Cover Image: Capsule

Capsule

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Member Reviews

I have just finished this and it is honestly amazing (I couldn't put it down).
The characters just come alive with Torrefranca's beautiful writing style and I would highly recommend it to anyone.

Although this book is aimed at Young Adults, In my 40's I was still able to enjoy the book without feeling out of place.

The book starts you with Jackie and her classmates discovering that 2 classmates have gone missing. Kat and Peter couldn't be more of the opposite of each other. Kat is the popular Instagram girl at school who gets a lot of attention. Peter is largely ignored apart from when he uses his blog to give his view of the school and the people in it. It's fair to say Peter is an outsider, not even Jackie had spoken to him before his disappearance and she didn't really know Kat.

Life changes for Jackie when a mysterious app appears on her phone, that appeared on its own, What make this app even stranger is that Jackie is the only person who can see it. It seems to know all about Kat and Peters disappearance.
The app displays the message "Start The Countdown" with a button to press.

The app suggests that Jackie can save Kat and Peter, but from who, or what and for that matter how?

~ A massive thanks to Netgalley, Lost Island Press & Mel Torrefranca for allowing me to review this book for my honest opinon.

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The idea/basic plot behind this book is very interesting and for the first half or so of the book I was fairly invested. At some point I just couldn’t maintain that interest. I really liked Jackie and was definitely rooting for her essentially the entire story, right until the very end when I just found myself not caring anymore. I never found myself caring much about Peter or Kat. I appreciated that they were complicated, not entirely likeable characters, The pace at which they evolved (kind of) throughout the story just left me not really caring much about their fates. I wanted Jackie to win her game, but that was about it.
The most frustrating thing about the story was the clunky, heavy-handed lessons it seemed the author was trying to portray about social media (especially this!), grief, friendship, family, etc. It was very obvious one of these moments came up, and not in a good way.
One kind of minor issue I noticed early on was the description of Kat’s Instagram page having 59 photos, yet she’s described as the “Instagram queen” throughout the book. Unless she’s regularly deleting photos, after two years I imagine she would have hundreds of posts, not 59. That makes me wonder if the author really knows that much about social media and that’s why she seems so against it?
Overall, this was a fun read. I’d actually like to see it turned into a tv show or movie as I can imagine that actually turning out better than the book.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me access to this eARC for my honest opinion!

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I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Capsule definitely gave me some Ready Player One vibes. In it, you will meet Jackie, Peter, and Kat. One day at school, Jackie and the rest of her classmates found out that Peter and Kat are now missing. Then she randomly found an app, named Capsule, on her phone. She didn't remember downloading it so she went to delete it. Later on that day, it's back and she doesn't know why. Whenever she shows her phone to people they don't even see it.

The app is constantly on her mind. Especially after the first message she receives which involves playing a game to save Peter and Kat. At this point, I'm very intrigued because now I'm getting Jumanji vibes now. Entering into a game to save people or the world. It didn't matter to me really because I was just really excited to dive into this adventure.

What I got was a lot of emotions throughout this book. Each level had it's own version of sadness.. which is kind of weird to say. It dives into Peter's and Kat's lives and each little puzzle piece shows how they are all somewhat connected. Oh man, so many emotions and feelings while reading this.

In the end, I'm still not over this. Especially before the last chapter came my way because damn - it was so good! I'm so glad that I got to meet these three and watch them grow. Plus seeing how things in their life changed how they are today and how their classmates see them. It was very eye opening and all I can say is that I dream that these three are happier in their lives.

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This was a compelling and thoroughly enjoyable read from start to finish with a great storyline, interesting cast of characters and all capped off by skilful writing. It's well worth your time if you appreciate great storytellers.

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Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Library Resources for providing me with a copy of this publication! I really enjoyed this book!

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I recieved this eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Where do I start. This books was amazing.
The characters were so well written, each one had a strongly defined personality and to be honest I just want to give each one of them a hug. A lot of them did really questionable thigs, yes, but at the end you really get to know them in depth. Mel was able to capture the character's feelings and make the readers feel them too, she made them realistic and relatable. The three main characters were all so different from each other, yet they all ended up caring a lot for the others.
The whole concept of the book is really creative and fun to read, it was hard for me to put down this book. It is fast-paced and written in a way that captures your attention.
Can't wait for it to come out and people to love it as I did!

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Capsule is an awesome read for any fan of mystery, and science then this book is for you! I couldn’t stop reading I was dying to know what would happen next in this twisted game . I loved the ending hoping for a continued series !

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Capsule was definitely unique. Brilliant. And totally different from the idea I formed in my mind before reading it. Somehow I was expecting some kind of YA-Thriller-Contemporary mix in here, but the outcome totally blew my mind. The story absorbed me completely. The mystery behind Capsule and why it chose to appear in Jackie’s phone. The amazing friendship bond that began forming between the characters: slow, with its ups and downs. That bittersweet and open ending that left me wanting for more. Amazing read!

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This book is considered a good read to me. It's really good and I enjoyed it. But like many other books, it has its own pros and cons soo... let's go through it!!
1) THE WRITING
(+) Writing style: The writing style is simple and direct, yet very detailed. Love it!!
(-) Storytelling: Much as I love the writing style, the storytelling is a bit off for me. There's nothing too special about it. It didn't give me the urge to keep reading and reading when there were exciting details coming, and it makes the book a bit boring, which is a bit of a shame, because the concept of the book is wonderful!
----> The writing is OK, good even, but it can be a bit boring at times

2) THE CHARACTERS
(+) The characters are well-developed. Their characteristics and feelings felt so real and relatable and...it really is wonderful!!
(-) The only problem though, is that the way the talk to each other felt a tiny bit unnatural. I mean, it's hard to imagine high school students talking to each other the way the did...it just felt a little odd
---> The characters are amazing, despite the minor problem I mentioned!

3) PLOT/CONCEPT
(+) The concept is really truly intriguing and creative! All the actions, love it!
(-) The biggest problem of the book, which is mainly why I gave this book 3 stars, is because of its lack of...goals. I mean, I can't really say I learned a lot from it. There are mainly 3 things the book talks about: tragic past, social media and friendship
_ 1st thing, tragic past: The book did talk about how Kat and Peter changed after their tragic experiences and how the became a whole new different person because of it. It talks about their journey to cope with the past, and to find themselves. But that's not surprising, or new. Also, their journey is not that impactful to fully change them or anything. It would be nicer if Kat and Peter just....you know, start to heal gradually, instead of their sudden change in characters
_2nd thing, social media: I don't get the point. The book indicates that social media is harmful, it messes with their lives, and it's the factor that change who they are. But the problem is, the book is focusing in the concept 'finding yourselves', that kind of thing, and I don't see the point in dragging social media in, and not explaining from the start how that affect the characters. After all, Jackie was addicted to video games not because of social media, but because of the jelousy she felt towards her brother Jay
_finally, friendship: The friendship in here is not...reasonable i think. It's like...Kat, Peter and Jackie just suddenly liked each other, deeply care for each other. It feels like the only reason why Jackie helped Kat and Peter was because she wanted to win a game. When Kat and Peter criticized her for that, instead of feeling hurt, she felt angry, and even afterwards, she didn't explain to them why she helped them, So technically, there's no motivation, no real developement in their relationship. I just don't get it
(+) The ending is reallyy smart I must say. Love it!!

All in all, I enjoyed the book. 3/5 stars

My thanks to Netgalley for giving me an eARC in exchange for my opinion

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Book title: Capsule
Author: Mel Torrefranca
Publisher: Lost Island Press
Publication Date: 10 July 2021
Review Date: 17 June 2021 on Goodreads

My thanks to Netgalley, Lost Island Press and Mel Torrefranca for an advance copy

The use of an electronic gaming app to solve the disappearance of two school children.

We meet Jackie, a student happy to spend her time gaming online rather than face to face relationships. Two fellow students go missing, one is the most popular at school and the other - the least popular.

The installation of a new game Capsule on Jackie's phone results in a real-world game supposedly controlled by Capsule which only Jackie can complete.

Are they eventually found?

The author has provided the following CONTENT warnings:
profanity | eating disorder | crime | drowning | car accident

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Quick, fast paced.

There are two missing high school students. One is instagram popular, the other is disliked for his blog-criticisms of other students. A mysterious app that only Jackie can see appears on her phone. She can’t find any information online about it, but it seems to hold a clue to where the missing students might be. Can she save them by beating the game, or will she become another casualty.

For people who enjoyed the books/movies Ready Player One, Alice in Borderland, and the 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle

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I received an e-arc copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for honest feedback.

4.75/5

My experience with this was surprisingly positive, given my age difference being somewhere around 10 years older than the characters and target audience. I found myself immersed quickly into the mind of our protagonist - Jackie. The narrative is a close third person perspective, eventually developing into multiple points of view as the plot develops, and it works brilliantly for the genre. The concept appears extremely relevant from the start, a modern day setting, familiar apps and devices. The pace is immediately set with the disappearance of two fellow students and the strange appearance of an app that Jackie didn’t download on her phone.

The concepts that Mel touches on throughout this tale are powerful, we see the characters coming to terms with who they are, how the past effects them but also that it doesn’t have to define them. The character arcs are predictable, but that I feel is besides the point. Yes, we know in all likelihood where our characters are going to end up, but like most things; It’s about the journey, not just the destination.

I really did enjoy this book. Although I was able to put the pieces together early on, I didn't find that this removed a single iota of my pleasure from watching these elements develop through the wonderfully told prose. I found myself keen to return to this title, whereas historically YA fiction has been somewhat less captivating for me.

The writing style was a very welcome surprise, it's wonderfully descriptive and establishes a foundation for Torrefranca to compose relatable emotive scenes and masterfully crafted character and world developments.

I loved the little excerpts between chapters and the pace and format of this novel is excellent. Splitting the story into ‘Levels’ and the 'gamification' of the story gave each progression arc its time in the centre stage to be fully explored and to leave us on the starting point to the next, kept me wanting to know more. Questions are formed easily by the reader, but not spoon fed by the characters in the authors voice. Answers are a little harder to come by, but satisfying when they do. Although, they inevitably bring more curiosities with them. As any good mystery does.

There are some weighty topics being evaluated, with special attention to a grief and identity. A profound but relevant commentary throughout on addiction and technology, but also the impact our own bias has on ourselves and those around us. I also particularly appreciated the systematic consideration of what factors define us, but more importantly the ones that don't. All of the subjects are broached with appropriate care and a delicate touch.

It was also really pleasing to observe honest and healthy relationships, with open communication strengthening their bonds.

There’s a slight whiff of ‘not like other girls’ happening. However, not all tropes are inherently an issue. By choice or by result of larger factors at play, Jackie is different. While I’m sniffing out tropes, there is also a strong aroma of enemies to friends/maybe more, and a good heaping amount of the reluctant hero too. Which were exceptionally executed and beautifully fitting for the genre and plot.

All of the characters felt dynamic and complex in their motivations, personality and quirks. Additional characters are more fleshed out than would usually be expected. The individualities and differing mindsets create a fantastic balance and openness in which characters were able to voice their feelings and disagree with the main protagonist without being silenced. I found it refreshing to see open and constructive debate/dialogue.

I was left satisfied by the ending, all questions were answered. Observations made in striking symmetry to the beginning brought considerations to the differences between the changes that need to be made and the way in which we undertake those changes.

The only criticism and reason for less than five stars, is that I would have loved to see more of the fantasy/sci-fi element. What was there was brilliant and captivating, it could have easily formed a solid point for further exploration of this part of the plot. That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed my experience.

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I have received a copy of this book as an ebook arc from NetGalley

Spoiler free review from me. If you love books like Ready Player One by Ernest Cline and Warcross by Marie Lu then this book is for you. It's a SCI-FI Thriller but the SCI-FI isn't a major theme in the book if that's not for you its main theme is Thriller. Books like One Of Us Is Lying, Two Can Keep A Secret and The Cousins From Karen M. McManus are Thrillers I've read that are similar to this book in that once I pick them up I want to read in one sitting to find out what happens.

Can't recommend this book enough. Hope to buy a paperback copy when it comes out on July 10th.

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Just think, what would have happened if you were struck in a game in the real life, like a magic and no one else can know about it, and the goal of the game is to save the lives of two kids, I.e your classmates. OMG!!! Right, this is all so crazy. Just thinking about it made me feel so crazy, just imagine reading it, what heights of craziness did I enjoy 😍🥳🤩
This story is filled with action, emotions, grief, sibling-bonding, thrill, and a tad bit of romance. The book is all about a game, and to save lives of two kids, but that is not it, it explores the past, behaviour of people, emotions they face, the grief they encounter, the amount of energy they put to understand life. In our present day life, with the technology advancing to the next level, and with the Internet, our lives are revolving inside a capsule of fake environment, fake friends, and fake security, we are all living our lives in a bubble, thinking we are connecting and getting close to people but the truth is we are distancing ourselves from the real world, the bliss of being in between the nature, the bliss of interacting with people face to face, playing games on a PC, rather than in the sun, living our lives in social media, rather than in our surroundings. We feel we are connected to people but the truth is some of us don’t even know the person sitting beside us in classes or in our work.

“I guess that the past has power over us, but it doesn’t change who we are”

The book teaches us the essence of friendship, essence of the effect the past has on us, the essence of nature around us, essence of calm we require outside the Internet bubble, essence of living the life in real, and all this in the form of thrill and action packed book. This book is truly a must read for everyone.

Now coming to my rating : out of 5 stars
Cover : beautiful and attractive ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Title : perfect and apt ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot : intriguing and wonderful ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Character development : impeccable ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Writing style : perfect and the words delivered the emotions and descriptions perfectly and imaginable ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Originality : ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Overall : this is no doubt a 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star book for me, and I would give more stars if possible. Wonderful book with a wonderful story, wonderful theme and a wonderful moral, only deserves a wonderful rating 😅😅😅.

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Despite being in my early 40’s I’m still in my late teens in my mind. This book really grabbed my attention as it had a rather unique storyline which is a rare find. It certainly didn’t disappoint, I’d love to see it made into a movie or even a mini series?!?
Think a sci-fi version of Riverdale/13 Reasons Why, even though characters are teens the plot is mature enough to interest adults.
The only negative is.... I want more!!! Sequel please?

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mind. blown. seriously!! this is such a fantastic sci fi book. super fast paced, the characters were so complex (asian rep!!), the plot itself was great, and the ending was perfect :0 you know those feelings you get when you finish a book and you know you’ll be thinking about it a lot? that’s 100% this book! overall a really thought out book i truly loved it! 5 ⭐️

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This book is brilliant.

From the first page, it grabbed my interest and swept me away on a thrilling adventure. At first, I read the book simply for the ride - rather out of pure enjoyment of the suspense and action rather than the themes or characters.

But as I started to delve deeper into the pages, the interwoven themes started standing out to me. And goodness, there were so many.

Friendship, how we view others and life, technology, sacrifice, grief, mental illness - it's all in CAPSULE.

The characters were amazing - and while I didn't like most of them in the beginning, they all held so much depth that made them all relatable as the story progressed.

I think my favorite part of this novel is just how Torrefranca wove all those thought-provoking themes into an action-packed, suspenseful thriller novel.

The biggest thing I didn't like was the profanity. It just didn't seem necessary to me. There was quite a bit of it, too, and while that much usually would make me stop reading, I was too invested in the story and characters to do so.

Overall, this book managed to be both suspenseful and thought-provoking, with a touch of mystery. I'd recommend it to pretty much any YA reader who doesn't mind profanity. I would definitely be interested in reading Torrefranca's other works! :)

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Jackie - A loner who used to have a close relationship with her older brother Jay but they have grown apart since she decided to ostracise herself from her family. She is addicted to gaming and the highlight of her day is the time she spends talking to and gaming with her only friend Eugene.

Peter - The most disliked student at Brookwood High due to his blog Moral Moon in which he writes nasty comments about his fellow students.

Kat - One of the popular students with a eclectic fashion sense and a love for combat boots, taking risks and has a bit of a attitude.

A trio of students whose paths have crossed countless times in the school corridors but who have never interacted until the day their lives become intertwined due to a game called Capsule that suddenly appears on Jackie's phone after Kat and Peter mysteriously disappear. After Jackie taps the countdown button, she finds herself transported back in time to before Kat and Peter disappeared. The trio find themselves caught up in a twisted and complex game and in a desperate race to save Peter and Kat's lives. Can Jackie convince the other two teens that despite how unbelievable the situation sounds, the three virtual stranger had to find a way to work together in order to complete the five levels of the game. The trio find themselves on a character changing, dangerous journey of secrets from the past and self discovery. But, by taking part in the game, was Jackie placing her own life in danger? What was Capsule's end game? Were they playing the game or was the game actually playing them? When they reached the end of the game, would it be game over in more ways than one?

The chapters predominantly rotated between the perspectives of the three main characters Jackie, Kay and Peter, three vivid, realistic individuals who each had their own unique personalities and character traits. From the very beginning of the book, I thought feisty Jackie was a very likeable character and was my favourite character but as the story unfolded and the truth behind Kat and Peter's actions and behaviour began to emerge, I began to regret judging them both so harshly and unfairly. It was heart warming witnessing how their relationships and characters developed as they spent time together working their way through the levels. I don't very often find that I am emotionally affected by a story but there was a scene towards the end of this book that caused a lump in my throat and left me close to tears.

There was chapters scattered throughout the book that featured letters that were addressed to Dear Stranger but who was the author of the letters, who was the recipient and how did these letters fit into Jackie, Kat and Peter's stories?

This is a intelligently written, character driven, thrilling blend of mystery, thriller with a large dash of sci-fi Y/A that is written at such a high level that it is also suitable for adults. The story isn't bogged down with incomprehensible scientific information and there is some scenes that are fast paced, intense and gripping. I really really enjoyed this enthralling read and would gladly read more of this author's books in the future. Very very highly recommended.

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I’m always a bit nervous going into a book blind, but in this case, I shouldn’t have been. This is an amazingly unique and inventive book.

I’m a sucker for the developing/budding friendships and this book is a goldmine. People who know of each but don’t really *know* each other morphing into something more than acquaintances or strangers? Perfect.

Something else I love? Rude/jerkish characters revealing parts of themselves that show there’s more than meets the eye. Characters who feel real for their flaws and complexities. Again, this book did not let me down.

In case I my opinion isn’t already clear, I highly recommend this novel.

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