Charged

Electric #1

by Casey Harvell

Kat is just an average teenage girl. When the new guy moves to town, she's shocked when she falls for the boy next door. With her best friend Brie, and new boyfriend Mason, life is looking better than ever.

When Brie and Kat land a gig for their band, excitement is in the air. But a cross of wires leaves Kat charged with electricity when her amp explodes.

And things just keep getting weirder...A sudden nanobot apocalypse leaves Kat's new talents as the only thing that stands between mankind and the end of the world.



Excerpt:



"I’ve always thought of myself as a nice person, a good person. But these days, I’m not so sure. Even if you’re well aware that extreme situations can change people, you’ll still never be prepared for it. And here, now…nothing could have ever prepared me for this insanity.

Genres: Romance, Young Adult, Fantasy

312 pages, Paperback

First published October 23, 2013

About the author

Mom, USA Today Recommended Author, reader, zombie lover, music enthusiast, gamer & sporadic asshole.

Oh, and I have a website http://caseyharvell.com

Reviews

[Cassandra Burchett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. In the beginning it took me a bit to get into it, but as soon as I did I couldn't put it down. This is an amazing paranormal read. People always have fears of Robots taking over the world and in this story that is exactly what happens. But Kat's amazing new powers prove to be of some great use, until the corrupt government/military wants her for something else entirely. This read will have you on the edge of your seat cheering for Kat and her friends and wanting to jump in and ring some necks too. MUST READ if you love paranormal!

[Anna Pasaliadi · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredible Adventure!
This book takes you on it's journey and leaves you gripping your seat in anticipation. From the characters to the imagery, this grabs you and keeps you begging for more. A new, edgy take on an apocalyptic adventure. This is a must read for anyone who enjoys a thrilling adventure. I highly recommend this.

[P.S. Winn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kat has a special ability and everyone would like to use it for their own purposes. Thankfully Kat along with her friends is trying her best to use her ability to help mankind. This was an interesting book although it did start out a little slow. The next book in the series looks to be very interesting. Good job on an idea we all may have to worry about in the not to distant future.

[Nicola McDonagh · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was a little put off by the beginning of this book. It didn't exactly promise much in the way of conflict or drama. Mostly, it described the main character, Kat and her relationship with her mom and friends and the new dishy boy Mason; so far nothing to make it stand out from all the other High School romance books I have read. At first I thought, oh no not another teen action/adventure novel with a spunky female teen heroine, set in a High School, and if it weren't for the promise of something a little more interesting in the shape of the nanobot threat, then I would not have read on.

I'm a sucker for technology and weird science and I was not disappointed in the sci-fi aspect in this book. The nanobots are created to cure people, but something goes wrong. The very thing made to help mankind becomes a danger in the form of a menacing metallic fog that infects whole towns with a nasty virus. That got me hooked and I bought into the rest of the nano-tech storyline. I really appreciate it when an author goes that extra mile and does some research to add authenticity to their concept.

Although I wasn't too keen on the first person chatty style of this piece, it did give the whole narrative a 'young' feel, as did the dialogue - all very "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" type of thing. Which sometimes made the characters seem clichés of archetypal teenager images that we often find in books and on screen. I did warm to Kat and Brie, but I wasn't too fond of the young male characters, because they came across a bit two-dimensional; which I found strange because I think she did a good job with most of the other characters, including the incidental ones, such as Jack and his wife.

I thought on occasions that there was too much narrative dealing with mundane things - such as describing in detail a typical day in a classroom, or field trip. Page after page I waited for the actual story to kick in. As this book is quite short, I would have liked the author to spend more time developing the storyline and less on the characters bitching about each other. When the plotline does emerge, it was good. I liked the idea that Kat develops super powers when she gets a surge of electricity from a guitar amp. She uses it to great effect when she has to save herself and her friends from an attack by an infected bear. Then she has to help the cub left without a mother, and we get an adorable character in the form of Baby bear. Although, the animal is cute, I didn't see the relevance of it being included, as it did nothing to enhance the story line, or move the plot along.
There were some nice moments when Kat uses her power that just sums up the whole feel of this teen novel:
"I follow his finger and see the metallic fog. I get out of the car, my hands already in front of me, creating an energy sphere. I can’t afford to hold back, and finally, the numbness I’ve been feeling since we left Columbus, is waning. In its place is fury. I’m pissed. I’m super pissed. And I’m going to unleash my rage on these freaking nanobots."

Despite the fact that I was not too fond of the beginning of this book, I found the pace and plotline in the last part to be exciting on the whole, and it kept me reading on. I'm not sure if the ending is gripping enough to leave the reader wanting more and to follow the further adventures that await our super charged heroine. With a little work on plot development and characterization, I think this book will be really good.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

If anyone has ever watched the TV series Revolution then this was the first thing that sprang to mind when I started reading this book. You have the nano-bots designed to heal people that get out of control, only this time instead of turning out the power it creates a nano-bot fog cloud that infects those that come into contact with it.

The only line of defence that is out there is a 17year old girl, Kat, who after suffering from an electric shock that should have cost her her life is now in possession on a power which enables her to shoot out electrical spheres. Hold back the sense of disbelief that I don't doubt that you will have upon reading this very general statement of what the book contains, I was reserved at first what with my likening it to Revolution but upon getting further into the story was pleasantly surprised and ended up really enjoying the story.

Think The Walking Dead crossed with Revolution with a smattering of romance thrown in for good measure and you would have a fairly accurate idea of how the story goes but with a YA feel.

Please note that I was provided with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, however you will note that I had already purchased the book myself prior to receiving the copy!!

[Clarissa Simmens · Rating 5 out of 5]

If a picture is worth a thousand words to many people, then a fiction book is worth a gazillion sci-tech explanations to me. Nanobots? I've read about nano technology but just haven't been able to get my mind wrapped around it. I'm still struggling with the concept of a 3-D printer (can they REALLY make a wrench?). But Casey Harvell has the gift of writing with clarity and her explanation of the atomic-sized bots is finally understandable. The novel is a page-turner and I couldn't put it down; my husband made his own dinner and I ate peanut butter crackers. After getting to know and like these somewhat typical high school students, the action increases until the world is hardly recognizable to them or us. Throwing one's characters into an apocalyptic situation is an excellent way to develop them and Harvell certainly handles the transition in a fine and believable manner. If you have any interest in the genres of Teen, Young Adult, Science Fiction or Romance, this will be the perfect read!

[Amanda Shelley-Masters · Rating 5 out of 5]

*This Book Was Given To Me By The Author In Exchange For An Honest Review*

Amazing Book! Casey Harvell is an incredibly talented and creative writer and entertains her readers with this Amazing beginning to her Electric Series. I for one couldn't put the book down! it was riveting from the very first word!

I loved the characters they were all so awesome! my favourite being baby bear of course!..lol...but each character I grew to love more and more as the story progressed. Mason his loyalty and strength, Jared his Stealth and perseverance and of course Brie the ever steadfast and true friend.

Casey Harvell's unique and creative ideas in this story set it way apart from the other nano invasion stories out there, never before have I read a book like this that has captivated me more! I couldn't get enough of Kat's story and I can't wait to read more!

If you have read this yet make sure to get your copy today! a great read for Dystopian/Romance/YA lovers out there!

[Casey Harvell]

Charged ~Reboot~ is here! This reedited and newly covered version promises to please readers. Already gave Charged a chance? I offer you the chance to try it again.

Charged ~Reboot~ Will remain FREE on all e-reading platforms :)

The nanobot apocalypse is here!! Not ready? Don’t worry, I have you covered. Charged is available for only FREE on Nook and Kindle to celebrate the upcoming release of Shocked! No more excuses ;) Get ready, be prepared. Don’t let the nanobots make it to your town!!
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[Brandt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book I’ve read by this author. They’ve all been great, but this is my favorite. Can’t wait for more. In Charged (Electric) by Casey Harvell, the author clearly did a ton of research about nanotechnology. She also constructed a breathtaking plot. Kat and Brie are complex characters who were art of a super cast of characters. This is one that would be an excellent movie.

[Jasmine Smith-clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow

what an interesting take on the apocalypse. Casey Harvell has created a story unlike any I have ever read. It is captivating and incredibly well-written. I loved book one and can't wait to get my hands on book two!

[Stephanie Stovall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. Could not put it down. If you haven't read it yet. You really should. It's a awesome read. If I could give it more then 5 stars I would. It's worth reading!!!

[Richard Goodrum · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Science Fiction Romance is thought-provoking. Kat was electrocuted while performing with her band at a party. Only she's still alive. When a nanobot apocalypse forms, she, her friend, Bree, and her boyfriend, Mason, flee town, where she learns she may be the mechanism to defeat the nanobots.

The setup for the story is phenomenal. There's no question what will happen, just when. Each scene leads smoothly to the next. Mind you, the characters face many challenges along the way, but most readers won't. And, while the cliffhanger at the end is easily anticipated, it doesn't generate the same uncomfortable feeling as in other stories. Overall, this story is great on its own and a great introduction to the series.

Easy-to-read. Entertaining. Great world building. Haunting. Romantic. Scary. Tragic. Unpredictable. Wonderful characters.

[Lexi Bollino · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book! I read it in one day because of a roadtrip, and it was super faced paced. One thing I didn’t like though was the fact that the romance wasn’t put well together. Don’t get me wrong I love mason and her together but it felt so rushed like I wish they were friends and as the story went on they start developing feelings.

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great twist on the zombie theme. A little predictable. Please, please don't let this series end as badly as so many of the other teenager-saves-the-world series have.

[Coco.V]

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[Harmony Kent · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reviewed on behalf of The Review Board

by Harmony Kent

CHARGED

BY CASEY HARVELL

Young Adult Fiction



Kat is your typical teenager, who is as amazed as anyone when the gorgeous boy next door falls for her. Her life is about to take an even stranger turn, however, as she receives a massive electric shock when the wires from her electric guitar find themselves on the wrong amp, and everything blows. Kat ends up with some pretty strange side effects. Very soon after this, the newly emerging nano-bio technology goes badly awry. Kat is the only person who might be able to stop this catastrophe; but isn’t sure she can make the necessary decisions, or do what she needs to do. The point of view is told from the 1st person perspective and the prose is in the present tense. This would have been an enjoyable read, if not for the sheer amount of mistakes and poor writing encountered throughout the book.


There were so many spelling mistakes, incorrectly used words, missing words, and bad punctuation, that I had to stop notating them by about 15% of the way in—there were just too many. Which is a crying shame, as this could be a really, really good book. I love the premise and the pace is good, but the presentation is appalling (sorry, but it is). The ending is far too abrupt, and ends literally in the middle of Kat’s flight to freedom. I appreciate this is the first book in a series, but the reader does still need some resolution in this episode. It feels as though the story has been lopped off mid-sentence—literally. Right in the middle of the scene the book just comes to a sudden, and abrupt, halt. Some of the errors in the prose were bad enough to require 3 or 4 re-reads of the sentence/paragraph before understanding of the intended meaning dawned. A number of times the word ‘eminent’ was used where ‘imminent’ was obviously intended; there was also chronic usage of ‘their’ where ‘they’re’ is needed. These are to name but two of what were, in reality, many, many more instances. Also, at times, the perspective would switch all of a sudden into omniscient then back again. The present tense would also slip into past tense—sometimes within the same sentence ( and I’m not talking about during reminiscences or recounting what has just happened previously). The writing was predominantly passive and needs work.

The Verdict:

TWO OUT OF FIVE STARS

I had high hopes for this book after reading the synopsis. I love a good YA novel, and even more so one that involves magic or extraordinary powers of some sort. Unfortunately, the lack of proof reading and editing mar the work too much. A book should never be published with this number of errors in it. I cannot offer it more than 2 out of 5 as it stands. I would be delighted to see a revised copy at some point, so I could re-evaluate this rating upwards. I feel this author does show promise.

[Queen Spades · Rating 3 out of 5]

Note: This is based on the current Kindle copy that I have. This is the abbreviated version of my review.

Let me get started with the things this author did right:

1. Pacing–The pacing of the story coincided nicely with the conflict as well as downtimes. There wasn’t a part where I felt it was overly rushed to the point where I was lost or overly sluggish to the point where I pray it would speed up.

2. Conflict–The conflict was presented in a believable fashion and was in alignment with the development of the main character, Kat, as she tries to deal with having her new powers.

3. Endearing characters–There were plenty of characters (both main and supporting) that I found myself caring about:

(a) Baby Bear was my favorite
(b) Mason has admirable qualities that are equivalent to a sidekick or a superhero. He’s a talented artist, caring, and confident. He’s just an all around cool guy who is a welcome addition to any team–be it trying to save the world or be the boyfriend.
(c) Jared was a character I liked from the jump. However, I do think he got treated a bit unfairly during the narrative. Once everyone realized he wasn’t infected, it should not have taken the others so long to finally trust him.

Some things that could use some improvement:

One of Charged‘s biggest downfalls is the misspellings and incorrect usage of certain words. There were also a lot of uses of the word "I" and a multitude of dashes. Well over a hundred dashes, and unfortunately, the majority of them were used incorrectly. In some instances, the misspelling of words (“ass-sets”, “bear-hugs”, for example), and in other instances, used where there should be a colon, comma, or no punctuation whatsoever.

Shifting Tenses: There were many stretches where the tense shifted from present tense to past tense, sometimes within the same sentence.

Staccato-esque Resolution: Just when I was excited about the very last scene in the chapter, it cuts off in the middle of the action. I’d like a bit more tidiness in the resolution, despite recognizing that this is the first book in the series.

After careful deliberation, I award Charged 3 out of 5 Stars.

I think the author should take this work and present it for professional fine tuning and editing. The fact that such a promising story line has been executed in such a sloppy fashion is very disappointing–not just from a reader experience but also from an indie author experience. The characters are fascinating. The story is one I would be willing to follow to the end. Yet, it’s presentations like this which sap the magic out of this work.

**I’d gladly entertain an updated copy and would be willing to give the work another look, provided these faults are not only addressed but corrected.**

[The Review Board · Rating 3 out of 5]

Note: This review is posted on behalf of TRB member No Labels who agreed to give this another look after the original Charged had been revamped.

In my original review, I saw opportunities in the area of cover, overall syntax, and resolution. I won't take up time rehashing my old review but will focus more on my findings based on the revamp.

I do like the font of the new cover. It goes along with the metallic ambiance of the infected (references to the metallic sheen). If the author was going for a more mainstream feel, this was definitely a step in the right direction.

The challenge with putting an actual figure on the cover is making sure that person actually fits the character discussed within the pages. In the Charged narrative, Kat is described as a bit on the thick side (curvy and with assets), mediocre and lacking confidence— the type of female that doesn’t get noticed right away.

Yet the lady on the cover (because she looks a bit more aged that a typical teenage girl) is undoubtedly beautiful (those Mean Girls have nothing on her), confident and is rather slender. In that aspect, the shyness of the first cover seems to fit a bit better.

Verdict for Cover Touch Up: Visually, the 2nd cover is the winner but concept wise, the original cover.

Spelling, Grammar and Punctuation: I could tell by the updated presentation of Charged that another set of eyes were placed on it. The amount of dashes had been decreased. The vast amount of excruciatingly long sentences reduced and constructed in a much improved manner. Present tense inconsistencies, for the most part, were corrected and there were less I’s in every sentence. The decrease of repetitious words and just letting the action happen really served to improve this work.

Verdict: Heading in the right direction.

Choppy Resolution: There was not much done in terms of improving the resolution. The cliffhanger effect was still in play for the most part, so all I can do is hope this pitfall is address in the next work.

After deliberation, my review has changed from a 3 to a 3.5 yet not quite to where I can give it a four.

I do give kudos for the improvement and hope it continues into her future works.

[Cathy Brockman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book in the Electric Series. I absolutely loved it. It is fun fast paced and the characters are so relatable. I loved Kat and how she handles her new life and problems. This is a story for young adults and us grown-ups that refuse to grow up. There is action suspense and a bit of sweet romance. And its FREE!

[T. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as a prize in a giveaway. This little gem was a really fun read. I didn't connect with all the characters (possibly due to my ago-- 50+), but I loved the build of the story and I was fully involved in the plot. There is obviously a second book, as the story has open threads at the end, but I think this one's a winner.