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Mindwar #2
Hostage Run
Heroes needed.
Rick Dial's life as a superstar quarterback ended when a car accident left him crippled. But his uncanny gaming ability caused him to catch the attention of a secret government organization trying to stop a cyber attack on America. He's been to the Realm . . . and returned to Real Life victorious.
But the stakes just went up. Another attack is imminent. Though they're in a hidden facility, there seems to be a traitor among them. Every time Rick returns to The Realm, he risks becoming trapped there permanently. And now, his best friend Molly is being held hostage. And they're threatening to kill her.
He's not sure the people in charge can be trusted. The people closest to him are in danger. A fate worse than death may be waiting for him. With no good options, how do you proceed?
In the tradition of "Ender's Game "and "The Matrix, "The MindWar Trilogy is a complex thriller about a seemingly ordinary teenager who discovers a hidden gift--a gift that could make him a hero . . . or cost him everything.
Rick Dial's life as a superstar quarterback ended when a car accident left him crippled. But his uncanny gaming ability caused him to catch the attention of a secret government organization trying to stop a cyber attack on America. He's been to the Realm . . . and returned to Real Life victorious.
But the stakes just went up. Another attack is imminent. Though they're in a hidden facility, there seems to be a traitor among them. Every time Rick returns to The Realm, he risks becoming trapped there permanently. And now, his best friend Molly is being held hostage. And they're threatening to kill her.
He's not sure the people in charge can be trusted. The people closest to him are in danger. A fate worse than death may be waiting for him. With no good options, how do you proceed?
In the tradition of "Ender's Game "and "The Matrix, "The MindWar Trilogy is a complex thriller about a seemingly ordinary teenager who discovers a hidden gift--a gift that could make him a hero . . . or cost him everything.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 2015
44 people are currently reading
415 people want to read
About the author
Andrew Klavan
103 books2,314 followersReference for now:
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
January 28, 2023
Excellent second installment in the Mindwar trilogy. Now on to the conclusion.
August 1, 2022
A sequel that does justice to the original.
January 26, 2019
Honestly I love Andrew Klavan. He is a great author and I would suggest any of his books as great reads but about this one...
Wow. Might I just say wow. I love it.
1. The characters! I actually cared about all the characters! Normally, it’s pretty easy to get me to care about at least one or two but about... maybe five or six characters had me holding my breath. If anyone dies in the next one....
2. The plot: the continued plot was great and very fun yet intense. Although at some point I feel like all of the different mindwar creatures are getting a little old.
3. One of the main reasons I love this author is also because of his strong Christian emphasis throughout all of his books. It does my heart good to read authors who are completely unashamed of owning their faith in Christ!!
Overall this book is a clean, action packed adventure for any fantasy lover!!
Wow. Might I just say wow. I love it.
1. The characters! I actually cared about all the characters! Normally, it’s pretty easy to get me to care about at least one or two but about... maybe five or six characters had me holding my breath. If anyone dies in the next one....
2. The plot: the continued plot was great and very fun yet intense. Although at some point I feel like all of the different mindwar creatures are getting a little old.
3. One of the main reasons I love this author is also because of his strong Christian emphasis throughout all of his books. It does my heart good to read authors who are completely unashamed of owning their faith in Christ!!
Overall this book is a clean, action packed adventure for any fantasy lover!!
February 20, 2018
Klavan's books are always super fast reads for me, and this one was no exception! Although it's been a couple years since I read Mind War (the first instalment of the trilogy), I was able to remember important details fairly quickly, thanks to helpful reminders sprinkled throughout.
What I Liked:
-Like other Klavan novels, the writing style was sharp and to the point. Nothing fancy, but it feels the way Rick himself would tell his story.
-Molly. She annoyed me in book 1 because we knew so little about her; she felt like the stand-in love interest. But here she got a lot more screen time, and her parts of the book were my favorite.
-Victor One. He is the best. <3
-Rick was honestly trying to forgive his father and mend their relationship, which was refreshing. Most angry son characters just spend a long time wallowing in that anger.
-The Breach was cool, even if it wasn't explained as thoroughly as I wanted.
-I have THEORIES.
What I Didn't Like:
-Mainly just the Octo-Guardian. I guess it was *supposed* to feel like a video game, so a big bad octopus/spaceship with an almost-human face is an acceptable video game scenario... but I personally felt that it stretched my suspension of disbelief a little much. But it didn't ruin the book for me!
Overall, it was great to devour such a fast-paced book, and with that ending, I'll be sure not to let another couple years go by before I pick up the next one!
What I Liked:
-Like other Klavan novels, the writing style was sharp and to the point. Nothing fancy, but it feels the way Rick himself would tell his story.
-Molly. She annoyed me in book 1 because we knew so little about her; she felt like the stand-in love interest. But here she got a lot more screen time, and her parts of the book were my favorite.
-Victor One. He is the best. <3
-Rick was honestly trying to forgive his father and mend their relationship, which was refreshing. Most angry son characters just spend a long time wallowing in that anger.
-The Breach was cool, even if it wasn't explained as thoroughly as I wanted.
-I have THEORIES.
What I Didn't Like:
-Mainly just the Octo-Guardian. I guess it was *supposed* to feel like a video game, so a big bad octopus/spaceship with an almost-human face is an acceptable video game scenario... but I personally felt that it stretched my suspension of disbelief a little much. But it didn't ruin the book for me!
Overall, it was great to devour such a fast-paced book, and with that ending, I'll be sure not to let another couple years go by before I pick up the next one!
November 17, 2015
3.5 stars
Hostage Run is a good sequel to Mindwar, but I think I liked book one a little more. It took me a while to get back into Rick Dial's world and all that was going on, but once I was about halfway done, I started to really enjoy the read.
I liked the characters and my favorite was probably Victor One. I was very intrigued by his character and loved the way he was so heroic. The book ended on a cliffhanger that makes reading the final book a must and I can hardly wait to pick up Game Over and see how the story ends.
All in all, a good read.
*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*
Hostage Run is a good sequel to Mindwar, but I think I liked book one a little more. It took me a while to get back into Rick Dial's world and all that was going on, but once I was about halfway done, I started to really enjoy the read.
I liked the characters and my favorite was probably Victor One. I was very intrigued by his character and loved the way he was so heroic. The book ended on a cliffhanger that makes reading the final book a must and I can hardly wait to pick up Game Over and see how the story ends.
All in all, a good read.
*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*
April 15, 2015
2 "you-just-can't-end-it-there" stars!!!
This book is once again action packed and with a lot of twists. However, if you browse through my comments while reading this, you'd know that I'm not such a big fan of the protagonist, Rick now. He's not such a big hero to me because of his attitude towards a being in a game.
Before I go to the bad part, I just want to say that I appreciate the action scenes. The characters are tougher and more adaptable now. I love, love Molly and Victor One!!! They were the main characters in my head. What an adventure! The two of them has good chemistry. I wish Molly would just... *sigh* Anyway, the plot is pretty straightforward. They have to save the world from a guy who think he can own the world via virtual reality. It's an ambitious plot, but the author managed to make me think that this could really be happening, so kudos to that.
Now we go to the love part, which truly should be amended although it's not the main topic of the book.
The virtual reality girl in the game.
I mean, I know that she could be a real girl too, sure, but he doesn't even know her! She's a water creature in the game world for goodness sake. He goes saving her instead of doing his main goal which is to save the world. I hate how torn he is about it when another girl is waiting for her. Another girl who is REAL and a girl that he has known practically his entire life. -_- In the book, he says that he could be falling for the water girl... ummm.. dude, she just saved you, like IN THE GAME, and you met her what? Like less than 8 hours? (He can only be in the game for 60 minutes or something and that's still limited since he can't go there every time or else his mind will be ruined literally).
Rick, if I have it right, you don't really know the girl! Think hard on that, mister!
I know there's a twist somewhere here which will only be revealed in the third book. Looking forward to that and finally wrapping this series up.
Still an entertaining read though.
This book is once again action packed and with a lot of twists. However, if you browse through my comments while reading this, you'd know that I'm not such a big fan of the protagonist, Rick now. He's not such a big hero to me because of his attitude towards a being in a game.
Before I go to the bad part, I just want to say that I appreciate the action scenes. The characters are tougher and more adaptable now. I love, love Molly and Victor One!!! They were the main characters in my head. What an adventure! The two of them has good chemistry. I wish Molly would just... *sigh* Anyway, the plot is pretty straightforward. They have to save the world from a guy who think he can own the world via virtual reality. It's an ambitious plot, but the author managed to make me think that this could really be happening, so kudos to that.
Now we go to the love part, which truly should be amended although it's not the main topic of the book.
The virtual reality girl in the game.
I mean, I know that she could be a real girl too, sure, but he doesn't even know her! She's a water creature in the game world for goodness sake. He goes saving her instead of doing his main goal which is to save the world. I hate how torn he is about it when another girl is waiting for her. Another girl who is REAL and a girl that he has known practically his entire life. -_- In the book, he says that he could be falling for the water girl... ummm.. dude, she just saved you, like IN THE GAME, and you met her what? Like less than 8 hours? (He can only be in the game for 60 minutes or something and that's still limited since he can't go there every time or else his mind will be ruined literally).
Rick, if I have it right, you don't really know the girl! Think hard on that, mister!
I know there's a twist somewhere here which will only be revealed in the third book. Looking forward to that and finally wrapping this series up.
Still an entertaining read though.
July 29, 2023
Summary: Hostage Run is the 2nd book in the Mindwar series by Andrew Klavan.
Starting with the POV of Molly, Rick’s girlfriend. Molly gets kidnapped by Kurodar’s goons and is held hostage in an old barn. Kurodar wants to use Molly to get Rick to give up his fight in the Realm and stay out of it. So Rick is torn between saving Molly with his compliance, or stopping Kurodar’s reign of terror and going into the realm instead. He decides that he will go into the Realm and fight, but he’s not leaving Molly alone. He’s sending Victor One to rescue her. While Rick is in the Realm, he discovers that Kurodar has a new invention: the Breach, a real, physical link between the Realm and real life. With the Breach, Kurodar can control things in real life with simply a thought. And there’s another one of his inventions that Rick has to get past. There’s a ginormous spaceship with a giant Octo-Guardian that protects it. Don’t ask me what the Octo-Guardian is, you’ll find out in worldviews. Keep scrolling. Anyways, this ship is going to be used to unleash a brutal attack on the real world, and Rick has to destroy it before Kurodar can use it. And did I mention that Rick still has to destroy the Golden City, or the battery and heart of the Realm, before the actual Realm can actually disintegrate? But that’s all going to be a piece of cake for Rick of course. Or will it? And will Molly be rescued successfully? I don’t know……just kidding. You’ll have to find out.
