What do you think?
Rate this book
Lilith
Before evil had a name, there was LILITH.
Something has come aboard the U.S. Navy’s newest state-of-the-art super carrier, the USS Gerald Ford, something supernatural and as ancient as time itself. And it’s taking over the crew one by one.
Reporter Hunter Singleton and his wife Lisa, guests invited aboard to witness a routine training mission off the coast of North Carolina, soon learn that the CIA is onboard as well, and that some of the ship’s crew are acting irrationally, even violently. When an unexpected monster hurricane slams New York, the ship rushes to assist in the aftermath, and Hunter, Lisa and the crew are faced with the terrifying realization that whatever has come aboard the Ford must be stopped before it is set free on the streets of Manhattan.
But how do they fight something beyond human comprehension? How do they kill something that may not even be alive?
The clock is ticking…and Time itself is running out.
Something has come aboard the U.S. Navy’s newest state-of-the-art super carrier, the USS Gerald Ford, something supernatural and as ancient as time itself. And it’s taking over the crew one by one.
Reporter Hunter Singleton and his wife Lisa, guests invited aboard to witness a routine training mission off the coast of North Carolina, soon learn that the CIA is onboard as well, and that some of the ship’s crew are acting irrationally, even violently. When an unexpected monster hurricane slams New York, the ship rushes to assist in the aftermath, and Hunter, Lisa and the crew are faced with the terrifying realization that whatever has come aboard the Ford must be stopped before it is set free on the streets of Manhattan.
But how do they fight something beyond human comprehension? How do they kill something that may not even be alive?
The clock is ticking…and Time itself is running out.
- GenresHorrorSupernatural
330 pages, Paperback
First published December 30, 2012
16 people are currently reading
561 people want to read
About the author
Toby Tate
12 books68 followersToby's stories have been praised by Midwest Book Review, Library Journal and Cemetery Dance as well as by New York Times bestselling authors Steve Berry, Douglas Preston, Jonathan Maberry and Steve Alten. He has been featured in The Big Thrill magazine and on Internet radio, blogs and newspapers.
Inexplicably drawn to all things dark and macabre, at about the age of twelve he began penning short stories and publishing his own movie monster magazine.
An Air Force brat who never lived in one place more than two years, after high school Toby did an eight-year stint in the U.S. Navy and ended up on the east coast. He has since worked as a cab driver, a pizza delivery man, a phone solicitor, a shipyard technician, a government contractor, a retail music salesman, a bookseller, a cell phone salesman and a recording studio engineer.
Toby later earned a B.A. in English and became a full-time graphic designer and newspaper reporter, publishing hundreds of stories with the Associated Press and his local paper. He has since been published in The Pedestal Magazine, Voluted Tales magazine, Famous Monsters of Filmland, Scary Monsters Magazine, and websites like eHow.com.
Owing to the inspiration of Edgar Rice Burroughs, Ray Bradbury and Stephen King, Toby became an author of what he likes to call "high-octane sci-fi, fantasy and horror" and has published several books. He is currently producing his first movie, SKINWALKERS, for which he wrote the screenplay.
Toby is also a songwriter and musician and lives with his family near the Great Dismal Swamp in northeastern North Carolina.
Inexplicably drawn to all things dark and macabre, at about the age of twelve he began penning short stories and publishing his own movie monster magazine.
An Air Force brat who never lived in one place more than two years, after high school Toby did an eight-year stint in the U.S. Navy and ended up on the east coast. He has since worked as a cab driver, a pizza delivery man, a phone solicitor, a shipyard technician, a government contractor, a retail music salesman, a bookseller, a cell phone salesman and a recording studio engineer.
Toby later earned a B.A. in English and became a full-time graphic designer and newspaper reporter, publishing hundreds of stories with the Associated Press and his local paper. He has since been published in The Pedestal Magazine, Voluted Tales magazine, Famous Monsters of Filmland, Scary Monsters Magazine, and websites like eHow.com.
Owing to the inspiration of Edgar Rice Burroughs, Ray Bradbury and Stephen King, Toby became an author of what he likes to call "high-octane sci-fi, fantasy and horror" and has published several books. He is currently producing his first movie, SKINWALKERS, for which he wrote the screenplay.
Toby is also a songwriter and musician and lives with his family near the Great Dismal Swamp in northeastern North Carolina.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
January 14, 2013
3.5 Stars
Toby Tate is an author that is new to me. As a member of the Darkfuse Kindle Club a new book shows up in my in-box every month,(love it!), and this was the book for January.
The adventure starts on-board a fancy new nuclear powered aircraft carrier: The Ford. A group of people has been given access to the ship and her crew to learn more about her and the ship's operations. One of these people is not what she seems.
I'm only a little familiar with the mythology and legends surrounding Lilith. This book adds its own spin,(not to mention radiation!),to the mix. I found this to be an interesting combination that held my attention.
