A Telling Infestation

This book is characterised by many great ideas executed badly.

Although it is obvious that a huge amount of talent and hard work went into the Exoskeleton Chronicles’ first book, the writing really needs some work. Much of the key ideas and key character traits are told to the listener. Opportunities for interesting character moments and engaging storytelling are missed by the continuing tendency to explain character’s thoughts instead of showing them through action and dialogue. I can think of at least one excellent joke in chapter 1 that started to make me laugh when I realised the direction it was going, but unfortunately it was undermined by the author over-explaining background characters’ thoughts and feelings. A great shame!

As a side note, as far as I got, the treatment of female characters leaves a lot to be desired. One Latina lady is highly sexualised with the main character’s reason for wanting to ask her out being “look at those curves”. Not to mention the main female protagonists is talked about in the prologue but not shown (again), and as I haven’t finished the book, I’m still skeptical if the author will do anything interesting or at least non-problematic with the cliche of friends to lovers. Another female character is literally just a scared old woman with not much else to her, and a male character (Billy?) I think makes some fringe comments on women that are uncomfortable to hear. I wouldn’t say it was sexist but I wouldn’t call it humanising either. This author really needs to be more careful around his female characters!

I’m appreciative of the neurodivergent representation and as far as I can tell this is excellently well-handled. I think Jeremy has the potential to be a really interesting character - I just wish some of his thoughts, actions and emotions were left to the interpretation of the listener.

As for the performance, Josh Banks does an amazing job. My sincerest condolences on your hardships acting a Spanish/Colombian accent with a feminine voice; it did make me crack up though! Overall a strong voice and a great reader.

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