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Quantum Break: Zero State
Jack Joyce spent six years trying to escape—escape his life, escape time, escape the madness of his brother, Will. But when he finally returns home, it turns out his brother isn’t quite so mad. Will has created a time machine, one with the potential to save humanity. War? Preventable. Natural disasters? Stoppable.
Except for one tiny problem… his machine will also cause the end of the time as we know it. Now Jack has just one chance to turn back time, to fix what was broken, to save the world.
Except for one tiny problem… his machine will also cause the end of the time as we know it. Now Jack has just one chance to turn back time, to fix what was broken, to save the world.
448 pages, Paperback
First published April 5, 2016
48 people are currently reading
422 people want to read
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May 2, 2016
4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2016/05/02/...
Quantum Break: Zero State is the tie-in novel to the action video game developed by Remedy Entertainment, the same folks who also brought us cinematic masterpieces such as Max Payne and Alan Wake. While it’s clearly marketed to fans of the game—and yes, I too did my stint in Quantum Break and consider myself one—I urge you not to write off this book just because you haven’t played it, or because you don’t think a “video game book” would be for you. Often these kinds of books get a bad rap (and goodness knows they deserve it sometimes) but I promise you this one is different.
From the very first page, I was floored by the stellar quality of this novel. I don’t want to sound like a book snob, especially since I consider myself a diehard tie-in junkie, but I’m still trying to wrap my head around the fact this is a book based on a video game. I mean, it’s almost too good to be one? Needless to say, Quantum Break: Zero State surprised the hell out of me. Tie-in novel or not, it can easily stand on its own against any of the more mainstream or popular sci-fi thrillers out there.
The story stars Jack Joyce, a maverick who follows where his feet take him—as long as it’s away from his hometown of Riverport, Massachusetts where six years ago he cut ties with his older brother, the brilliant scientist William Joyce. Will is a genius, but his mind is also very disturbed. Growing up with him as a legal guardian was difficult, after their parents died in an accident when Jack was just a child. Will was withdrawn and consumed by his research, so his younger brother actually ended up being the one to support them both. It got even worse once Jack discovered that Will had secretly taken all the money their parents left them to use on his work after his own funding and research grants ran out, not to mention the massive debts with the local gangs and loan sharks. After years of cleaning up his brother’s messes, Jack finally said enough is enough. He packed up and left Riverport, washing his hands clean of Will and his crazy theories and problems.
But now, an email from Jack’s childhood friend Paul Serene has brought him back. As it turns out, Will’s theories weren’t so crazy after all. As a pioneer and top scientist in the field of chronon technology, Will has been consulting on a top secret project spearheaded by mega-corporation Monarch Solutions at Riverport University. Paul is one of the research leads on the project, and for some reason he wants Jack to come meet him at the Physics building so he can show him something that will change the face of the planet. Curiosity piqued, Jack agrees to go see his friend and thoroughly gets his mind blown when he realizes what is in the lab where Paul brings him. It appears that with Will’s help, Monarch had created a time machine…
You can definitely read this without knowing a single thing about the game, but some background information will probably give more context. In Quantum Break you play Jack, who gains time manipulation powers and uses them to fight the diabolical authorities behind Monarch. The flow of time breaks down and all hell breaks loose, creating all kinds of insane effects with the environment, including time stutters, time stops, time slowing down or speeding up, etc. As well, one of the game’s “hooks” include a live-action component. After each act in the game, an episode of a TV show will play out onscreen letting you see how your gameplay decisions have affected events and other characters in the story. As noted in the book’s foreword, there really is no “canon” version of Quantum Break, since you are going to be making a lot of in-game choices and in doing so create your own version of events. The game is about time travel and branching timelines, so your own playthrough will likely be completely different from another player’s.
This is why the idea behind this book is so brilliant. When I first read its description, I was initially worried that it would be a straight-up novelization—and who would want that, when you have the choice to actually immerse yourself in the cinematic experience that is the game itself? But here’s the cool part: Quantum Break: Zero State isn’t a true novelization because it is actually a combination of what’s in the game along with a lot more stuff that never made it in—think early story concepts, discarded ideas, or other elements that either weren’t used or abandoned because the developers couldn’t make them work for what they had in mind for the final product. It’s like an alternate timeline novel. As a result, you can read this book on its own without having even heard of Quantum Break! And if you have played it, you can also read this without feeling like it’s just a rehash of everything you did in game.
Like I said, the writing is superb and Cam Rogers’ prose is smart, punchy, and electrifying. As Remedy’s game writer and narrative designer, Rogers knows exactly how to capture the suspenseful atmosphere of Quantum Break, following through on the promise of action and thrilling fight scenes. The big theme here is also the time traveling aspect of course, and it is extremely cool, as are the powers that Jack possesses in game which are outstandingly described and utilized here in text. The story was indeed very different from my gameplay experience, but I found the version in this novel to be no less intense and exciting. I even liked that it gave me the chance to know some of the other characters better, most notably Beth Wilder.
Just for a second, forget that this book is based on a game, even if you are a fan of Quantum Break. If you enjoy sci-fi thrillers in general, and the idea of time traveling and superpowers sounds like a good time to you, then you must pick up this book. And if you happened to enjoy the video game too, then that goes double. This was all kinds of awesome, easily one of the best game tie-ins I’ve ever read, and heck, just a great time travel thriller all-around.
Quantum Break: Zero State is the tie-in novel to the action video game developed by Remedy Entertainment, the same folks who also brought us cinematic masterpieces such as Max Payne and Alan Wake. While it’s clearly marketed to fans of the game—and yes, I too did my stint in Quantum Break and consider myself one—I urge you not to write off this book just because you haven’t played it, or because you don’t think a “video game book” would be for you. Often these kinds of books get a bad rap (and goodness knows they deserve it sometimes) but I promise you this one is different.
From the very first page, I was floored by the stellar quality of this novel. I don’t want to sound like a book snob, especially since I consider myself a diehard tie-in junkie, but I’m still trying to wrap my head around the fact this is a book based on a video game. I mean, it’s almost too good to be one? Needless to say, Quantum Break: Zero State surprised the hell out of me. Tie-in novel or not, it can easily stand on its own against any of the more mainstream or popular sci-fi thrillers out there.
The story stars Jack Joyce, a maverick who follows where his feet take him—as long as it’s away from his hometown of Riverport, Massachusetts where six years ago he cut ties with his older brother, the brilliant scientist William Joyce. Will is a genius, but his mind is also very disturbed. Growing up with him as a legal guardian was difficult, after their parents died in an accident when Jack was just a child. Will was withdrawn and consumed by his research, so his younger brother actually ended up being the one to support them both. It got even worse once Jack discovered that Will had secretly taken all the money their parents left them to use on his work after his own funding and research grants ran out, not to mention the massive debts with the local gangs and loan sharks. After years of cleaning up his brother’s messes, Jack finally said enough is enough. He packed up and left Riverport, washing his hands clean of Will and his crazy theories and problems.
But now, an email from Jack’s childhood friend Paul Serene has brought him back. As it turns out, Will’s theories weren’t so crazy after all. As a pioneer and top scientist in the field of chronon technology, Will has been consulting on a top secret project spearheaded by mega-corporation Monarch Solutions at Riverport University. Paul is one of the research leads on the project, and for some reason he wants Jack to come meet him at the Physics building so he can show him something that will change the face of the planet. Curiosity piqued, Jack agrees to go see his friend and thoroughly gets his mind blown when he realizes what is in the lab where Paul brings him. It appears that with Will’s help, Monarch had created a time machine…
You can definitely read this without knowing a single thing about the game, but some background information will probably give more context. In Quantum Break you play Jack, who gains time manipulation powers and uses them to fight the diabolical authorities behind Monarch. The flow of time breaks down and all hell breaks loose, creating all kinds of insane effects with the environment, including time stutters, time stops, time slowing down or speeding up, etc. As well, one of the game’s “hooks” include a live-action component. After each act in the game, an episode of a TV show will play out onscreen letting you see how your gameplay decisions have affected events and other characters in the story. As noted in the book’s foreword, there really is no “canon” version of Quantum Break, since you are going to be making a lot of in-game choices and in doing so create your own version of events. The game is about time travel and branching timelines, so your own playthrough will likely be completely different from another player’s.
This is why the idea behind this book is so brilliant. When I first read its description, I was initially worried that it would be a straight-up novelization—and who would want that, when you have the choice to actually immerse yourself in the cinematic experience that is the game itself? But here’s the cool part: Quantum Break: Zero State isn’t a true novelization because it is actually a combination of what’s in the game along with a lot more stuff that never made it in—think early story concepts, discarded ideas, or other elements that either weren’t used or abandoned because the developers couldn’t make them work for what they had in mind for the final product. It’s like an alternate timeline novel. As a result, you can read this book on its own without having even heard of Quantum Break! And if you have played it, you can also read this without feeling like it’s just a rehash of everything you did in game.
Like I said, the writing is superb and Cam Rogers’ prose is smart, punchy, and electrifying. As Remedy’s game writer and narrative designer, Rogers knows exactly how to capture the suspenseful atmosphere of Quantum Break, following through on the promise of action and thrilling fight scenes. The big theme here is also the time traveling aspect of course, and it is extremely cool, as are the powers that Jack possesses in game which are outstandingly described and utilized here in text. The story was indeed very different from my gameplay experience, but I found the version in this novel to be no less intense and exciting. I even liked that it gave me the chance to know some of the other characters better, most notably Beth Wilder.
Just for a second, forget that this book is based on a game, even if you are a fan of Quantum Break. If you enjoy sci-fi thrillers in general, and the idea of time traveling and superpowers sounds like a good time to you, then you must pick up this book. And if you happened to enjoy the video game too, then that goes double. This was all kinds of awesome, easily one of the best game tie-ins I’ve ever read, and heck, just a great time travel thriller all-around.
January 17, 2019
Quantum Break
I liked the idea of bringing a video game to life but I wasnt a fan of the writing style. The characters were stiff and I didnt really know any of them. We were given information about the characters but not alot and not clear.
I always thought that video game Commercials looked like they would be great movies or books but this was not.
I liked the idea of bringing a video game to life but I wasnt a fan of the writing style. The characters were stiff and I didnt really know any of them. We were given information about the characters but not alot and not clear.
I always thought that video game Commercials looked like they would be great movies or books but this was not.
May 20, 2016
Cam Rogers has an a beautifully deft handle on language, and uses short, brutally economic phrases to convey so richly a confusing, broken world from the perspective of Jack Joyce. Because of the negative connotation it typically carries, it feels like selling Zero State short to call it a video game tie-in, but the author's keen understanding of both mediums allows the novel to convey information that is central to worldbuilding & lore that are fundamentally video game concepts, without feeling hackneyed. It's thoroughly grounded in the actions of a mysterious monolithic corporation - actions that feel logical and moving along a specific agenda.
And all of that is caveats and explanations around a rollicking, breakneck action thriller that has some fantastic, imaginative set pieces involving wonderfully fleshed out characters.
Highly recommended!
And all of that is caveats and explanations around a rollicking, breakneck action thriller that has some fantastic, imaginative set pieces involving wonderfully fleshed out characters.
Highly recommended!
September 17, 2018
Quantum Break: Zero State is naturally in the same universe as the popular (well, not that popular I guess, I don't think it even sold a million copies) Xbox One video game. The game is unfortunately still in my backlog (sealed copy and all) but when I saw this book at a reasonable price I decided to go ahead and give it a read. If it spoiled something along the way, well then so be it.
Zero State has main character Jack Joyce trying to save the world from the end of time, caused unwittingly by his brother Will's time machine. Jack, due to his interaction with the time machine has gained all sorts of powers which will help him to combat the forces of Monarch and other time warriors who seek to thwart his ways.
After reading this nearly 450 page book, I can say that I made it out a bit confused. I usually avoid time traveling shows and books as I usually like stories that are rooted in one specific time. Mostly, because to truly appreciate the story (and I'm certain that is the case here), one has to have the intelligence of a rocket scientist, or re-read at least 1-2 times to get the flow and bits that make everything come together.
Either that, or this book contains missing nuggets of information, presumably from the video game context that would make this a lot understandable. Cam Rogers does do an excellent job of writing the book, carefully detailing the universe and the story using multiple timelines well to achieve his intended purpose. I'm surprised he hasn't written any other novels to this point cause there are many elements here that do not indicate some rookie writer.
Despite my 3-star rating, I do recommend the experience to those with time-traveling reading knowledge as they perhaps would be able to better see the correlations between timelines and thus enjoy this book. I will try to move the actual game closer to the top of my backlog before I would think about reading this book again. Maybe then I would be able to enjoy the nuisances and details that this narrative so proudly displays.
Zero State has main character Jack Joyce trying to save the world from the end of time, caused unwittingly by his brother Will's time machine. Jack, due to his interaction with the time machine has gained all sorts of powers which will help him to combat the forces of Monarch and other time warriors who seek to thwart his ways.
After reading this nearly 450 page book, I can say that I made it out a bit confused. I usually avoid time traveling shows and books as I usually like stories that are rooted in one specific time. Mostly, because to truly appreciate the story (and I'm certain that is the case here), one has to have the intelligence of a rocket scientist, or re-read at least 1-2 times to get the flow and bits that make everything come together.
Either that, or this book contains missing nuggets of information, presumably from the video game context that would make this a lot understandable. Cam Rogers does do an excellent job of writing the book, carefully detailing the universe and the story using multiple timelines well to achieve his intended purpose. I'm surprised he hasn't written any other novels to this point cause there are many elements here that do not indicate some rookie writer.
Despite my 3-star rating, I do recommend the experience to those with time-traveling reading knowledge as they perhaps would be able to better see the correlations between timelines and thus enjoy this book. I will try to move the actual game closer to the top of my backlog before I would think about reading this book again. Maybe then I would be able to enjoy the nuisances and details that this narrative so proudly displays.
Want to read
March 26, 2016It says the release date is April 5th but I just bought this novel a few hours ago at my local bookstore. What's up with that?
March 22, 2017
With the complexity and length of the game, this novel version of the Quantum Break universe was a great read with the story broken down further yet brought back to not over complicate. A few reviews had me worried, but I feel everyone expected it to be word for word as the game, but what would of been the point. I loved it, as much as I loved the game.
March 7, 2024
Must read if you have played the game!! But do not read it as a stand alone or you will miss many details and information!
July 1, 2025
A MUST READ after playing the game. I loved the concept of the whole book being an Alternate Timeline of any of the games' ending. It really made the book interesting.
The story is thrilling, gut-wrenching, suspenseful, and brutal. It kept me thoroughly entertained and it was wonderful to get to know the characters from the game on a deeper level that humanized them.
The story is thrilling, gut-wrenching, suspenseful, and brutal. It kept me thoroughly entertained and it was wonderful to get to know the characters from the game on a deeper level that humanized them.
October 31, 2020
Quantum Break: Zero State is the tie-in novelization based on the sci-fi action video game developed by Remedy Entertainment, the same folks who also brought us cinematic masterpieces such as Max Payne and Alan Wake. While it’s clearly marketed to fans of the game—and yes, I too did my stint in Quantum Break and consider myself one—I urge you not to write off this book just because you haven’t played it, or because you don’t think a “video game book” would be for you. Often these kinds of books get a bad rap (and goodness knows they deserve it sometimes) but I promise you this one is different.
From the very first page, I was floored by the stellar quality of this novel. I don’t want to sound like a book snob, especially since I consider myself a diehard tie-in junkie, but I’m still trying to wrap my head around the fact this is a book based on a video game. I mean, it’s almost too good to be one? Needless to say, Quantum Break: Zero State surprised the heck out of me. Tie-in novel or not, it can easily stand on its own against any of the more mainstream or popular sci-fi thrillers out there.
The plot focuses on Jack Joyce, a maverick who follows where his feet take him—as long as it’s away from his hometown of Riverport, Massachusetts where six years ago he cut ties with his older brother, the brilliant scientist William Joyce. Will is a genius, but his mind is also very disturbed. Growing up with him as a legal guardian was difficult, after their parents died in an accident when Jack was just a child. Will was withdrawn and consumed by his research, so his younger brother actually ended up being the one to support them both. It got even worse once Jack discovered that Will had secretly taken all the money their parents left them to use on his work after his own funding and research grants ran out, not to mention the massive debts with the local gangs and loan sharks. After years of cleaning up his brother’s messes, Jack finally said enough is enough. He packed up and left Riverport, washing his hands clean of Will and his crazy theories and problems.
But now, an email from Jack’s childhood friend Paul Serene has brought him back. As it turns out, Will’s theories weren’t so crazy after all. As a pioneer and top scientist in the field of chronon technology, Will has been consulting on a top secret project spearheaded by mega-corporation Monarch Solutions at Riverport University. Paul is one of the research leads on the project, and for some reason he wants Jack to come meet him at the Physics building so he can show him something that will change the face of the planet. Curiosity piqued, Jack agrees to go see his friend and thoroughly gets his mind blown when he realizes what is in the lab where Paul brings him. It appears that with Will’s help, Monarch had created a time machine…
A stutter in time…saves you from a hail of bullets
You can definitely read this without knowing a single thing about the game, but some background information will probably give more context. In Quantum Break you play Jack, who gains time manipulation powers and uses them to fight the diabolical authorities behind Monarch. The flow of time breaks down and all hell breaks loose, creating all kinds of insane effects with the environment, including time stutters, time stops, time slowing down or speeding up, etc. As well, one of the game’s “hooks” include a live-action component. After each act in the game, an episode of a TV show will play out onscreen letting you see how your gameplay decisions have affected events and other characters in the story. As noted in the book’s foreword, there really is no “canon” version of Quantum Break, since you are going to be making a lot of in-game choices and in doing so create your own version of events. The game is about time travel and branching timelines, so your own playthrough will likely be completely different from another player’s.
Time is power
This is why the idea behind this book is so brilliant. When I first read its description, I was initially worried that it would be a straight-up novelization—and who would want that, when you have the choice to actually immerse yourself in the cinematic experience that is the game itself? But here’s the cool part: Quantum Break: Zero State isn’t a true novelization because it is actually a combination of what’s in the game along with a lot more stuff that never made it in—think early story concepts, discarded ideas, or other elements that either weren’t used or abandoned because the developers couldn’t make them work for what they had in mind for the final product. It’s like an alternate timeline novel. As a result, you can read this book on its own without having to play Quantum Break! And if you have played it, you can also read this without feeling like it’s just a rehash of everything you did in game.
Like I said, the writing is superb and Cam Rogers’ prose is smart, punchy, and electrifying. As Remedy’s game writer and narrative designer, Rogers knows exactly how to capture the suspenseful atmosphere of Quantum Break, following through on the promise of action and thrilling fight scenes. The big theme here is also the time traveling aspect of course, and it is extremely cool, as are the powers that Jack possesses in game which are outstandingly described and utilized here in text. The story was indeed very different from my gameplay experience, but I found the version in this novel to be no less intense and exciting. I even liked that it gave me the chance to know some of the other characters better, most notably Beth Wilder.
Just for a second, forget that this book is based on a game, even if you are a fan of Quantum Break. If you enjoy sci-fi thrillers in general, and the idea of time traveling and superpowers sounds like a good time to you, then you must pick up this book. And if you happened to enjoy the video game too, then that goes double. This was all kinds of awesome, easily one of the best game tie-ins I’ve ever read, and heck, just a great time travel thriller all-around.
From the very first page, I was floored by the stellar quality of this novel. I don’t want to sound like a book snob, especially since I consider myself a diehard tie-in junkie, but I’m still trying to wrap my head around the fact this is a book based on a video game. I mean, it’s almost too good to be one? Needless to say, Quantum Break: Zero State surprised the heck out of me. Tie-in novel or not, it can easily stand on its own against any of the more mainstream or popular sci-fi thrillers out there.
The plot focuses on Jack Joyce, a maverick who follows where his feet take him—as long as it’s away from his hometown of Riverport, Massachusetts where six years ago he cut ties with his older brother, the brilliant scientist William Joyce. Will is a genius, but his mind is also very disturbed. Growing up with him as a legal guardian was difficult, after their parents died in an accident when Jack was just a child. Will was withdrawn and consumed by his research, so his younger brother actually ended up being the one to support them both. It got even worse once Jack discovered that Will had secretly taken all the money their parents left them to use on his work after his own funding and research grants ran out, not to mention the massive debts with the local gangs and loan sharks. After years of cleaning up his brother’s messes, Jack finally said enough is enough. He packed up and left Riverport, washing his hands clean of Will and his crazy theories and problems.
But now, an email from Jack’s childhood friend Paul Serene has brought him back. As it turns out, Will’s theories weren’t so crazy after all. As a pioneer and top scientist in the field of chronon technology, Will has been consulting on a top secret project spearheaded by mega-corporation Monarch Solutions at Riverport University. Paul is one of the research leads on the project, and for some reason he wants Jack to come meet him at the Physics building so he can show him something that will change the face of the planet. Curiosity piqued, Jack agrees to go see his friend and thoroughly gets his mind blown when he realizes what is in the lab where Paul brings him. It appears that with Will’s help, Monarch had created a time machine…
A stutter in time…saves you from a hail of bullets
You can definitely read this without knowing a single thing about the game, but some background information will probably give more context. In Quantum Break you play Jack, who gains time manipulation powers and uses them to fight the diabolical authorities behind Monarch. The flow of time breaks down and all hell breaks loose, creating all kinds of insane effects with the environment, including time stutters, time stops, time slowing down or speeding up, etc. As well, one of the game’s “hooks” include a live-action component. After each act in the game, an episode of a TV show will play out onscreen letting you see how your gameplay decisions have affected events and other characters in the story. As noted in the book’s foreword, there really is no “canon” version of Quantum Break, since you are going to be making a lot of in-game choices and in doing so create your own version of events. The game is about time travel and branching timelines, so your own playthrough will likely be completely different from another player’s.
Time is power
This is why the idea behind this book is so brilliant. When I first read its description, I was initially worried that it would be a straight-up novelization—and who would want that, when you have the choice to actually immerse yourself in the cinematic experience that is the game itself? But here’s the cool part: Quantum Break: Zero State isn’t a true novelization because it is actually a combination of what’s in the game along with a lot more stuff that never made it in—think early story concepts, discarded ideas, or other elements that either weren’t used or abandoned because the developers couldn’t make them work for what they had in mind for the final product. It’s like an alternate timeline novel. As a result, you can read this book on its own without having to play Quantum Break! And if you have played it, you can also read this without feeling like it’s just a rehash of everything you did in game.
Like I said, the writing is superb and Cam Rogers’ prose is smart, punchy, and electrifying. As Remedy’s game writer and narrative designer, Rogers knows exactly how to capture the suspenseful atmosphere of Quantum Break, following through on the promise of action and thrilling fight scenes. The big theme here is also the time traveling aspect of course, and it is extremely cool, as are the powers that Jack possesses in game which are outstandingly described and utilized here in text. The story was indeed very different from my gameplay experience, but I found the version in this novel to be no less intense and exciting. I even liked that it gave me the chance to know some of the other characters better, most notably Beth Wilder.
Just for a second, forget that this book is based on a game, even if you are a fan of Quantum Break. If you enjoy sci-fi thrillers in general, and the idea of time traveling and superpowers sounds like a good time to you, then you must pick up this book. And if you happened to enjoy the video game too, then that goes double. This was all kinds of awesome, easily one of the best game tie-ins I’ve ever read, and heck, just a great time travel thriller all-around.
April 30, 2016
Tried to get into the story. Made it to Chapter 5 before pulling pin.
September 22, 2019
Quantum Break: Zero State is a good-but-not-great tie-in to the videogame of the same name. I definitely wouldn't recommend it to any but the most die-hard fans of the game (if there are any), but it was far from the worst media tie-in out there.
I enjoyed that the novel embraces the difficulty of adapting an action-packed videogame for the printed page. A foreward by Sam Lake (creative director at Remedy, who developed the game) alerts the reader that it will contain material left on the cutting room floor during development, alternate plot points and set pieces, and whatever else the author (Cam Rogers, who co-wrote the game's story) decided to include.
I read through the novel and played through the game at the same time, and there are some MAJOR differences in the narrative -- mostly in Zero State's favor. We get expanded background on characters other than the game's protagonist, which end up being the best parts of the novel. And there are times when a scene plays out differently or takes place at another location that makes it have more meaning. But the sometimes-blunt, sometimes-overly-flowery language fails to convey the impressive time manipulation effects seen in the game. And when Rogers gets bogged down in explaining all the scientific mumbo-jumbo, it's all too easy to tune out.
One final difference is that the game also includes 20-minute "TV show" episodes in between its acts. They aren't particularly good, but their inclusion at least makes the game notable even years down the line, while they're conspicuously absent from the novel. As fun as it was to read all the changes, I think it would have elevated my enjoyment of Zero State significantly if there were notes on why changes like these were made as an inside look the differences between writing a story for a game and for a novel.
Overall, Quantum Break: Zero State is an intriguing way to tell the story of a videogame. But while it's a better story than you would get from playing the game, it's never quite good enough to stand on its own.
I enjoyed that the novel embraces the difficulty of adapting an action-packed videogame for the printed page. A foreward by Sam Lake (creative director at Remedy, who developed the game) alerts the reader that it will contain material left on the cutting room floor during development, alternate plot points and set pieces, and whatever else the author (Cam Rogers, who co-wrote the game's story) decided to include.
I read through the novel and played through the game at the same time, and there are some MAJOR differences in the narrative -- mostly in Zero State's favor. We get expanded background on characters other than the game's protagonist, which end up being the best parts of the novel. And there are times when a scene plays out differently or takes place at another location that makes it have more meaning. But the sometimes-blunt, sometimes-overly-flowery language fails to convey the impressive time manipulation effects seen in the game. And when Rogers gets bogged down in explaining all the scientific mumbo-jumbo, it's all too easy to tune out.
One final difference is that the game also includes 20-minute "TV show" episodes in between its acts. They aren't particularly good, but their inclusion at least makes the game notable even years down the line, while they're conspicuously absent from the novel. As fun as it was to read all the changes, I think it would have elevated my enjoyment of Zero State significantly if there were notes on why changes like these were made as an inside look the differences between writing a story for a game and for a novel.
Overall, Quantum Break: Zero State is an intriguing way to tell the story of a videogame. But while it's a better story than you would get from playing the game, it's never quite good enough to stand on its own.
June 2, 2017
This was kind of a throwaway book for me. It's a hefty book and it was taking up space on my bookshelf and I didn't have any ARCs that were coming out right away, so I figured it was a good time to knock this one out.
Turns out it's actually a pretty great book! It presented its theory of time travel in a way that was easy to understand, and provided some really awesome action. I was definitely one of those people that thought the quality of the writing would be negligible at best because it was based on a videogame. I also haven't played the game, so imagine how surprised I was when I was caught up in it immediately.
Jack has a genius older brother who is the epitome of the absent-minded professor. He's working on some heavy stuff, and when Jack unwittingly gets caught up in some mob deals, he decides it's too much to bear and decides to book it and run. It isn't until years later that his best childhood friend calls him back home with some pretty amazing stuff to show him.
Obviously, we know time travel comes into play. And that Jack accidentally ends up gaining some powers. How these all intersect is sufficiently action-packed and emotionally rending, which I was pretty surprised about. I expected fun action yes, but actually caring about the characters too was something I hadn't planned for. Jack's personality was the best part and I loved his struggle.
Turns out it's actually a pretty great book! It presented its theory of time travel in a way that was easy to understand, and provided some really awesome action. I was definitely one of those people that thought the quality of the writing would be negligible at best because it was based on a videogame. I also haven't played the game, so imagine how surprised I was when I was caught up in it immediately.
Jack has a genius older brother who is the epitome of the absent-minded professor. He's working on some heavy stuff, and when Jack unwittingly gets caught up in some mob deals, he decides it's too much to bear and decides to book it and run. It isn't until years later that his best childhood friend calls him back home with some pretty amazing stuff to show him.
Obviously, we know time travel comes into play. And that Jack accidentally ends up gaining some powers. How these all intersect is sufficiently action-packed and emotionally rending, which I was pretty surprised about. I expected fun action yes, but actually caring about the characters too was something I hadn't planned for. Jack's personality was the best part and I loved his struggle.
August 31, 2023
Apologies in advance for rambling 😅
It took me a few days to find the words for this because I personally love Quantum Break so much but I wanted to try to put what exactly about it I loved into words. I will say that if you haven’t played the game, this book probably won’t feel as meaningful as it should be and the note at the beginning from Sam Lake is very important. I am so happy to see the characters I love get expanded on, even if it’s just ‘little details’ like Jack and Paul playing in the barn as kids. I enjoyed playing Quantum Break and found all the characters unique and interesting, but the book was able to expand on that even more which is thanks to Cam Rogers amazing writing. I like how both can be seen as a complete story without the other but can really add to the experience of the universe it creates when you’ve got them both. Paul’s transformation is probably one of the most interesting ones i’ve ever read: he seemed to hold a lot of fear as a child and still a bit as a young adult but after the accident at the university he became so determined to fix what he broke. But when Shifters come in to play again in 2016 you get to see him become vulnerable again and it’s as if that fear never left. His facade is a very interesting one, same as Beth’s. With her I feel like just when we were beginning to see the real her she would throw another curve ball and mention even more crazy and interesting stories that no one else knew about.
I don’t know exactly what it is about this story and these characters but i’ve really grabbed on and don’t want to let go 😅. Still hoping for a Quantum Break 2!
It took me a few days to find the words for this because I personally love Quantum Break so much but I wanted to try to put what exactly about it I loved into words. I will say that if you haven’t played the game, this book probably won’t feel as meaningful as it should be and the note at the beginning from Sam Lake is very important. I am so happy to see the characters I love get expanded on, even if it’s just ‘little details’ like Jack and Paul playing in the barn as kids. I enjoyed playing Quantum Break and found all the characters unique and interesting, but the book was able to expand on that even more which is thanks to Cam Rogers amazing writing. I like how both can be seen as a complete story without the other but can really add to the experience of the universe it creates when you’ve got them both. Paul’s transformation is probably one of the most interesting ones i’ve ever read: he seemed to hold a lot of fear as a child and still a bit as a young adult but after the accident at the university he became so determined to fix what he broke. But when Shifters come in to play again in 2016 you get to see him become vulnerable again and it’s as if that fear never left. His facade is a very interesting one, same as Beth’s. With her I feel like just when we were beginning to see the real her she would throw another curve ball and mention even more crazy and interesting stories that no one else knew about.
I don’t know exactly what it is about this story and these characters but i’ve really grabbed on and don’t want to let go 😅. Still hoping for a Quantum Break 2!
June 22, 2024
It's hard for me to judge this one as if I were a new reader who had not played the game. I think it would be an enjoyable sci-fi read, but it may not be as extensive or detailed as other sci-fi time travel titles. Reading the book without playing the game just wouldn't have the same impact.
I also felt that my empathy for the characters was influenced by knowing them from the game. A new reader may not establish the same feelings or understand the weight of certain scenes or lines. I think my advice would be to just play the game first and then read the book. Being a time travel story where elements from the past, present, and future influence each other, the events can be a little overwhelming the first time through, therefore playing the game first and then reading the book would really help.
For fans of the game, its an enjoyable read that covers most of the events in the game. The book adds some new parts to explain what some characters were doing in some parts of the story that gamers did not get to see. At times, I felt that it would be better to just play the game, but then there was enough in the book to make it worthwhile to read.
I also felt that my empathy for the characters was influenced by knowing them from the game. A new reader may not establish the same feelings or understand the weight of certain scenes or lines. I think my advice would be to just play the game first and then read the book. Being a time travel story where elements from the past, present, and future influence each other, the events can be a little overwhelming the first time through, therefore playing the game first and then reading the book would really help.
For fans of the game, its an enjoyable read that covers most of the events in the game. The book adds some new parts to explain what some characters were doing in some parts of the story that gamers did not get to see. At times, I felt that it would be better to just play the game, but then there was enough in the book to make it worthwhile to read.
October 12, 2018
the book is really good because it’s about a video game and it is really interesting because the main character (jack)has a hard life and his brother Will has a hard life as well. Then one day jack left his brother and jack began a new life without any trouble. Years past and jack found his brother, Will made a time machine that could make people travel form past to future and all that got backfired. The machine exploded in a test and everything got destroyed. Except for Jack, Jack had time freezing powers that he could use for good and it was up to home to stope the person that committed the death of his brother. The book did well in many parts it wasn’t realistic like the time traveling but it was still good I would advise people to read the book and then buy the game because that’s would be a better option.
July 24, 2023
This is why we shouldn't play with science we do not understand. It breaks the fabric of existence, but go ahead and play with your big toys. Good thing Will had a countermeasure just in case the M-J field went out of whack; only buying 5 years though. They can just keep going back in time with the new knowledge until they can fix the issue right? That is what Paul thought and look what happens to him. I'm still kind of wondering Hatch's character. He seemed too mysterious and wished for more development on him. I hope the game explains more and has a better character development. Unless they want him to be mysterious with his business suit attire. Hope Jack can save Beth later in the future.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 24, 2020
This was okay. As a disclaimer, I'm a big fan of the game, and I quite enjoyed the Alan Wake novelization, so it's not the fact this is a VG novelization that has me 'meh.' Some minor spoilers below, read review at your discretion.
I don't really like this version of Beth, or her connection to Jack. Paul did not read like Paul to me, making me realize how much of that performance was all Aiden Gillen being the shining star he is.
Didn't hate it, didn't love it. Overall, meh, but it was nice to revisit this universe.
I don't really like this version of Beth, or her connection to Jack. Paul did not read like Paul to me, making me realize how much of that performance was all Aiden Gillen being the shining star he is.
Didn't hate it, didn't love it. Overall, meh, but it was nice to revisit this universe.
September 25, 2020
An Alternate Timeline
Really liked that the book wasn’t just a rehash of the game and thought it had a lot of interesting details the game failed to explain (about some characters and time travel situations). The book switches some of the bigger action scenes out for a more personal focus on Jack and especially Beth. However, I found some of the writing hard to follow and some detail a little hard to imagine without more added to it. Worth a read for some cool time travel stuff if you liked the game, otherwise I wouldn’t recommend it.
Really liked that the book wasn’t just a rehash of the game and thought it had a lot of interesting details the game failed to explain (about some characters and time travel situations). The book switches some of the bigger action scenes out for a more personal focus on Jack and especially Beth. However, I found some of the writing hard to follow and some detail a little hard to imagine without more added to it. Worth a read for some cool time travel stuff if you liked the game, otherwise I wouldn’t recommend it.
July 10, 2020
I kinda appreciated the book trying to tell a slightly different tale but sadly it failed to captivate me. The game's story is way better. The characters here are stiff, unyielding and leagues away from giving me an inch of the feelings I've got from the game's which can count on the amazing actors performances and voice-over. If you can, get an Xbox and play the game...Skip the book.
October 9, 2023
I love love love the video game, prolly my all time favorite videogame, I was looking around on Amazon, came across the book and bought it instantly. When I tell you it was everything I hoped for and more it was, absolutely 10/10.
May 12, 2025
Image someone describing moment to moment what you're doing in a video game. Then imagine them doing it in the most obnoxious style possible.
June 15, 2016
Quantum Break by Cam Rogers is a story happening the same universe as the popular game from Microsoft (a.k.a Quantum Break!). The reason I bought this book is not because is came out as a game, is because I read the descriptions, and the structure of the story attracted me to buy this book.
Was I disappointed? Yes, and no (but mainly no). I feel there’s a pretty common problem with game novels is that, the words the book use, and the sentence structures is not as great as other authors who mainly focusing on writing fictions. I am not sure if it is because of the editor, or the author himself (or me), but some of the sentences I don’t really get it, and that lead to confused. But once you get passed that, you are good to go.
Overall, this content has huge fantastic plots! You can totally tell it is well structured, and well planned. I think Cam did a great job plotted it out precisely, and elegantly well. It is very hard to tell the exact examples, but when you read it, you will get what I mean.
Plot Summary:
From Remedy Entertainment, the masters of cinematic action games such as Max Payne and Alan Wake, comes a gripping novelization of this time-amplified suspenseful blockbuster. The Quantum Break experience is part game, part show―where decisions in one dramatically affect the other. Both experiences share the same incredible cast of actors who have played leading roles in Lost, X-Men, Game of Thrones and more.
The novel, Quantum Break: Zero State, is the story of the game’s hero, Jack Joyce, who, with his newly gained superpowers, fights the nefarious Monarch corporation to stop the end of time. Epic moments of destruction, frozen in chaotic “time stutters,” become playgrounds for intense combat and gripping story. The novel greatly expands on the game’s narrative, offering intriguing new timelines and characters to explore!
Was I disappointed? Yes, and no (but mainly no). I feel there’s a pretty common problem with game novels is that, the words the book use, and the sentence structures is not as great as other authors who mainly focusing on writing fictions. I am not sure if it is because of the editor, or the author himself (or me), but some of the sentences I don’t really get it, and that lead to confused. But once you get passed that, you are good to go.
Overall, this content has huge fantastic plots! You can totally tell it is well structured, and well planned. I think Cam did a great job plotted it out precisely, and elegantly well. It is very hard to tell the exact examples, but when you read it, you will get what I mean.
Plot Summary:
From Remedy Entertainment, the masters of cinematic action games such as Max Payne and Alan Wake, comes a gripping novelization of this time-amplified suspenseful blockbuster. The Quantum Break experience is part game, part show―where decisions in one dramatically affect the other. Both experiences share the same incredible cast of actors who have played leading roles in Lost, X-Men, Game of Thrones and more.
The novel, Quantum Break: Zero State, is the story of the game’s hero, Jack Joyce, who, with his newly gained superpowers, fights the nefarious Monarch corporation to stop the end of time. Epic moments of destruction, frozen in chaotic “time stutters,” become playgrounds for intense combat and gripping story. The novel greatly expands on the game’s narrative, offering intriguing new timelines and characters to explore!
August 10, 2025
As far as I can tell, this is a novelization of the game Quantum Break. I say "as far as I can tell," because as, um, far as I can tell, the game has branching pathways, while this has a set one. Apparently the conciet that the novelization is a telling of one such possible branch (timeline?). Whatever the case, it's irrelevant, for as you can tell, I really didn't like this novel.
Disclaimer: Haven't played the game, but moving on from that, the issue with this novel (for me) is that it's mainly a string of action scenes that I assume are taken from the game. That's a two-fold problem, in that not only do I find action scenes uninteresting to read (for the most part), but the pacing of a game really doesn't work for the pacing of a novel. I'd argue it's even worse here, because this is a setting where all kinds of bonkers time manipulation occurs, but describing it will never be as cool as showing it. For instance, writing that Jake uses "the Shining Palm" (technique) comes off as silly here. An exception is the Shifters, which are fascinating from a conceptual point of view alone, but like I said, that's the exception.
The thing is, when the novel is doing stuff that isn't based on action, it can be quite decent. I like its take on time travel, and its best scenes are when the characters are able to just sit/stand and talk. For instance, one of the best sequences is when Beth gets to "the end of time," the description of a world frozen in time being downright eerie. Horrifying, even. But then, this is also the same book where stuff like "Juggernauts" are used at will, and on the page, just come off as silly.
Oh, and the novel ends on a big "to be continued" moment, but I'm not counting on a sequel anytime soon. Since time was supposed to end in 2021/2022 in the novel's canon, I guess we got lucky. 0_0
Disclaimer: Haven't played the game, but moving on from that, the issue with this novel (for me) is that it's mainly a string of action scenes that I assume are taken from the game. That's a two-fold problem, in that not only do I find action scenes uninteresting to read (for the most part), but the pacing of a game really doesn't work for the pacing of a novel. I'd argue it's even worse here, because this is a setting where all kinds of bonkers time manipulation occurs, but describing it will never be as cool as showing it. For instance, writing that Jake uses "the Shining Palm" (technique) comes off as silly here. An exception is the Shifters, which are fascinating from a conceptual point of view alone, but like I said, that's the exception.
The thing is, when the novel is doing stuff that isn't based on action, it can be quite decent. I like its take on time travel, and its best scenes are when the characters are able to just sit/stand and talk. For instance, one of the best sequences is when Beth gets to "the end of time," the description of a world frozen in time being downright eerie. Horrifying, even. But then, this is also the same book where stuff like "Juggernauts" are used at will, and on the page, just come off as silly.
Oh, and the novel ends on a big "to be continued" moment, but I'm not counting on a sequel anytime soon. Since time was supposed to end in 2021/2022 in the novel's canon, I guess we got lucky. 0_0
May 4, 2016
As a fan of the game, I was curious to see what the book would offer. It turns out that it is a great Beth story but not the best book overall.
In the game, the main focus of Monarch outside of Paul and Hatch was Liam Burke; a conflicted guy who worked for Monarch. He was multidimensional and interesting. The change in the book to Gibson felt like a waste of time. He was so plainly a bad guy with no depth that I rolled my eyes any time he was brought up.
Maybe Remedy told the author that he couldn't drive deeper into Hatch's character, but that would have been much more interesting since he is such a mystery.
By far the highlight of the book was when Beth finds herself in a horrific future that is only mentioned briefly in the game. That sequence was fantastic and helped expand the game.
The ending itself was interesting in how it differed with a certain character having more to do than originally thought.
The preface in this book mentions how this is an alternate timeline to the events in the game which makes sense in a time travel story. But the parts that meshed the best with the game were the most satisfying.
Rogers' writing style, mostly when it comes to certain descriptions of things, can feel overly dramatic for a story based off of a time traveling video game. And a couple of times early on, he uses obviously non-US words or phrases for a story about an American in Massachusetts. For example, Jack's family's farm is mentioned in hectares instead of acres which can pull you out from being immersed.
All in all, I'm kind of indifferent toward the novel. I can pick and choose parts that I liked, but the overall experience is one that I won't likely return to for a reread.
In the game, the main focus of Monarch outside of Paul and Hatch was Liam Burke; a conflicted guy who worked for Monarch. He was multidimensional and interesting. The change in the book to Gibson felt like a waste of time. He was so plainly a bad guy with no depth that I rolled my eyes any time he was brought up.
Maybe Remedy told the author that he couldn't drive deeper into Hatch's character, but that would have been much more interesting since he is such a mystery.
By far the highlight of the book was when Beth finds herself in a horrific future that is only mentioned briefly in the game. That sequence was fantastic and helped expand the game.
The ending itself was interesting in how it differed with a certain character having more to do than originally thought.
The preface in this book mentions how this is an alternate timeline to the events in the game which makes sense in a time travel story. But the parts that meshed the best with the game were the most satisfying.
Rogers' writing style, mostly when it comes to certain descriptions of things, can feel overly dramatic for a story based off of a time traveling video game. And a couple of times early on, he uses obviously non-US words or phrases for a story about an American in Massachusetts. For example, Jack's family's farm is mentioned in hectares instead of acres which can pull you out from being immersed.
All in all, I'm kind of indifferent toward the novel. I can pick and choose parts that I liked, but the overall experience is one that I won't likely return to for a reread.
April 26, 2016
The Quantum Break videogame impressed me with the quality of its storytelling, so I was right up for some more from the same universe. That said I wasn't sure what to expect - I've read and enjoyed a few videogame spin-off novels, but this is the first novelisation of a videogame I've read since Gordon Rennie's Dredd vs Death tie-in many moons ago. As it happens, it's not the straight novelisation that it might at first appear, nor is it the spin-off expanded universe-style novel that I maybe expected. It tells the story of the game, with most of the major story beats in the same place, but branches off in a lot of areas and expands it in some interesting ways. The A and the B might be the same, but how we get from the A to the B can be quite, quite different.
The writing is good, but the action scenes didn't come across particularly well for me. It's hard to depict that style of action in a novel (especially when you're dealing with videogame tropes like ability cooldowns and whatnot) and I found many of the busier sequences pretty confusing. Also, while in some areas it expands the original ideas in cool ways (seeing more of Beth and Paul on their trip to the end of time was cool, and the way Beth believes herself invincible thanks to causality was very neat), for the most part a lot of its additions and expansions made me appreciate just how tightly focused and polished the story in the game was.
That remains the best telling of the tale, particularly with the live action episodes in there, but this is still an enjoyable read, and interesting for anyone who loves the game and just wants some more Quantum Break.
The writing is good, but the action scenes didn't come across particularly well for me. It's hard to depict that style of action in a novel (especially when you're dealing with videogame tropes like ability cooldowns and whatnot) and I found many of the busier sequences pretty confusing. Also, while in some areas it expands the original ideas in cool ways (seeing more of Beth and Paul on their trip to the end of time was cool, and the way Beth believes herself invincible thanks to causality was very neat), for the most part a lot of its additions and expansions made me appreciate just how tightly focused and polished the story in the game was.
That remains the best telling of the tale, particularly with the live action episodes in there, but this is still an enjoyable read, and interesting for anyone who loves the game and just wants some more Quantum Break.
July 4, 2016
Quantum Break is a video game released this past April that involves manipulating time: a time-machine experiment gives Jack Joyce the power to slow down time (thus moving very quickly, from the perspective of his enemies) and create “stutter shields” in which time freezes. Meanwhile, time itself is breaking down—sometimes time will stop altogether, or even rewind and replay in short segments, forcing Jack to work his way through explosions and a fractured world with unpredictable pacing. It looks pretty amazing.
So what does that have to do with books? Well, Quantum Break: Zero State is a novel based on the video game, written by one of the guys who was on the creative team for the game. However, it’s not a novelization of the story in the game: in a world with time travel and branching timelines, Cam Rogers chose an alternate timeline for his story, so the book doesn’t spoil the video game’s plot and vice versa, even though they share the same characters and world.
The book focuses on Jack Joyce, who left Riverport after a nasty incident and hasn’t been back in six years. When he comes back, he gets caught up in a complex web—a time machine, a powerful corporation, and the end of time itself. I don’t want to give too much away, but I had a blast reading this book. Aside from Jack’s time-manipulation powers, which are a reflection of the video game, there’s a mind-bending storyline that plays with time travel and causality in fascinating ways. Some of it reminded me of 12 Monkeys, the way that sometimes trying to change the past actually causes what has already happened.
So what does that have to do with books? Well, Quantum Break: Zero State is a novel based on the video game, written by one of the guys who was on the creative team for the game. However, it’s not a novelization of the story in the game: in a world with time travel and branching timelines, Cam Rogers chose an alternate timeline for his story, so the book doesn’t spoil the video game’s plot and vice versa, even though they share the same characters and world.
The book focuses on Jack Joyce, who left Riverport after a nasty incident and hasn’t been back in six years. When he comes back, he gets caught up in a complex web—a time machine, a powerful corporation, and the end of time itself. I don’t want to give too much away, but I had a blast reading this book. Aside from Jack’s time-manipulation powers, which are a reflection of the video game, there’s a mind-bending storyline that plays with time travel and causality in fascinating ways. Some of it reminded me of 12 Monkeys, the way that sometimes trying to change the past actually causes what has already happened.
September 2, 2019
I picked this up because the cover made me think it would be fun. I see from the cover it is based on a "blockbuster" videogame. I have never heard of the game.
This is my live review while I read. Probably gonna be lots of spoilers involved.
Chapter 1
Two men stand on an overlook above the river, while a murderer and his henchmen are behind them. The men's lives hang on the results of the a pretty girl sweet talking in the murderer's ear.
The girl is an extreme risk taker, and one of the men does not trust her. The men reminiscence about how they got in this situation.
I am getting tired of this book already. This scene is dragging on.... I don't like when books start with random characters and you can't figure out their relationship to the larger story.
This is the sentence that makes me stop trying to understand this chapter:
I don't understand what happened in this chapter, but the two men are alive after.
Chapter 2
One of the men emails the other. Says to come visit. That seems so clear, but there are so many unnecessary words in this chapter saying so many things. I am just trying to skip past them and find the part where the two men meet up again.
The book is telling me the name of the taxi driver whose cab the man just got out of. Why would I care about that, or their conversation?????
Chapter 3
If this book is bothering me this much I should stop reading. I'm sure the annoyance will only continue.
The End
This is my live review while I read. Probably gonna be lots of spoilers involved.
Chapter 1
Two men stand on an overlook above the river, while a murderer and his henchmen are behind them. The men's lives hang on the results of the a pretty girl sweet talking in the murderer's ear.
The girl is an extreme risk taker, and one of the men does not trust her. The men reminiscence about how they got in this situation.
I am getting tired of this book already. This scene is dragging on.... I don't like when books start with random characters and you can't figure out their relationship to the larger story.
This is the sentence that makes me stop trying to understand this chapter:
The life of Orrie "Trigger" Aberfoyle was taken in hand by a 9mm slug and together they leaped out a ragged window just above his right ear.
I don't understand what happened in this chapter, but the two men are alive after.
Chapter 2
One of the men emails the other. Says to come visit. That seems so clear, but there are so many unnecessary words in this chapter saying so many things. I am just trying to skip past them and find the part where the two men meet up again.
The book is telling me the name of the taxi driver whose cab the man just got out of. Why would I care about that, or their conversation?????
Chapter 3
If this book is bothering me this much I should stop reading. I'm sure the annoyance will only continue.
The End
July 15, 2016
I'd actually give this a 3.5 or 3.8. I don't typically read video game accompaniment novels but I was wooed by the premise that this one's story would be an alternate take on the game's storyline. In the end that was 70% true. I really appreciated having more of beth's backstory, and the way it was tied into jack and paul's past. Beth was a really strong, developed character and just as much of a hero as Jack--something that was downplayed for most of the game. I was disappointed that we didn't get to see more from Paul's perspective; I was hoping for more elaboration on how he went from scared 20something to the collected, mature man running the show 17 years later. I sympathized a lot with him, especially when Beth met him at the end of time. In many ways, Paul is the story's most tragic figure.
Also disappointing was the lack of information about Hatch--I was hoping a novel would tell us more about the mystery man and his motivations (beyond what we find out in the letters/emails in the game), but I suppose Remedy wants to keep his true nature under wraps for a Quantum Break Sequel. Overall, it was a decent read. I'd recommend it to anyone who played the game.
Also disappointing was the lack of information about Hatch--I was hoping a novel would tell us more about the mystery man and his motivations (beyond what we find out in the letters/emails in the game), but I suppose Remedy wants to keep his true nature under wraps for a Quantum Break Sequel. Overall, it was a decent read. I'd recommend it to anyone who played the game.
June 15, 2016
a break in time
I gave quantum break zero state a novel four stars because first off if you haven't played the game stop reading my review and go play it right now I love the quantum break video game it was breathtaking beautiful the cross between live action cut scenes and the storyline alone was well done in my opinion but sadly my only fault with it is the whole time line of events just seemed awfully hard to follow I just found myself lost at key points in the novel it was like once I understood what was going on I got lost at the next point and I know the whole time line past present future is hard to explain and I don't blame the writer for it but with the way its written I have to fault a star because time travel writing is difficult and I don't think anyone can make it understandable overall I recommend this book to anyone who played the game and anyone who likes time traveling world ending action
I gave quantum break zero state a novel four stars because first off if you haven't played the game stop reading my review and go play it right now I love the quantum break video game it was breathtaking beautiful the cross between live action cut scenes and the storyline alone was well done in my opinion but sadly my only fault with it is the whole time line of events just seemed awfully hard to follow I just found myself lost at key points in the novel it was like once I understood what was going on I got lost at the next point and I know the whole time line past present future is hard to explain and I don't blame the writer for it but with the way its written I have to fault a star because time travel writing is difficult and I don't think anyone can make it understandable overall I recommend this book to anyone who played the game and anyone who likes time traveling world ending action
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