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Dark Invasion
Listening time 9 hours 22 minutes
When Elliot returns to Bell Island the summer of ‘84, he doesn't expect to be thrust into the middle of an alien invasion. But he won't let them win....
Elliot has just finished his third year of college as a finance major. After some tragic family news, he isn't sure what the future holds.
Working part time at the video rental store, Elliot is dumped and offered a promotion, all on the eve of the island's biggest celebratory day: The Fourth of July.
With the help of his best friend, Bones, the new waitress from the local diner, and a mysterious soldier, Elliot must uncover the secrets that surround Bell Island before it's too late.
Under the guise of a treacherous storm, Bell Island is invaded, and it's up to Elliot and his motley group of allies to defend their home.
Dark Invasion is a fast-paced science-fiction adventure from Nathan Hystad, the best-selling author of First Life, The Other Place, The Event, and Lost Contact.
When Elliot returns to Bell Island the summer of ‘84, he doesn't expect to be thrust into the middle of an alien invasion. But he won't let them win....
Elliot has just finished his third year of college as a finance major. After some tragic family news, he isn't sure what the future holds.
Working part time at the video rental store, Elliot is dumped and offered a promotion, all on the eve of the island's biggest celebratory day: The Fourth of July.
With the help of his best friend, Bones, the new waitress from the local diner, and a mysterious soldier, Elliot must uncover the secrets that surround Bell Island before it's too late.
Under the guise of a treacherous storm, Bell Island is invaded, and it's up to Elliot and his motley group of allies to defend their home.
Dark Invasion is a fast-paced science-fiction adventure from Nathan Hystad, the best-selling author of First Life, The Other Place, The Event, and Lost Contact.
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Published February 21, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
February 22, 2023
DARK INVASION by Nathan Hystad is the first of an exciting new Series combining mid-1980's coming of age on a quiet, isolated island in the Pacific Northwest, with illuminating, spine-chilling, Sci Fi.
Bell Island is the kind of tiny community one either loves, or can't wait to leave. It's early July 1984, and Elliott is home from college, to a dad not working and a mom in a psychiatric hospital on the mainland, due to "delusions." Dumped suddenly by his long-term girlfriend, Elliott meets a girl new to the island, and at a Fourth of July gathering they and best friend "Bones" hear about the "Bell Island Demon," which occurs periodically. Then a grizzled Vietnam veteran drops a bombshell: it's not a demon at all....but a vicious violent alien predator, an apex predator, and the entire Island is in danger...
Bell Island is the kind of tiny community one either loves, or can't wait to leave. It's early July 1984, and Elliott is home from college, to a dad not working and a mom in a psychiatric hospital on the mainland, due to "delusions." Dumped suddenly by his long-term girlfriend, Elliott meets a girl new to the island, and at a Fourth of July gathering they and best friend "Bones" hear about the "Bell Island Demon," which occurs periodically. Then a grizzled Vietnam veteran drops a bombshell: it's not a demon at all....but a vicious violent alien predator, an apex predator, and the entire Island is in danger...
March 22, 2023
I have enjoyed Hystad's writing in the past and really wanted to like this story, but the writing is so disjointed, stilted dialog, unbelievable aliens...and the author did not do their research for the location of the story. After too many convenient rabbits in the hat, I gave up half way through. I hope this isn't a sign the author is developing a factory model to mass produce novels...Time will tell.
April 30, 2023
The story is set the day before the 4th of July weekend, 1984 and follows Elliot Hoffman who has returned home from College during a break to the sleepy little town of Bell Island, a town that is on a small island and only accessible via ferry. He has returned home due to his Mum having been detained in a mental hospital as a result of a breakdown having to do with something she saw when she was younger. Elliot has taken up his old job in the video store on the island (yes, an ACTUAL VHS video store – some may have to google what a VHS cassette is, others are thinking OMG I’m so old right now!), and it is there that we get a bit of insight into his life, as he sees his best friend ‘Bones’, a Billy Idol wannabe, who lives on the island and cares for his elderly and unwell grandmother. He also sees his girlfriend Bethany, who quickly becomes his Ex-girlfriend when she dumps him.
It is then that Elliot’s life takes a rather interesting turn, as he runs into two people who will change his life. The first is the strange man that comes into the video store and hires a video camera, and he learns from Bones he is called Sarge around town, and is a bit strange. The second is a pretty blonde waitress at his favourite diner, Kimberly, who is actually more than she seems.
Whilst Elliot is trying to come to terms with the fact that his Mum is not well, he just got dumped, he is struggling at College, and the cute girl at the diner just came onto him, a strange thunderstorm hits Bell Island. And with the storm, chaos breaks lose, as it appears that Aliens have invaded the island, and are killing people. Suddenly, Elliot, Bones, this new girl from the diner he’s just met, and the strange ex-soldier, are flung into a desperate battle to save the small community on the island before everyone there is killed.
This is a story that is a combination of Predator meets Cocoon with all the humour and pop-culture references of Ready Player One as you are catapulted back to 1984. Hystad does an outstanding job with the world-building not just of re-creating the locations and the time, but the language (I don’t think I have heard the word ‘Rad’ in 30yrs!!), and so many other fun references that it is a lot of fun for anyone that was alive back then.
The story builds quickly, and you are thrown into this action-thriller, in which you really have no idea what is happening to start with, but it builds at a rapid pace. There are so many twists, turns, and plot intrigues you are left flipping pages to desperately find out what is going to happen to characters.
As with all of his books, Hystad’s character work is exceptional. Elliot is brilliant as the somewhat confused young adult, returning to his home town, worried about what others will think of him due to his Mothers illness. There is such a stigma attached to mental illness, especially back then (even still now!), and Elliot is worried not only for how it will impact him, but is also very concerned for his Mum’s welfare. As the story starts to unfold, we get to see that he is a bright person, but just struggling with his place in life, some confidence. Bones is awesome as the try hard punk-rocker, with the mohawk, outfit, and attitude. However, he has a set plan, knowing what he wants, he is just determined to look after his Nan for as long as he can, to make sure she is alright. He makes for a great character.
Kimberly is a fascinating character, really intriguing, I will let her story unfold without any spoilers. The same with ‘Sarge’, I won’t give any spoilers. There are multiple other characters, from Elliot’s sister Cindy, who is the typical teenage girl, to the cops of a small town police station, and the multitude of town’s folk.
Overall, this is a really fantastic Sci-Fi thriller, one that as soon as you start, it is really hard to put down. Hystad continues to deliver these amazing thrillers that are just extraordinary, and absolutely must reads, and this one won’t disappoint!!
It is then that Elliot’s life takes a rather interesting turn, as he runs into two people who will change his life. The first is the strange man that comes into the video store and hires a video camera, and he learns from Bones he is called Sarge around town, and is a bit strange. The second is a pretty blonde waitress at his favourite diner, Kimberly, who is actually more than she seems.
Whilst Elliot is trying to come to terms with the fact that his Mum is not well, he just got dumped, he is struggling at College, and the cute girl at the diner just came onto him, a strange thunderstorm hits Bell Island. And with the storm, chaos breaks lose, as it appears that Aliens have invaded the island, and are killing people. Suddenly, Elliot, Bones, this new girl from the diner he’s just met, and the strange ex-soldier, are flung into a desperate battle to save the small community on the island before everyone there is killed.
This is a story that is a combination of Predator meets Cocoon with all the humour and pop-culture references of Ready Player One as you are catapulted back to 1984. Hystad does an outstanding job with the world-building not just of re-creating the locations and the time, but the language (I don’t think I have heard the word ‘Rad’ in 30yrs!!), and so many other fun references that it is a lot of fun for anyone that was alive back then.
The story builds quickly, and you are thrown into this action-thriller, in which you really have no idea what is happening to start with, but it builds at a rapid pace. There are so many twists, turns, and plot intrigues you are left flipping pages to desperately find out what is going to happen to characters.
As with all of his books, Hystad’s character work is exceptional. Elliot is brilliant as the somewhat confused young adult, returning to his home town, worried about what others will think of him due to his Mothers illness. There is such a stigma attached to mental illness, especially back then (even still now!), and Elliot is worried not only for how it will impact him, but is also very concerned for his Mum’s welfare. As the story starts to unfold, we get to see that he is a bright person, but just struggling with his place in life, some confidence. Bones is awesome as the try hard punk-rocker, with the mohawk, outfit, and attitude. However, he has a set plan, knowing what he wants, he is just determined to look after his Nan for as long as he can, to make sure she is alright. He makes for a great character.
Kimberly is a fascinating character, really intriguing, I will let her story unfold without any spoilers. The same with ‘Sarge’, I won’t give any spoilers. There are multiple other characters, from Elliot’s sister Cindy, who is the typical teenage girl, to the cops of a small town police station, and the multitude of town’s folk.
Overall, this is a really fantastic Sci-Fi thriller, one that as soon as you start, it is really hard to put down. Hystad continues to deliver these amazing thrillers that are just extraordinary, and absolutely must reads, and this one won’t disappoint!!
March 4, 2023
I have long been a fan of Nathan Hystad since the early days. Nathan has a way to create the worlds and actually bring us into the story and into the character’s lives. I both read this book and listened to it, and I highly recommend the discounted Audible add-on as the narration is exceptionally good. If anything hearing it brings the story more to life. Jonathan Davis did an excellent job of characterizing the voices. Elliot largely thinks in his head and talks to himself, Bones will remind you of real people you know, and Buzz and Kim are excellent. He captures the aliens, and the male and female roles very well. A good narrator can make or break a story like this, and Jonathan Davis really captured the narration superbly.
The story takes place on Bell Island, in 1984, over largely 1 day - July 4th. Several reviewers have said that they did not like the characterizations of the characters, but I found them to be spot on. I remember the 80’s, and as it happened I was an island dweller not far from the setting of this book in the early 90’s - about the same time. Nathan has done a wonderful job of characterizing the teens and adults in the book, and has really picked up on the authentic island experience. So he either lived it or collected the experiences and perspectives of actual island dwellers to the nth degree. That might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but he did a fabulous job of characterizing the very liaise-fare and “who cares, what difference does it make” attitude. As well as everyone knows pretty much everything about everyone on a small remote island.
From the VHS videos of the time, and cassette tapes to the hand-crank windows in cars, he did a great job picking up on the 80’s theme.
And all was more or less okay - until another storm of the century, and we start finding out about the aliens. And not just one bunch of aliens, we are dealing with two groups of aliens. And one is hunting the other. And they really don’t care if the humans get in their way. The hunters love hunting for the sheer sport of it, and the hunted don’t want to be found.
From the minute clues left, the memories that MC Elliot has from his youth, and a mom in a mental hospital due to her own alien encounters 40 years prior to when the story takes place, we start to see the real picture emerge. The aliens exist and they are out hunting. And people are dying.
This is a combination story of teen life, and the trials and tribulations of that, island life, and what happens when you drop a real crisis into the mix. A crisis that no one believes is real until the bodies start collecting.
I think this is a great setup for the rest of the series. My biggest problem with Nathan Hystad these days is that he is writing faster than I can read and listen. Which is not necessarily a bad thing, since he is one of my all-time favorite authors.
I highly recommend this riveting, gripping story. It feels a little slow at first, just little clues here and there that there is serious trouble on Bell Island. But it then takes off like a speedboat and all you can do is hold on for the ride. One of my favorite characterizations was the alien control panels - No one was using graphical interfaces back then, they were just being invented! I also loved that absolutely no one was who they appeared to be in both good and bad ways. Lastly, that it is an uplifting story in a way which shows that ordinary people can become real heroes.
The story takes place on Bell Island, in 1984, over largely 1 day - July 4th. Several reviewers have said that they did not like the characterizations of the characters, but I found them to be spot on. I remember the 80’s, and as it happened I was an island dweller not far from the setting of this book in the early 90’s - about the same time. Nathan has done a wonderful job of characterizing the teens and adults in the book, and has really picked up on the authentic island experience. So he either lived it or collected the experiences and perspectives of actual island dwellers to the nth degree. That might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but he did a fabulous job of characterizing the very liaise-fare and “who cares, what difference does it make” attitude. As well as everyone knows pretty much everything about everyone on a small remote island.
From the VHS videos of the time, and cassette tapes to the hand-crank windows in cars, he did a great job picking up on the 80’s theme.
And all was more or less okay - until another storm of the century, and we start finding out about the aliens. And not just one bunch of aliens, we are dealing with two groups of aliens. And one is hunting the other. And they really don’t care if the humans get in their way. The hunters love hunting for the sheer sport of it, and the hunted don’t want to be found.
From the minute clues left, the memories that MC Elliot has from his youth, and a mom in a mental hospital due to her own alien encounters 40 years prior to when the story takes place, we start to see the real picture emerge. The aliens exist and they are out hunting. And people are dying.
This is a combination story of teen life, and the trials and tribulations of that, island life, and what happens when you drop a real crisis into the mix. A crisis that no one believes is real until the bodies start collecting.
I think this is a great setup for the rest of the series. My biggest problem with Nathan Hystad these days is that he is writing faster than I can read and listen. Which is not necessarily a bad thing, since he is one of my all-time favorite authors.
I highly recommend this riveting, gripping story. It feels a little slow at first, just little clues here and there that there is serious trouble on Bell Island. But it then takes off like a speedboat and all you can do is hold on for the ride. One of my favorite characterizations was the alien control panels - No one was using graphical interfaces back then, they were just being invented! I also loved that absolutely no one was who they appeared to be in both good and bad ways. Lastly, that it is an uplifting story in a way which shows that ordinary people can become real heroes.
March 18, 2023
A very good beginning to a new series!
Elliot Hoffman and Hank "Bones" Larson had been best friends since they could walk. Elliot had left the island where they both grew up to attend college while Bones had been left behind to drop out of community college and stayed behind. When Elliot returned to the island before his senior year, he worked at a movie rental store in the island's "downtown". Elliot's mother and twin brother had some kind of adventure when they were young that affected the rest of their lives. Elliot's uncle had drowned in a suspicious boating accident a few years earlier and his mother had been placed in an asylum when she started spouting off nonsense about bright lights and aliens. Everyone thought she was crazy! Until the 4th of July celebration when the island was attacked!
Elliot, Bones and friends, including a strange reclusive soldier, First Sgt. Ethan " Buzz" Scott, joined together to fight the giant aliens they called Travelers who were after other aliens they called Spheres. The Spheres were small balls of light who could enter a person and control them. Surprisingly, the Spheres were peaceful, while the Travelers were definitely not! The Travellers chased the Spheres from world to world, consuming their energy. But Elliot and friends planned to put a stop to that!
These amazing characters bring the fight to the Travelers as they discover more of the Sphere-occupied people living on the island. The storyline is alternatively twisted and straightforward as the heroes stomp the bad aliens. Every time you think they got a handle on things, something else or someone else would start it all over again! The flow of the story is smooth, while the action is chaotic. An excellent beginning to what promises to be a terrific series! This is a great read!
Elliot Hoffman and Hank "Bones" Larson had been best friends since they could walk. Elliot had left the island where they both grew up to attend college while Bones had been left behind to drop out of community college and stayed behind. When Elliot returned to the island before his senior year, he worked at a movie rental store in the island's "downtown". Elliot's mother and twin brother had some kind of adventure when they were young that affected the rest of their lives. Elliot's uncle had drowned in a suspicious boating accident a few years earlier and his mother had been placed in an asylum when she started spouting off nonsense about bright lights and aliens. Everyone thought she was crazy! Until the 4th of July celebration when the island was attacked!
Elliot, Bones and friends, including a strange reclusive soldier, First Sgt. Ethan " Buzz" Scott, joined together to fight the giant aliens they called Travelers who were after other aliens they called Spheres. The Spheres were small balls of light who could enter a person and control them. Surprisingly, the Spheres were peaceful, while the Travelers were definitely not! The Travellers chased the Spheres from world to world, consuming their energy. But Elliot and friends planned to put a stop to that!
These amazing characters bring the fight to the Travelers as they discover more of the Sphere-occupied people living on the island. The storyline is alternatively twisted and straightforward as the heroes stomp the bad aliens. Every time you think they got a handle on things, something else or someone else would start it all over again! The flow of the story is smooth, while the action is chaotic. An excellent beginning to what promises to be a terrific series! This is a great read!
July 18, 2023
Crazy times.
Nathan Hystad took me back to the 80’s in such perfection like the music, movies and even the guzzling cars, and the characters felt true, so true which makes you wander if the author used real people from his past in the creation of this story.
A huge twist:
It turns out that earth is a host for a war between two different Alien races, or is it a kind of a sport between those two alien races ?
On the other side the author got my imagination into gears thinking what if it’s only one alien race ? Like what if the travelers which have no memory only that they feel the hunters coming and that they need to stay alive, so what if they are AI made for the hunt and it’s some kind of right of passage when a hunter win and kills that AI he is now a man, why don’t the glowing travelers don’t know what and where they are from, why and how they got to earth ?
A twist in a twist, I just love it when you are dying for answers.
Ok, I was right about the hunters right of passage to adulthood.
So more some questions are still out there.
One thing for sure, amazing imagination this author have and even so that the first book by itself was great, what surprises are coming on the next book of this trilogy ?
Makes it fun reviewing a book as I go on always knowing that I can always change it before submitting.
Another perfect choice for a narrator, Jonathan Davis have done a beautiful job in narrating each of the characters perfectly.
It’s only the first of three and it’s already got my recommendations without a doubt !
Oded Ostfeld.
Nathan Hystad took me back to the 80’s in such perfection like the music, movies and even the guzzling cars, and the characters felt true, so true which makes you wander if the author used real people from his past in the creation of this story.
A huge twist:
It turns out that earth is a host for a war between two different Alien races, or is it a kind of a sport between those two alien races ?
On the other side the author got my imagination into gears thinking what if it’s only one alien race ? Like what if the travelers which have no memory only that they feel the hunters coming and that they need to stay alive, so what if they are AI made for the hunt and it’s some kind of right of passage when a hunter win and kills that AI he is now a man, why don’t the glowing travelers don’t know what and where they are from, why and how they got to earth ?
A twist in a twist, I just love it when you are dying for answers.
Ok, I was right about the hunters right of passage to adulthood.
So more some questions are still out there.
One thing for sure, amazing imagination this author have and even so that the first book by itself was great, what surprises are coming on the next book of this trilogy ?
Makes it fun reviewing a book as I go on always knowing that I can always change it before submitting.
Another perfect choice for a narrator, Jonathan Davis have done a beautiful job in narrating each of the characters perfectly.
It’s only the first of three and it’s already got my recommendations without a doubt !
Oded Ostfeld.
February 25, 2023
This was a book that was interesting in the fact that the events occur back in the summer of 1984. Part of me kept thinking that then we would then jump forward in time (why? Honestly, I have no idea, I just kept thinking we would....)
This story is a kind of classic sci-fi story that has us follow along as there is an alien invasion on a small island town - Bell Island. The male MC - Elliot- is a likeable guy who ends up finding himself right in the middle of everything. His mother and his uncle had apparently had an encounter with "aliens" some 40 years ago. Of course, no one believed them and just recently his uncle committed suicide and his mother is in a psychiatric hospital. Elliot is a senior off at college and is home for the summer to help out his family after these new events when everything kicks off.
I liked this book, but to me, it was very superficial. I felt like I was on the top level just following along as everything developed, without any real investment on my part in the story. For some reason, I never really cared enough about what was going on and I'm not sure why. I listened to most of this on audio by Jonathan Davis and he did a good job with the narration.
This story is a kind of classic sci-fi story that has us follow along as there is an alien invasion on a small island town - Bell Island. The male MC - Elliot- is a likeable guy who ends up finding himself right in the middle of everything. His mother and his uncle had apparently had an encounter with "aliens" some 40 years ago. Of course, no one believed them and just recently his uncle committed suicide and his mother is in a psychiatric hospital. Elliot is a senior off at college and is home for the summer to help out his family after these new events when everything kicks off.
I liked this book, but to me, it was very superficial. I felt like I was on the top level just following along as everything developed, without any real investment on my part in the story. For some reason, I never really cared enough about what was going on and I'm not sure why. I listened to most of this on audio by Jonathan Davis and he did a good job with the narration.
August 3, 2024
This is slow reading.
I don't mind details normally, but this story is full of details, and very short on information.
The story drags, with endless carrides and never changeing inner monologes by the Main Character. The story doesn't take off until the last third,and even then...
It ends, predictably, with a big fight, and then the US president steps in like a poor man's 'Deus ex machina', special troops come and clear away all signs of aliens.
Sigh.
Also, this takes place in 1984. I suppose this is to avoid cell phones and computers? The author tries hard to evoke 1984, and is partly successful. But. Not even the 'PCest' of the PC in those days used the 3rd person plural for the 3rd person singular. I know. I was there.
In all, the book is written as if it were the script of a movie. Tiresome.
I still gave it three stars? The idea is interesting.
I bought the boxset, for only $1.05, so I'll read on a bit.
I don't mind details normally, but this story is full of details, and very short on information.
The story drags, with endless carrides and never changeing inner monologes by the Main Character. The story doesn't take off until the last third,and even then...
It ends, predictably, with a big fight, and then the US president steps in like a poor man's 'Deus ex machina', special troops come and clear away all signs of aliens.
Sigh.
Also, this takes place in 1984. I suppose this is to avoid cell phones and computers? The author tries hard to evoke 1984, and is partly successful. But. Not even the 'PCest' of the PC in those days used the 3rd person plural for the 3rd person singular. I know. I was there.
In all, the book is written as if it were the script of a movie. Tiresome.
I still gave it three stars? The idea is interesting.
I bought the boxset, for only $1.05, so I'll read on a bit.
February 24, 2023
❤🛸😰 AN INCREDIBLE ADVENTURE !
July 3rd, 1984, evening:
Elliot worked in the Bell Island video store during the summer.
He had just rented a video to a busy customer when his best friend Bones walked in 30 minutes before the store closed.
A last customer came in to borrow a video camera...
--------------------
What an incredible dive into the 1980s for the reader: it looks like it!!!
I was carried away in this extremely mysterious, captivating and dangerous adventure which features very different characters.
The characters of Elliot Bones and Buzz are perfect.
The plot of the story takes our breath away: the mystery is total.
Only one question: what will happen next?
I loved this amazing sci-fi novel.
Can't wait for the sequel in volume 2!
Well done to the author !
🛸🛸🛸
April 27, 2023
Dark Invasion Book One - very enjoyable
This is a fun book to read. That doesn't mean it is any less exciting or anything other than an extremely entertaining sci-fi book. At my age, I thoroughly enjoyed the setting in the 80s. I'm a bit older than the characters in the book, but I definitely lived through this post-Vietnam era and the mindset of many. Add to that an isolated island, the 4th of July, rumors of aliens, and a very creepy man called Sarge, begins showing up everywhere. Hold on to your guns, if you've got them, 'cause this is about to get real. Dark Invasion by Nathan Hystad is just one of a number of books I have read by this author. I've never been disappointed. There is also an excellent audio performance by Jonathan Davis that I recommend.
This is a fun book to read. That doesn't mean it is any less exciting or anything other than an extremely entertaining sci-fi book. At my age, I thoroughly enjoyed the setting in the 80s. I'm a bit older than the characters in the book, but I definitely lived through this post-Vietnam era and the mindset of many. Add to that an isolated island, the 4th of July, rumors of aliens, and a very creepy man called Sarge, begins showing up everywhere. Hold on to your guns, if you've got them, 'cause this is about to get real. Dark Invasion by Nathan Hystad is just one of a number of books I have read by this author. I've never been disappointed. There is also an excellent audio performance by Jonathan Davis that I recommend.
January 10, 2024
Okay Read
This isn't my usual genre, but I wanted something different from my typical choices. UFOs fascinate me, and since this book was set in the 80s, I thought I'd give it a go.
At first I was really into the story. It was creepy and intriguing, and I couldn't wait to see what happened next. However, the further into the story I got, the more it dragged. A lot of the descriptions pulled me out of the story, the dialogue was stilted and unrealistic, and I just got tired of the constant plot twists. Also, there were quite a few places where I had to reread entire scenes because I wasn't clear about what was happening.
All in all, this book wasn't terrible, but I don't think I'll read the sequel.
This isn't my usual genre, but I wanted something different from my typical choices. UFOs fascinate me, and since this book was set in the 80s, I thought I'd give it a go.
At first I was really into the story. It was creepy and intriguing, and I couldn't wait to see what happened next. However, the further into the story I got, the more it dragged. A lot of the descriptions pulled me out of the story, the dialogue was stilted and unrealistic, and I just got tired of the constant plot twists. Also, there were quite a few places where I had to reread entire scenes because I wasn't clear about what was happening.
All in all, this book wasn't terrible, but I don't think I'll read the sequel.
March 20, 2023
Surprised myself
As the title says I "Surprised myself" to be honest I nearly binned this story a few chapters in, mostly because it read, and felt more like a "Teen novel" after checking for any age category (And finding none) I decided to stick with it.
I actually began to enjoy it, yes it still felt like it was aimed more at teenagers than adults but, it was still quite a good romp, the main characters are young adults, and it's set in the early/mid 80's which probably creates an overall younger persons story, but all in all a good yarn and I'll be reading the next two to see how they all fare.
As the title says I "Surprised myself" to be honest I nearly binned this story a few chapters in, mostly because it read, and felt more like a "Teen novel" after checking for any age category (And finding none) I decided to stick with it.
I actually began to enjoy it, yes it still felt like it was aimed more at teenagers than adults but, it was still quite a good romp, the main characters are young adults, and it's set in the early/mid 80's which probably creates an overall younger persons story, but all in all a good yarn and I'll be reading the next two to see how they all fare.
March 30, 2023
very lazy writing
This book was a suggestion by and advisor so I thought I’d give it a go. After reading a few chapters I noticed how it’s extremely lazy writing, not putting in enough descriptions or jumping between parts of the story, there’s no build up to anticipation or anything it’s just ‘ I sore the monster in a flash and then window crashes and the man’s dead.’ It’s very disappointing what could of been a great story is let down by the lazy style to the book. A word to Nathan don’t rush books because your publisher says she needs it, take your time you have the capacity to be a great story teller, just slow down and add more descriptions in to it.
This book was a suggestion by and advisor so I thought I’d give it a go. After reading a few chapters I noticed how it’s extremely lazy writing, not putting in enough descriptions or jumping between parts of the story, there’s no build up to anticipation or anything it’s just ‘ I sore the monster in a flash and then window crashes and the man’s dead.’ It’s very disappointing what could of been a great story is let down by the lazy style to the book. A word to Nathan don’t rush books because your publisher says she needs it, take your time you have the capacity to be a great story teller, just slow down and add more descriptions in to it.
May 20, 2024
It is easy to think alien invasions will somehow target huge tracts of land on the biggest countries on Earth. However, when they target an island, that is where the weird starts.
As it did on Bell Island. More so, when we are actually dealing with two invasions, viz. by luminous spheres and gigantic animalistic figures out of some nightmare.
But it is who has to contend with these aliens that raise the incredulity levels to new heights.
Ye author Nathan Hystad created an absorbing l and intense YA Sci-fi adventure that will have you thinking back with fondness of how surprisingly the characters are in a plot that is rather unique in so many ways.
Enjoy
As it did on Bell Island. More so, when we are actually dealing with two invasions, viz. by luminous spheres and gigantic animalistic figures out of some nightmare.
But it is who has to contend with these aliens that raise the incredulity levels to new heights.
Ye author Nathan Hystad created an absorbing l and intense YA Sci-fi adventure that will have you thinking back with fondness of how surprisingly the characters are in a plot that is rather unique in so many ways.
Enjoy
February 21, 2023
Elliot goes home
Elliot is back home to his small island and is reunited with his long distance girlfriend, best friend and family but his mom is in the hospital for an undetermined amount of time. Little did he know that his life would be flipped upside down in a matter of days. His girlfriend breaks up with him, he gets a big promotion but quickly finds himself in the midst of an alien invasion and his home is secluded from the rest of the world leaving the small town to fend for itself. This is a quick but exciting ride back in the 80’s.
Elliot is back home to his small island and is reunited with his long distance girlfriend, best friend and family but his mom is in the hospital for an undetermined amount of time. Little did he know that his life would be flipped upside down in a matter of days. His girlfriend breaks up with him, he gets a big promotion but quickly finds himself in the midst of an alien invasion and his home is secluded from the rest of the world leaving the small town to fend for itself. This is a quick but exciting ride back in the 80’s.
March 21, 2023
Fast paced Sci-Fi
Elliot returns to Bell Island where he and his friends thwarted an alien invasion a year prior. The cover story was a gas explosion. Cryptic !messages start arriving from his friend he hasn't seen in awhile. While watching news with his other friends, Elliott sees him in a news clip about multiple random murders in Seattle. A quick trip to Seattle confirms the aliens are back and protecting the Spheres but The Travelers want them dead. Good read. Good characters
Elliot returns to Bell Island where he and his friends thwarted an alien invasion a year prior. The cover story was a gas explosion. Cryptic !messages start arriving from his friend he hasn't seen in awhile. While watching news with his other friends, Elliott sees him in a news clip about multiple random murders in Seattle. A quick trip to Seattle confirms the aliens are back and protecting the Spheres but The Travelers want them dead. Good read. Good characters
February 21, 2023
When I think of science fiction, I think of outer space, spaceships, visits to other worlds. But something taking place on our world - well, seems almost inconceivable. Right? But it could happen and Nathan Hystad has shown us one way things could happen and I absolutely loved how he did this. Nathan, you opened my eyes and am really looking forward to Book Two, especially after the little teaser you gave at the end of this book. Bravo Zulu to you Nathan.
May 31, 2023
Action-packed alien thriller!
Dark Invasion is an exciting, tension filled dark fantasy! There’s plenty of danger, violence and chaos centered around the invaders and a small group of defenders. The characters are well developed and realistic, for the most part. It has tons of twists and surprises. I’m looking forward to book 2. I highly recommend it.
Read via Kindle Unlimited
Dark Invasion is an exciting, tension filled dark fantasy! There’s plenty of danger, violence and chaos centered around the invaders and a small group of defenders. The characters are well developed and realistic, for the most part. It has tons of twists and surprises. I’m looking forward to book 2. I highly recommend it.
Read via Kindle Unlimited
February 21, 2023
I really enjoyed this first entry of The Travelers series. It's a fun story set in 1984, so a bit of nostalgia.
The characters are wonderful and fully developed. The storyline all takes place on a small island on earth and is quite unique.
Highly recommended. I am definitely looking forward to book two.
The characters are wonderful and fully developed. The storyline all takes place on a small island on earth and is quite unique.
Highly recommended. I am definitely looking forward to book two.
February 22, 2023
Another beginning to a wild ride as the July holiday weekend begins and instead of the usual hi-jinks, get a wild and fun ride. A great story that just drew me in and kept me reading to the end. Good characters and fun situations as introduced to the main characters and what happens to them. So much fun to read. Lots of action, thrills and fun.
December 17, 2023
I did really enjoy this story set back in the 1980's, made a good change! Had me smiling & chuckling at moments with the imagery of this period as well as the music! A good idea, well done, good pace & action, some madness & mayhem! Pretty much everything you could want from this style of book! I do recommend!
May 2, 2024
A refreshing new series
I lived in a small town during the 1980's. Mr Hystad brilliantly captured both the 1980's sociological environment as well as a small town ambiance and interpersonal dynamics. The story line is good "alien visitation." The small town dynamics, the 1980's and the aliens are just brought together creating a great story!
I lived in a small town during the 1980's. Mr Hystad brilliantly captured both the 1980's sociological environment as well as a small town ambiance and interpersonal dynamics. The story line is good "alien visitation." The small town dynamics, the 1980's and the aliens are just brought together creating a great story!
September 28, 2024
A little nostalgia
I enjoyed this book because it took me back to the great 80's for the setting. The character development was nicely done. At first I was worried I wouldn't like it as it felt a little hokey but I really enjoyed it overall and I plan to read the next book in the series.
I enjoyed this book because it took me back to the great 80's for the setting. The character development was nicely done. At first I was worried I wouldn't like it as it felt a little hokey but I really enjoyed it overall and I plan to read the next book in the series.
March 2, 2023
4/5. This reads just like screenplay of a Sci Fi movie. Well-written and full of action. Has influences of a lot of classics e.g. Star Wars, Star Treks, Predator etc.
Good fast pace with not so strong characters.. this was the speciality.
Good fast pace with not so strong characters.. this was the speciality.
March 4, 2023
wonderful
Great story I read it on my kindle app while listening to it as well from audible Nathan you are one of mine in my top five authors I really enjoy and I liked the narrator you chose for this story
Great story I read it on my kindle app while listening to it as well from audible Nathan you are one of mine in my top five authors I really enjoy and I liked the narrator you chose for this story
March 29, 2023
Action packed alien incursion
The action sequences are a little hard to picture but if you can overlook what goes where the storyline is understandable and the characters are easy to differentiate.
The action sequences are a little hard to picture but if you can overlook what goes where the storyline is understandable and the characters are easy to differentiate.
May 31, 2023
fast paced adventure in the 80’s
Wow 2 types of aliens fighting against each other with humanity in the middle. Loved getting to know Elliott, Bones, Buzz and Kim. Glad for the tight plotting and moving right along. Looking forward to the next adventure
Wow 2 types of aliens fighting against each other with humanity in the middle. Loved getting to know Elliott, Bones, Buzz and Kim. Glad for the tight plotting and moving right along. Looking forward to the next adventure
March 31, 2024
Very well done
I've been reading science fiction since the late 1950s, and I've never read anything quite like this. Well written and imaginative. With very likeable main characters. Interesting aliens. All in all, it was quite fun.
I've been reading science fiction since the late 1950s, and I've never read anything quite like this. Well written and imaginative. With very likeable main characters. Interesting aliens. All in all, it was quite fun.
April 23, 2024
Super Scifi!
What a great book! The storyline was so much more than I expected. And not filled with profanity, nudity, or promiscuity!!! Seems they don't write many like that anymore..... and it's SO entertaining!!
What a great book! The storyline was so much more than I expected. And not filled with profanity, nudity, or promiscuity!!! Seems they don't write many like that anymore..... and it's SO entertaining!!
March 2, 2023
Really enjoyed this tale
I'm pretty much a military Syfy nut, but Mr Hystad, knows how to cross science fiction categories; I found this a fun read with a great amount of action.
I'm pretty much a military Syfy nut, but Mr Hystad, knows how to cross science fiction categories; I found this a fun read with a great amount of action.
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