MAY 2018 - AudioFile
Exo soldier Donovan Reyes is portrayed by MacLeod Andrews in this thrilling sci-fi adventure. Andrews shines in this production as he portrays a plethora of characters, both human and nonhuman. As Donovan, Andrews employs a youthful, nonchalant tone, except in moments of stress when his words become sharp and quick. For most of the alien Zhree, a gritty, jagged, and low tone is used, reflecting their status as Earth’s enemy. Throughout the narration, listeners can clearly identify changes in emotion and intention through Andrews’s measured tone. In this performance of good versus evil, Andrews once again distinguishes himself as a talented narrator. V.C. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine
From the Publisher
Praise for Exo"Fonda Lee's Exo is a deeply immersive story that balances fantastic, original world building with spine-tingling adventure. Days after finishing, I was still thinking about it." –Sabaa Tahir, author of the New York Times bestselling series An Ember in the Ashes "Exo is my favorite type of sci-fi adventure–a novel that makes you question everything you think about our world . . . and what it means to be human." –Kass Morgan, author of the New York Times bestselling series The 100"Believable, suspenseful science fiction." –Kirkus Reviews"Science fiction fans will love this title." –VOYA"Ethical questions add complex layers to this exciting sci-fi offering." –School Library JournalPraise for Zeroboxer"Lee's debut novel is an intense, smart, and action-packed read." –VOYA"A superior sci-fi outing." –Kirkus Reviews"A thought-provoking read.” –Booklist"A strong debut from Lee, combining brutal, visceral athletic scenes with science fiction action, all woven around a complex moral dilemma." –Publishers Weekly
Kirkus Reviews
2016-10-19
Sometime in the future, a young soldier working for the extraterrestrials who have conquered Earth fights a rebel group but learns that he has family ties to someone he sees as a criminal.Seventeen-year-old Donovan Reyes wants only to be a good soldier, even though he's the only child of the Prime Liaison, West America's ambassador to the zhree, who conquered Earth a century earlier. When he was a child, his dad had him Hardened, transforming his human skin into flexible armor plating called an exocel, rather like the zhree. Donovan gets along well with the fairly benign zhree, as does much of humanity, but a band of rebels remains determined to expel them from the planet. Captured by the rebels, Donovan soon learns that one of their leaders has a connection to him. He also meets the pretty rebel Anya and finds himself far too attracted to her. While in captivity Donovan begins to see rebels as individuals rather than criminals, while some of them struggle with the notion that despite his armor plating, Donovan is still human. When a new threat appears readers are left to wonder whether humanity's life with the zhree might be a good development. Lee keeps her science fiction credible, effectively building this future world and establishing its rules efficiently. Racial differences are mentioned, though Donovan and Anya both appear to be light-skinned. Believable, suspenseful science fiction. (Science fiction. 12-18)
