Quirky Cat
I received a copy of Complex in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Complex, written by A.D. Enderly, is a dystopian science fiction novel like I've never seen before. It's dark and brooding, and takes all the time needed to explore the concepts portrayed within.
The government has failed. All governments have failed. They are gone, leaving behind unrest and a constant feeling of danger. People are doing the best they can to survive despite all of that. Hence why Complexes have become so popular.
Complexes are small city nations which claim to protect it's people, while truly treating them more like serfs than actual human beings. That is why Val's father made her promise never to join one, or to allow her sister to either.
However, some promises are made to be broken, and Val won't have much of a choice once her sister has gone missing. Who else will have the power to search for one missing girl. Unfortunately, the problem gets even more complicated as time goes on.
“The insidious, prematurely aged face, filled with ugly rage and a dark hunger, animated the empty space in Val's mind.”
Complex is a rich and detailed novel, one that really does add a double meaning to the name. It may be referring to the Complexes within the tale, but it actually is an accurate description for the novel itself as well. I kind of love that.
It took me a while to get into this book, if I'm being completely honest. It took me even longer to get through it, as there is so much content and details to dig through. In the end, it did prove to be a worthwhile read.
One with bucket loads of commentary and more. Val's adventure was dark and harrowing at times, and fascinating at many others. The implications surrounding Complexes can't be avoided, and yet I adored the little pockets of hope spotted throughout.
Overall, Complex was a well-written novel. I know that some people may struggle to get into it, like I myself did. I would say to persevere, as it really does become worth it in the end. I promise.
Check out more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks