What do you think?
Rate this book
The Weaver Saga #1
Weaver
Fifteen-year old Alex Cronlord just met the boy of her dreams. Literally. Unfortunately, the dream involved him killing her. When she encounters him at her school the next morning, Alex understandably freaks out – and her mother’s bizarre behavior only makes it worse. What Alex doesn’t realize is that she can see the future – which will get her into a whole lot of trouble.
Across town, FBI Agent Moira McBain and her partner Andy Hall investigate a series of house burnings in Dallas, Texas. When a clue leads them to the Cronlords, Moira discovers a disturbing link between Alex’s family and her own – which opens an old wound Moira has spent years trying to ignore.
Something is rotten in Dallas, Texas – something involving a secret society, children with extraordinary powers, and human-looking creatures who might literally be out of this world ….
Welcome to a different kind of world-wide web.
Across town, FBI Agent Moira McBain and her partner Andy Hall investigate a series of house burnings in Dallas, Texas. When a clue leads them to the Cronlords, Moira discovers a disturbing link between Alex’s family and her own – which opens an old wound Moira has spent years trying to ignore.
Something is rotten in Dallas, Texas – something involving a secret society, children with extraordinary powers, and human-looking creatures who might literally be out of this world ….
Welcome to a different kind of world-wide web.
168 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 9, 2011
42 people are currently reading
329 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
October 11, 2011
What to say about Weaver?
Well first let me start with the good points shall we?
I love the villain aspect to this story. It's mostly original...OK maybe it is a slightly twisted take off vampires, but it's NOT vampires which earns some bonus points right there. They are called Xorda, which for some reason kept reminding me of Star Trek. (yes I am aware that I have never watched Star Trek and thus have no reason for such analogies...but still it did.) Anyways the Xorda sucked the souls out of people to survive, not their blood. In the end the outcome is the same though...death. But that is not the only villain of this story which was another plus I think. You see the humans that spend their life fighting a war against these Xorda's are called members of the Wells Society, but the things they do to their children without them knowing so that they can use them to kill these creatures is down right awful. I mean we are talking lab rats might be treated better awful.
So why only 2 stars you ask? OK here is the deal. First I want to start by saying that up until now I have been lucky enough that an author himself has never asked me to review their book and then I ended up not liking it. What I mean is that when an author has personally contacted me, asking me to review their book, I have been lucky enough to have always enjoyed it. So when this wasn't falling into that category I am finding myself feeling sad, and guilty at having to give such a low rating. But the truth is that as a reviewer I have a responsibility not to the author, but to the readers to give an honest review. And so here it is.
Alex is one of the main characters and I think that I could have really liked her but so much stuff just kept getting in the way. Stuff like really giant words thrown around when you least expect it, causing the flow to just sorta fall flat. I kept finding myself rereading sentences thinking "There is no way this 15 year old girl would use this word? In fact I am pretty sure she doesn't even know what it means, because really? Neither do I. Now for those of you that don't me I assure you my lack of knowledge for the choice of vocabulary had little to do with my education. Even I am guilty of using words at time that make other people look at me like I am going right over their head, because I am a fan of the big words from time to time; however these words weren't your run of the mill college level vocabulary. In fact it felt more like that game you used to play with your high school English teacher when you grab a thesaurus and try to throw all kinds of big words in there just to see if she was as smart as she thought you were. In the end all your left with is a story that is broken up by words that feel foreign and out of place. If this was an adult level novel then maybe I could have bypassed this, but it's not. It's targeted towards YA and there is no way a teenager is going to sit there with a dictionary to read a book that isn't required for school.
Would I rate this book higher if those words were replace with something more appropriate?
Yes absolutely! That alone would bump this up to 3 stars.
Then there is the problem with things like stating the obvious. While on one hand the vocab is a little too brainy and we are expected the readers to know what those words mean; we are over explaining things...a LOT. Things like She kicked him using her foot. Ummmmm OK. Well I certainly hope she didn't kick him using her arm because that would be one serious deformity. Also there was the overuse of the same common world to close together. Here is an example of what I am talking about, however this is not an exact quote from the book: She saw the tree up ahead. Gasping for air, she ran towards the tree. Again this is stuff that, when it happens, it pulls the reader out of the story, and leaves them feeling detached.
Overall I think this book has a really good premise, and the ability to be brilliant if in the hands of the right editor. I firmly believe an editor would have caught all of the things I mentioned above, and would have left this book with so much more depth because of it. I really wanted to love this book, and I really thought I would so it really pains me to say this, but I think this book needs a few more good edits before it's ready. Hopefully by book two we will see some real improvement.
Well first let me start with the good points shall we?
I love the villain aspect to this story. It's mostly original...OK maybe it is a slightly twisted take off vampires, but it's NOT vampires which earns some bonus points right there. They are called Xorda, which for some reason kept reminding me of Star Trek. (yes I am aware that I have never watched Star Trek and thus have no reason for such analogies...but still it did.) Anyways the Xorda sucked the souls out of people to survive, not their blood. In the end the outcome is the same though...death. But that is not the only villain of this story which was another plus I think. You see the humans that spend their life fighting a war against these Xorda's are called members of the Wells Society, but the things they do to their children without them knowing so that they can use them to kill these creatures is down right awful. I mean we are talking lab rats might be treated better awful.
So why only 2 stars you ask? OK here is the deal. First I want to start by saying that up until now I have been lucky enough that an author himself has never asked me to review their book and then I ended up not liking it. What I mean is that when an author has personally contacted me, asking me to review their book, I have been lucky enough to have always enjoyed it. So when this wasn't falling into that category I am finding myself feeling sad, and guilty at having to give such a low rating. But the truth is that as a reviewer I have a responsibility not to the author, but to the readers to give an honest review. And so here it is.
Alex is one of the main characters and I think that I could have really liked her but so much stuff just kept getting in the way. Stuff like really giant words thrown around when you least expect it, causing the flow to just sorta fall flat. I kept finding myself rereading sentences thinking "There is no way this 15 year old girl would use this word? In fact I am pretty sure she doesn't even know what it means, because really? Neither do I. Now for those of you that don't me I assure you my lack of knowledge for the choice of vocabulary had little to do with my education. Even I am guilty of using words at time that make other people look at me like I am going right over their head, because I am a fan of the big words from time to time; however these words weren't your run of the mill college level vocabulary. In fact it felt more like that game you used to play with your high school English teacher when you grab a thesaurus and try to throw all kinds of big words in there just to see if she was as smart as she thought you were. In the end all your left with is a story that is broken up by words that feel foreign and out of place. If this was an adult level novel then maybe I could have bypassed this, but it's not. It's targeted towards YA and there is no way a teenager is going to sit there with a dictionary to read a book that isn't required for school.
Would I rate this book higher if those words were replace with something more appropriate?
Yes absolutely! That alone would bump this up to 3 stars.
Then there is the problem with things like stating the obvious. While on one hand the vocab is a little too brainy and we are expected the readers to know what those words mean; we are over explaining things...a LOT. Things like She kicked him using her foot. Ummmmm OK. Well I certainly hope she didn't kick him using her arm because that would be one serious deformity. Also there was the overuse of the same common world to close together. Here is an example of what I am talking about, however this is not an exact quote from the book: She saw the tree up ahead. Gasping for air, she ran towards the tree. Again this is stuff that, when it happens, it pulls the reader out of the story, and leaves them feeling detached.
Overall I think this book has a really good premise, and the ability to be brilliant if in the hands of the right editor. I firmly believe an editor would have caught all of the things I mentioned above, and would have left this book with so much more depth because of it. I really wanted to love this book, and I really thought I would so it really pains me to say this, but I think this book needs a few more good edits before it's ready. Hopefully by book two we will see some real improvement.
November 15, 2013
Book Info: Genre: Urban Fantasy
Reading Level: Young Adult
Recommended for: Fans of YA urban fantasy
Trigger Warnings: assault, murder
My Thoughts: After reading the first two books in the Hunter Gamble series by this author, I just had to read this other book I had by him.
This is a really good book of its type. I don't always like YA and this has a few of the faults that keep me from fully enjoying YA novels, like teenagers that do sort of stupid things. It's mitigated in this book , so it's fairly bearable, but it's there. There were also a lot of editing errors in the text. Thus the loss of a star.
But overall, I enjoyed the book a great deal. There were a couple of moments that surprised me a lot, things I absolutely did not see coming, and I would like to continue this series. Another book is available in this series, The Void, but I do not yet have it. Anyway, if you like young adult urban fantasies, definitely give this one a try.
Disclosure: I picked up a copy of this e-book from Amazon when it was on a KDP promotion. All opinions are my own.
Synopsis: Fifteen-year old Alex Cronlord just met the boy of her dreams. Literally. Unfortunately, the dream involved him killing her. When she encounters him at her school the next morning, Alex understandably freaks out–and her mother’s bizarre behavior only makes it worse. What Alex doesn’t realize is that she can see the future–which will get her into a whole lot of trouble.
Across town, FBI Agent Moira McBain and her partner Andy Hall investigate a series of house burnings in Dallas, Texas. When a clue leads them to the Cronlords, Moira discovers a disturbing link between Alex’s family and her own–which opens an old wound Moira has spent years trying to ignore.
Something is rotten in Dallas, Texas–something involving a secret society, children with extraordinary powers, and human-looking creatures who might literally be out of this world ….
Welcome to a different kind of world-wide web.
Reading Level: Young Adult
Recommended for: Fans of YA urban fantasy
Trigger Warnings: assault, murder
My Thoughts: After reading the first two books in the Hunter Gamble series by this author, I just had to read this other book I had by him.
This is a really good book of its type. I don't always like YA and this has a few of the faults that keep me from fully enjoying YA novels, like teenagers that do sort of stupid things. It's mitigated in this book , so it's fairly bearable, but it's there. There were also a lot of editing errors in the text. Thus the loss of a star.
But overall, I enjoyed the book a great deal. There were a couple of moments that surprised me a lot, things I absolutely did not see coming, and I would like to continue this series. Another book is available in this series, The Void, but I do not yet have it. Anyway, if you like young adult urban fantasies, definitely give this one a try.
Disclosure: I picked up a copy of this e-book from Amazon when it was on a KDP promotion. All opinions are my own.
Synopsis: Fifteen-year old Alex Cronlord just met the boy of her dreams. Literally. Unfortunately, the dream involved him killing her. When she encounters him at her school the next morning, Alex understandably freaks out–and her mother’s bizarre behavior only makes it worse. What Alex doesn’t realize is that she can see the future–which will get her into a whole lot of trouble.
Across town, FBI Agent Moira McBain and her partner Andy Hall investigate a series of house burnings in Dallas, Texas. When a clue leads them to the Cronlords, Moira discovers a disturbing link between Alex’s family and her own–which opens an old wound Moira has spent years trying to ignore.
Something is rotten in Dallas, Texas–something involving a secret society, children with extraordinary powers, and human-looking creatures who might literally be out of this world ….
Welcome to a different kind of world-wide web.
October 7, 2013
Weaver has an interesting premise that I thought showed a lot of promise but for a number of reasons, I just didn’t find myself as invested in this story or characters.
The idea behind this book is definitely one that is typically right up my alley. Alex Cronlord is starting her sophomore year of high school and all of a sudden she is having some crazy dreams. Specifically about a boy who ends up killing her. Imagine her surprise when she encounters that same boy on her first day of school and is inexplicably drawn to him. Fast forward a few days and sure enough, her dream (nightmare) comes true…the boy (Lucien) tries to kill her and Alex’s best friend Tyler comes through and ends up being the reason she survives.
Along the way, Alex finds out her mother is a part of a secret society that happens to have children for the purpose of developing them into Weavers (those that can see the future) or Igniters (those that can start fires) in order to defeat the Xorda – a race of soul suckers who have come to Earth.
The pacing on this book was off for me. Everything was moving super quick with no explanation. I wanted to better understand who and what the Xorda were and why they were around. Also, Alex seemed pretty adaptable (good for her) but I found it odd that when she and Tyler thought they killed Lucien there was minimal reaction. Yeah, she ran through the woods and couldn’t believe it but once she got home, her biggest concern was what her mom was going to think when she showed up with dirt and blood on her. I think I would have expected a slightly larger meltdown considering not two days prior she was a normal fifteen year old.
The characters are usually what makes me love a book. In this case, because the pacing was so fast, I found myself unable to really become invested in Alex and her story. Additionally, I get why Moira’s story was important to the overall story but it felt a bit off from the background story to the forced nature of her relationship with Andy.
The story itself is interesting and somewhat original. This is the first book in a series and if you find yourself interested in this story, definitely check it out. It is fast paced and has an interesting premise. I will be interesting to see where Abramowitz goes with Alex and the continuation of her story.
The idea behind this book is definitely one that is typically right up my alley. Alex Cronlord is starting her sophomore year of high school and all of a sudden she is having some crazy dreams. Specifically about a boy who ends up killing her. Imagine her surprise when she encounters that same boy on her first day of school and is inexplicably drawn to him. Fast forward a few days and sure enough, her dream (nightmare) comes true…the boy (Lucien) tries to kill her and Alex’s best friend Tyler comes through and ends up being the reason she survives.
Along the way, Alex finds out her mother is a part of a secret society that happens to have children for the purpose of developing them into Weavers (those that can see the future) or Igniters (those that can start fires) in order to defeat the Xorda – a race of soul suckers who have come to Earth.
The pacing on this book was off for me. Everything was moving super quick with no explanation. I wanted to better understand who and what the Xorda were and why they were around. Also, Alex seemed pretty adaptable (good for her) but I found it odd that when she and Tyler thought they killed Lucien there was minimal reaction. Yeah, she ran through the woods and couldn’t believe it but once she got home, her biggest concern was what her mom was going to think when she showed up with dirt and blood on her. I think I would have expected a slightly larger meltdown considering not two days prior she was a normal fifteen year old.
The characters are usually what makes me love a book. In this case, because the pacing was so fast, I found myself unable to really become invested in Alex and her story. Additionally, I get why Moira’s story was important to the overall story but it felt a bit off from the background story to the forced nature of her relationship with Andy.
The story itself is interesting and somewhat original. This is the first book in a series and if you find yourself interested in this story, definitely check it out. It is fast paced and has an interesting premise. I will be interesting to see where Abramowitz goes with Alex and the continuation of her story.
October 4, 2011
Demons, secret societies, and unlawful genetic manipulation join forces to change how you think about paranormal thrillers!
Weaver is 1 part science fiction, 1 part paranormal fantasy, and a whole lot of fun!
Alex is a normal teenage girl with good friends, a doting father, and a nice (if a little overbearing) mother. Then, one nightmare the night before the first day of her 10th grade year turns everything inside out.
John Abramowitz has crafted a wonderful story that is truly a page turner. Each page presents a new part of the puzzle. Just what is the Wells Society? Who are the Runaways and whose side are they on? How far will Agents McBain and Hall of the FBI go to help Alex?
Weaver is obviously meant to be the first book in a new series. While many Book Ones tend to meander as new characters are introduced, Mr. Abramowitz has done an excellent job of pacing both story and character development so that the two are intertwined. There is no extra fluff in Weaver, each and every page advances the story and our relationship with the characters. I hope that subsequent titles can keep up the pace!
Other than a few curse words, I would have no problem with recommending this book to young adults. At the same time, there is enough action to keep paranormal thriller fans engaged as well.
Over all a great first title in what I hope will be an excellent series!
Weaver is 1 part science fiction, 1 part paranormal fantasy, and a whole lot of fun!
Alex is a normal teenage girl with good friends, a doting father, and a nice (if a little overbearing) mother. Then, one nightmare the night before the first day of her 10th grade year turns everything inside out.
John Abramowitz has crafted a wonderful story that is truly a page turner. Each page presents a new part of the puzzle. Just what is the Wells Society? Who are the Runaways and whose side are they on? How far will Agents McBain and Hall of the FBI go to help Alex?
Weaver is obviously meant to be the first book in a new series. While many Book Ones tend to meander as new characters are introduced, Mr. Abramowitz has done an excellent job of pacing both story and character development so that the two are intertwined. There is no extra fluff in Weaver, each and every page advances the story and our relationship with the characters. I hope that subsequent titles can keep up the pace!
Other than a few curse words, I would have no problem with recommending this book to young adults. At the same time, there is enough action to keep paranormal thriller fans engaged as well.
Over all a great first title in what I hope will be an excellent series!
February 23, 2019
Interesting
An interesting story about a group of women who have their children genetically altered so they can fight against an alien race, the Xorda. Alex discovers her precognitive ability when she dreams of her own death. Saved by her friend, Tyler, she is later kidnapped by a boy who is a firestarter.
This book is highly intense and just a little scary. The subject is not pleasant. And, the thought that a mother could allow that to be done to her child is beyond disturbing. This is the first in a series which seems to hold some promise.
An interesting story about a group of women who have their children genetically altered so they can fight against an alien race, the Xorda. Alex discovers her precognitive ability when she dreams of her own death. Saved by her friend, Tyler, she is later kidnapped by a boy who is a firestarter.
This book is highly intense and just a little scary. The subject is not pleasant. And, the thought that a mother could allow that to be done to her child is beyond disturbing. This is the first in a series which seems to hold some promise.
February 2, 2020
Amateurish
I understand this is a fairly young writer so I wish him well as he improves!
Couple of mistakes (not horribly so).
The eyebrow raising has to stop. I’ve seen maybe 2 people my whole real life do this so it’s quite annoying when everyone does it every other page. 3% of the population have grey eyes so it’s a little far fetched to have two people interacting with this extremely rare color.
Hoping the second book is better and the third even more so!
I understand this is a fairly young writer so I wish him well as he improves!
Couple of mistakes (not horribly so).
The eyebrow raising has to stop. I’ve seen maybe 2 people my whole real life do this so it’s quite annoying when everyone does it every other page. 3% of the population have grey eyes so it’s a little far fetched to have two people interacting with this extremely rare color.
Hoping the second book is better and the third even more so!
August 8, 2023
Interesting story, but it didn't compel me to get the second book. This one cut off midway through a plot line. I'm annoyed not to find out how it ends, but not resolving a main plot point before concluding the first book is criminal!
September 7, 2018
Awesome read. Look forward to reading more in this series.
June 22, 2019
Yes
Full of action adventure emotions fun n laughter I really enjoyed curling up n reading this book and will look for more
Full of action adventure emotions fun n laughter I really enjoyed curling up n reading this book and will look for more
February 24, 2021
This was kind of a mess. There's stuff happening all over the place but none of it really gets fleshed out. The pacing is fast and it was an easy enough read, but the world building was lacking.
So Alex is a weaver - she sees the future but doesn't seem to have any other powers or such. A weaver gets paired with an igniter - someone who can light things on fire. And together they protect humanity? from the Xorda soul sucking monsters who are super strong, have incubus like pheromones and steal a soul with a kiss.
Her mother, Aisling, is part of the Wells Society - a group that have and look to find the best genetic material to reproduce with in order to create weavers or igniters. Sometimes things go wrong and they have Rejects - kids who end up with other mutant powers.
There's a lot of ideas - but it's all lacking. None of it ever really gets explained. How did they come to fight these Xorda's? Why are the Wells Society responsible? Are the Xorda's feeding on every Tom, Dick and Harry?
Plus Alex is affected by Lucian's (the Xorda) pheromones and agrees to go on a date. Shouldn't she be resistant or something? Then the whole date Actually this whole book was just weird. The relationship between Aisling and Alex was strange. The reaction to Aisling experimenting with mutant genes or whatever on Alex was bizarre. Tyler's what the hell was up with the reaction to that? It seemed like it was just glossed over and barely thought of again? How did they
Then we move to the whole Reject society which explained all of nothing. Apparently they only bothered to discuss things "offscreen" so the reader has no clue what Alex has or hasn't learnt about what the hell is going on. And then oh, we're off to I just spent 90% of this book feeling baffled by the events and the reactions to the events.
Then there's the whole detour into Moira's love life which didn't really clear anything up - if anything I ended up more baffled. A minor argument with her new partners, Alex's dad James and Alex herself who need And we end with a break and enter, a download of blackmail and some daughter/father bonding.
I could've maybe liked Alex if I learnt more about her and I didn't hate her relationship with her dad or her friendship with Tyler, but none of the characters are particularly memorable and I didn't really like any of them. 1.5 stars.
So Alex is a weaver - she sees the future but doesn't seem to have any other powers or such. A weaver gets paired with an igniter - someone who can light things on fire. And together they protect humanity? from the Xorda soul sucking monsters who are super strong, have incubus like pheromones and steal a soul with a kiss.
Her mother, Aisling, is part of the Wells Society - a group that have and look to find the best genetic material to reproduce with in order to create weavers or igniters. Sometimes things go wrong and they have Rejects - kids who end up with other mutant powers.
There's a lot of ideas - but it's all lacking. None of it ever really gets explained. How did they come to fight these Xorda's? Why are the Wells Society responsible? Are the Xorda's feeding on every Tom, Dick and Harry?
Plus Alex is affected by Lucian's (the Xorda) pheromones and agrees to go on a date. Shouldn't she be resistant or something? Then the whole date Actually this whole book was just weird. The relationship between Aisling and Alex was strange. The reaction to Aisling experimenting with mutant genes or whatever on Alex was bizarre. Tyler's what the hell was up with the reaction to that? It seemed like it was just glossed over and barely thought of again? How did they
Then we move to the whole Reject society which explained all of nothing. Apparently they only bothered to discuss things "offscreen" so the reader has no clue what Alex has or hasn't learnt about what the hell is going on. And then oh, we're off to I just spent 90% of this book feeling baffled by the events and the reactions to the events.
Then there's the whole detour into Moira's love life which didn't really clear anything up - if anything I ended up more baffled. A minor argument with her new partners, Alex's dad James and Alex herself who need And we end with a break and enter, a download of blackmail and some daughter/father bonding.
I could've maybe liked Alex if I learnt more about her and I didn't hate her relationship with her dad or her friendship with Tyler, but none of the characters are particularly memorable and I didn't really like any of them. 1.5 stars.
July 5, 2012
Hurrah for John and another great read with Weaver. As seems to be John's 'thang', he immediately thrusts the reader into the story with a prologue that leaves you wanting more - main protagonist tenth-grader Alex Cronlord is being chased relentlessly through woods by some unknown assailant. Who is chasing her? Why is she being chased? What happens to her?
Soon we learn that it was all a dream; definitely not a Bobby Ewing dream where someone pops up casually soaping themselves down in the shower, happy as larry, but instead a dark and ominous premonition. Alex is a Weaver and can see visions of the future, although when we meet her, she doesn't yet know this. Soon we learn that Alex's mother, the cold and aloof Ainsling Cronlord isn't who she appears to be and Alex is mixed up in something much darker than your average tenth-graders life of school, boys and more boys.
Step up Moira McBain, hard-ass FBI agent, who finds herself and her partner Andrew thrown into the Cronlords' lives in a way she didn't quite expect nor want, considering it throws up rather painful memories of her brother's death and her own involvement with the mysterious Wells Society. With a deep-rooted desire to protect Alex, Moira sets out on a mission to throw a spanner into the works of Ainsling and the Wells Society's plans for the young girl.
What struck me about Weaver is that this is no clear-cut story about good versus evil. It's hard to know who really is the bad guy. Is it the Xorda, vampire-like creatures who suck the souls out of their victims and deadly enemies of the Weavers? Is it Ainsling and the Wells Society, who will seemingly stop at nothing in their fight with the Xorda? Or is it the so-called Rejects - escapees from the clutches of the Wells Society and now hell bent on revenge against their own families? The lines here a definitely blurred and why not? The battle between good and evil is never really that well-defined in real life and many people do bad things in the pursuit of goodness so I thought this angle, whether intentional or not, was pretty refreshing and made me want to learn more about each character. There was also a shock twist in there which I definitely didn't see coming.
I think my only criticism of Weaver is that it was just too short. I got to about 82% and all I could think was "come on! There's loads more story left in this" but then again I am a fan of the long novel, so do find it a little unusual when I read a book that doesn't double as a nuclear bomb shelter. Because of that I did have a sense that the book finished too quickly, but the good news is there is a second book in the series, The Void, all ready and waiting for me to read so the story is definitely nowhere near over.
Four out of five stars for Weaver! Go read and let me know what you think!
Soon we learn that it was all a dream; definitely not a Bobby Ewing dream where someone pops up casually soaping themselves down in the shower, happy as larry, but instead a dark and ominous premonition. Alex is a Weaver and can see visions of the future, although when we meet her, she doesn't yet know this. Soon we learn that Alex's mother, the cold and aloof Ainsling Cronlord isn't who she appears to be and Alex is mixed up in something much darker than your average tenth-graders life of school, boys and more boys.
Step up Moira McBain, hard-ass FBI agent, who finds herself and her partner Andrew thrown into the Cronlords' lives in a way she didn't quite expect nor want, considering it throws up rather painful memories of her brother's death and her own involvement with the mysterious Wells Society. With a deep-rooted desire to protect Alex, Moira sets out on a mission to throw a spanner into the works of Ainsling and the Wells Society's plans for the young girl.
What struck me about Weaver is that this is no clear-cut story about good versus evil. It's hard to know who really is the bad guy. Is it the Xorda, vampire-like creatures who suck the souls out of their victims and deadly enemies of the Weavers? Is it Ainsling and the Wells Society, who will seemingly stop at nothing in their fight with the Xorda? Or is it the so-called Rejects - escapees from the clutches of the Wells Society and now hell bent on revenge against their own families? The lines here a definitely blurred and why not? The battle between good and evil is never really that well-defined in real life and many people do bad things in the pursuit of goodness so I thought this angle, whether intentional or not, was pretty refreshing and made me want to learn more about each character. There was also a shock twist in there which I definitely didn't see coming.
I think my only criticism of Weaver is that it was just too short. I got to about 82% and all I could think was "come on! There's loads more story left in this" but then again I am a fan of the long novel, so do find it a little unusual when I read a book that doesn't double as a nuclear bomb shelter. Because of that I did have a sense that the book finished too quickly, but the good news is there is a second book in the series, The Void, all ready and waiting for me to read so the story is definitely nowhere near over.
Four out of five stars for Weaver! Go read and let me know what you think!
March 14, 2013
Alexis Cronlord is horrified as events played out exactly the way it had in her nightmares. More than discovering that she is a Weaver, a person genetically engineered to see the future, Alex Cronlord learns that her inhumanly fast & strong aggressor is a monster called Xorda--evil creatures that feed on a human's soul until they are left dead. They take a very attractive human form that is mostly irresistible to the opposite sex, and can only be killed by fire.
The Wells Society was formed to fight this vampire-like creatures, with an unorthodox method--all members of this society should plan a family with the primary purpose of producing Weavers or Igniters--warriors against the Xorda. But not all of the genetically altered offsprings turn out well and they are called Rejects. Some rejects are unaware that they are failed Weavers or Igniters and go on with their lives, but some failed experiments develop physical or mental disabilities that make the entire Wells Society morally unsavory despite their righteous purpose. Zach Mason, a rejected pyro-kinetic or Igniter escaped the Wells Society and started recruiting all the Rejects that manifested more unique abilities (like young x-men abilities), and he aims to lead the revenge against the Wells Society who is responsible in turning them to freaks, starting with Alex's mom. Zach has taken and convinced Alex of the Society's own offenses. Now the Society has not only the Xorda to worry about, but also their past mistakes coming to bite them back--the Rejects. Yet, Alex can't find it in her to actually inflict harm on her own mother, even if it is the same mom who willingly volunteered her for experiments even before she was born.
The plot is quite intriguing, as is the subplot of FBI Agents Moira & Andy's involvement with the Cronlord's while investigating the neighborhood's series of arson cases. The pacing was fast enough and there are thrilling parts that revive me when I was getting bored. It also has a few surprises near the end that make up for some annoying but still tolerable points in the story. Alex's mom Ainsling is a scary character...not quite unfeeling but very steely in her resolve and beliefs, but the best character award goes to Alex's dad, ex-military James Cronlord. He's such a cool dad, given his reactions to what he discovers about his wife as a member of the Wells Society, and about the special powers of his daughter Alex, born as a tool to defeat the numerous Xorda that live among their human prey. This book ends strongly and with the right amount of cliffhanger to get a reader interested in the next installment.
The Wells Society was formed to fight this vampire-like creatures, with an unorthodox method--all members of this society should plan a family with the primary purpose of producing Weavers or Igniters--warriors against the Xorda. But not all of the genetically altered offsprings turn out well and they are called Rejects. Some rejects are unaware that they are failed Weavers or Igniters and go on with their lives, but some failed experiments develop physical or mental disabilities that make the entire Wells Society morally unsavory despite their righteous purpose. Zach Mason, a rejected pyro-kinetic or Igniter escaped the Wells Society and started recruiting all the Rejects that manifested more unique abilities (like young x-men abilities), and he aims to lead the revenge against the Wells Society who is responsible in turning them to freaks, starting with Alex's mom. Zach has taken and convinced Alex of the Society's own offenses. Now the Society has not only the Xorda to worry about, but also their past mistakes coming to bite them back--the Rejects. Yet, Alex can't find it in her to actually inflict harm on her own mother, even if it is the same mom who willingly volunteered her for experiments even before she was born.
The plot is quite intriguing, as is the subplot of FBI Agents Moira & Andy's involvement with the Cronlord's while investigating the neighborhood's series of arson cases. The pacing was fast enough and there are thrilling parts that revive me when I was getting bored. It also has a few surprises near the end that make up for some annoying but still tolerable points in the story. Alex's mom Ainsling is a scary character...not quite unfeeling but very steely in her resolve and beliefs, but the best character award goes to Alex's dad, ex-military James Cronlord. He's such a cool dad, given his reactions to what he discovers about his wife as a member of the Wells Society, and about the special powers of his daughter Alex, born as a tool to defeat the numerous Xorda that live among their human prey. This book ends strongly and with the right amount of cliffhanger to get a reader interested in the next installment.
May 13, 2012
If Joss Whedon's Buffy series and the X-Files had a baby, it might turn out something like John Abramowitz's Weaver. There is a blonde teenager with extraordinary powers, an FBI agent with a vendetta against a cult who killed her sibling, and more than a dash of the supernatural driving the plot forward. Although the cover of the version I purchased depicts a vaguely Buffy-esque blonde, and work is dedicated to Whedon, Weaver has plenty of original elements.
The book starts off at a run: literally, our blonde heroine, Alex, is running from an unknown assailant. It is a heart-pounding opening, full of terror and panic. It is wonderful and realistic, although Abramowitz's tendency to capitalize onomatopoeia is distracting . Soon enough, it becomes apparent that the assailant Alex ran from in the opening sequence is a real person - almost.
In a parallel story line, Agent Moira McBain and her partner are tracking down a string of arsons. The two story lines become entwined when Alex's home shows up on a list of potential targets. The real intrigue begins when Alex's mother accidentally reveals her association with the Wells Society to Agent McBain. It is the Wells Society Agent McBain blames for her brother's death, and evidence of their continued activity is the catalyst for McBain's drive and involvement, not only with Alex, but also with her FBI partner.
I say the Wells Society revelation was accidental, and it literally was. Alex's controlling mother tripped over something, exposing a pendant that was tucked into her blouse. This was a pivotal scene; unfortunately it had a forced feel to it. This was not the only part of the book to feel contrived. A main character is suddenly something other than what he appeared to be - an event that happened without any foreshadowing. At one point, an ex-military man and an FBI agent are both unaware that a building with security badges for access would have security other than regular door locks in the stairwell. These weaker scenes detract from the excellent questions the text implores the reader to ask; for example, can there ever be an ethical reason to conduct genetic experiments on children?
If you are looking for an entertaining read with an interesting concept, Weaver is a nice choice. It's a beach read, a bottle of wine and your Kindle read, a fun excursion into a supernatural world that seems a lot like ours at a first glance. These things make up for some of the slight missteps along the way.
The book starts off at a run: literally, our blonde heroine, Alex, is running from an unknown assailant. It is a heart-pounding opening, full of terror and panic. It is wonderful and realistic, although Abramowitz's tendency to capitalize onomatopoeia is distracting . Soon enough, it becomes apparent that the assailant Alex ran from in the opening sequence is a real person - almost.
In a parallel story line, Agent Moira McBain and her partner are tracking down a string of arsons. The two story lines become entwined when Alex's home shows up on a list of potential targets. The real intrigue begins when Alex's mother accidentally reveals her association with the Wells Society to Agent McBain. It is the Wells Society Agent McBain blames for her brother's death, and evidence of their continued activity is the catalyst for McBain's drive and involvement, not only with Alex, but also with her FBI partner.
I say the Wells Society revelation was accidental, and it literally was. Alex's controlling mother tripped over something, exposing a pendant that was tucked into her blouse. This was a pivotal scene; unfortunately it had a forced feel to it. This was not the only part of the book to feel contrived. A main character is suddenly something other than what he appeared to be - an event that happened without any foreshadowing. At one point, an ex-military man and an FBI agent are both unaware that a building with security badges for access would have security other than regular door locks in the stairwell. These weaker scenes detract from the excellent questions the text implores the reader to ask; for example, can there ever be an ethical reason to conduct genetic experiments on children?
If you are looking for an entertaining read with an interesting concept, Weaver is a nice choice. It's a beach read, a bottle of wine and your Kindle read, a fun excursion into a supernatural world that seems a lot like ours at a first glance. These things make up for some of the slight missteps along the way.
April 17, 2014
Demons (Xorda), secret Societies (Wells Society), and genetically altered DNA (children test subjects!), oh my! First off, I would recommend this to plenty of readers, young adult, paranormal, light Sci-Fi, and thriller lovers.
Fifteen year old Alex is a high school student with a loving dad, a cold, but over all good natured mother, and a best friend that everyone should have. After having a nightmare about being chased and coming face to face with someone that is going to hurt, if not kill her, she is a little rattled. But what makes this nightmare a reality is when she sees the supposed kid at school.
Slowly her nightmare becomes real and with it her normal life as a fifteen year old girl shatters and there’s no way in going back. Secrets about her mother and the people she worked for known as the Wells Society comes into the light and you find out that they are trying to create genetically altered kids, one of which was Alex. Her parent’s marriage ruined, Alex, her dad, and Moira, an F.B.I. agent, have to now stay a step ahead of her own mother to survive. But the Wells Society isn’t the only thing to worry about…
Dipping into John Abramowitz’s world of Weaver you can’t be for certain what’s around the corner. Trust no one.
What I loved the most about this book is that as the story started to unravel he really doesn’t explain who the bad guys are. I mean, you have horrible things, and house fires, and runaways which have murdered and done bad things, but who is truly the bad guy? Do you really know every person as well as you think you do? The moment I thought I had it all figured out I was hit with a twist that I both loved and felt sad about. The story does keep you guessing and it’s great!
This book hit every mark and then some. There isn’t any real slow places, every scene is needed and some points are referenced back to, conversations are important so you better pay attention, and you’re characters are in depth, lovable, flawed, and kick ass. I couldn’t have asked for a better crew of characters in this book. The book also had a good ending with plenty of mystery and questions to leave you wanting more, but an ending that satisfied you temporarily. Haha I would still recommend buying the next book, VOID.
-Bee
Fifteen year old Alex is a high school student with a loving dad, a cold, but over all good natured mother, and a best friend that everyone should have. After having a nightmare about being chased and coming face to face with someone that is going to hurt, if not kill her, she is a little rattled. But what makes this nightmare a reality is when she sees the supposed kid at school.
Slowly her nightmare becomes real and with it her normal life as a fifteen year old girl shatters and there’s no way in going back. Secrets about her mother and the people she worked for known as the Wells Society comes into the light and you find out that they are trying to create genetically altered kids, one of which was Alex. Her parent’s marriage ruined, Alex, her dad, and Moira, an F.B.I. agent, have to now stay a step ahead of her own mother to survive. But the Wells Society isn’t the only thing to worry about…
Dipping into John Abramowitz’s world of Weaver you can’t be for certain what’s around the corner. Trust no one.
What I loved the most about this book is that as the story started to unravel he really doesn’t explain who the bad guys are. I mean, you have horrible things, and house fires, and runaways which have murdered and done bad things, but who is truly the bad guy? Do you really know every person as well as you think you do? The moment I thought I had it all figured out I was hit with a twist that I both loved and felt sad about. The story does keep you guessing and it’s great!
This book hit every mark and then some. There isn’t any real slow places, every scene is needed and some points are referenced back to, conversations are important so you better pay attention, and you’re characters are in depth, lovable, flawed, and kick ass. I couldn’t have asked for a better crew of characters in this book. The book also had a good ending with plenty of mystery and questions to leave you wanting more, but an ending that satisfied you temporarily. Haha I would still recommend buying the next book, VOID.
-Bee
November 23, 2012
To see my full review:
http://wp.me/p1jhaj-2Jw
absolutely adored this novel! The idea of a secret society, children bred to have extraordinary powers, and blurred lines between good and evil make this one heck of a roller coaster ride, and I couldn’t put it down until the very last page. Of course, it ended all too soon, as phenomenal books always do, but there are sequels already out, and I can’t wait to read them!
Alex is an awesome character, and I love that she isn’t quite sure who, or what, she is. Her struggles to come to terms with her powers and her struggle to just stay alive spurred the novel on, and I really loved getting to know her. Her mother, on the other hand… well, I’m not sure how I feel about her. Like I said, the lines between good and evil are blurred, and while I really want to hate this woman and her Wells Society, I can’t help but think she might have a point. Yes, she seems to be going about it all wrong, but I really can’t shake the feeling that she believes what she’s done is in the best interest of her family.
Agent Moira is my favorite. With many skeletons in her closet, her story unfolds like a mystery novel, and I love that she puts herself in harms way for a cause that she believes in very deeply, sacrificing her own safety for those of teenagers she doesn’t even know.
Ambamowitz is a very talented writer, and he has created a wonderful story full of twists and turns that will have you yelling aloud at the characters. I highly recommend this awesome novel to readers of all ages!
http://wp.me/p1jhaj-2Jw
absolutely adored this novel! The idea of a secret society, children bred to have extraordinary powers, and blurred lines between good and evil make this one heck of a roller coaster ride, and I couldn’t put it down until the very last page. Of course, it ended all too soon, as phenomenal books always do, but there are sequels already out, and I can’t wait to read them!
Alex is an awesome character, and I love that she isn’t quite sure who, or what, she is. Her struggles to come to terms with her powers and her struggle to just stay alive spurred the novel on, and I really loved getting to know her. Her mother, on the other hand… well, I’m not sure how I feel about her. Like I said, the lines between good and evil are blurred, and while I really want to hate this woman and her Wells Society, I can’t help but think she might have a point. Yes, she seems to be going about it all wrong, but I really can’t shake the feeling that she believes what she’s done is in the best interest of her family.
Agent Moira is my favorite. With many skeletons in her closet, her story unfolds like a mystery novel, and I love that she puts herself in harms way for a cause that she believes in very deeply, sacrificing her own safety for those of teenagers she doesn’t even know.
Ambamowitz is a very talented writer, and he has created a wonderful story full of twists and turns that will have you yelling aloud at the characters. I highly recommend this awesome novel to readers of all ages!
February 26, 2012
If Goodreads allowed for half-stars, I would rate Weaver as a 3.5, but I'm rounding up due to the strength of the premise.
The first book I read by John Abramowitz was, in fact, the second novel he self-published — Atticus for the Undead. Based on how much I enjoyed that book, I decided to buy Weaver as well. Weaver is Abramowitz's first novel, and it's a bit more rough around the edges, as far as style is concerned. I feel like Abramowitz's story would have shone through better were it placed in the hands of a strong editor.
Editing aside, Weaver presents a fascinating world where members of a secret society have bred their children to be soldiers in a supernatural "holy war" against soul-devouring beings called the "Xorda." Caught up in this battle are 15-year old psychic Alex Cronlord and FBI special agents Moira McBain and Andy Hall. Weaver's pace is snappy, and the pages turn quickly. I do, somewhat, wish that it lingered more on historical points such as the background of the Wells Society and their war with the mysterious Xorda. Perhaps that will come up in a sequel?
While this is very clearly a first effort, it is an enjoyable read and I would gladly read more books in this series... as soon as they're written.
The first book I read by John Abramowitz was, in fact, the second novel he self-published — Atticus for the Undead. Based on how much I enjoyed that book, I decided to buy Weaver as well. Weaver is Abramowitz's first novel, and it's a bit more rough around the edges, as far as style is concerned. I feel like Abramowitz's story would have shone through better were it placed in the hands of a strong editor.
Editing aside, Weaver presents a fascinating world where members of a secret society have bred their children to be soldiers in a supernatural "holy war" against soul-devouring beings called the "Xorda." Caught up in this battle are 15-year old psychic Alex Cronlord and FBI special agents Moira McBain and Andy Hall. Weaver's pace is snappy, and the pages turn quickly. I do, somewhat, wish that it lingered more on historical points such as the background of the Wells Society and their war with the mysterious Xorda. Perhaps that will come up in a sequel?
