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self/less
A world where self-expression is banned.
A world where survival is everything.
A girl who will be heard.
Seventeen-year-old Teddy lives in the walled-in city Metropolis. Radical laws condemn all forms of self-expression and creativity, and the lives of the people are carefully constructed and controlled by the City Council: We watch because we care.
When Teddy finds out the truth behind one of the City's biggest lies, she slips out into the darkness of the City after curfew.
She is captured by a stranger and held prisoner in an old bomb shelter that lies beneath the City. Here, Teddy discovers that there is a world beneath Metropolis, a world where a growing web of clans are fighting to keep their humanity alive, and waiting for a leader to unite them and lead them back up into the light.
A world where survival is everything.
A girl who will be heard.
Seventeen-year-old Teddy lives in the walled-in city Metropolis. Radical laws condemn all forms of self-expression and creativity, and the lives of the people are carefully constructed and controlled by the City Council: We watch because we care.
When Teddy finds out the truth behind one of the City's biggest lies, she slips out into the darkness of the City after curfew.
She is captured by a stranger and held prisoner in an old bomb shelter that lies beneath the City. Here, Teddy discovers that there is a world beneath Metropolis, a world where a growing web of clans are fighting to keep their humanity alive, and waiting for a leader to unite them and lead them back up into the light.
416 pages, Paperback
Published September 28, 2021
28 people are currently reading
883 people want to read
About the author
Aviva
8 books110 followersAViVA, is an Australian author and musician, who describes herself as a multidisciplinary artist. With international success, AViVA has garnered over 3 billion global streams on her music to date and has created a groundswell online, building a strong community of fans - her 'Outsiders'.
Having always been a lover of stories and made-up worlds, she has fed her passion for self-expression with a healthy lifestyle of creativity and writing.
When not writing music or touring the world, AViVA can be found in her home library either nose deep in a good book, fingers busy writing at the keyboard or otherwise occupied in her art studio, sewing or making something else she's dreamt up.
Since breaking into the music world in 2017, she has explored the themes of control and isolation and this can be seen in the themes explored in her writing as well.
AViVA's debut novel SELF/LESS was released in October 2021 and the sequel RELENTLESS is due for release in 2022.
Having always been a lover of stories and made-up worlds, she has fed her passion for self-expression with a healthy lifestyle of creativity and writing.
When not writing music or touring the world, AViVA can be found in her home library either nose deep in a good book, fingers busy writing at the keyboard or otherwise occupied in her art studio, sewing or making something else she's dreamt up.
Since breaking into the music world in 2017, she has explored the themes of control and isolation and this can be seen in the themes explored in her writing as well.
AViVA's debut novel SELF/LESS was released in October 2021 and the sequel RELENTLESS is due for release in 2022.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 137 reviews
September 28, 2021
WE WATCH BECAUSE WE CARE
A world where self-expression is banned.
A world where survival is everything.
A girl who will be heard…
‘self/less’ is the debut novel by Australian singer-songwriter, AVIVA.
The story takes place in the futuristic walled-in city of Metropolis. Strict Council laws ban all forms of self expression and creativity. No music, dancing, painting, drawing etc are allowed. There is also a strict curfew and cameras on every corner, with armed guards patrolling every night. If you are caught or reported breaking any of the rules you are deemed 'Infected’. You are removed from your family immediately and taken to be ‘Sanitized’.
self/less will make your heart race. It's full of action and adrenalin with a fast-paced storyline, making it really hard to put down. I enjoyed this book, from beginning to end. The characters were diverse and tough! self/less is empowering, moving and extraordinary.
Our protagonist, Teddy, is a fantastic character. I loved seeing her develop gradually over the novel. She overcomes fears and learns to balance her old life with her new one. She also makes some pretty amazing friends along the way and even has a sweet love interest. Reading this was such a breath of fresh air for me as I haven’t read a YA dystopian in a very long time.
AVIVA has created something very special here. What a fantastic debut. I can’t wait for book two ‘relent/less’ in 2022!
Huge thank you to Pan MacMillan Australia for gifting me a copy of self/less.
A world where self-expression is banned.
A world where survival is everything.
A girl who will be heard…
‘self/less’ is the debut novel by Australian singer-songwriter, AVIVA.
The story takes place in the futuristic walled-in city of Metropolis. Strict Council laws ban all forms of self expression and creativity. No music, dancing, painting, drawing etc are allowed. There is also a strict curfew and cameras on every corner, with armed guards patrolling every night. If you are caught or reported breaking any of the rules you are deemed 'Infected’. You are removed from your family immediately and taken to be ‘Sanitized’.
self/less will make your heart race. It's full of action and adrenalin with a fast-paced storyline, making it really hard to put down. I enjoyed this book, from beginning to end. The characters were diverse and tough! self/less is empowering, moving and extraordinary.
Our protagonist, Teddy, is a fantastic character. I loved seeing her develop gradually over the novel. She overcomes fears and learns to balance her old life with her new one. She also makes some pretty amazing friends along the way and even has a sweet love interest. Reading this was such a breath of fresh air for me as I haven’t read a YA dystopian in a very long time.
AVIVA has created something very special here. What a fantastic debut. I can’t wait for book two ‘relent/less’ in 2022!
Huge thank you to Pan MacMillan Australia for gifting me a copy of self/less.
November 3, 2021
1984 but with nothing that was good about 1984. Self- insert protagonist, ludicrous plot, overly predictable interpersonal drama and boring prose. Reads like a 13 year old learnt about authoritarian regimes in history class for the first time and wrote a manuscript. Zero literary value, go read 1984 or The Handmaids Tale instead of wasting your time with this. I made a goodreads account with the purpose of writing this review. Save yourself 30 AUD, I am begging you
February 26, 2023
Thank you NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
This was certainly an interesting concept and as you read you can easily get immersed in the story when you first started the book.
But alas, it didn't truly deliver what I was hoping for. The plot details were either patchy or drawn out. It was hard to stay connected to the characters and the motivations of them.
Great in concept, just personally did not deliver for me.
BLOG ⟫ INSTAGRAM ⟫
This was certainly an interesting concept and as you read you can easily get immersed in the story when you first started the book.
But alas, it didn't truly deliver what I was hoping for. The plot details were either patchy or drawn out. It was hard to stay connected to the characters and the motivations of them.
Great in concept, just personally did not deliver for me.
BLOG ⟫ INSTAGRAM ⟫
July 19, 2022
‘We watch because we care’
I was thrilled when I opened a mystery package and saw my ARC of Self/less. The book was everything I hoped it would be, but maybe not more.
A world where all things creative and self expression are banned,
In the city of metropolis, lives Teddy, daughter of influential politician and head editor of the metropolis magazine.
After Teddy’s discovery of the underground, a group of people living undetected by the cities all watching government, she is intrigued and drawn into their world of music, dance, and arts. Her new role in the underground takes Teddy on a thrilling journey of power, conflict and friendship.
The book its self is fast paced and action packed filled with twists and turns on every page. The romance is cute, the friendships are sweet and the enemies are cruel.
I loved the references to AViVA’s music both in text and theme based similarities. The cover art of many singles and the posts made on AViVA’s and the selfless book accounts on Instagram tie in beautifully to create a world beyond the page.
The book definitely reads like a YA book aimed at a younger audience, maybe 12-14, so if you prefer more sophisticated writing or generally don’t read YA this one might not be for you.
I cannot wait to find out where Teddys journey will take her in the next instalment in this YA dystopian trilogy.
Specific, I know, 3.75/5
Original review: 21/7/21
Edited: 19/7/22
I was thrilled when I opened a mystery package and saw my ARC of Self/less. The book was everything I hoped it would be, but maybe not more.
A world where all things creative and self expression are banned,
In the city of metropolis, lives Teddy, daughter of influential politician and head editor of the metropolis magazine.
After Teddy’s discovery of the underground, a group of people living undetected by the cities all watching government, she is intrigued and drawn into their world of music, dance, and arts. Her new role in the underground takes Teddy on a thrilling journey of power, conflict and friendship.
The book its self is fast paced and action packed filled with twists and turns on every page. The romance is cute, the friendships are sweet and the enemies are cruel.
I loved the references to AViVA’s music both in text and theme based similarities. The cover art of many singles and the posts made on AViVA’s and the selfless book accounts on Instagram tie in beautifully to create a world beyond the page.
The book definitely reads like a YA book aimed at a younger audience, maybe 12-14, so if you prefer more sophisticated writing or generally don’t read YA this one might not be for you.
I cannot wait to find out where Teddys journey will take her in the next instalment in this YA dystopian trilogy.
Specific, I know, 3.75/5
Original review: 21/7/21
Edited: 19/7/22
August 31, 2021
giving very mediocre
May 31, 2021
I am not usually a big dystopian or YA reader but when I got my ARC I was intrigued by the storyline and the buzz on social media about this debut. The brilliant cover design also made me want to pick it up. Also being way beyond the age group of the author's fans I had not heard about AVIVA before....yet....
I was hooked from the first few pages. …
This is extremely well-written with excellent characterisations. While reading this I was reminded of books and movies like Hunger Games, Handmaid’s Tale, Divergent, Logan’s Run and (for those young enough or parents like me forced to watch every one of the 260 episodes with their young teen daughter!) The Tribe.
These type of books and movies work well with teens and adults alike because they remind us all of the time in our lives as teens when our view of the world changes from what felt sure and solid to standing on shifting sands with the realisation that the world isn’t always as it appears to the innocent eyes of childhood.
Teddy lives in Metropolis, where for 70 years the government has kept the people 'safe' by banning all those things that caused disharmony, wars, and aggression in the past: religion, music, art, literature, love, sexuality etc. Basically, all forms of self-expression and individuality are prohibited. Cameras and police patrols search out any sign of ‘infection'. But what happens when Teddy learns the truth? How do you fight against a world so tightly controlled that everyone watches everyone else and even parents report their own children? Who does she trust?
A great read! Really looking forward to the next one in the series.
I was hooked from the first few pages. …
This is extremely well-written with excellent characterisations. While reading this I was reminded of books and movies like Hunger Games, Handmaid’s Tale, Divergent, Logan’s Run and (for those young enough or parents like me forced to watch every one of the 260 episodes with their young teen daughter!) The Tribe.
These type of books and movies work well with teens and adults alike because they remind us all of the time in our lives as teens when our view of the world changes from what felt sure and solid to standing on shifting sands with the realisation that the world isn’t always as it appears to the innocent eyes of childhood.
Teddy lives in Metropolis, where for 70 years the government has kept the people 'safe' by banning all those things that caused disharmony, wars, and aggression in the past: religion, music, art, literature, love, sexuality etc. Basically, all forms of self-expression and individuality are prohibited. Cameras and police patrols search out any sign of ‘infection'. But what happens when Teddy learns the truth? How do you fight against a world so tightly controlled that everyone watches everyone else and even parents report their own children? Who does she trust?
A great read! Really looking forward to the next one in the series.
February 26, 2022
DNF @ pg 180
⚠️SPOILER WARNING!!!!!⚠️
You know, I really wanted to like this book. Believe me, I did. The premise intrigued me as it sounded similar to something i would write or read.
HOWEVER.
I really didnt like this book.
The novel is set in the walled-in city of Metropolis (no relation to the superman city) where any form of self-expression is illegal. Anyone who shows hints of self-expression is "Sanitised". The novel follows Teddy Veodrum, the daughter of a high ranking city councilor, as she discovers the city's darkest secret and a secret Underground of people desperate to survive.
To start this review, lets begin with the characters. And im just going to say this now....this section will be very short because none of these characters actually have a distinguishable personality.
TEDDY VEODRUM:
The main character. Our leading lady. To be honest, I dont have much to say about Teddy other than the fact that she's the main character. Honestly. Im actually having a hard time thinking of a personality trait that she has. She just feels like a very run-of-the-mill YA dystopian main character. Very bland, very boring with, what im assuming, very little planning into her motivations, needs and wants. She is just pushed around by a lazy plot and the other lazy characters. She feels extremely predictable and the fact that she "let out a breath she didnt realise she was holding" i think tells us everything we need to know about her.
TEDDYS MOTHER:
Seriously, i dont think we were ever given her name. And if we had, i think it must have been so quick, ive forgotten.
Anyway, similar to Teddy, i cannot put my finger on one personality trait that her mother has other than lonliness before about pg 160 where she undergoes the FASTEST personality change I have ever read. She goes from the quiet and secretive mother who just casually reveals that 'Sanitization" is a lie and people who express themselves are killed, to this woman who is suddenly like a secret agent in the FBI or something. WHAT??!!! She really has no part in this story other than acting as a plot device to get the main character exactly where she needs to be. For example, revealing the citys deepest secret, dropping hints to teddy about more secrets, revealing that she knows and associates with the Underground and that SHE ACTUALLY AGREES TO SEND HER DAUGHTER AWAY TO BECOME THE NEW LEADER OF A SECRET UNDERGROUND CLAN WHERE SHE WILL NEVER SEE HER AGAIN JUST BECAUSE TEDDY SUGGESTED TO KILL THE PREVIOUS LEADER AND SHE SNUCK OUT OF HER ROOM ONE NIGHT, PUTTING TEDDY EXACTLY WHERE SHE NEEDS TO BE IN THE STORY.
HOW CONVENIENT!!! WHAT A GREAT PLOT DEVICE THIS CHARACTER IS.
omg this book 🤦♀️
KIT:
How can i even describe Kit as a character?......oh wait, i cant. Shes one of the most confusing and naive characters i have ever read. Her personality flips like a coin every single time she appears on the page. First, shes a soldier/collector/healer for the Underground who threatens people to "get the heck away from her" while holding a knife to their throat, while the next shes the sweet, charming and air-head like best friend/sidekick. Then the next time we see her, she lashes out at people just because they suggested that her mean, abusive and evil mother-like figure might actually be evil???? Im guessing the author wanted to TELL the audience that shes just stubborn and manipulated but instead she comes across as stupid and naive. I could not keep track of her personality whatsoever.
JAMIE:
The love interest. Typical male YA love interest, boring, insta-love trope character. Has no chemistry with any of the characters whether that he his best friend Kit or his betrothed Teddy. And thats Jamie as a whole.
Ok, im done with characters. NOW PLOT AND THE WORLD:
While i do think that my biggest with Self/Less is the characters, the plot is also not the best. It simulataenously manages to feel like the author had too many ideas and also not enough ideas to fit into this book. The plot had little structure which left me feeling very confused and pulled in different directions which felt as though they had no relevance. Also, this book has no plot. It feels like a bunch of sub-plots competing against each other for page time and relevancy. First, theres the government and their strict laws on self expression. Teddy likes to draw in her notebook (which is banned) and everyone she comes in contact with manages to find it. Does that sub-plot have any relevance to the rest of the story? Does Teddy have to run from 'Sanitization'? No. Every character just tells her to be more careful.
Teddy's father is a high ranking councilor who works closely with the mayor, therefore eing absent and neglectful of his family. Does he ever show up or does his rank bring up problems for Teddy as she does these reckless and 'illegal' things? No. He never shows up. Ever. He has no impact on Teddy whatsoever despite his rank in the council.
Supplies for the Underground are going missing. Could it be a secret betrayal from someone close to Teddy. Like Jamie or Kit. Does this plot become the main plot. No. Its the obvious person, Paula, the evil leader of the clan that was literally described as evil and was the first person Teddy suspected after meeting her once. To deal with this, they easily decided to just call the cops on her while she was ransacking a home and get her killed instantly. Thats it. Done. Party's over people.
And did this (despite its obviousness) create any kind of drama within the Undergroud community? A sudden leap for power among the lower class? Or did one of the people who have lived in the Underground their entire life rise to lead them to greatness. No. Teddy became the new leader of the underground because she was the one who suggested to get Paula 'sanitised' and killed and because Teddy was taken to the underground after sneaking out of her room and following Kit. And this conveniently works due to the Underground rule that whoever kills the previous leader becomes the new leader...but teddy didnt actually kill her, she only suggested an idea and they decided to go through with it so how.......????
AND THEN AFTER LEAVING HER ENTIRE LIFE BEHIND, LEAVING HER MOTHER BEHIND TO BECOME THIS NEW LEADER OF A SECRET SOCIETY OF PEOPLE, THE NEXT CHAPTER OPENS ON A BIRTHDAY PARTY.
YES. A BIRTHDAY PARTY.
YOU READ THAT RIGHT.
With no mention of the trauma or grief felt over having to leave her family behind, TEDDY JUST MOVES ON. AND THE EXCUSE FOR THIS SUDDEN ATMOSPHERIC CHANGE??
PART TWO.
NO TIME JUMP. JUST THAT WE'VE MOVED ON TO THE NEXT PART.
THIS IS WHEN I KNEW I COULDNT CONTINUE.
While its obvious that i didnt like this book, i have to give credit where its due. I know this is a debut novel and publishing as a new novelist can be a very difficult thing and i hold anyone who manages to do it in high regard. Writing a book isnt easy. This debut novel could have been better in my opinion but i still wish Aviva the best of luck in her writing career and despite this experience, i wont write her off just yet because i believe that she has real potential to become a great writer one day ❤
⚠️SPOILER WARNING!!!!!⚠️
You know, I really wanted to like this book. Believe me, I did. The premise intrigued me as it sounded similar to something i would write or read.
HOWEVER.
I really didnt like this book.
The novel is set in the walled-in city of Metropolis (no relation to the superman city) where any form of self-expression is illegal. Anyone who shows hints of self-expression is "Sanitised". The novel follows Teddy Veodrum, the daughter of a high ranking city councilor, as she discovers the city's darkest secret and a secret Underground of people desperate to survive.
To start this review, lets begin with the characters. And im just going to say this now....this section will be very short because none of these characters actually have a distinguishable personality.
TEDDY VEODRUM:
The main character. Our leading lady. To be honest, I dont have much to say about Teddy other than the fact that she's the main character. Honestly. Im actually having a hard time thinking of a personality trait that she has. She just feels like a very run-of-the-mill YA dystopian main character. Very bland, very boring with, what im assuming, very little planning into her motivations, needs and wants. She is just pushed around by a lazy plot and the other lazy characters. She feels extremely predictable and the fact that she "let out a breath she didnt realise she was holding" i think tells us everything we need to know about her.
TEDDYS MOTHER:
Seriously, i dont think we were ever given her name. And if we had, i think it must have been so quick, ive forgotten.
Anyway, similar to Teddy, i cannot put my finger on one personality trait that her mother has other than lonliness before about pg 160 where she undergoes the FASTEST personality change I have ever read. She goes from the quiet and secretive mother who just casually reveals that 'Sanitization" is a lie and people who express themselves are killed, to this woman who is suddenly like a secret agent in the FBI or something. WHAT??!!! She really has no part in this story other than acting as a plot device to get the main character exactly where she needs to be. For example, revealing the citys deepest secret, dropping hints to teddy about more secrets, revealing that she knows and associates with the Underground and that SHE ACTUALLY AGREES TO SEND HER DAUGHTER AWAY TO BECOME THE NEW LEADER OF A SECRET UNDERGROUND CLAN WHERE SHE WILL NEVER SEE HER AGAIN JUST BECAUSE TEDDY SUGGESTED TO KILL THE PREVIOUS LEADER AND SHE SNUCK OUT OF HER ROOM ONE NIGHT, PUTTING TEDDY EXACTLY WHERE SHE NEEDS TO BE IN THE STORY.
HOW CONVENIENT!!! WHAT A GREAT PLOT DEVICE THIS CHARACTER IS.
omg this book 🤦♀️
KIT:
How can i even describe Kit as a character?......oh wait, i cant. Shes one of the most confusing and naive characters i have ever read. Her personality flips like a coin every single time she appears on the page. First, shes a soldier/collector/healer for the Underground who threatens people to "get the heck away from her" while holding a knife to their throat, while the next shes the sweet, charming and air-head like best friend/sidekick. Then the next time we see her, she lashes out at people just because they suggested that her mean, abusive and evil mother-like figure might actually be evil???? Im guessing the author wanted to TELL the audience that shes just stubborn and manipulated but instead she comes across as stupid and naive. I could not keep track of her personality whatsoever.
JAMIE:
The love interest. Typical male YA love interest, boring, insta-love trope character. Has no chemistry with any of the characters whether that he his best friend Kit or his betrothed Teddy. And thats Jamie as a whole.
Ok, im done with characters. NOW PLOT AND THE WORLD:
While i do think that my biggest with Self/Less is the characters, the plot is also not the best. It simulataenously manages to feel like the author had too many ideas and also not enough ideas to fit into this book. The plot had little structure which left me feeling very confused and pulled in different directions which felt as though they had no relevance. Also, this book has no plot. It feels like a bunch of sub-plots competing against each other for page time and relevancy. First, theres the government and their strict laws on self expression. Teddy likes to draw in her notebook (which is banned) and everyone she comes in contact with manages to find it. Does that sub-plot have any relevance to the rest of the story? Does Teddy have to run from 'Sanitization'? No. Every character just tells her to be more careful.
Teddy's father is a high ranking councilor who works closely with the mayor, therefore eing absent and neglectful of his family. Does he ever show up or does his rank bring up problems for Teddy as she does these reckless and 'illegal' things? No. He never shows up. Ever. He has no impact on Teddy whatsoever despite his rank in the council.
Supplies for the Underground are going missing. Could it be a secret betrayal from someone close to Teddy. Like Jamie or Kit. Does this plot become the main plot. No. Its the obvious person, Paula, the evil leader of the clan that was literally described as evil and was the first person Teddy suspected after meeting her once. To deal with this, they easily decided to just call the cops on her while she was ransacking a home and get her killed instantly. Thats it. Done. Party's over people.
And did this (despite its obviousness) create any kind of drama within the Undergroud community? A sudden leap for power among the lower class? Or did one of the people who have lived in the Underground their entire life rise to lead them to greatness. No. Teddy became the new leader of the underground because she was the one who suggested to get Paula 'sanitised' and killed and because Teddy was taken to the underground after sneaking out of her room and following Kit. And this conveniently works due to the Underground rule that whoever kills the previous leader becomes the new leader...but teddy didnt actually kill her, she only suggested an idea and they decided to go through with it so how.......????
AND THEN AFTER LEAVING HER ENTIRE LIFE BEHIND, LEAVING HER MOTHER BEHIND TO BECOME THIS NEW LEADER OF A SECRET SOCIETY OF PEOPLE, THE NEXT CHAPTER OPENS ON A BIRTHDAY PARTY.
YES. A BIRTHDAY PARTY.
YOU READ THAT RIGHT.
With no mention of the trauma or grief felt over having to leave her family behind, TEDDY JUST MOVES ON. AND THE EXCUSE FOR THIS SUDDEN ATMOSPHERIC CHANGE??
PART TWO.
NO TIME JUMP. JUST THAT WE'VE MOVED ON TO THE NEXT PART.
THIS IS WHEN I KNEW I COULDNT CONTINUE.
While its obvious that i didnt like this book, i have to give credit where its due. I know this is a debut novel and publishing as a new novelist can be a very difficult thing and i hold anyone who manages to do it in high regard. Writing a book isnt easy. This debut novel could have been better in my opinion but i still wish Aviva the best of luck in her writing career and despite this experience, i wont write her off just yet because i believe that she has real potential to become a great writer one day ❤
April 18, 2022
We watch because we care. We read because dystopia. Strong world building. So-so character motivations with a glimmer of interesting plot developments. Hopefully the sequel will deliver a stronger story.
October 13, 2021
I came in expecting a Jennifer Government scenario, maybe even a touch of Candor or The Handmaid's Tale [especially when women were referred to as womb keepers]. I expected to truly feel the loss of self through expression when expression has been banned, the struggle against an ironclad regime, and- well. I didn't get any of it.
The worldbuilding left a lot to be desired, and the simplicity of the writing makes me think that this is definitely for the younger end of young readers. I have several questions about the Metrolopis and the belivability of all the arcs that happened in the book, and I also have no real idea where the actual plot of the book is trying to go. If the endgame is taking down the Metropolis, it sure isn't presenting like it, and part 1 reads like a bare-bones fast-track to get to the Underworld where creativity isn't banned.
I found myself unable to trust any character or their personal voices as they all read like the same person, and the majority of the action was told, not shown- even suspicions were handfed in a way I refused to accept. Information was shared freely between characters in such a way that I struggled to understand how they were equipped to know so much given the circumstances or their upbringing. I got whiplash more than once from how quickly Teddy and Kit would change their minds on some pretty heavy topics, and because of that, I found myself heavily disliking both of them and distrusting any firm stance they took.
There's such a power struggle in the Underworld, but I found all of it just so dang hard to believe. A lot of brainwashing has happened in the span of 70 years, yet I don't get how it seems almost everything is run by unruly teenagers.
Also- in the underworld where supplies are supposed to be sparce from an overworld that shuns creativity and freedom of thought, where are all these punks getting their hair dye?
An incredibly easy, yet boring read. If you like leaps of logic and plot armour, this would be an equally easy and possibly enjoyable read for you, but I don't think I'll be tuning in for the next part.
The worldbuilding left a lot to be desired, and the simplicity of the writing makes me think that this is definitely for the younger end of young readers. I have several questions about the Metrolopis and the belivability of all the arcs that happened in the book, and I also have no real idea where the actual plot of the book is trying to go. If the endgame is taking down the Metropolis, it sure isn't presenting like it, and part 1 reads like a bare-bones fast-track to get to the Underworld where creativity isn't banned.
I found myself unable to trust any character or their personal voices as they all read like the same person, and the majority of the action was told, not shown- even suspicions were handfed in a way I refused to accept. Information was shared freely between characters in such a way that I struggled to understand how they were equipped to know so much given the circumstances or their upbringing. I got whiplash more than once from how quickly Teddy and Kit would change their minds on some pretty heavy topics, and because of that, I found myself heavily disliking both of them and distrusting any firm stance they took.
There's such a power struggle in the Underworld, but I found all of it just so dang hard to believe. A lot of brainwashing has happened in the span of 70 years, yet I don't get how it seems almost everything is run by unruly teenagers.
Also- in the underworld where supplies are supposed to be sparce from an overworld that shuns creativity and freedom of thought, where are all these punks getting their hair dye?
An incredibly easy, yet boring read. If you like leaps of logic and plot armour, this would be an equally easy and possibly enjoyable read for you, but I don't think I'll be tuning in for the next part.
August 18, 2022
I just sat there and devoured this one! Such a page turner! Love Teddy!! Loved the whole idea of the underground clans and Our City..control and isolation. Such a great YA read
August 22, 2021
ARC. Kinda like hunger games/divergent but again a different society structure
February 27, 2022
Great read for fans of Divergent and Hunger Games.
May 28, 2022
3.5 but rounded up to 4 because yeah, I'm positively biased. I've been a big fan of AViVA for YEARS and this was the first book I picked up after a long pause due to ADHD issues.
---
What I liked about the book:
•the writing style. It's simple, yet descriptive and easy to follow. I've heard some of you complaining about exactly that but for me, it's the perfect read if a) English isn't your first language and b) you have issues with your attention span.
•the narration of the audio book is by the author herself and oh. My. God. I've NEVER heard someone narrating an audio book this good. If it just was for the audio book, I would be giving 5/5 stars.
•the first half of the book. The book is divided into two sections, one for the overworld and the second one for the underground. The first half was by far my favorite, the whole world building felt polished and immersive and it sucked me right into the story.
•the cast (with exceptions, I'll name them later). Characters like Teddy's mom, Michelle, Link and other side characters from the underground were given interesting attributes that advanced the plot with some color.
---
What I didn't like about the book...
•the second half of the book. It felt rushed at times and in some moments too dilated. The flow wasn't really there.
•Kit. Her character design doesn't really make sense. I still don't know what kind of person she is and what she stands for as this changes every single chapter. That makes it hard for me to like her or even understand her.
•Teddy was a bit bland. Sure, she was given some attributes that made me like her at least a little and there's notable character development throughout the book for her, but it came too short for me. I'd like to know more about Teddy's personality, hopefully my wish is granted in the second book. (Btw, Jamie was okay, not complaining about him here. Some proper nice lad, not everyone has complicated personalities.)
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Conclusion: I had fun reading Self/Less and I'm definitely gonna read the sequel, which is btw coming out in a few months!! For a debut book, AViVA proved herself to be a quite good author, everything she did wrong in this book is just typical beginner's mistakes, at least in my opinion.
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What I liked about the book:
•the writing style. It's simple, yet descriptive and easy to follow. I've heard some of you complaining about exactly that but for me, it's the perfect read if a) English isn't your first language and b) you have issues with your attention span.
•the narration of the audio book is by the author herself and oh. My. God. I've NEVER heard someone narrating an audio book this good. If it just was for the audio book, I would be giving 5/5 stars.
•the first half of the book. The book is divided into two sections, one for the overworld and the second one for the underground. The first half was by far my favorite, the whole world building felt polished and immersive and it sucked me right into the story.
•the cast (with exceptions, I'll name them later). Characters like Teddy's mom, Michelle, Link and other side characters from the underground were given interesting attributes that advanced the plot with some color.
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What I didn't like about the book...
•the second half of the book. It felt rushed at times and in some moments too dilated. The flow wasn't really there.
•Kit. Her character design doesn't really make sense. I still don't know what kind of person she is and what she stands for as this changes every single chapter. That makes it hard for me to like her or even understand her.
•Teddy was a bit bland. Sure, she was given some attributes that made me like her at least a little and there's notable character development throughout the book for her, but it came too short for me. I'd like to know more about Teddy's personality, hopefully my wish is granted in the second book. (Btw, Jamie was okay, not complaining about him here. Some proper nice lad, not everyone has complicated personalities.)
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Conclusion: I had fun reading Self/Less and I'm definitely gonna read the sequel, which is btw coming out in a few months!! For a debut book, AViVA proved herself to be a quite good author, everything she did wrong in this book is just typical beginner's mistakes, at least in my opinion.
July 13, 2021
Honestly, this book was AMAZING, a 5-star rating simply does not do it justice. The story itself was extremely captivating, taking place in an Orwellian-style society with an oppressive government always watching for signs of ‘infection,’ with infection referring to practically anything relating to free-will or self-expression. While the story in and of itself was brilliant, the area where this book truly shines are the characters. Not only did each character have a unique and distinctive personality, providing the reader with a special emotional attachment to each individual character, but the character growth of each character was expertly portrayed, as characters are challenged to confront their own views, question those they trust, and deal with the multitude of other challenges they face over the course of the novel.
Up until now, I have described is an amazing 5-star book, sure, it was absolutely incredible (perhaps my favourite book to date!), and I would recommend it to anyone based on the story itself, however Aviva has done something to make this book so much more than a book, and that is linking it to her other passions such as music and art. When you combine the experience of reading the book with the character art and trailers present on the Instagram page @selflessbook, the story itself feels to much more real and captivating. Furthermore, the references to her music, both in terms of lyrical references as well as the underlying themes, allow the book to become so much more thought provoking, with your mind always finding new relationships between the two artforms in between reading sessions
Overall, I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Aviva has mentioned in the past that she wished to be both an author and a musician, not a musician who wrote a book. With this mindset, she has created a reading experience far more in depth than any other book I have ever read. If you enjoy the YA dystopian genres of books, amazingly deep characters, each with gripping backstories, or simply wish to enjoy this new form of reading experience, I urge you to order this book today!
*Review based on ARC*
Up until now, I have described is an amazing 5-star book, sure, it was absolutely incredible (perhaps my favourite book to date!), and I would recommend it to anyone based on the story itself, however Aviva has done something to make this book so much more than a book, and that is linking it to her other passions such as music and art. When you combine the experience of reading the book with the character art and trailers present on the Instagram page @selflessbook, the story itself feels to much more real and captivating. Furthermore, the references to her music, both in terms of lyrical references as well as the underlying themes, allow the book to become so much more thought provoking, with your mind always finding new relationships between the two artforms in between reading sessions
Overall, I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Aviva has mentioned in the past that she wished to be both an author and a musician, not a musician who wrote a book. With this mindset, she has created a reading experience far more in depth than any other book I have ever read. If you enjoy the YA dystopian genres of books, amazingly deep characters, each with gripping backstories, or simply wish to enjoy this new form of reading experience, I urge you to order this book today!
*Review based on ARC*
June 5, 2022
very cliche, but, i kinda love/hate it, easy to read and understand
December 6, 2021
3.5 stars.
A mix between George Orwell's "1984" and Ray Bradbury's "Fahrenheit 451", this is a young adult dystopia about the control of freedom and individuality.
The story follows 17 year old Teddy who lives in the City, following the rules of this strict society, before realising there's more secrets and lies than she'd initially thought possible.
I liked the worldbuilding, layers, details and descriptions that created this dystopia and how they were introduced in the book.
The characters and their interactions with each other were well thought out and most of the main ones were fairly likeable.
The reason I ended up rating this a bit lower than I first thought is because the plot dragged at times, was a little confusing, and then seemed to rush at the end.
Would I read this again? Probably not. Would I read the sequel? Yeah, probably.
A mix between George Orwell's "1984" and Ray Bradbury's "Fahrenheit 451", this is a young adult dystopia about the control of freedom and individuality.
The story follows 17 year old Teddy who lives in the City, following the rules of this strict society, before realising there's more secrets and lies than she'd initially thought possible.
I liked the worldbuilding, layers, details and descriptions that created this dystopia and how they were introduced in the book.
The characters and their interactions with each other were well thought out and most of the main ones were fairly likeable.
The reason I ended up rating this a bit lower than I first thought is because the plot dragged at times, was a little confusing, and then seemed to rush at the end.
Would I read this again? Probably not. Would I read the sequel? Yeah, probably.
January 9, 2023
Wow!! I honestly love dystopic novels and this one was well worth the read!
In a world where self expression gets you killed the main character navigates her way through discovering that creativity is not an illness but an asset.
This book was fantastic, I honestly cannot believe this is Avivas first novel and highly commend her for giving us this excellent read!
If I had to compare this novel to another I would say it had very similar themes to Delirium by Lauren Oliver except with more of a punk vibe.
I hope the next novel brings out a badass MC and a raging rebellion!
In a world where self expression gets you killed the main character navigates her way through discovering that creativity is not an illness but an asset.
This book was fantastic, I honestly cannot believe this is Avivas first novel and highly commend her for giving us this excellent read!
If I had to compare this novel to another I would say it had very similar themes to Delirium by Lauren Oliver except with more of a punk vibe.
I hope the next novel brings out a badass MC and a raging rebellion!
January 28, 2022
Sometimes I find it difficult to pick up another dystopian ya book because they sometimes feel very repetitive and similar, but I was surprised with how much I really enjoyed this book and how different it felt! I felt very engaged in the story and every time I’d put the book down to take a break, I’d be itching to get back to it to find out what happens next. I’d say it’s worth the read, and it’s a pretty quick read too :)
April 2, 2022
Being her first book I didn’t have any expectations of what to expect from this I could see what she was aiming for but for me it came up short there would have to be a marked improvement in the second book for me to decide to read it
December 16, 2021
Predictable plot, messy characterisation, limited world building.
August 26, 2022
This was a really great young adult story with a fresh look on dystopian ideas. It did give me 1984 vibes, but only in the "Eye" idea. I was definitely guessing a lot about what was going to happen until the end, so it was good at keeping me on my toes. I look forward to reading more by Aviva.
May 11, 2024
The pace was very quick which keeps you hooked but more often than not it was quite predictable. While the plot was interesting, the protagonist was quite daft at times… cool story but a bit of a disappointing read … 2.5 stars at most 😔
October 28, 2021
Self/Less by AVIVA is her debut YA novel in a dystopian trilogy.
Teddy Veodrum, 17 lives encased in the walls of Metropolis, citizens are controlled by the city council, their motto being “We watch because we care”
Within their confinement all are denied a variety of freedoms under authority. There is no dancing, music, painting, theatre, cinema, sexual feelings, thoughts, attractions and behaviours towards other people. if a person is found to be infected they are sent away to be sanitised.
Every move they make they are being watched, cameras are installed on every corner and with guards on patrol. The citizens have been living like this for 70 years.
With Teddy’s coming of age and reaching adulthood there are steps she must take to lead a productive life contributing to the great city, she has been given a job placement and will soon be matched with her partner. Wanting more Teddy escapes after curfew and follows a stranger in the middle of the night, when discovered she is captured and is held prisoner in an old bomb shelter that lies beneath the City. She soon discovers there is a world beneath Metropolis and her journey has just begun.
Teddy is an incredibly deep and well-developed character. You want only the best for her and her freedom. I enjoyed the parallels between the transformation of her character, to me she was a young girl going into adulthood wanting more than confinement and I applauded her determination to want more. Life's path isn't smooth and situations and conditions, which may seem hopeless and overwhelming, can be overcome with courage and she had plenty of that.
There is a wide range of supporting characters with different personalities and traits, some I thought were awful, terrible human beings, others I empathised with as they questioned their beliefs and views, watching them develop over the course of the book was enjoyable. The novel is filled with twists and turns, with memorable friendships formed and a touch of romance that flowed.
For a debut novel AVIVA has done a wonderful job in creating a different world. It is a very easy read and is more than capable of being read in just a single sitting. I loved the extra cover of the book which you don’t often see these days. I think young adult and new adult fans will find Self/Less very appealing; I’m looking forward to the next two novels which AVIVA has already completed.
Thank you, Beauty and Lace and Pan Macmillan Australia for the opportunity to read and review.
Teddy Veodrum, 17 lives encased in the walls of Metropolis, citizens are controlled by the city council, their motto being “We watch because we care”
Within their confinement all are denied a variety of freedoms under authority. There is no dancing, music, painting, theatre, cinema, sexual feelings, thoughts, attractions and behaviours towards other people. if a person is found to be infected they are sent away to be sanitised.
Every move they make they are being watched, cameras are installed on every corner and with guards on patrol. The citizens have been living like this for 70 years.
With Teddy’s coming of age and reaching adulthood there are steps she must take to lead a productive life contributing to the great city, she has been given a job placement and will soon be matched with her partner. Wanting more Teddy escapes after curfew and follows a stranger in the middle of the night, when discovered she is captured and is held prisoner in an old bomb shelter that lies beneath the City. She soon discovers there is a world beneath Metropolis and her journey has just begun.
Teddy is an incredibly deep and well-developed character. You want only the best for her and her freedom. I enjoyed the parallels between the transformation of her character, to me she was a young girl going into adulthood wanting more than confinement and I applauded her determination to want more. Life's path isn't smooth and situations and conditions, which may seem hopeless and overwhelming, can be overcome with courage and she had plenty of that.
There is a wide range of supporting characters with different personalities and traits, some I thought were awful, terrible human beings, others I empathised with as they questioned their beliefs and views, watching them develop over the course of the book was enjoyable. The novel is filled with twists and turns, with memorable friendships formed and a touch of romance that flowed.
For a debut novel AVIVA has done a wonderful job in creating a different world. It is a very easy read and is more than capable of being read in just a single sitting. I loved the extra cover of the book which you don’t often see these days. I think young adult and new adult fans will find Self/Less very appealing; I’m looking forward to the next two novels which AVIVA has already completed.
Thank you, Beauty and Lace and Pan Macmillan Australia for the opportunity to read and review.
August 17, 2021
I have followed Aviva's musical career for over two years, so when the opportunity to receive her novel as an ARC winner presented itself, I jumped on the chance immediately. This debut YA novel was, simply stated, brilliant. Set in a dystopian city structure, all forms of self expression have been banned and likened to an infectious disease. Our main protagonist, Teddy, has grown up understanding and following the rules her leaders have set forth to keep the infection free from her city, but on the eve of her initiation into the beginning of the rest of her life, she finally finds the courage to seek answers to all of the questions about her community that she has long struggled with. Finding another society hidden from her militant leaders, Teddy has to quickly reconsile what she was taught was true and the truths she never even thought to discover.
Being a dystopian YA novel, certain themes and tropes are to be expected, but Aviva handled each like she was born a writer, giving each topic her own voice and twisting them in to something new. The concepts she created while tackling the classic "coming of age" storyline are fascinating, and so much more complex than the average YA novel. lntelligently and beautifully written in a way that both teens and adults can enjoy equally. I was extremely caught up in the prose and storyline, and can not wait for the next book of the series. I definitely felt the correlation between Aviva's musical catalog and the flow of this novel, and for those who enjoy listening to music that adds a more immersive experience to the book, I highly recommend Aviva's entire discography on your playlist.
I'm so proud of Aviva's debut, and am an Outsider for life 🖤💜
Being a dystopian YA novel, certain themes and tropes are to be expected, but Aviva handled each like she was born a writer, giving each topic her own voice and twisting them in to something new. The concepts she created while tackling the classic "coming of age" storyline are fascinating, and so much more complex than the average YA novel. lntelligently and beautifully written in a way that both teens and adults can enjoy equally. I was extremely caught up in the prose and storyline, and can not wait for the next book of the series. I definitely felt the correlation between Aviva's musical catalog and the flow of this novel, and for those who enjoy listening to music that adds a more immersive experience to the book, I highly recommend Aviva's entire discography on your playlist.
I'm so proud of Aviva's debut, and am an Outsider for life 🖤💜
August 10, 2021
First off: AViVA is an amazing artist. I love her music and when i found out she was writing a book, I got crazy excited. I am so thankful to have received an ARC. Thank you so so much.
You can see how much heart the author has put into the story
The start of the story is well written, and detailed.
I believe you'll connect more to the book when you listen to her music.
I like how we are told the negative side to self expression right in the first chapter, it makes you get a feel of the world and story.
A world without self expression is a world I do not want to live in and I was wondering from the beginning how it would work especially when self expression is all around us and for it to be banned would be scary, we'd just be walking zombies without it.This is a very creative idea.
Even tho it gives off hunger games and divergent vibes it still holds its own originality.
We follow main character Teddy who is about to graduate into adulthood where there's a ceremony and a chosen partnership, basically your whole future sorted out for you, having no choice but to follow. Until she stumbled across the people of the underground and Kit who tell her the truth
Things get interesting when Teddy begins to see through the lies. Teddy IS AViVA's music
I can tell this is going to be an epic series
There were a few things that felt rushed and there were alot of things that frustrated me (especially with some of the characters and plot points) but ill get to that with my spoiler review
It's a good beginning but it had a very rough middle, I do see potential especially with that ending and I will be reading book 2
You can see how much heart the author has put into the story
The start of the story is well written, and detailed.
I believe you'll connect more to the book when you listen to her music.
I like how we are told the negative side to self expression right in the first chapter, it makes you get a feel of the world and story.
A world without self expression is a world I do not want to live in and I was wondering from the beginning how it would work especially when self expression is all around us and for it to be banned would be scary, we'd just be walking zombies without it.This is a very creative idea.
Even tho it gives off hunger games and divergent vibes it still holds its own originality.
We follow main character Teddy who is about to graduate into adulthood where there's a ceremony and a chosen partnership, basically your whole future sorted out for you, having no choice but to follow. Until she stumbled across the people of the underground and Kit who tell her the truth
Things get interesting when Teddy begins to see through the lies. Teddy IS AViVA's music
I can tell this is going to be an epic series
There were a few things that felt rushed and there were alot of things that frustrated me (especially with some of the characters and plot points) but ill get to that with my spoiler review
It's a good beginning but it had a very rough middle, I do see potential especially with that ending and I will be reading book 2
January 1, 2022
'self/less', by AViVA, is a book telling the story about Teddy, a girl living in a city in a dystopian future, where self expression is banned, seen as an illness that has to be erradicated. I received the ARC copy some months ago. Although this kind of books could be seen as some "cliché" story, this one is always interesting to read.
Particularly, I like the way it's narrated, how places and characters are depicted and it always gets to make you feel like you're part of the story. It gets you hooked and always wanting more. Something I didn't like that much is that Jamie didn't get as much development as a character as I'd like to see. It sometimes feels like he's there just to distract Teddy; but a good point is that you get to empathize with him, too. There's aspects of his mentioned along the whole story that I'd like to know even more about. Also I think some secondary characters could've got a deeper development than they did. Finally I found some incoherences, or maybe things that weren't explained at all, for example how the supplies/resources related to art or self-expression are taken to the Underground, as the city has banned them. There are little details like that one which aren't mentioned in the book.
Overall I found the plot entertaining and thrilling most of the time, even more as the book gets closer to its end. I really liked it and I would recommend it to people who like stories that keep you engaged. I'm really looking forward to the sequel of this book.
Particularly, I like the way it's narrated, how places and characters are depicted and it always gets to make you feel like you're part of the story. It gets you hooked and always wanting more. Something I didn't like that much is that Jamie didn't get as much development as a character as I'd like to see. It sometimes feels like he's there just to distract Teddy; but a good point is that you get to empathize with him, too. There's aspects of his mentioned along the whole story that I'd like to know even more about. Also I think some secondary characters could've got a deeper development than they did. Finally I found some incoherences, or maybe things that weren't explained at all, for example how the supplies/resources related to art or self-expression are taken to the Underground, as the city has banned them. There are little details like that one which aren't mentioned in the book.
Overall I found the plot entertaining and thrilling most of the time, even more as the book gets closer to its end. I really liked it and I would recommend it to people who like stories that keep you engaged. I'm really looking forward to the sequel of this book.
December 12, 2022
First, I’ve got to say that I much prefer the Goodreads cover of this book to the cover I actually received from NetGalley, although I thank them for the free copy.
The latter cover is poorly designed, a graphic designer clearly phoned it in, just as Insta-models Photoshop their faces and bodies on Instagram. It’s really not good, and I’m one of the stark supporters of the belief that one should never judge a book by its cover.
Let’s be honest, people will always judge a book by its cover. People will always gravitate toward books they find externally appealing to the eye; whether or not the covers are truly and stylistically glamorous and aesthetically pleasing or simply full of attractive men or recycled caricatures, appearances matter. This book’s cover does nothing to aid people’s desire to read it, if anything, it detracts from the quality of the book itself.
I almost didn’t read this book because of how much I disliked its cover. Its saving grace was the fact that I heard people talking about it [quite negatively, I might add] on Goodreads. Also, I managed to overlook my distaste for the graphic cover design image because I liked the book’s description.
I won’t fault readers for skipping right past this book, however; I would do precisely that if I saw it in a bookstore. It doesn’t jump out at me. Actually, I lied, it does significantly draw me in, but only because I’m ensnared by how off-putting and repulsive I found the cover. Truthfully, this book needs a new graphic designer, stat!
The truth is, good covers sell books—do you know how many books I’ve gotten simply because their covers were stunningly beautiful? The pages inside were often strikingly less beautiful and detailed as their gorgeous covers, but they still took money out of my pocket!
Good covers sell books. Authors and publishers, please, for the love of all that’s holy, invest in a good graphic cover designer! Jeez!
Now, grumbling aside, let’s get down to the meat of this book, shall we?
I very nearly gave this book four stars. I love dystopian books, and I have since I was just a little girl. This book may have not been the most imaginative book ever, but I found the prose enticing, the characters complex, and the pacing even. Ultimately, I had to give it three stars instead of four because I just could not stand one of the main characters, Kit. She is literally one of the most idiotic people I’ve ever come across. How stupid can you be? I hate girls who act like they’re so tough and hard and brittle or unbreakable like Jade from Victorious when they’re really just painfully lonely, desperate for attention, stubborn, and longing to be loved. You’re not the badass you think you are, sorry. Stop pretending. You’re not fooling anyone!
This idiot, Kit, not only stupidly trusted the woman who tortured and permanently scarred her but repeatedly defended the people who helped her former boss and her lackeys manipulate and harm everyone around her. On top of that, she constantly dismissed Teddy’s and Jamie’s warnings that something wasn’t right; they were practically in her face screaming at her about the rats/moles in their Underground organization and the fact that she should be careful about who she trusts and shares private information with, and Kit, being the genius that she is, decides to tattletale and spill every intimate detail that they are planning to the double agents in question.
She’s as loyal as a dog; she will lick the face of anyone who throws her a bone, a tiny little scrap. It’s pathetic!
As for Teddy, the main female character, she wasn’t my favorite person but she exasperated me significantly less than Kit because, although her complaining was annoying and juvenile, she had every right to complain.
Kit, the brainiac, decided to spontaneously appoint her clan leader of the Ember when she’s a 17 year-old girl who’s more concerned about her growing feelings toward a boy and her internal changes. Give me a break! Since when do entire groups of adults appoint a kid a leader without pushback?
Teddy knew nothing about the world, she wasn’t affiliated with the movers and shakers, she did nothing but follow Kit and Jamie around, and she was like a gilded bird in a cage the entire time. Everyone, from her mother to her so-called friends, to her clan, left her completely in the dark.
I kid you not, the girl’s entire personality was drawing faces and dreaming about kissing boys like Jamie, who I can’t even understand why she was attracted to in the first place—he’s as significant as a koala bear at a zoo. There’s already so many cute and cuddly animals in the world. You don’t go to the zoo to pet them, you watch wholesome videos of them frolicking around on YouTube or BuzzFeed like everybody else.
You go to the zoo to see the real predators roam around, to watch lions roar and cheetahs hunt and snakes slither and dolphins sing. Hell, you go to the zoo for entertainment, to watch monkeys swing from trees! That’s a hell of a lot more interesting than watching a cute little animal (or guy) smile and laugh and play with itself. It’s boring, like Jamie.
Jamie was like a rock in the background of a mountain; he was that irrelevant to the story, that insignificant, that infinitesimal of a character. He had no range. No dynamism. No personality whatsoever. He was dry as toast; Kit was his butter and bread; Teddy was his jam. His strawberry or orange marmalade. Kit was his peanut butter; she left Teddy jelly [jealous, get it?].
I didn’t even care when [spoiler alert!] he died. But, of course, Kit, the idiot, uses his death and unfortunate demise to collude with the actual villains in this story that she’s been all-so-happy and chummy with from the get-go despite Teddy’s and Jamie’s repeated warnings.
Every time she tries to help, she just hurts. She makes everything worse. She’s a disgrace of a friend and a liability as a soldier—how can you trust a rebel who trusts everyone? Just kill her off at this point, not only would it increase my enjoyment of the story, but I might actually deem this book worthy of a solid four stars.
My favorite character was Teddy’s mother, who, surprisingly, is the most rebellious character in this book. The members of the rebellion happen to be the least rebellious and least serious people ever.
Teddy is such a whiny teenager while her mother is so strong and quietly, masterfully defiant. She’s a much stronger character than her daughter, Teddy, is; I almost wish the author had chosen to make her mom the protagonist and narrator of the book instead.
She and Teddy’s late grandfather are by far the most interesting characters in this book, while the greatest mystery of the plot surrounds not the question of who’s actively conspiring to control the Metropolis and hurt the Sympathizers (since it’s painfully obvious to readers and anyone with a brain that isn’t pea-sized, like Kit’s), but the question of just what exactly is Teddy’s father doing with the Mayor and how is her mother managing to accomplish so much that directly counters his mission while seeming to be the perfect wife and mother, the dutiful citizen and lawful obeyer?
All in all, I have to give this book three stars, but I wouldn’t rule it out entirely. It’s worthy of being read, but definitely needs some tweaks: some character adjustments and a complete overhaul of the current cover design, which is quite unsuitable and unsettling to my sensitive eyes and tastes, is needed.
For a debut author, this book was not that bad!
The latter cover is poorly designed, a graphic designer clearly phoned it in, just as Insta-models Photoshop their faces and bodies on Instagram. It’s really not good, and I’m one of the stark supporters of the belief that one should never judge a book by its cover.
Let’s be honest, people will always judge a book by its cover. People will always gravitate toward books they find externally appealing to the eye; whether or not the covers are truly and stylistically glamorous and aesthetically pleasing or simply full of attractive men or recycled caricatures, appearances matter. This book’s cover does nothing to aid people’s desire to read it, if anything, it detracts from the quality of the book itself.
I almost didn’t read this book because of how much I disliked its cover. Its saving grace was the fact that I heard people talking about it [quite negatively, I might add] on Goodreads. Also, I managed to overlook my distaste for the graphic cover design image because I liked the book’s description.
I won’t fault readers for skipping right past this book, however; I would do precisely that if I saw it in a bookstore. It doesn’t jump out at me. Actually, I lied, it does significantly draw me in, but only because I’m ensnared by how off-putting and repulsive I found the cover. Truthfully, this book needs a new graphic designer, stat!
The truth is, good covers sell books—do you know how many books I’ve gotten simply because their covers were stunningly beautiful? The pages inside were often strikingly less beautiful and detailed as their gorgeous covers, but they still took money out of my pocket!
Good covers sell books. Authors and publishers, please, for the love of all that’s holy, invest in a good graphic cover designer! Jeez!
Now, grumbling aside, let’s get down to the meat of this book, shall we?
I very nearly gave this book four stars. I love dystopian books, and I have since I was just a little girl. This book may have not been the most imaginative book ever, but I found the prose enticing, the characters complex, and the pacing even. Ultimately, I had to give it three stars instead of four because I just could not stand one of the main characters, Kit. She is literally one of the most idiotic people I’ve ever come across. How stupid can you be? I hate girls who act like they’re so tough and hard and brittle or unbreakable like Jade from Victorious when they’re really just painfully lonely, desperate for attention, stubborn, and longing to be loved. You’re not the badass you think you are, sorry. Stop pretending. You’re not fooling anyone!
This idiot, Kit, not only stupidly trusted the woman who tortured and permanently scarred her but repeatedly defended the people who helped her former boss and her lackeys manipulate and harm everyone around her. On top of that, she constantly dismissed Teddy’s and Jamie’s warnings that something wasn’t right; they were practically in her face screaming at her about the rats/moles in their Underground organization and the fact that she should be careful about who she trusts and shares private information with, and Kit, being the genius that she is, decides to tattletale and spill every intimate detail that they are planning to the double agents in question.
She’s as loyal as a dog; she will lick the face of anyone who throws her a bone, a tiny little scrap. It’s pathetic!
As for Teddy, the main female character, she wasn’t my favorite person but she exasperated me significantly less than Kit because, although her complaining was annoying and juvenile, she had every right to complain.
Kit, the brainiac, decided to spontaneously appoint her clan leader of the Ember when she’s a 17 year-old girl who’s more concerned about her growing feelings toward a boy and her internal changes. Give me a break! Since when do entire groups of adults appoint a kid a leader without pushback?
Teddy knew nothing about the world, she wasn’t affiliated with the movers and shakers, she did nothing but follow Kit and Jamie around, and she was like a gilded bird in a cage the entire time. Everyone, from her mother to her so-called friends, to her clan, left her completely in the dark.
I kid you not, the girl’s entire personality was drawing faces and dreaming about kissing boys like Jamie, who I can’t even understand why she was attracted to in the first place—he’s as significant as a koala bear at a zoo. There’s already so many cute and cuddly animals in the world. You don’t go to the zoo to pet them, you watch wholesome videos of them frolicking around on YouTube or BuzzFeed like everybody else.
You go to the zoo to see the real predators roam around, to watch lions roar and cheetahs hunt and snakes slither and dolphins sing. Hell, you go to the zoo for entertainment, to watch monkeys swing from trees! That’s a hell of a lot more interesting than watching a cute little animal (or guy) smile and laugh and play with itself. It’s boring, like Jamie.
Jamie was like a rock in the background of a mountain; he was that irrelevant to the story, that insignificant, that infinitesimal of a character. He had no range. No dynamism. No personality whatsoever. He was dry as toast; Kit was his butter and bread; Teddy was his jam. His strawberry or orange marmalade. Kit was his peanut butter; she left Teddy jelly [jealous, get it?].
I didn’t even care when [spoiler alert!] he died. But, of course, Kit, the idiot, uses his death and unfortunate demise to collude with the actual villains in this story that she’s been all-so-happy and chummy with from the get-go despite Teddy’s and Jamie’s repeated warnings.
Every time she tries to help, she just hurts. She makes everything worse. She’s a disgrace of a friend and a liability as a soldier—how can you trust a rebel who trusts everyone? Just kill her off at this point, not only would it increase my enjoyment of the story, but I might actually deem this book worthy of a solid four stars.
My favorite character was Teddy’s mother, who, surprisingly, is the most rebellious character in this book. The members of the rebellion happen to be the least rebellious and least serious people ever.
Teddy is such a whiny teenager while her mother is so strong and quietly, masterfully defiant. She’s a much stronger character than her daughter, Teddy, is; I almost wish the author had chosen to make her mom the protagonist and narrator of the book instead.
She and Teddy’s late grandfather are by far the most interesting characters in this book, while the greatest mystery of the plot surrounds not the question of who’s actively conspiring to control the Metropolis and hurt the Sympathizers (since it’s painfully obvious to readers and anyone with a brain that isn’t pea-sized, like Kit’s), but the question of just what exactly is Teddy’s father doing with the Mayor and how is her mother managing to accomplish so much that directly counters his mission while seeming to be the perfect wife and mother, the dutiful citizen and lawful obeyer?
All in all, I have to give this book three stars, but I wouldn’t rule it out entirely. It’s worthy of being read, but definitely needs some tweaks: some character adjustments and a complete overhaul of the current cover design, which is quite unsuitable and unsettling to my sensitive eyes and tastes, is needed.
For a debut author, this book was not that bad!
September 30, 2021
Thank you to Pan Macmillan Australia for gifting me a copy of Self/Less by Aviva. I have reviewed honestly.
Self/Less features, but is not limited to, the following themes:
○ YA fantasy
○ Dystopian
○ Light romance
○ Deception
○ Secret Society
○ Post apocalyptic
○ Social castes
○ Friendships
My overall rating for Self/Less is…
4 Stars!
The world has been waiting for a dystopian tale to come to light after that of The Hunger Games and Divergent took the world by storm. Aviva has given that to us. Self/Less is a captivating tale, introducing us to a harsh and relentless future. The world building in this tale was executed in deft detail, combining that with the unstoppable plot makes for a daring and dangerous read. Unfortunately, it took me a while to bond with Teddy, our MC, which affected my journey in this world. However, when I did find that connection I found the story to kick up a notch, from "good" to "exhilarating." I will mention that though this is a YA book, I would recommend it for older and mature teens as there is some swearing and scenes featuring light torture and death. Overall, a dazzling debut novel.
Self/Less features, but is not limited to, the following themes:
○ YA fantasy
○ Dystopian
○ Light romance
○ Deception
○ Secret Society
○ Post apocalyptic
○ Social castes
○ Friendships
My overall rating for Self/Less is…
4 Stars!
The world has been waiting for a dystopian tale to come to light after that of The Hunger Games and Divergent took the world by storm. Aviva has given that to us. Self/Less is a captivating tale, introducing us to a harsh and relentless future. The world building in this tale was executed in deft detail, combining that with the unstoppable plot makes for a daring and dangerous read. Unfortunately, it took me a while to bond with Teddy, our MC, which affected my journey in this world. However, when I did find that connection I found the story to kick up a notch, from "good" to "exhilarating." I will mention that though this is a YA book, I would recommend it for older and mature teens as there is some swearing and scenes featuring light torture and death. Overall, a dazzling debut novel.
July 12, 2022
A really great teen dystopian fantasy. Teddy is a 17 year old girl that lives in a world where creativity is banned and those caught are sanitised.......and never seen again. So no singing no dancing no freedom of expression and certainly no drawing which Teddy has been doing in secret all her life. When she turned 17 she was given a job and a life partner, Jamie.
Due to an incident Teddy ends up under the city and finds a whole other world of clans, groups of people who have rebelled against life in the City. Jamie is part of this as is her mother she finds out to her surprise. When Teddy has the clan leader taken away for theft she finds herself the new leader and 3 weeks to prove herself before she can be taken out by someone wanting to be the leader. Trying to prove herself and stay alive are Teddy’s main priorities but she also needs to find a way to lead the clan and get them all on her side.
It’s an entertaining read and one that I feel comfortable recommending as it isn’t full of bad language or sex and violence. Can’t wait for the next instalment
#selfless #netgalley
Due to an incident Teddy ends up under the city and finds a whole other world of clans, groups of people who have rebelled against life in the City. Jamie is part of this as is her mother she finds out to her surprise. When Teddy has the clan leader taken away for theft she finds herself the new leader and 3 weeks to prove herself before she can be taken out by someone wanting to be the leader. Trying to prove herself and stay alive are Teddy’s main priorities but she also needs to find a way to lead the clan and get them all on her side.
It’s an entertaining read and one that I feel comfortable recommending as it isn’t full of bad language or sex and violence. Can’t wait for the next instalment
#selfless #netgalley
January 20, 2022
I'm not really sure how I feel about this one.
I wish there was a bit more world building. There were some things that felt too convenient or poorly explained. They set it up by putting people into three categories : watchers, workers and womb keepers, but then don't delve into that or really show the above world at all. I feel like if the story stayed above ground for longer I would've been more interested, however, the attention is quickly shifted on the Underground, but even that isn't fully explained. What little you're shown is pretty negative which I feel was meant to be a point but doesn't really make way for any true hope in this dystopic world. No society is 100% perfect but them being able to draw and dance doesn't make up for the insanely violent and poor conditions, it almost makes me lean towards the metropolis as being a better place to reside.
There were also moments where the plot dragged a bit. Kit also really annoyed me. I think I'm getting tired of reading about oblivious self righteous characters.
2.5 stars
I wish there was a bit more world building. There were some things that felt too convenient or poorly explained. They set it up by putting people into three categories : watchers, workers and womb keepers, but then don't delve into that or really show the above world at all. I feel like if the story stayed above ground for longer I would've been more interested, however, the attention is quickly shifted on the Underground, but even that isn't fully explained. What little you're shown is pretty negative which I feel was meant to be a point but doesn't really make way for any true hope in this dystopic world. No society is 100% perfect but them being able to draw and dance doesn't make up for the insanely violent and poor conditions, it almost makes me lean towards the metropolis as being a better place to reside.
There were also moments where the plot dragged a bit. Kit also really annoyed me. I think I'm getting tired of reading about oblivious self righteous characters.
2.5 stars
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