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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Highly recommended!, March 23, 2008
This review is from: Netherwood (SHOMI) (Mass Market Paperback)
Talia Fortune lives in a world in which the lines between virtual reality and reality have become blurred. She is the heir to a vast fortune, a fortune accumulated by her grandmother who still lives in the guise of memory chips. Talia has a secret passion for the NETHERWOOD, however. The NETHERWOOD is on the dark side of this virtual reality and it is where she fights and loves her adversary, The Avenger. Talia has another job as heir, however. She is also a sheriff whose job it is to track down intergalactic troublemakers...and The Avenger definitely is one of those! But what message does The Avenger have for Talia? And what is the future of their world?
Michele Lang enters the Shomi line in a big way with NETHERWOOD. Her clever world building makes this world in which technology reigns supreme seem real. The descriptions are so vividly drawn that even the strongest technophobe will easily find themselves enthralled by this enchanting tale. Michele Lang explains each aspect of her world so well that the storyline is easy to follow despite its relative complexity.
Humanity lives on the grid, a virtual reality in which most forget the daily humdrums of their lives to live out their fantasies. Mankind has practically forgotten what life was like before technology took over. Michele Lang offers up some thought provoking questions about such a world. Talia is going to come face to face with some of those questions... and the answers she gets will be just as thought provoking as the questions! Nobody does a metaphysical romance like Michele Lang and this is showcased to full effect in NETHERWOOD.
NETHERWOOD is a fascinating look at technology through the guise of fiction. Michele Lang's ingenuity with this tale is refreshing as both the science fiction/futuristic and romantic elements blend together perfectly. If you love a good science fiction/futuristic romance, you're sure to love NETHERWOOD. Highly recommended!
COURTESY OF CK2S KWIPS AND KRITIQUES
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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
4 stars, February 17, 2008
This review is from: Netherwood (SHOMI) (Mass Market Paperback)
In the cyber world, plain Sheriff Talia Fortune can be Amazonia, a warrior woman capable of besting the Avenger in the arena. Between the two foes, there is respect and a definite heat that she never expects to encounter in the flesh and blood world. However, when assigned to check on affairs on the planet her uncle oversees for the family company, she will meet the Avenger face to face and find that his real world is far more dangerous and exciting than any fictional world created by circuits and bytes. In truth, Kovner, aka, the Avenger, is a futuristic sort of Robin Hood, bent on toppling those who want to enslave humanity into virtual existence. Though at first dedicated to her duty, as Talia learns more about what the world is, what her beloved grandmother has become, and perhaps most importantly, how much she loves the real Kovner, the Sherriff finds herself wanting to join the outlaws. Though she has never believed in souls or religion, as both are illegal, Talia just may have discovered hers and will have to fight to retain them.
**** It's difficult to sum up this book without spoiling it. Ms. Lang's writing has always been superb, yet the complexity of this plot and the relationships she has made integral to its furtherance shows that she is light years ahead of the game. Though there are elements of Robin Hood, the Matrix, Braveheart, and the Prisoner, just to name a few things implied in the text, they are freshly blended into something new that will challenge your mind and keep you hooked. Unrealized elements in all the implied archetypical stories are brought into a fuller, better focus than they have been before in other media. Particularly enjoyable is the realization and exploration of what it means to be human and possess a soul. ****
Amanda Killgore
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
another Shomi book that could have been better, October 23, 2009
This review is from: Netherwood (SHOMI) (Mass Market Paperback)
Eh, another SHOMI title that had loads of possibilities but lacked plot cohesiveness. Other reviewers have given you their summary so I won't dwell on the mechanics. Just say that I was put off by the heroine of the story- she was suppose to be a sheriff and smart but she was clueless through most of the book about identifying who were the good guys and who were the bad guys. Also, I didn't think she really deserved the Avenger, aka Kovner. Besides the fact that she enjoyed having sex with him, why Kovner liked her so much was beyond me... DRIVEN by Eve Kenin aka Eve Silver and COUNTDOWN by Michelle Maddox are SHOMI titles that I really enjoyed. Try them for a blend of great action and romance.
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