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3.14 AVERAGE
3.14 AVERAGE
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed this book so much I read it in one sitting! It kind of reminded me of The Host by Stephanie Meyer which I really enjoyed as well. The story is told from the point of view of Gracie and Brandon in alternating chapters. Then Jake the child they find takes a turn in the narration. Gracie and Brandon meet up after an alien invasion destroys the world as they knew it. They've both lost their families and have to stick together to find a safe place to stay at Brandon's uncles cabin up north. They find Jake along the way who doesn't speak and has many secrets of his own but they all grow together and take care of each other as they make their way through a dangerous landscape. Coming across people they cannot trust and some who they thought they could trust. Very good story!
MORE? MORE! @ P.S. I love that book!
A copy of the book was kindly provided to me by the publisher but it does not influence my review in any way!
First of all I must be honest, this book was a very close copy of The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey with the ending turning out into The Host by Stephanie Meyer.
THE WORLD: Just like in many alien books that are now trending the world is very similar to ours with just a little addition - alien ships hanging up in the sky above people. First nothing is happening for a while till people get used to them being there and then boom invasion. Moreover, just like in Rick Yancey's book aliens look exactly like us. That is pretty much it. Just a broken world without people.
CHARACTERS: There are three main characters in the book: Gracie, Brandon and Jake. Gracie is a nerdy 14 years old teenager with no friends. Well at least no face to face friends. She spends most of her time online on a science fiction fanbase where she has many friends she can talk to. Brandon on the other hand does not even know how to use a computer. He is a son of an bipolar alcoholic, mainly the case where the kid takes care of the drunk parents and thinks the parent is a god. Jake comes into the picture a little bit later in book and is only 5 years old. But I have to say, he was my favorite. Jake is also special in this story. Now my main problem with the characters was that Gracie is way too silly for a teenager, and I do not mean because of her doing what mommy tells her. Her mother is kinda of a bully as far as I understood. But really, sometimes the things Gracie would say...no wonder she had no real friends. Same problem with Brandon, he is 15 but his relationship with his dad...I will never understand why nobody ever reported him to child protection services. I mean the neighbors saw it, the teachers saw it, his friends family saw it and still nothing. And I also do not like the fact that his father was like god through the whole book and was never criticized, like really you would expect a kid to understand in the end but nope, never happened.
LOVE: No love triangles is always a plus but I was not really impressed with the romance either. Just plain typical falling in love when nobody else is left.
PLUS: I enjoy alien science fiction books so it was an alright read.
MINUS: It felt all the time that I was reading a bad copy of The 5th Wave.
OVERALL: I would recommend this book to the science fiction fans but in case you are not one of them I would say no.
MORE? MORE! @ P.S. I love that book!
A copy of the book was kindly provided to me by the publisher but it does not influence my review in any way!
First of all I must be honest, this book was a very close copy of The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey with the ending turning out into The Host by Stephanie Meyer.
THE WORLD: Just like in many alien books that are now trending the world is very similar to ours with just a little addition - alien ships hanging up in the sky above people. First nothing is happening for a while till people get used to them being there and then boom invasion. Moreover, just like in Rick Yancey's book aliens look exactly like us. That is pretty much it. Just a broken world without people.
CHARACTERS: There are three main characters in the book: Gracie, Brandon and Jake. Gracie is a nerdy 14 years old teenager with no friends. Well at least no face to face friends. She spends most of her time online on a science fiction fanbase where she has many friends she can talk to. Brandon on the other hand does not even know how to use a computer. He is a son of an bipolar alcoholic, mainly the case where the kid takes care of the drunk parents and thinks the parent is a god. Jake comes into the picture a little bit later in book and is only 5 years old. But I have to say, he was my favorite. Jake is also special in this story. Now my main problem with the characters was that Gracie is way too silly for a teenager, and I do not mean because of her doing what mommy tells her. Her mother is kinda of a bully as far as I understood. But really, sometimes the things Gracie would say...no wonder she had no real friends. Same problem with Brandon, he is 15 but his relationship with his dad...I will never understand why nobody ever reported him to child protection services. I mean the neighbors saw it, the teachers saw it, his friends family saw it and still nothing. And I also do not like the fact that his father was like god through the whole book and was never criticized, like really you would expect a kid to understand in the end but nope, never happened.
LOVE: No love triangles is always a plus but I was not really impressed with the romance either. Just plain typical falling in love when nobody else is left.
PLUS: I enjoy alien science fiction books so it was an alright read.
MINUS: It felt all the time that I was reading a bad copy of The 5th Wave.
OVERALL: I would recommend this book to the science fiction fans but in case you are not one of them I would say no.
MORE? MORE! @ P.S. I love that book!
This book was unexpected. I assumed it was another alien invasion story… and it was, but with a few other twists.
Narrated in alternate P.O.V. from Gracie, Brandon and Jake, Untaken documents their journey of survival through alien and human combatants’ alike, searching for a safe place to call home (in the form of a cabin in Maine). I’m not usually a fan of alternate voices in the narrative, but this time it gave unique perspectives and added something to the story.
I found Brandon to be a little crass and obstinate, the curse words and his attitude fitted his age and how he assumed a leadership role. This juxtaposed with Gracie, more of a tween than a teenager, but with the common sense of someone much older. She was quietly observant and determined with a manner that worked around the boys and kept the group together. The group dynamic was very reminiscent of The Fifth Wave by Rick Yancey.
Jake, the youngest, only has short and sparse contributions to the narrative, but it was always to show something important.
The mode of the alien attack was a little derivative, I would have like to read a more original aspect to their presence; however their motivations were pretty cool indeed.
Overall, I was really excited about this book – parts of the narrative felt awkward, but that was due to the fact of the cast’s such young age. And this is a quick and easy read full of action and mystery. I devoured the book in one sitting. I had difficulty in predicting what was going to happen, maybe about three quarters through I was pretty close, but there is certainly enough plot twists to keep you guessing.
I’d recommend this without hesitation, especially if you love sci-fi or dystopian.
Narrated in alternate P.O.V. from Gracie, Brandon and Jake, Untaken documents their journey of survival through alien and human combatants’ alike, searching for a safe place to call home (in the form of a cabin in Maine). I’m not usually a fan of alternate voices in the narrative, but this time it gave unique perspectives and added something to the story.
I found Brandon to be a little crass and obstinate, the curse words and his attitude fitted his age and how he assumed a leadership role. This juxtaposed with Gracie, more of a tween than a teenager, but with the common sense of someone much older. She was quietly observant and determined with a manner that worked around the boys and kept the group together. The group dynamic was very reminiscent of The Fifth Wave by Rick Yancey.
Jake, the youngest, only has short and sparse contributions to the narrative, but it was always to show something important.
The mode of the alien attack was a little derivative, I would have like to read a more original aspect to their presence; however their motivations were pretty cool indeed.
Overall, I was really excited about this book – parts of the narrative felt awkward, but that was due to the fact of the cast’s such young age. And this is a quick and easy read full of action and mystery. I devoured the book in one sitting. I had difficulty in predicting what was going to happen, maybe about three quarters through I was pretty close, but there is certainly enough plot twists to keep you guessing.
I’d recommend this without hesitation, especially if you love sci-fi or dystopian.
I was lent this book by a coworker who happens to be related to the author as they thought I would enjoy it, but I was not requested to or expected to review it.
The premise of Untaken is unmistakably similar to The 5th Wave in theme — an alien attack on earth that comes in waves, with two teenagers trying to survive whilst protecting/rescuing a young child. However, it’s been long enough since I’ve read The 5th Wave that I wouldn’t be able to make a direct comparison of specific similarities and differences between the two other than them both being YA fiction.
We spend a fair bit of time at the beginning of this book becoming acquainted with the lives of our two protagonists Brandon and Gracie. Coming from different backgrounds, their experiences definitely acted as believable catalysts for their actions and interactions throughout the book; when they finally meet it is surprising how well they compliment each other’s individual strengths, and their ability to reach practical decisions together in stressful situations works in their favour many times. They bicker and have disagreements, but there is an underlying respect on both sides that helps them reach mutual conclusions which are stronger than any of their individual ideas.
My main concern coming into this book was the worry of encountering excessive romance or a pseudo-family relationship between Brandon, Gracie, and the child they are trying to take care of, Jake. However, these elements only surfaced for maybe two or three chapters and I did not feel that they were particularly forced. Unnecessary perhaps, but that’s purely my personal preference.
Often I tend to find myself frustrated with YA fiction written in first person, but the writing in Untaken flows well, capturing the personalities of each of the characters and how they view the world around them. The switch to third person is particularly successful in stumbling you as the reader whilst conveying the battling consciousnesses of Jake, which is a major part of his narrative arc.
I felt the focus of the book was fairly singular when there was clearly a lot going on elsewhere with the military’s efforts to stabilise the remaining population. Whilst this was frustrating, it was understandable as the three needed to stay isolated; by leaving us in the dark it showed how frustrated the characters themselves must be having to live and plan their movements with such little contact with the rest of the world.
However, by omitting the information of what was going elsewhere (and I’m treading lightly here to avoid spoilers), I felt that some extra time could have been spent following Jake and the strange events that were beginning to happen around him. His chapters were fascinating, and it was a shame that Gracie and Brandon’s chapters seemed to be so stuck in denial of what was happening when there was opportunity to really delve deeper and learn more, though I welcomed the challenge of certain things being left open to interpretation.
Overall, a solid book covering a snapshot of a devastating event with characters I could empathise with and a fast-paced story. I only wish it were slightly longer in some areas!
The premise of Untaken is unmistakably similar to The 5th Wave in theme — an alien attack on earth that comes in waves, with two teenagers trying to survive whilst protecting/rescuing a young child. However, it’s been long enough since I’ve read The 5th Wave that I wouldn’t be able to make a direct comparison of specific similarities and differences between the two other than them both being YA fiction.
We spend a fair bit of time at the beginning of this book becoming acquainted with the lives of our two protagonists Brandon and Gracie. Coming from different backgrounds, their experiences definitely acted as believable catalysts for their actions and interactions throughout the book; when they finally meet it is surprising how well they compliment each other’s individual strengths, and their ability to reach practical decisions together in stressful situations works in their favour many times. They bicker and have disagreements, but there is an underlying respect on both sides that helps them reach mutual conclusions which are stronger than any of their individual ideas.
My main concern coming into this book was the worry of encountering excessive romance or a pseudo-family relationship between Brandon, Gracie, and the child they are trying to take care of, Jake. However, these elements only surfaced for maybe two or three chapters and I did not feel that they were particularly forced. Unnecessary perhaps, but that’s purely my personal preference.
Often I tend to find myself frustrated with YA fiction written in first person, but the writing in Untaken flows well, capturing the personalities of each of the characters and how they view the world around them. The switch to third person is particularly successful in stumbling you as the reader whilst conveying the battling consciousnesses of Jake, which is a major part of his narrative arc.
I felt the focus of the book was fairly singular when there was clearly a lot going on elsewhere with the military’s efforts to stabilise the remaining population. Whilst this was frustrating, it was understandable as the three needed to stay isolated; by leaving us in the dark it showed how frustrated the characters themselves must be having to live and plan their movements with such little contact with the rest of the world.
However, by omitting the information of what was going elsewhere (and I’m treading lightly here to avoid spoilers), I felt that some extra time could have been spent following Jake and the strange events that were beginning to happen around him. His chapters were fascinating, and it was a shame that Gracie and Brandon’s chapters seemed to be so stuck in denial of what was happening when there was opportunity to really delve deeper and learn more, though I welcomed the challenge of certain things being left open to interpretation.
Overall, a solid book covering a snapshot of a devastating event with characters I could empathise with and a fast-paced story. I only wish it were slightly longer in some areas!
This review was originally posted on my blog, The Reality of Books: https://therealityofbooks.wordpress.com/2015/05/02/untaken-by-j-e-anckorn/
Untaken, by J.E. Ankhorn centers on 14 year old Gracie and 15 year old Brandon, two of a small number of survivors after an alien race comes down to Earth and swallows everyone that they love into giant silver ships. They form a plan to travel towards Maine and Brandon’s uncle’s cabin; along the way, the pair comes across a young boy they name Jake. Jake can’t talk, and he doesn’t act like a normal boy. But Jake has a secret, and he will do anything to hold onto it—not only from Gracie and Brandon, but from the army men who pursue them.
Plot wise, this started out reminding me of In The After, by Demetria Lunetta—only it doesn’t move nearly as quickly. There were many times where the storyline dragged for me, but it held my interest just enough that I had to continue reading. The characters in this book weren’t rounded out; the twists and turns were obvious before they were revealed. The world building also lacked for me. I wanted to know more about the alien race—where they came from, their motivations, and just who, exactly, they were. The little we see of them feels like “here we are, going to suck up your people now.” I also didn't entirely understand the way in which the “drones" functioned. In different places in the book, it seems like they work in different ways, and the end adds an entirely new dynamic to the way in which they function.
There’s a lot that this book does well. This book really picks up once Gracie and Brandon join forces on their journey. The first sections are way too long and unnecessarily detailed with things we don’t really need to know. The language of the characters is spot on for their age. The evolution of Jake was also amazing; I enjoyed watching him “grow up” inside his head. The description and imagery throughout are amazing; Anckorn put me right into the situation alongside the characters. I also love that this was a single book and didn’t follow the current trend of YA dystopian trilogies.
The things that this does well are enough to balance out the things that it doesn’t, making it worth a read for anyone middle school age-ish who likes survival stories, aliens, or science fiction.
3 stars.
**I received this book as an DRC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Untaken was published March 23rd, 2015, by Curiosity Quills Press.
Untaken, by J.E. Ankhorn centers on 14 year old Gracie and 15 year old Brandon, two of a small number of survivors after an alien race comes down to Earth and swallows everyone that they love into giant silver ships. They form a plan to travel towards Maine and Brandon’s uncle’s cabin; along the way, the pair comes across a young boy they name Jake. Jake can’t talk, and he doesn’t act like a normal boy. But Jake has a secret, and he will do anything to hold onto it—not only from Gracie and Brandon, but from the army men who pursue them.
Plot wise, this started out reminding me of In The After, by Demetria Lunetta—only it doesn’t move nearly as quickly. There were many times where the storyline dragged for me, but it held my interest just enough that I had to continue reading. The characters in this book weren’t rounded out; the twists and turns were obvious before they were revealed. The world building also lacked for me. I wanted to know more about the alien race—where they came from, their motivations, and just who, exactly, they were. The little we see of them feels like “here we are, going to suck up your people now.” I also didn't entirely understand the way in which the “drones" functioned. In different places in the book, it seems like they work in different ways, and the end adds an entirely new dynamic to the way in which they function.
There’s a lot that this book does well. This book really picks up once Gracie and Brandon join forces on their journey. The first sections are way too long and unnecessarily detailed with things we don’t really need to know. The language of the characters is spot on for their age. The evolution of Jake was also amazing; I enjoyed watching him “grow up” inside his head. The description and imagery throughout are amazing; Anckorn put me right into the situation alongside the characters. I also love that this was a single book and didn’t follow the current trend of YA dystopian trilogies.
The things that this does well are enough to balance out the things that it doesn’t, making it worth a read for anyone middle school age-ish who likes survival stories, aliens, or science fiction.
3 stars.
**I received this book as an DRC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Untaken was published March 23rd, 2015, by Curiosity Quills Press.
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed this book so much I read it in one sitting! It kind of reminded me of The Host by Stephanie Meyer which I really enjoyed as well. The story is told from the point of view of Gracie and Brandon in alternating chapters. Then Jake the child they find takes a turn in the narration. Gracie and Brandon meet up after an alien invasion destroys the world as they knew it. They've both lost their families and have to stick together to find a safe place to stay at Brandon's uncles cabin up north. They find Jake along the way who doesn't speak and has many secrets of his own but they all grow together and take care of each other as they make their way through a dangerous landscape. Coming across people they cannot trust and some who they thought they could trust. Very good story!
Read all my reviews on http://urlphantomhive.booklikes.com
A real alien invasion is not just like in the movies. Except that it read exactly like watching one of those movies. Giant alien spacecraft arrive, doing nothing for some time, until they start harvesting. The few people left over are trying to survive and slowly start to realise there might be something more threatening out there,
The story contained the typical characters in a (post)apocalyptic YA. The protected character who will have to learn everything about survival but does have a good brain and a big heart. The troubled character who for convenience knows a lot about survival. To spice things up, they are also taking care of a little boy.
It was an average read. I was mostly interested in the storyline of the little boy, but found the ending unsatisfactory. The rest of the story was quite a standard read. I did enjoy it, for I like these kind of books, but the alien invasion wasn't given too much of a new angle to make it really interesting.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
A real alien invasion is not just like in the movies. Except that it read exactly like watching one of those movies. Giant alien spacecraft arrive, doing nothing for some time, until they start harvesting. The few people left over are trying to survive and slowly start to realise there might be something more threatening out there,
The story contained the typical characters in a (post)apocalyptic YA. The protected character who will have to learn everything about survival but does have a good brain and a big heart. The troubled character who for convenience knows a lot about survival. To spice things up, they are also taking care of a little boy.
It was an average read. I was mostly interested in the storyline of the little boy, but found the ending unsatisfactory. The rest of the story was quite a standard read. I did enjoy it, for I like these kind of books, but the alien invasion wasn't given too much of a new angle to make it really interesting.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
This is an action packed, fast paced, thrilling and mysterious read!
I don't even know where to start with this book..
*whew*
First.. What is this book all about?
It's about aliens coming to Earth, taking some people with them, but leaving some too.. with weird yet powerful traits in them. It's also all about the people who are truly left behind. People who haven't been touched by the aliens and continue to struggle living in fear.
You see, our characters Gracie, Brandon and Jake once had a normal life. They had a family, neighbors, other people in their lives... Until they all got taken away. It's sad really because they're just so young to experience what they have experienced. I feel bad for each of them because each family had a story to tell. They were just getting by, then poof! Gone!
What do you do when the world around you changes and all you have are 2 people with you doing the best to survive?
I guess you hold on to those two. Start accepting life as it is and move on from that.
That's exactly what our characters did. After being on the run mainly because of the people who wants to dissect the "others", they find a safe haven and stay there. I noticed how fast the pacing from thereon because I read this in under 3 hours. One thing I can say about them being on the run though, they're smart! Like street smart! I like that about them. Brandon's dad helped a lot with that. Even though he was a drunk, he taught Brandon some life preserving skills and that helped them along the way. I like how they're able to go through one rough patch to another. There's a certain beauty when you outwit people who are older than you. Hah! ;) So there... action, thrill, mystery (you'd have to find out what that is because I'm not telling! ^_^).. all of these are in this book.
I guess the only thing that's holding me back from giving this a 5 is that I still have a few questions after finishing the book. Like what does it mean when people get taken? Does that mean that the aliens took over their brains already? Another one is what happened to the world after this? Do they rebuild right away or start looking for the "others"
Anyway... The ending kind of left me speechless. I actually did not see it coming, but it really is for the best. Ahhh! It's killing me not to describe it in detail, but trust me, this book is worth the time so READ IT!
P.S. I requested for this book because of that gorgeous cover. It makes the premise even more interesting!
I was provided with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
I don't even know where to start with this book..
*whew*
First.. What is this book all about?
It's about aliens coming to Earth, taking some people with them, but leaving some too.. with weird yet powerful traits in them. It's also all about the people who are truly left behind. People who haven't been touched by the aliens and continue to struggle living in fear.
You see, our characters Gracie, Brandon and Jake once had a normal life. They had a family, neighbors, other people in their lives... Until they all got taken away. It's sad really because they're just so young to experience what they have experienced. I feel bad for each of them because each family had a story to tell. They were just getting by, then poof! Gone!
What do you do when the world around you changes and all you have are 2 people with you doing the best to survive?
I guess you hold on to those two. Start accepting life as it is and move on from that.
That's exactly what our characters did. After being on the run mainly because of the people who wants to dissect the "others", they find a safe haven and stay there. I noticed how fast the pacing from thereon because I read this in under 3 hours. One thing I can say about them being on the run though, they're smart! Like street smart! I like that about them. Brandon's dad helped a lot with that. Even though he was a drunk, he taught Brandon some life preserving skills and that helped them along the way. I like how they're able to go through one rough patch to another. There's a certain beauty when you outwit people who are older than you. Hah! ;) So there... action, thrill, mystery (you'd have to find out what that is because I'm not telling! ^_^).. all of these are in this book.
I guess the only thing that's holding me back from giving this a 5 is that I still have a few questions after finishing the book. Like what does it mean when people get taken? Does that mean that the aliens took over their brains already? Another one is what happened to the world after this? Do they rebuild right away or start looking for the "others"
Anyway... The ending kind of left me speechless. I actually did not see it coming, but it really is for the best. Ahhh! It's killing me not to describe it in detail, but trust me, this book is worth the time so READ IT!
P.S. I requested for this book because of that gorgeous cover. It makes the premise even more interesting!
I was provided with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
Young adult novels continue to be a hot property as of late publishing-wise, with readers of YA novels pretty much driving the industry at present. Even so, straight, non-dystopian YA science fiction tends to be a little hard to come by. We've come a long way since the Heinlein juveniles and the Tripods series, yes, but when everything feels like it's either a retread of The Hunger Games or Twilight (and may the higher powers help us all if someone ever finds a way to combine those two things), adult readers of genre fiction and YA fiction may feel like they're out in the cold.
I was able to land an advance copy of J. E. Anckorn's debut novel Untaken, and it follows well in the old-school tradition of science fiction for the younger set. Instead of trying to push the envelope with over-the-top ideas and themes, the book is instead an enjoyable throwback of sorts to the alien invasion science fiction of another era while keeping things feeling fresh and new.
The story follows two teens in New England following an alien invasion. They're pretty sure they can get to a family member's cabin to safety, but it's not going to be easy. One girl's parents have already been taken by the aliens, and the two kids have everything working out until they meet a 5 year old kid who won't talk and is pretty hurt. What becomes complicated is when the teenagers learn that Jake has a secret, and it is likely to change everything.
Untaken works best when it is allowed to exist in its own setting. In a way, the book feels like a love letter to the Boston area, with references to landmarks and cities and even a local AM radio station. The alien threat is handled in a different way from what I'm used to as of late as well - the alien existence is a given, and while it feels real, it also feels like part of the setting itself, much like any other problem someone might be facing. Compared to, say, The 5th Wave (a book I definitely enjoyed), the difference in how the threats are handled by our protagonists and by society feel stark. The kids aren't superhuman, they're just surviving, and it ends up being very realistic.
I can't discount, either, the old-style feel it has. While it might be a turn-off for some readers used to a different type of setting, this story feels a lot like the old science fiction that Gracie enjoys in the book. Consciously or not, the book feels very War of the Worlds-ish at times, and that is mostly to its benefit. The narrative along with the plot speaks directly to this sort of throwback, and I love the cover as a result - this would have absolutely sat on my shelf 20+ years ago.
My chief criticism, however, is that the book does take a while to get rolling. The first quarter or so of the book does move a bit slower than the rest as it works to establish what it seeks out to be, but this is both a product of the style it's presented and a product of modern expectations. The payoff (especially the way the book ends) is well worth the wait, but readers looking for a more direct route to the story might find themselves frustrated to start.
Overall, though, an excellent debut and a sci-fi novel I didn't realize I wanted until I was done with it. The book doesn't come out until March, but there is a pre-order available at Amazon that won't break the bank. I'm glad I got to take a look at it, and you will be as well.
I was able to land an advance copy of J. E. Anckorn's debut novel Untaken, and it follows well in the old-school tradition of science fiction for the younger set. Instead of trying to push the envelope with over-the-top ideas and themes, the book is instead an enjoyable throwback of sorts to the alien invasion science fiction of another era while keeping things feeling fresh and new.
The story follows two teens in New England following an alien invasion. They're pretty sure they can get to a family member's cabin to safety, but it's not going to be easy. One girl's parents have already been taken by the aliens, and the two kids have everything working out until they meet a 5 year old kid who won't talk and is pretty hurt. What becomes complicated is when the teenagers learn that Jake has a secret, and it is likely to change everything.
Untaken works best when it is allowed to exist in its own setting. In a way, the book feels like a love letter to the Boston area, with references to landmarks and cities and even a local AM radio station. The alien threat is handled in a different way from what I'm used to as of late as well - the alien existence is a given, and while it feels real, it also feels like part of the setting itself, much like any other problem someone might be facing. Compared to, say, The 5th Wave (a book I definitely enjoyed), the difference in how the threats are handled by our protagonists and by society feel stark. The kids aren't superhuman, they're just surviving, and it ends up being very realistic.
I can't discount, either, the old-style feel it has. While it might be a turn-off for some readers used to a different type of setting, this story feels a lot like the old science fiction that Gracie enjoys in the book. Consciously or not, the book feels very War of the Worlds-ish at times, and that is mostly to its benefit. The narrative along with the plot speaks directly to this sort of throwback, and I love the cover as a result - this would have absolutely sat on my shelf 20+ years ago.
My chief criticism, however, is that the book does take a while to get rolling. The first quarter or so of the book does move a bit slower than the rest as it works to establish what it seeks out to be, but this is both a product of the style it's presented and a product of modern expectations. The payoff (especially the way the book ends) is well worth the wait, but readers looking for a more direct route to the story might find themselves frustrated to start.
Overall, though, an excellent debut and a sci-fi novel I didn't realize I wanted until I was done with it. The book doesn't come out until March, but there is a pre-order available at Amazon that won't break the bank. I'm glad I got to take a look at it, and you will be as well.
READ MY REVIEW ON MY BLOG
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Copy was provided by Curiosity Quills Press in exchange for an honest review.
I thought I would like this book very much because the synopsis sounded great to me. It felt like it was similar to Angelfall by Susan Ee which is my favorite post-apocalypse book. The cover is absolutely gorgeous too.
The story started pretty okay. The main characters each had a back story. Gracie is a 14 year old nerd girl. She’s into stuff like the alien invasion and she had an online community where she talks about those stuffs with other people. Knowing that she’s into alien invasion, I expected her to know a few stuffs about survival. I’m into post-apocalypse books right now and I have picked up a few information on how to survive one. But Gracie? She doesn’t know how to survive and she has to constantly depend to Brandon. While Gracie is a 14 year old girl who talks like she’s younger, Brandon is a teenaged boy who talks like he’s an adult. It may be because of his upbringing but still. It’s like the characters are inconsistent.
There is also never a clear image of what really happened. Where is the government? How about the other survivors? The pacing of this book is so slow that I thought I would never finish this book. There is nothing interesting that is happening for like almost half of the book. Fortunately there is a kid that is one of the main characters and he kind of interests me so I kept reading.
If you’re into gross alien stuff then you may like this book, it’s one of the things that appealed to me. It’s also kind of scary if this book would happen in real life.
If you haven’t read any post-apocalypse books before then you may like this one and also if you’re into gross alien stuff.
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Copy was provided by Curiosity Quills Press in exchange for an honest review.
I thought I would like this book very much because the synopsis sounded great to me. It felt like it was similar to Angelfall by Susan Ee which is my favorite post-apocalypse book. The cover is absolutely gorgeous too.
The story started pretty okay. The main characters each had a back story. Gracie is a 14 year old nerd girl. She’s into stuff like the alien invasion and she had an online community where she talks about those stuffs with other people. Knowing that she’s into alien invasion, I expected her to know a few stuffs about survival. I’m into post-apocalypse books right now and I have picked up a few information on how to survive one. But Gracie? She doesn’t know how to survive and she has to constantly depend to Brandon. While Gracie is a 14 year old girl who talks like she’s younger, Brandon is a teenaged boy who talks like he’s an adult. It may be because of his upbringing but still. It’s like the characters are inconsistent.
There is also never a clear image of what really happened. Where is the government? How about the other survivors? The pacing of this book is so slow that I thought I would never finish this book. There is nothing interesting that is happening for like almost half of the book. Fortunately there is a kid that is one of the main characters and he kind of interests me so I kept reading.
If you’re into gross alien stuff then you may like this book, it’s one of the things that appealed to me. It’s also kind of scary if this book would happen in real life.
If you haven’t read any post-apocalypse books before then you may like this one and also if you’re into gross alien stuff.