Reviews

Appleseed by Matt Bell

susanfred's review against another edition

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challenging dark reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

smokeyshouse's review against another edition

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dark slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Disjointed; a weird mix of fabulism with dystopian sci-fi. 

vandermeer's review against another edition

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1.0

 Vielleicht eine gute Geschichte. Aber so überpoetisch bis zur Unverständlichkeit und voller Wiederholungen (ja, die Apfelsamen duften, ja, alles duftet, ja, wir werden sie pflanzen) dass ich bei 4% keine Lust mehr hab. Meine Geduld wurde schon damit strapaziert, dass ich immer wieder mit der Nase drauf gestoßen werde, dass die beiden Protagonisten Brüder (got it) und Faune sind. Vielleicht hab ich ein anderes Mal mehr Geduld. Oh und die Faune sind Christen, was sie einem auch gerne aufdrücken. 

dannewton's review against another edition

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medium-paced

4.0

deputyals's review against another edition

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2.0

This book was hard to review. Some parts of the story was well written and had a great flow to the story however others parts were super confusing and difficult to follow. The book was also very long. The concept was good but the execution was adequate.

the_bibliophile_archives's review against another edition

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dark reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.0

anj_t's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

I stayed up way past my bedtime to finish “Appleseed” and it was a good decision. This #clifi story is ambitious, vivid, touching and tense. I could have done without the epilogue but otherwise I enjoyed Matt Bell’s debut novel.

manwithanagenda's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

'Appleseed' covers three timelines. Chronologically, we have two brothers who act as forerunners to Western settlement of what will be Ohio. The brothers forge ahead, planting orchards of apples just a few years ahead of others. For one brother this means future profit, somehow. For the other it means salvation. I should mention he is a faun. The second timeline is not so far ahead of our present-day. The world is ravaged with climate change and a corporation has been sold control of wide swathes of the warming continent as the failing United States government evacuates people into remaining temperate zones. A small group of people put up a fight for freedom and the environment. The last is set in distant future where the continent has been inexplicably covered in an ice sheet. A lone being crosses the ice ekking out a diminishing existence. 

These stories come together to form a bleak picture for humanity, but an overall hopeful one for the planet. I personally loved the journey despite liking only one of the characters. This is climate fiction. I don't see any room for a traditional happy ending...and, well, I have to be okay with that.

kjoiiooi's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

lizciav's review against another edition

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challenging mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Really enjoyed this book! It's a mix of magic and sci fi. Also touches on what the world would/will look like if tech moguls decide to "fix" climate change.