"Genius" by Leopoldo Gout is a riveting exploration of the thin line between brilliance and madness. This fast-paced thriller follows the story of Rex Huerta, a prodigious teenager who discovers a mysterious device that augments his intelligence but exposes him to a dangerous world of power and manipulation.

Gout weaves a gripping narrative that seamlessly blends science fiction with real-world stakes. The tension escalates as Rex grapples with the ethical implications of his newfound abilities while being pursued by shadowy forces intent on controlling the technology. The author's writing is sharp and propulsive, keeping readers on the edge of their seats with each twist and turn.

What sets "Genius" apart is its thought-provoking exploration of the consequences of unchecked genius and the moral dilemmas that accompany it. Gout delves into themes of ambition, morality, and the seductive allure of unparalleled intellect. The characters are well-developed, and the story raises important questions about the responsible use of scientific advancements.

"Genius" is a rollercoaster of suspense, intellect, and ethical quandaries that will leave readers questioning the true cost of genius. Gout's masterful storytelling and thought-provoking narrative make this novel a must-read for anyone fascinated by the intersection of science and morality.

This was an awesome tech-based book. If you are into technology and coding and computer stuff, this books is for you. I thought it was tightly written and, of course, has tons of cool technology.

DNF - this one sounded good and not my usual YA comfort zone but after trying a few chapters this one is not for me. It's not badly written or anything just a bit too technical for me. Not really my thing.

I really wanted to like Genius: The Game. It had a fast-paced, adventurous plot, and characters I could root for. Unfortunately, a couple issues hindered my enjoyment, and I wasn’t able to fall in love with the story.

Let’s start with the good:
--Love the all-POC cast. Genius featured so many characters from different backgrounds working together on various technology projects. It’s nice that the story wasn’t America-centric.
--Our main characters (Rex, Painted Wolf, and Tunde) are also part of a group (The LODGE) that exposes corruption around the world, which is super cool. They take action and are actually influential—a rarity in some sci-fi YA.
--I liked the tension between each of the characters and their motivations for winning the game. Tunde’s love for his family and desire to save his village is clearly portrayed. I was so curious about Rex’s brother, and would have liked to see more about that storyline. Painted Wolf was interesting in that she is the most hands-on in the LODGE, but also takes the most risk if she is exposed.
--The graphics were very cool. Tunde’s designs, Rex’s code, and Painted Wolf’s hidden camera footage all made appearances in the ARC, and I thought it was neat to have a visual for things referenced in the text.

And now for the... less good:
--Okay, WHAT is up with The Game? The concept is that the contestants have to face two challenges, and that they are kept secret until immediately before, but this isn’t actually interesting. When we got to the challenges, it was just a rush of technological concepts and
--The creator of The Game, Kiran Biswas, was a very predictable villain. The foreshadowing leading up to the reveal of his plan wasn’t subtle, so I predicted almost the whole plot of the book.
--Why were Tunde’s chapters interspersed with phrases of broken English? None of the other characters had this, and it feels sort of weird to me that he was singled out for this narrative treatment. It would have made more sense if Painted Wolf also spoke in Mandarin occasionally, and if Rex did the same in Spanish, but it was just Tunde.

All in all, Genius: The Game is a good competitive sci-fi novel, but it wasn’t for me. Maybe a reader interested in coding and engineering will find it engaging. 3/5 stars.

Such an interesting concept. Totally something I'd recommend to my students.

Definitely an interesting premise and read. While I'm not YA, I read this book to see if it would be good for my 10 and 14 year old. For the 10 year old, I think it was a little technical, but the creativity of the creations definitely got his attention.

Given the online attitudes of the world today, the idea of 3 online geniuses meeting is plausible. The game was also a draw, and the personal goals of each player fit in well.

The book was entertaining to see how each "genius" used his brain and experiences to figure out how to work together. The book was fast paced, and the riddle of the game was fun to think about how it could be solved.

Good book with possibilities for spinoffs or sequels.

I give the book three stars. I was disappointed in the book and was expecting a lot from the descriptions. I think what I have a problem with is the writing and how the author describes and build the world he creating is very flat nothing is really described. The story was also very flat. I don't know if I should recommend. I think I would have to read the second story to see if the story gets better.

Fun quick read! The pacing was quite fast, which I enjoyed. It almost read in a style of a movie, where the next clue or next plot point is dropped and the audience is taken along for the ride. I loved reading the challenges they had to do. Not knowing what they were talking about, I soon grew weary but nonetheless I was still curious and engaged in how they came to their answers. I love how the Game wasn't even the main plot because each character had their own motive in helping others or their own family. I just thought that made it so much more interesting than having this game take over their lives. Because it showed how important other aspects of their young lives really are.
I love that whole set of POC characters are literally from all over the world. Even the side characters, where one of them is from the Philippines. That made me happy being Filipino after all. I had one sore point of the book and I couldn't help but notice it. Out of the two main characters, Tundee was treated as well "different." I don't know if the broken English point of view was needed. Both Rex and Cai who are also people of colour did not have any broken English dialogue and thoughts so I don't know why Tunde needed that either. Just because he's from a village? Isn't that a bit racist after all? I don't know why he was just segregated like that. Maybe I'm just reading into it, but I didn't like that niggly feeling I got when I kept seeing it.

There are also so many great quotes that I couldn't help but pull. They were so memorable and I just thought they were much needed in our society today. The quote about the cure for cancer made me stop and think because even though I thought the same myself years ago, I was still taken aback it was in a fictional novel.

"The Game" is an intelligent and enthralling read for young and old readers alike! You'll love how diverse the cast of characters are and how each have their own voice and story to tell.