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Sharkman
Kwan Wilson was a high school basketball star living in San Diego when a tragic accident changed his life in ways no one could predict. He only looked at his phone for a few seconds, but that was all the time it took to crash his car into a telephone pole, killing his mother and paralyzing him from the waist down. After the accident his father, Admiral Douglas Wilson, sent him off to live with his maternal grandmother in South Florida. Kwan's new principal, anticipating his depression and isolation, tells him about an internship at a genetics lab in Miami that's testing shark stem cells on rats in an effort to cure cancer and repair spinal injuries. Kwan declines until he learns that beautiful Anya Patel is an intern at the lab. The good news is that the stem cells are curing their rat subjects; the bad news is it alters their DNA so much it kills them. When a promising breakthrough is made, Kwan risks his life and injects himself with the experimental stem cells altering his destiny and the lives of millions in the process."
268 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2014
27 people are currently reading
492 people want to read
About the author
Steve Alten
62 books1,359 followersSteve Alten grew up in Philadelphia, earning his Bachelors degree in Physical Education at Penn State University, a Masters Degree in Sports Medicine from the University of Delaware, and a Doctorate of Education at Temple University. Struggling to support his family of five, he decided to pen a novel he had been thinking about for years. Working late nights and on weekends, he eventually finished MEG; A Novel of Deep Terror. Steve sold his car to pay for editing fees. On September (Friday) the 13th, 1996, Steve lost his general manager’s job at a wholesale meat plant. Four days later his agent had a two-book, seven figure deal with Bantam Doubleday.
MEG would go on to become the book of the 1996 Frankfurt book fair, where it eventually sold to more than a twenty countries. MEG hit every major best-seller list, including #19 on the New York Times list (#7 audio), and became a popular radio series in Japan.
Steve’s second release, The TRENCH (Meg sequel) was published by Kensington/Pinnacle in 1999 where it also hit best-seller status. His next novel, DOMAIN and its sequel, RESURRECTION were published by St. Martin’s Press/Tor Books and were runaway best-sellers in Spain, Mexico, Germany, and Italy, with the rights selling to more than a dozen countries.
Steve’s fourth novel, GOLIATH, received rave reviews and was a big hit in Germany. It is being considered for a TV series. MEG: Primal Waters was published in the summer of 2004. A year later his seventh novel, The LOCH, hit stores — a modern-day thriller about the Loch Ness Monster. Steve’s eighth novel, The SHELL GAME, is about the end of oil and the next 9/11 event. The book was another NY Times best-seller, but the stress of penning this real-life story affected Steve’s health, and three months after he finished the manuscript he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. Steve’s ninth novel, MEG: Hell’s Aquarium, is considered to be the best of the best-selling MEG series. Steve says his best novel is GRIM REAPER: End of Days. The story, a modern-day Dante’s Inferno, takes place in New York when a man-made plague strikes Manhattan.
Steve’s novels are action-packed and very visual. He has optioned DOMAIN, MEG and The LOCH to film producers. Steve has written six original screenplays. His comedy, HARLEM SHUFFLE was a semi-finalist in the LA screenwriting contest, his comedy MINTZ MEATS was selected as a finalist at the Philadelphia film festival as was his psychological thriller, STRANGLEHOLD. Steve’s reality series, HOUSE OF BABEL won at Scriptapalooza. He has also created a TV Drama, PAPA JOHN, based on his years coaching basketball with Hall of Fame coach John Chaney.
Over the years, Steve has been inundated with e-mail from teens who hated reading …until they read his novels. When he learned high school teachers were actually using his books in the classroom (MEG had been rated #1 book for reluctant readers) Steve launched Adopt-An-Author, a nationwide non-profit program designed to encourage students to read. Teachers who register for the program (it’s free) receive giant shark posters, free curriculum materials, student-author correspondence, an interactive website, and classroom conference calls/visits with the author. To date, over 10,000 teachers have registered, and the success rate in getting teens to read has been unprecedented. Steve now spends half his work week working with high schools. For more information click on www.AdoptAnAuthor.com
As an author, Steve has two goals. First, to continue to work hard to become a better storyteller and create exciting page turning thrillers. Second, to remain accessible to his readers. Steve reads and answers all e-mails, uses the names and descriptions of his loyal fans as characters in all his novels, and even hires readers as editors, depending on their particular expertise.
MEG would go on to become the book of the 1996 Frankfurt book fair, where it eventually sold to more than a twenty countries. MEG hit every major best-seller list, including #19 on the New York Times list (#7 audio), and became a popular radio series in Japan.
Steve’s second release, The TRENCH (Meg sequel) was published by Kensington/Pinnacle in 1999 where it also hit best-seller status. His next novel, DOMAIN and its sequel, RESURRECTION were published by St. Martin’s Press/Tor Books and were runaway best-sellers in Spain, Mexico, Germany, and Italy, with the rights selling to more than a dozen countries.
Steve’s fourth novel, GOLIATH, received rave reviews and was a big hit in Germany. It is being considered for a TV series. MEG: Primal Waters was published in the summer of 2004. A year later his seventh novel, The LOCH, hit stores — a modern-day thriller about the Loch Ness Monster. Steve’s eighth novel, The SHELL GAME, is about the end of oil and the next 9/11 event. The book was another NY Times best-seller, but the stress of penning this real-life story affected Steve’s health, and three months after he finished the manuscript he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. Steve’s ninth novel, MEG: Hell’s Aquarium, is considered to be the best of the best-selling MEG series. Steve says his best novel is GRIM REAPER: End of Days. The story, a modern-day Dante’s Inferno, takes place in New York when a man-made plague strikes Manhattan.
Steve’s novels are action-packed and very visual. He has optioned DOMAIN, MEG and The LOCH to film producers. Steve has written six original screenplays. His comedy, HARLEM SHUFFLE was a semi-finalist in the LA screenwriting contest, his comedy MINTZ MEATS was selected as a finalist at the Philadelphia film festival as was his psychological thriller, STRANGLEHOLD. Steve’s reality series, HOUSE OF BABEL won at Scriptapalooza. He has also created a TV Drama, PAPA JOHN, based on his years coaching basketball with Hall of Fame coach John Chaney.
Over the years, Steve has been inundated with e-mail from teens who hated reading …until they read his novels. When he learned high school teachers were actually using his books in the classroom (MEG had been rated #1 book for reluctant readers) Steve launched Adopt-An-Author, a nationwide non-profit program designed to encourage students to read. Teachers who register for the program (it’s free) receive giant shark posters, free curriculum materials, student-author correspondence, an interactive website, and classroom conference calls/visits with the author. To date, over 10,000 teachers have registered, and the success rate in getting teens to read has been unprecedented. Steve now spends half his work week working with high schools. For more information click on www.AdoptAnAuthor.com
As an author, Steve has two goals. First, to continue to work hard to become a better storyteller and create exciting page turning thrillers. Second, to remain accessible to his readers. Steve reads and answers all e-mails, uses the names and descriptions of his loyal fans as characters in all his novels, and even hires readers as editors, depending on their particular expertise.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
July 23, 2018
Sharkman
by Steve Alten, Andrew Eiden (Narrator)
I really loved this audible book! What a thrilling ride (or swim) all the way through! So much going on. The interpersonal dynamics of family, of friends, then his own feelings of being paralyzed, the hope of walking again, the changes he goes through, he is kidnapped...so much more...! Terrific story and well developed characters! Well thought out! Hope there will be another!
The narrator was terrific and performed great!
by Steve Alten, Andrew Eiden (Narrator)
I really loved this audible book! What a thrilling ride (or swim) all the way through! So much going on. The interpersonal dynamics of family, of friends, then his own feelings of being paralyzed, the hope of walking again, the changes he goes through, he is kidnapped...so much more...! Terrific story and well developed characters! Well thought out! Hope there will be another!
The narrator was terrific and performed great!
September 27, 2018
This is the tale of a teenager, paralyzed from the waist down after a car accident, who injects himself with bull shark DNA and becomes half-man/half-shark!
If that sounds ridiculous to you, you're absolutely on the money!
If that sounds like a hell of a lot of fun, in a cheesy B-movie kind of way, you're also spot on!
Let's be honest; this isn't ever going to be long-listed for any literary awards but I'm pretty sure the author knows that. As Guns N' Roses once said 'Take it for what it is'...
If that sounds ridiculous to you, you're absolutely on the money!
If that sounds like a hell of a lot of fun, in a cheesy B-movie kind of way, you're also spot on!
Let's be honest; this isn't ever going to be long-listed for any literary awards but I'm pretty sure the author knows that. As Guns N' Roses once said 'Take it for what it is'...
did-not-finish
November 13, 2014No.
I got mad at the book when the basketball coach called his male players "ladies". Har har. We all know girls stink at basketball and just suck at life in general, right? Well, okay, I can move past that because I know it's a common insult--hopefully one that will die in a fire someday soon, but there you have it.
So I keep going. I get to the HIGHLY inappropriate part where the 30-something Australian cartoon--I mean character--asks the teenage paraplegic protagonist about his penis function. No, seriously, he asks the kid if it still works. So many adjectives to describe this scene: inappropriate, unprofessional, harassment, gross... I'll just leave off there because, you know, Goodreads does limit the number of characters I have to use.
Next up, the two female high school interns show up. Since they're in high school, I think it's safe for me to assume that they're underage. What does Australian dude do? He proceeds to sexually harass one of them by singing a lewd song to her. Oh. Hell. No. Maybe he doesn't know this, being from Australia and all, but workplace sexual harassment is illegal in the United States, and the fact that she's an underage girl makes you gross and disgusting.
All right. Not sure I can handle this, but I'll give it the benefit of the doubt; maybe Australian dude will have an epiphany and realize that sexism is bad, 'mkay?
Until I read another page or two, he spears the severed head of a tuna, sniffs it, and proceeds to tell Kwan that the odor reminds him of an ex-girlfriend of his.
Cover your ears, children. This language is not appropriate for you.
WHAT. THE. ACTUAL. FUCK.
That's when I DNFed the book so hard I practically shattered my Kindle into a million pieces.
I got mad at the book when the basketball coach called his male players "ladies". Har har. We all know girls stink at basketball and just suck at life in general, right? Well, okay, I can move past that because I know it's a common insult--hopefully one that will die in a fire someday soon, but there you have it.
So I keep going. I get to the HIGHLY inappropriate part where the 30-something Australian cartoon--I mean character--asks the teenage paraplegic protagonist about his penis function. No, seriously, he asks the kid if it still works. So many adjectives to describe this scene: inappropriate, unprofessional, harassment, gross... I'll just leave off there because, you know, Goodreads does limit the number of characters I have to use.
Next up, the two female high school interns show up. Since they're in high school, I think it's safe for me to assume that they're underage. What does Australian dude do? He proceeds to sexually harass one of them by singing a lewd song to her. Oh. Hell. No. Maybe he doesn't know this, being from Australia and all, but workplace sexual harassment is illegal in the United States, and the fact that she's an underage girl makes you gross and disgusting.
All right. Not sure I can handle this, but I'll give it the benefit of the doubt; maybe Australian dude will have an epiphany and realize that sexism is bad, 'mkay?
Until I read another page or two, he spears the severed head of a tuna, sniffs it, and proceeds to tell Kwan that the odor reminds him of an ex-girlfriend of his.
Cover your ears, children. This language is not appropriate for you.
WHAT. THE. ACTUAL. FUCK.
That's when I DNFed the book so hard I practically shattered my Kindle into a million pieces.
November 1, 2020
This was a book of several parts, and I changed my rating of it many times while I was reading it: as far up as 4 stars, down to 1, then eventually settling on 3. It was also not at all what I expected. I love stories about teenagers who suddenly develop superhuman powers. I love cheesy B-movies, and most of all I love the Sharknado films – so when I read a review of this book, I knew it was for me. However, it did not start out that way.
Seventeen-year-old Kwan is a paraplegic having snapped his spinal cord in a car accident that killed his mother. Prior to this, he had been highly independent, an A-grade student, a very good basketball player – and quite probably, an insufferable (but very popular) jock. Now, he was in a wheelchair, all his dreams shattered along with his independence and spine – and what was even worse – he was responsible for the state in which he found himself, and the death of his mother.
I loved the beginning. I am also confined to a wheelchair, and could empathise with his difficulties – getting dressed, heavy doors on springs, counters set too high, having to rely on other people for transport – for basically just about everything. However, there the similarity ends. I had years to get used to being disabled – having gradually deteriorated over 26 years, and had a full life before ending up in a wheelchair. I cannot imagine the extreme shock of being a fit teenager, with your life ahead of you, one day – and waking the next as a paraplegic. Everything you formerly took for granted, snatched away from you. Being disabled creates a myriad of tiny (but not insignificant) difficulties that you (when a fit person) would never imagine. I found it very understandable, that Kwan would risk his life to inject himself with shark stem cell – on the off-chance that he could walk again, and get his old life back.
But, once he started to change – to become super-able-bodied – I lost all sympathy for him. He became a real dick – though to be fair, he was aware of that:
My rating dropped to 2- stars.
Thankfully, there was a lot more to the story. Some interesting bits of science relating to sharks and the sea – parcelled out as Kwan tested his amazing new abilities. And then the conspiracy theories, CIA special ops, Iranian and Syrian connections, danger and excitement.
Of course, none of it particularly believable – but you don’t read a book like this for facts and reality. By the end, I was back on team-Kwan, and the rating shot back up to 4 stars.
The book was written in the first person with Kwan as narrator – even when there was no way he could have known what was occurring – which I found a bit weird. I also found the character of Sabeen completely superfluous. As with many of the other female characters, she seemed to really only be there as eye candy (albeit deadly), and an opportunity for the author to indulge in some slavering over the female form. Kwan’s friend – Jesse and Anya – together with his grandmother and the school counsellor, did make up for the sexism, brutality and amorality, by being all-round wonderful human beings.
So, in the end, I settled on 3 stars. I did generally enjoy the book, and am glad I read it – but probably would not bother to read it again. It could make a decent (B-grade) movie - with some editing. There is potential for a sequel ….
Seventeen-year-old Kwan is a paraplegic having snapped his spinal cord in a car accident that killed his mother. Prior to this, he had been highly independent, an A-grade student, a very good basketball player – and quite probably, an insufferable (but very popular) jock. Now, he was in a wheelchair, all his dreams shattered along with his independence and spine – and what was even worse – he was responsible for the state in which he found himself, and the death of his mother.
I loved the beginning. I am also confined to a wheelchair, and could empathise with his difficulties – getting dressed, heavy doors on springs, counters set too high, having to rely on other people for transport – for basically just about everything. However, there the similarity ends. I had years to get used to being disabled – having gradually deteriorated over 26 years, and had a full life before ending up in a wheelchair. I cannot imagine the extreme shock of being a fit teenager, with your life ahead of you, one day – and waking the next as a paraplegic. Everything you formerly took for granted, snatched away from you. Being disabled creates a myriad of tiny (but not insignificant) difficulties that you (when a fit person) would never imagine. I found it very understandable, that Kwan would risk his life to inject himself with shark stem cell – on the off-chance that he could walk again, and get his old life back.
But, once he started to change – to become super-able-bodied – I lost all sympathy for him. He became a real dick – though to be fair, he was aware of that:
“I was back in training, lost in the world of reps and sets . . . in essence, I was me again! The fact that I had brought myself to this place by facing my fears stoked my ego even more.”
“And so it went—my body growing stronger every day, my ego keeping pace.”
“I no longer thought about Anya, or anyone else for that matter. From the darkest depths, I had fought my way to the summit, transforming myself from the most exiled bag of flesh in high school to the most desired, and I was enjoying every intoxicating minute of my blossoming celebrity. And why not? God had blessed me with this miracle; to not partake of his bounty would be like spitting in his eye.”
My rating dropped to 2- stars.
Thankfully, there was a lot more to the story. Some interesting bits of science relating to sharks and the sea – parcelled out as Kwan tested his amazing new abilities. And then the conspiracy theories, CIA special ops, Iranian and Syrian connections, danger and excitement.
Of course, none of it particularly believable – but you don’t read a book like this for facts and reality. By the end, I was back on team-Kwan, and the rating shot back up to 4 stars.
“For the record, I don’t consider myself redeemed. You don’t cleanse a tarnished soul by killing others, even if you feel they deserved it. I guess in many ways, I’m still evolving.”
The book was written in the first person with Kwan as narrator – even when there was no way he could have known what was occurring – which I found a bit weird. I also found the character of Sabeen completely superfluous. As with many of the other female characters, she seemed to really only be there as eye candy (albeit deadly), and an opportunity for the author to indulge in some slavering over the female form. Kwan’s friend – Jesse and Anya – together with his grandmother and the school counsellor, did make up for the sexism, brutality and amorality, by being all-round wonderful human beings.
So, in the end, I settled on 3 stars. I did generally enjoy the book, and am glad I read it – but probably would not bother to read it again. It could make a decent (B-grade) movie - with some editing. There is potential for a sequel ….
October 26, 2020
Review: Cover art needs some work. Like maybe a whole new concept.
This started out very intriguing. Paralyzed kid takes a chance on untested stem cells in a life or death bid to regain his life. And then we get a canned story-line. From teen angst and wuv interests, to bully’s and ultimate paybacks. Even the scenes that have yet to fully develop you can determine the outcome. For instance this guy and his hot wife in line at a dance club that are being harassed by 3 “bad Dudes”. You know right at the get-go that Kwan is going to save the day while showcasing his shark attributes. And then you really have to suspend your disbelief when it turns out Kwan’s rear admiral father is behind the stem cell research, unbeknownst to both of them. Really?
There are the standard digs on Cheney/Rumsfield (conservatives) and the accolades for Oprah/Obama that you come to expect when you read any of Alten’s books. The guy just can’t help but use his work as a mouthpiece for his political platform.
This started out very intriguing. Paralyzed kid takes a chance on untested stem cells in a life or death bid to regain his life. And then we get a canned story-line. From teen angst and wuv interests, to bully’s and ultimate paybacks. Even the scenes that have yet to fully develop you can determine the outcome. For instance this guy and his hot wife in line at a dance club that are being harassed by 3 “bad Dudes”. You know right at the get-go that Kwan is going to save the day while showcasing his shark attributes. And then you really have to suspend your disbelief when it turns out Kwan’s rear admiral father is behind the stem cell research, unbeknownst to both of them. Really?
There are the standard digs on Cheney/Rumsfield (conservatives) and the accolades for Oprah/Obama that you come to expect when you read any of Alten’s books. The guy just can’t help but use his work as a mouthpiece for his political platform.
October 11, 2016
Shark Man- Steve Alten
Series: no
Pages:268
Genre: Science Fiction: futuristic technology
Rate: 4.5 stars
Shark Man is a must read for ages 12-20 because the of the violence and maturity of the plot and characters. The book book is action packed and hard to put down. 16 year old Kwan Wilsons life changes drastically when he crashes a car killing his mom and paralyzing him from the waist down. He is sent to live with his grandmother in Miami, Florida, there he is ridiculed for his disability and made fun of. Kwan receives an internship at a shark lab. The technology they use their can apparently help heal his paralyzing. What will he do, risk his life for a chance to be healed ,or just to stay the way he is ? Kwan doesn't feel like he belongs and wants to kill himself repeatedly . Internal struggles like this make his days more and more challenging as they go on. Bullies give him daily battles including physical and verbal harassment. Kwan finds it hard to even make it through the day. Also he and his dad, "The cornel" dot get along one bit they fight and fight. I really enjoyed this book because of the suspense and humor and action . The book hooks readers and makes them think. A must read for many ages for sure.
Series: no
Pages:268
Genre: Science Fiction: futuristic technology
Rate: 4.5 stars
Shark Man is a must read for ages 12-20 because the of the violence and maturity of the plot and characters. The book book is action packed and hard to put down. 16 year old Kwan Wilsons life changes drastically when he crashes a car killing his mom and paralyzing him from the waist down. He is sent to live with his grandmother in Miami, Florida, there he is ridiculed for his disability and made fun of. Kwan receives an internship at a shark lab. The technology they use their can apparently help heal his paralyzing. What will he do, risk his life for a chance to be healed ,or just to stay the way he is ? Kwan doesn't feel like he belongs and wants to kill himself repeatedly . Internal struggles like this make his days more and more challenging as they go on. Bullies give him daily battles including physical and verbal harassment. Kwan finds it hard to even make it through the day. Also he and his dad, "The cornel" dot get along one bit they fight and fight. I really enjoyed this book because of the suspense and humor and action . The book hooks readers and makes them think. A must read for many ages for sure.
August 13, 2018
I finally found it - the male equivalent of Twilight. A poor, poor teenage boy becomes a massive muscle bound beauty with super powers that confronts a massive government conspriarcy. Complete with 10 minute speech about how 9/11 was an inside job!
Could be worse and the final speech isn't half bad. Just watch for plotholes and don't think too much - or at all.
Could be worse and the final speech isn't half bad. Just watch for plotholes and don't think too much - or at all.
December 12, 2014
I have read several books by this author and enjoyed them, this was not one of those. I actually was glad that this was a short read at just over 200 some pages and I am very happy that I am done with it. The story seemed rushed and amateurish on a grand scale.The author also goes into great detail about this kid playing basketball with his High School team with a lot of basketball terminology that left me in the dust. Basketball is just not my game. Overall I seriously could not in all good faith recommend this book. If I was talking with other readers about this author this is a book that I would definitely avoid. Giving this two stars just because I think of what this could have been but just did not make it, not even close.
November 13, 2021
A nice book but nothing more than that. Not a fan of Andrew Eiden though. Flat and emotionless and too old for the main character.
June 12, 2020
My expectations for an Alten book are usually pretty low. I expect to find some very (very) questionable science, wafer-thin characters, and a compelling, engaging plot. What I get out of one of his books is about the same as what I get from a Preston/Child book, or a Dan Brown book. Sharkman disappointed even my lowered expectations.
Part of it is the rampant sexism throughout the book. The word "bitch" is used as a pejorative throughout (for women and men), there's an offensive support character who seems to be preying on minors, and most of the women in the book are there just to serve the men in some way. They're smart and independent, yes, but as far as the plot goes, they're just there to serve the main characters. There's a romantic subplot, too, but it was harder for me to believe that the two characters hooked up than it was for me to believe someone could inject themselves with shark stem cells and grow gills within a few days.
Part of it is the clunky way that Alten tells the story. It starts off in the first person, but later a chapter is told in the third person, then back to first, and back to third, etc. Alten had different characters to show in the book, some of whom were outside of the narrator's view, and it wasn't like it was one chapter stuck in the middle of the book. What made it odd is how those third-person chapters were also supposed to be told by the narrator. Instead of referring to the admiral as the admiral, he refers to him as "my dad" in a few places, and it threw me off because he was also talking about what was happening and what people were thinking in these chapters. It didn't make any sense to me.
Toward the end of the book, he/the narrator suggests that 9/11 was an inside job, and I just.... What? Why is this even a part of the story?
I'll give Alten props for putting some diversity into the story (the main character is Korean; the love interest is Indian; a secondary character is Chinese), but man, the narrator couldn't do convincing accents for them. He tried, and did a far better job than I could have done, but it just sounded like a white guy trying to sound Asian/English/whatever.
You should know what you're getting when you go into an Alten book, but if you're new to the author, go back to that first paragraph to get a sense of what he does. And then maybe start with MEG, instead.
Part of it is the rampant sexism throughout the book. The word "bitch" is used as a pejorative throughout (for women and men), there's an offensive support character who seems to be preying on minors, and most of the women in the book are there just to serve the men in some way. They're smart and independent, yes, but as far as the plot goes, they're just there to serve the main characters. There's a romantic subplot, too, but it was harder for me to believe that the two characters hooked up than it was for me to believe someone could inject themselves with shark stem cells and grow gills within a few days.
Part of it is the clunky way that Alten tells the story. It starts off in the first person, but later a chapter is told in the third person, then back to first, and back to third, etc. Alten had different characters to show in the book, some of whom were outside of the narrator's view, and it wasn't like it was one chapter stuck in the middle of the book. What made it odd is how those third-person chapters were also supposed to be told by the narrator. Instead of referring to the admiral as the admiral, he refers to him as "my dad" in a few places, and it threw me off because he was also talking about what was happening and what people were thinking in these chapters. It didn't make any sense to me.
Toward the end of the book, he/the narrator suggests that 9/11 was an inside job, and I just.... What? Why is this even a part of the story?
I'll give Alten props for putting some diversity into the story (the main character is Korean; the love interest is Indian; a secondary character is Chinese), but man, the narrator couldn't do convincing accents for them. He tried, and did a far better job than I could have done, but it just sounded like a white guy trying to sound Asian/English/whatever.
You should know what you're getting when you go into an Alten book, but if you're new to the author, go back to that first paragraph to get a sense of what he does. And then maybe start with MEG, instead.
January 15, 2019
Steve Allen is one of my favorite authors so there’s no surprise that I enjoyed this book. I loved the idea of this story and the characters made you feel many emotions. It was action packed and funny at times and extremely interesting. I always get a little lost with his political and military writing in his books but that’s just because I don’t know much about the subjects.
February 11, 2021
Just a bunch of toilet humor and way to much plot convenience. Characters do complete 180s in development in a single day.
February 16, 2021
Glad he got his "father" back. Kind of a big info dump about that situation at the end.
*Notes in updates.
*Notes in updates.
October 6, 2023
I love everything Steve Alten! This was fun read!!!
March 25, 2022
This review will be entirely too long. It's the worst book I've read in many many years. I'm struggling to remember reading anything that had worse underlying themes.
Not suitable for kids. Other than the main character being 17, I'm struggling to understand how it can be marketed for teens to read. The themes are way too mature for YA IMO. Sharkman just handled so many things poorly that I couldn't take it seriously. I'll talk about some of the problems I found when reading.
TL:DR Drug Use, Suicide, Exaggerated Racial Stereotypes, Minority characters being the villain's, The way the female characters were handled, A R scene, Gruesome violence (In one scene in particular.) I don't mind reading some of those things if done well, but for a YA novel where all of the above is 'ok' - it left me shaking my head.
_________________________
The reasons it shouldn't be marketed at kids
(I can't speak on how he feels about being in a wheelchair)
Drug Use:
"The Queen" is the name Kwan has given to his "Stronger than heroin" pain killers
"For the first three weeks after the accident I found myself watching the clock, desperate to make it to my next syringe. Two milligrams every four hours was hitting me like a ton of bricks but deserting me forty-five minutes too soon, so my keepers and I settled into a nice three hour, one milligram groove and reality became optional again. God, I miss the queen."
He easily buys Human Growth Hormone from a kid at school
Suicide:
Kwan had an attempt before the book takes place, before he moved to his current city. He also considered attempting again just before he gets the Stem Cell idea.
"If the HGH failed to prevent the mutation, a few hours of suffering and I’d be dead. Either way, I’d be free.. also "I was either going to walk again or die trying" just as an example.
Exaggerated Racial Stereotypes. Minority characters being the villain's.
A lot of these characters felt like a caricature.
"The Aussie" that looked like a Rugby Player that spoke in a "Strine" accent (very broad, often sounding uneducated). When he was introduced, it sounded like the author looked up Aussie Slang and tried to fit as many words in as he could. No one says "Duffer", “Jackaroo" or "Sheila" in every day speech let alone one paragraph. He was depicted as the dumb pervert who doesn't know NOT to ask Kwan about his penis. Get real. (That's just at the start of the book). I was personally offended by the writing of this character throughout but tried to move on and let it go as I was reading.
Kwan Himself - the smart Asian. Nothing wrong with having a smart Asian character - but Kwan was the popular jock stereotype before the accident. How does a 17 year old know how to rig an IV properly? (Sterilise everything, find a vein the first time around on Himself no less) I didn't get to study Marine Biology in the 8th grade - I think I went to the wrong high school. "I’m smart enough to ace my GED and get my diploma tomorrow if I wanted to without any of this bullshit.". His friend called him a "Brainiac." after answering one question in class. etc.
The Cuban thugs. One of them had cocaine eyes, the group was harassing a pretty lady (they attempt to R her later). The whole interaction with these characters was unnecessary. The whole scene could have been removed and No One would have missed it. More on this scene later.
A Syrian character named Mahdi HAD to be the one to double cross Kwan's father, but she's still pretty *eyeroll* Reeves quickly cleared his eyepiece, then—arm in arm—he and Watkins began their ascent, anxious to gut and drown the voluptuous Syrian assassin.
The way the female characters were handled:
"Smart chicks think too much".
"The sexy brunette “10” and I ..."
" I was enjoying every intoxicating minute of my blossoming celebrity. And why not? God had blessed me with this miracle; to not partake of his bounty would be like spitting in his eye." Tracy was the bounty.
Tracy (17) is a cheerleader with "luscious lips, exotic eyes, and a Playmate body". Kwan said "she was practically telling me what brand of condoms she preferred" after texting him.
Explicit description of an (almost) sex scene in the ocean - until she touched him and thought he had 2 penises. His penis had actually morphed into a clasper. She ran off and brought back her friends to laugh at him, but it had changed back to normal by then. "I breathed a sigh of relief as people teased Tracy"
That night (After the Tracy incident) Anya went to Kwan's room and they both lost their virginities. Anya and Kwan had kissed one other time before Kwan was famous. He dropped her as soon as Tracy looked at him sideways "I no longer thought about Anya" and yet she suddenly wants him out of nowhere? Or was she apparently jealous and the author is pitting two females against each other for a guy?
"Anya closed the door, then surprised me by removing her own shirt. “Anya?” “If you’re going to lose your virginity, Kwan, gift it to someone special.” She climbed in bed with me ......". "I didn’t know if Anya was a virgin, but she sure felt like a virgin." It lasted 7 seconds and after KWAN was finished, Anya (on top) stopped and laid down on top of him "How was it?" Kwan said it was the best moment of his life, Anya said “Mine, too". (Maybe she wasn't a virgin and Kwan is just shaming Anya with the "Felt Like A Virgin" line ... who knows)
So a 17 year old girl just walks into a guys room the same day she witnessed the Tracy incident, surprises him by going topless, climbs into bed with him and looses her virginity. Sorry takes the gift of his virginity (What about hers and why is it a gift anyway?). It lasts 7 seconds and she just stops and it was the best moment of her life. No one was embarrassed, she just hooks his IV up and leaves the room. Side note - he can hook up his own IV, that's what got him in this stem cell mess to begin with lol
A R scene:
Gruesome violence:
Mark wasn't able to help Shaina in the above scene because "Mark was lying on his back, bleeding from a head wound. The big Cuban was standing over him, his booted right foot on top of his wrist, preventing him from moving.".
Leaving Raul, I stepped toward the big man and unleashed a right roundhouse punch that shattered Jorge’s jaw and separated his mandible from his skull—the man’s mangled screams renting the night air.
In a haze, I remember tearing the gun from the shooter’s hand—only to realize later that I had torn the gun and his hand from his wrist.
The above happened in one fight that involved the three Cuban men. I wish it wasn't included at all. The only way this scene helped move the plot forward was to show that Kwan understands his new body a little better.
Kwan is also described eating a turtle when he was in his shark form.
Last thoughts: I can not recommend this book to anyone. I'm shocked it was published.
Not suitable for kids. Other than the main character being 17, I'm struggling to understand how it can be marketed for teens to read. The themes are way too mature for YA IMO. Sharkman just handled so many things poorly that I couldn't take it seriously. I'll talk about some of the problems I found when reading.
TL:DR Drug Use, Suicide, Exaggerated Racial Stereotypes, Minority characters being the villain's, The way the female characters were handled, A R scene, Gruesome violence (In one scene in particular.) I don't mind reading some of those things if done well, but for a YA novel where all of the above is 'ok' - it left me shaking my head.
_________________________
The reasons it shouldn't be marketed at kids
(I can't speak on how he feels about being in a wheelchair)
Drug Use:
"The Queen" is the name Kwan has given to his "Stronger than heroin" pain killers
"For the first three weeks after the accident I found myself watching the clock, desperate to make it to my next syringe. Two milligrams every four hours was hitting me like a ton of bricks but deserting me forty-five minutes too soon, so my keepers and I settled into a nice three hour, one milligram groove and reality became optional again. God, I miss the queen."
He easily buys Human Growth Hormone from a kid at school
Suicide:
Kwan had an attempt before the book takes place, before he moved to his current city. He also considered attempting again just before he gets the Stem Cell idea.
"If the HGH failed to prevent the mutation, a few hours of suffering and I’d be dead. Either way, I’d be free.. also "I was either going to walk again or die trying" just as an example.
Exaggerated Racial Stereotypes. Minority characters being the villain's.
A lot of these characters felt like a caricature.
"The Aussie" that looked like a Rugby Player that spoke in a "Strine" accent (very broad, often sounding uneducated). When he was introduced, it sounded like the author looked up Aussie Slang and tried to fit as many words in as he could. No one says "Duffer", “Jackaroo" or "Sheila" in every day speech let alone one paragraph. He was depicted as the dumb pervert who doesn't know NOT to ask Kwan about his penis. Get real. (That's just at the start of the book). I was personally offended by the writing of this character throughout but tried to move on and let it go as I was reading.
Kwan Himself - the smart Asian. Nothing wrong with having a smart Asian character - but Kwan was the popular jock stereotype before the accident. How does a 17 year old know how to rig an IV properly? (Sterilise everything, find a vein the first time around on Himself no less) I didn't get to study Marine Biology in the 8th grade - I think I went to the wrong high school. "I’m smart enough to ace my GED and get my diploma tomorrow if I wanted to without any of this bullshit.". His friend called him a "Brainiac." after answering one question in class. etc.
The Cuban thugs. One of them had cocaine eyes, the group was harassing a pretty lady (they attempt to R her later). The whole interaction with these characters was unnecessary. The whole scene could have been removed and No One would have missed it. More on this scene later.
A Syrian character named Mahdi HAD to be the one to double cross Kwan's father, but she's still pretty *eyeroll* Reeves quickly cleared his eyepiece, then—arm in arm—he and Watkins began their ascent, anxious to gut and drown the voluptuous Syrian assassin.
The way the female characters were handled:
"Smart chicks think too much".
"The sexy brunette “10” and I ..."
" I was enjoying every intoxicating minute of my blossoming celebrity. And why not? God had blessed me with this miracle; to not partake of his bounty would be like spitting in his eye." Tracy was the bounty.
Tracy (17) is a cheerleader with "luscious lips, exotic eyes, and a Playmate body". Kwan said "she was practically telling me what brand of condoms she preferred" after texting him.
Explicit description of an (almost) sex scene in the ocean - until she touched him and thought he had 2 penises. His penis had actually morphed into a clasper. She ran off and brought back her friends to laugh at him, but it had changed back to normal by then. "I breathed a sigh of relief as people teased Tracy"
That night (After the Tracy incident) Anya went to Kwan's room and they both lost their virginities. Anya and Kwan had kissed one other time before Kwan was famous. He dropped her as soon as Tracy looked at him sideways "I no longer thought about Anya" and yet she suddenly wants him out of nowhere? Or was she apparently jealous and the author is pitting two females against each other for a guy?
"Anya closed the door, then surprised me by removing her own shirt. “Anya?” “If you’re going to lose your virginity, Kwan, gift it to someone special.” She climbed in bed with me ......". "I didn’t know if Anya was a virgin, but she sure felt like a virgin." It lasted 7 seconds and after KWAN was finished, Anya (on top) stopped and laid down on top of him "How was it?" Kwan said it was the best moment of his life, Anya said “Mine, too". (Maybe she wasn't a virgin and Kwan is just shaming Anya with the "Felt Like A Virgin" line ... who knows)
So a 17 year old girl just walks into a guys room the same day she witnessed the Tracy incident, surprises him by going topless, climbs into bed with him and looses her virginity. Sorry takes the gift of his virginity (What about hers and why is it a gift anyway?). It lasts 7 seconds and she just stops and it was the best moment of her life. No one was embarrassed, she just hooks his IV up and leaves the room. Side note - he can hook up his own IV, that's what got him in this stem cell mess to begin with lol
A R scene:
Gruesome violence:
Mark wasn't able to help Shaina in the above scene because "Mark was lying on his back, bleeding from a head wound. The big Cuban was standing over him, his booted right foot on top of his wrist, preventing him from moving.".
Leaving Raul, I stepped toward the big man and unleashed a right roundhouse punch that shattered Jorge’s jaw and separated his mandible from his skull—the man’s mangled screams renting the night air.
In a haze, I remember tearing the gun from the shooter’s hand—only to realize later that I had torn the gun and his hand from his wrist.
The above happened in one fight that involved the three Cuban men. I wish it wasn't included at all. The only way this scene helped move the plot forward was to show that Kwan understands his new body a little better.
Kwan is also described eating a turtle when he was in his shark form.
Last thoughts: I can not recommend this book to anyone. I'm shocked it was published.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 8, 2018
Sharkman isn't complex and if there is a flaw, it is the main character is 'too' spontaneous for belief early in the story. Aside from that, I found very little else to fault for this story.
Written by Steve Alten (fav author of the Meg Series, which is not referenced at all, so I believe this is not in the same universe), the author introduces us to the main character who is a paraplegic because of an accident driving. This event, prior to the story, is still one of the most important motivators for Quan. It sets his mindset and represents the reason why he becomes reckless (and suicidal) in the first part of the novel.
Ultimately, our hero gets his hands on Shark Stem cells. He uses them with the intent to correct his spinal cord injury or kill him - because either would be preferable. What he gets is something in between.
And I'll stop there - The novel follows Quan as he adapts to his new situation. At times, it seems a bit like Teenwolf (Some Basketball scenes that display new abilities and sets him up for later notoriety), but gets fairly serious for the final 3rd of the novel. There is a serious issue, betrayal and some real bad guys to contend with by the last chapters. The ending is a bit easy, but no less enjoyable.
Ultimately, this isn't Meg, but thats ok. I very much enjoyed listening to the audible version while the Meg movie gets set to open this week.
Written by Steve Alten (fav author of the Meg Series, which is not referenced at all, so I believe this is not in the same universe), the author introduces us to the main character who is a paraplegic because of an accident driving. This event, prior to the story, is still one of the most important motivators for Quan. It sets his mindset and represents the reason why he becomes reckless (and suicidal) in the first part of the novel.
Ultimately, our hero gets his hands on Shark Stem cells. He uses them with the intent to correct his spinal cord injury or kill him - because either would be preferable. What he gets is something in between.
And I'll stop there - The novel follows Quan as he adapts to his new situation. At times, it seems a bit like Teenwolf (Some Basketball scenes that display new abilities and sets him up for later notoriety), but gets fairly serious for the final 3rd of the novel. There is a serious issue, betrayal and some real bad guys to contend with by the last chapters. The ending is a bit easy, but no less enjoyable.
Ultimately, this isn't Meg, but thats ok. I very much enjoyed listening to the audible version while the Meg movie gets set to open this week.
January 15, 2016
Please visit my blog, Bibliophage for my full review.
It was a fun read and I enjoyed it, but if you're looking for serious science, you might want to skip this one.
It was a fun read and I enjoyed it, but if you're looking for serious science, you might want to skip this one.
April 27, 2020
Listen, with that title, I didn't think this would be good, but I didn't think it would be THIS bad.
Basically, the issues here boil down to, this was written by a white dude. When these sort of high-concept romances are written by women, they bother to make the love interests human beings. Anya is certainly not one and the way Kwan objectifies every woman he meets is perhaps realistic, but gross and eventually tiresome. Every woman in this feels like a fantasy Alten had once. That said, the whole book is kind of an odd sexual fantasy filled with long stretches about penises and unwittingly fragile masculinity. Never, not once, does Alten do anything to justify why we should buy into the romance angle or even anything that happens, assuming we'll care just because these are our main characters.
This would maybe not be so egregious if Kwan himself were remotely complex or realistic. He's a Mary Sue of the highest order and it's genuinely shocking how uncompelling he remains despite his past trauma and what happens within the story proper. Perhaps the most egregious mishandling, though, is the way Alten deals with his race. I appreciate Alten trying to give a diverse cast, but his characterizations do not feel lived in and while there is some research at work into both Kwan and Anya's cultural backgrounds, it's largely restricted to a sort of American Imperialist viewpoint rather than a nuanced understanding of either culture. He says something like "Asian man syndrome" near the end that was truly the moment I couldn't pretend this book wasn't one of the dumbest things I've ever read.
On a more superficial note, it's also impossible to believe Kwan and Anya (or really any of the young characters) are real teenagers, as Alten's pop cultural references feel at least 15 years out of date and the kids do not sound like actual kids. It's perhaps minor in the longrun, but add up all this unreality and the whole book feels like pure fantasy.
My only compliment is that the marine biology talk is really well-researched and fun for me as someone who's always loved sharks and the ocean, but I do think it's a problem when you do more work getting the science right than actual human behavior. Little hard to buy into the big concept when a basic fidelity to human actions can't be achieved.
Basically, the issues here boil down to, this was written by a white dude. When these sort of high-concept romances are written by women, they bother to make the love interests human beings. Anya is certainly not one and the way Kwan objectifies every woman he meets is perhaps realistic, but gross and eventually tiresome. Every woman in this feels like a fantasy Alten had once. That said, the whole book is kind of an odd sexual fantasy filled with long stretches about penises and unwittingly fragile masculinity. Never, not once, does Alten do anything to justify why we should buy into the romance angle or even anything that happens, assuming we'll care just because these are our main characters.
This would maybe not be so egregious if Kwan himself were remotely complex or realistic. He's a Mary Sue of the highest order and it's genuinely shocking how uncompelling he remains despite his past trauma and what happens within the story proper. Perhaps the most egregious mishandling, though, is the way Alten deals with his race. I appreciate Alten trying to give a diverse cast, but his characterizations do not feel lived in and while there is some research at work into both Kwan and Anya's cultural backgrounds, it's largely restricted to a sort of American Imperialist viewpoint rather than a nuanced understanding of either culture. He says something like "Asian man syndrome" near the end that was truly the moment I couldn't pretend this book wasn't one of the dumbest things I've ever read.
On a more superficial note, it's also impossible to believe Kwan and Anya (or really any of the young characters) are real teenagers, as Alten's pop cultural references feel at least 15 years out of date and the kids do not sound like actual kids. It's perhaps minor in the longrun, but add up all this unreality and the whole book feels like pure fantasy.
My only compliment is that the marine biology talk is really well-researched and fun for me as someone who's always loved sharks and the ocean, but I do think it's a problem when you do more work getting the science right than actual human behavior. Little hard to buy into the big concept when a basic fidelity to human actions can't be achieved.
October 4, 2018
I'm not sure what I expected from this book. After finishing listening to the audio, I can only think of one thing that this reminds me of, and that is Michael Scott's Threat Level Midnight from the show The Office. This story is so absolutely ridiculous that it makes it entertaining. The characters are all overly simplified and exhibit one or two main personality traits that never really develop over time. The story isn't a bad one, and in fact there is a ton of information in the book that is based around data and facts, sometimes too much. It's a mixture of teenage drama, a superhero, super evil bad guys that want to destroy the world, and impossible situations.
The main character spends way too much of the book marveling over his new muscles, so much so that it makes it seem comical and I don't think that's what the author was going for. This is like what you'd get if you asked a teenage guy to write a superhero story for you. I don't want to be too harsh on the story because it isn't all bad, in fact it was quite entertaining, but at the end I felt like I had just listened to another typical superhero story and I didn't take any amazing or profound thoughts away from it. It's worth the listen if you want something for pure entertainment value.
The main character spends way too much of the book marveling over his new muscles, so much so that it makes it seem comical and I don't think that's what the author was going for. This is like what you'd get if you asked a teenage guy to write a superhero story for you. I don't want to be too harsh on the story because it isn't all bad, in fact it was quite entertaining, but at the end I felt like I had just listened to another typical superhero story and I didn't take any amazing or profound thoughts away from it. It's worth the listen if you want something for pure entertainment value.
June 6, 2019
the inconsistent use of PoV change, as well as a main character who always seems to know just the right thing at the right time, made it difficult to get fully invested in the character. add to that stretching the science just a little too far and I was ready to give this book 2 stars, but the last act managed to get my blood pumping, to get an emotional reaction out of me, and that's rare enough it deserved an extra one.
Mister Alten knows how to write a tight thriller, and this book would have benefited from being handled as such from start to finish, instead of trying to educate us on sharks and genetics.
one of the bigger flaws in the book is the PoV. it's 1st person, but there is no consistency when he switches away from Kwan. sometimes, it's Kwan telling us about something he mysteriously found out, that's unclear how he could have. at other times, some unknown narrator takes over.
in the end, this feels like it's targeted at a young audience, one that won't have a pool of varied experience yet that leads to notice inconsistencies in many of points of science the story depends on to work fully.
Mister Alten knows how to write a tight thriller, and this book would have benefited from being handled as such from start to finish, instead of trying to educate us on sharks and genetics.
one of the bigger flaws in the book is the PoV. it's 1st person, but there is no consistency when he switches away from Kwan. sometimes, it's Kwan telling us about something he mysteriously found out, that's unclear how he could have. at other times, some unknown narrator takes over.
in the end, this feels like it's targeted at a young audience, one that won't have a pool of varied experience yet that leads to notice inconsistencies in many of points of science the story depends on to work fully.
May 9, 2017
After reading Steve Alten 's book Meg I knew this book had to be interesting....How could it not be With a title like Sharkman....right?!?! So this seems to be one of those books you are going to like or you won't. Now I am not one to read reviews before reading the book. I usually will take a quick look at them after I read the book. Now when I was going through a few a of the low scoring reviews and read why they didn't like it. It just seemed like nick picking at things that should not make you hate a book IMO. Now for me, I found this book to very entertaining and fast paced. Kwan just made me laugh with his teenage boy thoughts and ways but he also made me feel for him. I loved how he was being honest about himself and how he talked about his injuries, so you could understand how It could be if you had a disability or injury like his. It made you understand more, at least it did for me. Now a lot goes on in this book for it being under 300 pages but I still think it worked out fine. I am not one who needs lots of filler and thank goodness it didn't.
July 12, 2021
I choose this book to read for my young adult lit class because I like sharks and I like sci-fi. This book gave me both so I jumped at it. I enjoyed it just fine.
If you're a shark person or a sci-fi person, this book should satisfy you just as well, but it is not a book I would recommend to be taught in a young adult class. It definitely wasn't written with the classroom in mind and there are parts of it that definitely shouldn't be in a classroom. When compared to the myriad of books out there, many more would be better suited for teaching over this one.
This book contains alcohol and drug use. There are definitely some very sexual moments in the book. Rock and roll is present. Strong language is also present in the book. Violence includes people being shot, bombed, and getting mauled by a human shark hybrid.
If you're a shark person or a sci-fi person, this book should satisfy you just as well, but it is not a book I would recommend to be taught in a young adult class. It definitely wasn't written with the classroom in mind and there are parts of it that definitely shouldn't be in a classroom. When compared to the myriad of books out there, many more would be better suited for teaching over this one.
This book contains alcohol and drug use. There are definitely some very sexual moments in the book. Rock and roll is present. Strong language is also present in the book. Violence includes people being shot, bombed, and getting mauled by a human shark hybrid.
July 23, 2018
I really enjoyed this story. I just wish it was longer. There's not much to complain about except for all the Asian women (except the grandma) being portrayed as promiscuous (The guy's mom is said to slept with every sailor in town, and the girl to take his pants off in the ocean... Asian friend of the girl he likes). I also wish they'd got to the part about the main character's transformation a bit faster. Aside from that it's a solid super hero origin story. I feel like there's more stories to tell with the two super characters, so the ending feels a bit abrupt. It's a shame this isn't part of a series. I'd buy the audiobook of book 2 if it were longer than 10 hours.
Narrator was decent. Easy to listen to. No complaints, but didn't give me any WOW moments.
Narrator was decent. Easy to listen to. No complaints, but didn't give me any WOW moments.
October 12, 2018
This is a book for people who like superheroes, particularly of the “something radioactive happened and now I’m a mutant with weird powers.” Being many decades past the usual superhero lovers, I am somewhat surprised by how much I liked this book. The mutant spends a lot of time thinking about morality, regretting his mistakes and dealing with all the things that happen when you become internet and TV famous. He is also a teenager, so he makes a lot of mistakes from impetuosity, hormones and lack of thinking things through. In those ways, he was a regular kid. I also (assuming the author was a good researcher) learned a lot about sharks.
September 9, 2018
This book was oddly specific at times that didn’t really seem to matter. Every car had a brand, all medical terminology had an explanation, and each military maneuver had details that I didn’t really need to know. And yet, the emotional content felt a little flat and the father was downright evil (in a way that seemed to serve the plot more than reality). As an audio book, it was ok. The positive is that I could leave it for stretches of time and then pick it up again without feeling lost.
December 15, 2025
Sharkman is a fast paced blend of science fiction, thriller, and coming of age drama that delivers both heart and adrenaline. Steve Alten explores grief, risk, and transformation through a bold premise that keeps the stakes high and the pages turning. The science driven plot is balanced by emotional depth, making Kwan’s journey both thrilling and human. A gripping read for fans of speculative thrillers with a pulse.
July 11, 2017
This was a quick read that I ripped through in one day. I have liked all of Alten's shark stories. This one was fairly good, but definitely aimed at younger readers. Not complicated, fairly simple and straightforward no deep political or sociological discussions. Good for short-attention span readers, but not something that I will read again.
August 28, 2018
Steve Alten is one of my favorite authors, he is a super page turner and makes reading exciting. However, this was not my favorite book. There were some good parts, exciting parts but overall missed the mark for me. It would be better for teens, I think. The Loch (my first Alten book) and the Meg series I would highly recommend.
April 1, 2019
Written for adolescent boys
I had wanted to read this book for a long time, the premise of a human - shark hybrid being interesting and my being a Steve Alten fan. However, I found the book to be written on an adolescent boy's level and from that perspective. Having said that, it was ok and had some humorous moments. Would make a decent made for TV movie.
I had wanted to read this book for a long time, the premise of a human - shark hybrid being interesting and my being a Steve Alten fan. However, I found the book to be written on an adolescent boy's level and from that perspective. Having said that, it was ok and had some humorous moments. Would make a decent made for TV movie.
October 16, 2018
I am total comic book guy so i was interested in getting this book thing its kinda a super hero thing but its really not. The book is far less entertaining and the build up is extremely slow. There is no wow factor or feel good moment while reading this and it ends with a meh...
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