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April #1
April
April is an exceptional young lady and something of a snoop. After a chance encounter with a spy, she finds herself involved with political intrigues that stretch her abilities.
There is a terrible danger she, and her friends and family, will lose the only home she has ever known, and be forced to live on the slum ball Earth below. It's more than an almost fourteen year old should have to deal with. Fortunately she has a lot of smart friends and allies.
It's a good thing, because things get very rough and dicey. They challenge the political status quo, and with a small population the only advantage they have in war is a thin technological edge.
There is a terrible danger she, and her friends and family, will lose the only home she has ever known, and be forced to live on the slum ball Earth below. It's more than an almost fourteen year old should have to deal with. Fortunately she has a lot of smart friends and allies.
It's a good thing, because things get very rough and dicey. They challenge the political status quo, and with a small population the only advantage they have in war is a thin technological edge.
508 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 9, 2012
488 people are currently reading
281 people want to read
About the author
Mackey Chandler
35 books219 followersMackey (Mac') Chandler is retired to Rochester Michigan from a working life that spanned a large number of occupations. Mold maker, aerospace machinist, plumber, mechanic and dozen more as well as owning several businesses. This life experience and travel show in the depth and variety of his writing.
A life long time reader of Science Fiction, the authors at Baen's Bar and their evening chat room motivated him to try his own hand at writing. His first effort was a short story titled "Common Ground" which sold to the short-lived Jim Baen's Universe.
His personal favorite book is "The Mote in God's Eye" by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle. Other favorite authors include Michael Z. Williamson and C.J.Cherryh.
A life long time reader of Science Fiction, the authors at Baen's Bar and their evening chat room motivated him to try his own hand at writing. His first effort was a short story titled "Common Ground" which sold to the short-lived Jim Baen's Universe.
His personal favorite book is "The Mote in God's Eye" by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle. Other favorite authors include Michael Z. Williamson and C.J.Cherryh.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
February 7, 2017
April is the first of a series of eight books thus far, all about what happens when a space station is driven to seek independence from a repressive future America. Each book is complete within itself, but also advances an overall story of freedom lovers getting and keeping themselves free of an increasingly-hostile and repressive Earth.
It is a serious attempt to envision a civilization in which taxes are voluntary, but only taxpayers vote, where there is maximal freedom and personal responsibility, and no more government and law than absolutely necessary.
It is also a coming of age story, as April starts as a 14 year old girl, and is only up to age 16 by the end of book 8. It includes couple and trio sex, but only suggested, so should be fine for teens.
What I liked best about the series is how each book went into details about some aspect of civilization, building it up from first principles, rather than just assuming how it's done here now is the right way for it to be done in future. I particularly liked the discussions about economics and banking.
For me, 4 stars means Very Good, and I can't think of another series I've read in which every single book was worth that many stars.
My wife didn't like it as well as I did because it did include a fair amount of violence, including killing of millions of people in more than one book, but did a good job of explaining why violence was necessary each time it happened.
It is a serious attempt to envision a civilization in which taxes are voluntary, but only taxpayers vote, where there is maximal freedom and personal responsibility, and no more government and law than absolutely necessary.
It is also a coming of age story, as April starts as a 14 year old girl, and is only up to age 16 by the end of book 8. It includes couple and trio sex, but only suggested, so should be fine for teens.
What I liked best about the series is how each book went into details about some aspect of civilization, building it up from first principles, rather than just assuming how it's done here now is the right way for it to be done in future. I particularly liked the discussions about economics and banking.
For me, 4 stars means Very Good, and I can't think of another series I've read in which every single book was worth that many stars.
My wife didn't like it as well as I did because it did include a fair amount of violence, including killing of millions of people in more than one book, but did a good job of explaining why violence was necessary each time it happened.
September 5, 2017
The story is awesome, but here and there are a lot of typos. This is not taking away from the book but you can't stop seeing it repeatedly. The book is a big maybe of what could happen in our future I think, people should be warned of the strong politicals and religious views in it before trying it.
May 31, 2020
2.5 stars! Slow moving story! April was 14 years old going on 30. I did enjoy the ending but I don't plan to continue with the series.
April 24, 2016
So I'm going to count this as read even though I only made through 31% of it. The author gets bogged down in details that have absolutely nothing to do with the story. A detailed explanation of the preparation of a meal does nothing to advance the story line. I also didn't find the characters particularly believable and didn't have a strong sense of the issues and emotions that were driving them. The central premise seems to be that the main characters are preparing for an armed insurrection based on the belief that the overbearing government of Earth may try to strip their families of their rights to a mineral rich asteroid that they captured and brought into orbit around the Earth. I'm sure it was the author's intent to to portray them as freedom fighters preparing to stand up to a stifling and increasingly authoritarian government, but an alternative explanation is that they are insurgents attempting to set up a terrorist cell. It's all a matter of perception I suppose. I'm sure some will enjoy this book but it just isn't my cup of tea.
April 20, 2020
Surprising
I enjoyed this story very much. It was a surprise for me as it was deeper and more complex than I was expecting from the write up and reviews. It did have many typos and grammar issued as reviewed, but I was not distracted by these from the story. There was friendship and humor. It also sucked me into the politics and got my heart rate up! I lost a little sleep, what was that about? I put it down and couldn't stop thinking about it! It swept me away as it barreled towards the ending. I wasn't sure about starting a long book series, but I am up to read the sequel for sure. The sci fi tech explanations were a little too detailed in my opinion, as this science fiction not science fact - my beliefs about reality are already suspended! It was also quite long so settle in for a great and satisfying read. April is a great character.
I enjoyed this story very much. It was a surprise for me as it was deeper and more complex than I was expecting from the write up and reviews. It did have many typos and grammar issued as reviewed, but I was not distracted by these from the story. There was friendship and humor. It also sucked me into the politics and got my heart rate up! I lost a little sleep, what was that about? I put it down and couldn't stop thinking about it! It swept me away as it barreled towards the ending. I wasn't sure about starting a long book series, but I am up to read the sequel for sure. The sci fi tech explanations were a little too detailed in my opinion, as this science fiction not science fact - my beliefs about reality are already suspended! It was also quite long so settle in for a great and satisfying read. April is a great character.
February 12, 2020
I started reading this book and pretty much didn't stop until I ran out of this series at book #11. The characters were very engaging - rather overpowered as far as conflict. The social situations brought up were interesting to think about.
Mackey has a strong libertarian point of view, but he does highlight some of the faults of what he proposes. It's interesting that every libertarian story I've ever read is a small us against them with an easy banishment option. I do like the experiment in keeping laws to a minimum and using social customs and dueling to manage most adverse social interaction issues. Sadly bad guys have great reflexes as well.
Mackey has a strong libertarian point of view, but he does highlight some of the faults of what he proposes. It's interesting that every libertarian story I've ever read is a small us against them with an easy banishment option. I do like the experiment in keeping laws to a minimum and using social customs and dueling to manage most adverse social interaction issues. Sadly bad guys have great reflexes as well.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 20, 2020
A pleasant disappointment
April was an intriguing story. The twist it put on habitat life and teens was great. The story flowed well and the characters were fresh. All in all, I enjoyed the book.
However, it is probably the worst-edited book I have read. I was shocked at the misspellings and punctuation errors. It really detracted from my reading experience. This book needs to be edited and re-released.
April was an intriguing story. The twist it put on habitat life and teens was great. The story flowed well and the characters were fresh. All in all, I enjoyed the book.
However, it is probably the worst-edited book I have read. I was shocked at the misspellings and punctuation errors. It really detracted from my reading experience. This book needs to be edited and re-released.
June 4, 2017
Not That Good
This sounded like it would be a good read but to me it just dragged. I just couldn't seem to get into it. Just couldn't care about the characters.
This sounded like it would be a good read but to me it just dragged. I just couldn't seem to get into it. Just couldn't care about the characters.
