Review: Halfway (Aspiration for Deliverance, #1)

Author: Lokesh Sharma & Anubhav Sharma
Started reading: April 14th 2017
Finished the book: April 15th 2017
Pages: 142
Genres: Science Fiction, Fantasy
Published: January 29th 2017
Source: Got a digital copy from the author
Goodreads score: Not enough reviews
My score:

Synopsis:
A few hundred people wake up in an auditorium with no memory of their past, scared and confused, struggling to remember who they are and how they got here. A voice draws their attention to the person standing on the podium, impeccably dressed, an air of calm confidence about him that suggests he has the answers to all their questions. As he starts explaining the situation, they slowly begin to realize they are in a futuristic realm called Enigma, where dead humans are reborn and brought to trials for the crimes they committed in their human-lives...

My thoughts

A very unique take on the Science Fiction genre. A nice, light, quick and fast-paced read with the necessary amount of questions and plot-twists!

Pros

• Worldbuilding: This is SO cool! A realm where people who died on earth are reborn and have their after-life. It's so well thought through. It is hard to keep in mind that the people in the story actually DIED on Earth. It felt like this was just Earth but then 1500 years later or something. So, yes, really a Sci-Fi world, but then with people who died...
• Fast paced: As you can see, I rushed through! Started yesterday and finished pretty quick. I do think this book has the right length for a first book. A lot is explained and you learn more about the lives of the main-characters when they were alive and on Earth. It's actually more a book that feels like a set-up for a longer story.
• Storylines come together: It's so nice that the storylines actually come together a bit. It first feels like loose stories about people who randomly end up in Enigma, but when the story develops you learn that they might know the same people...

Cons

• No fav character: I did not feel a real connection with the characters. It was hard for me to try and be in their shoes, and therefore I did not really care for the characters. They were all pretty okay, and you learn enough about their backgrounds, but I missed some characteristic features which could make me fall in love with them.
• Not emotionally involved: Because I did not really care for a character or felt like it was my favorite, I was less emotionally involved. I really hope, now the story is set up in this first book, that this will change in the next book for me.

Overall

A very unique story that is well set-up in this first book. Enigma; a highly unique, futuristic realm where I hope to spend another book-adventure. This first book felt like a good set-up for a next one! Keep in mind that this is REAL Science-Fiction!

Memorable quotes from this book

""Why do superheroes wear capes?" His brother's voice.

"To show how cape-able they are?" His own childhood voice."

Is Sci-Fi a genre for you? Do you like it or not? And why?