I originally chose to read this book because I thought sterilisation would be an interesting and controversial topic to consider. However, the book was nothing like I expected it to be.

Of course, the theme of overpopulation resonated throughout the novel, but the underlying message was not particularly related to sterilisation or means of dealing with overpopulation. It was about political corruption – how the government can be watching over our every move. In effect, it reminded me of a contemporary take on 1984 by George Orwell, delivering an impacting punch about just how much the government controls our lives or even brainwashes us.

This was profound and very thought-provoking, and yet Riot retained accessible language and an upbeat plot (with just the right amount of romance subplot intriguing, but not distracting from, the main theme) so I do deeply admire Mussi's novel on that front. As well as this it was another persuasive novel about socialism versus capitalism: how we should help those who are in need, instead of keeping the rich wealthy and the poor disadvantaged.

The protagonist, Tia, was also admirable. She is a heroine in her own right as she sticks up for what she believes in, even though she is not personally affected by the Bill being passed. Furthermore, what I loved the most about her was that unlike many main characters in dystopian books, her feelings of fear and self-doubt are evident, which makes her seem much more vulnerable. We can relate to her so well, as some of her decisions are far from perfect unlike other books where the heroine or hero seems to possess a divine talent for decisions under pressure! She is a developed and detailed character, and I think I would have acted like her in a similar situation which made me connect with her.

I can find very little to fault with Riot, but in my personal opinion the ending was slightly flawed, it seemed to drag on for a long time and then ended on an ambiguous note. This is a minor disadvantage, however!

So, for a riveting dive into the world of true, modern rebellion against some of the risks posed to us in our 21st century society, I would fully recommend Riot (although not for younger readers). 9 out of 10 stars.
Want to tell the world about a book you've read? Join the site and send us your review!