What do you think?
Rate this book
Blade #1
Enemies
Blade 1: Enemies Meet Blade. But be careful. You might not like what you see. He's dangerous. He needs to be. Because there are people who want him dead. It's dog eat dog in his world. Win or die. He thought he was safe. But now they've found out where he is. And they're coming. Part one of the unmissable Blade series. Full description
259 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
56 people are currently reading
509 people want to read
About the author
Tim Bowler
56 books157 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
Tim Bowler is one of the UK’s most compelling and original writers for teenagers. He was born in Leigh-on-Sea and after studying Swedish at University he worked in forestry, the timber trade, teaching and translating before becoming a full-time writer. He lives with his wife in a small village in Devon and his workroom is an old stone outhouse known to friends as ‘Tim’s Bolthole’.
Tim has written twenty books and won fifteen awards, including the prestigious Carnegie Medal for River Boy. His most recent novel is the gripping Bloodchild and his provocative Blade series is being hailed as a groundbreaking work of fiction. He has been described by the Sunday Telegraph as ‘the master of the psychological thriller’ and by the Independent as ‘one of the truly individual voices in British teenage fiction’.
Tim Bowler is one of the UK’s most compelling and original writers for teenagers. He was born in Leigh-on-Sea and after studying Swedish at University he worked in forestry, the timber trade, teaching and translating before becoming a full-time writer. He lives with his wife in a small village in Devon and his workroom is an old stone outhouse known to friends as ‘Tim’s Bolthole’.
Tim has written twenty books and won fifteen awards, including the prestigious Carnegie Medal for River Boy. His most recent novel is the gripping Bloodchild and his provocative Blade series is being hailed as a groundbreaking work of fiction. He has been described by the Sunday Telegraph as ‘the master of the psychological thriller’ and by the Independent as ‘one of the truly individual voices in British teenage fiction’.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
September 29, 2010
Originally posted at PINOYPETERPAN.
A Letter to Blade (A Review of "Playing Dead")
To BLADE :
I remember you told me, "I'm going to blitz your mind".
Well that's what happened Blade . I was not that sure at first when you started telling me things about how to stay down, being invisible or the way you put it, "Playing Dead" . I was having trouble following you around the city that you knew so well because I'm not so sure why we are hiding on the first place. At the age of 14, you seemed so troubled. Street-smart, quick to react, very observant, and knows how to handle a knife are the traits that keeps you alive and you're so secretive when it comes to your past. I like how you bring me to your world, it was like the city is a jungle and there's just one rule, you have to be tough and smart to survive. As we go on our adventure, you begin to tell me things. You called me Bigeyes but I don't mind. We go to places you called snugs, been followed by thugs that haunts you because of your past, and then came Becky and her daughter Jaz. I've seen you become a child again whenever your with Jaz, smiling when you put her on your shoulder while she taps your head in a playful way. But then, everything went wrong. You forgot to play dead.
Your Friend,
BIGEYES
PS: Don't worry, I'll keep tabs about you. I will always follow you BLADE.
A Letter to Blade (A Review of "Playing Dead")
To BLADE :
I remember you told me, "I'm going to blitz your mind".
Well that's what happened Blade . I was not that sure at first when you started telling me things about how to stay down, being invisible or the way you put it, "Playing Dead" . I was having trouble following you around the city that you knew so well because I'm not so sure why we are hiding on the first place. At the age of 14, you seemed so troubled. Street-smart, quick to react, very observant, and knows how to handle a knife are the traits that keeps you alive and you're so secretive when it comes to your past. I like how you bring me to your world, it was like the city is a jungle and there's just one rule, you have to be tough and smart to survive. As we go on our adventure, you begin to tell me things. You called me Bigeyes but I don't mind. We go to places you called snugs, been followed by thugs that haunts you because of your past, and then came Becky and her daughter Jaz. I've seen you become a child again whenever your with Jaz, smiling when you put her on your shoulder while she taps your head in a playful way. But then, everything went wrong. You forgot to play dead.
Your Friend,
BIGEYES
PS: Don't worry, I'll keep tabs about you. I will always follow you BLADE.
May 26, 2016
I rate this book a 4/5 stars. I recommend this book to people who like to read books with cliffhangers. I would also recommend this book to people who like a read deeply in order to find out more information about the main characters back round. " Woman's voice, nice voice, kind of warm, kind of friendly. Sort of person you'd want to talk to. Only I can't do it." I chose this book because the main character Blade is not your average 15 year old he has a different way of thinking. and he is also very independent. He lives on the streets breaking into peoples home and living off what he can find. he also has his own language. He uses slang words which you have to read to be able to find out what they mean. but he has a problem something in his past comes back to haunt him.
December 14, 2019
Read during middle-school,remember loving it!
November 18, 2012
Kyle Purcell
Block E
11/15/2012
I would recommend the book blade by Tim Bowler to a friend because it is an exciting story about survival, staying invisible, and that you cant run from your past.
Blade is a book about a teenager who is just trying to survive in the big city. When he is doing this he is faced with difficult challenges. Most that threaten characters lives. He is hated by gangs both male and female. This made the book rather exciting The book is exciting because of its suspense. Some people would disagree on the suspense and that it is to mature, but as an 8th grader I feel as if we experience it earlier we will be able to handle it better. An example of its suspense is written on page 143 “its only when hes only when hes almost on me that I realize he hasn’t seen me, But hes going to see me unless I keep dead still.” this quote takes place when blade is spying on some gang members try to get more information of wheat the gang is on to and who they are looking for mean while on gang member is practically standing on top of him! Blade doesn’t know if he will be captured and killed or not . This question caused a question of suspense, “will blade make it out alive?”. It was very exciting when the main characters life is hanging in the balance. Imagery is another big part of this exciting book. Some may consider the imagery too vivid for some readers and that they will not be able to handle the intensity of it. I disagree because the imagery is very beautifully written and will help readers understand the book better. Imagery is displayed on page 118 “blood sky,streets dark, houses dark, night dripping down,but he city’s awake .she never sleeps,big eyes, she dozes but she never sleeps,and she sees too much.”This quote changes the way you think about the city, instead of the city being a place it is now alive , it sees everything. Instead of everyone in the city falling asleep it is now the city that’s its own person. For example Bloody sky, streets dark.” It makes you picture the city as a really cruel human being. A final reason why this book was interesting was the characterization. Some may dissagree with the character and say that he I a bad influence on young reader. However I feel like the character makes the story more realistic with the way he talks and the way he acts. A good example of characterization is displayed on page 6-7. “ i call the shots here. I choose what I say and what I don’t.” page 6 “I don’t give two bells what people call me” page 7. Blades Character is much different than other characters. Blade is his own boss. He doesn’t follow anyone's rules. He does what he can to survive and that makes the story a lot more different than other stories. He also approaches situations different than others would. Sometimes maybe too different. Blade was a great story about survival staying invisible and not being able to run from your past
Block E
11/15/2012
I would recommend the book blade by Tim Bowler to a friend because it is an exciting story about survival, staying invisible, and that you cant run from your past.
Blade is a book about a teenager who is just trying to survive in the big city. When he is doing this he is faced with difficult challenges. Most that threaten characters lives. He is hated by gangs both male and female. This made the book rather exciting The book is exciting because of its suspense. Some people would disagree on the suspense and that it is to mature, but as an 8th grader I feel as if we experience it earlier we will be able to handle it better. An example of its suspense is written on page 143 “its only when hes only when hes almost on me that I realize he hasn’t seen me, But hes going to see me unless I keep dead still.” this quote takes place when blade is spying on some gang members try to get more information of wheat the gang is on to and who they are looking for mean while on gang member is practically standing on top of him! Blade doesn’t know if he will be captured and killed or not . This question caused a question of suspense, “will blade make it out alive?”. It was very exciting when the main characters life is hanging in the balance. Imagery is another big part of this exciting book. Some may consider the imagery too vivid for some readers and that they will not be able to handle the intensity of it. I disagree because the imagery is very beautifully written and will help readers understand the book better. Imagery is displayed on page 118 “blood sky,streets dark, houses dark, night dripping down,but he city’s awake .she never sleeps,big eyes, she dozes but she never sleeps,and she sees too much.”This quote changes the way you think about the city, instead of the city being a place it is now alive , it sees everything. Instead of everyone in the city falling asleep it is now the city that’s its own person. For example Bloody sky, streets dark.” It makes you picture the city as a really cruel human being. A final reason why this book was interesting was the characterization. Some may dissagree with the character and say that he I a bad influence on young reader. However I feel like the character makes the story more realistic with the way he talks and the way he acts. A good example of characterization is displayed on page 6-7. “ i call the shots here. I choose what I say and what I don’t.” page 6 “I don’t give two bells what people call me” page 7. Blades Character is much different than other characters. Blade is his own boss. He doesn’t follow anyone's rules. He does what he can to survive and that makes the story a lot more different than other stories. He also approaches situations different than others would. Sometimes maybe too different. Blade was a great story about survival staying invisible and not being able to run from your past
January 9, 2013
“Trust no one,” A quote frequently used. Blade; Playing Dead by TIm Bowler is a very interesting drama. This book teaches a lot about knowing what is the right and wrong thing to do at very serious situations and teaches self-control.
Everyone has experienced a time where you feel like something bad is going to happen. With Blade, it’s a gift. He senses everything. “Otherwise silence, in the house, around the house. But it’s still not right. I’ve felt this before, many times, and I’m never wrong,” (Bowler 30). Blade was guided to a home of an elderly woman, Mary. When they were in her home he felt as though she was too generous. When they were out of words to exchange, he felt a deadly silence. He had a gut feeling that something terrible was going to happen. He never felt like he could trust this woman. As a teenager it is important that you understand that you can’t trust anyone, especially strangers.
When we are in grade school, we are told what to do in dangerous occurrences.
At this moment walking down the street by himself Blade thinks, “Don’t run. They’ll think I’m scared. Just keep walking, fast,” (Bowler 11). He knew a gang was following him and he wanted to make sure that they didn’t think he was vulnerable because he was afraid. He showed much intelligence in this situation because he didn’t panic. Instead he calmly figured out what he was going to do.
Everyone has experienced a time where you feel like something bad is going to happen. With Blade, it’s a gift. He senses everything. “Otherwise silence, in the house, around the house. But it’s still not right. I’ve felt this before, many times, and I’m never wrong,” (Bowler 30). Blade was guided to a home of an elderly woman, Mary. When they were in her home he felt as though she was too generous. When they were out of words to exchange, he felt a deadly silence. He had a gut feeling that something terrible was going to happen. He never felt like he could trust this woman. As a teenager it is important that you understand that you can’t trust anyone, especially strangers.
When we are in grade school, we are told what to do in dangerous occurrences.
At this moment walking down the street by himself Blade thinks, “Don’t run. They’ll think I’m scared. Just keep walking, fast,” (Bowler 11). He knew a gang was following him and he wanted to make sure that they didn’t think he was vulnerable because he was afraid. He showed much intelligence in this situation because he didn’t panic. Instead he calmly figured out what he was going to do.
May 27, 2013
Blade Playing Dead was written by Tim Bowler. This is an interesting drama which is about a boy who is alone and living on the streets of the United Kingdom trying to survive. He steals, lies, and tricks people to get what he wants. Something that really interested me was the main character is going to the story while talking to the reader. He refers to the reader at many points in the book "I know what you’re thinking" and other phrases. He is telling the story to the reader and I liked this because it was the first time a I read a book where the character refers to the reader many times and actually talks to the reader.
A quote that is used frequently throughout the book was "Trust no one," this was significant because Blade doesn't trust anyone. He is very alert of his surrounding all the time. He senses what is going to happen, so he is always on the lookout throughout the book.
The book is a non-stop action packed book, there is twists and turns that the reader doesn't expect, and I really like this book. I would recommend it to anyone that is into a good action book. It kept me on my toes, and this is a long 12 book series. The book leaves on a cliffhanger and I have just read two out of the 12 books.
A quote that is used frequently throughout the book was "Trust no one," this was significant because Blade doesn't trust anyone. He is very alert of his surrounding all the time. He senses what is going to happen, so he is always on the lookout throughout the book.
The book is a non-stop action packed book, there is twists and turns that the reader doesn't expect, and I really like this book. I would recommend it to anyone that is into a good action book. It kept me on my toes, and this is a long 12 book series. The book leaves on a cliffhanger and I have just read two out of the 12 books.
February 2, 2015
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I love the style of it; the way Blade speaks directly to the reader. It draws you, not only into the book, but into the city, right next to Blade. Plus the short, sharp sentences keep the suspense up and reflect the panic/intensity of the situations he gets in. And who honestly always talks in long, laborious sentences in a casual conversation? Very realistic writing style. Loved it :-)
As a character, it's obvious that Blade has a tendency towards violence. But there's so much more to him than that. He's quick, intelligent, caring and just an all round likeable character. I was really rooting for him throughout the whole book, which meant I kept turning the pages. The story kept on developing, with characters being introduced and secrets being revealed. Because of that, the pace of the book was perfect. It wasn't a slow burning story; you got pushed straight into the midst of things and the thrills were consistent.
I've only just started this series, but I'm feeling like it's going to be another hit for Tim Bowler.
As a character, it's obvious that Blade has a tendency towards violence. But there's so much more to him than that. He's quick, intelligent, caring and just an all round likeable character. I was really rooting for him throughout the whole book, which meant I kept turning the pages. The story kept on developing, with characters being introduced and secrets being revealed. Because of that, the pace of the book was perfect. It wasn't a slow burning story; you got pushed straight into the midst of things and the thrills were consistent.
I've only just started this series, but I'm feeling like it's going to be another hit for Tim Bowler.
September 24, 2010
Derek Hunter
Ms. Romaniuk
Reading/LA, Book review #1
21 September 2010
Blade: Playing Dead
A Wonder with the knife
Can you imagine living on your own at age fourteen stealing, getting beaten up well that is the life of blade? Blade is a young delinquent stealing for money so he can buy food and eat. There are many gangs that Blade must avoid. The only time he is not watching everywhere around him that is when he gets caught. When Blade gets caught it is not a pretty sight. When an incident happens Blade is forced to take two people under his wing. Blade is one of the greatest action books ever written, the person vs. self always keeps you wanting more, and the suspense keeps you on your feet you will never want to stop reading this book.
Blade is the best action book ever written, between the fights, the very emotional death, or an injury of a really close friend. Blade is a survivor he is also a wonder with the knife although when he is in a fight he doesn’t like to use it. For example Blade was in somebody’s house and a man came in the house, Blade had the perfect shot with knife to get him but he did not want to throw it he ran out the window and escaped. In the story Blade has lost someone close to him now. Now he will do anything to get back revenge.
In addition Blade always keeps you wondering what is going to happen next.
Is Blade going to die from trixi’s gang, is Blade going to kill Tammy or miss her with the knife, Is Blade going to take Betsy with him. Blade has to make tough decsions throughout the book. He must choose if he wants to take the easy and safe route or take a risk and go the hard way in which it might be an award or a gift to receive.
Finally blade has a person vs. self-conflict that can really make the book good. As Blade makes a decison like when he took Betsy along with him he talked to himself about all the positives and negatives about his decison. He also did that when he snatched a wallet from the men. He went the positives like that he would have some money but the negatives would be what if he get jumped by trixi’s gang again
Can you imagine living on your own at age fourteen stealing, getting beaten up well that is the life of blade? I can’t connect with blade because he is a thief and many gangs want him. I can’t see myself in his shoes. Blade is hurt but he doesn’t let it show.
I think I deserve a B on this assignment because I spent not very much time on it. This assignment was hard for me because I did not have my book and I could not include quotes to make it longer. Next time I will find my book to do it and I will add quotes to make my piece longer.
Ms. Romaniuk
Reading/LA, Book review #1
21 September 2010
Blade: Playing Dead
A Wonder with the knife
Can you imagine living on your own at age fourteen stealing, getting beaten up well that is the life of blade? Blade is a young delinquent stealing for money so he can buy food and eat. There are many gangs that Blade must avoid. The only time he is not watching everywhere around him that is when he gets caught. When Blade gets caught it is not a pretty sight. When an incident happens Blade is forced to take two people under his wing. Blade is one of the greatest action books ever written, the person vs. self always keeps you wanting more, and the suspense keeps you on your feet you will never want to stop reading this book.
Blade is the best action book ever written, between the fights, the very emotional death, or an injury of a really close friend. Blade is a survivor he is also a wonder with the knife although when he is in a fight he doesn’t like to use it. For example Blade was in somebody’s house and a man came in the house, Blade had the perfect shot with knife to get him but he did not want to throw it he ran out the window and escaped. In the story Blade has lost someone close to him now. Now he will do anything to get back revenge.
In addition Blade always keeps you wondering what is going to happen next.
Is Blade going to die from trixi’s gang, is Blade going to kill Tammy or miss her with the knife, Is Blade going to take Betsy with him. Blade has to make tough decsions throughout the book. He must choose if he wants to take the easy and safe route or take a risk and go the hard way in which it might be an award or a gift to receive.
Finally blade has a person vs. self-conflict that can really make the book good. As Blade makes a decison like when he took Betsy along with him he talked to himself about all the positives and negatives about his decison. He also did that when he snatched a wallet from the men. He went the positives like that he would have some money but the negatives would be what if he get jumped by trixi’s gang again
Can you imagine living on your own at age fourteen stealing, getting beaten up well that is the life of blade? I can’t connect with blade because he is a thief and many gangs want him. I can’t see myself in his shoes. Blade is hurt but he doesn’t let it show.
I think I deserve a B on this assignment because I spent not very much time on it. This assignment was hard for me because I did not have my book and I could not include quotes to make it longer. Next time I will find my book to do it and I will add quotes to make my piece longer.
January 5, 2010
Blade has learned to survive. Alone in The City, he has studied every nook and cranny, staking out the whole community just to find a place to sleep. He has an arsenal of snugs, or homes, knows when their owners are absent and uses the places undetected. These days, his goal is to be invisible in The City. But he has a dark secret. It involves his skill with the knife, and it’s coming back to haunt him.
Blade: Playing Dead is the first in a series of books about a homeless teen in an unnamed UK city. He narrates his story as it happens to someone he calls Bigeyes. Beyond his control he is dragged into the underworld, running from both the cops and an unknown group of thugs from his past. He bonds with a two-year-old girl and a girl named Becky and feels the need to help them. This is the gritty story of a boy who is willing to kill. A boy with a unique vocabulary. A boy with unique gifts. Although there are mature themes of violence, homelessness, drug use, teen pregnancy, and more, the portrayals are not graphic and there are few instances of coarse language. The protagonist struggles with his actions. This is an engaging read for reluctant readers interested in the urban underworld. I didn't personally engage with the story to the extent that I prefer, but the cover is awesome and I think this will draw the kids in.
Blade: Playing Dead is the first in a series of books about a homeless teen in an unnamed UK city. He narrates his story as it happens to someone he calls Bigeyes. Beyond his control he is dragged into the underworld, running from both the cops and an unknown group of thugs from his past. He bonds with a two-year-old girl and a girl named Becky and feels the need to help them. This is the gritty story of a boy who is willing to kill. A boy with a unique vocabulary. A boy with unique gifts. Although there are mature themes of violence, homelessness, drug use, teen pregnancy, and more, the portrayals are not graphic and there are few instances of coarse language. The protagonist struggles with his actions. This is an engaging read for reluctant readers interested in the urban underworld. I didn't personally engage with the story to the extent that I prefer, but the cover is awesome and I think this will draw the kids in.
December 10, 2009
Blade is running from his past but he gives few clues throughout the book to what that past entails. Blade lives in an unnamed British city, he is homeless, and he breaks into houses and apartments just to sleep, shower, eat, and read books, which helps to humanize him. The writing style is reminiscent of A Clockwork Orange with short, choppy sentences, an unusual slang, and the first person narration is directed at someone he calls “Big Eyes.” The short sentences contribute to the excitement and tension that build throughout the book beginning with when he is seven years old and the “porkers” are questioning him about his role in a traffic incident. Time leaps ahead to when Blade is fourteen and the main action takes place. First he is jumped by a vicious girl gang, and then a Good Samaritan rescues him. But then she is murdered by some thugs who Blade thinks he recognizes from his past, but is she really dead? He realizes he has to leave the city and find a new place to live to escape these people from his past, and winds up allowing a teen mother and her daughter to tag alone. This brutal, violent book is a page turner sure to appeal to reluctant readers, but it leaves more questions than it answers which will hopefully be addressed in the planned six additional sequels.
January 10, 2014
A 14 year old boy that goes by the name of Blade lives on his own in a city he knows like the back of his hand. He has been living on the streets for some time now, so he has learned to notice the slightest details. Anything and everything that goes on, he is aware of. Playing Dead by Tim Bowler is a book that keeps throwing things at you and making twists in your head. It is told from the first person point of view. His tactic for surviving is; don’t trust anyone and stay hidden. While hiding from Gobbos, which are thugs/gangsters, he shows his tactic “stay hidden,” when he says, “he’s going to see me unless I keep dead still.” (Bowler 143). He gets into trouble when he gets a relationship with he’s friend’s sister named Jaz. The reader can tell he cares about Jaz when he says, “But I’m not going without Jaz. Don’t ask me why. I don’t know either. But I’m not going without her.” (Bowler 92) Overall, the book was a suspenseful thriller. Blade had many exciting adventures and there were some sad moments as well. All in all, it was an enjoyable book.
November 16, 2014
I just could not put this down! The way Blade speaks to the reader really makes you feel that you are in that dark street trying to escape with Becky and Jaz. We know that Blade has the capacity to be violent, but something tells us that he's not all bad and that somewhere in the past is the reason for all of this; his life is one of constantly being alert, staying in the shadows and one step ahead, but that moral compass pulls him back to something. Blade's character elicits a range of emotions and responses from sympathy to frustration because we want to know more: a big 'WHY?' hangs over the whole story and it's edge of the seat stuff - always making you want to read on from one chapter to the next. Without giving the ending away, it is an utterly appropriate and fitting one.... the ending of a thriller like this should leave threads and mess because life is like that and for some people, in some respect, Blade's life is theirs. In this sense it is a thought provoking book.
I could not fault this and the new covers are great.
I could not fault this and the new covers are great.
October 10, 2010
Instantly tense and engaging, this was a surprising thriller. As Blade speaks directly to the reader, Bowler spins an action packed story that takes surprising twists in the seedy world at the bottom of the British social ladder. Chapters are short, descriptions are economical, character development is nil. UK slang peppers the book, which might slow some truly struggling American readers, but generally adds to the flavor of the story. The conclusion came up a bit short for me, but the velocity of the story made it worthwhile.
[Updated from original 6, 2009 post] I just came upon this little tidbit: this American Edition combines two British titles - "Blade: Playing Dead" and "Blade: Closing In" - in one book. I may want to go back and see where and how the two books were combined. This seems to be the plan for all the American books. US audience can expect a total of four volumes.
[Updated from original 6, 2009 post] I just came upon this little tidbit: this American Edition combines two British titles - "Blade: Playing Dead" and "Blade: Closing In" - in one book. I may want to go back and see where and how the two books were combined. This seems to be the plan for all the American books. US audience can expect a total of four volumes.
November 3, 2015
I think Blade Playing Dead was a okay book. I feel like the book was kinda slow at first but really picked up at the end. I didn't rate the book any higher was because I did't like how they left you hanging. They didn't give you and more background or history on blade and that really
ruined the book for me. I would recommend this book to some friends mainly because they have another book to follow up.
Summary of book
It's mainly about a young kid who doesn't have a family and is in trouble of some kind and there are people looking for him. The Kid aka blade has been living off the streets breaking into peoples houses unseen. The Kid gets into trouble and the people find him in the city. a young girl ends up saving him and to repay her he gets a young child for her so they can leave the city. The girls end up getting caught so he goes back in trying to save them while showing off his skills with knives. At the end of the book you don't know if he's been shot or wounded.
ruined the book for me. I would recommend this book to some friends mainly because they have another book to follow up.
Summary of book
It's mainly about a young kid who doesn't have a family and is in trouble of some kind and there are people looking for him. The Kid aka blade has been living off the streets breaking into peoples houses unseen. The Kid gets into trouble and the people find him in the city. a young girl ends up saving him and to repay her he gets a young child for her so they can leave the city. The girls end up getting caught so he goes back in trying to save them while showing off his skills with knives. At the end of the book you don't know if he's been shot or wounded.
October 31, 2011
Blade is about a fourteen year old homeless kid with a past that he mostly keeps a secret. He is very familiar with his unnamed British city and manages to survive by stealing wallets and living in people's homes while they are not home. But one day things go wrong. First, he is tracked down and beaten by a group of teenage girls who leave him naked. An old woman named Mary gives him some clothes, but then two violent men show up at the door and they want Blade. Soon he gets on the run, with sixteen year old Becky and three year old Jaz. Blade gets forced to use all his cleverness to escape and to try to keep Becky and Jaz safe. I would recommend this book to readers who love action and killing stories and also to find out what is gonna happen at the end.The book is told in the first person point of view.
May 10, 2013
I think Tim Bowler wrote this as a thrilling adventurous tail. It is a fun story with a lot a twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat. In the book the main character, Blade, spends most of the time trying to get away from his past, and in the end it came back to bite him in the butt. Bowler tries to show us that if in the past you have made mistakes, it is wise to just stand up strong and take care of it so it doesn't become a problem for you forever. I am under the impression that this is written in in a narrative, as it takes place during a large series of events. Starting with Blade getting beat down and robbed, which leads into a story of survival and fun. I found this book a very good read, and I could not put it down. With no doubt I would recommend this to a friend in a matter of seconds.
April 2, 2019
Playing Dead (Blade #1) by Tim Bowler is a really good book because, there is so much action and the way everything is described is amazing. I like how the main character Max thoughts are described and everything is in good detail. I think this book is really good because the character goes through so many phases and emotions and he is very untrusting of people. The main character Max gets in a lot of trouble with the law and had a rough child hood so he is very unsure of people and doesn't trust almost anyone. the story is told from max to you another character in the book he calls ¨bug eyes¨ he is really untrusting of bug eyes at first but gains his trust over time and starts to bring bug eyes along with him which makes the story a lot more interesting.. This book was very entertaining and kept me reading and wanting to read it again.
June 3, 2019
“Don’t trust anyone.” is a quote that Blade says like a habit. The book “Blade”, written by Tim Bowler, is a series of 8 books that talk about a young teenager who lives by himself in the street. It is very intense where he is surviving in the street fighting with adults and other teenagers that try to kill him. He is running away from his past and tries to live a new life. This book shows the intense and easily changing feelings of a teenager that faces the danger of life at a young age.
November 8, 2016
I think this book was a really good read considering it kept me interested through out the whole book i really liked blades character and seeing the changes he underwent through out the book i also think becky played a pretty important part as she is the one that ignited the change in blade along with jaz.
May 16, 2017
This was an amazing book. I loved the suspense it has and the characters. The style was just right. The author did a great job by describing the areas making almost a vivid picture of the setting. I like how nobody even pays attention to him, so he can take somebody's wallet and they wouldn't even know. this book is good for people who like twist and survival Books.
November 5, 2018
What I think stood out to me the most in this book was definitely the way you connect with the character. He is directly talking to you, so its definitely a different experience compared to most YA books. I really liked the character development and the plot twists at the end. They weren't too extreme and I feel like it was better when it was subtle twists.
September 8, 2018
Quick read. I really enjoy this author, so picked this one up at a library sale. Wasn't disappointed, but didn't realize it was part of a lengthy series... gonna have to go get the rest now.
October 13, 2017
The book that I have been reading for the past weeks is called Playing Dead by Tim Bowler. I have read other books written by this author such as Frozen Fire. This book was a good book but not one of the author's greatest books. This book mainly talks about a group of teenagers being in a gang and doing not so good things as well as their leader “Blade.” They never said his real name in this book. But he was the main character in the book and he would be the one that would do all the illegal things. At some point of the story he turned into a good guy but that was just for a little amount of time. They killed his best friend in front of him because he didn’t give up his own life to save him. Then one of the girls that were in this gang named Becky was pressured to do something that she didn’t want to. And that was to point a knife at someone so they could get scared and leave. Also she got pressured to basically hurt someone. This book was all about pressuring people on doing bad choices.
March 13, 2020
If this book had been longer, I would have DNFed it. And it was going to get two stars until it had an inconclusive and disappointing ending. The first page was intriguing but it went down hill fast. The narrator speaks directly to the reader but makes the reader a character that could potentially interact with the world. I'm all for breaking the fourth wall but not the reality of the book. If I'm the reader, I can't turn on lights. Also, the style was stream-of-consciousness, running narrative of every action and thought and was so tedious. There was a ton of weird British street urchin slang but then when calling the police, the narrator dialed 9-1-1 (The UK emergency line is 9-9-9.) The emotional barometer was very off: a big twist was mentioned casually but then obsessed over and then not true. I couldn't figure out what to feel. Overall, confusing and boring. I regret sticking with this book.
March 13, 2020
If this book had been longer, I would have DNFed it. And it was going to get two stars until it had an inconclusive and disappointing ending. The first page was intriguing but it went down hill fast. The narrator speaks directly to the reader but makes the reader a character that could potentially interact with the world. I'm all for breaking the fourth wall but not the reality of the book. If I'm the reader, I can't turn on lights. Also, the style was stream-of-consciousness, running narrative of every action and thought and was so tedious. There was a ton of weird British street urchin slang but then when calling the police, the narrator dialed 9-1-1 (The UK emergency line is 9-9-9.) The emotional barometer was very off: a big twist was mentioned casually but then obsessed over and then not true. I couldn't figure out what to feel. Overall, confusing and boring. I regret sticking with this book.
Read
December 12, 2022I just read a really good book called Blade part of an independent novel project in my ELA class. we are then asked to imagine making this book into a major motion picture film. my friend and I created an interview to imagine what pitching this film to an executive producer might sound like. the link below is the finished product of that pitch. I really hope you enjoy it. CAUTION: SPOILERS AHEAD
blade interview
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HXwn...
blade interview
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HXwn...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
dnf
February 4, 2025Pre-reading thoughts:
This looks and feels like the kind of books I used to love when I was an actual teen. Just the cover gives me nostalgic vibes for those early 2010s books I used to pick at random from the school library without having any means to look them up and see other people’s reviews and then read it on a whim and absolutely devour it. I miss those days!
This looks and feels like the kind of books I used to love when I was an actual teen. Just the cover gives me nostalgic vibes for those early 2010s books I used to pick at random from the school library without having any means to look them up and see other people’s reviews and then read it on a whim and absolutely devour it. I miss those days!
Read
July 7, 2022From Follett
A fourteen-year-old British street person with extraordinary powers of observation and self-control must face murderous thugs connected with a past he has tried to forget, when his skills with a knife earned him the nickname, Blade.
A fourteen-year-old British street person with extraordinary powers of observation and self-control must face murderous thugs connected with a past he has tried to forget, when his skills with a knife earned him the nickname, Blade.
May 15, 2023
I absolutely loved this series when I was in middle school. Obviously, going back and reading it now, it doesn't quite hold up, but it still holds a place in my heart. For nostalgia sake, 5 stars.
Actual rating- 3.25 stars
Actual rating- 3.25 stars
November 7, 2017
This book was fun to read but it was a bit predictable.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews