For centuries, the world outside the Biome has been unlivable. Today, marks the first time anyone will attempt to leave the suffocating ecosphere. Eria is not worried because her scientist father has successfully tested the new Bio-Suit many times. It’s a celebratory day until something goes horribly wrong. In the midst of tragedy, Eria uncovers a deep conspiracy that affects the very air she breathes.
If those responsible find out what she knows, they won’t stop hunting her until she takes her last breath. (Goodreads summary)
Both a prison and salvation, the Biome has allowed the continued survival of mankind for centuries on an Earth that’s grown hostile, deadly and barren. However, Eria’s father, a brilliant scientist, has been working on a project that’ll let human begin moving beyond the Biome. It’s a project that promises hope, but that instead delivers catastrophe. In a single moment, Eria’s life alters forever, exposing the dark underbelly of her perfect, snow-globe world and revealing secrets that’ll challenge her perception of reality and put her life in danger.
Eria Stevenson dreams of a day when she’ll escape the Biome – to feel the sun on her face and the wind in her hair. At the outset, there’s nothing extraordinarily remarkable about Eria. She’s a normal teenager with a great sense of humor who can’t cook, hates her hair, and who’s nursing a longtime crush on her dad’s lab assistant/childhood friend, Ash. All in all, pretty relatable. I wouldn’t call her a kick-butt kind of girl, but more of a dreamer who shares her dad’s vision of the future. However, because of certain events and situations that arise, Eri is about to undergo an unavoidable change, a loss of innocence, and I’m extremely excited to see where Johannes will take her character in this series.
While an extremely fast read, Suffocate packs a lot of punch into its short page count. Eria’s world, though a bit vague, is detailed enough to satisfy, with sci-fi overtones and dystopian undertones. Even more impressive is how well Johannes develops her cast of characters with such limited page time – I was surprised how emotionally invested I found myself, considering I had literally just met these characters. The pacing was also very well done. Pacing is of utter importance in a novel of normal length, but it’s paramount in a novelette – not a word or moment wasted. There’s no time to wander or stray, and Johannes doesn’t disappoint here either. After a short introduction to the characters and the world, you are immediately thrown in the action and it doesn’t let up at all, right until the fantastic ending that left me staring at my Kindle saying, “WHAT?!” Which brings me to another aspect of Johannes’ stories that I’ve discovered in the two I’ve read so far: She’s willing to take risks with her story. I admire when an author is willing to do that which is necessary for the sake of the plot or the characters, and I absolutely love when an author manages to catch me off guard.
Overall, an exciting introduction to The Breathless series, Suffocate delivers an action-packed plot full of unexpected twists, an interesting and dangerous world, and a cast of characters that hold wonderful emotional resonance.
Author: S.R. Johannes Title: Suffocate Series: The Breathless (Novelette #1) Published: May 21st 2012 by Coleman & Stott Format: Kindle; Nook Website: www.srjohannes.com Source: Review copy provided by author
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Sounds like this one gave you just enough to keep you wanting more! This is exactly what I’m looking for in a novelette. Sounds wonderful!
Exactly. You summarized the experience perfectly.
Thanks for stopping by Vivien!
This book sounds so interesting! I’ve always wondered what life would be like in a biome and I look forward to hearing her perspective.
I’ve wondered what life would be like in one of those things too… and I think I prefer the open air. However, ’twere it a choice between survival and not surviving, I’d choose the dome. lol I hope you get a chance to pick up Suffocate soon!
Thanks for dropping in Jen!
Thank you so much for your support for my new release! I love my book bloggers
(And also thank you for reviewing Suffocate so quickly! I am so glad you enjoyed it and that I can keep you on your toes!)
You’re so welcome! Thank YOU for including me, and I hope Suffocate is a huge success!
I enjoyed the review, especially about the characters. Sounds like an interesting book.
Thank you! Yes, the characters are very well done, and it is a very interesting book
Thanks for stopping by!
This sounds sooo good! I can’t wait to read it!
It is! I hope you get a chance to pick it up soon!
Thanks for dropping in Nicola!
This story sounds great. I can’t wait to read it. Thanks for the review.
It is great! Thanks for stopping by Rachel!
great review! I gotta check this one out
Wonderful review!! I’m obsessed with both sci-fi and dystopia – can you say perfect book?! It’s exciting to see something that is so short with such good reviews, too, because that really takes skill.