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Caitlin Star #1
Caitlin Star
Caitlin Star is our last hope.
After losing her foster parents at the age of thirteen, Caitlin is uprooted from the only home she had ever known. Heartbroken, she travels back to her birthplace––Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania––to live with a relative.
One night Caitlin is harassed by a carload of drunken fiends. Just as the would-be rapists prepare to move in on the teen-age girl––a muscle-bound rescuer steps out of the shadows and intercedes on Caitlin’s behalf––a mysterious and charismatic man named Gunner Star.
Gunner Star takes on Caitlin as his protégé and trains her in the ways of the Bull Mongoni, a mythic species of hominids that lived long ago. An exciting, brave new world opens up for Caitlin as she discovers a new philosophy, achieves an astonishing level of physical and mental focus, and begins to see the world around her from a new perspective.
Caitlin learns she is not alone as Gunner Star’s Bull Mongoni philosophy grows into a world-wide, cultural movement. But there are dark forces at work in a new right-wing extremist government. The separation of church and state is banished. The Supreme Court is eliminated. New laws are passed deeming that anyone who believes the earth is older than 6000 years is a criminal who must be hunted down by a government police force known as the Moral Authority.
Free thinking is considered dangerous to a government who has turned the National Parks over to the Big Oil Mafia and controls the bodies of all post-pubescent women via an inserted tracker probe. Soon the Moral Authority sets their sites on the Bull Mongoni and it falls upon Catlin Star to lead her fellow rebels, battle a sadistic enemy, save the very freedom of North America, and restore hope for the future of the planet itself.
Action, romance, satire, sex, suspense, political intrigue, and sword fights to the death—this book has it all. Caitlin Star is the femme fatale action hero of the new generation.
After losing her foster parents at the age of thirteen, Caitlin is uprooted from the only home she had ever known. Heartbroken, she travels back to her birthplace––Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania––to live with a relative.
One night Caitlin is harassed by a carload of drunken fiends. Just as the would-be rapists prepare to move in on the teen-age girl––a muscle-bound rescuer steps out of the shadows and intercedes on Caitlin’s behalf––a mysterious and charismatic man named Gunner Star.
Gunner Star takes on Caitlin as his protégé and trains her in the ways of the Bull Mongoni, a mythic species of hominids that lived long ago. An exciting, brave new world opens up for Caitlin as she discovers a new philosophy, achieves an astonishing level of physical and mental focus, and begins to see the world around her from a new perspective.
Caitlin learns she is not alone as Gunner Star’s Bull Mongoni philosophy grows into a world-wide, cultural movement. But there are dark forces at work in a new right-wing extremist government. The separation of church and state is banished. The Supreme Court is eliminated. New laws are passed deeming that anyone who believes the earth is older than 6000 years is a criminal who must be hunted down by a government police force known as the Moral Authority.
Free thinking is considered dangerous to a government who has turned the National Parks over to the Big Oil Mafia and controls the bodies of all post-pubescent women via an inserted tracker probe. Soon the Moral Authority sets their sites on the Bull Mongoni and it falls upon Catlin Star to lead her fellow rebels, battle a sadistic enemy, save the very freedom of North America, and restore hope for the future of the planet itself.
Action, romance, satire, sex, suspense, political intrigue, and sword fights to the death—this book has it all. Caitlin Star is the femme fatale action hero of the new generation.
196 pages, Paperback
First published July 22, 2013
About the author
James J. Caterino
204 books200 followersJames J. Caterino is a freelance writer based in South Florida. He is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, the Action/Cut school of directing, and the author of over one hundred published works including "Romance Stories", "The Anti-Matter Girl", "True Stories", "To Meghan", "I Want to Believe", "Ghost Stories", "The Geek Girl and the Quarterback", "Pop Songs or Poetry", "Time Travel Stories", "Ready, Set, Action", "The Promise", "Lost in Time", "Pop Star", "Miami Noir", "Super Hornet 1942", "The Girl from the Stars", "Fantastic Stories", "Fireflies", "Watch the Skies", "The Last Neanderthal", "Rollercoaster", :The Green Girl", and the "Caitlin Star" series.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
February 20, 2014
As I read the first chapter of this book I could not help but thinking aspects of it linked to the plight of Native American's. As the scene was set for the first big battle between the Bull Mongoni and the Moral Authority I could not help think about a quote I had read:
When all the trees have been cut down,
when all the animals have been hunted,
when all the waters are polluted,
when all the air is unsafe to breathe,
only then will you discover you cannot eat money.
~ Cree Prophecy ~
This first chapter draws you into the book and you don't leave it until you have turned over the last page. This is a stunning read with excitement and character development all in equal proportions. The fighting scenes are brutal but not drawn out to the extent that you lose what you are reading. The book is so well written it was only after I had finished that I realised there were others in the Bull Mongoni series that precedes this one. As a stand alone novel it is more than adequate.
The book comes with a warning from the author of bad language but I have to admit I hardly noticed this and am intrigued that some reviewers thought this spoilt the book. The language is used in the context of the characters and the situation. The middle section of the book is detailed and develops the characters well. I am hoping that we meet them again in later novels. If I was to find one negative it would be that every time Gunner Star is introduced to the story we are told he had a strong baritone voice. After the first couple of references, this began to grate on me. That really is the only negative I can find for this simply stunning novel.
It has been a long time since I have enjoyed a novel as much as this one. It has left me wanting more from the Bull Mongoni, Caitlin Star and this author.
When all the trees have been cut down,
when all the animals have been hunted,
when all the waters are polluted,
when all the air is unsafe to breathe,
only then will you discover you cannot eat money.
~ Cree Prophecy ~
This first chapter draws you into the book and you don't leave it until you have turned over the last page. This is a stunning read with excitement and character development all in equal proportions. The fighting scenes are brutal but not drawn out to the extent that you lose what you are reading. The book is so well written it was only after I had finished that I realised there were others in the Bull Mongoni series that precedes this one. As a stand alone novel it is more than adequate.
The book comes with a warning from the author of bad language but I have to admit I hardly noticed this and am intrigued that some reviewers thought this spoilt the book. The language is used in the context of the characters and the situation. The middle section of the book is detailed and develops the characters well. I am hoping that we meet them again in later novels. If I was to find one negative it would be that every time Gunner Star is introduced to the story we are told he had a strong baritone voice. After the first couple of references, this began to grate on me. That really is the only negative I can find for this simply stunning novel.
It has been a long time since I have enjoyed a novel as much as this one. It has left me wanting more from the Bull Mongoni, Caitlin Star and this author.
September 9, 2013
"Caitlin Star" is one of those books that does not fit neatly into any one category or genre.
The setting is a contemporary/near future North America where an oppressive government rules by way of fanaticism and enforces its will by means of a militant storm-trooper styled police force known as "The Moral Authority". Question them at your own peril.
But in all tales of oppression there must be an underground resistance of sorts and this time they come in the form of a ruthless band of Samurai style warriors known as "The Bull Mongoni". They are led by a mysterious man named Gunner Star and his latest protege, the title character Caitlin.
The Bull Mongoni make their move via the latest sporting event craze in this dark world - bloodthirsty Gladiator styled battled to the death known as "The Stadium Games".
I really liked how the author gave us some chapters from the villain's point of view, the President of The Moral Authority, and let's us see how his mind works and how he believes he is doing the right thing.
To say more would spoil the fun and this fast moving, wild tale is, above all else fun! The writing is very visual and very vivid, like a graphic novel in prose form. Keep in mind, there is violent sword play, blood-lust, sex, and lots of adult language. The Bull Mongoni are a fearsome group of anti-heroes and they play rough.
December 20, 2013
“Caitlin Star” by hot-now voice, James Caterino, is sure to rock your reading world. The author’s voice thunders over the countless YA fiction books on the shelf, soaring high above the standard.
Caitlin Star is a worn down foster kid… that’s why the brilliantly sculpted character, Gunner, is here to help. After being rescued by Gunner, Caitlin transforms into the powerful woman begging to come out that’s been trapped inside her. Join her on a heart-racing journey to defeat the humanoids known as the Bull Mongoni.
