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The Rig #2
Crystal Force
With enemies on all sides, who can Drake really trust?
On the run after escaping from what was supposed to be the world's most secure juvenile facility (and blowing it up in the process), Will Drake knows it's only a matter of time before the sinister Alliance catches up with him. But Drake is in need of an alliance of his own - knowing who to trust is becoming increasingly difficult, and after having been exposed to the highly unstable (and potentially deadly) Crystal-X whilst fleeing from the Rig, it looks like time might be running out for him all together. His arm has started to mutate into an impenetrable black crystal, and although it gives him a superhuman-like ability to fight, it might also be causing him to lose his mind.
Surrounded by enemies and desperate for help, Drake and his escapee comrades are forced to form an uneasy partnership with a mysterious group who also claim to have been exposed to Crystal-X. They say they know how to use its powers for good - but can Drake really keep running forever? And who should he trust more - his supposed friends, or the voices in his head...?
On the run after escaping from what was supposed to be the world's most secure juvenile facility (and blowing it up in the process), Will Drake knows it's only a matter of time before the sinister Alliance catches up with him. But Drake is in need of an alliance of his own - knowing who to trust is becoming increasingly difficult, and after having been exposed to the highly unstable (and potentially deadly) Crystal-X whilst fleeing from the Rig, it looks like time might be running out for him all together. His arm has started to mutate into an impenetrable black crystal, and although it gives him a superhuman-like ability to fight, it might also be causing him to lose his mind.
Surrounded by enemies and desperate for help, Drake and his escapee comrades are forced to form an uneasy partnership with a mysterious group who also claim to have been exposed to Crystal-X. They say they know how to use its powers for good - but can Drake really keep running forever? And who should he trust more - his supposed friends, or the voices in his head...?
273 pages, Paperback
First published April 2, 2015
17 people are currently reading
294 people want to read
About the author
Joe Ducie
19 books106 followersJoe Ducie (1987-) is a writer from Perth, Western Australia. By day, he charges a toll to cross a bridge he doesn’t own. Yet by night, in a haze of scotch-fuelled insanity, he works tirelessly on an array of stories both short and long. Joe possesses a fierce love of a smooth finish. Under no circumstances should you ask him just what that means.
Joe was born in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria in November 1987, and currently resides in Perth, Western Australia. He is primarily an author of urban fantasy and science fiction aimed at young adults. His current stories include Distant Star, Upon Crystal Shores, Red vs. Blue, and The Forgetful Library.
Joe attended Edith Cowan University and graduated in 2010 with a Degree of Counterterrorism, Security and Intelligence. He went back, the idiot, and completed post-graduate studies in Security Science in 2011. Joe has also studied Creative and Professional Writing at Curtin University.
When not talking about himself in the third person, Joe enjoys devouring books at an absurdly disgusting rate and sampling fine scotch.
Website: joeducie.net
Twitter: @joeducie
Facebook: /jducie
Joe was born in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria in November 1987, and currently resides in Perth, Western Australia. He is primarily an author of urban fantasy and science fiction aimed at young adults. His current stories include Distant Star, Upon Crystal Shores, Red vs. Blue, and The Forgetful Library.
Joe attended Edith Cowan University and graduated in 2010 with a Degree of Counterterrorism, Security and Intelligence. He went back, the idiot, and completed post-graduate studies in Security Science in 2011. Joe has also studied Creative and Professional Writing at Curtin University.
When not talking about himself in the third person, Joe enjoys devouring books at an absurdly disgusting rate and sampling fine scotch.
Website: joeducie.net
Twitter: @joeducie
Facebook: /jducie
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
April 6, 2015
Ever since I closed the pages on The Rig, I have been desperate to find out what happens next for Drake, Tristan, and Irene. When I got the email from Hot Key Books with Crystal Force up for review I did not hesitate in asking for this one, and also doing a happy dance (inside my head).
Crystal Force picks up after The Rig, with this unlikely trio on the run from Alliance, ding what they can to stay hidden and away from prying eyes. However when hunger and cold takes over we get our first glimpse into how powerful Drake is getting to be, when he uses his powers to break into a cash point, and not only taking money, but also taking the wall down in the process. The cover of the book gives a small example of what he is capable of doing.
Crystal Force is a non-stop, action packed, death defying book, and I loved every page of it. Crystal Force brings a lot of old faces, but also some new ones with Noemi and her team, who want to take Drake to Haven, a training facility in Japan, a place where he will be safe from Alliance, and will be able to learn how to control his powers. Of course there are the initial doubts, if someone appeared before you inviting you to go with them to a safe place you are going to be skeptical,
but being the lesser of two evils makes the decision making easy and quick.
Joe Ducie has a way of making you feel every emotion when reading Crystal Force. If I wasn't tense and nervous, I would be laughing at what was said, then so angry I wanted to throw the book across the room, then I would find myself being anxious and worried. Halfway through Crystal Force was when the anger really came out. How could this person do that, after everything that had happened, that they had been through, they go and do this. Not once did I see it coming or expect it from this person, I was angry, shocked, and furious.
Crystal Force was an unputdownable read, and after the spectacular build up towards the ending and then to end with an emotional moment, I have decided that I really really need the next book now.
Final Verdict
A fantastic read that kept me on the edge of my seat.
Crystal Force picks up after The Rig, with this unlikely trio on the run from Alliance, ding what they can to stay hidden and away from prying eyes. However when hunger and cold takes over we get our first glimpse into how powerful Drake is getting to be, when he uses his powers to break into a cash point, and not only taking money, but also taking the wall down in the process. The cover of the book gives a small example of what he is capable of doing.
Crystal Force is a non-stop, action packed, death defying book, and I loved every page of it. Crystal Force brings a lot of old faces, but also some new ones with Noemi and her team, who want to take Drake to Haven, a training facility in Japan, a place where he will be safe from Alliance, and will be able to learn how to control his powers. Of course there are the initial doubts, if someone appeared before you inviting you to go with them to a safe place you are going to be skeptical,
"Seriously, secret schools for magic in some old world location? I've read this book before, Will. Next stop is the hidden market to pick up your owl and spell books."
but being the lesser of two evils makes the decision making easy and quick.
Joe Ducie has a way of making you feel every emotion when reading Crystal Force. If I wasn't tense and nervous, I would be laughing at what was said, then so angry I wanted to throw the book across the room, then I would find myself being anxious and worried. Halfway through Crystal Force was when the anger really came out. How could this person do that, after everything that had happened, that they had been through, they go and do this. Not once did I see it coming or expect it from this person, I was angry, shocked, and furious.
Crystal Force was an unputdownable read, and after the spectacular build up towards the ending and then to end with an emotional moment, I have decided that I really really need the next book now.
Final Verdict
A fantastic read that kept me on the edge of my seat.
December 28, 2017
This book was amazing! I loved all of the intricacies of the plot, with the complex character dynamics and many twists and turns. I also like how the "magic" that Will can do has inherent complexities and challenges. Will is a great character with his unfailing optimism and humorous remarks that brighten the story and keep it from being too dark. This series reminds me a bit of the Percy Jackson books actually. Would recommend to anyone looking for a captivating, quick, fantasy novel.
July 5, 2015
This review first appeared on The Book Zone (For Boys)
Joe Ducie's The Rig was one of my favourite books of 2013, and it seems like the sequel has been a little too long coming, especially given the speed with which sequels seem to be published these days. I know through my conversations with the students at school that they hate to wait too long between books in a series, even to the point of losing interest in the series completely if they have to wait too long. With so many books being published for children and adults these days, having to remember a storyline for more than a year can be quite a big ask (it certainly is for this reader, at least). However, that moan aside, I can happily state that it was well worth the wait.
*** Warning: spoilers for The Rig ahead ***
The Rig was, in my opinion, very much an action story with some science fiction elements that became more apparent as the story progressed. Its sequel, Crystal Force, is much more of a science fiction story with a huge amount of action. Having escaped from the supposedly inescapable Rig, Will Drake and his friends find their troubles are only just beginning. Having come ashore in the wilds of Newfoundland, the friends are struggling to stay ahead of their hunters, whilst also struggling to keep warm, find food and just generally survive. Will is also having to come to terms with his strange new powers, gained when he was exposed to Crystal-X during his escape. Concerned that he may not be able to control his powers, its a worry that he keeps bottled away, afraid that his friends might desert him for being a dangerous freak. At the same time, he also understands that if he can control these new powers he might be their only chance for survival, as they flee the forces of the Alliance.
Trust is a key theme running through Crystal Force. Can Will trust his friends with his worries about his mutating body? Can the friends trust each other implicitly, or will one of them receive an offer from an enemy that is too good to refuse? Can they trust the Japanese contingent that appears on the scene, claiming they know all about Crystal-X and can train Will to control his powers? And what about Whitmore and the Alliance? Should the trio trust him and the promises he makes instead? And of course, in any story where trust is a major theme, there is bound to be an unhealthy dose of betrayal along the way, as characters cross and double-cross in order to reach their own selfish objectives.
Joe Ducie proved with The Rig that he could write a tense, action story and in Crystal Force he adds writing great science fiction to his resumé. It is easy to assume from the blurb that this is an X-Men style story, but whilst the emerging superpowers theme is an important aspect of the book, the story is more akin to one of alien possession. Of that I will say no more, for fear of creating spoilers, but it was certainly a direction I had not expected the story to take.
Crystal Force has more of a cliffhanger ending that its predecessor, which is not surprising given that I believe it to be the middle book in a trilogy. This isn't a problem for me (The Empire Strikes Back did, after all, have something of a cliffhanger ending and is almost universally recognised as being a bloody amazing film). However, it will become a problem for me if we have to wait another two years for the next book. Are you listening Joe Ducie and Hot Key Books? Don't keep your fans waiting this time please!
Joe Ducie's The Rig was one of my favourite books of 2013, and it seems like the sequel has been a little too long coming, especially given the speed with which sequels seem to be published these days. I know through my conversations with the students at school that they hate to wait too long between books in a series, even to the point of losing interest in the series completely if they have to wait too long. With so many books being published for children and adults these days, having to remember a storyline for more than a year can be quite a big ask (it certainly is for this reader, at least). However, that moan aside, I can happily state that it was well worth the wait.
*** Warning: spoilers for The Rig ahead ***
The Rig was, in my opinion, very much an action story with some science fiction elements that became more apparent as the story progressed. Its sequel, Crystal Force, is much more of a science fiction story with a huge amount of action. Having escaped from the supposedly inescapable Rig, Will Drake and his friends find their troubles are only just beginning. Having come ashore in the wilds of Newfoundland, the friends are struggling to stay ahead of their hunters, whilst also struggling to keep warm, find food and just generally survive. Will is also having to come to terms with his strange new powers, gained when he was exposed to Crystal-X during his escape. Concerned that he may not be able to control his powers, its a worry that he keeps bottled away, afraid that his friends might desert him for being a dangerous freak. At the same time, he also understands that if he can control these new powers he might be their only chance for survival, as they flee the forces of the Alliance.
Trust is a key theme running through Crystal Force. Can Will trust his friends with his worries about his mutating body? Can the friends trust each other implicitly, or will one of them receive an offer from an enemy that is too good to refuse? Can they trust the Japanese contingent that appears on the scene, claiming they know all about Crystal-X and can train Will to control his powers? And what about Whitmore and the Alliance? Should the trio trust him and the promises he makes instead? And of course, in any story where trust is a major theme, there is bound to be an unhealthy dose of betrayal along the way, as characters cross and double-cross in order to reach their own selfish objectives.
Joe Ducie proved with The Rig that he could write a tense, action story and in Crystal Force he adds writing great science fiction to his resumé. It is easy to assume from the blurb that this is an X-Men style story, but whilst the emerging superpowers theme is an important aspect of the book, the story is more akin to one of alien possession. Of that I will say no more, for fear of creating spoilers, but it was certainly a direction I had not expected the story to take.
Crystal Force has more of a cliffhanger ending that its predecessor, which is not surprising given that I believe it to be the middle book in a trilogy. This isn't a problem for me (The Empire Strikes Back did, after all, have something of a cliffhanger ending and is almost universally recognised as being a bloody amazing film). However, it will become a problem for me if we have to wait another two years for the next book. Are you listening Joe Ducie and Hot Key Books? Don't keep your fans waiting this time please!
February 19, 2017
The Rig was an awesome book to read I could not put the book down because I wanted more and Crystal force I'm just after finishing this month was an amazing and awesome book too the author made it seem real everything was perfect in the book and I wouldn't of change not one thing in the two books.
February 13, 2017
I know a lot of people dislike this book, and it's not quite as good as he first one and it changes to more fantasy or sci fi while the rig was mostly realistic, but I still really enjoyed it and would also like to recommend Michael Vey to people who enjoy these books.
October 31, 2016
The Rig was really fascinating and enthralling, but Crystal Force was so-so.
Drake, Irene, and Tristan escape from The Rig and are trying to get to London to save Drake's mom. They end up meeting a couple of kids from Japan who know all about the crystal and have come to teach them more about it.
The Alliance catches up with them and they spend the rest of the book trying to avoid being captured.
Drake experiments with his powers and he's invincible... It was hard to suspend my disbelief with the sci-fi elements and what happens to Drake.
Hopefully the 3rd book will resume the edge of your seat excitement of the 1st book.
Drake, Irene, and Tristan escape from The Rig and are trying to get to London to save Drake's mom. They end up meeting a couple of kids from Japan who know all about the crystal and have come to teach them more about it.
The Alliance catches up with them and they spend the rest of the book trying to avoid being captured.
Drake experiments with his powers and he's invincible... It was hard to suspend my disbelief with the sci-fi elements and what happens to Drake.
Hopefully the 3rd book will resume the edge of your seat excitement of the 1st book.
March 30, 2015
Joe Ducie is a clever author with a special imagination to write fantasy and science fiction. Crystal Force is about some friends who escape from one the world's securest prison. Having escaped this is just the beginning. Will Drake has exposure to a mysterious chemical that has given him special powers. Can Will help him self and his friends escape free back to all their homes from the enemies that will be out hunting for them?
May 14, 2015
This book was fantastic. It had great writing style and a nice flowing way of switching between characters compared to other books where they are more rigid in their style of writing. Also, what was nice was the almost avoidance of cliches with great power. Smart writing and smart characters is always a pleasure and reading this was most pleasant, in fact more then just pleasant. I enjoyed the fight scenes and the story. So in general it deserves more than the stars I give.
February 1, 2016
4/4 A+
Crystal Force is an astonishing and strange novel that reminded me of all the fun watching the original Ben 10 cartoon for the first time, comic book style. And just like its predecessor, The Rig, it has as much stretch as being out of your prison cell and as much gravity as a bare hand ATM robbery.
You can read my full review at http://www.weldonwitness.weebly.com/c...
Crystal Force is an astonishing and strange novel that reminded me of all the fun watching the original Ben 10 cartoon for the first time, comic book style. And just like its predecessor, The Rig, it has as much stretch as being out of your prison cell and as much gravity as a bare hand ATM robbery.
You can read my full review at http://www.weldonwitness.weebly.com/c...
March 6, 2016
'End of book two'
If that means there's a book three, I hope it's more like book one...
Not so great follow up, too much too fast and pretty unrealistic to be set so near in the future.
Getting a bit of a 'Maze Runner' vibe, maybe I just prefer dystopia from a female perspective/author. This was all guns blazing, literally.
2.5/5
If that means there's a book three, I hope it's more like book one...
Not so great follow up, too much too fast and pretty unrealistic to be set so near in the future.
Getting a bit of a 'Maze Runner' vibe, maybe I just prefer dystopia from a female perspective/author. This was all guns blazing, literally.
2.5/5
May 14, 2015
5.5 STARS
Did like but was not feeling as much , i think it was becaquse i did not read the first book.
Did like but was not feeling as much , i think it was becaquse i did not read the first book.
May 1, 2015
Very exciting second book in the series. I can see boys really enjoying the thrills and super powers.
December 26, 2015
All those references though. If I have to wait another 2 years for the next book there will be hell to pay.
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January 24, 2018loved it
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews