Dark Territory

The Tracks #1

by J. Gabriel Gates, Charlene Keel

Star-Crossed Love, Martial Arts, and Supernatural Evil meet at the Abandoned Tracks in the Deceptively Quaint town of Middleburg...When Ignacio Torrez moved from the rough streets of Los Angeles to a small town dead smack in the middle of nowhere, he never expected to find himself in the midst of a gang war. But, he soon learns, these are no ordinary gangs. The wealthy, preppie Toppers on one side of the tracks and the working-class Flatliners on the other adhere to a strict code of honor and use their deadly martial arts skills, taught to them by the wise Master Chin, to battle one another for pride, territory, and survival. When Raphael, leader of the Flatliners, falls for Aimee, a Topper girl, the rival gangs prepare for a bloody, all-out war. The only hope for peace between them lies within the dark territory of the abandoned train tunnels where the tracks cross. Under the direction of the mysterious and frightening Magician, the awesome power within the crossing sends the rivals on a terrifying mystical quest to fight the malevolent force that threatens the existence of Middleburg.

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Paranormal, Fantasy, Supernatural, Ebooks, Teen

499 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2011

About the author

Author J. Gabriel Gates is a native of Marshall, Michigan. The son of an English teacher, his passion for the written word began at a young age. During college, another passion – for performing – led him to get his B.A. degree in theater from Florida State University.

During his years in Los Angeles, he appeared in a dozen national TV commercials and penned several screenplays while laying the groundwork for his career as a novelist.

J. Gabriel now lives in Michigan, where he is on the city council of his small town and is the executive director of a prominent arts organization.

His novels include horror novel "The Sleepwalkers," and dystopian sci-fi epic "Blood Zero Sky" as well as the YA fantasy books "Dark Territory: The Tracks Book 1," "Ghost Crown: The Tracks Book 2," "Shadow Train: The Tracks Book 3."

Look for his new urban fantasy novel "Girl of Hearts" coming in June of 2022!

Reviews

[W.H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

DARK TERRITORY by J Gabriel Gates and Charlene Keel I received an ARC for review.

I have never read a martial-arts book before......WOW! I love this book! It is filled with martial-arts action, suspense, mystery, romance, tragedy, forbidden love, gangs, war and it's a YA Read.

Ignacio Torrez moves smack dab in the middle of Nowhereville from the gang banging streets of Los Angeles, only to find the town is not as innocent as it seems. He learns a valuable lesson of honor and magic as he sets out on a thrilling adventure to bring peace to the Toppers, preppie and rich and the Flatliners, who live by a strict code of honor and have mad martial arts skills, rival enemies on the brink of war due a fordidden love, Aimee Banfield, a Topper girl and Raphael Kain, the Flatiners leader.

J Gabriel Gates delivers an action-packed, adventurous read, the characters are believable and well devloped, the world building keeps you on the edge of your seat. I hated to see it end and am looking forward to Book 2 ~ Ghost Crown

I highly recommend this book!
It has someting for everybody

5 out of 5 Hearts ~ Lovetiggi's Book Reviews

[Evie · Rating 5 out of 5]

***Originally posted to Bookish Blog as a part of MEN in YA event!

In his Goodreads review, J. Gabriel Gates called this book "Coolest book ever written. Ever." and it's impossible not to agree with that! It's one helluva story! Dazzlingly imagined and un-freaking-believably compelling, Dark Territory is the perfect blend of literary flavors. This book has everything you could possibly want: forbidden love, breath-taking action scenes (involving some serious martial arts ass-kicking!), deliciously served paranormal elements and an epic quest! It's the coolest combination of fantasy, science fiction, mystery, supernatural, drama, romance and KUNG-FU I have ever seen! I'm in love!

Ignacio Torrez stepped into the Middleburg High School cafeteria at high noon, five minutes before the fists started flying.

The story kicks-off with Ignacio Torrez starting his first day at a new school. His mom made the decision to move them from Los Angeles to a seemingly quiet town of Middleburg, trying to prevent her son from getting involved with the local gangs. Little did she know the Middleburg wasn't exactly what you'd call nice, gang-free area...

(...) the Asian kid lunged forward, as quick and limber as one of those spider monkeys Nass had seen on a stupid field trip to the L.A. Zoo, and he tried to kick Raphael's foot out from under him. Deftly, Raphael hopped over the sweep and attacked Anime with a succession of four lightning-quick punches, which Anime blocked, blocked, blocked, and blocked. The Asian kid threw a right hook that Raphael trapped under the crook of his arm and countered with a short right, which the Asian kid deflected with his hand, making a loud clap that echoed across the silent lunchroom. All of it happened so fast, Ignacio's eyes could barely follow the blur of the striking fists.

There are two gangs in Middleburg: the Toppers (the rich guys from the "Hiltop Heaven") and the Flatliners (the poor guys from the local ghetto). When Ignacio moves into the Flats on the other side of the tracks, he automatically becomes the poor kid from the ghetto. He quickly bonds with the leader of the Flatliners, the oh-so-amazingly-hot-and-swoon-worthy Raphael. During his first day at school, Ignacio accidentally knocks the tray out of the Toppers leader's hand, causing him to spill his spaghetti all over himself. That, of course, escalates into a full-blown fist fight between one of the Toppers and Raphael (who stands up for Ignacio). The tension between the gangs spikes up dangerously. To make it even worse, Raphael falls in love with a Topper girl, Aimee, which of course is strictly against the gang rules. And like all that wasn't bad enough, there's also a mysterious Magician in town and things are starting to get very, very weird...

Keep out of the railroad tunnels
And stay off the tracks
Don't go into the train graveyard
Or the Middleburg Monster will break your back

I was super excited when I got my pdf review copy from HCI Teens, but my excitement very quickly turned into annoyance when I learned that every single page of this book (and I mean every single 480 pages of it) was water-marked with a huge HCI logo, that, after moving the pdf onto my Kindle, turned black, making the book impossible to read. Now I get that it's a review copy and water-marking is a piracy prevention tool, but I've never seen it done so poorly! I don't mean to complain or anything (OK, maybe I do, but guys, seriously?!), I was very, very disappointed. To the point that I almost gave up on reading this story! If J. Gabriel Gates wouldn't be so utterly fantastic and if I didn't love him as much as I do, I would probably drop it. I decided to give it a try, though, and do this one thing that I absolutely hate doing - read on the computer. From the moment I entered Gates' goergeously imaginative world, I was literally glued to the screen of my laptop. To my surprise, I didn't want to stop reading - ha! - I couldn't even if I wanted to! I just had to find out what will happen next - it was all so unpredictable, so totally out-of-this-world fantabulous! Gosh, how can I even put my amazement into words?! I didn't expect that, I feel K.O.ed!!!

Everything, from the well-drawn (&totally awesome) characters, genuinely unique plot line, thrilling twists and turns, to the brilliantly mixed elements of fantasy, sci fi, romance and martial arts - is simply EPIC. This is, like, one of the best books I've ever read. Seriously.

"But what if you have to fight?" he said.
"What do you mean?"
Raphael stopped walking and turned to face Ignacio, who stopped, too.
"I mean," Raphael said, "what if you had to join a gang to survive here? What if you had to fight?"

I loved Raphael, Aimee and Ignacio. I also really enjoyed reading about the bad guys - I thought they were wicked, they made me angry, but they also made me laugh at times. I love when authors breathe life into their characters, make them three-dimensional, create the whole background, build everything from the ground up in a way that not only makes sense, but also kind of makes you dizzy and excited. I truly cared for these characters and wanted to learn more about them - and I did, thanks to J. Gabriel Gates and his explicit storytelling. The setting in Dark Territory deserves a standing ovation. There are layers upon layers of well-thought-out, beautifully executed world-and-character building. This book is a work of genius - for real - with this many things happening, this many characters and this many plot twists, for an author to be able to juggle it all and make every single element so well-developed, it takes some serious skills and mental capacity. I'm in awe. I dropped my jaw long time ago and it's still lying somewhere on the floor!

The message here is as clear as the Canadian glazier water: You HAVE TO read this book. You will be kicking yourself for not reading it sooner. You will be totally blown away when you finish reading it. And you will be dying - and I mean DYING - for more!

[Julie Witt · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book synopsis starts off with: "Star-Crossed Love, Martial Arts, and Supernatural Evil meet at the Abandoned Tracks in the Deceptively Quaint town of Middleburg ...", and I couldn't put it better myself! This book combines martial arts with gang war (I kept picturing West Side Story), a powerful love story, good vs. evil, and so much more! There was a slow build up while giving the back story of the characters and the town, but then the supernatural evil aspect sneaks up on you, and by the last third things are racing along so fast you just have to hold on and keep reading to the end! I blame this book for many late nights when I kept telling myself just one more chapter! I can't wait to read the next book in the series to find out what further evil awaits.

5/5 stars.

[Leah (Simply Nerdy Book Reviews) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, I loved this book. I loved this book. I swear, it has everything; martial arts (action, action, action), romance, school plays, gangs, train tracks . . . Just wow.

First things first: I have never before read a book involving martial arts. I really loved that aspect of the book; I've always thought that martial arts was such an amazing thing to be able to do, and I reading about it was awesome. The descriptions of the fights and moves flowed really well, and all of the action scenes were easy to follow. I've always had some trouble with action books, because it can be really hard to follow full-out fight scenes on paper. For some reason, I've just never been able to do it. But in this book, I loved the action scenes! I looked forward to reading them, and I got really excited during Raphael's and Zhai's lessons with Master Chin. It was just so fun to read.

Character development definitely rocked, too, and I absolutely love Raphael. I swear, I can't get enough of that boy. I think that the bad aspects of his life--his father's death, his mother's job, being on the poorer side--made him really easy to connect to and identify with. And then there are so many characters that I couldn't help but so passionately hate, and I absolutely love that in a book. If there's anything a good book needs to be able to do is make me really, really mad. I could relate to Zhai and Raphael's ruined friendship, like I'm sure most teens could. I think that everyone has that friend that you lost to an outside reason, and really wish things could be better. Nass really made me laugh, and so did Dalton. Aimee was also fantastic, and I couldn't help but feel really terrible for her and her home life, or root for her and Raph.

Which brings me to the romance! Oh, the romance! Once you read this book, you can never go back. Raph and Aimee! I got so caught up in the book, praying for everything to work out. I loved their relationship, and I loved them as a couple. It was one of the most suspenseful parts of the books, actually, when you were so hoping that everything would turn out good for them, but you just don't know.

This book was, really, a summer action flick. It has everything it needs to be amazing, with kick-butt fight scenes, an intense romance, great characters, and awesome dialogue. Basically, it has a little bit of something for everyone. Look out for it on July 1st!

Grade: A+

SIMPLY NERDY BOOK REVIEWS

[Jackie Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

After getting this book and reading the write-up on the back, I was kind of skeptical about the idea of martial arts playing a large part within the story. On the other hand, I was also really interested because I don't think I've read much, if anything, like it before.

From the first few pages I was intrigued by the mysteries behind the tracks in the town of Middleburg, and I was drawn into the rivalry between the Toppers and the Flatliners. The extreme hatred between the two groups is intense. It's also why the two main characters, Aimee and Raphael, can't be together. Sort of a Romeo and Juliet kind of thing.

I noticed throughout the story that it presents a positive message about being kind to others, treating them fairly, and doing what's right. That was another way that martial arts tied into the plot very seamlessly. It also shows through the characters' choices and attitudes that even if you come from less than perfect circumstances, you can choose to rise above.

There were a lot of fight scenes involving martial arts. I thought they were believable and easy to read. The use of martial arts and its principles is how the characters tap into their supernatural abilities, and they all have their strengths and weaknesses.

I'm hoping to see more of Ignacio in the next book. He turned out to be one of my favorites. Cool and confident mixed with bumbling and shy.

I was pleasantly surprised by Dark Territory, and I'm looking forward to reading what happens in book two!

[MarytheBookLover · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Opinion:

I thought this book was fantastically written. What a great team of writers,J. Gabriel Gates and Charlene Keel are. They work fabulously together and this book is proof of it. The story is about the town of Middleburg and the people that live there. As soon as you start reading you notice that there are dark forces at work. There is lots of action in this book as well. This book takes you on a journey with the teenagers of Middleburg,with all their own fears and trials going on. Ignacio moves to this new town to get away from gangs but what he moves to is much worse then just gangs. He meets Ralph,and within the first few minutes of their encounter they are in a fight. We are then taken through the lives of quite a few of the Flatliners and their rivals,the Toppers,in this amazing book. This book is fast paced and action packed and great for YA or Adult reading. This book is lengthy but for the right reasons. Dark Territory is setting the stage for more in this series and I for one can’t wait for more. Dark Territory is the first in the series of “The Tracks”. There are a lot of people to get to know in this book and well worth reading. I am absolutely psyched to read the next book. I myself never was a Kung Fu reader or even watched it on television for that matter,but in this book I thought the scenes were amazingly written. I can’t wait for more from these authors!

[Bookish Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was just about gang wars between two gangs, the Toppers (the haves) and the Flatliners (the have nots). I was wrong about it.

What is interesting about this book is that it is about martial arts. The leaders of each gang (Toppers-Zhai, Flatliners-Raphael) were taught by Master Chin to adhere to a strict code of honor. But when Raphael unwittingly falls for Aimee, A Topper girl, everything went downhill from there. There was something more than meets the eye, and it involves the dark territory of the abandoned train tunnels...

Be ready to be wowed by the number of characters in the book. They are all great and closely linked to one another within their own gang. You could read the tension in the atmosphere whenever the two gangs clashed. It's quite a thick book and once I got past the first half of the book, it got a little better and more interesting when the paranormal element came in though I find it was pretty short. Still, it was an interesting concept to bring many elements together- martial arts, mystery, romance, paranormal and action.

I must say I've enjoyed it and it would be better if the book was just a little bit shorter in length.

4/5 stars for Dark Territory.

[Kitty Austin · Rating 5 out of 5]

J. GABRIEL GATES "DARK TERRITORY"

The story of Ignacio Torrez is one that young adults will enjoy. When he moves from his rough and tumble, Los Angeles neighborhood to a small town in nowhere land he learns a valuable lesson about honor and magic. He soon finds himself in the midst of an adventure, a quest to bring peace between the Toppers and the Flatliners, two rival gangs on the verge of war over forbidden love.
This book is one I would highly recommend.

-Kitty Bullard / Great Minds Think Aloud Book Club

Read more: http://www.greatmindsthinkaloud.probo...

[Sheena · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book. Seriously is the the best book I have read in a long time. Raphael & Aimee's love story mixed with their intense battles with supernatural evil all while having to hide their feelings from her family really pulled me in. Some parts were so exciting it was like watching a movie. It was so hard to put it down and so good I hated to see it finish. I can't wait for the 2nd book!

[Allie Giordano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got my hands on an advance review copy of Dark Territory. Currently five chapters away from the end and I cannot put it down! You'll absolutely love Ammiee Banfield & Raphael Kain but you'll hate Maggie Anderson. This book will have you eager for the next book in the series. It's right up there with Twilight.

[Elly Helcl · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a clever little book! The author did a great job!

Totally recommend this book to anyone who likes a good YA thriller/horror story.

Short review because it has been months since I read this and I forgot to rate it.

[Shannon]

Found this randomly at the library, and it sounds crack-tastic. Plus, Hispanics AND Asians? This book was written for me, I know it.

[Aeicha · Rating 4 out of 5]

READ THE ORIGINAL AND COMPLETE REVIEW (AND MANY MORE) AT : WORD SPELUNKING

With Dark Territory, authors J. Gabriel Gates and Charlene Keel have created an edgy, smart, fantastical story reminiscent of a modern day West Side Story with a splash of Romeo and Juliet.

SUMMARY
In the quite town of Middleburg, you’re either a “have” or a “have not”, a Topper or a Flatliner. An intense hatred and distrust exist between the rich Toppers and the working class Flatliners, especially among the teens. Ignacio “Nass” Torrez moves to Middleburg from the mean streets of LA and soon becomes best friends with Raphael, the leader of the Flatliners. Zhai, the quiet leader of the Toppers, was once Raph’s BFF. Raph and Zhai both study martial arts under the guidance of Mr. Chin. Beautiful Topper, Aimee moves back to Middleburg to live with her distant father and mean spirited brother, after being sent away for a year after a breakdown she experienced after the mysterious death of her boyfriend. The lives of these teens collide when Aimee and Raph fall for each other and the hatred between the Flatliners and the Toppers comes to an explosive head. And to complicate things further, mysterious and mystical things begin to happen with the appearance of the Magician.

STORY
Dark Territory is an original, highly imaginative, thrilling story. It’s very much a multi-layered, multi-faceted story with a great mix of fantasy, sci-fi, romance, action and social commentary. I was easily swept away by the fantasy and sci-fi elements, while impressed by the social awareness this book possesses.

The intense dynamic between the two rival gangs makes for a compelling and, at times, dark story, but also a fun story to disappear into for a few hours. Gates and Keel write with attitude and sass, their dialogue is sharp and witty, their storyline is creative and well executed, and these two authors are clearly in tune with their intended audience.

The fantasy and sci-fi elements are intriguing and captivating, and plentiful. There are elements of time travel, superhero like abilities, witchcraft, sorcery, and more. The action is thrilling, explosive, and doesn’t hold anything back. The world Gates and Keel have created is well developed and captivating. Some of the situations are over the top and campy, but always fun.

There is a lot going on in this book though: a lot of characters are introduced, a lot of backstories are explored, and a lot of elements are intertwined. At times, I did find myself a bit overwhelmed with the amount of story being presented to me, but this mostly occurs in the beginning of the book so it didn’t distract from my reading experience as a whole. For the most part, the story moved at a nice pace, but there were a few chapters that moved a bit slower than I would have liked. Again, I think this had to do with the sheer amount of stuff going on. This is the first book in a series, so there are obviously numerous important aspects that needed to be explored or at least introduced, so I can understand the need to fit so much in one book.

The last quarter of the book was excitingly fast paced and action filled. The fantasy and sci-fi aspects really shined in this part of the book. The baddy is superbly evil and fantastical. The ending wrapped up one mystery but left a dozen more intriguing ones open, setting up the next book nicely.

CHARACTERS
This book has a big cast of characters. All the characters are well developed and I didn’t find any unnecessary ones, which is always nice. All of the teen characters are incredibly realistic, especially in the way they talk to one another. There’s a comforting stereotypical nature to all the characters that make them relatable, but they each possess their own intriguing aspects that make them refreshing.

Raphael and Aimee are the story’s starcrossed lovers. Raphael is quite the swoon-worthy character. He’s gorgeous, smart, caring, and totally badass. Aimee’s backstory isn’t explored in-depth, so we don’t really get to see who she used to be, we are only told that she’s changed and changed for the better. She’s a sweet, capable girl and I’d really like to get to know her more.

Nass and his crush Dayton, add a great deal of humor to the story. Both of these characters are loyal friends, stubborn, and brave. Zhai is a quiet, but intriguing character. I really liked that even though Zhai is one of the richest Toppers, he doesn’t seem to be negatively affected by his wealth; he’s a good guy who means well. Kate is a mysterious, fun character. I’m completely intrigued by her otherworldly persona and can’t wait to find out more about her. Rick (Aimee’s brother) and Maggie (Aimee’s former BFF) are fun to hate. Mr. Chin is an awesome Mr. Miyagi/Dumbledore type of character.

ROMANCE
The romance in Dark Territory doesn’t dominate the story; there’s just enough to add a great emotional layer while not turning the story too cheesy. There are a couple romantic relationships throughout this book. Raphael and Aimee have an electric chemistry that sparks and burns, but there’s also a real sweetness to the way they fall for each other. The Romeo and Juliet –esque quality to their relationship is a bit predictable, but never boring.

Nass and Dayton have a fun, flirty “will they, won’t they” relationship that I enjoyed watching unfold. I look forward to watching these relationships progress and blossom.

MY FINAL THOUGHTS: Dark Territory is a fun, edgy, well written book with an awesome premise, engaging characters, and captivating romance. The Tracks Series has a lot of promise and I can’t wait to read book two. This is a book you really should read!

[Jadaloves · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow and WOW! It’s been a while since I’ve read a novel that has incorporated so many new and different elements without overwhelming me, but Dark Territory brings that and more. It has the paranormal, the supernatural, martial arts, time-travel, romance and plenty of action. I was hooked from beginning to end, and was thoroughly entertained by the story and the characters. Since this book had so much going on, I’m going to do this review a little differently and organize my thoughts with headings.
What I LOVE!

The characters in this novel really took over and drove the story forward. I adored the two leaders of the gangs, Raphael (leader of the Flatliners) and Zhai (leader of the Toppers). While they are different in manner and style, both boys were strongly committed to their families, friends, and the art of Kung-Fu. I found Zhai very down to earth and he tolerates little non-sense. He had a very regal air about him, and I loved his great sense of honor and nobility. Raphael was very passionate in everything he did, and seems to be an all or nothing kind of guy. His concern for his mother, and the loyalty he shows towards his friends earned my respect and admiration. And although Raphael is a bit rough around the edges, to me he still managed to maintain a youthful innocence about himself.

Aimee Banfield, Raph’s love interest and the little sister of his biggest enemy Rick Banfield, didn’t really stand out to me. I liked that her attitude towards people who didn’t necessarily have all that she does changed after she had been sent away for a spell, but other than that there is nothing truly remarkable about her. Now the female characters that did leave an impression on me were Dalton and Kate. Dalton seemed to be the lone wise and reasonable voice among the throng of teenagers, and Kate was so sweet and mysterious that I can’t help but want to know more about her.

The action in Dark Territory was nothing short of exhilarating. I can’t recall reading a Young Adult novel that has incorporated Kung Fu before, but I thought it’s inclusion was brilliant. Both Raphael and Zhai have been trained in the art of Kung-Fu by Master Chin. So you can imagine when these former best-friends face off it’s mesmerizing as neither are willing to give in an inch. I felt like I was on a dangerous roller coaster ride, and while it could be down right terrifying at times, it was also exciting and had my heart racing with each fight, and each battle.

The story itself has so many things at play that you can only wonder how everything relates to each other, and how everything will reveal itself and how the story will unfold. The Legend of the Tracks is a living, breathing entity in the novel, and it eventually begins to awaken and consume the characters. Middleburg and how it’s divided between the haves and the have-nots is very clearly laid out for the reader, so it’s easy to picture. In that respect the world building is great, but the parallel worlds that exist in this book could have been more detailed and better explained.
What I Question?

Raphael’s and Aimee’s romance is cute and sweet. In the vein of Rome Juliet, their love is also a little dangerous considering they are from opposite sides of the tracks and her older brother hates Rapheal with a passion unparalleled. But I question Raphael’s level of dedication to a girl who he’s spent all of two minutes with. I get that they have an undeniable spark of attraction, but during the course of the book they really don’t spend much quality time together. So how he could feel so strongly about someone he really hardly knows at all is a concern.

Also, there is a point in the book where Rick Banfield handcuffs Raphael to an old train car and sets it on fire, trying to burn him alive. The fact that NOBODY AT ALL seems outraged or appalled that this boy literally tried to MURDER Raphael is beyond my comprehension. Everyone who finds out pretty much shrugs it off and feels like, yeah that sounds like something Rick would do. The hell!? I don’t care that he is privileged and a Topper, there should have been some consequences or AT LEAST someone in the book who was just as shocked and furious about it as I was.

Lastly, after Raphael and Zhai go on their mutual and individual quests, I was hoping all they had to go through and endure would be explained. The other world, the manipulation of time, even the quests they had to complete is never explained. I want to know how and why the other world exists? What is the other world and what goes on there? What are the customs, the traditions, and the people like? And how does it all relate to the tunnel and tracks, what’s going on in Middleburg today, and how does it dictate all that is to come for the two gang leaders? Since nothing is really explained, the reader is left with more questions than when they started. I can only hope many of these will be answered in the follow up book Ghost Crown.
Overall

As a whole I LOVED Dark Territory and I want MORE!!!! The action and the characters came together beautifully and the story was written so well that it seemed to leap off the pages. If you’re looking for a book that encompasses romance, the supernatural, and action, and is executed well, this is the book for you. I look forward to reading the sequel and joining these amazing characters for another adventure.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review:
Full Bookish Disclosure: I reviewed Dark Territory after reading only half of the book. I “knew” what the last half was going to be like, and felt my initial impressions were correct. I gave it 3 Stars. Then I finished reading. Then rewrote my review. And gave it 4 Stars. So there you have it.

Knowing what I know about this book, that it was an idea for a TV show, makes this book work. Somehow, Gates and Keel take a very teen-melodramatic “poor vs. rich” plotline, mix in some martial arts in various forms, some paranormalcy, and basically, kick some tail.

There are a lot of clichés. Rich vs. Poor, “I hate you because you’re from the wrong side of the tracks (literally),” “your dad fired my dad, so I hate you,” and so on. Which gets kinda…irritating. But, I’m not a teen. I’m 30. So, maybe I’m a little too far removed from the intricacies of high school to relate to that. But there have been the two gangs in Middleburg for sometime, so I’m not quite sure I understand why they’re there, other than the previously mentioned clichés.

The main group of characters, all teenagers from the same school, but different socioeconomic classes are typical teens. Trying to make it in the cut-throat hallways of high school. It’s real, honest. The conversations and kidding and interactions and attitudes all felt very teenage. Even the angst (which I’m not usually a fan of) worked in Dark Territory. Nothing was forced or faked. The romantic subtext running throughout the book is reminiscent of Romeo and Juliet, where two kids from different worlds fall in love and fight to be together. They don’t end up committing suicide or anything, though.

There’s a good vs. evil element that builds, from nearly the beginning of the book. Whispers on the wind, strange feelings, Kate, the dude in red. It built, and built, and built, and I really just wanted to get on with it, but it built some more. Dark Territory would make an excellent book to TV show conversion: all the angst and dramatic effect building are there in it. The CW or ABC Family could literally just produce from the book. Not that that’s a bad thing, there’s a lot that’s not left to the imagination, and in a story like this, that’s good. Gates and Keel spell it out for you. You’re not going to have to figure it out for yourself. All the building left me a little exhausted. But once the war begins, I couldn’t put the book down! The pace picked up and speed me down the tracks toward the ending.

The ending is a little too neat and tidy. It still leaves room for the sequel, but can stand by itself. It’s not all rainbow and butterflies, but close to it. And I appreciated the lightness of it compared to the darkness that reigned through most the book.

4 Stars: Cross the tracks and get this one!

Get to reading,
Richard

*This book was provided to me by the publishers in exchange for an honest review*

ENTER TO WIN A COPY OF DARK TERRITORY ON MY BLOG GIVEAWAYS PAGE through Sept. 24, 2011!

[Starr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I can’t say that I’m exactly speechless over this book, but the words are not coming quickly to me. It’s been over a week since I finished this book and I can still see the action that permeated the pages, the forbidden love that was blooming amongst two of the characters and the supernatural turmoil that lay no-longer-dormant under the city of Middleburgh. This book is 504 pages and there was not a page that bored me or made me want to put this book down. Action begins immediately when the new guy, Ignacio, gets into a fight on the first day of school. He immediately walks into a dividing battle without even meaning to. Action settles the story, bringing it to a satisfying end resolving the unspoken issues and alluding to more. Nothing is ever what it seems in this story, but you are never bored with where it’s going.
What can I say about the characters? I wish there was one that stood out to me and called to me. But there wasn’t, not because something was lacking. In fact it was the opposite, which is a rare find in books. But the story of each character seemed to be complete that I could completely envision them. The story was, successfully, written from different perspectives that added a whole new dimension to the story. They all have such depth and pull to them that, honestly, I am not sure if it is possible to have a favorite. There we quite a few that I didn’t think I would like, but by the end of the book I found myself thinking “oh well. . .she’s alright after all”. The bad guys were awesomely creepy and the good guys were astoundingly flawed. That combination makes the story that much more realistic. The story itself? Wow! It’s not just a story about the battle of good and evil. Or just a story about a lost friendship that holds the key to uniting the town. It’s not even just a story about a forbidden love, a girl trying to find herself or a boy turning into a man. It was all of these things and so very much more. It’s gripping, and real. I could feel the emotions when I needed to, and I definitely got lost in the story.
What would you have to do if you had to go on a supernatural quest to rescue the life of someone you loved? If you had the power to defeat a deeply hidden evil that you knew nothing about? I could seriously go on and on about this book for a long time and there are still things that I am sure I would have missed. There were a whole lot of things going on, but nothing felt like it was just a filler to add pages or to hold time until something happened. It seemed like everything mattered in some way, but it was done in such a way that it wasn’t overwhelming to the reader. Yes, I still had some questions at the end of the story. But, there has to be something hanging to continue the series. And, yes, I definitely want this series to continue! And If you’re still debating if you really want to read this 504 page book, I say don’t be intimidated by the size of the book. It is an awesome story, and you will reach the end quicker than you expect and you will definitely finish wanting more.


This book was given to me, free, from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

[Carrie Ardoin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ignacio, or Nass Torrez has just moved from LA into Middleburg, Kansas...and it's nothing like he expected. Nass soon comes to learn that Middleburg has two distinct and warring groups: The Toppers, rich, privileged kids who live in Hillside Haven; and the Flatliners, working class kids who live in the Flats. Nass's mom moved him away from LA so he wouldn't join a gang, but ironically he becomes a Flatliner.

The leader of the Flatliners is Raphael, and the leader of the Toppers is Zhai. They used to be best friends--and in fact they still train under the same kung fu master. But circumstances have driven them apart. As things come to a head between the two gangs, Raph and Zhai must decide what's really worth fighting for.

Well, I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, but I will say one thing: it was unique. Dark Territory is part teen soap opera, part kung fu flick, and part supernatural fantasy. And does this odd combination work? Sort of.

The characterization was surprisingly well done, for a book with SO many characters to follow. Zhai and Raphael are not just the leaders of gangs, they have depth and internal struggles. Aimee is dealing with unimaginable tragedy, and trying to live with her hateful father and brother. The protagonists were nicely done, but I felt some of the other characters were cliched. The wise kung fu master who has a zany side (he plays Rock Band). The sleazy bad guy with a glass eye and a scarred face. The kindly, grandmotherly black maid. These characters have all been seen before, and I was a bit disappointed in the way they were developed.

The plot was kind of slow throughout the first half for me. There were so many subplots that I feel could have been cut out--the book is almost 500 pages. The action did escalate in the latter half of the book, but it was kind of a yawn getting to that point.

The thing I guess I most struggled with was the rich gang vs. poor gang aspect. This has, of course, been seen countless times in West Side story and the like. But this novel takes place in modern times. I have a hard time believing that things like this would be occurring in middle America...it's a little outdated.

The supernatural part of the story is still a little bit "meh" for me. I know this is the first book in a series, but I still wish what was going on in the Tracks would have been explained and fleshed out for the reader a little bit more. Still, I'm going to read the next book to see if Zhai and Raphael can come together for the good of the rest of the world.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review also posted on The Book Barbies.

I started this book with NO idea what to expect. I mean, it sounds pretty innocent right? Rivalry gangs, cute romance, fights. And it was exactly that! For the beginning at least.

What I really enjoyed was the characters in this book. They were fun and relatable and the boys sounded damn hot! There were a few stereotypical characters, Rick, the bully, Maggie, the bitch, but even so, they were real. It was great that the story was told from all different points of views. It didn't stick with just one or two characters, but it told everyone's stories, even the not so prominent characters. From time to time, adults got their own little parts and it was just a breath of fresh air, reading from such a great range of perspectives. I gotta say though, I love Nass (Ignacio) and Raph! They were so cute (in lack of a better word)! Nass is hilarious and Raph is just drool-worthy! Totally jealous of Aimee right now...

The fighting in this book was awesome. Just plain, awesomeness. I love martial arts. I love watching guys fight. And not just some random punches flying around, but skilled fighting. The description of the action in here was just too good! I felt like I could see it, everything, being played out right in my head! And it's hot boys.♥

So, jump to the halfway point of the book and the creepy supernatural stuff starts to appear. And I mean creepy. I clearly haven't learnt my lesson (from The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer) to not read books like these in the dark! It's not horribly gruesome, but I definitely felt shivers. All the talk about endless black tunnels and strange monsters in the dark really isn't good for my current state of mind...

But this whole concept of time! Time time time! I just, I couldn't stop thinking about it. Time is something that's just always, constantly there. It ticks on and on and we all know we can't, yet still wish to pause, rewind or fast forward. But you know, maybe we don't need to. Anyways, I just want to praise Gates and Keel on this awesome concept of time. I won't spoil it for you, but READ IT. Your mind will be blown.

I am so excited to start the sequel! (Thank you, Netgalley! Review to come soon.) Needless to say, the end left me dying for more. Shit's about to go down in Middleburg...

An endless, terrifying yet exciting journey!

[Wendy Hines · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ignacio 'Nass' Torrez is the new kid at Middleburg Middle School. His parents didn't want him to join the gangs like his cousins did in Los Angeles, so now they have moved to a small town in the Midwest. Unfortunately, Nass gets suspended on his first day of school after a fight breaks out in the lunch room. The good part is that he made a friend, Raphael Kain, the leader of a gang.

Aimee Banfield is excited to be going home, after being in a pretentious juvenile center for the past year. She looks different, with colored hair and darker eyes, and she doesn't act the same either. Before, she was snobbish and had an array of friends. Now, her first day back to school, no one will speak to her, except Raphael Kain.

Nass learns that there are two gangs in Middleburg. There are the flats, the poor kids, and there are the toppers, those with money. They have their own set of rules that they abide by, and most of the gang members are well versed in the martial arts. Nass has no desire to join a gang as he prefers to breakdance, but he does appreciate the new friends he has made.

Raphael really likes Aimee, and she him, but her dad just got his mom pregnant so things aren't looking so good. Also, Aimee's older brother is a Topper and Ralph is a Flat, enemy gangs that Aimee has no business being in the middle of.

Aimee is still having a hard time adapting to her life again and the stigma from her past continues to haunt her. A death of a friend that is supposedly her fault in the DARK TERRITORY, a stretch of tracks not controlled by the signals, that her therapist tells her was not her fault, continues to haunt her.

There's an old urban legend about ghosts haunting old abandoned rail cars and a mythical beast inhabiting the tunnels. Some of the teens see people who aren't there, or are they? When Aimee goes missing, Ralph is the first person who is suspected because of his hatred toward her brother and father. But will the authorities realize that Ralph isn't responsible and find Aimee before her life is in danger?

DARK TERRITORY is an exciting young adult thriller. With a diverse handful of realistic characters, a compelling plot, romance, friendship, intrigue and a splash of the paranormal, DARK TERRITORY is a must read!

[Romancing the Book · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed by Stephanie O.
Book provided by the publisher for review
Review originally posted at Romancing the Book

When my daughter asked to borrow my ereader, I almost felt my heart stop. As an adult, I can and do read pretty much anything I want to. Mostly leaning towards paranormal romance to erotica. These are NOT acceptable for a 12 year old. My list of acceptable books for her to read, wasn’t very long. So, off I went in search of something she would like and I could approve of her reading.

Dark Territory did not disappoint. With it’s large cast of characters, there were many chances to find someone to connect with. The eerie thing for me, was just how set in reality it was at times.

Everyone can relate to someone. Were you the popular girl who got everything without lifting a finger? Or the book smart girl who got overlooked? How about the handsome quarterback that everyone wanted to be seen with? Or maybe, just maybe you were the guy who had to make his way out of the locker every afternoon. Never to realize that in the end each one of us, just wanted the same thing . . to be accepted, to be loved, to be appreciated for the things that you CAN do, and not dismissed for the things you CAN NOT do.

I read this book has been compared to Romeo and Juliette and West Side Story. I can agree. Even throwing in there Grease (which “plays” a part in the story). All deal with what happens when two young adults fall for someone considered “too good” or “too bad” for them.

When there is a clear line drawn through the middle of town, which side do you fall too? What happens when that line takes two people considered to be the best of friends, and splits them? Now add in there some supernatural events and you have on your hands a fast pace read that just might leave you with white knuckles. Let us not leave out, that the “adults” in this book . . well, they give us a good showing of just how ruthless some can be to keep their edge.

Now, on to book to Two to see where this tale can go next.

Favorite Quote: LOL Moment:

“Hey,” she replied softly as he walked closer. A smile touched her solemn features. “Those were some pretty slick moves back there.”

“You must be talking about Ignacio’s, not mine.”

“I was,” she said and laughed.

Raphael laughed, too. “Ouch.”

[Samantha Boyette · Rating 4 out of 5]

If this book was a hundred or so pages shorter, it would have been five stars! Lets start with the characters, and this book has it's share of them. First with have Nass, transfer student to small town America, Raphael, local bad boy with a heart of gold, Aimee, troubled and kind rich girl, Rick, jerkface rich boy and brother to Aimee, and Zhai, stoic rich boy who doesn't want to fight with anyone. Each character is fleshed out nicely and quickly you become interested in their lives and their problems. This is why I feel like the book could be shorter because I felt like it was working to get me in tune to the characters long after I was already in tune.

Raphael and Aimee develop one of those forbidden loves that fans of Twilight will go crazy for, though they both have more personality than Bella and Edward combined. Rick is a little one dimensional in that he is little more than a giant jerkface, but he plays the part well. While Nass gets a strong intro, his character is sort of pushed aside as Raphael's story takes over and I hope he is given more time in the next book. I feel the same way about Zhai, without much being said about him, he is an insanely interesting character and I hope we learn more about him in the coming books.

Zhai and Raphael are the leaders of two opposite gangs, basically the haves and have-nots and for a lot of the book it seems like this might be all there is to the story. Slowly, with a few clues here and there the reader begins to learn that there is much more going on in their town than meets the eye. This works nicely as you are trying to work out exactly what is going on at the same time as the characters. Once the more supernatural aspects of the story come to light, it's a hard book to put down. It all makes the somewhat over the top fighting of the gangs make more sense. I'll be interested to see where they go with the next book.

[Misty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well I liked this book and it has some great characters but it's really long, I felt it would've been just as good if it were missing a few scenes.

There are a lot of characters to meet in the book but I liked how they all became linked to each other by the end and there are a couple who weren't in it much that I think will be more prominent later in the series.

Though this isn't the first book I've read with martial arts in I thought it added something different to a great story, I really liked the rivalry between the Toppers and the Flatliners (Team Flatliners! lol) and I loved how when we got to the Supernatural element of the story it blended in so well with the Natural part it was believeable, though there were some parts that didn't make a lot of sense and I was left with a lot of questions, but I assume this is because there are further books and all will be explained later.

I felt the authors did a great job of portraying Raph and Aimees feelings for each other, especially when they were together, I found to hard to believe they are in love simply because they don't spend more than five minutes together a handful of times, they don't actually get to know each other making it feel more like lust or infactuation, but it was still engrossing to read them.

I thought Raph was a really great guy, honest and determined and despite his living situation he still stays true to who he is, I did feel sorry for him a lot at times and just hope everything works out for him. Aimee is a nice girl to, she's obviously getting over something big and I think she could be a lot more if she didn't have such a controlling Dad and Brother.

I think the story was very imaginative and not something I've seen before, the writing is brilliant with just the right amount of description on everything so you can easily imagine the world it made it easy to read through at the more drawn out parts, I'll definitely read the second book.

[Judy & Marianne from Long and Short Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally posted at: http://aurorareviews.blogspot.com/201...

This book, the first book of The Tracks series, is a paranormal Karate Kid meets West Side Story—but so much more. There is a mystery that surrounds the town of Middleburg—a mystery that goes back generations and involves more people than is apparent at the beginning of the book.

The story begins with Ingacio "Nass" Torres being brought to Middleburg from LA because his mother is concerned he will get into trouble with gangs. Little did she know that she was bringing him to an area that is right in the middle of a gang war—a war between the Toppers (wealthy and upper class) and the Flatliners.

The leaders of both groups were once best friends and train with the same teacher—and there's more to Master Chin than meets the eye—as there are many of the characters in this book. Mystery surrounds the train graveyard. All the children know the warning:

Keep out of the railroad tunnels
And stay off the tracks
Don't go into the train graveyard
Or the Middleburg Monster will break your backs.


Are there actually monsters in the Dark Territory—a section of train tracks not covered by signals—or is it only a tale created to scare children? Ask Aimee—a girl from the "right" side of the tracks who falls in love with the leader of the Flatliners.

The world building is extraordinary—detailed, layered, rich—as are the characters—a mysterious man who appears and disappears at will, a woman obsessed with tapestries, a girl who is not sure how she came to Middleburg, among many others.

The action scenes are drawn well enough that even readers not familiar with martial art movements can clearly see what's going on and the strict code of honor both sides adhere to is a good lesson.

I'm looking forward to the next book in this series—there is still a lot of mystery to solve and a lot of history to uncover.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok well Dark Teritorty was a really good book, there was a lot of stuff going on in the book and from a lot of different POVs. It's like The Outsiders but with a supernatural twist. Two gangs the Toppers (rich kids) and the Flatliners (poor kids) hate each other, Raph is the leader of the Flatliners and Zhai is the leader of the Toppers used to be best friends until Raph's dad dies in an accident and Raph's dad dies at work due to shotty work conitions and his bosses which happen to be Zhai's dad and Jack Benfield who happens to be Aimee's dad and also Raph's secret girlfriend.

So after some really awesome fight scenes, Aimee getting a part in the school play, Raph and Zhai are sent on a quest of sorts to prove their worth and to retrieve items for The Magician so that he can help Raph rescue Aimee (she's been kidnapped) and Zhai heal his sister Li (she's fallen ill and getting worse by the second).

The romance between Raph and Aimee, Nass and Dalton and Zhai and Kate (there wasn't much to go on for Zhai and Kate but I still thought that they would be cute together and I can't wait to see what happens with them in the next book), were so cute and sweet and Nass was so funny.

Middleburg is a strange town to say the least, with some of the grown ups seeming like they know what going on, Mr. Chin, Lily Rose (Dalton's grandma), Violet (Maggie's mom) and Oberon (Creepy Oberon *shudder*). And then some of the kids and grown ups have powers like premonitions, lighting coming out of their fingers, and getting people do things they want you to and then Raph and Zhai start seeing things that other people aren't seeing, yeah strange town, can't wait for the sequel.

[Sejla · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Book Report

In Dark Territory by J. Gabriel Gates and Charlene Keel,
Raphael was the leader of a gang when something from inside
the tunnel, and on the train tracks came out from a whole other
world… Can Raphael save the girl he loves, or will he die trying?
I really liked Dark Territory by J. Gabriel Gates and Charlene
Keel. Raphael was the leader of a gang named the Flatliners. He
Was very noble, multidimensional, and a little bewilidered. He was
noble because he faced the monster, which was in the tunnel where
the railroad tracks crossed. This book was very suspenseful and it
kept me on the edge of my seat because I was always thinking,
“What’s going to happen next?” I also thought that the author’s
writing style was very imaginary because it felt like I was in the
book with Raphael, so it was a very good book.
I would recommend Dark Territory to teenagers, because of
The language and violence, and if you like The New Kid series by
Temple Mathews, I am sure you will love Dark Territory.

[Krista (CubicleBlindness Reviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

For the majority of this book I could not help but be reminded of the Karate Kid movies. A new kid attending a new school, gets into some rough times with another gang of boys. They call themselves the TOPPERS and the FLATLINERS. They fight each other with martial art skills that can become deadly and serious very fast.
The twist to this story that takes it away from being too similar to Karate Kid is the combination that we get to have half of the story from a Aimee, and that was nice to get some alternative perspectives into the story.
There is also some supernatural twists to this one, as well as some incredibly creepy Train Tracks in which the town refers to as the "Dark Territory" some magic, kidnappings full of ransom notes and danger.
I have read other books by J Gabriel Gates and appreciate the flow of the stories he tells. Just like sitting back and watching a good film. A great ensemble of characters and dialogue that really keeps the reader interested with the plot. This for instance is a 504 page book, but once you get into the story you'd never realize it was.
I think that the amazing this is that this book at the time I am writing this review is only $1.30 on Amazon, both the ebopy and the physical paperback copy! Now this amazes me, it's a steal at this price and a great story with great characters. I don't know why'd you ever want to pass up this offer.
Happy Reading.

[Ashley - Book Labyrinth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was definitely intrigued when I first read the description of this book, with all those different elements. And it turns out that ‘Dark Territory’ blends genres well. It has a contemporary high school setting, and yet there’s also a paranormal/mystical element going on in the background of the town, and with the rival gangs there’s also an action/martial arts element to it. You also can’t forget the forbidden romance between Raphael and Aimee. Somehow all of these aspects work well together, and they provide an intriguing backdrop for the war between the Flatliners and the Toppers.

I feel like this book has a lot of promise, and it does live up to most of it. I just feel like in a book that’s so long (around 500 pages) the authors could have done a better job of giving background information and context. I loved the main characters that we got to know, but because of all the different characters and perspectives I felt like our knowledge of the characters was limited. Unfortunately the book also felt long, I think because of all the side-plots and drawn out scenes. There is such great action in the second half of the book, and I wish it hadn’t taken as long for the book to get going.

Will I read the 2nd book in this series? I definitely will. I love the idea behind this this book, even if some of gang-related plot felt far fetched, and I liked the characters enough that I'm really intrigued to see what happens next.

[Creepyquills · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was in the mood to read something with martial arts ( I watched a Bruce Lee movie) and I completely forgot I owned this book so I decided to give it a try. This takes place in a town that is divided by railroad tracks between the wealthy ("Toppers") and the poor("Flatliners"). There is also an air of mystery/danger surrounding the Tunnel at the tracks. The leaders of the gangs are both studying martial arts with the same Master. Master Chin is a very likeable and wise Master but he did sometimes feel 2 dimensional. A Flatliner falls for a Topper girl and this only adds to the drama between the gangs. I was wondering why this book was so long but the authors do take the time to focus on other characters besides just the main ones. This leads to a few storylines throughout the book that still center around the main characters and still lead to an inevitable War between the gangs. Little do they know that a Supernatural War is also brewing! Overall, I really liked this book. It had a bit of everything in it and alot of martial arts action. The only thing I think they could have done without is the "Grease," play put on by the high school. A few of the characters get cast and others put on stage crew. I can see why it was done; A high school play is the perfect way to get both sides together in the same room. I guess it just felt a bit predictable and cheesy. Still love this book and will read the sequel!

[Paula Ratcliffe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this from HCI Teens for a honest and fair review, and oh my god this was totally different then anything I have read lately. This story had me on the edge of my seat, seeing aspects of the story of Romeo and Juliet. You have the flatliners who are a misfit group doing the best they can in a society where the Toppers succeed and the flatliners just try to get by. Nass is new to Middleburg and the last thing he needs is to join a gang but what he sees in the flatliners is more than a gang, he sees friends helping each other trying to get by. He also meets Dalton who he is smitten with. The toppers are the typical spoiled rich kids, minus Aimee who has returned to town after being in an institute after the death of her boyfriend Tyler. She meets Raph and is instantly falling for him. He treats Aimee like a person and doesn't shun her since her return. Master Chin teaches the kids martial arts and warns them that bigger things are happening.


I enjoyed this the action was incredible, the humor was just as great and a refreshing read for the supernatural aspects. You really feel like your with the gang in their various situations. Definitely a great series can't wait to read the next one called Ghost Crown.

[Lisa (Bookworm Lisa) · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I first ooked at the description and started to read the book I thought that it would be similar to "West Side Story". You have two gangs. One is the wealthy kids who live on the hill and the other is the poor kids who live on the wrong side of the tracks. There is a romance that builds between a girl from the hill and a boy from the poor section.
They live in a small town that has lost its luster since the railroad was rerouted.

I was wrong. Yes, there are those elements present, but this story has quite a bit more to offer. When I would think that the story was winding down and coming to a conclusion, J. Gabriel Gates would take off in a whole new direction and breathe life into the story.

There is a whole paranormal element that at times leaving you scratching you head and thinking, where did that come from? He adds pieces layer upon layer to build up to the story. At the end there are still things that you don't know and lead to interest in a future story. There is a promise of more action and battles in the war between good and evil.