Shades of Brave New World
How much should scientists tinker with Mother Nature? This question drives the action of J.A. Schneider’s medical thriller Embryo. After witnessing two tragic, and gory, delivery mishaps, medical intern Jill Raney begins to suspect a connection between the cases. What she discovers leads to the book’s shocking conclusion.
Along the way, Jill and her resident supervisor, David Levine, experience a growing attraction. She’s on the fast track in the medical field and lucky to be interning at a hospital esteemed for its advances in fertility and medical engineering. Jill’s puts her career in jeopardy when she insists on investigating possible links between the recent cases involving high-risk pregnancies and delivery complications. In her quest to unveil breaches in medical ethics, she herself becomes guilty of the same thing.
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The author’s style borders on cinematic and scenes are rendered with careful visual detail. The passages also read quickly and efficiently. Another boon involves the use of medical terminology. The reader learns about DNA research and medical procedures in the natural flow of the story and will walk away richer in scientific knowledge.
Undoubtedly, the story is Jill’s to tell. Most of the novel is told from her limited third-person point of view. Yet, at times, the author switches into the mindset of other major and minor characters. Most of the head-hopping stays within designated scenes with clear transitions, but on occasion, the narrative becomes omniscient. Such times weakened the flow and power of the overall narrative.
J.A. Schneider gives readers a world poised on the brink of scientific breakthrough. She’s a writer with something to say and her novel gives readers a world much like ours, but with heightened attention to the struggles mankind inevitably will need to face in the future.
Indeed, the end of the book harkens back to aspects of Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World, which is fine company for a writer to find herself in. J.A. Schneider’s fictional world of genetic engineering and doctors who test ethical boundaries in the name of science really isn’t too far-fetched at all. Perhaps the sequel will reveal what exactly goes on at the mysterious Infant School for the little Frankensteins the doctors at the hospital have created?
You can connect with Joyce on her website, Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads.
JeriWB’s Rating: 4/5 Stars (“Really Liked It”)
A complimentary copy was provided by the author in exchange for this review. For more insight, read my Book Review Criteria or visit the Review Request Page.
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This certainly sounds interesting. Sci-Fi mixed with medical… 2 of my favorites! I am a little concerned about the different voices expressed. I can see myself getting confused or frustrated with that.
Geek Girl recently posted..Motivational Monday – 10/8
Noticeable shifts in POV are the one things I’ve noticed in many self-published books. I caught myself going that route a couple of months in to starting my novel, but luckily, my critique group set me straight.
I would like reading this book. It sounds like something I would enjoy on more the one level. One being the scientific portion, the other the story itself. I’m hoping over amazon to check it out now.
Susan Cooper recently posted..Rutherford Hill Merlot 2006: Wine
Joyce Schneider really did do an amazing job of incorporating medical information. It really pays off to have a husband who is a cardiologist.
The book sounds engrossing. I have to say I didn’t like the cover art, though.
Jeannette Paladino recently posted..How Not to Write Badly
I appreciate the review, but I think I learned the most from your comments when you said the biggest problem for self-published authors is switching POV’s! I’ll make sure to stay aware of that…
Dan Meyers recently posted..Life’s Little Detours
POV shifting is definitely the one area in need of improvement I most often notice in self-published books. It’s an common mistake writers make. I know I struggled with it mightily when I started writing again a year ago. Thankfully, my critique group set me straight.
Sounds like an interesting book, and what a killer cover! As they say a great cover will make or break a book, I’d say this one will be a winner!
Doreen Pendgracs recently posted..travel writing tips
The cover really fits the content, especially the shocking concluding scene
Sounds like a great book, Jeri. Agree with Jeannette about the cover though. Made me believe it was a book for expecting parents.
Am at the moment reading Cicero’s letter’s from after March 15th i.e. when Caesar was murdered. Happened 2,000 years ago but today is very similar. Odd isn’t it that many historians believe Brutus was Ceasar’s son. Servilia, Brutus’ mother was Caesar’s mistress during the time when Brutus was conceived.
Catarina recently posted..Covert branding works against you
The life and times of Caesar! Now that’s the stuff engrossing novels are made of
The book sounds very interesting and so does your reviewing process. I’m now contemplating sending you a request to review one of my books and I’ve already forwarded your cogent criteria to an e-publisher. I wish all critics were clear about their ratings.
Candy recently posted..The Myth of the Lonely Monster
I guess the teacher in me will never rest since I could never imagine writing book reviews without having clearly defined criteria to back-up my scores.
That premise does sound interestingly cinematic. Glad you enjoyed it.
I agree that the cover isn’t that great, but that’s what you get with a self-published book most of the time. The money to hire first rate designers/artists just isn’t there.
Adrienne recently posted..I Am Not My Hair
I’m just glad Joyce is inching up there in the Kindle sales rankings… I can only hope for that someday.