Review of Hot Wheels

[Kutloano Makhuvhela]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Hot Wheels" by J. O. Quantaman.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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Hot Wheels by J. O. Quantaman is a science fiction novel set in the future where the world as we know it now has fragmented. Many public institutions we have right now are no more; in their place, something unfathomable. This book follows a huge cast of characters who are from diverse backgrounds as they navigate their way of life in these treacherous times. J. O. Quantaman is described as an indie author. This book is different on many counts. It has its fair share of hits and misses, which I will discuss thoroughly below.

Jen Marov is known as ‘Monkey Girl’ because of her ability to climb, whether trees or buildings and her petite body stature. Her climbing skills are so good that her parents are worried about her, but Jen is too careful. Another thing worth knowing is that she even holds back from showing her full strength because of fear of being singled out at school. As you can see, Jen is gifted, different, and very smart. On this particular day, it happens that she takes her skills to greater heights (pun intended), and it quickly lands her in trouble with law enforcement. When she thinks it is over with her, she gets released and gets an unexpected offer to join a circus. Is that a good idea for her?

Nyssa wakes up in an unfamiliar place. She quickly learns that she is in the hospital, and the memories of what landed her here swiftly come to her. She remembers running away from thugs. As if that wasn’t enough, she finds out that this is a typical hospital; there is more to it. The nurse who is attending to her tells her about the person called Cook. Nyssa’s backstory is one muddled with pain, sacrifice, betrayal, and survival. So, how is her future looking right now? What is Dog Breakfast (DB)? How does Nyssa’s life tie together with Jen’s? Is the world as it is, or is there more to it that’s not easily seen by regular people?

Read this book to find the answers. It was hard for me to write the summary of this book because it was an unconventional one on many fronts. It is not necessarily plot-orientated, and it does not follow linear storytelling. However, I think the summary I did manage to write was enough to give you an idea of what the book was about without giving away too much. Before I can dive into what I disliked about the book, I will start with what I liked.

What I liked was its style of unconventionality. This showed that the author was daring and was not afraid to try what hadn’t been done before. The book was more about the characters than the storyline; this was the first unconventionality. This made it so that as readers, we follow the characters as they go about their days, navigating their way around the world that is different from ours. This meant we experienced everything from the shoulders of the characters. This is hard for me to substantiate why it is good, but as soon as you read this book, you will understand.

Another thing I liked was how the characters were developed. Each had their own backstories that informed their thoughts and actions. The characters started making sense as soon as you knew where they came from and what they had to do to get where they were. All of these characters, and that was a handful of them, had to overcome pain. So other readers would be motivated by their tenacity and perseverance. Lastly, I liked the illustrations provided, especially when I had a hard time grasping information about the ‘psign’. The visualisation aided greatly in conveying foreign concepts.

What I disliked was how the book was organised. There was a lot that was going on in the book, but how the author decided to organise it wasn’t effective, according to me. Each chapter had too much information at the beginning that confused me, like the title of the chapter, location, time, and year. I had a hard time tying it with the previous chapters, and I think most readers who read the book would agree with me. Although I was able to read it as a standalone, I think it was important I started with the first book in the series.

Errors were minimal, so they didn’t affect my reading, meaning it was professionally edited. I rate the book four out of five stars because I liked it, but it didn’t impress me that much. I can strongly recommend it to people who love reading sci-fi. The language is too strong for young and immature readers. It is the second offering in the Cool Assassin series.

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Hot Wheels
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[Kibet Hillary]

It is good to read that the author was not afraid of being adventurous and did not fear trying what has not been tried before. I am wondering how the lives of the two characters will intertwine and more so what took the place of public institutions. Many thanks for the well-balanced review, @Kutloano Makhuvhela.

[Gerry Steen]

I hope the unconventional style of the author pays off in the end. I like that each character has a backstory and is well-developed. I think it may be wise to start with the first book in this series before reading this one. Thank you for your detailed review.

[Stephen Christopher 1]

This kind of experimental fiction is gaining traction, but I have to admit I'm not much of a fan. I prefer linear narratives with clear signposting. Thanks so much for the honest review.

[Hills Christopher Albert]

Thanks for this in-depth review! I appreciate how you explained the book’s unconventional structure—it sounds like it prioritizes character exploration over traditional plot progression, which is rare in sci-fi. Jen and Nyssa both sound like intriguing, layered characters, and your mention of ‘psign’ and the helpful illustrations definitely caught my attention. I also value your honesty about the book’s confusing structure and dense chapter intros.

[Ami Sanghavi]

I really like how you describe the book’s unique, unconventional style and strong character development. It sounds like a fresh take on sci-fi that focuses more on people than just plot, which is intriguing. Your honest thoughts on the confusing organization are helpful, and your recommendation to serious sci-fi fans makes sense.

[Vicki Cerniglia]

Thank you for the honest explanation of this book. I read a lot of science fiction, but I don't think I would care for this unconventional style. If the dates and timelines don't flow, the story can quickly become confusing. I think I'll pass on this book, but I thoroughly enjoyed reading your review.

[Seetha E]

The premise, as described, builds an interest. So does the combination of well-developed characters, how they connect within the plot and the theme that hopes to inspire readers to overcome pain. Yet, given the caution, I would like to sample a couple of chapters before picking up the book. Thank you for your detailed and honest feedback. Great job!

[Onyemuwa-dave]

This is a very insightful review of Hot Wheels! Your appreciation for the unconventional, character-driven style and the helpful illustrations really stands out. It's also great to know about the chapter organization issues and the strong language. Thanks for the detailed breakdown – I'm definitely giving this one a chance now!