TIM FERGUSON
Morph: Demise of Knacc has the rapid speed of a spy thriller, while also integrating a unique biotech twist. It almost reads as a series, continuously jumping between new locations, new characters, and new story arcs. Most importantly, while the story sprawls across a variety of characters, it never becomes complex or convoluted. The central premise of the story is the most interesting: a covert project that creates ‘enhanced people.’ From this point, the narratives scale notably as the characters and organizations are kept in a power struggle to either control, remove, or utilize the program. It makes the entire story feel overwhelming in a good way. When the story focuses on the action like surveillance, people getting hunted, and shifting alliances, it creates a celestial experience that feels like a big screen movie.
The Goods
• The speed at which it moves is extremely bingeable.
• The structure is helpful for keeping a large cast and often changing locations in order.
• A central concept that is big in scope and quite intriguing.
• A big enough scope that it moves across agencies and centers of power.
• Numerous scenes that are action driven and a constantly looming threat.
The Bads
• The scale of some of plot points and how they are resolved can be hard to justify.
• The repeated changing of locations and dates can make it feel disjointed.
• Given the volume of names, keeping the characters and groups straight can be quite a challenge.
• Rather than being depicted through narratively exciting moments with tension, many of the dramatic moments are conveyed through explanation-heavy sections.
I’d recommend Morph: Demise of Knacc if you’re looking for a fast-paced spy thriller with an interesting biotech angle. I think it’s a big book with big ideas and with a big scope. It has the speed and the action you want from this sort of book while also adding a biotech angle for a more interesting, or ‘popcorn’, sort of thriller. If you want a fun and exhilarating read, you’ll enjoy this one.
Every book hits differently for every reader.
Thanks for reading my review.
– Corey
