dianazmartins
1/26/2015
I decided to read this book for the "2015 Read Around the World (SFF)" Challenge. I was looking for books set in different parts of the world and, when I read that the book was set in Brazil and that the author had actually lived here I could not resist it (being Brazilian, it is very rare to find a SF book set here, and those which refer to Brazil usually have not idea what they are talking about...).
I feel that I have to review this in two levels: the Brazilian setting and the story itself.
On the first level, I must say that the author did show that she really knows Brazil and the book did have some interesting and funny moments in which she really capture Brazilians attitute toward many things (such as when she says that although most Brazilians think that the President did nothing wrong, they still though she should step down since they were not willing to be bombed by the US just to prove a point). The books shows a critical and ironic view of how the US faces things (too seriously, to the point of being ridiculous) and how Brazil faces things (not nearly seriously enough, event when the situation requires it).
Having said that, this is the only side of the book that I enjoyed to a certain extent. Other than that, the plot (which starts with an interesting premise - Brazil suddenly has access to very advanced (alien?) technology and is therefore perceived as a threat by the US) gets completely lost in random and inexplicable disjointed scenes, including black magic (something you don't really find on the streets in Brazil), weird sex controlling aliens/mediums/possessed farmers?, confused would-be spyes, murderous CIA agents, etc. At times it seems that the book is attempted as a satire (there are some funny things), but as a whole, I found the plot confusing (not in a good, deliberate way, just not well though out), none of the characters really likeable or interesting, and a real, real lack of and ending that could perhaps make the whole thing more palatable.
All in all, although there is some curiosity value for the book being set in Brazil, I would not recommend it.