While this is very clearly a first effort, it is an enjoyable read and I would gladly read more books in this series... as soon as they're written.
May 3, 2012
Alex Cronlord woke with a start after a nightmare where she was the victim of a murder. Shaking the dream off as ‘first day back at school’ nerves Alex went about her day as normal, that was until she met her murderer in the hall way at school and for some strange reason she couldn’t stay away from him.
Weaver is a quick read, I would probably class it more of a novella than a full length novel I read it in around 3 hours. This is the second work by this author that I have read but I wasn’t as impressed by this as I was by ‘Atticus for the undead’. The idea is definitely ‘unique..ish’ I say ‘ish’ because although the children’s abilities are different the fact that these kids have been genetically engineered for ‘the greater good’ puts me in mind of a James Patterson series I once read called Maximum Ride.
I wasn’t able to connect with all the characters, or at least I didn’t like them all and I found the story jumped around a bit, this could be just because everyone is being introduced and the story is quite full on and fast paced. The author did however do a good job at laying down the foundations for the rest of what could become an interesting series. At the end of the book we are given a sneak peak at book 2 ‘The Void’ which I look forward to reading next.
Weaver is a quick read, I would probably class it more of a novella than a full length novel I read it in around 3 hours. This is the second work by this author that I have read but I wasn’t as impressed by this as I was by ‘Atticus for the undead’. The idea is definitely ‘unique..ish’ I say ‘ish’ because although the children’s abilities are different the fact that these kids have been genetically engineered for ‘the greater good’ puts me in mind of a James Patterson series I once read called Maximum Ride.
I wasn’t able to connect with all the characters, or at least I didn’t like them all and I found the story jumped around a bit, this could be just because everyone is being introduced and the story is quite full on and fast paced. The author did however do a good job at laying down the foundations for the rest of what could become an interesting series. At the end of the book we are given a sneak peak at book 2 ‘The Void’ which I look forward to reading next.
September 19, 2023
Fifteen-year-old Alex Cronlord has a peculiar ability – she can see the future, and her latest vision involves her being killed by a boy who she later encounters at her school. Understandably, Alex is terrified, and her mother's strange behavior only adds to her confusion.
Meanwhile, FBI Agent Moira McBain and her partner Andy Hall are investigating a series of house fires in Dallas, Texas. Their investigation takes an unexpected turn when they uncover a connection between Alex's family and Moira's own past, reopening old wounds.
As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that something sinister is happening in Dallas. It involves a secretive society, children with extraordinary powers, and mysterious, otherworldly beings who might not be human. The novel delves into a world of hidden secrets and unique abilities, where the characters are drawn into a complex web of mysteries and danger.
The viewpoints of the characters were really convoluted and hard to follow. The story as a whole was not the interesting and neither were any of the characters. The story started out confusing and did not get much better from a readers perspective.
Meanwhile, FBI Agent Moira McBain and her partner Andy Hall are investigating a series of house fires in Dallas, Texas. Their investigation takes an unexpected turn when they uncover a connection between Alex's family and Moira's own past, reopening old wounds.
As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that something sinister is happening in Dallas. It involves a secretive society, children with extraordinary powers, and mysterious, otherworldly beings who might not be human. The novel delves into a world of hidden secrets and unique abilities, where the characters are drawn into a complex web of mysteries and danger.
The viewpoints of the characters were really convoluted and hard to follow. The story as a whole was not the interesting and neither were any of the characters. The story started out confusing and did not get much better from a readers perspective.
February 18, 2014
Did I enjoy this book: Meh.
There were vampires, but they sucked souls instead of blood, and we weren’t allowed to call them vampires. There were teenagers with super powers, but instead of saving the world they killed people and blamed it all on genetics. There were love affairs, but they were obviously sour from the start (as evidenced by the backhanded allusions to Twilight).
And the teaser for book 2? Yeah. Zombies. …I bet we’re not allowed to call them zombies, either…
Would I recommend it: No.
Will I read it again: No.
As reviewed by Melissa at Every Free Chance Book Reviews.
(I received a copy of this book for review purposes.)
http://everyfreechance.com/2014/02/re...
There were vampires, but they sucked souls instead of blood, and we weren’t allowed to call them vampires. There were teenagers with super powers, but instead of saving the world they killed people and blamed it all on genetics. There were love affairs, but they were obviously sour from the start (as evidenced by the backhanded allusions to Twilight).
And the teaser for book 2? Yeah. Zombies. …I bet we’re not allowed to call them zombies, either…
Would I recommend it: No.
Will I read it again: No.
As reviewed by Melissa at Every Free Chance Book Reviews.
(I received a copy of this book for review purposes.)
http://everyfreechance.com/2014/02/re...
January 5, 2014
Story was ok. I couldn't imagine that the town people did not recognize what was going on. Especially when kids just disappeared. I am not much of a zombie fan so although I have the next book I'm not sure I will read it. For young teens who like the unusual and zombie
stories this book would probably be enjoyable for you
stories this book would probably be enjoyable for you
October 10, 2014
An okay read
The story starts out okay, but in my view, didn't go very far. We are barely introduced to the characters before the story ends. This book leaves you looking for more detail...but not enough to read further.
The story starts out okay, but in my view, didn't go very far. We are barely introduced to the characters before the story ends. This book leaves you looking for more detail...but not enough to read further.
November 5, 2018
A girl who can see the future before it happens. She sees her own death and prevents it also starting a chain reaction of events. This is a must read for anyone who likes a good paranormal adventure. I know I couldn't put it down.
August 14, 2012
This book is geared for teens; having said that the story line is good ( a little bizarre) and I enjoyd it. I am anxious to read more from this author.
January 19, 2014
A fun, fast read with just enough surprises to keep you turning the pages. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next to our reluctant heroine.
Want to read
November 19, 2012Kindle freebie, 11/19/12
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews