Andy Marino (2)

Unison Spark is a total disappointment for me. The premise of the story sounded promising - a dystopian society where one social network consumes almost everyone's time; so much so that Unison has become the only company in charge of all social networking, but that's where the story gets hazy. Ambrose and Mistletoe live in different parts of the city. Ambrose is the product of a wealthy family that pretty much runs Unison, but Mistletoe lives in a depressed part of the city that doesn't even have good cell coverage. They come together when Mistletoe's guardian is killed trying to save Ambrose from a threat that is never really made clear. Eventually Mistletoe and Ambrose work together to try to solve the mystery of their connection and the growing threat of the Unison network. Throughout the book, it was hard to figure out what was happening with the social network, how they made their money, and how Ambrose and his father were connected to the Unison company. I didn't enjoy the book and had trouble getting through it. A real disappointment.… (más)

// Received an advance reader copy for a fair review //

"what if we don't like what's in our hearts?"


The world was really intriguing and it really seems to get the readers curiosity going. I can say that the book had a very modern feel. It was amusing in the way that it is relatable to the present modern era.

As much as I enjoyed the book, the world building was slightly all over the place at first which ended making me confused on what was going on at first and I really did not know where anything was headed. I had a hard time getting int the book at first but it kept me curious enough to stay.

I did ended up with a much better read that what was expected though I could say that the book could have connected to me more if the writing style and the representation of the world in general was different and more developed. Some topics were off for me personally and was just not something that I liked reading. The characters seemed too one dimensional at first but I ended u loving them anyway. they appealed to me much more as the book progressed and I have to say that the progression of the story and the development of everything in general was somewhat the strong point and what kept me going in the book. It had a heart warming ending to go with everything as well.

This an amusing science fiction novel that I am sure young adult readers will at least enjoy and appreciate if not love. It was an adventure reading this.

and btw . . . the boys are to die for AAHHHH hehe


"there was no such thing as an unhackable system"
… (más)

Otto starts out friendly enough, I mean he obviously has good taste in choosing William of all people to win the Driverless Derby. What's that? Who's Otto? Oh, that's what we call the ultimate prize they are attempting to outlast each other to win. Their very own driverless car that looks like a cross between a sports car and a spacepod with so many features and options your cyber loving head would spin. Oh and yes, I DID say choose because...well, that car roll was a little TOO well timed (as was the injury that took out a stubborn player), and while they say the rest was a coordinated effort to dislodge weaker opponents, I'm calling their bluff...Otto seemed too much like a heavy handed presence to be controlled in such a way. Anywho, contest won, road trip begun, and we're on our way on a cross country tip they won't soon forget...but not for the reasons originally intended. You see, while William wants to give his friends the summer of their lives, they are being chauffeured around by a machine...a machine that learns...a machine that is developing a personality...a machine that can uncover their darkest most desperate secrets because NOTHING is ever really gone once its created, especially in a digital world.

While being toted as a cross between Fast and Furious and Christine, and in truth it does have elements of both car lust and "possession", I think it's real strength isn't in shadowing these greats, but following it's own course of AI intelligence, and the true reach of our digital footprints. Though it doesn't singularly follow any one of these paths, which does in truth muddy the waters a bit on the story when it gets off on a tangent (like the laser tag game), even in the semi-confusion, it's trying to teach you something, trying to show you a different side of the automated world we all seem to love. The lack of human input, the lack of control experienced during crucial moments of the story, pulls the layers back on the convenience those robotic options provide...but the story isn't truly about debunking wonders of the mechanized world. It's also a GREAT reminder to be conscious of what we put out into the world, digital or non, because you never know whose feed it may cross, and the way it may be construed; intentions are hard enough to read face to face, let alone across the virtual chasm.

An interesting read for Young Adult fans who crave action, adventure, high flying technology, as well as all the colors of the human condition. Take her for a spin, just don't forget who's in control...


*copy received for review… (más)

I received an advanced reader's copy of Autonomous in exchange for an honest review. In some ways, Andy Marino’s Autonomous reminds me of Alice Through the Looking Glass if Alice were four teenagers and the mirror, the windshield of a self-driving AI-powered car of the future.

In Andy Marino’s Autonomous, William, an intelligent but uninspired high school graduate, wins Autonomous, a self-driving prototype party vehicle. He and his friends, Daniel, Melissa, and Christina, head off on the road trip of a lifetime; William envisions this to be their last hurrah, the perfect adventure, before scholar-athlete Daniel heads to Princeton, budding fashion mogul Melissa heads off to NYU, and computer-hacking genius Christina heads to Buffalo for college. Autonomous is programmed to give each passenger exactly what he or she desires, but as Autonomous learns more and more about each of its new companions, it becomes clear that the car has plans of its own. Memories are made, relationships are tested, and each of our protagonists learns more about themselves and each other on the way to becoming autonomous young adults.… (más)