Worldviews: I’ll just say that I don’t actually know whether Klavan is a Christian author, (look at my last review for more details) but I have found some Christian morals and worldview in this book. There are some Christian professing characters who pray sometimes and ask God for help, and also a character that professed to be raised as a Christian but then turned his back on his God, and decides he’ll escape His wrath by living forever in the Realm as a giant octopus. Which is an extremely stupid strategy by the way. It even looks stupid as I type it out. Kurodar wants to be a ‘god’, but anybody with half a brain knows that’s not going to ever happen. Kurodar’s dad was also a high ranking officer in the Soviet Union’s secret police, and we all know how anti-Christian that is. I think that Klavan was just inserting that to illustrate Kurodar’s messed-up background.
Foul Language: No bad words. There was a mention of a character “As a devout Christian, there were certain words that ___ didn’t like to use out loud. But let’s face it: he was thinking them.” No specific words were mentioned, but I guess they were just alluded to.
Violence: Most of the violence comes from Rick’s escapades in the Realm, so technically they aren’t ‘real’, but there is good description. I’ll also note again some more terrorist actions from Kurodar, like hijacking multiple planes and vehicles, kidnapping people, etc.
Romance: Rick’s girlfriend Molly was kidnapped (hence the title of the book) and of course Rick has to be a knight in shining armour and go rescue her. Or, at least, at first somebody else was sent to rescue her, and then Rick finished the job. Rick is also torn between Molly and a character named Mariel that he had met in the Realm (a very interesting twist on that later). You’ll have to see how that plays out.
Rating and recommended age level: I’m rating this 4 stars! I really liked it! It had a great plot and ideas, and I like Klavan’s suspenseful writing style. I also liked the concept of sacrifice that Klavan incorporated, I think that was good.
I’m going to put the age level at 11-12+, again, because the story line definitely has a lot of plot line and depth/complication to it that would be easier for 11-12 year olds to follow, and probably with the amount of action and violence, it would be better for that age range content wise. Overall, I enjoyed Hostage Run throughly.
Starting with the POV of Molly, Rick’s girlfriend. Molly gets kidnapped by Kurodar’s goons and is held hostage in an old barn. Kurodar wants to use Molly to get Rick to give up his fight in the Realm and stay out of it. So Rick is torn between saving Molly with his compliance, or stopping Kurodar’s reign of terror and going into the realm instead. He decides that he will go into the Realm and fight, but he’s not leaving Molly alone. He’s sending Victor One to rescue her. While Rick is in the Realm, he discovers that Kurodar has a new invention: the Breach, a real, physical link between the Realm and real life. With the Breach, Kurodar can control things in real life with simply a thought. And there’s another one of his inventions that Rick has to get past. There’s a ginormous spaceship with a giant Octo-Guardian that protects it. Don’t ask me what the Octo-Guardian is, you’ll find out in worldviews. Keep scrolling. Anyways, this ship is going to be used to unleash a brutal attack on the real world, and Rick has to destroy it before Kurodar can use it. And did I mention that Rick still has to destroy the Golden City, or the battery and heart of the Realm, before the actual Realm can actually disintegrate? But that’s all going to be a piece of cake for Rick of course. Or will it? And will Molly be rescued successfully? I don’t know……just kidding. You’ll have to find out.
Worldviews: I’ll just say that I don’t actually know whether Klavan is a Christian author, (look at my last review for more details) but I have found some Christian morals and worldview in this book. There are some Christian professing characters who pray sometimes and ask God for help, and also a character that professed to be raised as a Christian but then turned his back on his God, and decides he’ll escape His wrath by living forever in the Realm as a giant octopus. Which is an extremely stupid strategy by the way. It even looks stupid as I type it out. Kurodar wants to be a ‘god’, but anybody with half a brain knows that’s not going to ever happen. Kurodar’s dad was also a high ranking officer in the Soviet Union’s secret police, and we all know how anti-Christian that is. I think that Klavan was just inserting that to illustrate Kurodar’s messed-up background.
Foul Language: No bad words. There was a mention of a character “As a devout Christian, there were certain words that ___ didn’t like to use out loud. But let’s face it: he was thinking them.” No specific words were mentioned, but I guess they were just alluded to.
Violence: Most of the violence comes from Rick’s escapades in the Realm, so technically they aren’t ‘real’, but there is good description. I’ll also note again some more terrorist actions from Kurodar, like hijacking multiple planes and vehicles, kidnapping people, etc.
Romance: Rick’s girlfriend Molly was kidnapped (hence the title of the book) and of course Rick has to be a knight in shining armour and go rescue her. Or, at least, at first somebody else was sent to rescue her, and then Rick finished the job. Rick is also torn between Molly and a character named Mariel that he had met in the Realm (a very interesting twist on that later). You’ll have to see how that plays out.
Rating and recommended age level: I’m rating this 4 stars! I really liked it! It had a great plot and ideas, and I like Klavan’s suspenseful writing style. I also liked the concept of sacrifice that Klavan incorporated, I think that was good.
I’m going to put the age level at 11-12+, again, because the story line definitely has a lot of plot line and depth/complication to it that would be easier for 11-12 year olds to follow, and probably with the amount of action and violence, it would be better for that age range content wise. Overall, I enjoyed Hostage Run throughly.
February 3, 2018
I remember liking book 1 ... enough that I picked it up in print to keep in our home library in case one of the boys would be willing to give it a try (I don't think that has happened). So when I needed another book, and this book 2 was available, I figured I'd give it a try.
Looking back at my review of book 1, I hadn't been impressed with the narrator. I think this was the same guy. The voice didn't really bug me this time, maybe even matched the text ... it all felt a bit disconnected. Lacking in real emotion. No breaks at all between finishing a chapter, the final word, then saying "Chapter 25" ... gimmie a pause or something! It's a new chapter. Take a one second break at least to let us realize it has ended and a new one is starting.
I mentioned in book 1 that it was clean. No swearing or sex. I didn't note it being Christian fiction. Not sure if I just didn't pick up on it, but it was impossible to miss here. So much talk of God and prayer and belief. I didn't like it ... felt very preachy.
The story was fine, although extremely unbelievable (even the IRL stuff) ... hated the ending. Or lack of an ending. I swear it didn't even finish the sentence, leaving the reader absolutely hanging. While I might want to know what happens, I think I'm annoyed enough that I don't plan on continuing on.
Looking back at my review of book 1, I hadn't been impressed with the narrator. I think this was the same guy. The voice didn't really bug me this time, maybe even matched the text ... it all felt a bit disconnected. Lacking in real emotion. No breaks at all between finishing a chapter, the final word, then saying "Chapter 25" ... gimmie a pause or something! It's a new chapter. Take a one second break at least to let us realize it has ended and a new one is starting.
I mentioned in book 1 that it was clean. No swearing or sex. I didn't note it being Christian fiction. Not sure if I just didn't pick up on it, but it was impossible to miss here. So much talk of God and prayer and belief. I didn't like it ... felt very preachy.
The story was fine, although extremely unbelievable (even the IRL stuff) ... hated the ending. Or lack of an ending. I swear it didn't even finish the sentence, leaving the reader absolutely hanging. While I might want to know what happens, I think I'm annoyed enough that I don't plan on continuing on.
May 18, 2022
This book has many exciting points that make the reading experience great. It is well written with great character development. I enjoy reading it and it isn't over descriptive. The book feels like a movie and has you on the edge of your seat in many parts. The characters are realistic and don't feel fake. The injuries in the book are kept and are realistic. It isn't an average book. It is vivid and shows what is happening. I recommend this book to anyone. I loved reading this.
January 17, 2019
This book was alright, however I had a strange amount of trouble getting into it. The storyline was good, the characters were interesting enough, but I feel the author needed to put a little more emotion into it, add to the suspense. All in all I still enjoyed this book and will make sure to read the next!
January 3, 2020
Great series. Plenty of plot twists and action. Well researched from both a computer and technological perspective. Also, the hero is portrayed as a real Christian without letting it become cardboard or jingoistic. We need more of that in modern literature where Christians are often portrayed as idiots, or sanctimonious, or 2-dimensional.
March 25, 2025
I'm reading these to say I finished the trilogy. I am a Klavan fan, but I am struggling to get into these. The descriptions and dialogue are just not as tight and compelling as some of his other works.
The idea is there and would make for a fascinating story but the plot points feel rushed and cliche.
The idea is there and would make for a fascinating story but the plot points feel rushed and cliche.
January 3, 2022
Not my cup of tea. A young adult “thriller”. Neither the dialogue nor the plot was interesting. I did appreciate the Christian themes and the lack of gratuitous sex and foul language were refreshing, but not enough to save the book. I quit before the end.
January 29, 2022
Wild ride!!!
Is an excellent read but requires you to read the first book in order to step into this one seamlessly. Character development is rich and Andrew does a wonderful job with this story. I can't wait to read the next one in the trilogy!
Is an excellent read but requires you to read the first book in order to step into this one seamlessly. Character development is rich and Andrew does a wonderful job with this story. I can't wait to read the next one in the trilogy!
March 3, 2018
I read this book because I thought it would be good for my 10 year olds and I would recommend it for that age group.
November 16, 2018
Awesome second book. As always I love Klavan's stories. The character are so real and easy to love.
Molly is cool and I really enjoyed to get to know Victor One.
Can't wait to read the next book!
Molly is cool and I really enjoyed to get to know Victor One.
Can't wait to read the next book!
January 7, 2020
Terrible writing, clunky and childish. Plus the writer is a misogynist, anti-feminist and it comes across quite strongly in how he writes about women.
Red flags guys, avoid this novelists books.
Red flags guys, avoid this novelists books.
February 20, 2021
Lots of great action and suspense, with lessons of critical thinking woven in. The main character portrays persistence, loyalty, and kindness to the other characters. Very enjoyable!!
April 19, 2022
This one grew on me a bit. I really appreciate that it is clean espionage and sci-fi.
September 3, 2025
Fun story: very fast-paced, and this one was interesting because the RL storyline wasn't about Rick, but brought in a new perspective.
June 16, 2015
This is the second book in Andrew Klavan's newest trilogy, The Mindwar Trilogy.
Rick Dial's girlfriend, Molly, is swiftly kidnapped by Kudodar's men as insurance Rick will not return to the MindWar Realm. Kudodar plans to use a fleet of stolen drones via the MindWar to reek havoc on an American city of his choice--all with a single thought. Rick must take out Kudodar's new outpost in order to stop the attack while the Traveller's bodyguard, Victor One, is tasked to bring Molly home safe and without harm.
