Review of Omitted Pieces

[Nzube Chizoba Okeke]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Omitted Pieces" by Stephanie Hansen.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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Omitted Pieces by Stephanie Hansen is the second and final installment in the Transformed Nexus series.

In this story, Vienna, her clone, Sienna, and her boyfriend, Al, must find a way to defeat the evil scientist, Cromwell. However, it soon becomes difficult to tell who is friend or foe. The battle lines blur as they navigate the dangers they face while trying to keep their friends and loved ones safe. They find out that things are not always what they appear to be.

The story is told from three people's perspectives (Sierra, Al, and Vienna) in alternating chapters. It flowed differently from one chapter to the next. Each person's part of the story was paused and picked back up whenever the author switched back to their point of view. This was done subtly but was not confusing.

The general premise of this book felt cliche. The storyline of a group of kids fighting against an evil force in the future feels overused. However, the author has a unique style of writing that brings life to her story. The characters are diverse, and each has quirks, history, and desires that make the book more interesting.

I also liked the plot development. Things unfolded in a way that could keep the reader's attention, and the twists and turns didn't feel too forced. We could follow each character's journey and appreciate their strength as they faced discoveries and found themselves in difficult situations. Most characters' quick thinking, bravery, and selflessness shined through in their actions. It would have the reader hoping that things would turn out in their favor and victory would be theirs. Whether it would or not remained to be seen.

The author's descriptions were well done, considering the book was set on other planets. It was enough for the reader to see the environment through the eyes of the characters.

It incorporates suspense, but the conflict resolution seems anticlimactic. The story also contains some romance. The action is well described but not too intense. The dialogue is slightly immature, much like in Power Rangers. Therefore, it is not too advanced. The characters' behavior and emotional maturity reflect their age range (around 16). On this basis, the book will be better suited for teenagers. On further investigation, the author intended it for young adults. So I cannot fault her for that.

As previously mentioned, the author favors diversity in her characters. The inclusion of people with same-sex relationships reflects this. However, this might be a turn-off for some people.

This book is a continuation of a previous book, so many things will only make sense by reading the first book. It is advised you read Replaced Parts (Transformed Nexus, Book 1) before reading this book.

The book was well edited, as I found only two errors in the whole book. This book might not be for you if you are used to fast-paced sci-fi novels with more intense action, storylines, and characters. Regardless of the issues I brought up, I'd still give the book a perfect rating of 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it to young people interested in science fiction and fantasy set in the future.

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Omitted Pieces
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[Nancy004]

Great job on the book review! I appreciate how you provided a thorough and balanced analysis of the book, highlighting its strengths such as the unique writing style, well-developed characters, and intriguing plot. Your observations about the book's target audience, diversity, and inclusion were insightful.

[Jyotii Reviewer]

I love reading scifi and this review got the gist of the book. I had been looking for a similar book to study lately. This review concludes my search.

[Amy Luman]

I don’t like to start a series after the first book, and I don’t believe I ever saw the first one. It does, however, sound exciting. Thanks!

[Hazel Mae Bagarinao]

Based on the description of the book, I feel like it doesn't suit me. It mentioned Power Ranger, and it does not belong to my likes. Since I haven't read the first installment, this book is hard to grasp too. Thanks for your clear and concise review, Nzube!

[NetMassimo]

I might be too old for this kind of story but it's great to see that some classic tropes not only of the science fiction genre can still be developed in engaging novels. Thank you for your great review!