Spark (Volume 4)

Swipe #4

by Evan Angler, Barrie Buckner (Narrator)

Light is coming to the Dark Lands. But will it be too late to make a difference?

In the future, the world is united under the power of one charismatic ruler, and everyone gets "The Mark" at age thirteen. The Mark lets citizens of the Global Union shop, go to school, and even get medical care ― without it, you have no rights. Few refuse to get The Mark. But for the first time, some are fighting back.

Logan Langly is the unlikely teenage leader of the Markless revolution. His sister Lily, who disappeared during her Marking pledge, is under the complete control of Chancellor Cylis, ruler of the Global Union. Lily betrayed her own brother to the government and had him imprisoned deep inside a virtual reality program in the Ultranet. Believing him to be dead, none of Logan's friends are even looking for him.

But there is still hope for Logan. No one is counting on a street beggar to lead the charge to the epic battle for power between reality and the virtual world that spans between them.

Genres: Dystopia, Young Adult, Christian Fiction, Christian, Fiction, Science Fiction, Middle Grade

MP3 CD

First published November 5, 2013

About the author

Evan lives without the Mark, evading DOME and writing in the shadows of Beacon.

Swipe is his first book. But if anyone asks, you know nothing about it, and you didn't hear anything from him. Don't make eye contact if you see him. Don't call his name out loud. He's in enough trouble already.

And so are you , if you've read his book.

Reviews

[Celestria · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really liked the first 3 books in the series, but this 4th one really bothered me. First of all, it's just weird. Like, there were times when I was kinda confused about what was going on. I didn't like the new character, I missed the old ones. Logan shows up briefly, but when he did, I got like, SO mad. His sister hooks him up to one of those helmets at Acheron and LEAVES HIM there for 3 years?!?! So now he's 16 and has been in the computer thing and lost 3 years of his life!! I was just... OMG so upset and I read this book a few months ago, but thinking about it is upsetting me all over again. And now he's just floating randomly in computer space and I just want him to get out and find the dust and be 13 again. I just didn't like it and I just need the fifth book so Logan can escape and find his friends and Ali can just...go away. I did however like reading about Cylis' life and how he grew up and everything.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, but not as good as the other three. Maybe I just missed the main characters from those.

[Lindsey (Books for Christian Girls) · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a mini ‘Books For Christian Girls’ review. It is not a full content review and will not receive one. These mini-reviews are years old and just for clarity on the rating the book received on Goodreads.


8/7/2014-
{Not for those easily scared.}
“This series is half dystopian and half Left Behind/tribulation vibes with this last book being more apparent with the latter. I've noticed in other reviews that many others did not finish this book. Simply because of the fact the characters from the first three books do not appear until more than half-way through "Spark". I can completely see why other readers are frustrated as I feel the same. This last book definitely ruined the series for me because of this and also because of the weird imagination and gross parts.”

2/7/2020-
Mentioned in a recent video that I would be unhauling this series for different reasons, but mainly because I found the last book to be very weird.


*Main Content-
Minor cussing: bloody, idiot, shoot, shut up, stupid, and suckers. Slurs are said about different people.
People are killed, shocked, & tortured (up to semi-detailed); Ali is told about ghosts are eat bad children and she is scared to death about them (very detailed); Ali is/were a child slave;
Only a few blushes.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

OH MY GOSH!!!! THIS SERIES IS SO AMAZING!!! I HOPE THAT THERE ARE MORE BOOKS TO COME, BECAUSE I NEED SOME ANSWERS!!!

[avery joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was really sad when I saw this book had new characters. But Ali was an amazing character! I loved this book! I really want Evan Angler to hurry and write some books in this series!!! 5 stars!

[Emili Berner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't even. This book is absolutely amazing, but it left me wanting more and didn't have a happy ending for my favorite characters. I mean where was Blake, Jonanne, Meg, Rusty, Tyler, Shawn, and Eddie. It devastated me that Logan will forever be trapped in the ultranet, and is Eddie still a soldier? Did he rebel? I will never know. The first three books made me smile, laugh, cry, think. Especially cry. I love books that make you cry. But this book made me cry because my favorite characters didn't get to see Daniel or Logan one last time. Oh and one more thing. WHERE IN THE WORLD WAS LILY????

[Melissa (So Behind) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't like this book as well as I liked the previous three, mostly because it neglects the familiar characters that I've really grown attached to and introduces someone new. I get that you have to propel the story forward, and for the most part I still enjoyed this book. I was just missing some of the "spark" of the previous books.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.

[J.C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spark by Evan Angler


This was a phenomenal fourth addition to the amazing Swipe series and it definitely did not disappoint. The twists and turns I never saw coming and were done with the utmost care and great talent. Ali was such a fascinating character to read about, full of spunk and yet with still the sense of little girl innocence.

I loved this book so much. I especially liked the Lemony-Snicket style of writing, in which the author writes as if he is apart of the story and actually there. I love the way that Logan and company call the author their “biographer” and find their own books in libraries! I really, really hope for more books to come in this series, and because of the fact this book ends right in the middle, just like all the others. No loose ends tied up, nothing answered, just another part of the story told. I heard it is to be a 6-book series (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) and so I eagerly await the next two books! I also heard rumors that the author has been “caught” by DOME and that is why no more books are coming out, a concept which I love—again, Lemony-Snicket style—but all I really have to say is, Escape, Evan Angler, and finish your series!

The only aspect I was disappointed in was the fact that this story focused around Ali and we barely see Logan or Erin. But oh well, I’m sure they’ll return in book 5 and Ali is a very important character. This fourth book in the Swipe series is an excellent addition and I’d highly, highly recommend the entire series.

Like my reviews? Follow my blog:
http://jcbuchanan.com

[Syn :) · Rating 1 out of 5]

1st book= GREAT
2nd and 3rd= pretty great too, getting a little weird subplot though
4th(this one)= subplot is now main plot, barely mentions old charecters, switches genres completley, author breaks the 4th wall, he is a charecter now, charecters in the 4th book literally read the 1st book as part of the plot, author seems himself part of a prophecy by God, AI and creepy advanced technology now main setting somehow, nothing makes sense, AKSHAKSHSHAHGAGAFF

[Arin Calderwood · Rating 1 out of 5]

There is no 5th book, no resolution. It's been 10 years since this book was published. So frustrating, and this book opened up a while new can of worms. 😭😭

[Ben · Rating 2 out of 5]

Odd place to end a series

[Jenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

*sadly clicks three stars*
I so wanted to give this a four or five star rating like the others in the series, but sadly this one was a bit of a disappointment compared to the others.
It didn't follow the main characters that were in the last three books, which I'd wanted and expected (I mean, I'd been with 'em through thick and thin, ya know what I mean?!). It had a much slower pace and was slightly confusing at times.
Still, I did like it. :)

...I just hope there's going to be a fifth someday...

[Kynzee Jenkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE FEELS ARE STRONG WITH THIS ONE.

Okay. This book was a roller coaster and the BEST in the series. (Although, swipe will always have a special place in my heart.) the writing was 100% better in this book and the twists and turns kept me intrigued the whole time. (Whereas in the other books I often became bored.) I honestly had to get it out-when I was supposed to be sleeping-and finish it because I couldn't stand to wait till the morning. The only reason it got 4 stars instead of 5 was because of its slow and confusing start, but once you got past the first few pages it made sense and the plot sped up.

[Smiley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not fair at all... The author shouldn't have introduced a whole new protagonist at the book 4 in the series. And shouldn't have sidelined the already beloved protagonists from book 1, 2 and 3. I wanna scream in frustration because I freaking want moree.
Still still stillllll praying and hoping for the mysterious author to magically appear and to release any update about book 5 and 6.
If you've read book 1, 2 and 3 then you're obviously gonna read this one. I don't even habe a choice. Do I? I have to recommend it.
I recommend it.

[Hannah Rodriguez · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was a pretty large let down compared to the other three. This one followed a girl stuck inside the computer Ultranet with Logan. There was computer coding sprinkled throughout (which registered in my mind as math :P ) and I just missed the Dust and all the old characters. If Evan Angler comes out with another book for the series I will read it with hopes that it is better than this one.

[Rubi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was disappointed in this ending. After all that, authir resorts to some AI thing solving issues? And most of the book had to do with that net stuff and barely about Logan and maybe I missed it but pretty sure Lily wasn't punished for what she did to her brother, which I found unsatisfactory. Idk maybe it was just me or maybe I missed things through the audiobook, but narrator also was kinda irritating when he switched the voices around. It just seemed off 🤷‍♀️

[Tahlia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is entertaining but I wouldn't recommend for Christian kids because it would distort your view of everything and I could only say it is merely based on Biblical prophecy; much of the events are made up. the series also got more weird as it went on and now I still don't know what happens to the characters because there's no real conclusion so that was a bit disappointing.

[Marcus · Rating 4 out of 5]

It feels like the first book in another trilogy. Especially since Ali was introduced and we learn a little about Logan, but I somehow doubt that another installment will follow. 9 years since this book is a long time considering he wrote the other books a year apart max.
Which is sad since I wondered during the book when the next book will follow.
That is why it's only 4*. Too many loose ends

[Alicia · Rating 1 out of 5]

I actually had to pause and double check that this book was in the swipe series ... No crossover in the first few hours of listening.

[Kristi Drillien]

The decision to set aside a book that I most likely won't finish is never easy, which is why I've only done it twice before. But this one was even harder, because it was book #4 in a series. Unfortunately, the series apparently doesn't have an end at this time, and book #4 is a major departure from the 3 before it. The author always seemed a bit eccentric, but it went way too weird for me in this book.

One of the biggest issues I saw in other reviews was that the author left behind the characters that we spent so much time with in the first three books in favor of some new people. I don't think I would have minded that so much on its own. However, the main character of this book had this strange way of referring to herself. She was "Ali Without a Name," but there was no explanation of that (considering that she clearly did have a name, I'd have liked to know the story behind this). Then sometimes she or someone else would refer to her in other ways like "Hungry Ali" or "Naughty Ali."

This, amongst other things, caused me to get that "just hang in there until things make sense" feeling. And then I cheated a little. My son has read all 4 of these books, though it's been several years. But still, I asked him if any of these things that were making no sense would eventually be explained. He said pretty much no. I decided to call it then, about 1/4 of the way in.

Still, I liked the previous 3 books enough that, even though it's been 7 years since this book was published, I hold out the tiniest bit of hope that the author will continue the series. If that were to happen, I'd come back and finish this book in preparation of the next. Unless that happens, though, I have no desire to find out what's going on with Ali and the Tinchers.

[Autumn Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really don't know what to say. Is this supposed to be the end?

Also, I really don't like when series add a completely new storyline/setting/set of characters in the final book. Do not like.

Ali was a dear kid though. <3

"I tell you all of this and you seriously still ask me why? What good could it possibly do for you than to know more than that God has chosen you? If I tell you it is because you are the most special person ever to live then you will ruin yourself with ego and anxiety. If I tell you it is because, of all people on this earth, you are the one who most needed my guidance then it will ruin you with self-doubt and depression. If I tell you anything in between you will be more disappointed then had you ever known. If I say, "because" then you will be irked. If I say it was random you might distrust the point of anything in this universe ever again. Instead, you must have faith. Faith that you were chosen for good reason and that you have an important role to play, no matter how difficult it might be."

"In a world full of gunpowder, it wasn't explosions that could turn a man's head. It was hope. There was power in that wreckage, in that desperation it brought. In it the hunger for peace was so strong, so overwhelming, that the first person to offer it's possibility could role the world, with no more than a promise." - A powerful, powerful truth that is so helpful to recognize. the devil does the same with us. And we also see it in wwII, when the desire for peace was so strong, that nobody would fight back against Hitler. They ignored.

[Jeremiah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would give this series a 4/10 but this book a 6/10

I did really enjoy this series up until this book, I do enjoy Christian books but normally don't like the in your face ones that are quoting to you every few minutes, but with this series I actually didn't even know it was a Christian series till almost half way through the 1st book, it did a good job of building a dystopian world that actually feels believable for people to live in after what happened. Once again...up until this book

That being said I do not believe that the characters actions and the way they do things is very believable, yes yes I know its a young adult book series so needs to be toned down, but the "pranks" against the government would get all the heroes arrested or even shot in book one, the way the government tries to track down the troublemakers is really a joke, and their epic plans would have very little actual affect on the larger scheme of things where the book would make them out to be some sort of dangerous revolution.

With the 4th book it switches main characters, goes weirdly sci-fi, changes a ton of what you thought was going on and not in a good way, gets extremely cliche, and everything in it that it pretends to keep secret is extremely predictable with the main character making stupid what the heck decisions for no real reason then regretting them instantly and being stupid about it, was a hard read and did not enjoy it very much compared to the others

[Julie Witt · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Spark introduces nine-year-old Ali, a beggar living in the Dark Lands city of al-Balat. Ali meets a stranger who gives her his tablet, a portal to a tech world that Ali never knew existed. But one day, the tablet begins to communicate back to her—and takes her on a journey that will cross her path with exiled Logan Langly, Chancellor Cylis, and the fierce battle for power that spans reality and the virtual world."

I honestly wasn't sure how I felt about this installment in one of my favorite series because I thought it would have more of my favorite characters in it than it did, or actually any of them at all, but when I let go of that expectation I found that I was able to enjoy it okay. Little Ali is a tough little cookie, but then she's had to be growing up on the streets like she has. The whole "reality vs. virtual reality" aspect was interesting. I did feel like it jumped around a bit too much, making it hard to follow at times.

All in all, although I was able to enjoy it somewhat, I didn't enjoy it as much as I would have liked. It was well written, I just didn't connect with it the way I did the first three books in the series.

3 out of 5 stars.

*** I would like to thank Evan Angler and the publisher, Thomas Nelson Specialty, for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Olivia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can’t believe I have finished the Swipe series! I only wish I could read slower so I could have enjoyed these books longer. Each book draws you in more to the story of this dystopian world. Evan Angler takes the creativity of a future world and combines the flaws and beauty of the human race to make a great story. And the little references to Christianity are amazing!
I would say it deserves 4 stars, but I have to warn the readers, for those of you who have already read the first through third books of the Swipe series, Spark isn’t as familiar as the other books. It starts off with the third person narrator of a little girl named Ali. For me, it was hard to relate to this character because she is so much younger than me. Imagine a 9 year old who talks to herself narrating the book. It was a bit too immature for my liking. But, just keep reading, and you’ll get to the good parts. Logan, Peck, and more characters familiar are sprinkled in throughout the end of the book. And, Ali matures and becomes a more relatable character for middle school aged readers.
But anyway, I gave it 3 stars because I just didn’t get the same click that I did with the other books. However, if you loved the first few books, you have to read this one! The story hasn’t ended yet, and you must go on and continue the adventure :) And remember, Jesus is coming back!

[White House Public Library · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the final book in the swipe series. It introduces a new character and her story. As a result of following someone else, all of the main characters from the previous three books are barely mentioned or shown. I would not have an issue with the other characters being cut out so much if there was a fifth book in the series. I feel like the series ended with to many things not being shown or resolved. Is Eddie still and IMP? Did Logan's sister really betray him? Now that they have Alie and the markless have declared war on the mark, do they stand a chance at fighting back? I would have liked this book better if there was one more final book in the series to wrap everything up instead of leaving everything unresolved. Still, if you read the other three in the series, then I would still recommend you read this one as well.

[SzeLing27 · Rating 4 out of 5]

It had a good plot. But i was so confused when i started reading it, cuz there was so many different languages, which i don't understand, and have no idea how to.

And the fact that it ended like that....... I mean, that can't be the end of the story, right? So what exactly did Cylis and his IMPS did after their secrets were out? Who won the war? Was Logan saved? We have no idea. Cuz after Spark, there wasn't anymore other books. And it would be right to assume that Spark is the last book, no? And for the last book to end that way, it isn't really nice.

Well, unless the author is going to write more books in the future, then my opinion would be totally different, of course. So for now, i would assume Spark is the last book.

[Rampion · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, where's more books? I need them. This was probably my favorite out of the series so far. I loved Ali once I got used to her. Does anyone on this planet, Marked or Markless, know if or when there'll be more books? Apparently Evan Angler hasn't even been on social media in 2+ years. Not that I saw at least. I need more books ASAP.
The only part I very much disliked was how Evan Angler made himself into a character (sort of). I also wasn't fond of having multiple languages without translations. At least a footnote or something would've been lovely. Future project for myself: go through the books and use Google Translate on all the foreign languages. But for now, it's due back to the library. I need to buy this series. Along with about two billion other books. :P

[Carlye Krul · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure why I didn't enjoy this book as much as the rest of the series, but I just wasn't into it. I feel like the series would be fine with or without Spark. It didn't add a lot of context or help the plot line along. It was just kinda there.

Also, I didn't like Ali as a character. She wasn't relatable, nor was she deep. Ali was just another girl who I forget about 2 days later. The book also left on an odd note, leaving me in a weird place. Spark was written 6 years ago, but there is no book following Spark.

Spark was quite confusing as well. I wasn't sure if the setting was before the whole Logan thing, or during it, or after it. And then the whole thing with Dom, I was just wrapped up in confusion. It was kinda a let down after the first three books from the Swipe series.

[Haley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was so excited to finally getting my hands on this book, but was very disappointed once I did. While the book did give some insight into who Cylis was and how he became the great Chancellor, it took too long to figure out that it what it was going on. At times it made no sense, and it left so many active role characters from the first 3 books out. Also, the mix of sci-fi/futuristic thought may have been a good book on it's own(maybe a series even), but to me it didn't follow and answer questions that the others in the series set up. Overall, I was unhappy with the book and series "ending", and feel I have to go back and tell others I have shared the series with that #4 is ?

[Leah Cramer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wasn’t a fan of the dialogue in a different language. I can see how Angler would want to sound authentic, but then I literally didn’t know what he was saying. I didn't initially like how the POV changed from the Dust to Ali. I missed all the old characters. And the whole adding magic into it…naw, wasn’t for me. I don’t hate the concept, but for this series, it seemed way off base. But once I gave it some time, I was better about accepting it. I actually really enjoyed the Ultranet character! While so much was packed into this story, it actually did it in a nice, compact way that didn’t feel rushed. But the ending! Ugh. I need answers!