Author: Joel Ohman
Title: Meritropolis
Series: Meritropolis, #1
Pages: 226
Genre: Young Adult Dystopian
Date published: September 8, 2014
Synopsis:
The year is AE3, 3 years after the Event. Within the walls of Meritropolis, 50,000 inhabitants live in fear, ruled by the brutal System that assigns each citizen a merit score that dictates whether they live or die. Those with the highest scores thrive, while those with the lowest are subject to the most unforgiving punishment--to be thrust outside the city gates, thrown to the terrifying hybrid creatures that exist beyond.
But for one High Score, conforming to the System just isn't an option. Seventeen-year-old Charley has a brother to avenge. And nothing--not even a totalitarian military or dangerous science--is going to stop him.
Where humankind has pushed nature and morals to the extreme, Charley is amongst the chosen few tasked with exploring the boundaries, forcing him to look deep into his very being to discern right from wrong. But as he and his friends learn more about the frightening forces that threaten destruction both without and within the gates, Meritropolis reveals complexities they couldn't possibly have bargained for...
Title: Meritropolis
Series: Meritropolis, #1
Pages: 226
Genre: Young Adult Dystopian
Date published: September 8, 2014
Synopsis:
The year is AE3, 3 years after the Event. Within the walls of Meritropolis, 50,000 inhabitants live in fear, ruled by the brutal System that assigns each citizen a merit score that dictates whether they live or die. Those with the highest scores thrive, while those with the lowest are subject to the most unforgiving punishment--to be thrust outside the city gates, thrown to the terrifying hybrid creatures that exist beyond.
But for one High Score, conforming to the System just isn't an option. Seventeen-year-old Charley has a brother to avenge. And nothing--not even a totalitarian military or dangerous science--is going to stop him.
Where humankind has pushed nature and morals to the extreme, Charley is amongst the chosen few tasked with exploring the boundaries, forcing him to look deep into his very being to discern right from wrong. But as he and his friends learn more about the frightening forces that threaten destruction both without and within the gates, Meritropolis reveals complexities they couldn't possibly have bargained for...
Reviews
First of all, this is a platypire favorite. Meaning, a minimum of 3 of our reviewers have given a rating of 4 or 5. That being said, four out of the four platypires that read this book really liked it.
Sara
An interesting mix of post apocalyptic and dystopian fiction, Meritropolis is a book that drew me in from the very first sentences and paragraphs and I enjoyed it to the end. An end, which I might mention, is a cliffhanger. But, it was set up so well that I really want to read the sequel to find out where this story is headed. It's full of suspense, and characters that I really liked. It's so much more than your basic action story too. There were a lot of philosophical and ethical questions that focused on the worth of an individual. It evoked a lot of thought, and that's the part that stands out the most, especially for a book written for Young Adults.
As far as the characters, Charley was very three-dimensional, and it was easy to cheer for him as the protagonist of the story. He's 17 years old, and has been raised in an environment where the weakest and most vulnerable aren't safe from being cast of out the society. Those who are stronger, better fighters and more intelligent, based on a score they're assigned which indicates their value to society are treated better. It's with this backdrop that Charley's story is set. He's seen the effects of this up close and personal when he's lost people close to him, and he isn't alone in his fight.
Grigor is his trainer, and I liked him a lot as well, along with the other members of the team that were trained because of their high scores, including Sandy. Out of all of the group, these two stood out the most. Overall, this was a very well-written book. I'm looking forward to the sequel. My rating is 5/5 Platypires.
As far as the characters, Charley was very three-dimensional, and it was easy to cheer for him as the protagonist of the story. He's 17 years old, and has been raised in an environment where the weakest and most vulnerable aren't safe from being cast of out the society. Those who are stronger, better fighters and more intelligent, based on a score they're assigned which indicates their value to society are treated better. It's with this backdrop that Charley's story is set. He's seen the effects of this up close and personal when he's lost people close to him, and he isn't alone in his fight.
Grigor is his trainer, and I liked him a lot as well, along with the other members of the team that were trained because of their high scores, including Sandy. Out of all of the group, these two stood out the most. Overall, this was a very well-written book. I'm looking forward to the sequel. My rating is 5/5 Platypires.
Bob
This book scared me, I admit it. There were too many components of it that seem far too likely, to me! It was very well written, I found myself lost in the story and holding my breath, feeling the fear, all of the emotions of the characters, really. I intend to re-read this one, one of the rare books that will go under that heading for me. I screamed at my kindle when it ended, though! I wasn't ready! I shall wait patiently - or at least as patiently as I can manage! - for the next book, though I will have trouble waiting to find out what happens next. There may be heckling of this author in the near future!
Like Post-Apoc? READ THIS. Like Dystopian? READ THIS. Seriously. Just do it. It's on my list of favorite books of 2015.
Bob says: 5 Platypires because the highest I'm allowed.
Like Post-Apoc? READ THIS. Like Dystopian? READ THIS. Seriously. Just do it. It's on my list of favorite books of 2015.
Bob says: 5 Platypires because the highest I'm allowed.
Maribel
Meritropolis vaguely reminds me of another story I read recently that involves a series of mutated creatures of sorts. They’re terrifying, carnivorous creatures that have aggression as a part of their genetic make-up.
Charley is one angry teenager. There were times during the story where I found myself feeling a fraction of what he feels during the book. Anger at the system they have in place, and anger at the way people are so shallowly categorized. Charley is right, of course. Every person matters.
This was a story I enjoyed reading because there have been very few books I’ve come across that are told from a male perspective. This book was well put together in describing different parts of humanity, from those with power to those who are ushered out of the city’s gates. Not everyone is this story has the same agenda, and those agendas clash in what comes to be the climax. Meritropolis has action and violence, but it isn’t overly glorified as some of the things I’ve read in other dystopian novels. It has just the right balance to keep me reading and wondering the what’s and why’s behind the system in Meritropolis.
I award Meritropolis 4 Platypires.
Charley is one angry teenager. There were times during the story where I found myself feeling a fraction of what he feels during the book. Anger at the system they have in place, and anger at the way people are so shallowly categorized. Charley is right, of course. Every person matters.
This was a story I enjoyed reading because there have been very few books I’ve come across that are told from a male perspective. This book was well put together in describing different parts of humanity, from those with power to those who are ushered out of the city’s gates. Not everyone is this story has the same agenda, and those agendas clash in what comes to be the climax. Meritropolis has action and violence, but it isn’t overly glorified as some of the things I’ve read in other dystopian novels. It has just the right balance to keep me reading and wondering the what’s and why’s behind the system in Meritropolis.
I award Meritropolis 4 Platypires.
J. Hooligan
I was given a copy of both the ebook and audiobook, so I did an improve whispersync with a read-a-long.
Three other platypires had read and loved this one, so I had some pretty high standards for it.
Holy plop, there's some serious stuff going on in here from the very beginning. I couldn't help but be immediately drawn in. I was definitely not disappointed with it.
There's some parts that I wasn't particularly fond of, because I thought it was just overly silly, but it ended up fitting in with the story so I was able to excuse much of it. I also felt like there was a certain depth missing to really help me connect with the story more.
As for Mikael Naramore, the narrator, I knew I recognized him! He's done a couple other series I enjoyed. He's starting to become one of my favorite audiobook narrators.
I can see why the other reviewers enjoyed it. I finished it in a day, because I needed to know what was going to happen next.
Three other platypires had read and loved this one, so I had some pretty high standards for it.
Holy plop, there's some serious stuff going on in here from the very beginning. I couldn't help but be immediately drawn in. I was definitely not disappointed with it.
There's some parts that I wasn't particularly fond of, because I thought it was just overly silly, but it ended up fitting in with the story so I was able to excuse much of it. I also felt like there was a certain depth missing to really help me connect with the story more.
As for Mikael Naramore, the narrator, I knew I recognized him! He's done a couple other series I enjoyed. He's starting to become one of my favorite audiobook narrators.
I can see why the other reviewers enjoyed it. I finished it in a day, because I needed to know what was going to happen next.
Novel: 3 1/2 Platypire
Audio: 5 Platypires
Total: 4 Platypires
Audio: 5 Platypires
Total: 4 Platypires
About the Author
Joel Ohman is the author of the Meritropolis series –“The Hunger Games meets The Village with a young Jack Reacher as a protagonist”. He lives in Tampa, FL with his wife Angela and their three kids. His writing companion is Caesar, a slightly overweight Bull Mastiff who loves to eat the tops off of strawberries.
Learn more about Joel: JoelOhman.com
Get notified of new books here: Meritropolis.com
Follow Joel on Twitter: Twitter.com/JoelOhman
Connect with Joel on Facebook: Facebook.com/joeljonathan
Learn more about Joel: JoelOhman.com
Get notified of new books here: Meritropolis.com
Follow Joel on Twitter: Twitter.com/JoelOhman
Connect with Joel on Facebook: Facebook.com/joeljonathan
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