, 12:42
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 41
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-marta-baglioni.html
- Latest Review: Shatter Girl by Shay Miranda
Thank you for your comment!
- Raluca_Mihaila
- Posts: 2849
- Joined: 03 Aug 2020, 14:52
- Favorite Book: The Brothers Karamazov
- Currently Reading: The Master and Margarita
- Bookshelf Size: 175
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-raluca-mihaila.html
- Latest Review: Brandy, Ballad of a Pirate Princess by Dan E. Hendrickson
- Hyacinth Bella
- Posts: 926
- Joined: 19 Aug 2021, 08:15
- Currently Reading: Pride and Prejudice
- Bookshelf Size: 98
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-hyacinth-bella.html
- Latest Review: The Magician's Secret by Charles Townsend
- marta baglioni
- Book of the Month Participant
- Posts: 607
- Joined: 18 May 2021, 12:42
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 41
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-marta-baglioni.html
- Latest Review: Shatter Girl by Shay Miranda
He did! Thank you for commentingRaluca_Mihaila wrote: ↑05 Nov 2021, 04:56 Matthew Tysz created another masterpiece with great characters. Thank you for your brilliant review!
- marta baglioni
- Book of the Month Participant
- Posts: 607
- Joined: 18 May 2021, 12:42
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 41
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-marta-baglioni.html
- Latest Review: Shatter Girl by Shay Miranda
Thank you for stopping by!Hyacinth Bella wrote: ↑05 Nov 2021, 05:39 I think this is a dystopian world that mirrors our situation right now, I think it can be both entertaining and educational at the same time. Thanks for the review!