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The Chimaera Chronicles #1
The Sphinx Project
Not many people can say their entire existence has been one big lab experiment: poked and prodded by scientists, genetically modified to be the best and endure the worst, subjected to daily tests and trials that would kill a normal human. All Michaela wants is her own life, to be able to go to school, flirt with boys, maybe eat ice cream now and then. So when the chance to escape finally comes, Michaela and her sister grab it, taking their friends with them.
But they weren’t the only ones to find their way out of those labs. Following close behind are another breed of creature, one that doesn’t know the difference between right and wrong, who exist only to feed their own hunger. The appearance of a strange boy who seems too much like them to be a coincidence makes things even more confusing. But as the world begins to literally fall apart around them, Michaela must accept his help, especially when she could lose the very thing she holds dearest: her sister.
But they weren’t the only ones to find their way out of those labs. Following close behind are another breed of creature, one that doesn’t know the difference between right and wrong, who exist only to feed their own hunger. The appearance of a strange boy who seems too much like them to be a coincidence makes things even more confusing. But as the world begins to literally fall apart around them, Michaela must accept his help, especially when she could lose the very thing she holds dearest: her sister.
254 pages, Paperback
First published February 26, 2012
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2665 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
November 27, 2018
For a self published book, this is actually pretty good, although not the best I've read. I would've given it an extra star, maybe, but I was disappointed that this book seems to be 2 concepts in 1 and has a hard time balancing the two, and unfortunately, it kind of delivers on neither. As a zombie apocalypse book, there's a disappointing lack of actual zombies, and besides some quick scenes, a decapitation, and a guy turning into a zombie, there's no real urgency to it. As a fight against evil scientist/corporation doing bad stuff, it's the standard break into labs, see horrifying experiments, and listen to mad scientist talk about how 'important' her work is. I guess I was expecting the story to flow more than it actually did, but it's more like the MC is fighting one of these in one chapter and the other in the next without much connection between them (besides the evil corp creating the zombies, it's like they don't even acknowlege them), so I'm left wondering, is the world really falling apart if nobody cares?
March 12, 2012
Please note minor spoilers
I think before we delve into this review, it is very important that I put a disclaimer here. I read this the day after I got all four of my wisdom teeth taken out, plus had a procedure performed on my jaw joint at the same. I was on all kinds of crazy pain killers and my face was still numb. What I remember reading and what I actually read may not be the same things. I was in my own little world completely.
Okay, let’s get started.
First of all: The Prologue. It’s interesting. It caught my attention. But it never actually connected to anything later in the story. There was never any allusion to it whatsoever that I could pick up. It was like there was a prologue for the sake of showing of that these chicks are bad ass and have mad skills, yo.
The actual story itself starts off very bleak.. not in a – this story looks crap – way, but in a –wow these characters sure do have it tough- way. In some ways I was amazed at how generally well adjusted these girls were when the things they had to go through were put into consideration. I guess that’s the humanity of the “mother” figure they had. I have to say that everytime Michaela mentioned “Mom” it made me think of “Mother” by Pink Floyd .. and then led me to think that hey.. maybe this mysterious “Mom” character is actually the mastermind behind all this, and Michaela is suffering from Stockholm syndrome. Well, this doesn’t happen as far as this book is concerned. Mom is just her Surrogate mother who stuck around and showed the girls love and compassion. Awww.
For the most part, the story flows fairly well, and I found myself being very caught up in it. There are a few awkward moments – whether it’s a scene transition.. or the characters do something/go somewhere just to make the next thing in the plot happen more conveniently. I realise this is what writing is all about, it’s just done a little awkwardly sometimes. I really found the laser tag tournament unnecessary. I know it was for them to earn money, but in a country torn apart by some kind of Zombie apocalypse, teamed up with the 2012 end of world theme running through it I found it a little odd that there would still be a laser tag tournament going on.
There is a bit of romance in here too – what YA novel doesn’t have some kind of romantic interest these days? I didn’t really cheer for Michaela and her love interest that much. I wasn’t against it, but it didn’t really seem organic. It was a bit of “I hate you for unspecified reasons” -brooding glare- then proceeded to “Actually, yeah, nah. I do fancy you afterall! Cool banana’s!” –happy hand holding-.
Don’t get me wrong, despite all this it is a very enjoyable read. Not only this, you have to remember it’s self published and I think at the end of the day, I think if she had the same team of well paid editors that “published” authors do, the story would flow perfectly. As it is, for a self published effort, very impressive. I will definitely be reading the next instalment when it comes out.
Rating: 3.75/5
I think before we delve into this review, it is very important that I put a disclaimer here. I read this the day after I got all four of my wisdom teeth taken out, plus had a procedure performed on my jaw joint at the same. I was on all kinds of crazy pain killers and my face was still numb. What I remember reading and what I actually read may not be the same things. I was in my own little world completely.
Okay, let’s get started.
First of all: The Prologue. It’s interesting. It caught my attention. But it never actually connected to anything later in the story. There was never any allusion to it whatsoever that I could pick up. It was like there was a prologue for the sake of showing of that these chicks are bad ass and have mad skills, yo.
The actual story itself starts off very bleak.. not in a – this story looks crap – way, but in a –wow these characters sure do have it tough- way. In some ways I was amazed at how generally well adjusted these girls were when the things they had to go through were put into consideration. I guess that’s the humanity of the “mother” figure they had. I have to say that everytime Michaela mentioned “Mom” it made me think of “Mother” by Pink Floyd .. and then led me to think that hey.. maybe this mysterious “Mom” character is actually the mastermind behind all this, and Michaela is suffering from Stockholm syndrome. Well, this doesn’t happen as far as this book is concerned. Mom is just her Surrogate mother who stuck around and showed the girls love and compassion. Awww.
For the most part, the story flows fairly well, and I found myself being very caught up in it. There are a few awkward moments – whether it’s a scene transition.. or the characters do something/go somewhere just to make the next thing in the plot happen more conveniently. I realise this is what writing is all about, it’s just done a little awkwardly sometimes. I really found the laser tag tournament unnecessary. I know it was for them to earn money, but in a country torn apart by some kind of Zombie apocalypse, teamed up with the 2012 end of world theme running through it I found it a little odd that there would still be a laser tag tournament going on.
There is a bit of romance in here too – what YA novel doesn’t have some kind of romantic interest these days? I didn’t really cheer for Michaela and her love interest that much. I wasn’t against it, but it didn’t really seem organic. It was a bit of “I hate you for unspecified reasons” -brooding glare- then proceeded to “Actually, yeah, nah. I do fancy you afterall! Cool banana’s!” –happy hand holding-.
Don’t get me wrong, despite all this it is a very enjoyable read. Not only this, you have to remember it’s self published and I think at the end of the day, I think if she had the same team of well paid editors that “published” authors do, the story would flow perfectly. As it is, for a self published effort, very impressive. I will definitely be reading the next instalment when it comes out.
Rating: 3.75/5
March 14, 2012
I like The Sphinx Project.
*****
The Sphinx Project has potential. The sci-fi element is not new but the action-packed scenes brought new flavor to it. I liked the execution but i had problems with the ebook copy. There are several wrong spellings and grammatical errors that affected the meaning of sentences and paragraphs. Could this be a result of lack in editing and proofreading? i don’t know. Also, i found most of the action scenes too descriptive. It was technically right but i lost the emotional connection to the situations at hand. Still, i believe The Sphinx Project is worth a try.
Kayla, Nicole, Mouse & Briana are genetically altered teenage girls that have one purpose: to be the perfect soldiers. When they are not working in the outside world, they are imprisoned in the lab and get tested and experimented. When an escape seemed possible, they took it but Kayla was not prepared for the secrets and truths behind The Sphinx Project.
The story is fast-moving; Hawkings did not dwell long on Kayla’s life inside the lab. She focused more on Kayla’s (and her fellow lab rats) life on the run. The characters are okay enough but i was detached from them (i felt Nicole, though). It was also said that Kayla is special but Hawkings did not reveal why. But the natural disasters added a nice touch on their predicament. This gave a hint of an upcoming post-apocalyptic world that is exciting to anticipate. The romance is predictable and rash, but i know it will get better in the next books.
My exact rating is 3.5 – i liked The Sphinx Project because it is not boring. The plot could’ve been more polished but it was doable; i finished the book in one sitting. Give it a try. Perhaps if you don’t mind the issues i have, you will enjoy reading The Sphinx Project.
*****
The Sphinx Project has potential. The sci-fi element is not new but the action-packed scenes brought new flavor to it. I liked the execution but i had problems with the ebook copy. There are several wrong spellings and grammatical errors that affected the meaning of sentences and paragraphs. Could this be a result of lack in editing and proofreading? i don’t know. Also, i found most of the action scenes too descriptive. It was technically right but i lost the emotional connection to the situations at hand. Still, i believe The Sphinx Project is worth a try.
Kayla, Nicole, Mouse & Briana are genetically altered teenage girls that have one purpose: to be the perfect soldiers. When they are not working in the outside world, they are imprisoned in the lab and get tested and experimented. When an escape seemed possible, they took it but Kayla was not prepared for the secrets and truths behind The Sphinx Project.
The story is fast-moving; Hawkings did not dwell long on Kayla’s life inside the lab. She focused more on Kayla’s (and her fellow lab rats) life on the run. The characters are okay enough but i was detached from them (i felt Nicole, though). It was also said that Kayla is special but Hawkings did not reveal why. But the natural disasters added a nice touch on their predicament. This gave a hint of an upcoming post-apocalyptic world that is exciting to anticipate. The romance is predictable and rash, but i know it will get better in the next books.
My exact rating is 3.5 – i liked The Sphinx Project because it is not boring. The plot could’ve been more polished but it was doable; i finished the book in one sitting. Give it a try. Perhaps if you don’t mind the issues i have, you will enjoy reading The Sphinx Project.
August 9, 2012
THIS BOOK IS AMAZING....I loved from the first word to the last.
The characters are so brave and not selfish that you just love all of them. There were twist and turns in the story, the way (spoiler) a character change from good to bad in seconds and the way you never expect anything that happened in the book...Sometimes, you can guess what happens in a story but this one, you can never expect anything...
Even though I'm a big romance reader, this story doesn't have much romance in it but it makes me BEG for book 2 because I want to know what happens between Matt and Kayla. AND I'M DYING TO WAIT FOR THE NEXT BOOK.
The ending left you in a complete cliffhanger...I was reading it and then I was like "Is that it? I want to know what happens!!!!"
Kayla was strong, brave and would do anything to (spoiler) get her twin sister back. Matt was an asshole but a good and caring asshole, I loved him and everyone else. Mouse was like a child but a very smart child, Jake was sweet, he was quiet and kind of like a geek and he kind of suit Mouse. Nike was BAD-ASS, hot (totally hot) and friendly, I loved her, she was like a girly girl at times but she's all business at the right times.
Even though most of these characters only appear half way through the book (except Kayla, Mouse and Nicole), they were likeable really quickly and you'll fall in love with them straight away.
(Spoiler) Briana was good but she turned bad half way through the book, and Kate doesn't tell you why and I was like "WHY DID SHE SELL THEM OUT IN THE CLUB??" all the way through the book..
Every sentence captured me and I couldn't stop reading. I wanted to read it all the way through but I had to stop because later I'll be "I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE NEXT BOOK...I'M GONNA DIE...KILL ME MUMMY...I DON'T WANT TO WAIT ANYMORE!!" and that's what I'm like right now.
You'll love this book when you read it and you'll be like me right now after you finish it...
I HATE YOU KATE, FOR MAKING ME WAIT FOR THE NEXT BOOK BUT I LOVE YOU FOR WRITING SUCH A GOOD AND FANTASTIC BOOK!!! Cannot wait for the next one... :)
The characters are so brave and not selfish that you just love all of them. There were twist and turns in the story, the way (spoiler) a character change from good to bad in seconds and the way you never expect anything that happened in the book...Sometimes, you can guess what happens in a story but this one, you can never expect anything...
Even though I'm a big romance reader, this story doesn't have much romance in it but it makes me BEG for book 2 because I want to know what happens between Matt and Kayla. AND I'M DYING TO WAIT FOR THE NEXT BOOK.
The ending left you in a complete cliffhanger...I was reading it and then I was like "Is that it? I want to know what happens!!!!"
Kayla was strong, brave and would do anything to (spoiler) get her twin sister back. Matt was an asshole but a good and caring asshole, I loved him and everyone else. Mouse was like a child but a very smart child, Jake was sweet, he was quiet and kind of like a geek and he kind of suit Mouse. Nike was BAD-ASS, hot (totally hot) and friendly, I loved her, she was like a girly girl at times but she's all business at the right times.
Even though most of these characters only appear half way through the book (except Kayla, Mouse and Nicole), they were likeable really quickly and you'll fall in love with them straight away.
(Spoiler) Briana was good but she turned bad half way through the book, and Kate doesn't tell you why and I was like "WHY DID SHE SELL THEM OUT IN THE CLUB??" all the way through the book..
Every sentence captured me and I couldn't stop reading. I wanted to read it all the way through but I had to stop because later I'll be "I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE NEXT BOOK...I'M GONNA DIE...KILL ME MUMMY...I DON'T WANT TO WAIT ANYMORE!!" and that's what I'm like right now.
You'll love this book when you read it and you'll be like me right now after you finish it...
I HATE YOU KATE, FOR MAKING ME WAIT FOR THE NEXT BOOK BUT I LOVE YOU FOR WRITING SUCH A GOOD AND FANTASTIC BOOK!!! Cannot wait for the next one... :)
February 25, 2012
CAPTIVATING AT FIRST SIGHT.
Has a book ever left you speechless when you have just finish read the last few sentences? The Chimaera Chronicles will do just that!
From the moment you begin reading to the very ending of the book, you find yourself glued to wherever you are, unable to withdraw you eyes from the book.
The Sphinx Project is a fast moving plot with plenty of action packed scenes and nail-biting moments which will literally leave you on the edge of your seat. Kate Hawkings has created a magnificent YA paranormal book and had managed to grab everything that should be in a YA paranormal book series, from kick-ass heroins, such as Michaela and Mouse, to unexpected twists and turns that you didn't see coming.
If you haven't got this superb YA paranormal book on your MUST-HAVE list like in right now, you don't know what you missing out on but hey, it's not late at all to do so because once you have read this book, you will be blown away by the incredibleness of The Chimaera Chronicles!
All I can think about right now is WHEN CAN I GET MY HANDS ON THE NEXT ONE?!!
Yes, It's that amazing! A book that captures your attention from the very beginning and leaves you speechless at the end. . .It's a winner!
SUPERB!
Has a book ever left you speechless when you have just finish read the last few sentences? The Chimaera Chronicles will do just that!
From the moment you begin reading to the very ending of the book, you find yourself glued to wherever you are, unable to withdraw you eyes from the book.
The Sphinx Project is a fast moving plot with plenty of action packed scenes and nail-biting moments which will literally leave you on the edge of your seat. Kate Hawkings has created a magnificent YA paranormal book and had managed to grab everything that should be in a YA paranormal book series, from kick-ass heroins, such as Michaela and Mouse, to unexpected twists and turns that you didn't see coming.
If you haven't got this superb YA paranormal book on your MUST-HAVE list like in right now, you don't know what you missing out on but hey, it's not late at all to do so because once you have read this book, you will be blown away by the incredibleness of The Chimaera Chronicles!
All I can think about right now is WHEN CAN I GET MY HANDS ON THE NEXT ONE?!!
Yes, It's that amazing! A book that captures your attention from the very beginning and leaves you speechless at the end. . .It's a winner!
SUPERB!
March 1, 2012
If you're looking for a book that will have you gripped from the very beginning, then this it it. Beautifully written, action packed, and full of loveable characters. I love Kayla's obsession with ice cream, and the relationships between the girls. You really feel for them as they're on the run, having no idea what to expect next. I certainly had no idea what to expect next, which kept me on the edge of my seat all the way through. Such a big cliffhanger at the end though! When I realised I had just read the last chapter, I wanted to carry on reading! Definitely worth a read, I would recommend it to everyone :)
March 3, 2012
The Sphinx Project is AMAZING! I had been looking forward to reading this book for months, and I definitely wasn't disappointed. It exceeded my expectations. I literally couldn't put it down from the moment I began reading. Ms. Hawkings' story hit the ground running and didn't stop until the end--and even at the end. The cliffhanger is going to drive me crazy until the release of the second book in the Chimaera Chronicles. I have two words for you, Ms. Hawkings: WRITE FASTER! I'm dying for this sequel!
March 13, 2012
3.5 stars overall.
Full Review on Paperback Dolls - http://paperbackdolls.com/?p=9848
THE SPHINX PROJECT is a good debut that is impressive when you consider that it is a self published work by a young author (I believe she is 21 or 22). If this is only a glimpse at the caliber of storytelling to come from this author, we should expect great things ahead. I look forward to future installments in the series, especially since Hawkings leaves fans with quite the cliffhanger.
Full Review on Paperback Dolls - http://paperbackdolls.com/?p=9848
THE SPHINX PROJECT is a good debut that is impressive when you consider that it is a self published work by a young author (I believe she is 21 or 22). If this is only a glimpse at the caliber of storytelling to come from this author, we should expect great things ahead. I look forward to future installments in the series, especially since Hawkings leaves fans with quite the cliffhanger.
May 31, 2012
This is a awesome book had me hooked from page one till the very last page and has left me wanting more! I recommend this book and this author to everyone! Can't wait to read the second book hope to see it out soon! :)
Want to read
April 7, 2012Maximum Ride, anyone?
January 24, 2013
Good book but the way it ends and I'm broke and ugh.
August 20, 2017
Ok, I am hooked. I have to see what happens...
August 4, 2021
I got this book in 2012 but didn't start reading it until recently. I found this book interesting enough to look for book 2 in the series. I can find book 2 on Goodreads but that seems to be the only place it is. Does anyone have any information about Book 2 or the author?
February 23, 2012
Originally posted @ Book Whales
A lifetime as a lab rat, or forever on the run? For Michaela it's not a hard decision.
When I saw this book on Goodreads, I was literally drooling over it. I was drawn to the cover and the blurb sounds so good. I was lucky enough to be given an ARC directly from the author. Oh boy, this book is so good. There were no dull moments from the first chapter up to the last. I devoured this book in one sitting.
The story is about the Sphinx Project, an experiment with an aim to create a perfect warrior by combining animal and human genes. The story was told in Michaela’s perspective, the heroine in the story. Michaela and the girls were kept as lab rats in a very secluded facility. They were given trainings and constantly monitored. Michaela sees her life as a prisoner; she wanted to live a normal life instead of pretending to be someone she is not. An assassin or a killer, always there when needed. They were given missions to kill a specific target. Michaela doesn’t want that life. The story took a great turn when the facility was hit by an earthquake. The girls took the opportunity to escape but the task is not easy as it seems. They thought the facility guards were their prime enemy but something else had escaped, a blood thirsty humanoid creature. Was there a possibility they could end up like the creature if they hadn’t escape?
I was impressed by the story building; it is very believable. I like the concept about hybrids. It also had the elements that I love in a book, fast-paced and action-packed with a hint of romance. The characters are realistic too. I felt their emotions, how deeply they wanted to escape. I also felt their thirst for answers. I love Michaela and Nicole. They are butt-kicking!!! Both are strong, clever and confident. There were also some characters that I like and find so interesting. I can't give them away here; you have to read this book to know more about them :)
There are two things that I don’t like. One is how the love angle was played, it was too soon. It didn’t give butterflies in my stomach, it lacks spice. Then there were too many things going on at the same time. There were some parts that confuse me, is there an impending apocalypse? Well I do love apocalyptic/post-apocalyptic stories so I can't wait for book two.
Overall, this book is a wonderful read. If you love action, tsunamis and zombie like creatures, this book is for you. I can’t wait for the next one to be out.
I give this book 4.5 whales
Rating: 4.5 Whales
A lifetime as a lab rat, or forever on the run? For Michaela it's not a hard decision.
When I saw this book on Goodreads, I was literally drooling over it. I was drawn to the cover and the blurb sounds so good. I was lucky enough to be given an ARC directly from the author. Oh boy, this book is so good. There were no dull moments from the first chapter up to the last. I devoured this book in one sitting.
The story is about the Sphinx Project, an experiment with an aim to create a perfect warrior by combining animal and human genes. The story was told in Michaela’s perspective, the heroine in the story. Michaela and the girls were kept as lab rats in a very secluded facility. They were given trainings and constantly monitored. Michaela sees her life as a prisoner; she wanted to live a normal life instead of pretending to be someone she is not. An assassin or a killer, always there when needed. They were given missions to kill a specific target. Michaela doesn’t want that life. The story took a great turn when the facility was hit by an earthquake. The girls took the opportunity to escape but the task is not easy as it seems. They thought the facility guards were their prime enemy but something else had escaped, a blood thirsty humanoid creature. Was there a possibility they could end up like the creature if they hadn’t escape?
I was impressed by the story building; it is very believable. I like the concept about hybrids. It also had the elements that I love in a book, fast-paced and action-packed with a hint of romance. The characters are realistic too. I felt their emotions, how deeply they wanted to escape. I also felt their thirst for answers. I love Michaela and Nicole. They are butt-kicking!!! Both are strong, clever and confident. There were also some characters that I like and find so interesting. I can't give them away here; you have to read this book to know more about them :)
There are two things that I don’t like. One is how the love angle was played, it was too soon. It didn’t give butterflies in my stomach, it lacks spice. Then there were too many things going on at the same time. There were some parts that confuse me, is there an impending apocalypse? Well I do love apocalyptic/post-apocalyptic stories so I can't wait for book two.
Overall, this book is a wonderful read. If you love action, tsunamis and zombie like creatures, this book is for you. I can’t wait for the next one to be out.
I give this book 4.5 whales
Rating: 4.5 Whales
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 25, 2014
I don't know what to think about this... by the description, I had Maximum Ride in my head. It's not. It was an interesting read, but it went off on a bit of a zombie/massive world chaos with earthquakes hitting everywhere at just the worst possible time type of story plot- which doesn't make sense why these scientists would be so hell bent on finding Kayla when the whole world seems to be going to shambles.
Though I liked the general idea of the story, it seemed to seriously miss something. I don't know if it's just that it felt rushed, or if details were just missing, or if it was that some points just seemed to be dropped.
Examples: Kayla, at one point, runs across a picture of a girl 2 years older then her, born on the same day, who looks shockingly like her. Except for using her identity to get into a bar and the RSVP section, it doesn't delve into this any more- why the heck does the girl look so much like her? I originally thought it was maybe possible that they got the DNA for Kayla from this girls' parents, but it's never mentioned. Lots of other people show up with very little information or background, like the boy from the hospital - he has the Sphinx markings but no idea why, grew up with his father in a regular family, no further information. Why did Briana turn into an ugly back-stabbing wrench? No idea. &WHY IS KAYLA THE ONE WANTED? The story keeps saying she's special, she's different, SHE is the one that's wanted and they will kill anyone to get to her, but it's not further put into question or explained why.
I'm not terribly interested in reading the next one.
Though I liked the general idea of the story, it seemed to seriously miss something. I don't know if it's just that it felt rushed, or if details were just missing, or if it was that some points just seemed to be dropped.
Examples: Kayla, at one point, runs across a picture of a girl 2 years older then her, born on the same day, who looks shockingly like her. Except for using her identity to get into a bar and the RSVP section, it doesn't delve into this any more- why the heck does the girl look so much like her? I originally thought it was maybe possible that they got the DNA for Kayla from this girls' parents, but it's never mentioned. Lots of other people show up with very little information or background, like the boy from the hospital - he has the Sphinx markings but no idea why, grew up with his father in a regular family, no further information. Why did Briana turn into an ugly back-stabbing wrench? No idea. &WHY IS KAYLA THE ONE WANTED? The story keeps saying she's special, she's different, SHE is the one that's wanted and they will kill anyone to get to her, but it's not further put into question or explained why.
I'm not terribly interested in reading the next one.
September 14, 2012
The Sphinx Project is a thrilling, action packed beginning to an amazing new series by Kate Hawkings which will certainly captivates its readers. The story centers on Michaela or Kayla who is a product of a secret science experiment to create a hybrid super human from the genes of various animals and combining it with human genes. As expected Kayla is the perfect super soldier but she longs to escape from the malevolent and sinister scientists who keep her and her sisters imprisoned in their facility.
The girls were given a lucky break when a massive earthquake destroys the facility which allowed them to escape but a group of zombie-like creatures from the underground cells also made their getaway to the outside world which resulted in disastrous consequences.
The pacing of the book is pretty intense and nerve-wrecking as the girls had to experience several life threatening situations which not only includes earthquake but also tsunami and a volcano eruption towards their journey to freedom. But the price of freedom is certainly high and when they were betrayed by one of their own, Kayla had to decide who can she really trusts.With soldiers hot on her trail, zombies on the loose and the world on the brink of destruction, Kayla certainly had the impossible task of staying alive and rescuing her sisters at the same time.
For a self-published work, this book is amazingly well-written, the characters are solid and the story is so engrossing that I had a hard time putting it down! The ending is indeed a shocker and I just can't wait to read the next book
The girls were given a lucky break when a massive earthquake destroys the facility which allowed them to escape but a group of zombie-like creatures from the underground cells also made their getaway to the outside world which resulted in disastrous consequences.
The pacing of the book is pretty intense and nerve-wrecking as the girls had to experience several life threatening situations which not only includes earthquake but also tsunami and a volcano eruption towards their journey to freedom. But the price of freedom is certainly high and when they were betrayed by one of their own, Kayla had to decide who can she really trusts.With soldiers hot on her trail, zombies on the loose and the world on the brink of destruction, Kayla certainly had the impossible task of staying alive and rescuing her sisters at the same time.
For a self-published work, this book is amazingly well-written, the characters are solid and the story is so engrossing that I had a hard time putting it down! The ending is indeed a shocker and I just can't wait to read the next book
March 6, 2012
Simply amazing!
Believe me, it does not disappoint. Fast paced, action packed, compelling storyline..even the slightest hint of romance is included in this genreless book.(Maybe I have made that word up - lets run with it!) And it is genreless, its crossover is what holds its appeal, a bit of everything for everyone and it certainly seems effortless, and there is not one point that I scrunched my face feeling that it didn't work.
Sure, it may predominantly fit YA but i think to pigeon-hole it would detract from its quality.
I just have two negative points to raise. During the first half of the book a couple of times I felt the information was repeated. Just the odd line, but I noticed it, so I have to mention it. The other one is the fact that this book is part of a series, and I need the rest of that series NOW. Seriously, I feel like my iPad has been stolen midway through a book.
My recommendation is that everyone should read this book. Even if it isn't your usual cup of tea, the drama and action is too much to ignore, you will be at the end before you even know you have started. If, like me, you are impatient, I recommend you follow Katherine Hawkings to keep up to date with new releases so you can get the full series in one hit as soon as it is available.
Believe me, it does not disappoint. Fast paced, action packed, compelling storyline..even the slightest hint of romance is included in this genreless book.(Maybe I have made that word up - lets run with it!) And it is genreless, its crossover is what holds its appeal, a bit of everything for everyone and it certainly seems effortless, and there is not one point that I scrunched my face feeling that it didn't work.
Sure, it may predominantly fit YA but i think to pigeon-hole it would detract from its quality.
I just have two negative points to raise. During the first half of the book a couple of times I felt the information was repeated. Just the odd line, but I noticed it, so I have to mention it. The other one is the fact that this book is part of a series, and I need the rest of that series NOW. Seriously, I feel like my iPad has been stolen midway through a book.
My recommendation is that everyone should read this book. Even if it isn't your usual cup of tea, the drama and action is too much to ignore, you will be at the end before you even know you have started. If, like me, you are impatient, I recommend you follow Katherine Hawkings to keep up to date with new releases so you can get the full series in one hit as soon as it is available.
May 18, 2012
I received a copy for review.
All Michaela’s life, she has been training and been tested on to see how far her body can recover from viruses. She, along with her sister, Nicole, and friends Mouse and Briana, have been lab rats for too long. Her mother has been dead for 5 years, and they all decided that they need to break out.
When they do, there are creature-like humans that breakout as well. They head out to the West Coast and find themselves in several skirmishes and natural disasters.
I’ve never been a big fan of action or sci-fi books, but I thought this sounded good. I thought the book was going to have a little more romance than it did, based on the blurb alone. I guess this made me expect a little more from the book.
There are a couple relationships that probably will be fleshed out somewhat more in the second. I really liked that Michaela was a tough character. At first, I didn’t think a lot about the book. I found it hard to continue reading for the first half. I ended up liking it a lot more near the end of the book. I think the second book will be a lot better. The cliffhanger was great and makes me want to read the next book.
All Michaela’s life, she has been training and been tested on to see how far her body can recover from viruses. She, along with her sister, Nicole, and friends Mouse and Briana, have been lab rats for too long. Her mother has been dead for 5 years, and they all decided that they need to break out.
When they do, there are creature-like humans that breakout as well. They head out to the West Coast and find themselves in several skirmishes and natural disasters.
I’ve never been a big fan of action or sci-fi books, but I thought this sounded good. I thought the book was going to have a little more romance than it did, based on the blurb alone. I guess this made me expect a little more from the book.
There are a couple relationships that probably will be fleshed out somewhat more in the second. I really liked that Michaela was a tough character. At first, I didn’t think a lot about the book. I found it hard to continue reading for the first half. I ended up liking it a lot more near the end of the book. I think the second book will be a lot better. The cliffhanger was great and makes me want to read the next book.
March 31, 2012
Here is my slightly longer review. . .
Hawkings has a great way of building suspense. I was on the edge of my seat this whole book. These main characters are badass and they really know how to get stuff done! I really liked reading this story, it flew by so quickly! I wanted it to be longer. The action and all the developments and science fiction to me was really cool and intriguing.
I think it could have benefited from just a tad more character development. I knew the girls' names and their "trademarks" but I would have liked to know more about Kayla and what made her tick. I really liked Mouse.
I am excited to read more of this series. Instead of post-apocalyptic like a lot of the things I've read, it's really apocalyptic, like all this crazy stuff is happening and I keep wondering if it's all connected or what. I would have liked some more answers--I feel like she raised a lot of questions but didn't answer hardly any! I'm not sure how to feel about this ending. Very cliffhanger-ish, so I will definitely check out the next one.
Hawkings has a great way of building suspense. I was on the edge of my seat this whole book. These main characters are badass and they really know how to get stuff done! I really liked reading this story, it flew by so quickly! I wanted it to be longer. The action and all the developments and science fiction to me was really cool and intriguing.
I think it could have benefited from just a tad more character development. I knew the girls' names and their "trademarks" but I would have liked to know more about Kayla and what made her tick. I really liked Mouse.
I am excited to read more of this series. Instead of post-apocalyptic like a lot of the things I've read, it's really apocalyptic, like all this crazy stuff is happening and I keep wondering if it's all connected or what. I would have liked some more answers--I feel like she raised a lot of questions but didn't answer hardly any! I'm not sure how to feel about this ending. Very cliffhanger-ish, so I will definitely check out the next one.
February 9, 2013
I'm so happy I won this book! Yay! Can't wait to read it :D
5 super stars!!!
Review coming soon!
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UPDATE 2.9.13
This book was awesome. A great choice! I'm glad I won it!
The story is fast paced, got me hooked since page one and never had a dull moment. Action packed and even in the middle of all that, the author manage to blend little love scenes.
I am a fan of romance novels and I always want romance in every book, this one had such a tiny amount, but those "love moments" were placed exactly where they should be and that made it great.
The characters are strong with well defined personalities and the dialogues are clever.
The end is a HUGE cliffhanger and I can't wait to get book 2!
I LOVED LOVED LOVED this book!
5 super stars!!!
Review coming soon!
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UPDATE 2.9.13
This book was awesome. A great choice! I'm glad I won it!
The story is fast paced, got me hooked since page one and never had a dull moment. Action packed and even in the middle of all that, the author manage to blend little love scenes.
I am a fan of romance novels and I always want romance in every book, this one had such a tiny amount, but those "love moments" were placed exactly where they should be and that made it great.
The characters are strong with well defined personalities and the dialogues are clever.
The end is a HUGE cliffhanger and I can't wait to get book 2!
I LOVED LOVED LOVED this book!
April 5, 2014
Kayla is part of a bizarre experiment, the apparent intention of which is to create a sort of super human. She is trained and tested to her limits and not treated humanely. Nonetheless she somehow manages to retain a surprisingly humane spirit, and when she and her crew get a chance to escape, they grab it. But the country is experiencing an amazing number of disasters, plus is under the threat of a dangerous virus, unleashed by the mad scientists, that transforms people into flesh eating monsters. The author did a good job of drawing me into the story, and of building suspense. It is a fast-paced story, that often left me confused about what was going on. More details might have helped. Some editing mistakes added to the confusion; in parts there seemed to be holes in the story, and there were some blocks of text that were misplaced.
December 26, 2012
Plot: 3 1/2stars
Characters:3 stars
Style: 3 stars
Pace: 4 stars
Very fast paced, to a fault. There were points where I wanted things to slow down and get a better feel of what was going on, but it just kept moving. There were very few places to catch your breath.
Only a few typos (nose to tale instead of tail, things like that), but otherwise well edited. I'll probably read the sequel anyway, because it is a quick read.
Characters:3 stars
Style: 3 stars
Pace: 4 stars
Very fast paced, to a fault. There were points where I wanted things to slow down and get a better feel of what was going on, but it just kept moving. There were very few places to catch your breath.
Only a few typos (nose to tale instead of tail, things like that), but otherwise well edited. I'll probably read the sequel anyway, because it is a quick read.
June 16, 2012
This book was just ok for me. It had nonstop action from start to finish. It was like reading about a military mission. If you enjoy that kind of book then you'll like this one. The characters were under developed and lacked real emotion. As a result, I had trouble connecting with the characters. At times I had difficulty following the action and understanding who was doing what. It had an exciting ending and sets up an interesting story to continue. Not sure though if I'm up to reading it.
June 20, 2012
This novel took me a little while to get into, but once I had committed to it - it ended up being a pretty gripping and interesting read. Although there were certain elements in this novel which followed the standard formula and were easy to predict, there were also elements that were quite fresh and novel. At times it reminded me of the series "Dark Angel", in terms of the human bio-engineering etc. Will definitely be continuing with the series.
December 27, 2012
Kindle freebie with a decent premise. Big Pharma/genetic splicing/new age warriors. The book provides a slew of plot lines and plenty of backstory to be filled in (assuming the series continues).
Aside from twice in the book referencing "pre-loaded magazines" (in both contexts, it is rather implied that one would load extra clips in advance) ha, the book flowed pretty well. I'm not hooked to wait for the next installment, but If I happen to stumble across it - will giver 'er a go.
Aside from twice in the book referencing "pre-loaded magazines" (in both contexts, it is rather implied that one would load extra clips in advance) ha, the book flowed pretty well. I'm not hooked to wait for the next installment, but If I happen to stumble across it - will giver 'er a go.
July 27, 2013
The writing of this book flows pretty well. The plot is a bit everywhere. My question is why were the earthquakes happening in the first place. There are lots of other holes as well, to numerous to spend my time listing. Despite all that I would have given this book three stars, until the ending. We were going, going, going, and abrupt halt. What? It was an epic fail of a cliffhanger. And any desire to continue the series died with it.
Want to read
March 2, 2012I'd like to read this book, but it is not available for the Nook (barnes and noble). I am not going to buy another device and I don't like Amazon's practices any way. Too bad, this looks like a great book and it has good reviews.
August 18, 2012
It was a good book I liked it due to the video game feel to it. It is a cross between residentevil evil and modern warfare 3 with all zombie like creatures and genetic modification and spec op combat.
July 22, 2014
Fan bloody tastic..... Read it before somewhere and read it again on my kindle. Couldn't put the damn thing down the first time and just as hard the second time. Having trouble finding out where I can purchase the next book but shall keep hunting around. Keep up the good work Kate
August 11, 2014
Not bad but not good either!
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