This story delves deep into the human psyche, as we see the world through Caitlin’s eyes altering as she learns new philosophies, and broadens her horizons. She and Gunner will embark on a world-wild, cultural movement that will leave your heart racing and screaming for victory! The politically corrupt world that surrounds them is dangerous: The line that separates church and state has been brutally demolished, national parks have been taken over by the oil industries, free-thinking is outlawed, and if you dare object to anything, the Moral Authority WILL find you! As if that wasn’t enough reason for a revolution, Caitlin Star won’t stand for women’s rights being taken away: after all, it’s not fair for women to be owned and defined by a tracking probe.
The plot-line is outstanding, well developed, and an emotional yet thrilling ride. Caterino carefully sets the stage and keeps the fast pace throughout the entire novel. One of the most difficult things to do in writing dystopian fiction, is set up the world in a consistently believable way; Caterino flawlessly showcases this as he exposes his unbelievable skills as writer.
The characters are golden! Caitlin Star’s voice is prominent, never fading, and strong. She is certainly an inspiration to humanity. She has mad fighting skills, a powerful mind, an independent nature, and a determined attitude. Her character is so diverse and well sculpted that it’s as if she’s a memory in my mind: I remember her as if I’d met her in actuality. This book will be an empowering read for all women.
But if you think this is merely a feminine movement, think again. While women would certainly enjoy this book, it has something for everyone. Men will instantly become enthralled in the action, a bit of gore, and gripping storyline. Diabolical characters and plans are everywhere and it’s up to Caitlin and Gunner to put a much needed end to it all!
For fans of James Caterino, this book will satisfy your craving. For new readers of the Caterino phenomenon, this is the perfect place to start. Beware: once you begin this literary journey, you can never get enough! Luckily, he has several books out and is still typing away!
Politics, breath-taking warriors, epic to-the-death battles, a touch of romance, hot sex, and some satire for good luck: this book holds it all and much, much more! Caitlin Star is the woman of the generation, a fresh new voice waiting to be heard. If the next generation is HALF the woman she is, we will be in good hands.
Caitlin Star is a worn down foster kid… that’s why the brilliantly sculpted character, Gunner, is here to help. After being rescued by Gunner, Caitlin transforms into the powerful woman begging to come out that’s been trapped inside her. Join her on a heart-racing journey to defeat the humanoids known as the Bull Mongoni.
This story delves deep into the human psyche, as we see the world through Caitlin’s eyes altering as she learns new philosophies, and broadens her horizons. She and Gunner will embark on a world-wild, cultural movement that will leave your heart racing and screaming for victory! The politically corrupt world that surrounds them is dangerous: The line that separates church and state has been brutally demolished, national parks have been taken over by the oil industries, free-thinking is outlawed, and if you dare object to anything, the Moral Authority WILL find you! As if that wasn’t enough reason for a revolution, Caitlin Star won’t stand for women’s rights being taken away: after all, it’s not fair for women to be owned and defined by a tracking probe.
The plot-line is outstanding, well developed, and an emotional yet thrilling ride. Caterino carefully sets the stage and keeps the fast pace throughout the entire novel. One of the most difficult things to do in writing dystopian fiction, is set up the world in a consistently believable way; Caterino flawlessly showcases this as he exposes his unbelievable skills as writer.
The characters are golden! Caitlin Star’s voice is prominent, never fading, and strong. She is certainly an inspiration to humanity. She has mad fighting skills, a powerful mind, an independent nature, and a determined attitude. Her character is so diverse and well sculpted that it’s as if she’s a memory in my mind: I remember her as if I’d met her in actuality. This book will be an empowering read for all women.
But if you think this is merely a feminine movement, think again. While women would certainly enjoy this book, it has something for everyone. Men will instantly become enthralled in the action, a bit of gore, and gripping storyline. Diabolical characters and plans are everywhere and it’s up to Caitlin and Gunner to put a much needed end to it all!
For fans of James Caterino, this book will satisfy your craving. For new readers of the Caterino phenomenon, this is the perfect place to start. Beware: once you begin this literary journey, you can never get enough! Luckily, he has several books out and is still typing away!
Politics, breath-taking warriors, epic to-the-death battles, a touch of romance, hot sex, and some satire for good luck: this book holds it all and much, much more! Caitlin Star is the woman of the generation, a fresh new voice waiting to be heard. If the next generation is HALF the woman she is, we will be in good hands.
December 12, 2013
If I had to sum up this book with one word it would be "action".
"Caitlin Star" has some of the most vivid, colorful, over-the-top, exciting action sequences I have ever read, and I have read my share of action adventure books. Yes it is violent, and there is an attitude to this book not too much unlike a Quentin Tarintino movie, especially the "Kill Bill" films. So fans of martial arts cinema will like this. Even though the setting is sort of a contemporary near future dystopia, this is really more of a revenge action fantasy, and a relentlessly exciting one at that.
I loved the Caitlin character, her strength and kick-ass attitude as well as her relationship with her mentor Gunner Star. Gunner Star, what a great character! It appears there are other books featuring Gunner Star which I have not read and after reading this book I am tempted to check them out.
The world building in "Caitlin Star" is unlike anything else I have read. So many modern dystopian novels feel like they take place in the same universe. The world Caterino has created is dark, and dangerous, and detailed. The civil war going on here feels real, given the context of the story. There is a visceral, raw energy to his writing. He takes us there, and makes us feel it.
Overall, I loved this book. But take note ; there is a lot of revenge style violence, some sex, and profanity. So if you get offended by those things, this may not be for you. But if you can handle that and love action fantasy, then this is a book you might enjoy.
"Caitlin Star" has some of the most vivid, colorful, over-the-top, exciting action sequences I have ever read, and I have read my share of action adventure books. Yes it is violent, and there is an attitude to this book not too much unlike a Quentin Tarintino movie, especially the "Kill Bill" films. So fans of martial arts cinema will like this. Even though the setting is sort of a contemporary near future dystopia, this is really more of a revenge action fantasy, and a relentlessly exciting one at that.
I loved the Caitlin character, her strength and kick-ass attitude as well as her relationship with her mentor Gunner Star. Gunner Star, what a great character! It appears there are other books featuring Gunner Star which I have not read and after reading this book I am tempted to check them out.
The world building in "Caitlin Star" is unlike anything else I have read. So many modern dystopian novels feel like they take place in the same universe. The world Caterino has created is dark, and dangerous, and detailed. The civil war going on here feels real, given the context of the story. There is a visceral, raw energy to his writing. He takes us there, and makes us feel it.
Overall, I loved this book. But take note ; there is a lot of revenge style violence, some sex, and profanity. So if you get offended by those things, this may not be for you. But if you can handle that and love action fantasy, then this is a book you might enjoy.
May 18, 2014
3.5 STARS
I have to say that this is perhaps the most action-packed novel I have ever read! It was a never-ending line of battles, whether they were physical or mental, there was always something going on to sink your teeth into. This did nothing to decrease the suspense, which was as big a part as anything else. You wait with bated breath to see what would happen next; would the plans pull through? Or would it end in utter chaos? There was quite the mixture that’s for sure.
The plot-line was very well developed, and detailed as well. The world has been politically corrupted by people who think nothing of women’s, homosexual’s and animal’s rights alike. They’ve destroyed national animal parks for oil productions, and in turn need to be destroyed. This is what a man named Gunner Star has set out to do.
Gunner Star is the epitome of bad-ass. He basically runs the revolution that fights against their repressive government, with the help of his protégé Caitlin Star: equally as bad-ass. She is such a strong character, and not only in the physical sense, but in the way she can face all the hardships the world throws at her and bounce back to do the right thing. She is an inspiration to all women, and if I had just a pinch of her courage I’d be set for life.
However it’s not just the girls who play a big part in this book. I can’t forget Tyrone. I loved how you saw his character develop, the before and after he met Gunner, then the before and after he met Caitlin. But don’t get me wrong this is not a romance book, and the second you read it this will be vividly clear. It’s about the individual fights these people face, and the decisions they make.
The blood and gore and other awesome stuff were extras in a really quick but great book.
I do feel the obligation to warn readers that there is a lot of “adult content” in this book like swearing, and intense violence but for me personally it doesn’t offend in the slightest and only enhances the writing. To each his own. But if you’re like me, you should go pick up this book. You don’t even have to start from the first book, I read Caitlin Star before it’s prequels and caught onto the story no problem. I didn’t even realise it wasn’t the first in a series! So instead I’ll be reading them after.
Posted on: http://enchantedbyya.blogspot.co.uk/
I have to say that this is perhaps the most action-packed novel I have ever read! It was a never-ending line of battles, whether they were physical or mental, there was always something going on to sink your teeth into. This did nothing to decrease the suspense, which was as big a part as anything else. You wait with bated breath to see what would happen next; would the plans pull through? Or would it end in utter chaos? There was quite the mixture that’s for sure.
The plot-line was very well developed, and detailed as well. The world has been politically corrupted by people who think nothing of women’s, homosexual’s and animal’s rights alike. They’ve destroyed national animal parks for oil productions, and in turn need to be destroyed. This is what a man named Gunner Star has set out to do.
Gunner Star is the epitome of bad-ass. He basically runs the revolution that fights against their repressive government, with the help of his protégé Caitlin Star: equally as bad-ass. She is such a strong character, and not only in the physical sense, but in the way she can face all the hardships the world throws at her and bounce back to do the right thing. She is an inspiration to all women, and if I had just a pinch of her courage I’d be set for life.
However it’s not just the girls who play a big part in this book. I can’t forget Tyrone. I loved how you saw his character develop, the before and after he met Gunner, then the before and after he met Caitlin. But don’t get me wrong this is not a romance book, and the second you read it this will be vividly clear. It’s about the individual fights these people face, and the decisions they make.
The blood and gore and other awesome stuff were extras in a really quick but great book.
I do feel the obligation to warn readers that there is a lot of “adult content” in this book like swearing, and intense violence but for me personally it doesn’t offend in the slightest and only enhances the writing. To each his own. But if you’re like me, you should go pick up this book. You don’t even have to start from the first book, I read Caitlin Star before it’s prequels and caught onto the story no problem. I didn’t even realise it wasn’t the first in a series! So instead I’ll be reading them after.
Posted on: http://enchantedbyya.blogspot.co.uk/
January 5, 2014
I have not read a book in this genre for a long time.
I like adventure but have not picked up a fantasy battle book in many years. In James Caterino's novel 'Caitlin Star,' the reader is thrust into the action from the first page.
My first impression was that it could be classified as a politically disgruntled, angst ridden story with glimpses of a man's view of feministic writing. That impression was not correct.
While this story will appeal to anyone who enjoys watching tv wresting, there is so much more going on than tree swinging, floor rolling, martial arts type battle action. The characters are fighting for their beliefs and ideals.
The author gives plenty of background into each character. At times I may have thought it was more than I needed to know but at the end of the book I was happy to understand it all.
All that background makes you understand each character and appreciate their ways of thinking, whether you like them or not.
I like adventure but have not picked up a fantasy battle book in many years. In James Caterino's novel 'Caitlin Star,' the reader is thrust into the action from the first page.
My first impression was that it could be classified as a politically disgruntled, angst ridden story with glimpses of a man's view of feministic writing. That impression was not correct.
While this story will appeal to anyone who enjoys watching tv wresting, there is so much more going on than tree swinging, floor rolling, martial arts type battle action. The characters are fighting for their beliefs and ideals.
The author gives plenty of background into each character. At times I may have thought it was more than I needed to know but at the end of the book I was happy to understand it all.
All that background makes you understand each character and appreciate their ways of thinking, whether you like them or not.
June 5, 2014
I got this book from the author from Goodreads' first read and I really enjoyed it!
The pace of the book is fast and it's well written so somehow you find yourself at its end without even noticing it.
I did really appreciate the fact that it's not a book similar to 100 others out there.. it's something new and fresh and it reminded my a superhero/action movie written in words.
But it's not simple action! Under the surface, there are emotions,an inquiring look at the contemporary society and possible future, philosohy and much more!
It's definately a book I'd reccomend and I can't wait to know how the sequel is!
The pace of the book is fast and it's well written so somehow you find yourself at its end without even noticing it.
I did really appreciate the fact that it's not a book similar to 100 others out there.. it's something new and fresh and it reminded my a superhero/action movie written in words.
But it's not simple action! Under the surface, there are emotions,an inquiring look at the contemporary society and possible future, philosohy and much more!
It's definately a book I'd reccomend and I can't wait to know how the sequel is!
July 28, 2013
Here are some blog posts about Caitlin Star you might enjoy. Timelines, back-stories, philosophy, and much more.
Caitlin Star timeline
http://jamescaterino.blogspot.com/201...
Philosophy of Caitlin Star http://jamescaterino.blogspot.com/201...
Archer Moore's review of 'Caitlin Star'
http://jamescaterino.blogspot.com/201...
Caitlin Star: The Motion Picture
http://jamescaterino.blogspot.com/201...
Here are some blog posts about "Caitlin Star" you might enjoy. Stay tuned in to http://jamescaterino.blogspot.com/ for more behind the scenes info and other fun stuff including dramatic readings from "Caitlin Star".
http://jamescaterino.blogspot.com/201...
http://jamescaterino.blogspot.com/201...
http://jamescaterino.blogspot.com/201...
Caitlin Star timeline
http://jamescaterino.blogspot.com/201...
Philosophy of Caitlin Star http://jamescaterino.blogspot.com/201...
Archer Moore's review of 'Caitlin Star'
http://jamescaterino.blogspot.com/201...
Caitlin Star: The Motion Picture
http://jamescaterino.blogspot.com/201...
Here are some blog posts about "Caitlin Star" you might enjoy. Stay tuned in to http://jamescaterino.blogspot.com/ for more behind the scenes info and other fun stuff including dramatic readings from "Caitlin Star".
http://jamescaterino.blogspot.com/201...
http://jamescaterino.blogspot.com/201...
http://jamescaterino.blogspot.com/201...
October 2, 2014
I found this book by accident. The cover and back blurb got my attention so I took a chance and made an impulse buy and I am so glad I did.
"Caitlin Star" has elements of the YA dystopian genre but it really is a unique book, quite unlike anything I have ever read, It is fast-moving, visceral, full of huge cinematic moments. It is a vigilante story with the feel of a great comic book or graphic novel. After finishing I immediately bought the second book in the series and it is even better. Great stuff.
"Caitlin Star" has elements of the YA dystopian genre but it really is a unique book, quite unlike anything I have ever read, It is fast-moving, visceral, full of huge cinematic moments. It is a vigilante story with the feel of a great comic book or graphic novel. After finishing I immediately bought the second book in the series and it is even better. Great stuff.
April 17, 2014
*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
Wow that was action packed! I have to say when I first started reading this I was not expecting much. The synopsis seemed interesting so I was thrilled when the author sent me a copy for review. At first I was kind of confused as to what was going on, I felt like I was thrown into a world that I knew nothing about. However, I contacted the author and he sent me a few links that cleared everything! Caitlin is such a strong female character who is obviously passionate about her beliefs. She fights for what she thinks is right and I admire her for that. I was a bit upset that the entire book wasn't in her POV, I felt that it was more about other characters than about her at times. The writing style was great! The author was able to successively create a descriptive image without dragging on, which is rare gift. All together I really loved this book! I really want a physical copy of Caitlin Star and the rest of the books set in this world.
So why isn't it five stars? Well technically my rating is 4.5 stars, so it's not that far off from perfect. I knocked off half a star for two reasons, one being that this book was hard to get into at first. When I first started reading I was confused about the world and didn't understand the characters, in fact I felt completely disconnected. After I contacted the author I was able to gain a better understanding of the world. I think that this problem could've been solved if I would've read the books that were published before Caitlin Star. The other reason is because this book is VERY explicit. I usually don't mind cuss words or 'sexy times' in a book, but I felt that it was unnecessary at times. There were some random parts where Caitlin would just talk about how horny she was and it made me uncomfortable at times. I wasn't expecting so much explicit content in this book, especially since it's YA.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it for mature readers who love action.
(This may be random, but I felt cool when FAU was mentioned! I actually took a picture of that sentence and texted my sister saying "Look it's our school!")
Wow that was action packed! I have to say when I first started reading this I was not expecting much. The synopsis seemed interesting so I was thrilled when the author sent me a copy for review. At first I was kind of confused as to what was going on, I felt like I was thrown into a world that I knew nothing about. However, I contacted the author and he sent me a few links that cleared everything! Caitlin is such a strong female character who is obviously passionate about her beliefs. She fights for what she thinks is right and I admire her for that. I was a bit upset that the entire book wasn't in her POV, I felt that it was more about other characters than about her at times. The writing style was great! The author was able to successively create a descriptive image without dragging on, which is rare gift. All together I really loved this book! I really want a physical copy of Caitlin Star and the rest of the books set in this world.