March 1, 2022
This would be the second of Mackay Chandler's books that I have read. First - the engineering and physics seem pretty solid. Certainly the orbital mechanics portrayed, and the advanced power system and weapon system that our teenage heroine's second-best friend invents and develops seem reasonable. Second: the Earth-bound society of the United States of North America seem to be crafted to justify the author's libertopian preferences, but projection of societal trends has been a legitimate subject of science fiction since Heinlein's "Moon is a Harsh Mistress" and if it's a little heavy-handed, certainly no more so than say many of David Weber's.
Where the book starts to fail, for me, is with the characters of the story. Starting with the cast of supporting characters, there is an amazingly high proportion of former special forces types who just happen to be residents of the relatively small, peace-loving space station that just wants to live free. Characters who evidently did spooky, scary stuff for years for their respective Bad Governments and seemingly were OK with that, but after retirement, seem to have no qualms about attacking their former employers and killing their contemporary replacements by the job lot, a task at least enabled by the various guns that they lovingly keep and detail.
My real disappointment is in the main character herself, April. She's described as a precocious 13-year old with an mature-beyond-her-years mindset, and who has lived in a peaceful environment all of her life. And yet, on the turn of a metaphorical dime, kills an enemy special forces soldier (this actually is credible given the environment at the time, and the guy was threatening her and her friends, so not morally unjustified), but then takes a badge as a trophy and is more concerned about how to clean up after hours in a spacesuit then the implications of now having killed a person (I wasn't demanding existential angst and moral hand-wringing, but still, something a little more than wondering what she should have for lunch). Later, once her and her friends are at war with the USNA, she commences orbital bombardments on admittedly military targets (that still pose no threat to her), killing thousands, and she's frustrated that the USNA is suppressing the news of aircraft carriers being sunk - and as explicitly stated in the book, she's wondering that surely the news will eventually get out because the families of her victims will notice they aren't getting communications any more? She also does "clean orbital strikes" of the USNA's embassies abroad, which one presumes are not valid military targets, and surely kill hundreds of civilians whose only crime seems to be that they work for the USNA government. The leader of said government, the President of the USNA, is certainly an evil character, but you wouldn't think for such a personality that wrecking the industry of the USNA, and killing tens or hundreds of thousands of people who happen to be under his orders is going to force him to surrender; in fact nothing at all that April and her friends do brings about his downfall - instead, he conveniently flips his lid, tries to execute one of his own personal protective detail in a fit of pique, and gets shot in the head as a consequence. All this to summarize that while April's casual and effortless foray into mass casualty violence does result in the eventual independence of the M3 space station, it feels morally excessive, and her indifference (remember, she's supposed to be a 13-year old girl) is off-putting, unless she's supposed to be a sociopath; either way, it doesn't endear me the main character or her cause, as a reader who is looking for a story about a spunky young hero.
Where the book starts to fail, for me, is with the characters of the story. Starting with the cast of supporting characters, there is an amazingly high proportion of former special forces types who just happen to be residents of the relatively small, peace-loving space station that just wants to live free. Characters who evidently did spooky, scary stuff for years for their respective Bad Governments and seemingly were OK with that, but after retirement, seem to have no qualms about attacking their former employers and killing their contemporary replacements by the job lot, a task at least enabled by the various guns that they lovingly keep and detail.
My real disappointment is in the main character herself, April. She's described as a precocious 13-year old with an mature-beyond-her-years mindset, and who has lived in a peaceful environment all of her life. And yet, on the turn of a metaphorical dime, kills an enemy special forces soldier (this actually is credible given the environment at the time, and the guy was threatening her and her friends, so not morally unjustified), but then takes a badge as a trophy and is more concerned about how to clean up after hours in a spacesuit then the implications of now having killed a person (I wasn't demanding existential angst and moral hand-wringing, but still, something a little more than wondering what she should have for lunch). Later, once her and her friends are at war with the USNA, she commences orbital bombardments on admittedly military targets (that still pose no threat to her), killing thousands, and she's frustrated that the USNA is suppressing the news of aircraft carriers being sunk - and as explicitly stated in the book, she's wondering that surely the news will eventually get out because the families of her victims will notice they aren't getting communications any more? She also does "clean orbital strikes" of the USNA's embassies abroad, which one presumes are not valid military targets, and surely kill hundreds of civilians whose only crime seems to be that they work for the USNA government. The leader of said government, the President of the USNA, is certainly an evil character, but you wouldn't think for such a personality that wrecking the industry of the USNA, and killing tens or hundreds of thousands of people who happen to be under his orders is going to force him to surrender; in fact nothing at all that April and her friends do brings about his downfall - instead, he conveniently flips his lid, tries to execute one of his own personal protective detail in a fit of pique, and gets shot in the head as a consequence. All this to summarize that while April's casual and effortless foray into mass casualty violence does result in the eventual independence of the M3 space station, it feels morally excessive, and her indifference (remember, she's supposed to be a 13-year old girl) is off-putting, unless she's supposed to be a sociopath; either way, it doesn't endear me the main character or her cause, as a reader who is looking for a story about a spunky young hero.
July 8, 2019
A slow-starting but interesting read that reminds me in some ways of Sir Patrick Moore's "Scott Saunders" series that I read as a youth. This book is quite political in its nature, with its setting being that of a space habitat of a few thousand people chafing against the heavy-handedness of a hyper-conservative and decidedly Orwellian USA.
April's character can be decidedly jarring at first. Here is a fourteen year old girl who acts much more like someone in their early twenties in many ways and that can shock you out of your suspension of disbelief at times. However, the author does endeavour to paint a picture of children in orbital habitats having to be far more mature for their age, with surface dwelling children being portrayed far more like what we would expect. Something that is plausible when you consider that a space habitat could well be a place where discipline and sense would have to be insilled at a very young age due to the risk of decompression issues. The author does make some mention in the first fifteen percent of the book about how young teens can opt for a treatment that supresses the side-effects of teen hormones and I do wonder about the practicality and safety of such a treatment, even with the life extension treatments that are also mentioned.
The spelling, grammar and punctuation are not bad for a title on Kindle Unlimited, but there are issues. My suggestion to the author if they ever revisit this book for an updated edition would be to overhaul the first 20% of the book to bring it more in-line in tone with the rest of the book as well as getting a good proofreader to go through after you commit your final rewrite changes.
In summary I would describe this as a slow but interesting science fiction story that is in part a coming-of-age for a young teen in a complex and dangerous world. I'm very curious as to where the author will go in the next book and shall be starting that later today.
December 27, 2021
Chandler, Mackey. April. April No. 1. Kindle, 2012.
As far as I can tell, April is Mackey Chandler’s first novel and the first novel in a series that now has twelve volumes. It is a near-future coming of age story that owes very much to Robert A. Heinlein. April is a space-born resident of Mitsubishi 3, a large space habitat in Earth Orbit. There is also an evolved version of the International Space Station and a Lunar colony. Earth politics is just as cutthroat and complicated as ever. The space habitats have developed an independent culture that is more purely democratic and libertarian than any of the religious tyrannies or corrupt corporate states on Earth. (By the way, the book is set much too early—there is no chance so many large-scale space habitats could be built by 2083. Technological optimism is a common affliction of science fiction writers—at least the ones that don’t mumble in their beer about dystopian futures.) Like Heinlein’s juvenile novels, April describes a world in which all the kids are brilliant and independent—even the ones who lack a moral compass. They make major advances in science and technology in what on Earth would be a basement workshop. And when the revolution comes, they are the first ones to man the barricades. Think Heinlein’s Rolling Stones mashed up with The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress. Chandler is not the stylist that Heinlein was, but he tells an engaging story. 3.5 stars.
As far as I can tell, April is Mackey Chandler’s first novel and the first novel in a series that now has twelve volumes. It is a near-future coming of age story that owes very much to Robert A. Heinlein. April is a space-born resident of Mitsubishi 3, a large space habitat in Earth Orbit. There is also an evolved version of the International Space Station and a Lunar colony. Earth politics is just as cutthroat and complicated as ever. The space habitats have developed an independent culture that is more purely democratic and libertarian than any of the religious tyrannies or corrupt corporate states on Earth. (By the way, the book is set much too early—there is no chance so many large-scale space habitats could be built by 2083. Technological optimism is a common affliction of science fiction writers—at least the ones that don’t mumble in their beer about dystopian futures.) Like Heinlein’s juvenile novels, April describes a world in which all the kids are brilliant and independent—even the ones who lack a moral compass. They make major advances in science and technology in what on Earth would be a basement workshop. And when the revolution comes, they are the first ones to man the barricades. Think Heinlein’s Rolling Stones mashed up with The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress. Chandler is not the stylist that Heinlein was, but he tells an engaging story. 3.5 stars.
October 17, 2022
Great story with fair writing.
This author tells a great story. April is a fast moving, adventure filled sci fi novel. The author makes an effort to explain science basics of different subjects, from weapons to shuttle function. While this is appreciated, I think the author simply tried too hard to amplify the technical. It resulted in many clumsy paragraphs which I ended up skimming. I love the science of sci fi but I didn't enjoy his clumsy descriptions. The author does well with main character description though he maintains a superficial approach. If you want more of a psychological story, this isn't it. He also introduces too many bit characters who don't add to the story. He seems to set up a character storyline with April's bother Bob and then, as the story evolves, Bob seems to be forgotten. So why the foreshadowing when he is essentially a noncharacter? While I absolutely loved the MC April, she ended up just being a smart adult in a child's body. The prodigy plotline is sometimes a fun one but it needs some internal conflict. However brilliant the child is, maturation wise, the prodigy is still a child. April may as well have been 30yrs old. The only reflection the reader receives about her child status is in the assessment of others towards her. Its an opportunity lost for the author to enrich Aprils character instead of just making her an adult in a child's body.
This author tells a great story. April is a fast moving, adventure filled sci fi novel. The author makes an effort to explain science basics of different subjects, from weapons to shuttle function. While this is appreciated, I think the author simply tried too hard to amplify the technical. It resulted in many clumsy paragraphs which I ended up skimming. I love the science of sci fi but I didn't enjoy his clumsy descriptions. The author does well with main character description though he maintains a superficial approach. If you want more of a psychological story, this isn't it. He also introduces too many bit characters who don't add to the story. He seems to set up a character storyline with April's bother Bob and then, as the story evolves, Bob seems to be forgotten. So why the foreshadowing when he is essentially a noncharacter? While I absolutely loved the MC April, she ended up just being a smart adult in a child's body. The prodigy plotline is sometimes a fun one but it needs some internal conflict. However brilliant the child is, maturation wise, the prodigy is still a child. April may as well have been 30yrs old. The only reflection the reader receives about her child status is in the assessment of others towards her. Its an opportunity lost for the author to enrich Aprils character instead of just making her an adult in a child's body.
February 9, 2024
This review is being written while i am currently reading book 10 of this series.
...
That said.
I have enjoyed this book series. DESPITE its MANY MANY spelling mistakes. I suspect the author didn't bother to proofread or even run the books through a basic spelling check and just published his rough draft.
Anyways.. So yea. Even despite the glaring and annoying flaws. THIS WAS WORTH READING.
Granted ..I am a sucker for this kind of story. IE space, New Tech, Freedom from the stupidity that abounds in our society today etc. I suspect that the author is a Libertarian at heart. But i may be wrong about that.
The only real negative i have to say about this book series is.. The Author Clearly knows absolutely nothing about the Military. (Any Nations Military).. Let alone the dysfunctional mess that is portrayed in his books. To be honest..Its rather insulting. Even knowing this is a fiction book.
...
That said.
I have enjoyed this book series. DESPITE its MANY MANY spelling mistakes. I suspect the author didn't bother to proofread or even run the books through a basic spelling check and just published his rough draft.
Anyways.. So yea. Even despite the glaring and annoying flaws. THIS WAS WORTH READING.
Granted ..I am a sucker for this kind of story. IE space, New Tech, Freedom from the stupidity that abounds in our society today etc. I suspect that the author is a Libertarian at heart. But i may be wrong about that.
The only real negative i have to say about this book series is.. The Author Clearly knows absolutely nothing about the Military. (Any Nations Military).. Let alone the dysfunctional mess that is portrayed in his books. To be honest..Its rather insulting. Even knowing this is a fiction book.
November 14, 2022
I didn’t understand a word of the first two chapters…
I gave this book 5 stars the first time to read it, but I didn’t write a review, and I couldn’t remember what it was about so I decided to reread it. My memory sucks.
What I discovered was that I could not understand anything of the first two chapters. However, since I had given it five stars before I decided to stick with it. I’m glad I did. Spoiler alert: This is about a commercial space Station breaking away from the United States of North America because the USNA were about to seize their Rock - a meteor of some worth. The protagonists are mostly children, and April herself is only 14. It is definitely science fiction, because I cannot imagine parents leading a 14-year-old no matter how advanced or intelligent do what she was allowed to do in this book. That said, I was completely involved in the story.
I gave this book 5 stars the first time to read it, but I didn’t write a review, and I couldn’t remember what it was about so I decided to reread it. My memory sucks.
What I discovered was that I could not understand anything of the first two chapters. However, since I had given it five stars before I decided to stick with it. I’m glad I did. Spoiler alert: This is about a commercial space Station breaking away from the United States of North America because the USNA were about to seize their Rock - a meteor of some worth. The protagonists are mostly children, and April herself is only 14. It is definitely science fiction, because I cannot imagine parents leading a 14-year-old no matter how advanced or intelligent do what she was allowed to do in this book. That said, I was completely involved in the story.
November 27, 2025
It took a while for this story to gain momentum. But once the lines of battle were drawn and the weapons readied, I was all in.
The protagonist, April, is an unusual young woman. She's self motivated, target driven, and fearless. In some ways, I'd say she is portrayed as too mature, but it doesn't feel that way. Instead, we get to see a competent teenager, kick-ass and save the day. It's exciting!
There was a bonus I was not expecting... the author's take on a new type of democracy where you join a single issue voting block, that represents your highest priority, in order to drive a cycle of ephemeral governments to set policy for the whole. It's a fun concept that I look forward to seeing expanded in future books.
The protagonist, April, is an unusual young woman. She's self motivated, target driven, and fearless. In some ways, I'd say she is portrayed as too mature, but it doesn't feel that way. Instead, we get to see a competent teenager, kick-ass and save the day. It's exciting!
There was a bonus I was not expecting... the author's take on a new type of democracy where you join a single issue voting block, that represents your highest priority, in order to drive a cycle of ephemeral governments to set policy for the whole. It's a fun concept that I look forward to seeing expanded in future books.
March 13, 2019
Meandering spoils the premise.
If 2/3's of the content of this book was cut, it would probably be 3.5. Instead of reading plot driven pages, you will read over and over, and in painstaking detail what everyone is eating for dinner each and every day. Sometimes something interesting happens in-between the rambling. At least in the beginning that was true.
The overcliched motives of the 'bad guys' and the inexhaustible prodigy of the 'good guys' is also a sigh.
If you want to read an excellent work of what this book could have been, check out Beggars in Spain by Nancy Kress. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...
If 2/3's of the content of this book was cut, it would probably be 3.5. Instead of reading plot driven pages, you will read over and over, and in painstaking detail what everyone is eating for dinner each and every day. Sometimes something interesting happens in-between the rambling. At least in the beginning that was true.
The overcliched motives of the 'bad guys' and the inexhaustible prodigy of the 'good guys' is also a sigh.
If you want to read an excellent work of what this book could have been, check out Beggars in Spain by Nancy Kress. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...
September 5, 2019
Good book since I already like Chandlers style and humor. I can't wait to get to the older Alice, and the three musketeers as they figure into the Family Law series of which I saved the last to read as it figures in with the plot line here. My only problem is with the Editing which almost doesn't exist in these books! It's a pet peeve of mine as my parents were teachers so I tend to spellcheck as I read everything. The spelling of so many random words are misspelled, grammar, and in some cases words in whole statements put in wrong order. My stars what do they use to edit these stories, an NSAID?? (non-sentient artificial intelligence device)
March 7, 2020
April is Awesome! Great story, great characters, great tech!
I’m so pleased & excited to have the fantastic new series “April” to read by Mackey Chandler. I just finished the first book in the series and I’m very excited to have multiple books in the series left to look forward to reading.
To me the plot of the story was very believable. I also loved the nonstop action and all the great supporting characters.
Keep up the great work Mackey Chandler!
Now, I’m off to start reading book 2 in the April series, “Down to Earth”!
I’m so pleased & excited to have the fantastic new series “April” to read by Mackey Chandler. I just finished the first book in the series and I’m very excited to have multiple books in the series left to look forward to reading.
To me the plot of the story was very believable. I also loved the nonstop action and all the great supporting characters.
Keep up the great work Mackey Chandler!
Now, I’m off to start reading book 2 in the April series, “Down to Earth”!
September 17, 2022
Watch out! She's 13!
What kind of flippin' idiot gets a 13-year girl genius pissed off enough to start an armed rebellion?
The kind of flippin' idiot destined to LOSE, that's who.
Psychologists have demonstrated that there are certain stages in a human's life where their confidence, their physical abilities, their intellect and sheer ... stubbornness? combine to make them almost unstoppable.
For girls? Age 13 is the SECOND time it happens. If there is a 3 year old in this series, I hope its a boy ... those are focused mostly on treats ... Mostly.
What kind of flippin' idiot gets a 13-year girl genius pissed off enough to start an armed rebellion?
The kind of flippin' idiot destined to LOSE, that's who.
Psychologists have demonstrated that there are certain stages in a human's life where their confidence, their physical abilities, their intellect and sheer ... stubbornness? combine to make them almost unstoppable.
For girls? Age 13 is the SECOND time it happens. If there is a 3 year old in this series, I hope its a boy ... those are focused mostly on treats ... Mostly.
April 1, 2024
An excellent read
The cover doesn't do this book justice. Thankfully I didn't let it put me off reading this book. An imaginative and creative story that is set in the future where politicians tend to get away with murder. A bit slow to start especially when going into technical details, but about a third of the way in I became invested in the characters and was hooked with their war with North America and couldn't put it down until I found out what happened to them. Highly recommend.
The cover doesn't do this book justice. Thankfully I didn't let it put me off reading this book. An imaginative and creative story that is set in the future where politicians tend to get away with murder. A bit slow to start especially when going into technical details, but about a third of the way in I became invested in the characters and was hooked with their war with North America and couldn't put it down until I found out what happened to them. Highly recommend.
November 21, 2020
Just OK
The storyline starts strong if a bit overly simplistic. The idea that so much could be accomplished by a 14 year old is more fantasy than sci-fi, though. There is enough polish to carry the story at least to the 75% mark. The ending, unfortunately, goes to the extreme and the storyline passes from simplistic sci-fi to bizarre fantasy. I found the ending less than satisfactory and I was left with doubt for the rest of the series.
The storyline starts strong if a bit overly simplistic. The idea that so much could be accomplished by a 14 year old is more fantasy than sci-fi, though. There is enough polish to carry the story at least to the 75% mark. The ending, unfortunately, goes to the extreme and the storyline passes from simplistic sci-fi to bizarre fantasy. I found the ending less than satisfactory and I was left with doubt for the rest of the series.
October 24, 2021
Fantastic!
If I could give this book 10 stars, I would. I actually read all night, it was so engrossing. The depictions of the political and military leaders was so accurate, you can imagine it occurring today. The Orwellian leadership of the USNA was very democratic, the way the religious hard liners were in power, reminded me of the KKK. I'm so looking forward to the next book.
If I could give this book 10 stars, I would. I actually read all night, it was so engrossing. The depictions of the political and military leaders was so accurate, you can imagine it occurring today. The Orwellian leadership of the USNA was very democratic, the way the religious hard liners were in power, reminded me of the KKK. I'm so looking forward to the next book.
September 6, 2023
Wating for audiobooks
Love the book. Starting the next one now, but I really would prefer audiobooks. The number of other things you can do when reading a text book is pretty small. So yes I am buying the text version but I probably would have done that anyway. Now I am finished reading the first book and wating for the audiobook version, whenever you get around to putting it out I will buy that and read it agen.
Love the book. Starting the next one now, but I really would prefer audiobooks. The number of other things you can do when reading a text book is pretty small. So yes I am buying the text version but I probably would have done that anyway. Now I am finished reading the first book and wating for the audiobook version, whenever you get around to putting it out I will buy that and read it agen.
August 6, 2020
Great read!
I was hesitant about the the character development that revolved around a young girl just entering her teens but the story won me over and I am looking forward to beginning book two as soon as I submit this review. I'm going to push back starting some of the items on my honey dew list. I am very happy we don't have a dog house.
I was hesitant about the the character development that revolved around a young girl just entering her teens but the story won me over and I am looking forward to beginning book two as soon as I submit this review. I'm going to push back starting some of the items on my honey dew list. I am very happy we don't have a dog house.
April 30, 2021
Maybe Too Real
Okay, a lot happens real fast in a his story. While you won't get bored, you might get lost like I did. Lots of characters and a twisting plot make this one of the more fun books I have read in awhile. I am sorry to say that there is too much realism in our true government structure and the idiocy that results and this story has a lot of possibly similar gaffs.
Okay, a lot happens real fast in a his story. While you won't get bored, you might get lost like I did. Lots of characters and a twisting plot make this one of the more fun books I have read in awhile. I am sorry to say that there is too much realism in our true government structure and the idiocy that results and this story has a lot of possibly similar gaffs.
December 28, 2023
I found April to be entertaining and well paced. I appreciate that the author decided to depict his heroine as a thoughtful and intelligent young woman rather than an irresponsible airhead. I enjoyed the concept and the lack of drawn out and incomprehensible (to me) technical verbiage while keeping the ideas presented in believable manner.
I'm sure that I'm here for all the series and hope they all are as entertaining as this first book.
I'm sure that I'm here for all the series and hope they all are as entertaining as this first book.
August 25, 2017
Great characters that change with the storyline. The plot was twisty enough that you weren't sure what is coming up next. A strong heroine with the right amount of real and sass. It did leave me hanging at the end I need to get the next one and start right away to follow up on the story.😉
September 19, 2017
Good story needs better editing.
I enjoyed the story of April and her quest for freedom. But I kept getting dragged from the story because of the poor editing. It was sometimes hard to follow which character was speaking and there are several grammatical problems.
I enjoyed the story of April and her quest for freedom. But I kept getting dragged from the story because of the poor editing. It was sometimes hard to follow which character was speaking and there are several grammatical problems.
November 6, 2017
We are off to a cracking start
Although I suspect this was intended as a juvenile book, it is well written and thoughtful, and the themes are adult enough to compete in the ranks of more adult fiction. I enjoyed this book very much and intend to read the entire series.
Although I suspect this was intended as a juvenile book, it is well written and thoughtful, and the themes are adult enough to compete in the ranks of more adult fiction. I enjoyed this book very much and intend to read the entire series.
August 13, 2018
What A Ride
I can't believe that was not the entire series, just book one. I'm exhausted from all the action. Great in the theoretical Science fiction, in the politics fiction, and growing up fiction.
I can't believe that was not the entire series, just book one. I'm exhausted from all the action. Great in the theoretical Science fiction, in the politics fiction, and growing up fiction.
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