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London Wild
London in the year 2948 was very much a city of lights. Every street in the city where people might have business during the dead of night, including the golden mile and the large shopping districts, was kept illuminated to the extent that it was often difficult to tell the difference between day and night. If that wasn’t enough, there were cameras everywhere, dozens of cameras per street, more cameras than they could possibly afford to hire people to monitor. All to protect the people of the city from the cat-like hunters who prowled the streets of the city and the South-East of the country and who had done so for nearly an entire millennium now....
...February Sivka was seventeen. She had been born in the town of Sou’nd, virtually the east coast of the country, and had moved to Upminster as soon as she had been able, where she now lived alone. During the day she worked as a computer programmer and web designer. She’d usually telecommute from home because of the perceived risk from the Herbaht. During the night she tended to relax with the newspaper or even an occasional book. She didn’t really know any of her neighbors all that well, but she had never given them any cause to be concerned about her occasional trips to the city. Thanks to years of experience and the right combination of make-up, February was able to effectively hide her true race even from those who thought they did know her.
Every month, sometimes twice a month, February climbed into the driver’s seat of her car while it was still daylight outside (and therefore not too suspicious) and drove to London.
...February Sivka was seventeen. She had been born in the town of Sou’nd, virtually the east coast of the country, and had moved to Upminster as soon as she had been able, where she now lived alone. During the day she worked as a computer programmer and web designer. She’d usually telecommute from home because of the perceived risk from the Herbaht. During the night she tended to relax with the newspaper or even an occasional book. She didn’t really know any of her neighbors all that well, but she had never given them any cause to be concerned about her occasional trips to the city. Thanks to years of experience and the right combination of make-up, February was able to effectively hide her true race even from those who thought they did know her.
Every month, sometimes twice a month, February climbed into the driver’s seat of her car while it was still daylight outside (and therefore not too suspicious) and drove to London.
- GenresScience Fiction
582 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2008
6 people are currently reading
45 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
November 11, 2012
The Earth of London Wild is much like our own might be in the year 2948, except that it is inhabited not only by the human race but by a race of alien origin called the Herbaht, who are a combination of humanoid and feline. Some Herbaht are wild and prey on humans and live in the midst of society in disguise, while some are domesticated and live with humans as pets. Though Herbaht colonies can be found several different places around the world, the largest and wildest population is centered around London. The status quo changes when the British government calls for all domesticated Herbaht to be turned in to government custody, supposedly to ensure they are not actually secretly wild and dangerous. People's lives are turned upside down by this order as one man sets his pet Herbaht free to save her from the government's grasp and another is called to lead a publicized attack on a dense population of the "cats." London Wild follows the stories of several different characters, seemingly separate at first, but many of the storylines converge on a conspiracy between world leaders and a vendetta that dates back to before the Herbaht came to Earth.
Things I liked about the book... I loved the way the seemingly unrelated characters and stories came together toward the end of the book. I always like when that happens--when the separate elements of a plot fit together. I see it as the mark of an author who has good foresight and planning. The combination of current and advanced technology was interesting--for example, regular cars had bio-sensors to tell who was driving. I enjoyed reading and learning British slang, like the way cats are often called "moggies." The majority of the book was free of bad language, which I always appreciate.
One thing that might be frustrating to some readers is a by-product of the way the story is told from several different points of view. Sometimes when you get to the end of a chapter, you just want to find out what happens to Character A next. But the next few chapters are about characters B, C, and D, and it might take a little while to get back to Character A. Also, be warned if you read London Wild that the story will not be resolved in one book. When I got to the end, the conspiracy had only just been revealed and several protagonists were in trouble. Unfortunately a sequel has not been published yet, so be ready to be left hanging when you get to the end. I am eagerly awaiting the sequel and will definitely read it when it comes out.
This review can also be found on Amazon.com
Things I liked about the book... I loved the way the seemingly unrelated characters and stories came together toward the end of the book. I always like when that happens--when the separate elements of a plot fit together. I see it as the mark of an author who has good foresight and planning. The combination of current and advanced technology was interesting--for example, regular cars had bio-sensors to tell who was driving. I enjoyed reading and learning British slang, like the way cats are often called "moggies." The majority of the book was free of bad language, which I always appreciate.
One thing that might be frustrating to some readers is a by-product of the way the story is told from several different points of view. Sometimes when you get to the end of a chapter, you just want to find out what happens to Character A next. But the next few chapters are about characters B, C, and D, and it might take a little while to get back to Character A. Also, be warned if you read London Wild that the story will not be resolved in one book. When I got to the end, the conspiracy had only just been revealed and several protagonists were in trouble. Unfortunately a sequel has not been published yet, so be ready to be left hanging when you get to the end. I am eagerly awaiting the sequel and will definitely read it when it comes out.
This review can also be found on Amazon.com
July 20, 2013
I am at a real loss on how to review this book. My thoughts are just all over the place. On one hand it was written in a way that was entertaining, but on the other hand it had real moments of information overload. It's almost like it was written by two different authors or edited by two different people.
I started out really interested and then I looked down and saw I was only 20 percent through the book and I was shocked. It seemed like I had been reading forever. And as I kept reading, I began to think, “Is this book ever going to end.” And when I got to the Epilogues (yes, plural in book) I began really skimming or skipping complete parts just to finish it. Guess what, there was a cliff hanger. I just rolled my eyes and decided I am definitely not going through that again. I will NOT be reading the next book, if there is one.
Like I said, the author has a way of writing that is truly interesting. You keep reading because it's good and yet there is just too much. Ever eat too many sweets and regret you did it. Tastes really good the whole time but you feel miserable afterwards. Only way I can describe it.
The main issue that sticks out to me is the lack of consistency concerning information. I was just confused how the same author who skips over certain expected moments of shock, completely ignoring the need to describe the reactions of the people, also finds time to describe a characters cold symptoms with every other sentence. I thought if I had to read about this guy’s nose issues, (he sneezed or almost sneezed, he talks like his nose is stuffy, he sniffs, he wipes at his nose.. all within a few paragraphs) I would scream. And yet when George reveals to his sibling that he allows his pet "cat" out alone in a city ready to kill her kind, there is nothing. They just keep talking. No sighs, no shocked expression, no outrage or even verbal concern. The writing is not consistent.
There was also the strange way the author had of phrasing things at times. It’s like he was trying to meet a certain word count criteria. He kept repeating things like the reader would forget what he was describing.
Here is an example of what I mean.
The shoes she had been issued in the cell were made of a very light, flimsy fabric. They were designed to keep her feet covered while she was in the cell and nothing more. They hadn't been designed for walking any great distances. Already these prison-issue shoes had fallen apart, and now she had to make her way barefoot.
What was the purpose of adding that little part of being prison-issue shoes again? This is just one example. The author does this fairly often and it was a little annoying. My attention span is short but not that short.
There were also little nit-picking things that should have picked up on. Lara goes out walking in the rain barefoot (don't want to let any spoilers out) but the author talks about how the scratches on her feet become scabbed over and have dried blood. The entire time she is walking in forest and field,IN THE RAIN how does the blood dry on the bottom of her feet when it's coming into contact with wet grass and ground?
I personally think the author went too far on description. I mean, I read three pages on George trying to convince himself to walk toward a suspicious sound in his house! Every possible scenario played out in those pages. Who it could be, what they could want, how they would react, and what he would do. It was just too much. I skipped over a good part of that just because I couldn't handle it anymore. I was ready to yell, "Just get in there!"
Anyway, I really didn't know how to rate this book. I gave it two stars because the writing did have a lot good parts and the story was interesting. I can't say I really regret reading it but I wouldn't want to read it again.
I started out really interested and then I looked down and saw I was only 20 percent through the book and I was shocked. It seemed like I had been reading forever. And as I kept reading, I began to think, “Is this book ever going to end.” And when I got to the Epilogues (yes, plural in book) I began really skimming or skipping complete parts just to finish it. Guess what, there was a cliff hanger. I just rolled my eyes and decided I am definitely not going through that again. I will NOT be reading the next book, if there is one.
Like I said, the author has a way of writing that is truly interesting. You keep reading because it's good and yet there is just too much. Ever eat too many sweets and regret you did it. Tastes really good the whole time but you feel miserable afterwards. Only way I can describe it.
The main issue that sticks out to me is the lack of consistency concerning information. I was just confused how the same author who skips over certain expected moments of shock, completely ignoring the need to describe the reactions of the people, also finds time to describe a characters cold symptoms with every other sentence. I thought if I had to read about this guy’s nose issues, (he sneezed or almost sneezed, he talks like his nose is stuffy, he sniffs, he wipes at his nose.. all within a few paragraphs) I would scream. And yet when George reveals to his sibling that he allows his pet "cat" out alone in a city ready to kill her kind, there is nothing. They just keep talking. No sighs, no shocked expression, no outrage or even verbal concern. The writing is not consistent.
There was also the strange way the author had of phrasing things at times. It’s like he was trying to meet a certain word count criteria. He kept repeating things like the reader would forget what he was describing.
Here is an example of what I mean.
The shoes she had been issued in the cell were made of a very light, flimsy fabric. They were designed to keep her feet covered while she was in the cell and nothing more. They hadn't been designed for walking any great distances. Already these prison-issue shoes had fallen apart, and now she had to make her way barefoot.
What was the purpose of adding that little part of being prison-issue shoes again? This is just one example. The author does this fairly often and it was a little annoying. My attention span is short but not that short.
There were also little nit-picking things that should have picked up on. Lara goes out walking in the rain barefoot (don't want to let any spoilers out) but the author talks about how the scratches on her feet become scabbed over and have dried blood. The entire time she is walking in forest and field,IN THE RAIN how does the blood dry on the bottom of her feet when it's coming into contact with wet grass and ground?
I personally think the author went too far on description. I mean, I read three pages on George trying to convince himself to walk toward a suspicious sound in his house! Every possible scenario played out in those pages. Who it could be, what they could want, how they would react, and what he would do. It was just too much. I skipped over a good part of that just because I couldn't handle it anymore. I was ready to yell, "Just get in there!"
Anyway, I really didn't know how to rate this book. I gave it two stars because the writing did have a lot good parts and the story was interesting. I can't say I really regret reading it but I wouldn't want to read it again.
May 31, 2013
I'm glad I survived the lengthy prologue, filled with odd names. I think the material covered in the prologue could have been presented differently and better; however, I'm glad I soldiered on. The book improves greatly after that point.
The book moves between several different groups of humans and Herbaht (the aliens humans refer to as cats); the transitions work pretty well. Many of the characters, especially February, are quite interesting. Before I reached the mid-point of the book, the stories and characters had drawn me in well enough that I simply had to find out what was going to happen next and who would survive.
I received this as a freebie from Amazon, but I enjoyed it enough that I'd pay to find out what happens next. Considering some of my other recent experiences with Amazon freebies, that's a high compliment from me.
The book moves between several different groups of humans and Herbaht (the aliens humans refer to as cats); the transitions work pretty well. Many of the characters, especially February, are quite interesting. Before I reached the mid-point of the book, the stories and characters had drawn me in well enough that I simply had to find out what was going to happen next and who would survive.
I received this as a freebie from Amazon, but I enjoyed it enough that I'd pay to find out what happens next. Considering some of my other recent experiences with Amazon freebies, that's a high compliment from me.
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December 21, 2012Kindle freebie, 12/21/12
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews