𝘎𝘳𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘶𝘭!

I haven’t read anything from this author since the Divergent series and listening to this story reminded me why I loved those books so much. She did a fantastic job with this retelling of Antigone, a quick but powerful read.

Thank you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this complimentary audiobook.

𝗔𝗿𝗰𝗵-𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿 by Veronica Roth released February 21, 2023.

https://www.instagram.com/booksandcoffeemx/

I was really excited for this one after reading the description, but the execution didn't quite do it for me. I didn't hate this but I didn't love it either. I loved the concept and take on the government controlling womens bodies, but felt this just had too much going on for such a short book. It definitely felt like the author was trying to tackle the issue of the patriarchy, womens rights, and the controlling of women’s bodies but it didn't bring a fresh perspective, other than the dystopian take on it. I really felt like the concept was just muddled into the storytelling so it didnt give a very fulfilling story to follow. I was left a bit confused and had a hard time connecting to the characters because there was such little development. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A retelling of the story of Antigone, by Sophocles, this short work by author Veronica Roth is set far in the future. Earth is a wasteland outside of the last remaining city. Antigone is the King's daughter, but he has been murdered and his brother Kreon has taken over the throne. And taken 'Tig' and her siblings into his house in order to keep them under his control.

The genes of the dead are stored in the Archive and new life is condoned only when it arises through the Archive where genes are mixed and then reborn in viable wombs. Because Antigone and her siblings were conceived naturally, they are considered to be impure and without souls. But, Antigone and her sister are still considered to be usable surrogates, for carrying children for others. Their uncle Kreon wants to control everything. Will he be able to define the lives of Antigone and her sister Ismene?

Young adults will enjoy this quick read, especially those who have been introduced to Atwood's "The Handmaid's Tale.

This one was a chore. It’s been a long minute since I’ve read Antigone and it really felt like you had to know the story very well to understand this retelling. I think that’s what made it confusing. Too much world building in too short of time. And just trying for too much, I think. Also was disappointed to see that Roth has joined so many other authors in strong unnecessary language that was missing from her early more successful books.

Great narration though.

I think there was a ton of potential for this book to set it's own path and it didn't miss the mark, it just needs to be better understood. In a way. Roth went into this with a surprisingly somewhat accurate retelling that includes sci-fi elements and a slower approach to what her stories usually take. I had the privilege of an audio-book for this one and I think it made it a bit difficult for me to understand. It was enjoyable but lost me at times and I caught myself rewinding to make sure I could understand it all. So not the author's fault but it definitely made it SOMEWHAT of a chore to get through. I do look forward to reading the actual book soon and seeing how my understanding differs. It was interesting at it's core and I enjoyed the build-up whether it was slow or not.

This book was alright. It was a good short listen. I didn't think the story itself was all that shocking, or did much to draw me in. But it was well written.

*received for free from netgalley for honest review* Different for sure lol looked forward to reading this because the author is well known, would reread.

Wtf was that? Did I only get half of the book?

None of it made any sense. I’m not even sure what the short story (novella?) was even about, to be completely honest. All I got was something about a trial. Literally that’s it

I typically enjoy Roth's work but something about this one was tough for me to get into. I'm not sure if it was the medium, as an audio, although I really enjoyed the narrators, but I found myself getting lost a few times. Despite that, as usual, the author does a great job setting a bleak dystopian future for us and retelling a classic story.

Much shorter than I thought it was going to be. Definitely have to pay close attention - I got lost a few times!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the advanced copy.

So, first I had to look up the tale of Antigone because I knew the name but not the story. This is pretty close to the original. I like the sci fi elements of it; however, I would have also liked more differences.

I have slightly conflicting feelings about this book. I LOVE Antigone, and I LOVE teaching it. Therefore, I was shocked and excited when this popped up the day after I decided to teach the novel to my (all-female) honors 12th grade class. I'm a BIG fan of modern adaptations - I really like having students read two versions of the same story and making their own comparisons, so this felt like kismet.
So.. here's the good:
I REALLY liked this audiobook. Both voice actors did exemplary jobs creating characters and giving them life and personalities. . They kept my attention and didn't take away from the story,
The story is very, very close to the original - which I love. Keep the names, keep the plot, change the setting. It still gives us all the fodder for discussion that I want, but in a world that my students can relate to (yes, even a dystopian future - that's more "real" to them than ancient Greece). My purpose for teaching Antigone has been to open discussions on the bigger topics and themes addressed and letting students take these ideas and run with them through research and deep thought. Plopping Sophocles's characters in a random alternate setting works.

My "you could possibly improve":
If you're going to redo a classic and only change the setting, then change the setting and give a purpose for that. Here, the world was very secondary so I am not sure of the purpose. Roth created a really interesting notion for a setting, but then just left it there. I wanted to explore this world. I wanted to understand it and why the characters were left in their situations - beyond the death of the former leader... What caused the rebellion? Why were Oedipus's children spared? The story could have been better developed, rather than just cookie cutter pasted in.

My "huh"? moment:
I couldn't really figure out why Antigone and her siblings were so "different." There are lots of hints, and my best guess is that they were "naturally born" but I'm not even sure about that. Or why that's different than others. Eurydice seems to imply that she carried Haemon, so I was confused about the whole "future role of parent/sperm donor?/DNA donor?" whatever. So, yeah, the world-building needs some help.

I will definitely use this in class, especially for some of my less enthusiastic readers - I think they'll connect with the future setting much more than they do with the ancient one, and I know that they won't lose any of the important parts of the classic.

There was a lot of themes going on within this new world that Roth created that I felt could have either been left out or flushed out more.it was worth the quick read - I just wanted so much more out of it!

This a thrilling and intense retelling of the ancient Greek tragedy Antigone. The story is set in a dystopian world where a wasteland surrounds the last city on Earth, and the Archive, where the genes of the dead are stored, is the only hope for humanity's survival. It is a quick read. I enjoyed the elements of science fiction, fantasy, and mythology. The characters are well-developed. However, so many POVs were too much from y perspective for a novella; it could've been extended. If you like dystopian fiction, retellings, and Greek mythology stories, this novella might be for you. The audiobook narrated by Dion Graham and January LaVoy enhanced the story, and I recommend you get this version.

A fantastic retelling of Antigone! The atmosphere is set up so gently that it doesn't disturb the core story being told. Having this version to read would have made the required reading of the original much more enjoyable in high school. The exhausted determination of each character to trudge on against the failing world feels familiar and timely.

Veronica Roth is not a stranger to dystopia, and in this reimagining of Antigone, she once again visits a bleak future. They may well be the last group of people on a planet that has been destroyed, and their survival is contingent on gene-editing that allows dead citizens to "live" once again. Antigone and her siblings are different, though. Their parents made the decision to have children naturally, which means they are outcasts even though they are high-born. This short novella didn't leave a lot of room for world-building, and while I was intrigued by the glimpses we got, I wanted more. Antigone's father was a democratically elected leader before a coup led to his death, so why then are Antigone and her siblings seemingly the only natural born children? Wouldn't a respected leader's choices have led others to do the same? The science also felt uneven. A future where genes can be extracted so easily, but we still need women's bodies to grow children?

The audiobook had straightforward performances that didn't distract from the text, but also didn't enhance it any way. It felt like it was being read, but not necessarily performed.

4/5

Thank you Macmillan Audio for the advanced listening copy!

With much of the planet a wasteland, the Archives are what keeps people going. They store genes after people have passed on and are typically viewed as a beautiful thing. After Antigone's parents are murdered, she's having a hard time finding the joy in the Archives, especially with her militant uncle, Kreon, ascending to her father's now-vacant throne. When Antigone and her siblings are welcomed into Kreon's mansion, it soon becomes clear that this isn't a mansion -- it's a gilded cage. Antigone will do anything to honor her family and to free herself from this cage. Kreon is about to be very, very surprised.

WOW! When I first picked this up I had no clue it was a novella --- super quick and short. I flew through this! Antigone was likeable from the first moment we heard from her. She's a badass woman that you want to root for. I struggled to keep track of all the characters at first, and with such a short story that was time that couldn't be wasted. As the rest of the book unfolded, though, it was easier to know who was who and, more importantly, whose side I was on. I was pleasantly surprised by Veronica Roth's ability to develop characters in seemingly no time, and to provide depth at a moment's notice. This was definitely worth the, albeit short, read!

Thank you to Veronica Roth, Dion Graham, January LaVoy, Macmillan Audio, and Netgalley for this free advanced reader copy of "Arch-Conspirator" for an honest review.

Stop. The. Presses.

The second I saw that this was a retelling of Antigone, I was all over my need to have it in my hot little hands, and let me tell you, not one single second of it disappointed. I'm already advising that people in my department teaching Antigone start considering doing this modern, post-apocalyptic retelling side-by-side with it. There are so many amazing pieces to this story, and it's shifted even further into what makes up a person and what makes up the human soul.

I was over the moon entirely when I realized that, while the prevalent voice of narration was Antigone (as is rightfully so, given its her story!), we were getting a chapter from nearly every character throughout the whole cast. My riveting to the need to here everyone's way they saw it, what they were showing off and what they were keeping close to the vest ran so deep and hard. I cannot wait to start getting everyone to read and listen to this once it publishes .

This retelling of Antigone stays true to the original story of civil disobedience, family loyalty, authority, morality, and gender. But kudos to Roth for reimagining this novella in a post-apocalyptic world with stored DNA, the threat of humanity's demise, and the continued struggle for gender equality. Incredible world-building for such a short book! The action starts immediately and races to a bittersweet ending.

I love the narration! Both January LaVoy and Dion Graham expertly narrate multiple POVs. They create tension that builds in this futuristic world, giving way to a dramatic ending. If you are familiar with the story, you won't be surprised. But you will definitely be satisfied!

I requested this book for no other reason than I love this author. I had no knowledge of subject matter or length. Luckily it’s a genre I love, dystopian, and the audiobook was pleasant to listen to and was fairly short (3-ish hours). ARCH-CONSPIRATOR by Veronica Roth, and narrated by January LaVoy and Dion Graham.

In the far future, Earth is a vast wasteland of nuclear fallout except for one city, at least as far as they can tell. In order to continue the human species it’s been declared that all future humans must only be made from precisely edited genes so that future generations are healthy enough to survive. Any people that have been conceived naturally are considered soulless and are essentially outcasts. Antigone is one of several siblings that were conceived naturally and things seem to be an uphill battle to do more than merely survive. The city is experiencing unrest and it’s too easy to shift the blame onto the siblings instead if the leaders where it rightfully belongs.

Veronica Roth has a wonderful way of presenting bleak dystopian futures and while I enjoyed this book I did feel a bit depressed about how things that are a mess today are just as bad in future generations, if not worse. I really recommend this book if you enjoyed her DIVERGENT series or dystopian in general. 4 stars!

Thanks to NetGalley and MacMillian Audio for this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.