As in the last book, I'm really not a fan of the Realm. Klavan's a terrorist writer, so the chapters dealing with RL terrorists and RL situations are always more appealing than Minecraft meets Zelda--even if a terrorist is running the game. That being said, I, a faithful follower of all bookworm rules, found myself tempted to skip the Rick chapters and read only the Molly and Victor One chapters.
Rick is a hot-headed, video game dork who lives in his room fantasizing over his glory days in his football career. Obviously, the games have died down some now that he's dealing with the living Realm game, but he continues to think with his burned out mind and seems to have only a handful of thoughts and emotions: Love and Anger; thoughts of Molly (and/or Mariel), football, video games, his father's betrayal. Oh yes, and the thoughts of the girls are maddeningly overpowering compared to everything else.
Actually, most of the characters in this book are equally likable. Mars doesn't care if Rick lives or dies; just get the job done. Miss Ferris has no emotion at all (we're repeatedly reminded of this). Juliet Seven has a total of two actions in this book. The Traveller is likable, but only has a small scene. Etc. etc.
Granted, The Girl (AKA Molly in this Klavan book) is unlike the usual Klavan girlfriends. Although she's the pretty damsel in distress pawn from the first chapter, this girl is actually capable of acting more than just a love interest for the protagonist. In fact, her chapters are the most exciting. Unlike screaming girls who do nothing but flirt and cheer on the Klavan hero (*cough cough* Beth from The Last Thing I Remember), Molly is actually capable of carrying her own weight. She can fight her captors and take out a few deadly drones along the way. She's cool!
But not as cool as...ahem...the totally boss government soldier who equals SEAL Team 6 on the epicness scale, Victor One. Not to mention, the ONLY "good guy govie guy" in the series *silent fist pump for awesome.* He's that good-looking AMERICAN special ops killer who's totally on your side. Like, he's totally and patriotically AMERICAN it gets me all ready to grill hotdogs and watch fireworks. He's got cool guns and knows how to use them like an AMERICAN. DID I MENTION HOW AMERICAN HE WAS???? Okay, breathe. The way Klavan writes him is totally likable. He still works for the government, so Rick has to obey any and all orders 'cuz he's in charge. He's a totally boss killer who can shoot three terrorists dead in two seconds. Yet, when he doesn't have to, he's completely laid back and calm--not a guy who wants to tackle shoplifters and pin them into the blacktop with their arm behind their back. He doesn't use his army powers in normal situations. =Cool. And, on top of that, he totally gets the job of saving the girl. Ahem. *favorite chapters*
So in summary, the Realm chapters aren't near as cool as the real world chapters, even though each kind of chapter has the potential to heavily affect the other kind. Characters are a little rough around the edges, but Klavan supplies a few perfect characters to keep you turning the pages. Yes, I'll read the third and final book (I mean, c'mon, it's ANDREW KLAVAN!) and see where it takes me.
Things to Watch Out For:
Romance: two characters kiss briefly
Language: "hellish"-2 (35, 322); it's implied a Christian character is thinking swear words; "fool"-1 (60); H-2 (60, 208); "butt"-2 (255, 302)
Violence: teen girl is kidnapped; character kills video game creatures, which spurt blood; character stabs another character in the throat with a three-inch nail; generic video game violence; video game character is sliced in half but there's no gore; man is shot in the head and gore is described to cover his face, but he survives; girl is shot in the arm; gunfights that kill multiple characters; a large computer villain gets its eye shot out, which is described in detail; a character is shot in the chest
Drugs: mention of vodka; character uses cigaret lighter to start a fire
Nudity: none
Other: an evil man was raised Christian, yet never lost his faith. He believes he'll fact eternal judgement based on his works; a villain calls himself God
Ages 14 and up
Rick Dial's girlfriend, Molly, is swiftly kidnapped by Kudodar's men as insurance Rick will not return to the MindWar Realm. Kudodar plans to use a fleet of stolen drones via the MindWar to reek havoc on an American city of his choice--all with a single thought. Rick must take out Kudodar's new outpost in order to stop the attack while the Traveller's bodyguard, Victor One, is tasked to bring Molly home safe and without harm.
As in the last book, I'm really not a fan of the Realm. Klavan's a terrorist writer, so the chapters dealing with RL terrorists and RL situations are always more appealing than Minecraft meets Zelda--even if a terrorist is running the game. That being said, I, a faithful follower of all bookworm rules, found myself tempted to skip the Rick chapters and read only the Molly and Victor One chapters.
Rick is a hot-headed, video game dork who lives in his room fantasizing over his glory days in his football career. Obviously, the games have died down some now that he's dealing with the living Realm game, but he continues to think with his burned out mind and seems to have only a handful of thoughts and emotions: Love and Anger; thoughts of Molly (and/or Mariel), football, video games, his father's betrayal. Oh yes, and the thoughts of the girls are maddeningly overpowering compared to everything else.
Actually, most of the characters in this book are equally likable. Mars doesn't care if Rick lives or dies; just get the job done. Miss Ferris has no emotion at all (we're repeatedly reminded of this). Juliet Seven has a total of two actions in this book. The Traveller is likable, but only has a small scene. Etc. etc.
Granted, The Girl (AKA Molly in this Klavan book) is unlike the usual Klavan girlfriends. Although she's the pretty damsel in distress pawn from the first chapter, this girl is actually capable of acting more than just a love interest for the protagonist. In fact, her chapters are the most exciting. Unlike screaming girls who do nothing but flirt and cheer on the Klavan hero (*cough cough* Beth from The Last Thing I Remember), Molly is actually capable of carrying her own weight. She can fight her captors and take out a few deadly drones along the way. She's cool!
But not as cool as...ahem...the totally boss government soldier who equals SEAL Team 6 on the epicness scale, Victor One. Not to mention, the ONLY "good guy govie guy" in the series *silent fist pump for awesome.* He's that good-looking AMERICAN special ops killer who's totally on your side. Like, he's totally and patriotically AMERICAN it gets me all ready to grill hotdogs and watch fireworks. He's got cool guns and knows how to use them like an AMERICAN. DID I MENTION HOW AMERICAN HE WAS???? Okay, breathe. The way Klavan writes him is totally likable. He still works for the government, so Rick has to obey any and all orders 'cuz he's in charge. He's a totally boss killer who can shoot three terrorists dead in two seconds. Yet, when he doesn't have to, he's completely laid back and calm--not a guy who wants to tackle shoplifters and pin them into the blacktop with their arm behind their back. He doesn't use his army powers in normal situations. =Cool. And, on top of that, he totally gets the job of saving the girl. Ahem. *favorite chapters*
So in summary, the Realm chapters aren't near as cool as the real world chapters, even though each kind of chapter has the potential to heavily affect the other kind. Characters are a little rough around the edges, but Klavan supplies a few perfect characters to keep you turning the pages. Yes, I'll read the third and final book (I mean, c'mon, it's ANDREW KLAVAN!) and see where it takes me.
Things to Watch Out For:
Romance: two characters kiss briefly
Language: "hellish"-2 (35, 322); it's implied a Christian character is thinking swear words; "fool"-1 (60); H-2 (60, 208); "butt"-2 (255, 302)
Violence: teen girl is kidnapped; character kills video game creatures, which spurt blood; character stabs another character in the throat with a three-inch nail; generic video game violence; video game character is sliced in half but there's no gore; man is shot in the head and gore is described to cover his face, but he survives; girl is shot in the arm; gunfights that kill multiple characters; a large computer villain gets its eye shot out, which is described in detail; a character is shot in the chest
Drugs: mention of vodka; character uses cigaret lighter to start a fire
Nudity: none
Other: an evil man was raised Christian, yet never lost his faith. He believes he'll fact eternal judgement based on his works; a villain calls himself God
Ages 14 and up
February 26, 2017
courage as turning off part of mind to do otherwise, lose faith in God lose faith in everything, from boy faith to man faith, something bigger inside him.
June 6, 2016
*minor spoilers, 3.5 stars*
I really loved MindWar, but really had trouble getting into the story this time. Rick's dad is now in the story, but things are still tense. Rick is dealing with anger against his father for abandoning their family even if he understands his reasons for doing it. Rick is suffering from headaches and nightmares after being in the Realm from the first book. Loved his mom and brother even though they're only in the story a little bit this time.
This time Molly is much more into the story and I was more interested in reading about her and Victor One's escape more than anything else.
Lots and lots of violence, both in the Realm (more monsters and impossible situations Rick has to resolve) and in RL (Real Life) with Molly. There is never a shortage of bad guys and Rick's dad suspects there's a traitor among the good guys. The stakes are definitely raised in this book along with the tension and danger. Still enjoyed the video game aspect of the chapter names.
Also, just as I thought certain characters would be revealed in this book, the story ends on a huge cliffhanger! So. NOT. COOL. I was so eager to learn about Favian and Mariel's identities, but that will obviously happen in the 3rd book. Hostage Run can easily be read in one sitting and it can also be read as a stand alone, but I thought the first book was much more humorous and not as dark as this one is.
I'm sure Klavan's fans will enjoy this book or those who enjoy YA books.
I enjoyed it overall, but there was just too many things in the story that didn't make sense to me. Didn't like the violence/darkness/intensity, Rick's anger towards his father and his family being together but still lacking the family appeal, how Molly suffers while she is kidnapped, Rick is having trouble trusting the people he's working for (which is understandable) while trying to help Favian and Mariel, and Rick is also suffering quietly with those nightmares/having his head messed with.
Klavan knows how to write darkness/intensity, last minute they get saved moments as tension builds, and having your faith to back you up when there's nothing else. His writing style keeps you turning the pages quickly and his imagination for the Realm is unmatched, but the heart of the story seemed lacking in this sequel.
I really loved MindWar, but really had trouble getting into the story this time. Rick's dad is now in the story, but things are still tense. Rick is dealing with anger against his father for abandoning their family even if he understands his reasons for doing it. Rick is suffering from headaches and nightmares after being in the Realm from the first book. Loved his mom and brother even though they're only in the story a little bit this time.
This time Molly is much more into the story and I was more interested in reading about her and Victor One's escape more than anything else.
Lots and lots of violence, both in the Realm (more monsters and impossible situations Rick has to resolve) and in RL (Real Life) with Molly. There is never a shortage of bad guys and Rick's dad suspects there's a traitor among the good guys. The stakes are definitely raised in this book along with the tension and danger. Still enjoyed the video game aspect of the chapter names.
Also, just as I thought certain characters would be revealed in this book, the story ends on a huge cliffhanger! So. NOT. COOL. I was so eager to learn about Favian and Mariel's identities, but that will obviously happen in the 3rd book. Hostage Run can easily be read in one sitting and it can also be read as a stand alone, but I thought the first book was much more humorous and not as dark as this one is.