There were a lot of people to keep track of in this story. All kinds of officers and seamen, not to mention CIA and other people from agencies that have lots of letters. It came to a point where I stopped trying to keep track of all the seamen and what their jobs were, and focused on Lilith.
All in all, I really enjoyed it. I could have used maybe a few less people and more about Lilith, but the story did work for me. The imagination of the author was working overtime on this one, and I found that to be fun and interesting. I am looking forward to seeing what else Mr. Tate has to offer.
Disclosure: I won the Darkfuse Kindle Club subscription that I mentioned above, at an online Meet the Author event.
Toby Tate is an author that is new to me. As a member of the Darkfuse Kindle Club a new book shows up in my in-box every month,(love it!), and this was the book for January.
The adventure starts on-board a fancy new nuclear powered aircraft carrier: The Ford. A group of people has been given access to the ship and her crew to learn more about her and the ship's operations. One of these people is not what she seems.
I'm only a little familiar with the mythology and legends surrounding Lilith. This book adds its own spin,(not to mention radiation!),to the mix. I found this to be an interesting combination that held my attention.
There were a lot of people to keep track of in this story. All kinds of officers and seamen, not to mention CIA and other people from agencies that have lots of letters. It came to a point where I stopped trying to keep track of all the seamen and what their jobs were, and focused on Lilith.
All in all, I really enjoyed it. I could have used maybe a few less people and more about Lilith, but the story did work for me. The imagination of the author was working overtime on this one, and I found that to be fun and interesting. I am looking forward to seeing what else Mr. Tate has to offer.
Disclosure: I won the Darkfuse Kindle Club subscription that I mentioned above, at an online Meet the Author event.
February 1, 2013
Hunter Singleton and his wife Lisa are media guests on the USS Gerald Ford, one of the newest and biggest ships of the U.S. Navy. While on board, a hurricane forms quickly and is heading straight for New York City, and the Ford is ordered to go there immediately for aide and assistance.
This is where things start to go wrong. Men and woman, both the media guests and those in service, are not acting they're normal selves and it seems that someone is out to sabotage not only the USS Ford, but the entire mission.
This sweeps Hunter and Lisa along with members of the Ford's crew into a battle against a creature that is out to overtake humanity and rule the world.
While my description is poor and makes the book sound like it has a cookie-cutter plot, I can assure you that it does not. What fascinated me about Lilith was the creature-features, so to speak, along with the storm and its after-affects upon a large city.
What you have with Lilith is an adventure that doesn't require too much thought. Although meticulously researched, this book doesn't require much from the reader. Just plug in and enjoy the ride. Lilith is simply a hell of a fun story with great characters and, as I mentioned, an awesome monster. Reminded me a bit of Harry Shannon mixed with a little Clancy. Recommended!
This is where things start to go wrong. Men and woman, both the media guests and those in service, are not acting they're normal selves and it seems that someone is out to sabotage not only the USS Ford, but the entire mission.
This sweeps Hunter and Lisa along with members of the Ford's crew into a battle against a creature that is out to overtake humanity and rule the world.
While my description is poor and makes the book sound like it has a cookie-cutter plot, I can assure you that it does not. What fascinated me about Lilith was the creature-features, so to speak, along with the storm and its after-affects upon a large city.
What you have with Lilith is an adventure that doesn't require too much thought. Although meticulously researched, this book doesn't require much from the reader. Just plug in and enjoy the ride. Lilith is simply a hell of a fun story with great characters and, as I mentioned, an awesome monster. Reminded me a bit of Harry Shannon mixed with a little Clancy. Recommended!
September 12, 2014
Lilith by Toby Tate
Began September 9, Completed September 11, 2014
Horror Readers, September 15, 2014 Discussion
This is the 3rd book I have read by Toby Tate. So I am familiar a little with his writing style and language.
A group of reporters are invited aboard a highly sophisticated nuclear powered US Navy air craft carrier battle ship. All is well, however a few of the reporters are acting a bit odd you might say. Suddenly a huge storm starts to brew and takes the battle ship by surprise. The storm lands in New York City, destroying so much in it's wake. The ship must go to NY harbor to help out and then oh, goodness, everything goes crazy!
It's a good story and a well written book. The characters are a bit cliche, but that even worked well for the story. For me it was a fast read, finishing 50% in one sitting. Honestly I did think the first half of the book was a bit more interesting than the second half, but the whole book together was wonderful.
I like Mr. Tate's writing. I give this book 4 stars
Recommended.
Began September 9, Completed September 11, 2014
Horror Readers, September 15, 2014 Discussion
This is the 3rd book I have read by Toby Tate. So I am familiar a little with his writing style and language.
A group of reporters are invited aboard a highly sophisticated nuclear powered US Navy air craft carrier battle ship. All is well, however a few of the reporters are acting a bit odd you might say. Suddenly a huge storm starts to brew and takes the battle ship by surprise. The storm lands in New York City, destroying so much in it's wake. The ship must go to NY harbor to help out and then oh, goodness, everything goes crazy!
It's a good story and a well written book. The characters are a bit cliche, but that even worked well for the story. For me it was a fast read, finishing 50% in one sitting. Honestly I did think the first half of the book was a bit more interesting than the second half, but the whole book together was wonderful.
I like Mr. Tate's writing. I give this book 4 stars
Recommended.
November 28, 2012
Ancient myths and aircraft carriers. Parasites and political corruption. Love story and world domination. There is a lot going on here. Lilith comes alive in Toby Tate’s latest novel and the entire planet is in grave danger unless a group of civilians and military can work together to stop it once and for all.
Lilith was an entertaining thriller ride aboard the USS Gerald Ford aircraft carrier. I really enjoyed the main characters (Hunter & Lisa) and the pacing of Toby’s story kept it moving briskly along. I also thought the military backdrop to the story gave it an added dimension of dread. Nicely done. I look forward to more of Toby Tate.
Lilith was an entertaining thriller ride aboard the USS Gerald Ford aircraft carrier. I really enjoyed the main characters (Hunter & Lisa) and the pacing of Toby’s story kept it moving briskly along. I also thought the military backdrop to the story gave it an added dimension of dread. Nicely done. I look forward to more of Toby Tate.
August 9, 2016
Totally wicked, full of action, suspense, and one nasty chick. This was a real page turner and it had some elements that reminded me of the movie Species but I think this gal was meaner. If your a fan of James Patterson, Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child, or Jeremy Robinson, this is a title for you. I now have to add Toby Tate to my favorites list as well :)
September 3, 2013
Unique and/or interesting settings are a plus for me, and this horror story is told mostly above a Navy ship--somewhere I haven't read many stories. The first third is mostly setup, detailing the main character Hunter and his wife Lisa as they board the ship as media and introduces the title named antagonist. The writing was straightforward, nothing fancy, with enough detail to color the scene. I'm definitely no Navy expert, but the author seemed to get the terminology right. I clearly pictured being aboard a Navy ship and saw the scenes unfolding. Didn't have any trouble keeping up with what was going on and with whom, although I did start to feel the cast expanding a bit much (difficult to contain in a ship with over a thousand aboard).
Short, punchy chapters fit most of the book but seemed not as fitting for the slower first third. There are over 90 chapters which reminds me a bit of the way James Patterson stylistically handles chapters. I don't mind shorter chapters, but I've seen some say they do.
Once Lilith, the character, springs into action, it's nearly non-stop until the ending. I found the antagonist to be well-conceived and at one spot toward the end I felt compassion for her. That maybe she was more misunderstood than a simple monster. The description of the white pools from the hosts was reminiscent of when the T-1000 in TERMINATOR 2 takes damage and then re-assembles itself. At some points while reading, I almost heard the T2 score playing in my head.
As of September 2013, this rings in as my third favorite DarkFuse novel published in 2013 behind William Meikle's THE HOLE and Keith Deininger's THE NEW FLESH. These are the kind of horror novels I'd love to see them do more of in the future. 3.75 stars. 3,870 Kindle locations. Approximately 330 pages.
Short, punchy chapters fit most of the book but seemed not as fitting for the slower first third. There are over 90 chapters which reminds me a bit of the way James Patterson stylistically handles chapters. I don't mind shorter chapters, but I've seen some say they do.
Once Lilith, the character, springs into action, it's nearly non-stop until the ending. I found the antagonist to be well-conceived and at one spot toward the end I felt compassion for her. That maybe she was more misunderstood than a simple monster. The description of the white pools from the hosts was reminiscent of when the T-1000 in TERMINATOR 2 takes damage and then re-assembles itself. At some points while reading, I almost heard the T2 score playing in my head.
As of September 2013, this rings in as my third favorite DarkFuse novel published in 2013 behind William Meikle's THE HOLE and Keith Deininger's THE NEW FLESH. These are the kind of horror novels I'd love to see them do more of in the future. 3.75 stars. 3,870 Kindle locations. Approximately 330 pages.
January 4, 2013
LILITH
What would you call a "silvery mass" that moves behind someone's eyes , kinda like there's something else alive in there? And, what would you call a sub-tropical storm that forms in less than 9 hours, and becomes a category 5 hurricane in less than another 24? In a word, LILITH!!!
In Toby Tate's debut novel, "Diableo", we were introduced to Hunter Singleton, a gonzo newspaper reporter and his estranged wife, Lisa. Now they are both guests, part of a media group on the USS Gerald R Ford, a nuclear powered aircraft carrier. And guess what else is on board??? While Norfolk was supposed to be their port of call it's now closed due to the impending storm. The only port on the East Coast that can accept this large ship is New York City, and that's where landfall is supposed to be. There's a hellcat of a storm pulling into NYC, and the Hellcat is pissed!
Recognize the name??? Think BIBLICALLY! No one knows what she wants or how to controls something that can change identities without the CIA's notice, and it appears that Lilith is controlling the storm.
FEMA hasn't given the Mayor of NYC much hope of being able to evacuate the City in just 24 hours, so they are going to be cut off, and left to their own devices to survive.
Tate has again delivered a ride of a lifetime with more twists and turns than "The Exorcist"'s child's head could turn. All his characters are well defined and developed, and the plotline flows like honey. his tale will leave you breathless and begging for more.
Tate and his new publisher "DarkFuse" have given us a techn-thriller for our point of time in history. Just remember, "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned"!
What would you call a "silvery mass" that moves behind someone's eyes , kinda like there's something else alive in there? And, what would you call a sub-tropical storm that forms in less than 9 hours, and becomes a category 5 hurricane in less than another 24? In a word, LILITH!!!
In Toby Tate's debut novel, "Diableo", we were introduced to Hunter Singleton, a gonzo newspaper reporter and his estranged wife, Lisa. Now they are both guests, part of a media group on the USS Gerald R Ford, a nuclear powered aircraft carrier. And guess what else is on board??? While Norfolk was supposed to be their port of call it's now closed due to the impending storm. The only port on the East Coast that can accept this large ship is New York City, and that's where landfall is supposed to be. There's a hellcat of a storm pulling into NYC, and the Hellcat is pissed!
Recognize the name??? Think BIBLICALLY! No one knows what she wants or how to controls something that can change identities without the CIA's notice, and it appears that Lilith is controlling the storm.
FEMA hasn't given the Mayor of NYC much hope of being able to evacuate the City in just 24 hours, so they are going to be cut off, and left to their own devices to survive.
Tate has again delivered a ride of a lifetime with more twists and turns than "The Exorcist"'s child's head could turn. All his characters are well defined and developed, and the plotline flows like honey. his tale will leave you breathless and begging for more.
Tate and his new publisher "DarkFuse" have given us a techn-thriller for our point of time in history. Just remember, "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned"!
September 20, 2016
Was okay. Thank goodness it was a KOLL book. Written kind of simplistic. Not very detailed. 3 stars is being generous. Similar to watching those Sci-fi low budget thrillers on TV. Not really scary and not really full of action. Just kinda blah.
July 24, 2016
3.5 stars
Take notes people. This is how you are supposed to make a book un-put-down-able; SHORT CHAPTERS! It catches you, leaves a little mystery. Boom. Next pages reveals a huge plot point, but that's not all. End of Chapter. See. Now I can make a quick potty break and rush back to see what's going to happen next. You know what? I don't need no sleep, I'll just read this next chapter really quick. Oh, shoot. That one was quick. Well...just one more then.
And so on and so forth.
Hunter and his wife Lisa board a navy ship as one of the media groups sent to report its capabilities. All goes well until a freak storm starts heading their way and the need for them to dock becomes a priority. However, docking the ship will cause more damage than the incoming storm.
Lilith needed to get on the ship to implement her plan of destruction, masquerading as a fellow news-person. She's on a different mission though. She infects the other passengers with a parasite that allows her to control them and get the information she needs. Another passenger discovers her motives and the race is on to stop her from causing an apocalyptic scenario; killing all humans and repopulating the earth with the Lilitu bloodline.
The read started out at a steady pace. When the action started to build I was hard-pressed to put this book down. It was James Rollins with a dollop of the paranormal. There were a few unbelievable moments like when Gabe crept in and helped Hunter and Lilith didn't notice. She has just been ruminating on her powers of heightened hearing. That was a little off. There were two or three of these moments, but the momentum of the story doesn't let you dwell on these for long.
A fun, fast, and entertaining read.
For more reviews, check out my blog http://www.ravenousreads.blogspot.com
Take notes people. This is how you are supposed to make a book un-put-down-able; SHORT CHAPTERS! It catches you, leaves a little mystery. Boom. Next pages reveals a huge plot point, but that's not all. End of Chapter. See. Now I can make a quick potty break and rush back to see what's going to happen next. You know what? I don't need no sleep, I'll just read this next chapter really quick. Oh, shoot. That one was quick. Well...just one more then.
And so on and so forth.
Hunter and his wife Lisa board a navy ship as one of the media groups sent to report its capabilities. All goes well until a freak storm starts heading their way and the need for them to dock becomes a priority. However, docking the ship will cause more damage than the incoming storm.
Lilith needed to get on the ship to implement her plan of destruction, masquerading as a fellow news-person. She's on a different mission though. She infects the other passengers with a parasite that allows her to control them and get the information she needs. Another passenger discovers her motives and the race is on to stop her from causing an apocalyptic scenario; killing all humans and repopulating the earth with the Lilitu bloodline.
The read started out at a steady pace. When the action started to build I was hard-pressed to put this book down. It was James Rollins with a dollop of the paranormal. There were a few unbelievable moments like when Gabe crept in and helped Hunter and Lilith didn't notice. She has just been ruminating on her powers of heightened hearing. That was a little off. There were two or three of these moments, but the momentum of the story doesn't let you dwell on these for long.
A fun, fast, and entertaining read.
For more reviews, check out my blog http://www.ravenousreads.blogspot.com
January 16, 2013
Review of Lilith by Toby Tate
5 Stars
An exceptionally imaginative horror/thriller, this novel postulates a race of beings millennia older than mankind but still existing, a species that humans would consider genetic mutants, beings who appear (mostly) as human but who have super-powers and shapeshifting capability. No known human can withstand the effects of radiation, yet these Lilitu can, and indeed, radioactive mutation of their chromosomes seems to both release their immense powers, and to create the shapeshifting capability.
An affable journalist from North Carolina is part of a media tour on the USS Gerald Ford, to report on the carrier’s capabilities. Hunter Singleton and his wife Lisa, acting as his photographer, expect no more than a bland visit of a few days. They haven’t planned on freak hurricanes, an environmental journalist who can put her hand into a nuclear reactor, nor on full-on sabotage and the attempted destruction of Manhattan. But that’s what they find; and other than Hunter and Lisa, only a few are willing to stand up to the “monster” mutations known as the Lilitu.
“Lilith” was a non-stop read, a thriller/horror/speculative science/paranormal all rolled into one, with great characterizations and an unbelievably fascinating plot.
5 Stars
An exceptionally imaginative horror/thriller, this novel postulates a race of beings millennia older than mankind but still existing, a species that humans would consider genetic mutants, beings who appear (mostly) as human but who have super-powers and shapeshifting capability. No known human can withstand the effects of radiation, yet these Lilitu can, and indeed, radioactive mutation of their chromosomes seems to both release their immense powers, and to create the shapeshifting capability.
An affable journalist from North Carolina is part of a media tour on the USS Gerald Ford, to report on the carrier’s capabilities. Hunter Singleton and his wife Lisa, acting as his photographer, expect no more than a bland visit of a few days. They haven’t planned on freak hurricanes, an environmental journalist who can put her hand into a nuclear reactor, nor on full-on sabotage and the attempted destruction of Manhattan. But that’s what they find; and other than Hunter and Lisa, only a few are willing to stand up to the “monster” mutations known as the Lilitu.
“Lilith” was a non-stop read, a thriller/horror/speculative science/paranormal all rolled into one, with great characterizations and an unbelievably fascinating plot.
January 14, 2013
I've been waiting for this book to come out for a long time and was excited the day it arrived. Toby writes in such a descriptive, effortless way, that I really felt emersed in the book.
An entity is aboard the USS Gerald Ford . . . something truly scary and supernatural. So scary, I couldn't read this at night for fear of nightmares.
Great concept, great action. I love books like this.
I also highly recommend Diablero by Toby.
I look forward to all Toby's books. One of my new favorite writers.
An entity is aboard the USS Gerald Ford . . . something truly scary and supernatural. So scary, I couldn't read this at night for fear of nightmares.
Great concept, great action. I love books like this.
I also highly recommend Diablero by Toby.
I look forward to all Toby's books. One of my new favorite writers.
August 8, 2014
Received book as Goodreads Giveaway and I was nicely surprised. Great book , couldn't put it down, highly recommend. I can't wait to read more from this author.
May 20, 2014
I really enjoyed this book. I like the short chapters. This book kept my interest all the way. I can't wait for the second book.
November 10, 2012
What would you call a "silvery mass" that moves behind someone's eyes , kinda like there's something else alive in there? And, what would you call a sub-tropical storm that forms in less than 9 hours, and becomes a category 5 hurricane in less than another 24? In a word, LILITH!!!
In Toby Tate's debut novel, "Diableo", we were introduced to Hunter Singleton, a gonzo newspaper reporter and his estranged wife, Lisa. Now they are both guests, part of a media group on the USS Gerald R Ford, a nuclear powered aircraft carrier. And guess what else is on board??? While Norfolk was supposed to be their port of call it's now closed due to the impending storm. The only port on the East Coast that can accept this large ship is New York City, and that's where landfall is supposed to be. There's a hellcat of a storm pulling into NYC, and the Hellcat is pissed!
Recognize the name??? Think BIBLICALLY! No one knows what she wants or how to controls something that can change identities without the CIA's notice, and it appears that Lilith is controlling the storm.
FEMA hasn't given the Mayor of NYC much hope of being able to evacuate the City in just 24 hours, so they are going to be cut off, and left to their own devices to survive.
Tate has again delivered a ride of a lifetime with more twists and turns than "The Exorcist"'s child's head could turn. All his characters are well defined and developed, and the plotline flows like honey. his tale will leave you breathless and begging for more.
Tate and his new publisher "DarkFuse" have given us a techn-thriller for our point of time in history. Just remember, "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned"!
In Toby Tate's debut novel, "Diableo", we were introduced to Hunter Singleton, a gonzo newspaper reporter and his estranged wife, Lisa. Now they are both guests, part of a media group on the USS Gerald R Ford, a nuclear powered aircraft carrier. And guess what else is on board??? While Norfolk was supposed to be their port of call it's now closed due to the impending storm. The only port on the East Coast that can accept this large ship is New York City, and that's where landfall is supposed to be. There's a hellcat of a storm pulling into NYC, and the Hellcat is pissed!
Recognize the name??? Think BIBLICALLY! No one knows what she wants or how to controls something that can change identities without the CIA's notice, and it appears that Lilith is controlling the storm.
FEMA hasn't given the Mayor of NYC much hope of being able to evacuate the City in just 24 hours, so they are going to be cut off, and left to their own devices to survive.
Tate has again delivered a ride of a lifetime with more twists and turns than "The Exorcist"'s child's head could turn. All his characters are well defined and developed, and the plotline flows like honey. his tale will leave you breathless and begging for more.
Tate and his new publisher "DarkFuse" have given us a techn-thriller for our point of time in history. Just remember, "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned"!
January 3, 2013
After reading Tate's first novel, I followed his updates regarding the writing process of Lilith. His excerpts left me wanting more and I was excited when I received a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. I'm happy to say I wasn't disappointed. I believe the author called this novel a "supernatural action-thriller" and I couldn't agree more.
Lilith is filled with action and suspense. Majority of the story took place aboard the USS Ford. Tate gave just enough detail to allow me to feel like I was running through the passageways with the characters as they scrambled to catch up to Lilith, who was always one step ahead.
And he had no mercy for his main characters, Hunter and Lisa, a husband and wife duo from his first novel. He dumped them right in the path of a psychopathic, supernatural creature and had them fighting for their lives in no time. I enjoyed learning more about these characters and felt he did a good job developing them.
I would have liked a little more background concerning the creature and maybe a deeper POV with the main characters as I think it would have engaged me even more into the story. But he made up for those areas by creating a read full of twists, turns and lots of action.
Even though his books aren't in my normal reading genre, I enjoy Tate's story-telling and will continue to read his future work.
Lilith is filled with action and suspense. Majority of the story took place aboard the USS Ford. Tate gave just enough detail to allow me to feel like I was running through the passageways with the characters as they scrambled to catch up to Lilith, who was always one step ahead.
And he had no mercy for his main characters, Hunter and Lisa, a husband and wife duo from his first novel. He dumped them right in the path of a psychopathic, supernatural creature and had them fighting for their lives in no time. I enjoyed learning more about these characters and felt he did a good job developing them.
I would have liked a little more background concerning the creature and maybe a deeper POV with the main characters as I think it would have engaged me even more into the story. But he made up for those areas by creating a read full of twists, turns and lots of action.
Even though his books aren't in my normal reading genre, I enjoy Tate's story-telling and will continue to read his future work.
May 21, 2013
This is the story of Hunter and Lisa Singleton. They are invited upon the USS Gerald R Ford as part of a media tour. They are shown around the ship and invited to stay aboard for a few days. Unbeknownst to them someone else is aboard, someone not quite human with rather more sinister plans. Something is taking over the crew one by one. Soon Hunter, Lisa and some CIA operatives are in the fight for their lives as they learn that Manhattan, already devastated by a freak hurricane, is now under threat from a nuclear bomb hidden in a back pack somewhere on the island. Can they find the bomb in time or is all life on Manhattan island doomed?
Wow, just wow! This was an absolute roller-coaster! It started off quite slowly as characters were introduced and scenes set. Then about a third of the way through the story just took off and I felt I was running to catch up! It never wavered from the relentless pace until the end. I could quite easily see this being made into a blockbuster film - the characters were solid and believable and the story well rounded and the ending was unexpected and explosive. I totally recommend this, it was enjoyable and climactic.
Wow, just wow! This was an absolute roller-coaster! It started off quite slowly as characters were introduced and scenes set. Then about a third of the way through the story just took off and I felt I was running to catch up! It never wavered from the relentless pace until the end. I could quite easily see this being made into a blockbuster film - the characters were solid and believable and the story well rounded and the ending was unexpected and explosive. I totally recommend this, it was enjoyable and climactic.
November 27, 2012
Lilith has the bones for a good read. I found myself enthralled with the idea of the story line but wished the author had gone deeper. I wanted to know more about the Lilitu and why they were so important. At times it felt like the author assumed the reader should already know ... I actually thought that there was a story before this one that I had missed ... only to realize this is a debut. If there had been a bit more backstory woven into the story line, more about the Lilitu and who they were ... then the idea of the grey mass, the creatures...everything would have been more plausible. The storm reminded me of Hurricane Sandy - the author did an excellent job portraying the destruction of the storm, but a build up as to WHY the storm was so important would have been helped to make a more realistic storyline.
February 13, 2013
I just finished reading Lilith and it was one hell of a ride. This book is fast paced and will grab you from page 1! I liked how the author used the Military theme in this book and I felt it really added to the overall story. The characters are well developed and I found myself visualizing them. I look forward to future books by this author.
May 10, 2015
This is the second novel by the author and the first book of him that I've read and honestly I liked it a
lot.The novel has a fast pace(chapters are brief),a
very interesting plot and a good protagonist couple:
Hunter and Lisa.Also there are plenty of action and
tension in the story until the very end.Very recommen-
ded novel and author.
lot.The novel has a fast pace(chapters are brief),a
very interesting plot and a good protagonist couple:
Hunter and Lisa.Also there are plenty of action and
tension in the story until the very end.Very recommen-
ded novel and author.
December 21, 2013
A fun read that will keep you hooked & Tate throws in some curves that don't take away from the story or wish the reader had regretted the read. Could visualize the antagonist which speaks volumes--it was simply laid out & that was good. It is always a pleasure to find a new writer & enjoy their work.
August 6, 2014
Book Review originally published here: http://www.iheartreading.net/mini-rev...
Lilith was an intriguing read. Not my all-time favorite dark fiction, but definitely a solid book with good writing, interesting characters and an original plot. A decent read for fans of the genre.
Lilith was an intriguing read. Not my all-time favorite dark fiction, but definitely a solid book with good writing, interesting characters and an original plot. A decent read for fans of the genre.
March 14, 2014
Wow! What an edge of the seat, nail biter of a book! I had a hard time putting it down.
June 4, 2014
I really wanted this book to be good, and it just wasn't. It really fell flat, and you could tell the author was trying too hard.
July 7, 2021
Lilith was a quick read. It was ok.
April 24, 2013
Lilith is an apocalyptic tale set both on an air craft carrier and across the city of New York. It was nice to read a novel with such a wide scope and implications, since most of my recent reads have been in small scale settings. The author has grand ambitions and sees them through well. The story follows Lilith, a Lilitu (you’ll have to read the book to fully understand what that means), as she infiltrates a giant super-aircraft carrier, the USS Ford, as part of a media visit. She aims to take control of the ship and use the nuclear reactors to irradiate her body, which will trigger her evolution into something more powerful. That’s not to say that she’s not powerful already. She already has the ability to create a devestating hurricane and send it into an unprepared New York. Having lived through Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, I was brought right into the story. Thankfully, the focus seems to shift quickly from the hurricane devastation, with residents for the most part evacuated and the city abandoned.
I really enjoyed the first half of the book, which is set within the tight confines of a ship at sea. As more of the crew become infected by Lilith’s parasite, the tension escalates. You get a sense of being trapped, with some of the crew out to sabotage the ship and potentially destroy it. These parts of the book work so well as a thriller, that even without Lilith, I imagine the storyline would have worked just as well with any other terrorist. Never fear though – there is plenty of supernatural and horror involved, and it doesn’t take long before the body count and level of violence rise.
The main characters are Lilith, her brother Mac (also a Lilitu), journalist Hunter Singelton and Singleton’s wife, Lisa. Hunter and Lisa made their debut in Tate’s first book, Diablero, which I admit I haven’t read yet. Hunter is a stand up “good guy” character. Lisa’s role is primarily to provide Hunter’s motivation. When Lilith suddenly chooses Hunter as a mate, it seemed to come out of the blue without any real reasoning behind it. Her obsession with him didn’t quite sit right with me. That said, Lilith takes the idea of the femme fatale to a new level. She is very effective while she is still under cover, using her beauty and feminine wiles to spread her parasite. After her evolutionary change, the story becomes something different altogether. The metamorphosed Lilith turns the rest of the novel into a monster tale. I didn’t find it as engaging as the first half of the book. The action shifts to New York, with special forces hunting Lilith in a race against time. Their aim is to save the city and its inhabitants from a nuclear bomb that Lilith and her fanatical followers have set to detonate.
All in all, it was an entertaining read, with the suspense of the first half more intriguing than the action packed second half. It is nicely set up for a sequel, so maybe we’ll see what else the Lilitu have in store for us.
Final word – great cover art!
I really enjoyed the first half of the book, which is set within the tight confines of a ship at sea. As more of the crew become infected by Lilith’s parasite, the tension escalates. You get a sense of being trapped, with some of the crew out to sabotage the ship and potentially destroy it. These parts of the book work so well as a thriller, that even without Lilith, I imagine the storyline would have worked just as well with any other terrorist. Never fear though – there is plenty of supernatural and horror involved, and it doesn’t take long before the body count and level of violence rise.
The main characters are Lilith, her brother Mac (also a Lilitu), journalist Hunter Singelton and Singleton’s wife, Lisa. Hunter and Lisa made their debut in Tate’s first book, Diablero, which I admit I haven’t read yet. Hunter is a stand up “good guy” character. Lisa’s role is primarily to provide Hunter’s motivation. When Lilith suddenly chooses Hunter as a mate, it seemed to come out of the blue without any real reasoning behind it. Her obsession with him didn’t quite sit right with me. That said, Lilith takes the idea of the femme fatale to a new level. She is very effective while she is still under cover, using her beauty and feminine wiles to spread her parasite. After her evolutionary change, the story becomes something different altogether. The metamorphosed Lilith turns the rest of the novel into a monster tale. I didn’t find it as engaging as the first half of the book. The action shifts to New York, with special forces hunting Lilith in a race against time. Their aim is to save the city and its inhabitants from a nuclear bomb that Lilith and her fanatical followers have set to detonate.
All in all, it was an entertaining read, with the suspense of the first half more intriguing than the action packed second half. It is nicely set up for a sequel, so maybe we’ll see what else the Lilitu have in store for us.
Final word – great cover art!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 21, 2013
2.5 stars
To see my full review:
http://wp.me/p1jhaj-2TJ
I’m sorry to say that this novel didn’t pull me in as I had hoped it would. The premise is good, the writing is superb, but I personally didn’t connect with the characters. This happens to me every once in a while, and I’ve pretty much chalked it up to personality differences. Just like we don’t always care for our friends’ friends, I didn’t really care for the characters within this novel. I think part of it has to do with the sheer amount of characters—there were a lot for me to keep track of, and so I didn’t feel that I really got to know any of them on a deeper level. And, there is much going on within this novel, so I was jumping back and forth between scenes and characters a lot, which can also make connecting with characters difficult for me, as it proved here.
One aspect of the story I did enjoy, though, was the similarity between the forming hurricane coming towards NYC within the novel, and the actual hurricane that recently passed through the area, Hurricane Sandy. I have to say that I was intrigued by the resemblance, especially as I believe Tate wrote this novel prior to Hurricane Sandy’s landfall. Well, at least I assume so, since most publishing houses tend to hold on to novels for months prior to their release, checking and rechecking them to make sure they’re ready for publication, and that’s only after the story has been written in its entirety, so I assume Tate wrote this novel prior to the events of Hurricane Sandy. I could be wrong, but I like the idea that Tate “foretold” the storm, as it were, so I’m sticking with my ideal here.
But, storm aside, I didn’t really make any other connections. The idea behind Lilith is very interesting, but it’s just not my style.
To see my full review:
http://wp.me/p1jhaj-2TJ
I’m sorry to say that this novel didn’t pull me in as I had hoped it would. The premise is good, the writing is superb, but I personally didn’t connect with the characters. This happens to me every once in a while, and I’ve pretty much chalked it up to personality differences. Just like we don’t always care for our friends’ friends, I didn’t really care for the characters within this novel. I think part of it has to do with the sheer amount of characters—there were a lot for me to keep track of, and so I didn’t feel that I really got to know any of them on a deeper level. And, there is much going on within this novel, so I was jumping back and forth between scenes and characters a lot, which can also make connecting with characters difficult for me, as it proved here.
One aspect of the story I did enjoy, though, was the similarity between the forming hurricane coming towards NYC within the novel, and the actual hurricane that recently passed through the area, Hurricane Sandy. I have to say that I was intrigued by the resemblance, especially as I believe Tate wrote this novel prior to Hurricane Sandy’s landfall. Well, at least I assume so, since most publishing houses tend to hold on to novels for months prior to their release, checking and rechecking them to make sure they’re ready for publication, and that’s only after the story has been written in its entirety, so I assume Tate wrote this novel prior to the events of Hurricane Sandy. I could be wrong, but I like the idea that Tate “foretold” the storm, as it were, so I’m sticking with my ideal here.
But, storm aside, I didn’t really make any other connections. The idea behind Lilith is very interesting, but it’s just not my style.
March 13, 2017
I don't often read horror fiction, but since I received Lilith from GoodReads, I gave it a shot. It is certainly fast-paced and Lilith is plenty scary as a character. Toby Tate does a great job of dealing with the details of being on an aircraft carrier and seems to know lots about weapons. But I found the characters and dialogue very simple and predictable. Since I'm not too familiar with this genre, maybe that is normal--it;s the action that matters.
June 20, 2014
Review of Lilith
I must admit that I had high hopes for this book when I got it but it kind of disappointed me. Aside from the fragmented story, I felt the plot required the reader to take far too many leaps of faith. Believe, as a long time reader of sci-fi and fantasy, I have made many of those. I suspect it is the fact that I work in Naval construction and some of the plot arcs were too out there for me.
I must admit that I had high hopes for this book when I got it but it kind of disappointed me. Aside from the fragmented story, I felt the plot required the reader to take far too many leaps of faith. Believe, as a long time reader of sci-fi and fantasy, I have made many of those. I suspect it is the fact that I work in Naval construction and some of the plot arcs were too out there for me.
January 21, 2013
A rapid paced thriller populated with CIA agents, eco-terrorists, and mutating alien monsters all sharing space on a U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier heading towards New York City to deliver much needed storm disaster relief—but will the cure be more costly than the storm? The story is well-written and moves at a brisk staccato pace—flagging slightly at the end—but still a good solid read.
January 3, 2014
Moves along briskly but isn't very absorbing. Too many characters, and too few resonate or connect. Had hoped for more.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews