TAPEWORLD INDUCTION - Geraldo Nascimento

Tapeworld: Induction is an extremely thrilling read. The world constructed in the book feels vividly real. All of the characters are very well written, but I found myself focusing just as much on the things in between: the objects, the scenery, the backstories and the mysteries quietly unfolding in the background. Scattered throughout the book are fragmentary snippets, bizarre sci-fi worldbuilding details, unpredictable political shifts and countless unsolved mysteries. It never throws everything at you at once or convolutes the story by making things unnecessarily complex. It builds the world naturally, and you always get the feeling that there is a much bigger picture beyond the story we are following here. Isaak is a complex character in a good way. He is easy to relate to, but at times he feels like the embodiment of that impulsive part of your brain that makes you do something before thinking about the consequences. Dylan is a perfect contrast to him. They fill in each other's gaps while still connecting really well. It isn't the typical "opposites attract" relationship that a lot of romance tends to lean towards, and the romantic elements never overwhelm the story or take away from what is going on. The emotion is still there to be felt, though, and the foundations have definitely been set for this to become a bigger part of the story going forward. I can't write this review without mentioning this next part, but I also don't want to spoil anything. Gunkatana. As a fan of Final Fantasy games, and specifically the Gunblade from Final Fantasy VIII, I was so excited for this, and it didn't disappoint. Gunkatana is such an important part of this story and has so much mystery surrounding it that I can't wait to find out more. I loved reading this. The writing style was a delight. It kept the story moving forward while giving just the right amount of detail to paint each scene in your mind without slowing everything down. Tapeworld: Induction wraps up its own tale nicely enough to work as a complete story, while still leaving enough open ends and mysteries that you immediately want more. It creates a world that you want to get lost in. And next time I have some duct tape lying around, I won't be able to help myself. I'll have to stick some on my head. Just in case.