#Review : Fractalistic by Gerardo Delgadillo @Gero_Delgadillo

Fractalistic by Gerardo Delgadillo
Publication Date: July 9th 2019
Publisher: The Parliament House
Genre: Contemporary / Fiction
Pages: 308
Stars: ★★★★★

After moving to Mexico with her parents, Winter Gutan had been hoping the local alternative medicine doctor would cure her mother’s illness. When her mother does not survive his controversial treatments, Winter’s life spirals in despair. Her father, a software engineer, insists his computer program, Fractalistic, will enable them to communicate with her mother’s spirit. But as his sanity begins to slip, Winter confides in her friend Rafa, a computer wizard, who tells her he’s found information about using fractal technology to treat false memories—nothing paranormal about it, leaving Winter confused and without hope. Will she lose her mother forever?

Suspecting her dad is hiding a deep secret, Winter runs Fractalistic behind his back, unveiling a sea of computer-generated imagery swirling on the screen. Her mother appears to her…begging for help! But is this all just Winter’s imagination?

Fractalistic may enable Winter to communicate with her deceased mother, but it might also unleash more mysterious memories buried within Winter’s mind. To figure it all out, Winter must hack into her father’s system to uncover a horrifying truth…or remain in the dark forever.

Previous books I read by the same auhtor:
1) Bacon Pie (co-author)
2) Summerlypse

*** Note: I received e-copy of this book from the author, in exchange for an honest review. ***

Fractalistic was YA contemporary that revolved around Winter’s life after losing her mother. I will not limit it to just contemporary as there was good portion of book related to fractal theory and experiment so one can call it mix of Si-Fi, contemporary and romance. It was about grief, coping with loss of loved ones, shock and depression that affect mind and alters memory and behavior, trying to bring closure and move on in life.

Characters-

Winter was great in this book. Her voice was realistic, emotional and touching. I could feel her and could empathize with her. I and she are really opposite- I will not hesitate to confront anybody if I felt they were hiding something or lying. So I actually wanted to shake her a little and tell her to go ahead girl and find out the truth asap. But I could also understand her love for her father. Her development was gradual and like the way she cope with fears and grief and strength to face the horrible truth.

I liked secondary characters in the book. They all were great. They all tried to help her, lifted her spirit, made her to see the world she thought she will never like after leaving America, helped to see her mom and to find out, what really was happening with her, and loved her unconditionally.

What I liked-

The title and cover was eye-catching. I didn’t know anything about fractal theory before reading this book. It was interesting to see how it was used here in story.

Fractalistic was written from Winter’s perspective. Writing was amazing, easy to follow, page-turning, and description of characters and setting was vivid. The small Mexican town, language and life-style was lovely. I have read previous book by author so I knew there will be Spanish in the book. I cannot read it, of course, but those sentences were translated in English so it was relief for me.

Book started with Winter describing sadness and grief engulfed her house after losing her mother, her angst and frustration of new place and culture that she didn’t feel connected to after leaving America, her worry for her father who was obsessed with IFVI, fractal app he invented, whose sanity was slipping and was not loving her the way he used to.

But when she attended academy, made new friends, she got to know more about IFVI and other secrets. What was her dad hiding, why he was lying to her or so secretive about his app, were her friends genuinely trying to help her or there’s some hidden agenda? Was that app really working, helping to see her mom or was it all her imagination?

First few chapters were disjointed. I could not correlate them with each other- fractals used to communicate with her mother, then she got to know it was used to treat false memory, Julia insisting her to drink tea while watching fractal that sounded fishy, her dad’s horrible behavior towards her friends and then Chucho the dog and Misifus-cat. Lot was happening and I didn’t have clue where this was going, who to trust. Because of it I first thought I will rate it 4.

But as I read more, I could see it was meant feel disjointed, it was written in that style to show the mental status of Winter, the way she processed things. It all made sense when one by one I got answers to all question, fog of confusion lifted and horror of truth and reality was revealed.  

I liked to read Winter’s relation with other characters– her father, Rafa, Julia, Bel and her dog and that Misifus cat. All these relations evolved beautifully throughout the book. It was first complicated, there was secrets, mistrust and fights but as I read more I could see it strengthening gradually. Young love of Rafa and Winter was quite cute. It was not the strongest, but I like to read this portion. It gave breathing space between depressing and poignant story of Winter.

Turns in the book was nicely placed. I could guess what might have happened after 40% of the book but I was curious to see how it happened and how Winter was going to discover it. End was satisfactory and liberating.  I liked this even more than my previous books by the same author.

Overall, it was emotional poignant and heartfelt YA contemporary and those who has suffered loss will feel it intensely. I surely recommend this book.

Author Bio:
Hello! I’m Gerardo Delgadillo. Originally from San Francisco and raised in Mexico, I live in the Dallas metropolitan area, which means, my house is somewhere in a distant suburb nobody’s heard of.
My stories gravitate around fifteen-to-seventeen-year-olds, venturing into Mexico, or living in Mexico. I consider my writing contemporary and realistic. Well, as realistic as it can be. Truth to be told, real life can be quite boring.
I spend my days writing, either at my day job coding high-tech software, OR typing YA novels surrounded by lots of caffeine.

Author Social Media Links: Blog | Author Page | Goodreads | Twitter

Book Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble | Kobo
Affiliate Link: Book Depository

Let’s discuss!

What do you Think about the book and my review? Have you read this book already? Do you read many contemporary fictions? Have you read books based on loss and grief? If so, recommend me your favorite in this theme or genre.

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