You may have noticed from the title that I gave up on this book at 35%. It’s not that I thought it was terrible, I’m sure it’s very well written if you like that sort of thing, and obviously many people do from all the good reviews, but I just found I wasn’t looking forward to getting back to it, and when I was reading it was a bit of a drag. I think that made up world types of sci-fi/fantasy just aren’t my bag – I love books based in the ‘real world’ but with sci-fi or magical realism type things going on.
In this world people are genetically modified to have certain strengths to enable them to fulfil a role in society (or if they’re rich, just to look better). Our hero is modified to have a ‘photographic’ or perfect memory, which helps him in his role as a sort of detective. He is investigating a murder which turns out to be one of a series where people die by having been fed seeds of a plant that grows out of them very quickly (!). There’s lots of world building and politics etc so if you like that you should give it a go. Not for me though.
Sarah Wray Writer 