The Patriarch

Wild Child

by Mike Wells

Kyle and Briana find themselves ensnared in the bizarre Evergreen Colony, hopelessly addicted to the magical green water. At first glance, Evergreen appears to be a utopia. Each of the nearly five hundred members enjoys extraordinary physical and mental abilities, perfect health, and nearly eternal life. But there's a catch: once you drink the water, you can never leave. Kyle soon discovers that one man may have secretly developed an antidote--the former Evergreen Patriarch. Can Kyle track him down without being killed, or will they be trapped in the colony forever?

ebook

First published April 25, 2015

About the author

Email me at mike (at) mikewellsbooks.com or follow me on Twitter (@MikeWellsAuthor) and get a FREE copy of one of my bestselling books. I'm an American author best known for my Lust, Money & Murder series and and written more than 25 other thriller and suspense novels. I also have taught in the Creative Writing program at Oxford. I'm known for my super fast-paced, 'unputdownable' books.

Please visit my website/blog at:

http://www.mikewellsbooks.com/

And please join me on Twitter and Facebook:

http://twitter.com/mikewellsauthor

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Reviews

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know the saying third time’s the charm? Books one and two were fabulous, creative, and full of tension, but Mike Wells’ third book in the Wild Child series, The Patriarch completely blew me away! If anyone had tried to interrupt my reading, I could not be responsible for my actions, honest, it is that good.

Kayle and Briana are getting an up close and personal look at the Evergreen Colony, which at first glance is idyllic, well, if living among a bunch of green water addicts can be considered idyllic. Underneath that blissful façade lie deceit, a controlling leader and a brutish enforcement officer to mention some pretty brutal challenges. Briana seems happy with her choices, but Kyle is determined to get of the green water and escape, but how? Whispered rumors of another who “got away” have him intrigued, but no one will talk about this person. Who was the former patriarch? How did he get away? How did he get off the green water? How can Kyle find him without getting himself killed in the process? What will he find at the end of his quest?

For fans of a dystopian world, filled with danger and that “Big Brother” feel, along with a little “Thunderdome-type” challenges thrown in, Mike Wells has it all here in The Patriarch. Non-stop tension all around, unique characters, a unique plot and a hero that is over-the-top gutsy, and goes with his heart as well as his mind as he seeks answers. Each scene is filled with detail, and practically jumped off the pages as my mental movie theatre started rolling and would not let up until the final credits. There were times I wanted to close my eyes, it felt so real, and the smells? The mental rush the characters would feel? I was feeling them, too. Mike Wells knows how to write and he does so like a tsunami coming at you full force!


I received this copy from Mike Wells in exchange for my honest review.

Series: Wild Child - Book 3
Publication Date: April 25, 2015
Publisher: Mike Wells
Genre: Dystopian Fantasy
Print Length: 358 pages
Available from: Amazon |  Barnes & Noble
Reviewed for: http://tometender.blogspot.com

[Bailey Crawly · Rating 5 out of 5]

*
I don't think I've been as excited about writing a blog post as I have been with working on this one, because Mike has finally completed a trilogy that fans have been asking for since the original was published in the late 90s.

Before I begin, if you haven't already read my previous blog post wherein I discussed the first two Wild Child books and that is something you would be interested in reading, you can find the link by clicking here.

I'll admit; I took a little while to finish this book. It's not because I didn't like it or that the writing was hard to pick up, but it was because the writing was so fast-paced and because I, in all honesty, did not want this book to be over.
I started The Patriarch with the highest of hopes, and with extreme gratefulness for being a beta reader for Mike (my name is actually attached at the end of this book, and you're free to purchase this book and have a look there) ;)
I have tried many times to organize my thoughts and decide what exactly it is I want to say about this book, but there is so much to say, most of which I will probably remember after this blog is posted.
First off, let me just say that this is very possibly my favorite Mike Wells book. I've read almost everything else he has published so far, and none seemed to hold me in an addict-like trance from start to finish. Likewise, I would describe my reading experience to be like the characters in the Evergreen Colony: I was addicted to "The Green." And now, having just closed the cover on the end of the book for the first reading, I feel as though I am peaking on the Green.
So, what is the fuss all about with this book?
The Patriarch is the final book in what Mike calls the "First Trilogy" of Wild Child (thank god you stuck the "first" in there, Mike!), and it follows the same two teenagers who stumbled upon the mystical "Green Water" in the first two books, but the primary focus of the book is on Kyle, who is a newer member of the Evergreen Colony and has his mind set on getting out.
Kyle discovers a mysterious writing in a book in the Evergreen library with a name and number on it, and finds out that the owner of that number is someone who has "disassociated" from the Evergreen Colony and the Green Water addiction. When Kyle gets in contact with this person - who makes himself known as "Thor" - and asks for help, he is told that Thor will happily help him... but he must first soar to the top of the Evergreen hierarchy.
This book was... a sensational read, to say the least. It takes characters that many readers have followed in the previous two books and have become extremely comfortable around and familiar with, and puts them in new situations and shows how they change.
The character development in this particular book was the best development I've ever seen in a book before, especially with the female heroine, Briana. In the first two books, she is portrayed in a particular fashion (I don't want to give anything away on any of the books), and we see that when she gets to Evergreen and develops a love for the rituals and addiction practiced by this group of people, we see how this affects her and changes her behaviour, especially the way she behaves with Kyle.
This book was a joy ride. It is longer than the first two books combined, yet there is not a single word that is wasted or that the story could survive without, and not one that left me wishing the story would progress faster. Many thoughts were rushing through my mind at the time this book was being read, and I struggled for a long time to find the perfect thing to say in this review, because the thoughts are literally endless.
I would like to just say that, if you're skeptical of Mike's fiction, then he is offering a pretty sweet deal: You can start your journey with the Green Water for FREE, as the first Wild Child book is FREE to download and enjoy. At that price, you can certainly afford to give the tale a try and find out what the fuss is about, and definitely get much more than your moneys' worth. Also, if you are looking to get a discount on these stories, Mike is soon offering Wild Child: The First Trilogy as one complete eBook, for the limited time price of $4.99, the same price as the third and final book as a stand-alone.
If you're looking for a thrill ride, then this is definitely the way to go. I have enjoyed every book of Mike's that I have read, but this one particularly stood out to me as I was reading it, and it has a spot in my heart, and it is certainly something I hope Mike returns to soon.
On that note, I guess I only have two thoughts to deliver, and both are for Mike: firstly, thanks so much for giving me the fantastic opportunity of being a Beta Reader, I loved it! I loved the thrill of getting to read the book a little while in advance of its announcement on your Facebook page, and getting to communicate with you as I was reading and working on this blog, and for everything you do for me and answering my questions. You really do care about your fans and you take the time out to actually respond to them, which is something few authors actually do. Honestly, how has somebody NOT approached you for film rights of Wild Child yet?? And, finally,

WHEN WILL THE FIRST BOOK OF THE SECOND TRILOGY (OR SERIES) BE RELEASED?

Seriously... I'm dying to hear more.

*This review was posted to Goodreads due to a sharing issue between Blogger and Facebook. You can read the original review here: http://baileycrawly.blogspot.ca/2015/...

[Adisha Kariyawasam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Subtitle: An ‘Evergreen’ story with a whole new take on conflict resolution!

Every now and then a book is released that totally grabs my attention and the third instalment of the Wild Child series was a good example of just 'that' book.

I recently had the pleasure of reading books one and two a few months ago (also reviewed by me and awarded 5 stars on Goodreads) so the exciting story was still fresh in my head.

The premise is a simple one: Boy meets girl. Girl gets in trouble. Boy endeavours to help girl out of her ‘situation’ – except here is a story with a difference – that situation is an all-encompassing, self-consuming and a nigh on impossible one to escape from.

Whilst the first two books were fairly quick reads, I read them both in a few afternoons, the latest instalment is almost double the length and required more time to savour.

Remember those gripping Hollywood sci-fi thrillers and sword-and-sandal epics? As I read this book I was vaguely reminded of epic films like ‘Gladiator', 'The Matrix', 'Highlander' and even the popular TV series 'Heroes' - recalling Dr. Mohinder Suresh's line from Series 1, Episode 7 'You do not choose your destiny, it chooses you'.

Young adult readers and fans of the first two novels should be aware that the plot springboards into a whole new dimension and the situations that Kyle faces makes uncomfortable reading indeed.

However, this should come as no suprise to fans of the fantasy thriller genre where fighting and conflict are key ingredients. Recall the quote from J.R.R.Tolkien's 'The Lord of the Rings':
'There is some good in this world... and it's worth fighting for ...'

It follows that our main protagonists Kyle and Briana (also knicknamed 'Brie') subsequently go through what can only be described as a 'descent into a living hell'.

I really enjoyed reading about the one-on-one challenges or should I say CONFRONTATIONS that brimmed full of inspired action writing. Along with the visceral violence – a necessary evil when depicting the gruesome battles – are a whole new vocabulary with terms like RENEWAL, PHASING and PEAKING, that are all important for restoring the balance in the strange, eccentric Evergreen community.

As I progressed through the novel, the different levels of confrontation struck me as being somewhat symbolic and representative of the struggles that all human beings face at some point in their lives. This prompted the thought: What does the magical green water really represent? Could it be a thirst for knowledge and power – no matter what the cost? Could it be as simple as a craving and quest for a better life? Ultimately it’s up to the reader to decide but whatever your take on it, you won’t be disappointed and as with all good novels you will end up a changed person.

Amongst the key characters, astute readers are also in for a real treat as a certain well-known character from one of Mike's other novels makes a surprise and most welcome appearance (so too do a certain author and keen musician whose names escape me for the time being!)

In summary, 'Wild Child 3 – The Patriarch' was an exceptionally absorbing read and another fine addition to my e-book collection. Readers will also find that it is written with great care and attention to detail.

A final note of thanks to Mr. Wells for giving me the opportunity to beta read this story. It was greatly appreciated and yet again another well-deserved 5 stars.

[Lynn Hallbrooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was on a level that was about three steps above the first two books in the series. However, you really need to read the first two to be able to get the full background for this one.

This is a New Adult Paranormal with Utopian/Dystopian vibes.

In an effort to escape what everyone else says is his fate, Kyle searches for answers. Will he find what he is looking for or will he succumb to the allure of the green water?

I really enjoyed how Mr. Wells has Kyle showing more of a stubborn streak in this story which helps the story ebb and flow as he adjusts to his situation.

Warning: There is Violence as well as Adult Language and Situations.

[Mehreen Ahmed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mehreen Ahmed's Review

This extremely engaging book by Mike Wells is well-thought out, well-executed and well-planned. From the outset, tension is gradually built as readers are led through opaque conversations and labyrinthine space . People in monk-like robes, moving in cat-like grace chanting through an amphitheater semi dark cave immediately appeal to a sense of the ethereal. As reading continues, with the characters, readers too will be transported to a mysterious world of the unknown. Where will all this end is something for both characters and readers find out together. But the chilling story is hair raising. Just as magical, the writing itself is so excellent that it has the addictive quality of the green water itself. This green water which is meant to keep its members evergreen. Agile, and alert without a semblance of physical and mental illness. However, is this some kind of a trap, a living colony that plans to ensnare people in its magnetic yet deathly aura? What elemental property does this matter possess, is something to be explored. Events unfold, as anxiety seizes the moment,while the tour proceeds through a monumental glimpse of the metaphysics.

I don't know about others. But I, for one, was pretty charmed..

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free ecopy of this book for an honest review.

I started The Patriarch as soon as I finished the second book in this series, Lilith. This trilogy is fast-paced and it’s hard to put the books down once you start them.

The roles of Kyle and Brianna are kind of reversed in The Patriarch. Now, she is the one who follows the rules and his is the one who breaks them. It takes Kyle a little longer than I had hoped to figure out what he needs to do to possibly leave Evergreen, but once he figures it out, there’s no stopping him.

The Patriarch had some twists and surprises and even though I figured out the biggest twist very early, I still really enjoyed the book.

I definitely recommend the Wild Child trilogy and I hope the next trilogy will be available soon.

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

One Of My All-Time Favorite Series!

Fantastic continuation, loved every second.

My first introduction to Mike's fiction was with Wild Child, the first book in this series. I took it on as a challenge because Mr Wells was so vocal about writing 'unputdownable' stories. So I said, "Okay, let's see what you got!" I was instantly hooked and have since read a ton of Mike's work. I've NEVER been disappointed.

I would definitely read this series in order, but don't worry, it's easy to do. Just pick up book 1 and before you know it, you'll have finished the entire series.

My favorite part of Wild Child - The Patriarch, was discovering that the story isn't over. Can't wait for book 4.

[Patricia Trapani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book but now disappointed that the sequel hasn't been written yet.