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Assured Destruction #1-3
Assured Destruction: The Complete Series
Teenage hacker, Janus Rose, doesn’t care about the moral choices of living multiple lives online, until the real life consequences of her actions enslave her to the local PD’s High Tech Crime Unit, forcing her to become the very creature hackers hate, a spook.
Jan owes the world nothing. Her father left without a word. #BIGSECRET Her mother has progressive Multiple Sclerosis. And Jan juggles the need to complete homework with the need to keep pizza on the table, running the family computer recycling business. Living in an industrial park with crappy Feng Shui, Jan’s pretty sure that the only one she can depend on is herself. Maybe. And yet, just because she knows how to code, people seem to think they can depend on her to save their butts and solve their crimes.
Jan does take short cuts. She skirts the shadows of what’s right and wrong. But she has to; if she’s not multitasking then she fails out of school, or the family loses the business, or someone dies ...
It’s a brave new world. Welcome to ASSURED DESTRUCTION.
"Stewart offers up an engrossing read about hacking, computers, and the underbelly of the technological world. He has created a strong character in Jan, who the reader cheers on as she does all she can to save her friends and family. While the protagonist is a young woman, an older audience will still find much to enjoy in Jan’s journey."--Library Journal. (For book 1)
Jan owes the world nothing. Her father left without a word. #BIGSECRET Her mother has progressive Multiple Sclerosis. And Jan juggles the need to complete homework with the need to keep pizza on the table, running the family computer recycling business. Living in an industrial park with crappy Feng Shui, Jan’s pretty sure that the only one she can depend on is herself. Maybe. And yet, just because she knows how to code, people seem to think they can depend on her to save their butts and solve their crimes.
Jan does take short cuts. She skirts the shadows of what’s right and wrong. But she has to; if she’s not multitasking then she fails out of school, or the family loses the business, or someone dies ...
It’s a brave new world. Welcome to ASSURED DESTRUCTION.
"Stewart offers up an engrossing read about hacking, computers, and the underbelly of the technological world. He has created a strong character in Jan, who the reader cheers on as she does all she can to save her friends and family. While the protagonist is a young woman, an older audience will still find much to enjoy in Jan’s journey."--Library Journal. (For book 1)
- GenresYoung Adult
543 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 30, 2014
4 people are currently reading
71 people want to read
About the author
Michael F. Stewart
18 books267 followersMichael F. Stewart has authored over two dozen books for kids and young adults. With works ranging from interactive digital epics and graphic novels to humorous middle grade and surreal young adult novels, Michael enjoys stretching the limits on his storytelling and working with other authors young and old to tell their stories. He has an MFA from the Vermont College of Fine Arts and lives in Ottawa with his partner, four daughters, a cat, and a dog.
To learn more about Michael and his next projects visit his website.
To learn more about Michael and his next projects visit his website.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
May 20, 2014
Loved this one, could totally picture this as a tv show or movie. Great plots, likeable characters, very entertaining and fun book.
May 27, 2014
When I started Assured Destruction, I wasn't entirely sure what to expect. A series of books about a computer hacker who gets herself into trouble? A teenager with more problems than she can handle? Sure, this series has all of that. But it's also got SO much more, and it's so worth the read! I was pleasantly surprised, and I'm so glad that I was given the opportunity to read all three books.
Janus Rose is not your typical teenager. She's very gifted when it comes to computers - she can build them from scrap parts, write iPhone apps and other programs, and can do pretty much whatever she wants when it comes to Photoshop and social media. In fact, she's constructed many different personalities based on hard drives she was supposed to destroy. One of my favorite parts of this series was these different identities and that the actually exist online! There's Gumps, Heckleena, Frannie, Hairy, Tule, and Paradise57. Jan runs all of the Twitter accounts and blogs for these "people," and each one is unique. She also has her own Twitter account, @JFlyTrap, and other characters' accounts are referenced (and also exist!). Reading this book was an experience, and it was super neat.
Most of the plot revolves around Jan trying to save her family's failing business, Assured Destruction, where they recycle old electronics and destroy hard drives by sending them through an industrial shredder. In the process of saving Assured Destruction, Jan somehow manages to end up on the wrong side of hackers, crackers, and basically every authority figure she knows. I enjoyed reading about how she would solve one problem after another, while juggling school, work, her mother's failing health, and a budding relationship.
Speaking of relationships, the development of both friendships and romantic relationships is done really well. Janus is kind of a loner and her only friends exist on her network, Shadownet. She's never had a real boyfriend either, so it was actually kind of funny watching her try to figure out how to be in a romantic relationship. It takes her a while to realize that she needs to let people in, and Michael made the transformation from lone wolf to a member of a functioning group of friends very interesting and relateable. Jan grows so much over the course of the series, even though it takes place over basically the fall semester.
I would definitely recommend this series to anyone interested in mysteries or thrillers, especially those with a technological edge. The romance is just a side plot and not too heavy, so this series would also be good for anyone who doesn't really like to read books with a lot of romance. I hear there are character background stories in graphic novel form, so I'm pretty excited to check those out! I'd give the whole series a 4/5.
Janus Rose is not your typical teenager. She's very gifted when it comes to computers - she can build them from scrap parts, write iPhone apps and other programs, and can do pretty much whatever she wants when it comes to Photoshop and social media. In fact, she's constructed many different personalities based on hard drives she was supposed to destroy. One of my favorite parts of this series was these different identities and that the actually exist online! There's Gumps, Heckleena, Frannie, Hairy, Tule, and Paradise57. Jan runs all of the Twitter accounts and blogs for these "people," and each one is unique. She also has her own Twitter account, @JFlyTrap, and other characters' accounts are referenced (and also exist!). Reading this book was an experience, and it was super neat.
Most of the plot revolves around Jan trying to save her family's failing business, Assured Destruction, where they recycle old electronics and destroy hard drives by sending them through an industrial shredder. In the process of saving Assured Destruction, Jan somehow manages to end up on the wrong side of hackers, crackers, and basically every authority figure she knows. I enjoyed reading about how she would solve one problem after another, while juggling school, work, her mother's failing health, and a budding relationship.
Speaking of relationships, the development of both friendships and romantic relationships is done really well. Janus is kind of a loner and her only friends exist on her network, Shadownet. She's never had a real boyfriend either, so it was actually kind of funny watching her try to figure out how to be in a romantic relationship. It takes her a while to realize that she needs to let people in, and Michael made the transformation from lone wolf to a member of a functioning group of friends very interesting and relateable. Jan grows so much over the course of the series, even though it takes place over basically the fall semester.
I would definitely recommend this series to anyone interested in mysteries or thrillers, especially those with a technological edge. The romance is just a side plot and not too heavy, so this series would also be good for anyone who doesn't really like to read books with a lot of romance. I hear there are character background stories in graphic novel form, so I'm pretty excited to check those out! I'd give the whole series a 4/5.
October 16, 2016
I received an ebook copy of this book to review and I adored it. Fast-paced, well-written and humorous. Assured Destruction tells the story of Jan, a teen who is a skilled hacker and spends her time tweeting from her multiple Twitter accounts. The series focuses on all the trouble caused by her simple creation of Shadownet, an online world created from the hard drives of real-life people. First her friends are becoming victims to criminal activities, then her home is in danger of being taken away from her and finally the real secret about why her father had abandoned her eventually comes out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 5, 2020
The trilogy is a very good coming of age story. Janus, the female main character is a strong person who just needs to find her destiny. I love the fact that she starts as a tweeting addict but comes around to rely on her real friends instead.
I think this would be a good series to read in school but unfortunately technology changes fast and in a few years or so might be even more for history than for social studies. But hopefully you can see the greater good behind it.
I think this would be a good series to read in school but unfortunately technology changes fast and in a few years or so might be even more for history than for social studies. But hopefully you can see the greater good behind it.
incomplete
April 14, 2021Note: I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
June 13, 2014
In case you didn't know, this is a bind up of all three novels of the series, which I actually surprisingly enjoyed.
Jan Rose's family runs a computer recycling business. But instead of destroying the hard drives, Jan takes them to her room, and snoops through peoples hard drives, making avatars, accounts, and doing whatever the hell she wants.
Jan's lazy, only cares about schoolwork because her mom will limit computer time. She admits to cheating and plagiarizing, but doesn't care.
She's basically only smart when it comes to computers.
At school, Jan realizes that two people on her "Shadownet" have had bad things happen to them- one girl is robbed of everything she and her family own, and another boy gets arrested for supposedly posting naked pictures of his girlfriend online.
-
BOOK 1
So, Jan Rose is not one of my favorite characters.
This book was SHORT, and that's the only reason it was fast. There was nothing fast paced about this book.
As someone who is, according to my mom, an expert on computers, I was unimpressed by Jan's supposed abilities.
I'm actually surprised this girl had friends.
And two boys vying after her attention.
Somehow.
There was less than no romance to speak of, and no mystery.
I was so confused about the ending of this book.
But, because it came with the second book, I'm reading that too.
BOOK 2 & 3
These were better. They kind of ran together in my head, but were definitely more enjoyable than the first.
DISCLAIMER:
This book was sent to me for review by Netgalley. I am not profiting from this review.
"Secrets are power. I first realized how powerful when my mom wouldn't tell me why my dad walked out on us. I wonder about it every day. And about what he's doing right now and whether he thinks of me. The hard drives I fail to destroy are my secrets, and no one knows about them, especially not my mom."
Jan Rose's family runs a computer recycling business. But instead of destroying the hard drives, Jan takes them to her room, and snoops through peoples hard drives, making avatars, accounts, and doing whatever the hell she wants.
Jan's lazy, only cares about schoolwork because her mom will limit computer time. She admits to cheating and plagiarizing, but doesn't care.
She's basically only smart when it comes to computers.
At school, Jan realizes that two people on her "Shadownet" have had bad things happen to them- one girl is robbed of everything she and her family own, and another boy gets arrested for supposedly posting naked pictures of his girlfriend online.
-
BOOK 1
So, Jan Rose is not one of my favorite characters.
This book was SHORT, and that's the only reason it was fast. There was nothing fast paced about this book.
As someone who is, according to my mom, an expert on computers, I was unimpressed by Jan's supposed abilities.
I'm actually surprised this girl had friends.
And two boys vying after her attention.
Somehow.
There was less than no romance to speak of, and no mystery.
I was so confused about the ending of this book.
But, because it came with the second book, I'm reading that too.
BOOK 2 & 3
These were better. They kind of ran together in my head, but were definitely more enjoyable than the first.
DISCLAIMER:
This book was sent to me for review by Netgalley. I am not profiting from this review.
January 20, 2015
When I got the chance to get a review copy of the Assured Destruction series by Michael F. Stewart, I jumped at the chance. The copy I read was a combined version of all three books in the series, and it was perfect, seeing as how I had a hard time putting it down once I truly got into it.
The female protagonist, Janus, is stirringly self-confident and skillful, however chock-full of just enough boy crazy and adolescent angst to be realistic. In spite of her criminal activities of pilfering hard drives, she displays a resilient moral backbone, accountability, and independence, while pursuing the true antagonist of the plot.
The plot and pacing are fast paced. The novels are a page-turner and Stewart kept on raising the elements of danger. He kept me guessing all the way through.
Stewart's novels are a well-written and charming read with a protagonist that is congenial despite of all her slip-ups. I enjoyed reading the Assured Destruction series and look forward to more from Stewart in the future.
An Advanced Readers Copy was provided by the publisher in return for an honest review.
The female protagonist, Janus, is stirringly self-confident and skillful, however chock-full of just enough boy crazy and adolescent angst to be realistic. In spite of her criminal activities of pilfering hard drives, she displays a resilient moral backbone, accountability, and independence, while pursuing the true antagonist of the plot.
The plot and pacing are fast paced. The novels are a page-turner and Stewart kept on raising the elements of danger. He kept me guessing all the way through.
Stewart's novels are a well-written and charming read with a protagonist that is congenial despite of all her slip-ups. I enjoyed reading the Assured Destruction series and look forward to more from Stewart in the future.
An Advanced Readers Copy was provided by the publisher in return for an honest review.
May 26, 2014
Janus Rose is having a tough time. She has to contend with high school, her mom's MS, boys, and trying to figure out where her dad went. On top of it all, she and her mom have to keep their business afloat so they will continue to have a place to live and a means to eat. Somehow while doing all this, Janus continuously winds up in trouble and delving into crimes. How far will they, and she go?
This is a set of three tales with connected plots, characters, and an overarching mystery(ies).
The narratives are emotionally driven which is how our main character finds her strength, and ultimately some rewards along the way, to investigate.
Each tale has its own set of mysteries, so it could be read as a stand alone, but I would not recommend it as characters develop throughout each story.
Characters are authentic, dynamic, caring, and intriguing.
Overall, an exciting read.
This is a set of three tales with connected plots, characters, and an overarching mystery(ies).
The narratives are emotionally driven which is how our main character finds her strength, and ultimately some rewards along the way, to investigate.
Each tale has its own set of mysteries, so it could be read as a stand alone, but I would not recommend it as characters develop throughout each story.
Characters are authentic, dynamic, caring, and intriguing.
Overall, an exciting read.
April 1, 2017
Kindle Unlimited for the entire series together, can be bought as series or singular of course, actually received a free copy of the #1 then the trilogy. Funny, as in not really funny, my kindle for pc wouldn't load, so had to come and get it so could use the Cloud kindle on ku. Cute without being cutesy, would let my grandkids read it but don't think they're quite old enough, but when they are older.
Assured Destruction: The Complete Series
Assured Destruction 1 - Script Kiddie 2 - With Zombies 3
Check amazon for other books by writer.
Assured Destruction: The Complete Series
Assured Destruction 1 - Script Kiddie 2 - With Zombies 3
Check amazon for other books by writer.
January 23, 2015
I couldn't put it down!
I have never read this author before, but now that I've read this series, I won't be able to resist his other titles.
I have never read this author before, but now that I've read this series, I won't be able to resist his other titles.
April 13, 2016
Awesome sauce
Lol great book it had a lot of emotion and it left you hanging a lot....stayed up late at night because it was sooo good!!
Lol great book it had a lot of emotion and it left you hanging a lot....stayed up late at night because it was sooo good!!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews