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ameserole's review
3.0
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
In The Point, you will end up meeting Scarlett Winter. She's a troubled teen in the beginning and doesn't really take to authority. Especially if it's her dad telling her what to do. Eventually things get a bit out of control and she ends up at West Point. Which is where her dad wanted to go to begin with. However, it's not THE West Point that everyone really knows about. Nope, she is basically with these cadets who have special powers, just like her.
Now this book kind of reminded me of a couple of TV shows and/or movies. For example, it's teenagers with special abilities going into this special program. No, they didn't volunteer for it either. So, while reading this book I kept thinking of like X-Men or even that show Heroes.
At first, the main character kind of annoyed me. I get that she was rebelling and everything but she was also a smidge annoying. I also feel like I could've used a bit more information on posthumans in general because I just really wanted to know more. For example, were the born with these powers? Did they magically get them overnight? What exactly are all the powers within the levels.? So many questions that could've been easily answered (I think).
Other than that, I did end up enjoying the book and I'm glad that I got the chance to read it. Real rating: 3.5 stars.
In The Point, you will end up meeting Scarlett Winter. She's a troubled teen in the beginning and doesn't really take to authority. Especially if it's her dad telling her what to do. Eventually things get a bit out of control and she ends up at West Point. Which is where her dad wanted to go to begin with. However, it's not THE West Point that everyone really knows about. Nope, she is basically with these cadets who have special powers, just like her.
Now this book kind of reminded me of a couple of TV shows and/or movies. For example, it's teenagers with special abilities going into this special program. No, they didn't volunteer for it either. So, while reading this book I kept thinking of like X-Men or even that show Heroes.
At first, the main character kind of annoyed me. I get that she was rebelling and everything but she was also a smidge annoying. I also feel like I could've used a bit more information on posthumans in general because I just really wanted to know more. For example, were the born with these powers? Did they magically get them overnight? What exactly are all the powers within the levels.? So many questions that could've been easily answered (I think).
Other than that, I did end up enjoying the book and I'm glad that I got the chance to read it. Real rating: 3.5 stars.
isylyaeleni's review
2.0
The relationships weren’t very believable. It definitely felt like some dude who didn’t completely understand teenage girls trying to write about teenage girls.
Also, um, the Outer Banks are in NC, not SC.
Also, um, the Outer Banks are in NC, not SC.
peneloperea's review
3.0
I read this one fast. Ignoring other tasks fast. That said I give it 3-3.5 stars for a few reasons detailed below. Spoilers may pop up read further at your own risk.
I’m a bad news first kinda girl so let’s start with problems. Editing. Especially in the first few chapters I highlighted a # of half words or missing words that took me out of the story every time I hit one. That, for me, is very frustrating and takes away from the story.
I enjoy reading about messy characters. Flawed characters who grow. Maybe they don’t become perfect but they grow and in the end the MC Scarlett does grow. Score! That said I had some problems with details of her character.
Throughout the book there are mentions of Scarlett missing her friends but we NEVER meet any friends. Even the boy she’s with at the start is more of a toy. She feels more of a loner who wouldn’t have friends because of how selfish she is. It also seems like it would be more interesting when she meets people at The Point who she connects with.
Why is her brother so mean to her? I get their dad beat him but what adult male is beating his sister and does he know about the powers? I honestly felt like her brother could be cut from the story and replaced with her father. Scarlett wants her fathers love and for him to see her as a good, strong person. To me the brother was a horrible person and there was no reason for Scarlett to love him, other than because the author wants her. He hits her and she brings that up more than once, that is all we see of him.
The Point- loved the details about West Point. Wonderful to see in my head. What I didn’t get is why Rhodes would so easily trust Dalia, she’s a terrible person and it’s obvious to everyone but the guy in charge? And no one talks. No one sees all the crap she does? Other than her, I loved everyone we met at The Point. It would be fun to explore other powers a little more.
I was confused why Scarlett never caught on to Dalia. She shows up in your “dream” but you never explore why the dream walker is there? I really did enjoy this book, perhaps that is why I picked up on details that didn’t work for me. I want it to work. I want to LOVE this world.
Some wishes, I want to see Scarlett with her BFF and other friends, we need that if we’re to believe she has so many friends. We need to see something good between Scarlett and her brother otherwise he’s a just another bully and her need for revenge feels forced. I’d love more info on Jagger. He’s terrible but I wanted to know more about him.
I feel like this is a lot, I really want more from this world and these characters. I want to know what happens next. How do they rebuild The Point? The Farm? Does anyone catch on the Rhoude’s is a terrible person who should not be in charge? Do we ever learn what Scarlett’s brother was up to? How does Scarlett change the world. Tell me. And hurry!!!
Thank you to Random House Publishing and Net Galley for providing me with a copy of this book for my honest review.
I’m a bad news first kinda girl so let’s start with problems. Editing. Especially in the first few chapters I highlighted a # of half words or missing words that took me out of the story every time I hit one. That, for me, is very frustrating and takes away from the story.
I enjoy reading about messy characters. Flawed characters who grow. Maybe they don’t become perfect but they grow and in the end the MC Scarlett does grow. Score! That said I had some problems with details of her character.
Throughout the book there are mentions of Scarlett missing her friends but we NEVER meet any friends. Even the boy she’s with at the start is more of a toy. She feels more of a loner who wouldn’t have friends because of how selfish she is. It also seems like it would be more interesting when she meets people at The Point who she connects with.
Why is her brother so mean to her? I get their dad beat him but what adult male is beating his sister and does he know about the powers? I honestly felt like her brother could be cut from the story and replaced with her father. Scarlett wants her fathers love and for him to see her as a good, strong person. To me the brother was a horrible person and there was no reason for Scarlett to love him, other than because the author wants her. He hits her and she brings that up more than once, that is all we see of him.
The Point- loved the details about West Point. Wonderful to see in my head. What I didn’t get is why Rhodes would so easily trust Dalia, she’s a terrible person and it’s obvious to everyone but the guy in charge? And no one talks. No one sees all the crap she does? Other than her, I loved everyone we met at The Point. It would be fun to explore other powers a little more.
I was confused why Scarlett never caught on to Dalia. She shows up in your “dream” but you never explore why the dream walker is there? I really did enjoy this book, perhaps that is why I picked up on details that didn’t work for me. I want it to work. I want to LOVE this world.
Some wishes, I want to see Scarlett with her BFF and other friends, we need that if we’re to believe she has so many friends. We need to see something good between Scarlett and her brother otherwise he’s a just another bully and her need for revenge feels forced. I’d love more info on Jagger. He’s terrible but I wanted to know more about him.
I feel like this is a lot, I really want more from this world and these characters. I want to know what happens next. How do they rebuild The Point? The Farm? Does anyone catch on the Rhoude’s is a terrible person who should not be in charge? Do we ever learn what Scarlett’s brother was up to? How does Scarlett change the world. Tell me. And hurry!!!
Thank you to Random House Publishing and Net Galley for providing me with a copy of this book for my honest review.
jasonabbott's review
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
38threads's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This exhibit of superpowered teenagers was inventive and well thought out. There were a few abilities I had never heard of before and yet seemed to spin a refreshing take on common ones like strength and speed. Im glad that I read this relatively quickly as the author used callbacks in his storytelling which added that shock factor. This seemed like such a quick read due to the size of the chapters. The longest one was 6 pages and was very easy to follow our MC's POV with such a large cast. The final battle seemed a little convenient and was over very quickly but it was intense for the few pages the villain was on page.
readinggrrl's review
4.0
Scarlett Winter is a young woman who lives life on the edge. When she is forced to attend West Point she doesn't know how she will survive but her alternative is prison, so she vows to do her best. A few weeks in though she hits her breaking point and is quickly whisked away to The Point, a secret underground school on the grounds of West Point that trains Posthumans who have special gifts.
Here she is to learn how to not only control her gift but to push it further making her stronger and more useful to the powers that be. Of course Scarlett struggles with this until her dreams start to talk to her. Helping her, teaching her.
While Scarlett attends school the outside world is being tormented by a Posthuman named Jagger. Jagger has the ability to charm anyone into doing his bidding. He also seems to be learning how to take on other peoples gifts.
The Point is charged with stopping Jagger but Jagger has skills that render most people useless. Can Scarlett learn enough to conquer Jagger but still remain intact?
This was a pretty good story. While some of it was predictable some of it was also surprising. I could see this being turned into a series or even a movie. It definitely has potential.
Here she is to learn how to not only control her gift but to push it further making her stronger and more useful to the powers that be. Of course Scarlett struggles with this until her dreams start to talk to her. Helping her, teaching her.
While Scarlett attends school the outside world is being tormented by a Posthuman named Jagger. Jagger has the ability to charm anyone into doing his bidding. He also seems to be learning how to take on other peoples gifts.
The Point is charged with stopping Jagger but Jagger has skills that render most people useless. Can Scarlett learn enough to conquer Jagger but still remain intact?
This was a pretty good story. While some of it was predictable some of it was also surprising. I could see this being turned into a series or even a movie. It definitely has potential.
zzzrevel's review
1.0
This was a mess.
Started out ok but left gaps in the storyline where
I thought fleshing out was needed. Then it rambled
with not much point other than it was a woman
in combat-ish training. When finally there was a
plot, it was a jumbled mess of fighting and you
will still not be sure what powers/talents are held
by whom.
Not recommended.
Started out ok but left gaps in the storyline where
I thought fleshing out was needed. Then it rambled
with not much point other than it was a woman
in combat-ish training. When finally there was a
plot, it was a jumbled mess of fighting and you
will still not be sure what powers/talents are held
by whom.
Not recommended.
lizabethstucker's review
4.0
Paranormally gifted terrorists call for paranormally gifted soldiers to fight back. The Army searches for and recruits young people from across the country to come to West Point. There they will learn about duty and honor, discipline and how to control and direct their talents.
Scarlett Winter has no interest in taking orders from anyone, but after absorbing a bomb blast at the home of Senator Ditko, her identity is discovered. Colonel Rhoads gives a her a choice: enlist or be branded a terrorist.
Scarlett quickly learns that there is a massive difference between West Point, where normal cadets go through classes and training, and The Point, where people like her are mostly confined and tortured as both punishment and training.
Cruelty, a drive for results at whatever the cost, and an enemy who has been turning other posthumans into loyal followers. But the enemy makes one huge mistake, targeting Scarlett's family. Their actions do more to turn Scarlett into a weapon than anything tried by Rhoads and The Point.
There's an undercurrent of Heinlein's STARSHIP TROOPERS mixed with a pinch of Card's ENDER'S GAME in how the military can get too caught up in training, talented and naive youngsters for missions without considering that their weapons are living, breathing, feeling individuals.
Scarlett is not a likable character at the beginning. Even though her parents and brother were part of the problem, ultimately it is her own choices that make her an annoying character. But she grows through the book, slowly and reluctantly. By the end, she understands more about the appeal of the tradition of the Long Gray Line of West Point.
I visited West Point on a cold rainy day quite a few years ago. I could relate to the twin reactions of the buildings being like castles or like prisons. A quick read that built up to an exciting finish. 4.5 out of 5.
Scarlett Winter has no interest in taking orders from anyone, but after absorbing a bomb blast at the home of Senator Ditko, her identity is discovered. Colonel Rhoads gives a her a choice: enlist or be branded a terrorist.
Scarlett quickly learns that there is a massive difference between West Point, where normal cadets go through classes and training, and The Point, where people like her are mostly confined and tortured as both punishment and training.
Cruelty, a drive for results at whatever the cost, and an enemy who has been turning other posthumans into loyal followers. But the enemy makes one huge mistake, targeting Scarlett's family. Their actions do more to turn Scarlett into a weapon than anything tried by Rhoads and The Point.
There's an undercurrent of Heinlein's STARSHIP TROOPERS mixed with a pinch of Card's ENDER'S GAME in how the military can get too caught up in training, talented and naive youngsters for missions without considering that their weapons are living, breathing, feeling individuals.
Scarlett is not a likable character at the beginning. Even though her parents and brother were part of the problem, ultimately it is her own choices that make her an annoying character. But she grows through the book, slowly and reluctantly. By the end, she understands more about the appeal of the tradition of the Long Gray Line of West Point.
I visited West Point on a cold rainy day quite a few years ago. I could relate to the twin reactions of the buildings being like castles or like prisons. A quick read that built up to an exciting finish. 4.5 out of 5.
kzookev's review
3.0
Enjoyable "superhero" novel set at West Point. Definitely has the feel of the first book in a series.