I'm sure Klavan's fans will enjoy this book or those who enjoy YA books.
I enjoyed it overall, but there was just too many things in the story that didn't make sense to me. Didn't like the violence/darkness/intensity, Rick's anger towards his father and his family being together but still lacking the family appeal, how Molly suffers while she is kidnapped, Rick is having trouble trusting the people he's working for (which is understandable) while trying to help Favian and Mariel, and Rick is also suffering quietly with those nightmares/having his head messed with.
Klavan knows how to write darkness/intensity, last minute they get saved moments as tension builds, and having your faith to back you up when there's nothing else. His writing style keeps you turning the pages quickly and his imagination for the Realm is unmatched, but the heart of the story seemed lacking in this sequel.
March 2, 2016
From the fantastic opening line to the gripping conclusion, I enjoyed every moment of "Hostage Run". The book moves along at a break-neck pace, and alternates between the view of Rick as he battles evil in the cyber world, and Molly as she seeks to simply survive. Both of these characters have been well-developed, and I couldn't decide whose story I wanted to focus on more as I liked them both equally. And unlike some books where you may feel annoyed every time the author switches to a scene involving the other character, that simply doesn't happen here because you barely have time to breath from one chapter to the next. Like the first book of the series, MindWar, Klavan has done a good job at bringing to life the cyber world, where real people's lives are blurred with a virtual reality called the Mindwar Realm. Reader are expected, of course, to suspend their own understanding of reality while reading this book, but it is fascinating to consider whether such a concept could actually be created with technology today. But what amazes me most about this story is that in the midst of the action and the nail-biting scenes, Klavan weaves in moments of true introspection that lead to some deep thoughts on faith and belief in God and how we wrestle with our doubts.
Teen readers looking for an exciting fiction book that is filled with heroic characters and action-packed scenes should plan on picking up this excellent second book in the MindWar Trilogy. When I was a teen, this was the sort of fiction that I was always looking for! I am greatly anticipating how Klavan wraps things up in the third and final book in the series, "Game Over". I award this novel 4.5 out of 5 stars.
A review copy was received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I was in no way compensated for this review.
Teen readers looking for an exciting fiction book that is filled with heroic characters and action-packed scenes should plan on picking up this excellent second book in the MindWar Trilogy. When I was a teen, this was the sort of fiction that I was always looking for! I am greatly anticipating how Klavan wraps things up in the third and final book in the series, "Game Over". I award this novel 4.5 out of 5 stars.
A review copy was received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I was in no way compensated for this review.
December 26, 2015
Rick Dial is back in the second installment of the Mindwar Trilogy he returns to the realm, on a life threatening mission to bring down Kurodar,
and save Mariel and Favian. But Rick isn't the only one in danger, his whole family is, and anyone associated with him--like his friend Molly, who is taken by Kurodar's thugs. Will Rick be able to thwart Kurodar and save the ones dear to him, before time runs out?
The action-packed, non-stop follow up to Mindwar, picks up pretty much right after the previous book, making it very important to read the first book as much of this book is built on assuming knowledge of the previous events. Though it does recount a few things in passing, making it easy to dive right into if it's been a while since reading the first book.
Rick is weakened by his last foray into the Realm, but it has never been so important that he return, as the walls that separate the realm from reality are crumbling, and Kurodar sets his sights on the real world.
A terrific read, that reads as an essential part of the saga, and not like a filler at all, which is so often the case with second books. I loved Rick Dial, as he is a young man, who is brave and heroic, yet he struggles with his own temptations. He's admirable, yet also relate-ably human.
Overall, a terrific addition to the series, sure to thrill and entertain. Riveting to the last, Mr. Klavan's excellent world building skills bring the story to life, with his wonderful grasp of blending fantasy and reality.
August 30, 2015
Hostage Run
The Mindwar Trilogy 2
By Andrew Klavan
Rick Dial's first foray into the MindWar Realm was a victory against Kurador. But the war is not over and he is determined to somehow, someway get Mariel and Favian out of the Realm and back to Real Life (RL).
But Kurador is determined to keep Rick from entering the Realm ever again. And he'll do anything to convince Rick to stay out. And his plan of attack - kidnap Molly Jameson.
What's a guy to do when a massive attack is about to happen and his best friend is being used as leverage against him? This is a choice that Rick now faces. He alone can stop Kurador. And he is the only chance Mariel and Favian have of surviving the Realm. But Molly may lose her life if he so much as breathes in the direction of the Realm.
Hostage Run is an exciting sequel to MindWar. The Dial family is together in the secured compound they now called home, reunited after being torn apart by a lie, a lie that did not protect them. Rick is suffering from his forays into the Realm. And he is keeping these side-effects secret so that he won't be prevented from entering the Realm and rescuing his friends.
In Hostage Run the lines between the Realm and Real Life are about to become even more blurred as Kurador takes his war to a new level. And this new level is about to make the Realm even more dangerous than it was before.
Are you ready to enter a world that is about to change everything you thought you knew?
The Mindwar Trilogy 2
By Andrew Klavan
Rick Dial's first foray into the MindWar Realm was a victory against Kurador. But the war is not over and he is determined to somehow, someway get Mariel and Favian out of the Realm and back to Real Life (RL).
But Kurador is determined to keep Rick from entering the Realm ever again. And he'll do anything to convince Rick to stay out. And his plan of attack - kidnap Molly Jameson.
What's a guy to do when a massive attack is about to happen and his best friend is being used as leverage against him? This is a choice that Rick now faces. He alone can stop Kurador. And he is the only chance Mariel and Favian have of surviving the Realm. But Molly may lose her life if he so much as breathes in the direction of the Realm.
Hostage Run is an exciting sequel to MindWar. The Dial family is together in the secured compound they now called home, reunited after being torn apart by a lie, a lie that did not protect them. Rick is suffering from his forays into the Realm. And he is keeping these side-effects secret so that he won't be prevented from entering the Realm and rescuing his friends.
In Hostage Run the lines between the Realm and Real Life are about to become even more blurred as Kurador takes his war to a new level. And this new level is about to make the Realm even more dangerous than it was before.
Are you ready to enter a world that is about to change everything you thought you knew?
February 19, 2015
Rick Dial may have been crippled in a car accident, but he has used his skills in the gaming world to help a secret government unit stop terrorism that uses cyberspace. Rick has survived the Realm and has returned to Real Life. Things can never be quiet and now another cyber-attack is on its way and Molly, Rick’s best friend, has been taken and is being held hostage. It seems as if there is a mole within this secret organization and Rick has the fate of the world on his shoulders. Every time he enters The Realm it may be his last. Should he take on this mission or should he let others take all the risk?
Hostage Run is the second book in the Mindwar trilogy. Rick is an ordinary teenage boy who discovers he can help in extraordinary ways. The action is quick and the story progresses swiftly. Klavan does review key points of the first book that I found helpful. If readers pick up both books close together, they may not find it useful. I will warn readers that this book does have a cliff hanger. It is not a throw the book across the room cliff hanger, but it does leave the reader with things to ponder while they wait for the next installment.
Hostage Run is the second book in the Mindwar trilogy. Rick is an ordinary teenage boy who discovers he can help in extraordinary ways. The action is quick and the story progresses swiftly. Klavan does review key points of the first book that I found helpful. If readers pick up both books close together, they may not find it useful. I will warn readers that this book does have a cliff hanger. It is not a throw the book across the room cliff hanger, but it does leave the reader with things to ponder while they wait for the next installment.
March 26, 2015
Klavan effortlessly addresses key apologetic issues
I am, as most of my friends know, not easily impressed by today's 'Christian' fiction. However, Klavan is a master at weaving realistic Christian faith into his YA novels. He accomplishes this by letting the action and the characters and the conflict be the primary means of both entertainment and illustration of truth. Even though the whole story is a futuristic fantasy of Virtual and Real life, so many important and true ideas are addressed: love, sacrifice, growing into adult faith, prayer, meaning in suffering, hard choices, sorting out conflicting duties, trust. The list could continue, but it is all so effortless. Because it is all happening to the characters and not the intrusion of narrator (author) voice, I can imagine any teen regardless of religious or irreligious background enjoying the story. I highly recommend this book and the first one in the series to anyone who enjoys good entertainment. You might not get all the gaming references but it won't matter one bit. You will still love the story. I can't wait to see who Mariel is in the last book.
I am, as most of my friends know, not easily impressed by today's 'Christian' fiction. However, Klavan is a master at weaving realistic Christian faith into his YA novels. He accomplishes this by letting the action and the characters and the conflict be the primary means of both entertainment and illustration of truth. Even though the whole story is a futuristic fantasy of Virtual and Real life, so many important and true ideas are addressed: love, sacrifice, growing into adult faith, prayer, meaning in suffering, hard choices, sorting out conflicting duties, trust. The list could continue, but it is all so effortless. Because it is all happening to the characters and not the intrusion of narrator (author) voice, I can imagine any teen regardless of religious or irreligious background enjoying the story. I highly recommend this book and the first one in the series to anyone who enjoys good entertainment. You might not get all the gaming references but it won't matter one bit. You will still love the story. I can't wait to see who Mariel is in the last book.
May 1, 2015
In the book Hostage Run, author Andrew Klavan continues the MindWar trilogy which follows the life of 18-year-old Rick Dial and his family and friends. Once a star athlete, Rick’s world has suddenly changed as he struggles just to walk after an accident leaves his legs weak and in pain. Because of his father’s research that helps Rick enter the MindWar, the family is relocated to a protected compound where his father continues to try to find a way to stop the Realm and Rick reenters to stop a madman while trying to save the lives of thousands and his friends.
This was an excellent fast pace read. Klavan continues to develop the characters and show their struggles when confronted with life changing decisions.
I would highly recommend this book for any reader. Another great book by Andrew Klavan and I look forward the reading the series!
This was an excellent fast pace read. Klavan continues to develop the characters and show their struggles when confronted with life changing decisions.
I would highly recommend this book for any reader. Another great book by Andrew Klavan and I look forward the reading the series!
July 25, 2015
Hostage Run is book two of the Mind War Series. The adventure into the Virtual World where an evil mastermind as immortalized himself continues. The evil genius is able to affect the real world with things that he does in the Virtual World. Can he be stopped? To stop him they will have to go into the virtual world after him, but can he be stopped or will he destroy them first?
This is an exciting sequel to Mind War and it is faced paced, I really enjoyed reading this and it takes the journey even farther. I really have enjoyed this series and can't recommend it enough.
5 Stars.
This is an exciting sequel to Mind War and it is faced paced, I really enjoyed reading this and it takes the journey even farther. I really have enjoyed this series and can't recommend it enough.
5 Stars.
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