Escaping the clutch of Ora, Luke is aware that their freedom is short-lived.
They are on the run; the superior Ora still needs him, and it'd stop at nothing.
Can he flare against the unbeatable foe? Are they alone in their fight? Do they have a chance against the superior humans and society that have thrived through years of genetic advancement?
This is the second and final book of the Ora series. The short story prequel To Ora is included in this book.
It is my shadow in my profile picture, taken fourteen years ago. I was around 3000 meters high (approx. 10000 feet) on a mountain called Rinjani. It was near dawn, and I was about to miss the sunrise on the peak as it was still a distance (vertical!) away. The terrain was difficult; I wasn't in tip-top condition since I hadn't been climbing for a long time. Nearing the peak, I slid down two steps for every three steps I took. It was exhausting; I considered quitting and kept questioning my existence and objective.
I didn't quit and reached there in an embarrassing amount of time. I missed the sunrise but, thankfully, also the sunrise crowd and had the peak all to myself. It was awesome. The mountain has a beautiful turquoise-colored lake in the crater with an active volcano at that time. I've climbed many peaks before, but this one was special, as this was the only peak I had reached alone for the journey and the finale. My climbing buddy had given up. Sitting on the mountain ridge in the darkness, I had my prolonged favorite moment, looking at the stars, embracing the peace and silence.
I love nature; going up the mountains, scaling the cliffs, exploring the deep, and chasing the currents. I haven't had chances for those now for many reasons, but I find an equal, if not more, amount of happiness strolling the beach with my loved ones and my dog, baking, and writing.
Writing is therapeutic, personal, and intimate. Climbing Rinjani is the reflection of my writing journey. It's challenging, and I am not in sync with the current, continuously questioning my existence and objective. I change the 'standard' professional author profile to a ramble. It's not easy for me to be out there, but I aspire to make my writing known and take small baby steps each time to come out of my shell. I can't really change. I don't have a bubbly personality to engage with everyone facetiously and prefer to establish genuine bonds instead. Even though it will take forever and is not ideal, I like to be myself.
English is not my first language, but it's the one that I can comfortably use to express myself the most. Sotto Voce is my pen name, and I love the meaning. It suits me the most.
If you are reading this or reading my works, thank you.
Having enjoyed the first In Ora book, I was looking forward to reading this sequel and it didn’t disappoint.
Luke and Ruyi are in hiding trying to avoid detection from Sphene and his team. Meanwhile, the condition affecting Orans has worsened, and they barely leave the house. Will Luke manage to evade Sphene and his team and finally find peace with Ruyi? Or will Luke face a fate worse than death and be harvested for the cure?
The book starts with an extract from Luke’s childhood that was heart-breaking; this is critical to the plot, so don’t skip it. The main story is very exciting, and in some places really sad, and in others very profound.
I wanted to stop reading as it was so sad and intense, but I couldn’t, as I needed to know how it ended. Overall a really good read.
The conclusion of the Ora series is deep, dark and yet ultimately hopeful. Luke and Riyu have escaped from Ora but are they yet safe. This is a book with a deep message about morals and ethics. How far should a society go to preserve its status quo and what is too far? This book doesn’t answer the questions but does ask the reader to consider these points very carefully. I surmise that English is not necessarily the author’s first language but that doesn’t detract from the sheer brilliance of the writing. Sotto Voce is I believe a talent to be watched and encouraged.
In Ora: The Boiling Point is the second half of a dystopian sci-fi duology, mostly picking up where book 1 left off. However, before we get to that, the novel begins with a short prequel, which provides context for the main character, Luke, and his motivations.
As before, there are 2 sides to this society: the Ora who have had genetic enhancements and the Origins who haven’t, mainly � as this book points out � because they can’t afford it. This has created a rift between them that grows way beyond where it was in book 1.
Luke and his love, Ruyi, end up on the run from the Ora, desperate to avoid being lab rats for experimentation. Their escape is handled well, as is most of the other action adventure elements. I particularly enjoyed seeing a stronger Ruyi in this instalment. Someone Luke could rely on, rather than she always depending on him. That fuels the other fine aspect of this book: the relationship between those two.
When I read book 1, I was put off by the sometimes disjointed dialogue and incorrect word choices in the prose. On the whole, credit where it’s due, I would say this book showed an improvement, but it was still frustrating at times. It wouldn't necessarily need a professional editor, but just someone with a reasonable grasp of English could give this book the polish it, at times, desperately needed. As it was, I often felt as though the author was flicking through a Thesaurus and choosing words that were not quite synonyms for what he wanted to say. That made it confusing at times, and I would once again strongly recommend the author lets a second pair of eyes scan over their future writing.
Structurally, I think it would have been good to see mention of the rebels and the Ora’s Darwin project seeded in earlier, rather than having them suddenly appear and just telling us they’ve been around for a long time.
Still, the story as a whole was a fun, exciting adventure, taking the reader to places I never expected. The dawning realisation of the seemingly inevitable devastating conclusion was chillingly good, as was the exploration of the morality of conflict, and where does one draw the line.
In conclusion: At times, it was tough going, fighting through the jungle of twisted narrative branches and grammatical brambles, but the story that lay at the centre of all that had a strong, beating heart that left me feeling that, on balance, it was worth the effort.
I was still rooting for Luke and Ruyi who are now in hiding from Sphene and his group, including the equally ruthless Quillon. In the prequel we discover more about Luke’s father and his childhood friend, Anny, which does help to explain a lot about past and future circumstances. The ever present affection between Luke and Ruyi maintains a mayor element of the whole book. It is very touching and still so well done. The contrast between the two societies, the superior Orans and the desperately poorer Origins, lies at the heart of this dystopian book and provides the urgency for readers to keep turning the pages; and that is also well done.
I found it refreshing for Luke and Ruyi together, to begin to consider some of the morality and ethics that may exist behind the actions and cruelty that are, inevitably, behind warfare and its battles for power. This is notwithstanding the aims and methods behind the Oran’s genetic experiments, since these help to reveal the reasons for needing human subjects, like Luke and others from Origin’s population.
Were it not for the frequent spelling errors and poor grammar here and there I would have been able to give this a higher rating, as previously. But with some re-editing and some re-arrangement this fascinating, exciting and compelling story would have had my ardent recommendation.
I loved the concept created in Sotto Voce’s first book of dystopian and utopian societies living side by side � a bit like Hunger Games, without the games. Unlike the latter, those in Ora don’t seem to depend on those in Origin, except as guinea pigs for human experimentation. The second book, All Ora: The Boiling Point, continues the struggles of the main characters Luke and Ruyi, whose well-crafted character developments ensure that we can’t help but cheer for them. I was thrilled that in book two, Luke must depend more on Ruyi for survival, thus, evening out the score and deepening their inter-dependence. This book is a page-turner, like book one, and the reader is drawn into the story both to follow the engaging characters and to learn more about the strained relationship between the two societies and how Orans use Origins to further their purposes. It is a powerful allegory of what could happen to our society as the rich become more privileged and the poor become destitute when the wealthy prefer to leave them behind. All Ora also provides a strong commentary on the ethical questions that advances in genetic engineering will certainly pose in the near future and the horrors that can ensue if our moral standards are not upheld. Although the writing is stronger than in the first book, there are still occasional grammar errors and instances of awkward wording that pull the reader out of the story. Efforts to tie events in the second book to the first are sometimes confusing (lacking enough detail for one to understand the relevance), even for this reader who read the first book, although some time ago. Still, the pacing is better, and the action keeps you on the edge of your seat, always wanting to know what will happen next. This highly creative story will appeal to lovers of dystopian fiction and all who love a fascinating tale of good versus evil.
In this series, a societal division has split humanity into separate communities. Ora is the land of the elite. It is the place where all advanced medicine is practiced. The people of Ora keep themselves isolated from the people of Origin, a rust belt slowly degrading into a wasteland. The Orans, even as advanced as they are, are beginning to fall victim to a problem: they are becoming vulnerable to sunlight. In the first book, we learn that a man named Luke holds some genetic characteristics that may help the Orans solve their problem with sunlight. Ruyi is a woman Luke likes. She needs medical attention, and Luke agrees to be an Oran test-subject if the Orans will help Ruyi. By the end of the first book, Luke and Ryui have to attempt an escape from Ora, and with some struggle, they succeed. In the second book, agents from Ora begin searching for them. And Bismuth, a third community comes into the story. Bismuth appears to be on both sides of the conflict, but may only be out for itself. What we get is a light game of cat and mouse featuring the main characters of the first book and a few new characters. For fans of the first book, this would be a welcome read. I can easily imagine the author having fun thinking of ways to continue the story. I can’t say that the fun transfers to the act of reading the book. The language here is just too broken. I could only read the book a page at a time. The good news is that there are many free AI proof-readers that could help any “English as a second language texts� step closer to English that flows (Quillbot is one). There is a perfectly fine low-stakes thriller here, but it needs some help becoming ready for readers to enjoy. Voce obviously loves writing and should take the steps to level up her/his/their's projects. I hope this happens.
1) To Ora (prequel): Many years earlier, young Luke and his parents were visiting Ora. Everything was subject to question for the very curious young boy...
2) All Ora, book 2: Luke was smiling at Ruyi on the beach. She was now in much better health and he was very happy about it.
Luke remembered the trials he experienced in Ora. Fortunately they managed to escape...
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A very good surprise for this surprising and moving dystopia, especially the prequel!
I haven't read volume 1, and I had no difficulty following the events of volume 2.
I really liked the story and the characters. I highly recommend this dystopian novel!
I enjoyed In Ora, and I find this sequel just as thought-provoking and memorable. Character motivations and relationships are at the core of the story once more, which is both uncommon and fantastic. The plot is solid as well, but it's the sense that Sotto Voce is writing with one pen past the veil that makes their stories special.
Support one another, respect one another, help one another. Why are we here if not for that? There is dystopia all around us. There is utopia as well. An overlay, a coexistence, something to wrestle through throughout life.
To break it down a wee little bit plotwise, we have Luke once more fighting for Ruyi. That means a classic journey told through story, a classic struggle. There is good conflict and tension in every scene, with some frightful confrontations (!! on the edge of my seat for Luke's safety)... Luke's loyalty kept me turning pages.
4.5 (there's a smidge of room to develop the prose more, but it's pretty good) rounded up to five.
I thoroughly enjoyed In Ora, it was a great read. All Ora is similarly satisfying and even though the author stresses that it's the final part, it does end with the possibility of more.
The plot follows Luke and Ruyi as they try and stay out of the clutches of Ora, however, Ora's superior technology means that it's impossible to stay hidden forever.
The book follows the pov of Luke, however we also partly follow the pov of the Oran hunting him, the action scenes are well handled, especially the escape, and the author does well to build tension as the stakes escalate during the last third of the book.
I found the conclusion to be too rushed, especially when the rebels come in to play. There was some setup in the previous book, however bringing them in so late creates issues. The Darwin project is another point that could have been introduced earlier too.
All in all, it's a solid and entertaining read that makes you think.
The sci fi thriller Ora saga continues with Sotto Voce’s All Ora! Luke is on the run now as he attempts to face off against a self proclaimed superior species of human with generations of genetic advancement. The previous book definitely left on a cliffhanger, so it was fun to catch up on Voce’s dystopian struggle! Luke is a great character as always, but like in the first installment, the overarching narrative of the struggle for perfection and what we lose along the way takes center stage. Voce’s novels are exciting, but I especially love how they make you think and how they stick with you after they’re done. If dystopian fiction is your jam, or you love tense and deep sci fi, definitely come do some gene splicing with All Ora!
Like I said previously in my reveiw of 'In Ora' there are many parallels in this series of novels with our own reality, where the privileged look out for themselves with little regard for the common man. It draws you in. It could even be a forecast of a possible future for mankind. I loved the concept and agree, that in truth, we all need each other to some degree. Respecting others is the key to mankinds progress, together with compassion. We are all equal at birth but that changes over time with circumstance and paths followed. This novel is really about a lack of respect and compassion, and the possible consequences of that. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
In the second and final book in the Ora series, Luke and his love, Ruyi, have escaped their imprisonment in the land of Ora and are now in hiding. Of course, their genetically enhanced captors are on the hunt to reclaim them and use them as test subjects. Luke’s blood may hold the cure for the Orans� disease, so they are determined to get him back. This dark, depressing, but also hopeful story makes the reader think about morals, ethics, and how far we should go as a society to improve our lives (typically, for the wealthy while the poor continues to suffer). There are some editing issues, but the narrative is strong and compelling. Overall, it’s an enjoyable read. 4 Stars
All Ora: The Boiling Point by Sotto Voce is a riveting conclusion to the Ora series. Luke and company find themselves on the run from the formidable Ora, with their freedom fleeting. As they face unbeatable foes and a society built on genetic advancement, the question looms: can they prevail? This cyberpunk sci-fi tale delves into themes of genetic engineering and societal power dynamics, delivering a thrilling ride from start to finish. Don't miss the included short story prequel, adding depth to this futuristic world. Books in Series: To Ora Prequel In Ora: The Land of the Superior
I had already reviewed the first story in the series, In Ora: Land of the Superior which I had really enjoyed, so was looking forward to the next novel. And I enjoyed this story as well. The story focuses a lot on ethics and morals, as well as how far a society must go in order to protect and preserve itself.
One minor drawback, however, was that there were however a few small grammatical and spelling errors here and there.
I really enjoyed reading this book, it had everything that I was hoping for from the description. It had a strong concept for the genre and I was invested in what was happening to the characters. Sotto Voce has a great writing style and making the characters that you care about.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.