A review by wade117
Recursion by Blake Crouch

adventurous emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

This Crichton-esque, fun, time-traveling sci-fi thriller was a quick read that didn’t disappoint. I’m not usually a fan of time-traveling in stories because of it’s tendency to eliminate stakes. In this case, Crouch does it right. He presents enough of the scientific ideas to make the plot believable and give something for the readers to ponder. This action-packed thriller keeps the pages turning while also allowing for enough emotional beats to develop the characters and let the reader breath. 

 

It’s great to see a romance element but Crouch unfortunately skips over its development and rushes right to the characters already in love. I wish we could have seen more of that story. 

 

The themes explored in this novel are fantastic, though the story hits them a bit on the nose. They include, but not limited to, the purpose of pain, longing for the past, the dangers of unrestrained scientific pursuits, mankind’s fatal flaw. They could have been explored with a little more subtlety and grace but the characters end up telling you outright what the themes are and what you should think about them. 

 

In summary, this quick read has a few flaws but will easily entertain, enlighten, and make you want to treasure every minute of your life.