So why isn't it five stars? Well technically my rating is 4.5 stars, so it's not that far off from perfect. I knocked off half a star for two reasons, one being that this book was hard to get into at first. When I first started reading I was confused about the world and didn't understand the characters, in fact I felt completely disconnected. After I contacted the author I was able to gain a better understanding of the world. I think that this problem could've been solved if I would've read the books that were published before Caitlin Star. The other reason is because this book is VERY explicit. I usually don't mind cuss words or 'sexy times' in a book, but I felt that it was unnecessary at times. There were some random parts where Caitlin would just talk about how horny she was and it made me uncomfortable at times. I wasn't expecting so much explicit content in this book, especially since it's YA.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it for mature readers who love action.
(This may be random, but I felt cool when FAU was mentioned! I actually took a picture of that sentence and texted my sister saying "Look it's our school!")
October 6, 2015
Action-packed story with vivid imagery, memorable characters, and a GREAT main character. This book and its star, Caitlin, really resonated with me. Edgy, visceral, unique, imaginative and much more intense than other YA/post apocalyptic books of the genre. The second book in this addictive series (Caitlin Star and the Guardian of Forever) is even better and the tightly wound emotional third entry (Caitlin Star and the Rise of the Barbarians) is absolute bliss! Highly enjoyable!
January 22, 2014
Disclaimer: I received this book from author in exchange for an honest review.
Caitlin Star was a fast paced action novel with dystopian undertones that had a lot of promise. To be honest, I'm not sure it was my cup of tea, though. There was a lot of imagery, the writing wasn't bad, but the story just didn't draw me in. I expected to follow the story of Caitlin as she joins and becomes part of the Bull Mangoni, and to see her training with Gunner Star, but a few chapters in and we're long past that.
The story focuses a lot on the new North America Caterino created. There are lots of political undertones, corruption, and a Robin Hood style vigilante who is fighting to change things. If you like action, there is certainly plenty of that, and the cutlass wielding is something you don't see often in these type of books. Glancing at the rest of the authors work, it is clear this world continues in more than one novel, which is great if you get into it and want to know more. If you're looking for a stand-alone piece though, I'm not sure this is it.
There were a few things that stopped me from really getting into this book. In the beginning, the prose was a little over the top. There was never just a man, or a leader, or a wolf. It was sadistic man, beautiful wolves, butchering goons, arrogant leader. We could see the leader was arrogant, and I think announcing things so often took a little away from the story. Cleaning this up a little and choosing where the words are used could make those images stronger.
Another thing that was a style problem for me was there was no way thoughts were distinguished from regular text. It's pretty widely accepted to use italics for thoughts, and this would have helped the flow of the story for me.
As for the plot itself, there were a few more things that hurt my rating.
My last and perhaps biggest obstacle with this book was the level of profanity it contained. I don't mind cussing, but this just felt a bit excessive to me. To quote one line: "And it will not be some small-dicked jagoff with a bad hairpiece or a shitty has-been evil ex-rocker fuckhead.” The continuous use of cuss words sort of matched the problem I ran into with the prose. By showing a little more restraint it would have improved the novel for me. When you're cussing so much, the real moments of anger and frustration don't shine through.
Things that confused me in the beginning worked themselves out closer to the end. The middle chapters can be hard to get through when we follow other characters and leave Caitlyn for awhile. I'm not really sure what was going on with the wolf. Maybe I missed something in the middle, but it felt like it showed up in the beginning and then was only faintly mentioned in the last chapter.
All and all, I think this book is worth giving a chance. It might not have been my cup of tea, but it might be yours.
Caitlin Star was a fast paced action novel with dystopian undertones that had a lot of promise. To be honest, I'm not sure it was my cup of tea, though. There was a lot of imagery, the writing wasn't bad, but the story just didn't draw me in. I expected to follow the story of Caitlin as she joins and becomes part of the Bull Mangoni, and to see her training with Gunner Star, but a few chapters in and we're long past that.
The story focuses a lot on the new North America Caterino created. There are lots of political undertones, corruption, and a Robin Hood style vigilante who is fighting to change things. If you like action, there is certainly plenty of that, and the cutlass wielding is something you don't see often in these type of books. Glancing at the rest of the authors work, it is clear this world continues in more than one novel, which is great if you get into it and want to know more. If you're looking for a stand-alone piece though, I'm not sure this is it.
There were a few things that stopped me from really getting into this book. In the beginning, the prose was a little over the top. There was never just a man, or a leader, or a wolf. It was sadistic man, beautiful wolves, butchering goons, arrogant leader. We could see the leader was arrogant, and I think announcing things so often took a little away from the story. Cleaning this up a little and choosing where the words are used could make those images stronger.
Another thing that was a style problem for me was there was no way thoughts were distinguished from regular text. It's pretty widely accepted to use italics for thoughts, and this would have helped the flow of the story for me.
As for the plot itself, there were a few more things that hurt my rating.
My last and perhaps biggest obstacle with this book was the level of profanity it contained. I don't mind cussing, but this just felt a bit excessive to me. To quote one line: "And it will not be some small-dicked jagoff with a bad hairpiece or a shitty has-been evil ex-rocker fuckhead.” The continuous use of cuss words sort of matched the problem I ran into with the prose. By showing a little more restraint it would have improved the novel for me. When you're cussing so much, the real moments of anger and frustration don't shine through.
Things that confused me in the beginning worked themselves out closer to the end. The middle chapters can be hard to get through when we follow other characters and leave Caitlyn for awhile. I'm not really sure what was going on with the wolf. Maybe I missed something in the middle, but it felt like it showed up in the beginning and then was only faintly mentioned in the last chapter.
All and all, I think this book is worth giving a chance. It might not have been my cup of tea, but it might be yours.
February 2, 2014
I really did not enjoy this book.
I'm pretty liberal in my political views and definitely concerned about the environment and preserving our natural resources and the beauty of nature. But I don't feel as though doing it by torturing and violently killing others is the right way to go about making the world a better place. Is killing someone with your bare hands or with a sword truly any better than killing them with a gun? Is torturing someone really the best way to punish them? Is smearing steroid laden ointment on your body really in keeping with a holistic "I want to improve and preserve our natural environment" philosophy?
This story just really didn't ring true for me. Honestly I don't know that I would have been as bothered by the violence except that it was so self-righteous. The attitude of "it's okay to kill as long as you're on the right side which of course is our side" just seemed so narrow minded and wrong.
Beyond all that, I also felt as though the writing really needed a lot of work. There were tons of spelling errors and grammatical errors. The characters were about as stereotyped and flat as they could be. I felt no sympathy for the main character and no real interest in her childhood traumas. Her love interest was just as shallow and two dimensional as she was.
Really, I just didn't get this book at all.
I'm pretty liberal in my political views and definitely concerned about the environment and preserving our natural resources and the beauty of nature. But I don't feel as though doing it by torturing and violently killing others is the right way to go about making the world a better place. Is killing someone with your bare hands or with a sword truly any better than killing them with a gun? Is torturing someone really the best way to punish them? Is smearing steroid laden ointment on your body really in keeping with a holistic "I want to improve and preserve our natural environment" philosophy?
This story just really didn't ring true for me. Honestly I don't know that I would have been as bothered by the violence except that it was so self-righteous. The attitude of "it's okay to kill as long as you're on the right side which of course is our side" just seemed so narrow minded and wrong.
Beyond all that, I also felt as though the writing really needed a lot of work. There were tons of spelling errors and grammatical errors. The characters were about as stereotyped and flat as they could be. I felt no sympathy for the main character and no real interest in her childhood traumas. Her love interest was just as shallow and two dimensional as she was.
Really, I just didn't get this book at all.
July 19, 2013
I'm squealing like a lil girl!!! Can't wait to read it, seriously.
January 10, 2026
Your imagination and sense of pacing are clear strengths. The main characters feel believable, though some of the supporting cast could use more depth. With a bit more editorial polish, Jim has the tools to take his stories to the next level. His Star and Bull Mongoni books would also make great graphic novels.
April 12, 2014
I think this book could have been a whole lot better if there was not much change in the POV.
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