Thank you to Melville House Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book to review. I was immediately intrigued by the cover and simple title. I love a genre bending work as this also roped me into reading the book. The time jumping really worked for me as well as the discussion on race and prejudice. What really did not work for me personally was the character work. I did not bond with nor care for the characters at all. By the time the plot was picking up at about 70% into the book, I don’t feel we really were connecting with anybody on an emotional level or understood the true motivation of the main character. The climax of the entire plot line seemed rushed to me and like the author did not know how to really wrap up the story. I feel we could have done without some filler pages toward the beginning of the book, or benefitted from some extra development toward the 60% mark. By the time everything was happening, I felt very disconnected from the plot and characters as a whole. The premise really intrigued me, and I wanted to know how it would all play out, so I finished for the plot. If this would not have been gifted to me , I may not have ended up finishing. Solid three stars for the writing style, diversity, original ideas, and general feel. Would read work by this author again and look forward to it!

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Flux by Jinwoo Chong is a mixed third and first person multi-POV speculative novel. Brandon has recently lost his job after a hostile corporate takeover by Io, a woman who makes an awfully lot of claims about a technology she’s trying to develop. Meanwhile, we also see Bo, who lost his mother recently in a car accident, and Blue, who is in the middle of a high tech trial.

The speculative elements come into play a lot more in the back half of the book and it’s still more of a light touch than a harder sci-fi. I agree with the assessment that the novel is more of a mixture of genres as there is a kind of noir vibe going on when we see Raider in Bo’s POV and there’s the sci-fi twist in Blue’s POV. I really liked how these genres all mix together due to how they are connected to the themes and the three POVs.

I don’t feel like I can really talk about characters or plot without hitting on the big twist, so instead I’ll focus on the thing that captured my interest the most: the themes. Brandon is half-Korean and lost his connection to his Korean ancestry when his mother passed away. He stopped speaking the language, he makes mention of how American-Korean fusion food feels more and more authentic to him as lines continue to blur, and he deeply admires the character of Raider, who was an Asian detective on TV when he was a kid and the main representation the community had for years. Bo also has a complicated relationship with his Korean ancestry, though his is more linked to the character of Moto, who Raider takes in and raises after his parents die. Representation on its own is powerful, but Brandon has to wrestle with the messy legacy the actor behind Raider left behind.

As an immigrant who has had to deal with my own morals when it comes to separating the art from the artist, I understood why Brandon was talking specifically to Raider and not to the actor who played Raider and his desire to separate the two. That was his childhood hero. We’ve all heard the phrase ‘don’t meet your heroes,’ but what if your hero was a TV character who became your whole world after your mother died?

Content warning for mentions of racism

I would recommend this to fans of speculative fiction exploring themes of identity and what means to be in the diaspora and readers looking for books exploring separating the art from the artist

You know those movies you watch or books you read and, when you reach the end, you’re certain it would be a completely different experience the second time? Now add in that you have no idea what is going on the entire time and you’re not sore you like any of the characters. Add in an 80s era detective show with (of course, because it’s the 80s) blatant misogyny and racism.

It might be better and make some sense the second time and buy time travel is only real in this book, not my life, so I’m not sure I’ll reread it.

A Thought-Provoking Sci-Fi Thriller with Room to Grow

Jinwoo Chong's "Flux" is a captivating sci-fi thriller that explores the complexities of time travel and its potential consequences. The premise, involving a device that allows for limited time jumps, is intriguing, and the story moves at a brisk pace.

What I Liked:

Unique Concept: The "Flux" device, with its limitations and unpredictable side effects, offers a fresh take on time travel.
Intriguing Characters: The main characters are well-developed and face morally ambiguous dilemmas.
Fast-Paced Action: The story keeps you on the edge of your seat with its suspenseful plot twists and action sequences.
What Could Be Better:

Some Predictability: While the core concept is strong, some plot points felt a bit predictable.
Character Depth: While the main characters are engaging, some supporting characters could have benefited from further development.
Overall:

"Flux" is a solid sci-fi thriller with a compelling premise. While it may not be groundbreaking, it's an enjoyable and thought-provoking read that will keep you entertained.

Recommendation:

If you're a fan of time travel stories and enjoy fast-paced thrillers, "Flux" is definitely worth checking out.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

A fascinating look at several different timelines that was confusing to follow but ultimately pretty rewarding. I enjoyed the different perspectives and trying to weave the story together.

read this one a bit ago. it is bizarre in all the best ways and unoiquely mindbending which worked very well for me, though might not for others. 4 stars. tysmf for the arc.

The weaving together of multiple timelines made it challenging for me to really immerse myself in the story and understand what was going on right off the bat. It wasn’t until about halfway in that the relationship between each of the timelines became clear to me. Maybe it’s because I don’t typically read sci-fi, but this book felt unnecessarily convoluted. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

I couldn’t read this on my Kindle, the formatting was super wonky — which was such a bummer! I had such high hopes for the ARC, but I’ll need to pick up a physical copy before I can review it I think.

"Flux" by Jinwoo Chong is a captivating and thought-provoking novel that explores themes of identity, love, and the complexity of human experience in an interconnected world. The novel blends speculative fiction with elements of psychological realism, offering a fresh take on the struggles of self-discovery in the modern age. Chong’s prose is both poetic and precise, drawing readers into a world where technology, memory, and emotion intertwine. The characters are deeply human, their flaws and desires resonating long after the final page. This book is a challenging yet rewarding read that I am still thinking about.

I had to DNF due to the formatting of the book. It entirely broke any chance of getting into the story. This might be good but I couldn’t get into it enough to know.

Flux by Jinwoo Chong offers a fresh take on time travel, intertwining the lives of three characters across different timelines. Eight-year-old Bo loses his mother in a tragic accident just before Christmas. Decades later, 28-year-old Brandon is reeling from a job loss after a hostile corporate takeover, and 48-year-old Blue is entangled in a high-stakes trial involving a defunct tech startup and its dark secrets. Without spoiling "too much", as their individual stories unfold, an experimental technology capable of manipulating time begins to connect their lives.

This debut is a unique blend of neo-noir and speculative fiction. Chong weaves these disparate threads into a cohesive narrative that explores grief, trauma, and Asian identity in America. I wholeheartedly enjoyed it and can't wait to dive into I Leave It Up to You!

Thank you to NetGalley and Melville House for the free ARC in exchange for this unbiased review.

TLDR: Amazing book if you come with an open mind and no expectations. I loved getting a look into the main character’s mind and developing a deeper understanding of him as the book progressed. The content in this book really stuck with me. I’ll be thinking about everything it proposes in relation to the exploration of self, cultural identity, and familial bonds for a long time. It came at just the right time for me. Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me early access.

Writing Style: ☆☆☆☆
Jinwoo’s writing style was one that I really enjoyed. He has a way of writing that is not overly flowery or expository but is not plain either. He has a way of putting profound things simply that at times left me putting the book down and pondering how it applies to my own personal sense of self. I loved the non-linear approach to telling a nonlinear story.

Plot: ☆☆☆☆☆
Flux, at its base, is a science fiction novel about time-traveling. To describe it as such would be to do it a disservice. The author uses time-traveling to explore grief, childhood trauma, complicated familial relationships, self-identity, cultural identity, mental health, and even some social commentary. He does this in a way that is not unfamiliar and yet still manages to be unique. I adored the parallels drawn between the main character and the in-world fictional character he idolizes. The plot is presented in a way that is very all over the place but in a very intentional and well-thought-out way. If you try to come at it expecting a clear linear progression with a closed mind, you will be confused. When you accept it for what it is in the moment and let things unfold how the author intends, it is incredibly gratifying. Eventually, you piece together exactly what is happening and it feels satisfying. The first half of the book was a beautiful fever dream that I loved every minute of.

World Building: ☆☆☆☆
The technological aspects of the world were written in a very subtle and casual way. All of the context that clued you into the tone and setting of the world was very natural. The majority of the book is set in the near future and is very believable in that aspect. I enjoyed reading about the simple yet effective quality-of-life improvements made in the world as they were relative to the plot. While the world-building in regard to technology and pop culture was great, they weren’t the focus of the book.

Characters: ☆☆☆☆☆
This aspect is where Flux really shines. The entire book reads like one big character study. Everything is so intentional when it comes to the words written, to the point that even the name of the main character (or lack thereof) relays important information about the larger themes and tone of the work. The side characters are very underdeveloped as their own individual characters. They are only developed as far as to serve the main character’s development or to portray something about the main character. That’s not to say they are flat, boring, or unlifelike. It is quite the opposite and I really enjoyed how the other characters are explored. The book doesn’t let the readers experience the other characters much through actions or interactions with them. Instead, all of the other characters are explored and developed through the main character’s memories and perceptions of them. I think there is something incredibly gripping and profound in reading about the other characters almost solely through the eyes of the main character. The narrative being spun about them in the main character’s head is almost unreliable. The main character himself is not very likable personality-wise either, which I enjoyed. That aspect to it helps elevate the narratives being relayed to you.

Overall: ☆☆☆☆☆ (4.5)
If you want to enjoy your time reading this book, I think it is important to toss out every preconceived notion or expectation you have regarding the genre or themes. You know what? Get rid of your expectations when it comes to plot structure too. If you’re not able to take what it gives you and enjoy the ride, understanding that clarity won’t come until close to the end, you most likely won’t enjoy it. That being said, if you are able to let go, piecing together the fragmented bits of context scattered throughout and exploring the main character’s mind leads to an immensely satisfying end. This is a book that will stick with me in my mind for a long time to come. Thank you to Jinwoo Chong for the experience, and thank you to NetGalley for allowing me early access to said experience.

An illuminating twist on the cyberpunk genre that gave me insight into valuable perspective I wouldn't normally have access to. Fans of the genre will enjoy this thoroughly.

The pacing in this was great, the time jumps kind of had me confused. It is a very interesting story overall.

I got an e-arc of this book on NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I'm so sad to say that the formatting on the Kindle was not good. It practically made it unreadable. Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for a chance to read this book.

The formatting of this book was messed up on my kindle, which just made reading and understanding what was happening even more confusing. I don't think I was in the right headspace for this book and the formatting just exacerbated that issue.

“Flux” – Jinwoo Chung

“That was one thing about memory. It often obeyed the capriciousness of a mind trying to hide from guilt, but one, always, had to live with the deceit.”

My thanks to @netgalley and @melvillehouse for the opportunity to read this.

A sci-fi, speculative, time-travelling first novel, “Flux” follows three people at various stages of life. As an 8-year-old, Bo loses his mum in a tragic road accident and is left haunted by the incident. As a 28-year-old, Brandon loses his job with a magazine and is quickly drawn towards a tech company with little disclosure. As a 48-year-old, Blue is a witness in a high-profile case against the same company. The book weaves between these three streams and slowly unveils its secrets about the protagonists and the technology at the heart of the book, while exploring ideas of grief, assimilation and corporate power.

I’m in a weird position with this book, in that I’m sure I would enjoy a second reading a lot more than the first, but nothing really encourages me to do so. I felt very lost and unengaged for the majority of the book, stuck with it, and finally got to the ending with a better sense of the goal of the book, one that I could assess better upon a reread. However, I find the themes much more interesting than the characters, and I’m not sure if the plot will fully make sense even upon revision.

There’s definitely something here, and it might work better for other people, but I spent so much of my time reading this either confused or bored that it’s hard to wholly recommend. That said, it could well work for others.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

**"Flux" by Jinwoo Choung** is a fascinating and ambitious read that offers a unique, thought-provoking experience, though it may not be for everyone. The book’s abstract presentation and fragmented narrative style ask for a great deal of patience from its readers. Many may find the disorienting storytelling a bit overwhelming, as we are often as confused as the protagonist, trying to make sense of the blurred boundaries between memory, identity, and reality.

The plot itself is a whirlwind, twisting and turning between a TV show, the protagonist’s story, and their fragmented memories. As the protagonist grapples with these overlapping worlds, themes of identity and the fluid nature of memory are explored in deeply compelling ways. The constant shifting between realities keeps the reader on their toes, but it also creates a sense of uncertainty and chaos that might frustrate some.

Despite these potential challenges, *Flux* stands out as a truly unique reading experience. The constant twists and the interplay of different realities makes for a book that requires and rewards patience, offering a fresh perspective on the nature of existence and self. However, its unconventional structure and abstract storytelling might leave some readers feeling lost or disconnected.

**Rating:** ★★★★ (4/5)

*Flux* is a book that demands engagement and patience, offering a complex, multi-layered narrative that will be immensely satisfying for readers who enjoy stories that challenge traditional storytelling. It’s a thought-provoking journey into identity, memory, and alternate realities, though not without its frustrating moments

Thanks to NetGalley and Melville House Publishing for an eArc of this book in exchange for an honest, unbiased review!

2 stars unfortunately!

i feel like this book had a lot of ideas which ultimately failed to make a cohesive narrative in the end. it did try a lot of things— i liked how the three 'perspectives' ended up being the same voice in different times, i liked some of the themes touched on in this as well. (celebrity worship culture, growing up as an asian minority in western society, estranged families, and grief is always a hit with me if you explore it in your book). i liked some of the time travel intricacies and how certain scenes hit (blue and his father, bo and brandon in the snow).

but this book didn't feel like it knew what it was. was this a literary fiction-esque character study of brandon, his failing relationships and how he grapples with grief and trauma; or was this trying to be a fast paced sci-fi thriller steeped in mystery? the book tries to do both and is as such weak in both areas. i will say it wasn't as if this was written poorly, i did like the author's writing style and some of how the plot advanced. but the pacing left much to be desired and the plot twists into a convoluted mess that becomes increasingly hard to follow in the last 30% or so of the book.

the idea of flux was never really explained properly either— to what end was the company trying to commodify time travel? what was going on with the batteries? who the fuck was lev in all this?
some of how things came about also never really ended up making sense to me— how did brandon fall down an elevator shaft with nil repercussions? how did blue figure out how to trigger time travel when any combination of things he did in the day could have triggered it? it was still unclear to me why three employees were killed in the first place as well— for something that is quite literally in the front and centre in the blurb, i thought it would have been more prevalent. another gripe i had was that i genuinely couldn't bring myself to care about the TV show sections in this and they had my eyes glazing over every time they appeared (which was unfortunately quite often).

ultimately, i think this was a case of one book trying to achieve too many things at once and succeeding at none of them as a result. i wanted to love this, but it unfortunately didn't end up being the book for me.

thank you to netgalley and melville house publishing for the copy of this book!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the copy!

Wow wow! I loved this!!! I think it’s for a low score because it’s weird and a lot of people have a hard time with weird. But I found it really interesting and honestly quite sad.

If you love not knowing what’s happening for 80% of a book then this one’s for you