Flash Point

by Nancy Kress

Science-fiction superstar and multiple Hugo and Nebula Award winner Nancy Kress comes to YA in this brain-twisting thriller

How far would you go?

The Collapse has ransacked the economy, making work almost impossible to find and forcing Amy from college hopeful to sole provider for her terminally-ill grandmother and rebellious younger sister. To make ends meet, Amy auditions for a slot on a new reality TV show, which promises both a hefty salary and full medical benefits for her entire family. Somehow, she gets chosen, and she leaps to sign a contract despite her misgivings.
 
The show in which she’ll take part has an irresistible premise: audience members can win millions by predicting the behavior of each member of the cast in a crisis. But the producers are willing to do anything to maintain ratings, including using blatant setups, 24/7 surveillance, and even state-of-the-art holographic technology to simulate danger. But soon, the danger becomes all too real, and Amy—on and off the camera—must fight for her life….

Genres: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Dystopia, Fantasy, Fiction, Action, Romance

512 pages, Paperback

First published November 8, 2012

About the author

Nancy Kress is an American science fiction writer. She began writing in 1976 but has achieved her greatest notice since the publication of her Hugo and Nebula-winning 1991 novella Beggars in Spain which was later expanded into a novel with the same title. In addition to her novels, Kress has written numerous short stories and is a regular columnist for Writer's Digest. She is a regular at Clarion writing workshops and at The Writers Center in Bethesda, Maryland. During the Winter of 2008/09, Nancy Kress is the Picador Guest Professor for Literature at the University of Leipzig's Institute for American Studies in Leipzig, Germany.

Excerpted from Wikipedia.

Reviews

[Katy · Rating 2 out of 5]

After reading 500+ pages, I have to ask. WHAT THE HECK ARE PHANTOMS?!? Can someone please tell me? Kress set up the beginning by making a big deal out of these things, and I guess they kind of lead Amy into her decisions, but I can't tell if they're voices in her head or shadow-like things. And the book alludes to some genetic code, but I'm not sure if they're some sci-fi thing or paranormal gift. And for something that has such a significant impact on Amy, they disappear for a good chunk of the book and probably make one appearance near the end of the book. So you never find out what they were and the significance of them.

The second thing is I never understood the concept of the The Collapse. I mean, from reading the summary and from certain things that Amy's grandmother said, I guess I'm right to assume it's some sort of The Great Depression 2. Still, this book really, really lacked in world building. I don't think I ever really found out what caused The Collapse (other than assumptions of a "failed economy," whatever that could mean. And you know that Amy and Rafe, among others, struggle with money problems, but the rest of the story is based on lavish hotels and designer clothes, only offset by protestors. You don't really find out what the world is like, who everyone was affected by it, dangerous streets with heightened crime, even the rats don't seem like they help build that world.

Now I LOVE pretty much all dystopian. The concept had potential, but the plot just didn't play out well. I was interested in this book because it seemed like some sort of weird mix between The Survivor (reality TV in possibly dangerous settings with the survival of the fittest), popular game shows and maybe a little bit of The Hunger Games. Instead of being intrigued by their challenges, I was almost bored. And some of the more dangerous situations gave me hope, but then the fire/shooting scene and squirrel scene were not as breath-holding or heart-stopping as I expected them to be.

Maybe it was because I thought the characters were kind of flat. During the interview, Amy had that defiant streak that the producers thought were going to cause problems. Where was that streak during the show? Okay, so Kress decided to make Amy the weak character that "doesn't do anything," according to her "fans." Why change her from a defiant person to a do-nothing girl? So she was looking out for her grandmother's interest, okay. She became mad at the situation pretty quickly, yet she does nothing. I had expected more from her. And when she FINALLY does something, it wasn't as great as I had hoped for. I was like, "That's it?"

Honestly, Kaylie, Waverly and even Violet were too predictable in this story. I can see where Kress attempted to throw twists in there, but honestly, they just didn't work. Because in the end, the three were just looking after themselves.

Cai was a really predictable character, and he was a huge letdown because I expected him to change, but he never did. Tommy was an unusual character to throw into the mix, but Kress didn't do anything with his character. I had already expected the end, but I didn't see there wasn't a changing point in the book to allow it to make sense. An Rafe was such a colorful character, and I had really high hopes for him. And I'm always a sucker for the nerdy guys, and there were times that I really wanted to swoon over him. But I don't think Kress treated his character well at all.

And the end was just so anticlimactic. Usually in dystopian types of books, the characters usually leave the story with somewhat of a renewed feeling - that they've accomplished something and are ready to face whatever is in stored next. And I guess you can say the villains got what was coming for them, but the big reveal and takedown just wasn't as climatic as I was expecting. Yes, everyone changed, and the reunion was nice, but I just didn't feel like any of the characters really walked away "winning." Not winning as in the good guys conquered all, but that satisfaction that the overcame the obstacle. Does that make any sense?

Overall, I thought this book had the potential to be really great. But it was just okay. And I just had too many problems with it - I couldn't connect to any of the characters, and Kress introduced concepts that were never explained. Combined with the length, I was just ready for the story to be over.

[Stefani Robinson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Short version – This book sucked. Nothing happens. Not a damn thing. Then suddenly the author seems to remember they are writing a book to interest people and something happens. Then the book is over. Save your money and buy a book where something, ANYTHING happens.

Long version – I was really looking forward to this book, it’s embarrassing just how much. I wanted to love it so much that I pre-ordered it months before it was released. Then I started seeing a lot of bad reviews and had an “uh oh, did I screw this royally?” moment. The premise interested me because it sounded a tiny bit like The Hunger Games but in a more tame fashion. Interesting, and I was willing to give it a shot despite my sudden misgivings.

I have seen people speculating that the grammar or spelling errors might be because they got an uncorrected ARC copy…it wasn’t. There were many times when I did a double take and said to my book “what the hell is that supposed to say…because it definitely doesn’t say whatever it is!”. I got annoyed that they kept calling Kaylie different names. One paragraph its Kaylie, the next paragraph (no joke, literally the next paragraph) it was Kayla. It confused the hell out of me. There were enough characters for me to keep track of, I didn’t need one with two names.

Amy was an idiot. A irredeemable idiot. First, she applies for a job without having any idea what the job is. Who does that? Idiot Amy does. Then, she signed a legally binding contract for the mystery job without even bothering to read it…or even skim it! It was at that moment that I knew Amy and I wouldn’t get along. But not only was she a complete moron, she was boring too. I sort of agreed with the emails she got later in the book that said she did nothing and was a waste of air time. She was a waste of book time too. And she treated her sister like shit, then I branded her total Grade A bitch status.

The plot was just so dull. 9 out of the 10 scenarios were laughably stupid. The book jacket says that they kept upping the ante until Amy and the others are fighting for their lives both on screen and off screen. Wait, hold on. Where is THAT book? Because it sure as shit isn’t the book I just read! The scenarios were all boring and much the same. I didn’t see any upping the ante at all. Then suddenly we get to the last scenario and they are breaking the law and trying to kill people. What the actual fuck? Boring to illegal in 2.5 pages! But by then I didn’t fall for the bullcrap because I’d seen the same tactic in the 9 other scenarios so that made it not only implausible but also predictable.

Stupidest love triangle….square….ever. So not only did the love triangle suck but they tried to make it a love square, which was weird and made even less sense than the love triangle. Naturally one of the guys was the pretty boy who everyone falls in love with. The other guy I actually liked. But only one of them ever seemed to be interested in Amy at all, but Amy was only interested in the other guy until he did something she didn’t like and then she was all over (literally) the guy who had been flirting with her from day one. Then they tried to throw in another person and it just got weird and stupid and I didn’t believe any of it at all. Amy was boring, the other girl was a manipulative bitch. What’s to like?!

And now for some notes for other authors to learn from this train wreck:

1. When you are writing a dystopian novel in which everything has changed drastically from the way we know it, explain how that happened! And exactly what happened! Just referring to everything as “pre-Collapse.” isn’t helpful. I don’t know what the fuck the Collapse was or did!? Tell me for the love of almighty Goddess! Just a few paragraphs to explain the backstory would have been sufficient, or a prologue. Anything!

2. Stop with the love triangles already. Seriously, it’s gotten old. And if you have to do it, can you at least make it interesting? A 3 girl love triangle? A 2 girls, 1 guy triangle? A 3 girl love triangle? At this point I’d take just about everything other than 2 guys head over heels in love with the most boring girl on the planet.

3. Unless your book is a comedy, if I’m laughing to the point of tears you’ve failed….badly. Take heed.

4. If you are going to give your heroine some kind of special power, at least tell me what it actually is. I read an entire book and I have not a clue about what Amy’s phantoms were or what purpose they served.

5. If you are writing in a character who is giving your heroine hints about what’s to come as a warning, please make sure those hints make sense. Maybe it’s because Amy was an idiot that she didn’t get it earlier, but I didn’t get it either. Two vague words does not a warning make. Make it clear or I really won’t give a damn.

6. Please, stop the endless lists of designer brands. At a certain point I start thinking that they are paying you for product placement. Then I start to giggle. Then when I get tired of giggling, I just skim the rest of your shitty tome.

7. If your own characters tell me how much something sucks, don’t write it. Otherwise I will sit there and nod and go “yep character A, you’re write that’s fucking stupid.”

Don’t buy this book, I beg you. If you absolutely have to read it then get it from the library or a friend who already wasted their money on it. It’s not worth it. It’s not even worth the paper it’s printed on.

Like this review and want to read others like it? Want to request that I read and review your book? Visit my blog, Stefani's World of Words

[Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh wow, Flash Point was not what I expected. I tend to always check goodreads and read a couple of non spoiler reviews of books I am starting right now and what I found was that there barely was any reviews. However, what convinced me was the review written by Gabby from Chapter by Chapter (Review here). So while I was excited from reading Gabby's review, I was also a bit wary from the lack of reviews as well as the review copy being around 500 pages long. Even with that, I really liked the idea of the book and it being a reality tv show, Who Knows People, Baby—You?, gone horribly wrong during a time of the greatest economic depression. Writing this review, I can say that Flash Point wasn't just entertaining, but it was full of twists, shocking turns, and a great mix of dystopian and contemporary.

Amy, the main protagonist, is 16 years old and lives in a time after a disastrous economic and financial collapse that resulted in her scientist grandmother to lose her job, her life savings, and their house. Amy's parents are both dead so she lives, along with her 15 year old sister Kaylie, at a shabby sorry excuse of an apartment with her grandmother. From the beginning of the novel you instantly hate Kaylie. Kaylie is the ungrateful little sister that not only refuses to help out but also gets in tons of serious trouble that Amy ends up cleaning up after. I felt sorry for Amy, but at the same time I would have went ballistic on her, but Amy always made up excuses for her behavior. To put it bluntly, Kaylie was a jealous little kid that always resented Amy even though Amy was the person who brought in an income that kept them afloat, even if barely.

Moving on to the reality tv aspect of this book. Amy gets picked out of thousands of people for this show where she, and 6 other people, are put in scenarios that are all based on holograms (yes, this is set in the future), and then people vote by predicting what each contestant will behave or react, based on 5 choices given to the voters. At the beginning, the scenarios were pretty harmless but soon enough they began to spiral and turn more realistic and dangerous. This is when Amy starts to doubt her place in the show but because of her sick grandmother and the full medical insurance the TLN station provides, Amy has no other choice but to bear with it. I really appreciated how Amy was selfless and did everything she could for her grandmother and ungrateful sister. Some of those scenarios were dangerous but she stuck through with it. I really felt total sympathy towards her and admired her courage.

There is one thing that Kress introduced to the novel but barely explored and it is the phantoms that Amy experienced that showed the true intentions behind a person's actions. I still don't get the real reason behind them or their place in the novel. Also, Kress barely gave any mention to when Amy's grandmother died and based on how much Amy did for and how much she loved her grandmother, it was very anti-climatic. The same could be said for the ending, but that could be overlooked.

As for the other characters and contestants in this novel, I loved that each one was pegged off as something but at the end of the novel, you really get to find out who they really are. Some totally contradicted your initial judgement such as Cai, while others were exactly as you thought, like Kaylie. The Antagonist, the producer of TLN, definitely got what she deserved by the end of the novel and I loved that everything wrapped up nicely without any dramatics and rushed conclusions. Honestly, with this long review, I barely delved into all that I wanted to discuss, showing you guys how this novel had so much going on but at the same time everything was linked and tied in together. However I have to point out that there is a ton of swearing so this novel would be better suited for mature YA readers. Therefore, I definitely recommend this novel to fans of books similar to The Selection and lauren Conrad's L. A. Candy but with less romance. This is not like The Hunger Games in any way, contrary to what people think. I can't wait to read more books by Nancy Kress in the future!

[MacKenzie Leo · Rating 2 out of 5]

I ABSOLUTELY HATED THIS BOOK.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd avoided reading this books because there are so many YA dystopias with nasty media and governments that are willing to exploit young people for entertainment and profit. In other words, I haven't read The Hunger Games and don't want to. Luckily, this book is not that. Yes, the teens are abused for the ratings, but people are not particularly worse than they are now. Amy, the main character, has too many responsibilities for a 16-year-old, but she does well with them. Nobody is all evil; the show's producer comes closest, but she's also fighting to have a reasonably good life for herself.

The dystopia is caused by an economic collapse. Amy's family has fallen from comfortable middle class - her grandmother is a scientist but now out of work - down to where Amy needs to get scarce waitress jobs to pay the rent. College seems out of reach until she gets the job on the TV show. The book's title is about the point where conditions get so volatile that they ignite. The country is getting to that point, with demonstrations that are starting to turn into riots. In the book, we see all of that somewhat obliquely, through the eyes of teenagers who are more interested in their own lives than politics or social issues. But it's there and it's what the book is about.

The book is not one of Kress's best, but it's good. I'm rounding up from three and a half stars because it really pulled me in and I devoured it quickly.

[Chuck Shingledecker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I suppose I could stop there, but what good would that do anyone skimming the reviews?

Let me start off by saying I had NO idea what to expect with this book. I've heard of Nancy Kress and am aware of the multiple SF awards and nominations she's received but I've never read her. I've also been somewhat disappointed with a few of my recent reads within the YA genre. Not this time. This book was an amazing, exciting, page turning read that I could NOT put down. Few books have kept me awake at night or gobbled up all my spare time. This one did. I began reading Saturday night. And finished Monday by lunch. (That's a fast read for me!)

16 year old Amy Kent lives in a future America suffering from a second Great Depression. The Economy has collapsed, jobs are rare, and several new viruses have spread across the globe. But this is not a post apocalyptic world. It's not Mad Max. It's not Planet of the Apes. It's not even The Hunger Games. It's a world that continues to go on, much like our own. Society hasn't devolved into chaos, but it is crappy time in which to live one's life, because it is -- well, a world wide Depression.

Amy lives with her ailing grand mother and younger and rebellious sister. In hopes of making next month's rent, Amy lands a job with a popular -- though sometimes seedy -- Television Network. She gets an advance on her first check and best of all she gets full medical coverage which her grandmother desperately needs. But there's a catch -- and that's where the story takes off. And, that's where my description will end. Any more information will begin to spoil what I feel is the best YA novel I've read in over a year.

Be warned -- this is not your typical YA with lots of kissing and hugging and romance. Nor is it Science Fiction heavy with robots, lasers, or aliens. It has none of that. It hearkens back to a more classic form of Social Science Fiction, which we don't see a lot of these days. It is story about people, and how people react to situations, cultures, outside pressures and to themselves.

What would YOU do for fame, fortune, or even just the ability to pay for your family's doctor's visits? How much would you sacrifice? And knowing that others were confronted with the same questions, and the same chances (assuming you weren't part of the picture) could you ever trust them? These are the sorts of questions Amy, her sister, and the rest of the cast must confront. The characters all have differing motives, internal conflicts, and are very believable as people. No one is a total villain -- not even the villain. All have admirable qualities and all -- even Amy -- has flaws. Just like the rest of us.

If you're someone looking for ANSWERS to these sorts of questions, if you're someone needs the typical tropes of Dystopia to enjoy a story, and if you're looking for something more like Twilight, this book probably isn't for you.

However, if you're interesting in the things that make us believe the things we believe, character motivations, and a pretty darn convincing future world that is like our own -- just a lot more horrible -- (and perhaps a bit of social commentary on today's various forms of TV "entertainment" then this may be what you're looking for.

I cannot recommend this book enough! Nancy Kress has just won herself a new fan. After careful consideration, I give the book 5 stars. It probably falls somewhat shy of 5, more like a STRONG 4 or 4.5 due to the ending and a little bit of a lack of an uplifting resolution; and yet, that's what puts this firmly into the classic Social SF sub-genre. It's not always about the answers (don't worry, we get many. There are no cliffhangers here!) But it is about moving on, beyond a short but powerful part of one's life.

Of course, the book has a few flaws. No book is perfect. A couple of the plot points near the end felt a little predictable, but the unpredictability that wove it's way through the tale made up for those flaws. It may not be for everyone. But if you like YA, Dystopian, Social SF, or satirical novels about today's society, give Flash Point a try. I don't think you'll disappointed.

[Jacob · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting reading, especially compared to the Divergent series I am reading at the same time. Both are "Dystopian Girl Fanfic", as a friend put it. I thought this one would be right up my alley because it's about someone competing in a reality show where the pressure keeps increasing to drive up ratings, and survival-strategy situations are one of my weaknesses. However, there's actually not much strategy here, and not nearly as much competition as you would expect. It's kind of The Hunger Games crossed with The Running Man, but minus much of the conflict that makes those books riveting.

The reality show outlined by the author is one where the participants are simply lab rats and the show is about putting them in different situations to see what they will do. The show actually doesn't do that well, and the producer struggles to put them in successively more dangerous situations to drive the ratings back up. I like that the show wasn't a super hit, but there are reasons for that which make the story a little less interesting. One is that the name (Who Knows People, Baby -- You?) and premise of the show is dumb, which the author acknowledges. A bigger problem is that the promise of competition between participants isn't fulfilled in any satisfying way. And the book's climax should have been something other than a poorly-constructed "dose of your own medicine" sitcom-style revenge.

There's a lot to like here, too. The characters and setting feel realistic (certainly more than Divergent) and have some depth. There's a lot of potential, and while it doesn't pay off like it should it was promising. Examples include the competition between show participants, psychological breakdown from the holographic technology that makes it hard for the participants to tell fiction from reality, and the political situation which is maintained for the length of the story. And there are ideas to think about, such as how far is it fair to stress reality show participants, and to feed the public's capacity for leering at others? Or how should Amy, the main character, deal with her irresponsible younger sister? Kress hits you over the head with some of her points (nobody ever knows everything about anyone else's personality), but in the process she created some intriguing characters with many-faceted personalities.

[Jeannette Mazur · Rating 4 out of 5]

1/2023: I wanted to read a book similar to hunger games, so I picked this one back up. I guess I bought it 10 years ago, so it was still on my Kindle account. I did not love it as much the second time through. It had a lot of potential that never really panned out. Good read, not a 5 star book though. Solid 8/10.


5/2013: This was one of those rare books where I found myself reading it all night long (I looked at the clock and it was 5am!!) Really, really, really good. Ryan, said it's kinda like the hunger games with lots of interesting twists and turns. It was SO good and such a quick read! I would recommend this to any of my friends who enjoyed the hunger games!

I'm surprised that Nancy Kress isn't more popular considering how GREAT this book is!

[Cathryn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ever started a book and been like, "I want this?" Only to get to the end and be like, "Never mind, I don't want this anymore?" That happens to me sometimes. And it unfortunately happened this time.

So I saw this book at the library with this absolutely amazing cover of this girl who looked ready to kick butt, against a backdrop of neon advertisements and screens and stuff. This book was called Flash Point by Nancy Kress, who's written a couple things I liked before. And when I read the summary, I was like, "Oooh. This sounds like an action-packed, dangerous, interesting book." Maybe not in those exact words (minus the "oooh," I tend to say that when I see a book I like) but pretty close. So I checked it out and read it.

At the beginning, I loved it. The characters were interesting, and the main girl was very sympathetic. She has a grandmother who needs serious medical care and a younger sister who depends on her. She needs this job—being on a reality tv show where the show presents you with different scenarios and viewers vote on how the contestants will react. The only thing I didn’t like was the copious usage of the f-word—copious for me is not necessarily copious for other people, but the profanity wasn’t necessary; at least not at that level—but I figured I could deal with it.

But as I continued reading, I started getting this odd nagging sensation. The different scenarios were interesting at first—finding a dog stuck in a tree, paintballing in a warehouse, being confronted with a psychotic gunman—but then things started getting downright dangerous, like when the hotel where the contestants were staying caught fire or when they got caught in a mob. Now, the producers didn’t arrange the last two, but they didn’t have a problem using the footage, either. Which is fine. The producer of the show is the bad guy. But what began to bother me was this sense of expectation. I was just waiting for this big, climactic thing where everyone was just like, "Gasp! They're seriously out to get us!" And it never really came. The final climax of the scenarios was actually pretty boring, and when they finally nabbed the bad guy and got her arrested, the way the contestants pulled that off was pretty blasé, too. I dunno—the book sort of built me up to this big finish that never really came.

However, Flash Point had an interesting cast of characters. There's Tommy, for instance, who's mentally handicapped. I would've liked to see more of his backstory. There's Cal and Rafe, the two love-interests, but it was pretty obvious early on who was the more worthy guy. They're both well-developed characters with their own personalities and whatnot, but Cal's kind of a putz and Rafe isn't. So it frustrated me that it took the MC until Rafe was in danger of dying near the end of the book to figure out she was in love with him, not Cal. *sigh*

There were some good plot twists, though. The girl everyone thinks is the true ally of the MC turns out to be in the pocket of the producer, whereas the girl who hates everyone is the person who ends up helping out the most—and for believable reasons that don't take forever and a decade to be revealed. The fact that the group's initial plan to take down the producers doesn't work is nice, too, because it's realistic. First plans don't normally work the way people in books often assume they will, so it was a nice bit of realism.

The big thing I liked: the MC is psychic. A bit of a clairvoyant. They don't call it that—it's referred to as her "phantoms," when she gets these little visions that reveal things about different characters—but unfortunately that's never really extrapolated upon, and at the times where it would be most useful for her to have, it suddenly fails. I've seen in badly done books where an MC's power appears randomly when they're in danger, but I've never seen it disappear when they needed it most unless that was a part of the plot—which this wasn't.

So this review isn't very long, because there weren’t very many glaring issues with the plot or anything. It just sort of made me feel sad that I'd spent the hours I had reading it. Nancy Kress has written several books, so maybe her name got this one published when it really wasn’t the best-quality writing it could've been. I don't know. But it felt like the author started off really trying at the beginning, only to lose interest midway through—which then began to kill my interest.

I give Flash Point 2 out of 3 stars. It had an interesting premise, and the backdrop of political and socioeconomic upheaval was great, but it seemed like the author was basically trying to tackle a million different things halfheartedly rather than narrow her focus and hit stuff with her whole effort behind it. The writing was technically sound, and the characters believable. But I ended up really not liking it, and not wanting to buy it. So much sadness inside me now. =(

Problems with this book:

— The MC's sister is a selfish brat who never gets hit with any real consequences for being a selfish brat. I realize in real life the brats don't always get their comeuppance, but this is a book! She really ought to get some kind of smack-down for her being such a witch. Instead, her dream of becoming an actress gets realized during the epilogue.

— Why does everyone have to say "f***?" We can't come up with other, more unique profanity than "fornication under consent of the king?" Really? And why does everyone have to swear when things go just the tiniest bit wrong, anyway? I have a lot of books that I love where profanity is used, but with a purpose, not just for shock value. We're not in the schoolyard anymore. Shouting words like "penis" or "f***" shouldn't get you any attention.

— The girl who really helps everyone out, who gets the bad guys put in jail at the end, and who protects everyone from all the fallout (and saves the MC and her dying grandmother during a hotel fire when she could've escaped scot-free on her own) never gets her dreams realized. She's just as sad, heartbroken, and lonely at the beginning of the book as she is at the end. Boo.

— The guy pulling the strings, the big kahuna, the head honcho behind the face of the bad lady, never gets in trouble. Never gets jail time, and though he gets sued, it doesn't really touch him. So the main baddie never suffers. This isn't really too big of a deal compared to everything else, but still!

— The "phantoms" aren't consistent, which is fine, but don't pop up when most needed ever, which you think they would at least some of the time!

[A Book Vacation · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

To see my full review:

http://bookvacations.wordpress.com/20...

The synopsis of this book really piqued my interest as it sounded like a highly engaging dystopian novel, very Hunger Games-esk, as it were. But in reality, it’s actually nothing like The Hunger Games, which I found refreshing, further adding to the uniqueness of this novel. However, my feelings toward the novel are a bit mixed.

While the beginning of the novel helped set the stage, I have to admit that it moved a little too slowly for me. We meet Amy and her family, hear about how she has no money and doesn’t think she’ll amount to anything, and then we meet the soon-to-be cast for the reality TV show. I know the background does need to be explained, but it just didn’t draw me in, and, based on the negative reviews I’d seen prior to reading, I began to worry. But, rest assured, the novel did quickly start to pick up, though it occasionally slowed down again, and I was confused by a few things.

Number one, I wasn’t sure what the Collapse was (and I’m going to say that this is my own fault, and not the authors). In my mind—since this novel is obviously very high tech, what with TLN having the ability to create holograms and film, unnoticed, anywhere—I thought this was the distant future and that there was some sort of war that caused the Collapse, but I didn’t find anything in the text that really explained it to me, so I was confused about what the Collapse really was. Now, I do feel a little idiotic as I didn’t realize it right away, but the Collapse seems to be another term for Crash, as in, the Crash from 1929. While this novel isn’t set in 1929 (it’s definitely the close future), the Collapse and the events leading up to it, as far as I can tell from the story, mirror what we actually experienced eighty plus years ago. It’s fictionalized, of course, and with much more technology, but for some reason I just didn’t even think about that when I began the story. I’ll guess I just had it in my head that the Collapse happened due to war because I’ve read so many dystopian novels that start that way, so I couldn’t fathom that the setting for the Collapse was as simple as a “depression.” And, obviously, this is my own fault. I think I was about 40% into the novel before I figured it out… and trust me, I feel a little stupid for not realizing it sooner. But, I didn’t, so I thought I’d throw it out there for potential readers so they know what the Collapse really is. I think it helps the reader really understand what’s happening if they know and aren’t constantly wondering, like I was…

Number two, I don’t know what a phantom is. For the most part, the novel seemed like it was realistic. Yes, there is highly advanced technology and they can do things that aren’t currently possible in real life, but the people’s dispositions and problems were very down to earth. However, Amy has these “phantom” experiences where she visualizes strange things and somehow tries to connect them to what’s happening around her. I don’t know, perhaps I missed something as I was reading that would have clued me in, but I just didn’t get it. Here, in the midst of the realism, is a random paranormal type insertion, and I never did understand them as I read. Instead, I began to gloss over the “phantoms” because it just didn’t make sense.

But most everything else was great! I found the characters to be extremely real, and I truly felt for them. Amy has a huge struggle: continue the reality TV show knowing each scenario is going to be stranger and scare her even more, or go back to having no money and watching her grandmother die without medical help. While I yelled at Amy all the time, I think I would have continued to work for TLN, too. I mean, money isn’t supposed to be everything, but when it’s the only way to help your sick family member, well… it becomes really important. More important than a few scares, at least.

Now, this is where the story itself gets tricky. Kress is writing a novel about a reality TV show, in which scenarios are created to up the ante and see how people react. I’m not going to lie, I’d watch that show. People amaze me and I love to guess what they’ll do next. Of course, I wouldn’t think they were in harm’s way at any point during the filming, but that isn’t necessarily true in this reality show. But neither the cast, nor the audience know it… So anyway, this is where it gets tricky. Kress is writing the TV scenarios in order to show how the ratings go up, and then down, so of course, some of the scenarios are going to be a bit… boring. If they weren’t, the ratings wouldn’t be going down. But here’s the thing: boring scenarios for TV equal boring scenarios in a novel. Make sense? Now, not all of them were lackluster. There’s definitely a fair share of really interesting scenarios, especially the very last one, but there were also points while reading the novel that I found it slowing way down because the interactions amongst the cast just wasn’t all that interesting. But I don’t fault the author at all. What’s Kress is trying to do is extremely difficult and I think she did it well. I wouldn’t be able to imagine half of what she does, let alone get it down on paper, and I think Kress really did an amazing job. This story is very unique, but the audience really needs to know what they’re walking into when they pick up this book, or they just might not enjoy the novel as much as they could...

[Alienne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can't remember the last time I finished a 500-page book and went "...meh." This book was very "meh." Let's try to sort out the reasons, shall we?

-What are Amy's phantoms? Better question, why should we care? They were built up as this Big Mystery during the first chunk of the book only to vanish for large portions of it after. There was never any big revelation; in fact, I'm 99% certain that if you removed every single mention of "phantoms" from Flash Point it would still have no noticeable effect on the story.

-Speaking of things that were unceremoniously dropped/underdeveloped to the point where I'm not sure why the author bothered: Lynn? Amy's chess partner? Tommy's uncle? Rafe's brother? Why did these characters exist? Why did Rafe have a crush on Kaylie for 2.5 seconds of manufactured drama? Why wasn't Alex the one to use his ~influence to help the kids instead of Waverly's heretofore-unseen father? Why was Mr. Taunton completely ignored in our supposedly triumphant finale? On that note:

-What the frickity frack was that ending? That was one of the most lackluster "climaxes" I've ever read. So Myra is genre-savvy enough not to incriminate herself to a bunch of kids, but when faced with the same accusations from an autistic boy she...shoots him? And said autistic boy's ranting (with no proof, mind) is enough to incriminate her even with her "legal team" and aforementioned savvy? How did any of this make sense? Why did it all happen in the space of two pages? WHY DID MYRA'S LAWYER DECIDE TO GIVE IN BECAUSE "YOU CAN'T FIGHT PUBLIC OPINION" THAT IS SO IDIOTIC THAT I AM WRITING IN ALL CAPS. YOU HAVE FORCED ME TO WRITE IN ALL CAPS, DAMMIT.

-And on that note, how the hell does this world work? There's a pretty obvious class gap, but, like...no more than currently exists? There was some kind of incredibly vague Collapse but we never really learn what caused it and to be honest the world of Flash Point doesn't feel much worse than our own. The protests were the only believable sociopolitical facet of the book, but they never amounted to anything--I actually got excited for a second when it seemed like the president had been assassinated and everything was coming to a natural head, but no, that was just another illusion. Apparently these rightfully pissed-off protesters are content to peacefully accept a new law that conveniently fixes all of the economy's problems within a year. Isn't that nice?

-Finally, there's the epilogue. I'm not really clear on what the point of it was? Things seem to be working out pretty nicely for Amy and Rafe (even though she might not ever solve the Mystery of her phantoms, ho-hum, not like that was made out to be a big deal or anything). Cai is now dating a plot device famous actress who offers Kaylie her dream on a plate because...reasons. Totally unearned reasons. Oh, and Waverly (arguably the most decent of the other Lab Rats) walks away disappointed because.......reasons. Sorry hon, you're the designated Blonde Rich Bitch; you can grow as a character all you like but the narrative will punish you anyway!

And then the whole thing ends with some ham-fisted musings on the complexities of human nature. "Cai is super shallow...but he's nice to Tommy!!" "Waverly is the worst...but wait, she saved our lives at least once!" Gosh, this is so confusing. It's almost like people aren't made of cardboard or something, but apparently "humans can have more than one personality trait at a time" was deemed thought-provoking enough to close out the novel.

"Just muddling through." That closing line feels like an accurate description of how it felt to read this. Flash Point couldn't make me connect with its characters for more than five seconds at a time, it didn't bother with realistic worldbuilding, and when the plot wasn't plodding and dull it made no sense. It had some moments, but I was holding out for a gasp-worthy ending that never happened (and there were so many ways it could have happened!). This book pretty much earns my 2 stars for concept alone.

[Book Twirps · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the near future — a future that is a little too close, and a little too plausible for comfort — the economy has collapsed and the US as we know it is starting to change. There is no more middle class. You are either well off, or you’re not, and those that are not really struggle to keep their heads above water. Amy, the main character, is doing everything she can to take care of her ailing grandmother and her kid sister, but things aren’t looking good for them. They have no insurance, and can’t afford her grandmother’s medical bills. When the opportunity to appear on a reality game show presents itself, Amy sees an easy way out. Sure, it’s risky, but should she win, the money would ease her worries significantly, pay for her grandmother’s healthcare costs and allow Amy to return to school. The idea behind the show is that the contestants will be placed in dangerous situations and the television audience votes on how they think the contestants will fare. For each successful mission the contestants complete, there’s a hefty cash reward. But when ratings begin to slip, the producers grow desperate and increase the danger level for the challenges. Amy wants desperately to win so she can provide for her family, but how far is she really willing to go?

I have very mixed feelings about this one. On one hand, I really liked the premise, and the fact that we have come so close to similar economic ruin made it all the more creepy. Also, America’s obsession with reality TV made it even more realistic. On the other hand, there were several things that I felt fell flat.

My biggest problem was that I didn’t feel like I had a complete grasp on the world. I got the politics and the economic/class divide, but I would have liked a little more depth and consistency in those areas. For instance, why did so many of the lower class people have the latest and greatest gadgets? Wouldn’t they be too poor to afford them? I guess I just needed more of the why to balance out the what if you will. I also would have liked a little more variation on the game itself. After a while the challenges all felt repetitive. It was like there was a formula, and they didn’t hold an element of shock or surprise after a while.

I did like Amy a lot, and wanted her to succeed. Unfortunately, none of the other characters did it for me. I could see where the author was going with them — trying to break stereotypical molds by bringing out the “true” person inside when faced with a dire situation — but I would have liked a little more depth. They all just felt a little flat to me.

This isn’t a bad read and even though it did seem to drag in spots, I was still able to enjoy it. I was just hoping for more of a punch and a few more twists. It didn’t build the way I hoped it would.

[Promise Adeboye · Rating 1 out of 5]

Okay, I was a little iffy about reading this. There are a lot of things that I hated about this book. I just kinda went Huh at some parts.

1. The Collapse.
I didn't really understand it. All I got was that the economy was down under and all everyone was dirt poor. But this didn't show in the book. All we really read bout was the rich part. I mean, if the economy is down under then shouldn't it alright if you were just getting by by being in middle class. All the stuff I read about was stinking rich people trying to make even more money by putting kids in danger. I felt like the entire Collapse thing was unnessasary in the novel. I mean, it wasnt that big a deal. It was like the real world we were in now. It didnt seem to be dystopia at all. When you describe your novel as dystopia, you need it to be bad. As in things are horrible! It didn't seem like the Collapse had any influence on the novel. It wasn't real dystopia to me.

2. The Phantoms.
Another thing I didn't think was nessasary. It wasn't even explained. The gist I got from the novel was that it was premonitions that she had to figure out about how people were. If your gonna give your character something like a special power or something, then I think it needs to be significant to the plot. It wasn't even that nessasary. She didn't even need her phantoms in the end. So I don't know why Cress put it in.

3. The plot/ending.
I didn't see the point of the book. There was no goal, nothing that they had to achieve, nothing they had to strive for. It just kinda ended. It was more like she loved the idea of that messed up reality show and didn't come up with a plot until later.

[Ham · Rating 4 out of 5]

For the most part, this book was awesome. It felt like a more realistic version of Hunger Games. Totally unpredictable.
There were problems, however. (Which is why I didn't give it five stars.)
First of all, the ending was not at all satisfying. I think part of it is Kress's ability to write unpredictably. It's great for starting out, but trickier with endings. Although she attempted to bring it all together, the conclusion felt random and thrown together.
Second was Amy's "special ability". It was fun, but totally unnecessary, and in my opinion, weakened the realistic nature of the book.
Lastly, and by far the most egregious, was the mature content. Either Kress is not used to writing for young adults, or she's single-handedly trying to change the genre. I might've overlooked a fifteen year old girl sleeping around or dancing topless in a crowd (it was for a good cause-but she could've accomplished the same thing with a bra on) had it not been for the language. 15 yr olds, 16 yr olds, grandmothers; all of them seemed incapable of showing emotion without using the F word.
Yes, I realize it's really the way some kids (and grandmas) talk, that's not how YA works. Why do you think I read books written for kids half my age? Because there are RULES, which most responsible writers follow. When writing for young, impressionable minds, try to bolster good habits and morals, rather than encourage them to act (and speak) like uneducated adults.
I'd recommend this book to ADULTS who enjoyed Hunger Games and don't mind colorful language (or lack-luster endings.)

[Hmr28 · Rating 5 out of 5]

SPOILERS AHOY!
Unlike others I did not find the characters flat at all. In fact, I think the author did a very unique thing. Since everything is seen through the eyes of the main character only, we view the characters through HER eyes and she views things very one dimensionally. It is only as time goes on that the actions of her fellow contestants begin to color her views as to what type of people they are that she realizes that they are NOT what she originally thought. The handsome hero is a spineless wimp,the girl she likes is a viper in their midst, the spoiled brat is a strong willed, fierce heroine, the nerdy guy is a hero in disguise.....and so on. Unlike some other reviews I felt that the world building was interesting. I don't think it was too much or too little. It was clearly understood from the beginning that the collapse was a great depression like event (with market, and job collapse and economic devastation). Although the book was fairly long for a YA book, it held my complete attention all the way through. It is a keeper for me!

[Wealhtheow · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the story of a poor teenager selected for a reality show that continually throws her into strange or dangerous simulated experiences. The rest of the world watches the scenario and votes on how she probably responded. As the show ratings start to dip, the simulations get scarier.

Kress is known for her ability to create near futures that are frightening, exciting, and plausible. Her attention to the social and economic consequences of technological progress sets her work apart. Unfortunately, I don't think she quite hit her mark in this book. I just don't buy the way the reality show worked. Additionally, there are a number of plot hooks (like Amy having "phantom" visions of the truth of situations, whether Rafe or Violet is involved with the rioters, and what Amy's sister Kaylie is up to) that get dropped in favor of a quick wrap up. That said, I found the first half of this compulsively readable.

[Jill Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a fun book -- I really enjoy the dystopian reality show genre, apparently -- but I kept getting pulled out of the story by all the brand names. Only for clothes and web services, oddly; electronics were talked about in very generic detail.

It's altogether a little silly, and the Bad People Who Get Their Comeuppance vs the Bad People Who Are Dropped is a weird thing for the book, which is all about how people (except perhaps the narrator) are complex. But it's still a fun, very fast, read.

[skcocnaH · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was some stuff that I really liked about the book, like it's unpredictability at parts, and the characters. Other things I hated, like the phantoms... They were a little too convenient for me. Also, the language was a bit much. It's like Kress assumes that there is not a single soul left in existence that chooses to keep language PG.

[Tamara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ummmm sounds familiar doesn't it?? So I love hunger games, but don't love this. So when people say that flash point is for hunger games fans I totally and completely disagree. It could have been great if there was more clarification and development. And it left some unanswered things that were mentioned REPEATEDLY throughout the book.

[Books are TARDIS]

On hold.

I don't even know why I picked this, seeing as how I don't really go for reality TV. Also, there was something sanctimonious about the lead character, maybe I'm being too judge-y. I wasn't really feeling it. Maybe will come back to it someday.

[Sierra Abrams]

Ummm Hunger Games, anyone?

[Lisa (A Life Bound By Books) · Rating 2 out of 5]

That was a strange read. Had so much potential but fell & fell hard. Sad when a book you're looking forward to leaves you wondering what the heck that just was? Full review to follow.

[Katlyn · Rating 1 out of 5]

I probably shouldn’t have forced myself to finish Flashpoint. I knew by the halfway point that it sucked, but I hate DNFing books. The turning point for me where I gave up on trying to like it was on page 203, when Kaylie, a fifteen year old by the way, was sexualized. We were told about her “perfect” breasts and her “pale, gorgeous body.” Later on her “voluptuous nakedness” was mentioned. In another scene, Kaylie’s “spectacular breasts” are mentioned on page 404. On page 377, Waverly is mentioned as being “dressed in a beautiful nightgown that showed off her beautiful breasts and tiny waist.” Sexualizing a minor once could maybe be a mistake, but doing it repeatedly is disgusting. I know the age of consent is adulthood is sixteen in this novel, but not only do I think that doesn’t matter, but Kaylie was fifteen in the first scene.

Apart from the blatant sexualization minors, I don’t really know where to start. This book was a hot mess to the extent that I’m not even sure the author knew what she was trying to accomplish. Amy has these “phantoms” that are never explained. They’re like visions in her head that reveal the true nature of things. We’re never really told what exactly they are because Amy doesn’t even know herself. Also, the “Collapse” is constantly mentioned, but it’s never explained either, just briefly alluded to. We’re expected to believe that the whole economy collapsed and there was some sort of plague and now the age of adulthood is sixteen. That’s basically all we know, despite it constantly being used as an explanation for everything. Yet the story seemingly takes place in the year it was written. Lady Gaga is even mentioned for some reason. The world-building is abysmal and makes basically no sense.

The whole premise of the story is a reality show in which the viewers predict how the characters will act in certain situations, which is supposed to be an experiment in human behaviour. Despite this, we have ridiculously flat characters who have behaviour that is incredibly easy to predict. The author tries to give us a twist here and there, like Waverly having a soul or Cai being a wuss, but the characters still lacked depth. Even Amy, our protagonist, is terribly dull. I can list a few character traits about each person, but they’re not real in the slightest.

For some reason, Flash Point had the audacity to be 500 pages long. Sure, the font is huge, but nothing of interest happened. If the characters don’t feel genuine, there aren’t real stakes. Maybe if the plot had moved quicker, I wouldn’t have cared so much. I was honestly bored out of my mind. I was basically making myself read on from the halfway point so it took me nearly a month to finish the book. It took the scenarios ages to get properly dangerous and by then I had given up hope.

One last thing, but the editing was nearly non-existent. I might be able to forgive that in a self published novel, but this was published by a division of Penguin, who is a major publisher. There were so many typos and weirdly worded sentences. The weirdest typo I have ever seen in a book, and I’ve read many, appeared on page 201. It was the word “co10uldn’t”. Yes, that’s right. Somehow numbers ended up in the middle of the word and no one noticed. How strange is that?

I don’t usually recommend against reading books as everyone has their own preferences when it comes to appeal factors in books, such as fast pacing, good characterization, or flowery writing. Flashpoint has none of those things and honestly nothing to offer in my opinion. I would recommend it to no one. It’s much longer than necessary, terribly dull, ridden with typos, has extremely flat characters, contains world-building that is never explained but only alluded to, and sexualizes minors. It’s a hot mess and unpleasant to read. 1/5 January 7 2024

[Chrissy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, so I'm really conflicted on my thoughts on FLASH POINT by Nancy Kress, so join me in this review where I attempt to sort out these 500+ pages and hopefully manage to say something coherent about the plot and characters too, right?

For starts, FLASH POINT takes place in a futuristic society after a major scenario called THE COLLAPSE, in which the entire US government and economy pretty much fall apart, leaving the majority of people desperate, destitute, and starving, unemployed and completely lost. Riots and protests erupt everywhere and danger pretty much lurks around each and every corner. We really don't get a lot of backstory as to WHY this collapse happened or what events led up to the fall, and there's not a lot of explanation why there are are several incidents of lavishly wealthy individuals who seem to somehow have an unendless supply of disposable cash. So while I do always enjoy a nice dystopian-ish society, I really think that we, as readers, need a bit more backstory to get us started here.

The majority of the story seems to be from the perspective of Amy, a self-professed chess geek who has been orphaned by her parents at a young age and left to singlehandedly support her wild younger sister Kylie (who seems to be called Kayla every now and then) and her elderly, dying grandmother. Her grandmother was once a doctor of genetics but is now suffering from a terminal illness that will kill her even faster now since she has no health insurance and no money for medical care. We learn two things about Amy right from the beginning of the story -- she has unexplained visions of the future that give her vague metaphors that give her clues to potential solutions and dangers before her and also that she will do anything to take care of her grandmother and sister.

Pretty close to the beginning fo the novel, we learn that Amy is going through an extensive interview process for an unknown job that will hopefully provide her the income and benefits she needs to help her family. She is soon called back for an interview, but on the way she encounters a homeless man who is laying on the ground, bleeding, and begging for Amy's help. She immediately jumps into action, tearing off her sweater to cover the injured man's wounds -- until he turns on her, lunging at Amy and attempting to hurt -- or even kill her. Panicked, Amy leaps into a dumpster, where she is confronted by her interviewers who tell her that this is really a test and she has indeed gotten the job.

It turns out that Amy will be one of seven teens starring in a new reailty television show in which they will face frightening, crazy, and unexpected scenarios in which they must react at a moment's notice. Viewers will have the opportunity to vote each week, predicting the outcomes of her each participant on the show. Winners share in millions of dollars of prize money and the audience basically gets to know the teens over time, helping to make the predictions easier every week.

It seems harmless -- maybe even fun, and Amy definitely needs the money so she signs her life away and prepares for her new position at the TV station. Soon, though, her life as forever changed, as she encounters escalated situations that terrify, surprise, and confuse her on a daily basis. She is attacked by holographic rats, thrown onto center stage in the middle of a crowded production, trampled by a mob and a fire that threatens the life of her entire family, and deceived by people who otherwise seemed to be true friends. The teens break out into stardom, where they live a life of designer wardrobes, fancy hotels, and dangerous fans, but none can deny that the stakes seem to be getting higher and more outlandish each and every week.

After an assassination, fire, mob, and dangerous first hand encounter with a deadly mutated disease, Amy and her new friends begin to suspect that the show is intentionally putting the teens in danger to boost ratings. The line between friend and foe, truth and lie, and life and danger become increasingly more blurred, making each day a fight to survive. Will any of these teens make it out alive? And how far will the producers REALLY go to ensure their show stays at the top of the charts?

The story was definitely intriguing and exciting, keeping me flipping ahead to find out what would happen next. I do think the story was a bit too long, at over 500 pages, and could probably have been shortened a little to keep the pacing flowing a bit more for those of us with lower attention spans. While I personally was not deterred by the size of the novel, I could see many young adult readers wanting things to be a bit more condensed for the purpose of keeping everything lively and entertaining.

I enjoyed Amy as a character, because she had a strong sense of loyalty to her family, a reasonable degree of bravery towards the situations around her, and just enough common sense and nerdiness to make her relatable to the average reader of YA fiction. On the flip side, it seemed a little odd that she was overly obsessed with designer labels, given the state of society, and I was disappointed that we never got a good explanation of her unusual visions. For these to seem so important during the start of the novel, where did they go as the story went on? We really got no explanation!

I liked the concept of the reality show and I thought the author did a nice job presenting creative scenarios to move the story forward and showcase Amy's struggle between wanting to provide for her family while maintaining her dignity and self-respect in a questionable situation. There were a few times where certain situations in the show itself started to feel awfully repetitive or overly ridiculous, but we were also presented with an inside character in the production of the show that demonstrated that opposing view and agreed with our negative feelings about these scenarios. And while Myra did seem to be a ridiculously exaggerated villian, she still created some crazy, evil scenarios that defintely kept mer curious.

I don't think this novel succeeds as a strong dystopian-type world, due to its lack of world-building, so I'm not sure I would recommend this to those who typically seek out dystopian novels. I would, however, think this novel would appeal to people who love action packed stories, especially those who are closet junkies of reality TV.

I'm definitely not disappointed that I gave this story a chance and I'd love to even see it expanded into a series -- although I think everything was already completely brought to closure in this particular novel.

(I did receive an electronic copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review -- but rest assured! All thoughts are my own and are completely uninfluenced by manner in which the story was received!)

[David Raz · Rating 2 out of 5]

I usually try to start my review with something positive, but in this case I am struggling to find one. I can't even say that the premise was very promising - distopias are a dime a dozen, and this one didn't seem much novel. The idea of a TV show where one needs to guess what people will do was mildly intriguing, but the delivery was unsuccessful even on that.

Starting with the plot, it was simply boring. The TV game is pointless - it has winners or losers and no drama. Since the TV game is supposed to drive the plot forward, it just never happens. Add to this some abysmal world building, and you get a boring plot in a boring setup. World building is worth more words, but I have already said more about it than the author - there is almost none of it.

Moving on to the characters, I understand that the game setting gives the author some justification for making the characters stereotyped, but at least she could add some quirk to make them lovable, or even just mildly interesting, so there might be some sympathy involved. The grandmother character is a missed opportunity made redundant and contributing very little to the plot. The protagonist was given purposeless "phantoms", which may be just red herrings, but more likely are just something the author didn't think through. The romance between the characters was banal and predictable.
The bottom line is that this book seems like a bunch of half-baked and badly written ideas and characters, thrown together with little care or thought. I give it 1.5 stars out of 5, and I'm rounding to 2 just because I did manage to read through it and I'm keeping those 1 star reviews to things which are even worst.

[Lydia Owen · Rating 1 out of 5]

I binged read this book. It had a pretty interesting premise and a couple of interesting characters but overall the world building lacked depth and most of the plot was predictable. While I enjoyed reading this book, it goes under the category of "trashy guilty-pleasure read". The "phantoms" that the protagonist experiences were the most irritating part of the book as they were NEVER explained! And the cliches were unbearable at times. The love triangle aspect was boring and didn't really make sense. There was little to no chemistry or building of relationships between the characters. The female friendships and sister relationships were catty and stereotypical. A character in the book that had special needs wasn't fleshed out and his character was more just his disability. I wanted to see his character develop but it never happened. I'm glad I bought this book in a bargain bin for one dollar because that is all that it was worth.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh, and I say this as a Nancy Kress fan. Usually, her books have a distinct voice and that's what made them excellent, I'm a huge fan of her Sleepless books. Flash Point felt a bit square peg in a round hole-ish, to me. Don't get me wrong, not a terrible book, and frankly the 3 star rating from me may simply be due to my having such high expectations of her work and that might not be fair.

It just felt a bit like the standard dystopian future YA fiction that we're inundated with, these days and I wanted more.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a relatively recent book by Kress, and she appears to have abandoned what I think of as her trademark, a focus on biology and genetics. In fact, it's only barely science fiction. The plot was fine, and the characters well-developed and interesting. But it's still not the type of spectacular writing that has made Kress one of my favorite authors.

I also found the "moral" rather banal, and stated in a very heavy-handed way at the end: we're all complex; no-one really knows anyone else, "all the way through."

[Caitlyn Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book wasn't really my cup of tea. It was poorly developed and the beginning and middle were both very slow. That isn't to say I didn't enjoy it, I finished all 501 pages in a day, but it could have been so much better. The plot was different than most books I have read, but it was painstakingly slow and hard to get into. If you're bored and looking for something different give this book a try, the last 100 pages were pretty interesting, just don't get your hopes up for a fantastic novel.

[Sammy Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not much of a sifi dystopian person, and debated weather to pick this book up, at my locgal thrift store, due to the mixed review. However, I'm so glad I did! I loved the reality t.v. show aspect of it, even though it made me emotionally angry, but that's the point. Although it's not the best written novel, I loved the action and found myself not wanting to put it down. If you shamelessly enjoy reality tv I would recommend giving this novel a try!