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Isolation #1
Omen Operation
An epidemic hits the country, and Brooklyn Harper is stolen from the life she knew.
Implanted in a rural camp, Brooklyn and her friends are severed from their families and the outside world. Each day is filled with combat training to assure their safety against a mysterious virus and the creatures it creates—violent humanoids with black blood.
Two years later, Brooklyn’s cabin-mate, Dawson Winters, finds a letter that shatters the illusion they’ve been living in. There is a world outside Camp Eleven, and the virus that supposedly destroyed their country seems non-existent.
After a daring escape, Brooklyn finds the world they’ve left behind harbors the normalcy she remembers. But when they are attacked by a black-blooded creature in the city, Brooklyn and her friends realize there is more to Camp Eleven than they thought.
Someone took them, someone trained them, and now someone is trying to find them.
As their exploration continues, the group is faced with impossible feats while betrayal, love, and secrets force Brooklyn and her friends to fight for their life, their freedom, and most of all, each other.
Implanted in a rural camp, Brooklyn and her friends are severed from their families and the outside world. Each day is filled with combat training to assure their safety against a mysterious virus and the creatures it creates—violent humanoids with black blood.
Two years later, Brooklyn’s cabin-mate, Dawson Winters, finds a letter that shatters the illusion they’ve been living in. There is a world outside Camp Eleven, and the virus that supposedly destroyed their country seems non-existent.
After a daring escape, Brooklyn finds the world they’ve left behind harbors the normalcy she remembers. But when they are attacked by a black-blooded creature in the city, Brooklyn and her friends realize there is more to Camp Eleven than they thought.
Someone took them, someone trained them, and now someone is trying to find them.
As their exploration continues, the group is faced with impossible feats while betrayal, love, and secrets force Brooklyn and her friends to fight for their life, their freedom, and most of all, each other.
306 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 26, 2016
19 people are currently reading
342 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
June 10, 2018
This was only okay for me. I should have done a little more research before I grabbed this book. I didn’t realize it was a re-release. I also didn’t realize that this was book one of three that ended in a cliffhanger. I’m not a big fan of cliffhangers when I don’t know that they are coming. Since I mostly read lesfic I do want to mention this book is not that. I would say most of the characters in this book were bisexual.
The story is about a group of young adults, training to survive a zombie like outbreak. The problem happens when news from outside leaks into the camp. There was no actual virus outbreak and the world is still turning like normal. Brooklyn and her friends decide to escape to find out what the heck is really going on.
This book is a little odd since it feels post-apocalyptic, but it’s not. It feels zombie-ish, but it’s not; it’s the kind of book you really need to suspend disbelief to read. This book is more out there than a normal zombie apocalypse book. I don’t mind books like this, I wanted to really enjoy this, it just never happened.
My biggest problem really was with the characters. While I did like the main character Brooklyn quite a bit, everyone else was pretty blah. I felt no connection or any deeper understanding for any other character. Brooklyn had a crush on a girl who liked pretty things and was dangerous. Brooklyn’s other crush was on a boy who was a coward. That was basically all I knew about her two potential love interests. Besides Brooklyn’s two crushes, all the other characters were basically interchangeable enough that I could not tell them apart.
There is no real romance in this book. As I said almost everyone seems to be bisexual (though there might have been some gay characters but I’m not sure) and they were basically all sleeping with each other. I could not even keep track of who was screwing who. All of this happens off camera. Brooklyn is the only character not sleeping with multiple people. She was lucky to even get a kiss from both her crushes. Even Brooklyn’s crushes are sleeping with other people while she is alone and confused.
I like badass characters like Brooklyn and I like zombie type stories so I thought I would really like this. But I’m just such a character driven reader that I needed to connect to more than Brooklyn. I hate leaving stories unfinished. It’s one of the reasons I very rarely DNF books. I dislike that this ended on a cliffhanger. The OCD in me wants to finish the story when the other books come out. The practical half of me just doesn’t care enough to. I’m just really unsure. I do want to mention I seem to be an outlier with this book. The ratings are almost a solid 4 stars. So I would check out the other reviews before you make a decision.
An ARC was given to me by NineStar Press, for a honest review.
The story is about a group of young adults, training to survive a zombie like outbreak. The problem happens when news from outside leaks into the camp. There was no actual virus outbreak and the world is still turning like normal. Brooklyn and her friends decide to escape to find out what the heck is really going on.
This book is a little odd since it feels post-apocalyptic, but it’s not. It feels zombie-ish, but it’s not; it’s the kind of book you really need to suspend disbelief to read. This book is more out there than a normal zombie apocalypse book. I don’t mind books like this, I wanted to really enjoy this, it just never happened.
My biggest problem really was with the characters. While I did like the main character Brooklyn quite a bit, everyone else was pretty blah. I felt no connection or any deeper understanding for any other character. Brooklyn had a crush on a girl who liked pretty things and was dangerous. Brooklyn’s other crush was on a boy who was a coward. That was basically all I knew about her two potential love interests. Besides Brooklyn’s two crushes, all the other characters were basically interchangeable enough that I could not tell them apart.
There is no real romance in this book. As I said almost everyone seems to be bisexual (though there might have been some gay characters but I’m not sure) and they were basically all sleeping with each other. I could not even keep track of who was screwing who. All of this happens off camera. Brooklyn is the only character not sleeping with multiple people. She was lucky to even get a kiss from both her crushes. Even Brooklyn’s crushes are sleeping with other people while she is alone and confused.
I like badass characters like Brooklyn and I like zombie type stories so I thought I would really like this. But I’m just such a character driven reader that I needed to connect to more than Brooklyn. I hate leaving stories unfinished. It’s one of the reasons I very rarely DNF books. I dislike that this ended on a cliffhanger. The OCD in me wants to finish the story when the other books come out. The practical half of me just doesn’t care enough to. I’m just really unsure. I do want to mention I seem to be an outlier with this book. The ratings are almost a solid 4 stars. So I would check out the other reviews before you make a decision.
An ARC was given to me by NineStar Press, for a honest review.
February 16, 2016
**Received an e-arc from the author in exchange for an honest review.**
"Control was all she had left, and she was losing it."
One day, while Brooklyn Harper is out with her friends, a sudden ear-splitting scream pierces the air. Curious, Brooklyn hops out of the car to investigate what the noise was. What she finds is what appears to be a woman standing over another woman. She is barely recognizable and is covered in dark clothing and a dark liquid running down her face. Terrified, Brooklyn runs like hell in an attempt to flee the crazed woman.
Little after year since the incident, Brooke has been relocated to a rural camp where she bunks with her friends in a cabin. They have been isolated from the outside world, which has been affected by an epidemic that has spread around the country. This mysterious virus causes the people infected to act belligerent, crazed. Zombie like.
When Dawson winters comes upon a letter, indicating that things on the outside aren't exactly as they had thought. As they begin to doubt everything they've been told of the outside world and why they were separated from their families, they plan an escape.
Once they are in the outside world, they are surprised to find it is normal and unaffected. As they continue on into the city the soon discover that not everything is as it seems, and there is much more to what really happened.
Right from the very start we're thrown into this exhilarating ride that never let up. There was always something happening. I was constantly finding myself saying, "just this one more page" repeatedly and not being able to stop reading. I was so engaged and hooked into the story. The main thing I want to shoutout Taylor Brooke for, are the characters. A million thank you's. SUCH a diverse set of characters, not only did they vary in race, but in sexuality. Taylor did such a fine job of intricately weaving their backgrounds and sexual orientation in such a refreshing way. It was like inhaling a breath of fresh air after suffocation.
While I can't go into too much detail without giving too much away, I can certainly say this book took me by complete shock. It was different from what I was expecting I look forward to a sequel so I can find out what happens to the beloved characters I grew to care so much about. Especially after that ending! The only reason I'm not giving this 5 stars is because of its length, I SOOO believe this could have been longer. There was so much happening and there was definitely potential for it to stretch out a little bit more.
"Control was all she had left, and she was losing it."
One day, while Brooklyn Harper is out with her friends, a sudden ear-splitting scream pierces the air. Curious, Brooklyn hops out of the car to investigate what the noise was. What she finds is what appears to be a woman standing over another woman. She is barely recognizable and is covered in dark clothing and a dark liquid running down her face. Terrified, Brooklyn runs like hell in an attempt to flee the crazed woman.
Little after year since the incident, Brooke has been relocated to a rural camp where she bunks with her friends in a cabin. They have been isolated from the outside world, which has been affected by an epidemic that has spread around the country. This mysterious virus causes the people infected to act belligerent, crazed. Zombie like.
When Dawson winters comes upon a letter, indicating that things on the outside aren't exactly as they had thought. As they begin to doubt everything they've been told of the outside world and why they were separated from their families, they plan an escape.
Once they are in the outside world, they are surprised to find it is normal and unaffected. As they continue on into the city the soon discover that not everything is as it seems, and there is much more to what really happened.
Right from the very start we're thrown into this exhilarating ride that never let up. There was always something happening. I was constantly finding myself saying, "just this one more page" repeatedly and not being able to stop reading. I was so engaged and hooked into the story. The main thing I want to shoutout Taylor Brooke for, are the characters. A million thank you's. SUCH a diverse set of characters, not only did they vary in race, but in sexuality. Taylor did such a fine job of intricately weaving their backgrounds and sexual orientation in such a refreshing way. It was like inhaling a breath of fresh air after suffocation.
While I can't go into too much detail without giving too much away, I can certainly say this book took me by complete shock. It was different from what I was expecting I look forward to a sequel so I can find out what happens to the beloved characters I grew to care so much about. Especially after that ending! The only reason I'm not giving this 5 stars is because of its length, I SOOO believe this could have been longer. There was so much happening and there was definitely potential for it to stretch out a little bit more.
June 11, 2016
Brooklyn’s life as she knew it has come to a screeching halt and it all started with an ear-splitting shriek on a long, dark road. She now lives within the confines of a rural survivalist-type camp, where training for battle is the daily norm and she is told the outside world has fallen to a dark and deadly epidemic. The infected have become like crazed man-eating monsters and the world these teens once knew is gone. Have you ever tried to keep secrets from a teen? Have you ever tried to control their lives and treat them like mushrooms? How long do you think you can keep a trained group of teens in the dark without getting a rebellion? How long can their curiosity be squelched?
Brooklyn and her fellow “campmates” escape, only to find the world is just as they left it, they have been lied to. The only difference seems to be them, as they realize they have become magnets for the infected, who are hot on their trail, along with government agents tasked with bringing them in, alive. Not only have they dispatched the infected, but they have done it with superhuman abilities, but how?
Follow their flight for freedom as they uncover the lies, the loss and danger they have been put in, all in the name of scientific progress. They will be betrayed, wounded physically and emotionally as they race against the odds to survive from unseen enemies and the military that is supposed to protect them.
Taylor Brooke's Omen Operation is a fast-paced and intriguing tale of the results of science gone wrong. Filled with true to life characters that go from the average teen to deadly human weapons on the run, prepare to root for these teens as they attempt to find sanctuary in a world that is now a stranger to them. Start to finish action, twists, battles and life-like characters will keep you glued to each page as these young adults find the only ones they can depend on are themselves. But, can they survive
Taylor Brooke has done a remarkable job of setting the stage for a series that promises to be one to watch for!
I received this copy from Taylor Brooke in exchange for my honest review.
Series: Isolation - Book 1
Publisher: Limitless Publishing LLC (January 26, 2016)
Publication Date: January 26, 2016
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1680584650
Print Length: 240 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Brooklyn and her fellow “campmates” escape, only to find the world is just as they left it, they have been lied to. The only difference seems to be them, as they realize they have become magnets for the infected, who are hot on their trail, along with government agents tasked with bringing them in, alive. Not only have they dispatched the infected, but they have done it with superhuman abilities, but how?
Follow their flight for freedom as they uncover the lies, the loss and danger they have been put in, all in the name of scientific progress. They will be betrayed, wounded physically and emotionally as they race against the odds to survive from unseen enemies and the military that is supposed to protect them.
Taylor Brooke's Omen Operation is a fast-paced and intriguing tale of the results of science gone wrong. Filled with true to life characters that go from the average teen to deadly human weapons on the run, prepare to root for these teens as they attempt to find sanctuary in a world that is now a stranger to them. Start to finish action, twists, battles and life-like characters will keep you glued to each page as these young adults find the only ones they can depend on are themselves. But, can they survive
Taylor Brooke has done a remarkable job of setting the stage for a series that promises to be one to watch for!
I received this copy from Taylor Brooke in exchange for my honest review.
Series: Isolation - Book 1
Publisher: Limitless Publishing LLC (January 26, 2016)
Publication Date: January 26, 2016
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1680584650
Print Length: 240 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
February 1, 2016
See this review in its natural environment, Dani Reviews Things.
Disclaimer: I was provided a free copy of this book in exchange for a review, though this hasn't affected my opinion or the content of this review.Rating: 3.5 stars
Omen Operation doesn't start out well – in fact, it is rushed and confusing at the beginning, dropping the reader in what seems like it should be chapter 3 or 4. There is no time to get to know the characters or the life they're living before they're already off. About a third of the way in, however, the book starts hitting its stride, and the plot becomes a lot more engaging. Once I'd caught up with the story, the characters began to shine, with their own quirks and diverse back stories. I ended up enjoying this book more than I expected, and I recommend that potential readers try to stick through the rocky beginning to get to the action and excitement later on.
Best and worst
The best: Some of the fight scenes were brutal – both physically and emotionally so.
The worst: The beginning was all kinds of confusing and rushed, both plot-wise and character-wise.
First impressions
Ooooh, sounds like a zombie book! And I'm going through a bit of a zombie phase, especially with kickass girls who can fight back.
The cover is ok, though the girl's hair annoys me. It just doesn't look real...
Break it down
Who
Finally a book written in third person perspective! It was so refreshing after a series of first persons. That being said, it wasn't perfect. While it was written in third person, it still seemed to shift focus on different people, sometimes a few times during a page, leaving me to reread paragraphs when I realised "she" had swapped from one girl to another.
Bearing in mind that the main group of characters of the story had spent almost two years bunking in a cabin together and knew each other really well, the beginning was a bit difficult to read, partly because the characters had existing personalities and relationships that were just assumed rather than introduced to the reader. Once in the main fray of the plot, these traits relationships fleshed out, but they were just dropped on the reader at the start.
The central character of the story was Brooklyn, a high school senior when she was taken to the rural camp over a year before the start of the book. She was best friends with Gabriel, and the two shared a cabin with Julian, Dawson and Porter. As I got to know them, I began to like them each for their own reasons. Gabriel, for example, was unapologetically vicious, thrilled to fight and kill when she got the change; however, she was also incredibly loving and protective of "Brookie". Everyone ended up being BAMFs.
I want to spotlight the diversity of the characters in this story. The group of escapees varied in race and sexual orientation, but these details were slowly slipped into the story so as to let the reader know about them while not making a big deal about them. It was natural. Furthermore, an issue that I don't feel is represented enough in YA was mentioned: periods. And Brooke took it even further, sharing that one of the characters wasn't able to have her period due to medical reasons. YES. This is part of some people's reality, and it is so good to see it in a book!
P.S. It's confusing to write Brooklyn and Brooke, but I have a thing, ya know? I use authors' last names. I don't want to change. Don't make me change. Please. Just deal, k?
What
The blurb says that Dawson finds a letter, which spurs the group to take action. This happens right away, and there's no explanation as to how or why he finds the letter. It's like Brooke wasn't sure how to start the story, so threw something together that made even a sliver of sense. It's only once the group has left their camp and interrogated a certain someone that the story starts to come together and get exciting.
And it sure does get exciting after this threshold! Think hardcore fighting, running and life-threatening moments, with a dash of hippies and government conspiracy theories. After a start that almost made me want to quit, I was suddenly hooked in. Brooke was throwing all kinds of crazy at the gang, and it killed me to have to go to work and stop reading!
Where & when
How do I tell you about the setting without giving too much away??? Ok, ok... The book starts out in an undisclosed camp in the woods, somewhere in the United States. As for time, Brooke was a modern-day, normal high school senior when she was first attacked, a year and a half before the book opens. The gang then escapes the camp and drives off into the real world...where what they find and what they've been told doesn't match up.
How (was it written)
So I've already told you that pacing was a massive issue in the beginning. As per my own usual neuroses, I can also tell you that there were some errors in here, including confusing of words like "wary" and "weary", or "you're" and "your". I'm sorry, but I can't help it. These things bug me!
Aside from the technicalities –which should have been picked up by an editor and not really the fault of Brooke– the writing did manage to gather itself into an exhilarating ride that kept me going!
Why (you should read it)
Honestly, if you can get past the first third of the story, I can tell you it gets actually quite exciting. If you like governments being naughty, science experiments going wrong and fast-paced action, all with some fairly good characters (once you get to know them), then I think you'll like this!
I'm genuinely eager to read the next instalment!
April 22, 2016
After what was thought to be a virus outbreak around the world Brooklyn Harper finds herself in a rural camp with others her age cut off from their friends and family. Those at the camp are going through combat training to be able to fight against the crazed infected with the virus.
When one of Brooklyn's camp mates finds out that the world outside their camp is not what they thought and the virus seems non-existent they decide to attempt an escape. Finding the world seeming absolutely normal in the city they don't know what to think until they are attacked yet again and discover a plot against them sending the group on the run for their lives.
Omen Operation is the first book in the Isolation series by Taylor Brooke. A pretty fast paced adventure it drops a reader right into the action and took a couple of chapters for me to figure out what was happening but when I did I really became engaged in the story.
After a few chapters of this read I really started getting to know the characters a bit better and began to understand the situation they were in I couldn't help but root them on. Without saying too much this has a bit of a different twist on a zombie-ish story and the plot actually became quite intriguing.
Although there was plenty of action to this and a good explanation of the situation this does feel like the first book in a series and leaves the reader wanting more at the end, the story had so much more that could be told and done. After this first book though I'd definitely be interested in seeing what happens on the adventure from here.
Overall, a good start to a new series, fast paced and full of action.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
When one of Brooklyn's camp mates finds out that the world outside their camp is not what they thought and the virus seems non-existent they decide to attempt an escape. Finding the world seeming absolutely normal in the city they don't know what to think until they are attacked yet again and discover a plot against them sending the group on the run for their lives.
Omen Operation is the first book in the Isolation series by Taylor Brooke. A pretty fast paced adventure it drops a reader right into the action and took a couple of chapters for me to figure out what was happening but when I did I really became engaged in the story.
After a few chapters of this read I really started getting to know the characters a bit better and began to understand the situation they were in I couldn't help but root them on. Without saying too much this has a bit of a different twist on a zombie-ish story and the plot actually became quite intriguing.
Although there was plenty of action to this and a good explanation of the situation this does feel like the first book in a series and leaves the reader wanting more at the end, the story had so much more that could be told and done. After this first book though I'd definitely be interested in seeing what happens on the adventure from here.
Overall, a good start to a new series, fast paced and full of action.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
November 1, 2016
Originally posted at:
My Rating:✮✮✮½ (3 & a half stars)
* I received an eARC from the author in exchange of an honest review.
This book was very entertaining! I have a long history of enjoying human experiments gone wrong in novels and this one was no exception.
Brooklyn was an awesome heroine, who was not afraid to kick butt and tell it to you straight. She didn't beat around the bush when it came to stressful situations and she really shined in combat/battle. I really took a liking to her and after that ending I want to know what happens next.
Porter was a very cute and witty love interest. I liked him off the bat, but then he confessed and that felt like a nice bucket of cold water on my head (which made me think twice about him as a whole). As the book progressed he won me and everyone else in the book over to his side again.
There were two things that bothered me in this book though. The first was Brooklyn's BFFs name: Gabriel. I have no problem with the name per se when you're talking about a guy. It took me almost the full first chapter to realize that Gabriel was a girl. The second thing that bothered me was how ECHO would find everyone in the span of seconds. I understand they're all powerful and rich, but let's be realistic, no one can send out troops and have them get there THAT fast.
The ending was both very sad and surprising. For a moment, I actually thought 'OMG they are going to make it and be free' and then everything just hit the metaphorical fan. Those last three chapters were so action packed that I didn't even remember anything else existed other than me finishing this book.
Favorite Quotes:
"You're a lion among wolves, Brooklyn. It's not that we're alike at all - it's that you're more deadly."
"Trust me - I know you don't [need saving], but I'm gonna be here in case you change your mind."
"Control was all she had left, and she was losing it."
My Rating:✮✮✮½ (3 & a half stars)
* I received an eARC from the author in exchange of an honest review.
This book was very entertaining! I have a long history of enjoying human experiments gone wrong in novels and this one was no exception.
Brooklyn was an awesome heroine, who was not afraid to kick butt and tell it to you straight. She didn't beat around the bush when it came to stressful situations and she really shined in combat/battle. I really took a liking to her and after that ending I want to know what happens next.
Porter was a very cute and witty love interest. I liked him off the bat, but then he confessed and that felt like a nice bucket of cold water on my head (which made me think twice about him as a whole). As the book progressed he won me and everyone else in the book over to his side again.
There were two things that bothered me in this book though. The first was Brooklyn's BFFs name: Gabriel. I have no problem with the name per se when you're talking about a guy. It took me almost the full first chapter to realize that Gabriel was a girl. The second thing that bothered me was how ECHO would find everyone in the span of seconds. I understand they're all powerful and rich, but let's be realistic, no one can send out troops and have them get there THAT fast.
The ending was both very sad and surprising. For a moment, I actually thought 'OMG they are going to make it and be free' and then everything just hit the metaphorical fan. Those last three chapters were so action packed that I didn't even remember anything else existed other than me finishing this book.
Favorite Quotes:
"You're a lion among wolves, Brooklyn. It's not that we're alike at all - it's that you're more deadly."
"Trust me - I know you don't [need saving], but I'm gonna be here in case you change your mind."
"Control was all she had left, and she was losing it."
Read
June 17, 2020ETA 6/16/20: Due to recent revelations about the author’s harmful and abusive behavior toward BIPOC and LGBTQ+ people, I no longer recommend their books. I am allowing the review to stand for transparency but I am clearing the star rating.
I’m a wimpy reader and I really don’t like gory books or books about zombies but I do love Taylor Brooke’s writing so I finally decided to give her Queer assassin book a try. And I’m so glad I did! It was freaking intense and I for sure did not like the Surrogates (GAH!) But the plot was super engaging and I could not put it down, mostly because I needed to make sure Brooklyn and her pals would be okay. There isn’t really a central romance at this point but there is a lot of longing and yearning and possibility between a few different characters and I’m eager to see how this develops in the next book. Quite the cliffhanger!
CW: violence, murder, trained assassins, forcible separation from family, threat of virus, zombies,
I’m a wimpy reader and I really don’t like gory books or books about zombies but I do love Taylor Brooke’s writing so I finally decided to give her Queer assassin book a try. And I’m so glad I did! It was freaking intense and I for sure did not like the Surrogates (GAH!) But the plot was super engaging and I could not put it down, mostly because I needed to make sure Brooklyn and her pals would be okay. There isn’t really a central romance at this point but there is a lot of longing and yearning and possibility between a few different characters and I’m eager to see how this develops in the next book. Quite the cliffhanger!
CW: violence, murder, trained assassins, forcible separation from family, threat of virus, zombies,
July 9, 2018
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.5 stars
I really don’t want to give away too much of the plot, which is difficult as there is so much plot in this book and not-so-much relationship. As the first book in a new series, this story is focused more on the world-building and the introduction of the characters, the mysterious agency called Isolation, and the speculation behind Project ECHO. Even working within those limitations, the author managed to turn Brooklyn from an average teen girl into a believably ruthless, cold-hearted, ass-kicking hero.
Brooklyn starts out somewhat passive, never really questioning her life. She accepts the ritual and the routine she’s been given, getting up for training, eating when she’s told, doing the chores she’s told. You get the sense that she’s — while not thrilled with what happened to her — just living her life. As events unfold, Brooklyn tries to stay in the back, both in combat and out, but as they keep getting separated from one another it falls to Brooklyn to make decisions. When the others might have been willing to stay in a somewhat safe place rather than keep heading deeper into danger, it’s Brooklyn who decides they will be moving along. It’s Brooklyn who makes the decision that they will not be killing a traitor and Brooklyn who later ruthlessly breaks someone’s fingers, one at a time, until the woman gives up the information the group needs to plan their next move. As her friends get hurt, get taken, and even die around her, Brooklyn goes from a follower to a leader and I cannot wait to see what happens to her in the next book.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
4.5 stars
I really don’t want to give away too much of the plot, which is difficult as there is so much plot in this book and not-so-much relationship. As the first book in a new series, this story is focused more on the world-building and the introduction of the characters, the mysterious agency called Isolation, and the speculation behind Project ECHO. Even working within those limitations, the author managed to turn Brooklyn from an average teen girl into a believably ruthless, cold-hearted, ass-kicking hero.
Brooklyn starts out somewhat passive, never really questioning her life. She accepts the ritual and the routine she’s been given, getting up for training, eating when she’s told, doing the chores she’s told. You get the sense that she’s — while not thrilled with what happened to her — just living her life. As events unfold, Brooklyn tries to stay in the back, both in combat and out, but as they keep getting separated from one another it falls to Brooklyn to make decisions. When the others might have been willing to stay in a somewhat safe place rather than keep heading deeper into danger, it’s Brooklyn who decides they will be moving along. It’s Brooklyn who makes the decision that they will not be killing a traitor and Brooklyn who later ruthlessly breaks someone’s fingers, one at a time, until the woman gives up the information the group needs to plan their next move. As her friends get hurt, get taken, and even die around her, Brooklyn goes from a follower to a leader and I cannot wait to see what happens to her in the next book.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
February 19, 2016
I started to read this book expecting to find similarities with the other dystopian stories, but it's quite different. It's unique and it builds the reader's anticipation with each chapter. Plus, it's beautifully written.
Definately, a must read if you're into unique-adventure stories. The best part? There's a book 2 coming soon!
Definately, a must read if you're into unique-adventure stories. The best part? There's a book 2 coming soon!
March 21, 2016
I was given this book in return for an honest review, and have to admit, I thoroughly enjoyed it! I found the start interesting and it hooked me, but it was around ⅓ of the way in that the story really took off. I was gripped and had to know more. I'm certainly ready for the next instalment.
July 2, 2016
I have been such a poop... More than a month ago, Taylor reached out to me through my Goodreads account if I would be willing to receive a copy of her book in exchange for an honest review. Of course, as a blogger, I got really excited and said yes. Fast forward to today and I am just typing this review, I honestly feel bad that it took me this long So Taylor, if your are reading this, I am terribly sorry for the delay, but here is the review I promised, and as early in this review as it is, I can say that your book was a surprise for me.
If asked what is my general thought about this work, I would say that I was really surprised that I took a liking to it. From the moment I saw the premise of the novel, I knew it was something different from what I usually read, but I was always willing to give stuff a try you know? And Taylor did not disappoint me.
Although the idea of making super humans to be used as weapons for warfare is not a new thing in books or in movies, I think what drew me in was that this was kind of a new take on it. I liked how it dealt with genetics, and science that I could actually believe and follow. Some just seem too far out to be ever believable, or imaginable for that matter. Now I know that fictional books are allowed that kind of freedom, however, there are times like in this particular case where some form of attachment to reality benefits the story.
The writing was fluid as well. I could understand what was happening very clearly. The mystery wasn't in the storytelling but in the plot itself. I like that about it. Even the scenes with much "action" wasn't too overwhelming to read. How the world was introduced, with flashbacks and all was clear. Even those with absolutely no background in science can enjoy this book. Sometimes when books offer different perspectives of provide flashbacks and the likes, one can get lost and need to retrace your steps. Like I said earlier, the story's roots to the real world added to this book's charm.
On some level, I could understand the characters and their actions. I could see where the confusion and survival instincts come from. There was also this underlying rational voice throughout the story which I liked very much. They weren't a bunch of stupid, stubborn kids thrown in together because they could kill monsters effectively. They were thinking, calculating, talented teenagers. They were sensible as they are lethal.
While I appreciate the power dynamics between the teenagers especially the heroine and her male counterpart, I could not say that I ship them as hard as I do those from other novels. I don't know. Maybe their relationship will develop in the next installments. But as it is right now, I wouldn't mind if they didn't end up together, just sayin. Now this is by no means me telling you guys that the tandem is horrible and that they have no chemistry together because they do. There is just something I think lack luster about their interactions in this book. They make a good power couple, but not enough to make me root for them, at least not yet.
As long as you enjoy bad ass females (and males) kick some monster butt and survive while running from people who want to make you heartless assassins, then I think you should give this book a shot.
If asked what is my general thought about this work, I would say that I was really surprised that I took a liking to it. From the moment I saw the premise of the novel, I knew it was something different from what I usually read, but I was always willing to give stuff a try you know? And Taylor did not disappoint me.
Although the idea of making super humans to be used as weapons for warfare is not a new thing in books or in movies, I think what drew me in was that this was kind of a new take on it. I liked how it dealt with genetics, and science that I could actually believe and follow. Some just seem too far out to be ever believable, or imaginable for that matter. Now I know that fictional books are allowed that kind of freedom, however, there are times like in this particular case where some form of attachment to reality benefits the story.
The writing was fluid as well. I could understand what was happening very clearly. The mystery wasn't in the storytelling but in the plot itself. I like that about it. Even the scenes with much "action" wasn't too overwhelming to read. How the world was introduced, with flashbacks and all was clear. Even those with absolutely no background in science can enjoy this book. Sometimes when books offer different perspectives of provide flashbacks and the likes, one can get lost and need to retrace your steps. Like I said earlier, the story's roots to the real world added to this book's charm.
On some level, I could understand the characters and their actions. I could see where the confusion and survival instincts come from. There was also this underlying rational voice throughout the story which I liked very much. They weren't a bunch of stupid, stubborn kids thrown in together because they could kill monsters effectively. They were thinking, calculating, talented teenagers. They were sensible as they are lethal.
While I appreciate the power dynamics between the teenagers especially the heroine and her male counterpart, I could not say that I ship them as hard as I do those from other novels. I don't know. Maybe their relationship will develop in the next installments. But as it is right now, I wouldn't mind if they didn't end up together, just sayin. Now this is by no means me telling you guys that the tandem is horrible and that they have no chemistry together because they do. There is just something I think lack luster about their interactions in this book. They make a good power couple, but not enough to make me root for them, at least not yet.
As long as you enjoy bad ass females (and males) kick some monster butt and survive while running from people who want to make you heartless assassins, then I think you should give this book a shot.
January 30, 2016
I was excited to be an advance reader for Taylor Brooke's first novel, Omen Operation. The premise was fascinating and I couldn't wait to read it. Genetic experiments, government subterfuge, fight or flight, from start to finish I was hooked.
The story was easy to read, caught my interest quickly, and kept me drawn in as I became invested in the characters and their story. Brooklyn is an intriguing character; her life has already been irrevocably changed, and following her journey as everything she has known is challenged will keep you on her toes. Her bond with Gabriel was one of the best things about the story. They complemented each other well; where Brooklyn can be more hesitant and thoughtful, Gabriel is brash and forward. Gabriel is fierce and makes no bones about it, she is protective and will do whatever she has to.
Porter also kept me interested. His involvement with the whole scheme, going much deeper than just being in the camps with the others, was really a nice touch. I felt as betrayed as the others to find out his role and just how deep his connection to everything was, but he managed to redeem himself. I saw others feeling that Brooklyn forgave him too easily, but I respectfully disagree. They are in an intense situation where their very lives are threatened every step of the way. Brooklyn doesn't have the luxury of staying angry at him and playing hard to get, making him earn her forgiveness. The fact that he left with them and gave up his own safety to not only remain with them, but become one of them, shows his true intention. I found myself pulling for them and hoping they would continue to grow in their relationship with each other.
The ending was action packed and will have you on the edge of your seat. And what a cliffhanger! I can't wait for the next part of the series to find out what happens next. A solid 4.5 stars, stellar rookie effort from a talented writer. Taylor Brooke is definitely one to look out for in the future.
The story was easy to read, caught my interest quickly, and kept me drawn in as I became invested in the characters and their story. Brooklyn is an intriguing character; her life has already been irrevocably changed, and following her journey as everything she has known is challenged will keep you on her toes. Her bond with Gabriel was one of the best things about the story. They complemented each other well; where Brooklyn can be more hesitant and thoughtful, Gabriel is brash and forward. Gabriel is fierce and makes no bones about it, she is protective and will do whatever she has to.
Porter also kept me interested. His involvement with the whole scheme, going much deeper than just being in the camps with the others, was really a nice touch. I felt as betrayed as the others to find out his role and just how deep his connection to everything was, but he managed to redeem himself. I saw others feeling that Brooklyn forgave him too easily, but I respectfully disagree. They are in an intense situation where their very lives are threatened every step of the way. Brooklyn doesn't have the luxury of staying angry at him and playing hard to get, making him earn her forgiveness. The fact that he left with them and gave up his own safety to not only remain with them, but become one of them, shows his true intention. I found myself pulling for them and hoping they would continue to grow in their relationship with each other.
The ending was action packed and will have you on the edge of your seat. And what a cliffhanger! I can't wait for the next part of the series to find out what happens next. A solid 4.5 stars, stellar rookie effort from a talented writer. Taylor Brooke is definitely one to look out for in the future.
April 7, 2016
The MC is Brooke, a normal teenage girl, until she is taken to this camp with other teenagers, to escape the deadly virus that decimated the world. They are all trained to hunt and kill the things that are in the outside world! All is going well till one other camp mate finds a litter that changes everything for the friends. They end up going into the outside only to discover that the world has moved on and they have been lied to! Just what is going on, and what were they trained for?
Omen Operation starts off with, what feels like, us being dropped into the middle of an already established story. At first, I kept thinking, just what is going on, did I miss something?? But no, over time we learn what happens and what happened to make the kids end up in a camp! It's a bit confusing to start, but once the kids leave the camp, we find the answers to the many questions!!
Also, once the kids are outside, the action and tension really ramp up. They are being pursued by these.... things, which don't seem to let up and manage to find them no matter where they go. At many times, I found myself on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen next. It's quite tense, scary and suspenseful!!!
Character wise, I have to applaud the author for her sheer diversity of them! There are multiple races and sexual orientation as well. It was refreshing to read them. Most importantly though, they were all well written and developed and I loved their friendships!
In all, this is an action packed and engaging read. I had a hard time putting it down because I needed to see what happened next. I am so looking forward to the next installment!!!
Omen Operation starts off with, what feels like, us being dropped into the middle of an already established story. At first, I kept thinking, just what is going on, did I miss something?? But no, over time we learn what happens and what happened to make the kids end up in a camp! It's a bit confusing to start, but once the kids leave the camp, we find the answers to the many questions!!
Also, once the kids are outside, the action and tension really ramp up. They are being pursued by these.... things, which don't seem to let up and manage to find them no matter where they go. At many times, I found myself on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen next. It's quite tense, scary and suspenseful!!!
Character wise, I have to applaud the author for her sheer diversity of them! There are multiple races and sexual orientation as well. It was refreshing to read them. Most importantly though, they were all well written and developed and I loved their friendships!
In all, this is an action packed and engaging read. I had a hard time putting it down because I needed to see what happened next. I am so looking forward to the next installment!!!
February 9, 2017
**** 4 Cranky Stars ****
On the night of her winter prom, 19 year old Brooklyn encounters a creature resembling a rabid human who chases her into an empty house, she kills the creature and is found by masked and gloved people who take her to a place of safety known as camp 11.
There are already other young people there and they are told that they are the survivors of an epidemic caused by a rampant mutant virus that was a strain of rabies that was decimating the country. Here they are trained in fitness and defensive arts and the use of various weapons, told that they need to for defense of themselves and others.
Dawson, one of their group finds evidence that they have been lied to and they escape, only to be sniffed out by the Surros (Surrogates) time and time again. They find out that they are part of a random group of children who were inoculated and genetically modified by a mutated virus, giving them unusual strength and healing powers and that they were called Omens....a message!
Juneau Malloy, the author of the virus, launches an all out man hunt, using his army of Surros (failed experiments) to retrieve his "assets".
The story was exciting and fast moving and I award it 4 stars.
January 28, 2016
This novel is fast paced and easy to read. The action flows from one chapter to the next, building the whole story to a climax. Who thought a book starting with a post-apocalyptic zombie plague could get more intense and messed up than that?
Brooklyn is a great heroine. She's got her emotional ups and downs and she stays human. She's flawed and fantastic, and easy to root for. The rest of the cast has their own personalities and struggles which are brought out throughout the story. My special favorite is Gabriel, Brooklyn's best friend, a pretty blonde who wants to go into cosmetology...and also happens to be a bloodthirsty, merciless fighter who gets her rocks off by fulfilling the party's beserker role.
The love story is a little awkward and sometimes comes across as forced. Porter, Brooklyn's love interest, is nice and sweet, and it's set up well, but she forgives his massive betrayal a little too easily, focusing instead on her crush. However, he's clearly aware of the problems he's caused and his arc and need for redemption comes through. Even if Brooklyn forgives him too quickly, the reader isn't far behind.
Sometimes things seem to happen too easily or conveniently for the plot to be entirely believable, but it's not hard to look past. The plot and the characters carry the story past that and make for a gripping story with lots of twists and turns.
Brooklyn is a great heroine. She's got her emotional ups and downs and she stays human. She's flawed and fantastic, and easy to root for. The rest of the cast has their own personalities and struggles which are brought out throughout the story. My special favorite is Gabriel, Brooklyn's best friend, a pretty blonde who wants to go into cosmetology...and also happens to be a bloodthirsty, merciless fighter who gets her rocks off by fulfilling the party's beserker role.
The love story is a little awkward and sometimes comes across as forced. Porter, Brooklyn's love interest, is nice and sweet, and it's set up well, but she forgives his massive betrayal a little too easily, focusing instead on her crush. However, he's clearly aware of the problems he's caused and his arc and need for redemption comes through. Even if Brooklyn forgives him too quickly, the reader isn't far behind.
Sometimes things seem to happen too easily or conveniently for the plot to be entirely believable, but it's not hard to look past. The plot and the characters carry the story past that and make for a gripping story with lots of twists and turns.
February 28, 2016
*Disclaimer: I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.*
Brooklyn hears an ear-splitting shriek, and finds a woman standing over another's body. Fast forward to one year later, when Brooklyn and others have been rounded up into camps. They were told that they were the only survivors of a virus outbreak, and that they needed to learn how to survive in the new world. As so often happens, the government lied.
When Brooklyn's sort-of friend Gabriel finds a letter implicating that not everything they'd been told was the truth, they break out of the compound and return to the outside world. Brooklyn and her friends become the hunted, made all the worse because they have no idea what they've done wrong.
Omen Operation is an excellent read, from the well-plotted storyline, to the character interactions, but what really makes it stand out is the diverse cast. We have multiple groups represented here, both ethnically and racially, yet it never feels forced. There are no "token" characters here, everyone is pulling their own weight. Highly recommended.
Brooklyn hears an ear-splitting shriek, and finds a woman standing over another's body. Fast forward to one year later, when Brooklyn and others have been rounded up into camps. They were told that they were the only survivors of a virus outbreak, and that they needed to learn how to survive in the new world. As so often happens, the government lied.
When Brooklyn's sort-of friend Gabriel finds a letter implicating that not everything they'd been told was the truth, they break out of the compound and return to the outside world. Brooklyn and her friends become the hunted, made all the worse because they have no idea what they've done wrong.
Omen Operation is an excellent read, from the well-plotted storyline, to the character interactions, but what really makes it stand out is the diverse cast. We have multiple groups represented here, both ethnically and racially, yet it never feels forced. There are no "token" characters here, everyone is pulling their own weight. Highly recommended.
January 29, 2016
Omen Operation is a fast-paced joyride of a novel. The main character, Brooklyn, is likable and easy to relate to, even when she has to make tough choices that you could never dream of making. I also really love the character of Gabriel, a pretty blonde cheerleader-type who is also the most vicious and bloodthirsty of the bunch. The author does a great job of creating a cast of diverse characters that you can’t help but love.
What really drew me in was not only the virus/apocalypse opening of the book, but the continuing discovery of just how messed up the operation is and how deep the conspiracy goes. The farther you get in the book, the more you realize how impossible the situation is and start to get incredibly nervous about if Brooklyn and her friends will make it out.
I literally cannot wait for the next one.
What really drew me in was not only the virus/apocalypse opening of the book, but the continuing discovery of just how messed up the operation is and how deep the conspiracy goes. The farther you get in the book, the more you realize how impossible the situation is and start to get incredibly nervous about if Brooklyn and her friends will make it out.
I literally cannot wait for the next one.
January 27, 2016
A Great easy read! Loved it!
I pre-ordered Omen Operation and thoroughly enjoyed it!
What a great roller coaster ride of a book. Everything comes fast and edge of your seat with just the right amount of tranquility in between. I found myself so easily immersed in the world created by this young author & instantly invested in the characters. It felt like every place in this book was an actual place where she had spent time and every character a personal friend.
Although an Urban SciFi I believe that any fan of the Maze Runner series (especially the Scorch Trials) would find this book/trilogy right in their swing box!
Taylor Brooke is a very talented new author and I personally can't wait for her second installment in this series.
Go read it!
I pre-ordered Omen Operation and thoroughly enjoyed it!
What a great roller coaster ride of a book. Everything comes fast and edge of your seat with just the right amount of tranquility in between. I found myself so easily immersed in the world created by this young author & instantly invested in the characters. It felt like every place in this book was an actual place where she had spent time and every character a personal friend.
Although an Urban SciFi I believe that any fan of the Maze Runner series (especially the Scorch Trials) would find this book/trilogy right in their swing box!
Taylor Brooke is a very talented new author and I personally can't wait for her second installment in this series.
Go read it!
March 22, 2017
Zombie reads are not my thing and it was almost the very reason to turn down reading this book but there was just something pulling me toward it. There was just something more behind the words in the blurb that drew me in further. After the first few chapters I found myself reading further and then a bit further. Even after putting it down. I came back to it over and over again just to see what was happening next for Brooklyn, Dawson, and the Camp, the break-out, the run. There was action, drama, intensity, lies, secrets, mystery. I got depth in characters, the world building, the plot, and more. I want to see where things go from here.
June 14, 2018
I received this book as an ARC thanks to Net Galley and Nine Star Press!
Omen Operation is the story of Brooklyn, Gabriel, Porter, Dawson, and so many other wonderful characters is a post-apocalyptic world, or is it? This story was so amazing! amazing Queer characters, non-stop action, the craziest plot ever and a super interesting love square, that's right I said square, not a merely a love triangle no a love square, unlike anything that I have seen before! This was so much more then I was expecting and everything I didn't even know I was looking for! Thank you once again, Net Galley and Nine Star Press!!
Omen Operation is the story of Brooklyn, Gabriel, Porter, Dawson, and so many other wonderful characters is a post-apocalyptic world, or is it? This story was so amazing! amazing Queer characters, non-stop action, the craziest plot ever and a super interesting love square, that's right I said square, not a merely a love triangle no a love square, unlike anything that I have seen before! This was so much more then I was expecting and everything I didn't even know I was looking for! Thank you once again, Net Galley and Nine Star Press!!
February 11, 2017
If you would like to see all my thoughts on this book, be sure to check out the review on my blog:
www.abooktropolis01.blogspot.co.za
But here is a snippet and overview of what I thought:
This book was incredible. I loved it. I obsessed over it. I couldn't put it down. I was addicted. It was extremely close to perfection in my eyes. I recommend this book to everyone. Doesn't matter what you like, I recommend this book to you. The book is action packed and filled with friendships that pierce your heart. It was a fantastic read. I cannot wait for the second book!
www.abooktropolis01.blogspot.co.za
But here is a snippet and overview of what I thought:
This book was incredible. I loved it. I obsessed over it. I couldn't put it down. I was addicted. It was extremely close to perfection in my eyes. I recommend this book to everyone. Doesn't matter what you like, I recommend this book to you. The book is action packed and filled with friendships that pierce your heart. It was a fantastic read. I cannot wait for the second book!
January 27, 2016
Excellent first-time publication from the author. The story was very gripping, and action-packed. It will definitely have you on the edge of your seat. I enjoyed that it acknowledged tropes in it's own genre, and then found a way to twist it. Very unique take!
The characters were very relatable and honest. Strong female leads and a diverse cast!
It is the first book of a trilogy, and I for one am very excited to see where this story goes! Can't wait for #2!
The characters were very relatable and honest. Strong female leads and a diverse cast!
It is the first book of a trilogy, and I for one am very excited to see where this story goes! Can't wait for #2!
February 10, 2016
I liked the cover of this book. It shows that there's a good mystery to the book. The blurb drew me in because it's a mystery and I love books that have mysterys . Brooklynns my favorite character because she's strong and determined to find out what's going on outside the camp they were taking too. She will let nothing stand in her way.
I can't wait to see what other books this author has.
I received a copy of his book by S. Valentine for my honest review.
I can't wait to see what other books this author has.
I received a copy of his book by S. Valentine for my honest review.
March 26, 2016
A wonderful start to a series. The author left a lot of mystery throughout the book and let it take a life of it's own. Beautifully done, answered the few questions it could without ruining the rest of the series. I look forward to book 2 when I can finally understand what is going on with the surros! If you read, be sure to remember, no detail is too small for this one.
July 3, 2018
This has a ton of action, a tiny bit of love (and polyamory!), and a cliffhanger that actually leaves off in what seems to be the logical place. Gimme book two, plz.
Read
February 10, 2016I received a free copy of the book from the author for my honest opinion.
Brooklyn and Gabriel both lived in the same town went to the same school but were not friends. Oh they would speak to one another if and when they would meet in the hall. But other than that they never talked to one another. So when the virus broke out they rescued and taken when other around their age. The people saved were mostly either high school or college age. They were taken to a camp and were trained on how to take care of their selves. They were taught to fight in hand to hand combat and how to shoot guns, pistols and probably other weapons as well.
They were told that after the break out that they were the only ones left and everyone else; family, friends or whoever were all gone. They were kept in something like an encampment facility or like an orphanage kind of place. They all slept in one big room with bunkbeds with the girls and guys together. And there was more than one cabin if that is what you would like to call it. Gabriel and Brooklyn became fast friends and stuck by each other always. They made friends with some of the other people that slept in the same building as they did especially with some of the guys.
When they found out that everything they had been led to believe may have been a lie. Gabriel, Brooklyn along with their friends and some of the others who lived in some of the other cabins all decide to leave the compound. They wanted to know the truth and if what they thought were right or not. They had to know what was going on outside the walls of their home. They also wanted and needed to know if their families were alive or not. Did they have a home to return to or not? Was everyone they ever knew gone? What will they find waiting for them on the outside?
When they finally manage to escape what they find on the outside is not what they expected at all. They are being chased by some very bad people and they don’t know why. They have not been on the outside in many years so they haven’t done anything wrong that they know of. How could they when they have been living in a compound for a long time. All they know at the moment is that they have to get away from these bad people no matter what the cost. If they want to live that is and they must find out why these bad people are hunting them.
The Omen Operation was not what I expected it to be when I read the summary but it was one of the best books that I have read in a very long time. I loved how Brooklyn was so strong and wanted to take care of all of her friends and keep them safe even if it could mean that she lost her own life but all of the characters were pretty much the same way. Brooklyn was very strong and did what she needed to do when the time came in any given situation. But at the same time there were times when she needed a shoulder to cry on and she had one. Porter was a strong person too although you may not have recognized that he was. All of the characters were so close and had close relationships with that in the beginning I had hard time trying to figure out who liked who but it didn’t take me long to get it all straightened out.
The main characters were always together most of the time. They trained together all day every day, they ate together and they also slept in the same room but I think I have already mentioned this. I would recommend Omen Operation to anyone who loves a good story. Yes I do love this genre and am very much stuck on it at the moment but there is more to this story than just the world that they live in which was well created by the author. I can’t wait to get my hands on the next book in the series. To find out what happens to all of the characters. What will happen to them? What will they do? I need the next book now please.
Brooklyn and Gabriel both lived in the same town went to the same school but were not friends. Oh they would speak to one another if and when they would meet in the hall. But other than that they never talked to one another. So when the virus broke out they rescued and taken when other around their age. The people saved were mostly either high school or college age. They were taken to a camp and were trained on how to take care of their selves. They were taught to fight in hand to hand combat and how to shoot guns, pistols and probably other weapons as well.
They were told that after the break out that they were the only ones left and everyone else; family, friends or whoever were all gone. They were kept in something like an encampment facility or like an orphanage kind of place. They all slept in one big room with bunkbeds with the girls and guys together. And there was more than one cabin if that is what you would like to call it. Gabriel and Brooklyn became fast friends and stuck by each other always. They made friends with some of the other people that slept in the same building as they did especially with some of the guys.
When they found out that everything they had been led to believe may have been a lie. Gabriel, Brooklyn along with their friends and some of the others who lived in some of the other cabins all decide to leave the compound. They wanted to know the truth and if what they thought were right or not. They had to know what was going on outside the walls of their home. They also wanted and needed to know if their families were alive or not. Did they have a home to return to or not? Was everyone they ever knew gone? What will they find waiting for them on the outside?
When they finally manage to escape what they find on the outside is not what they expected at all. They are being chased by some very bad people and they don’t know why. They have not been on the outside in many years so they haven’t done anything wrong that they know of. How could they when they have been living in a compound for a long time. All they know at the moment is that they have to get away from these bad people no matter what the cost. If they want to live that is and they must find out why these bad people are hunting them.
The Omen Operation was not what I expected it to be when I read the summary but it was one of the best books that I have read in a very long time. I loved how Brooklyn was so strong and wanted to take care of all of her friends and keep them safe even if it could mean that she lost her own life but all of the characters were pretty much the same way. Brooklyn was very strong and did what she needed to do when the time came in any given situation. But at the same time there were times when she needed a shoulder to cry on and she had one. Porter was a strong person too although you may not have recognized that he was. All of the characters were so close and had close relationships with that in the beginning I had hard time trying to figure out who liked who but it didn’t take me long to get it all straightened out.
The main characters were always together most of the time. They trained together all day every day, they ate together and they also slept in the same room but I think I have already mentioned this. I would recommend Omen Operation to anyone who loves a good story. Yes I do love this genre and am very much stuck on it at the moment but there is more to this story than just the world that they live in which was well created by the author. I can’t wait to get my hands on the next book in the series. To find out what happens to all of the characters. What will happen to them? What will they do? I need the next book now please.
April 24, 2016
Review originally posted on The Book Adventures of Annelise Lestrange :)
I received this copy from Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. Let's go :D
The Story
Goodreads' blurb
After an epidemic spreads through the country, Brooklyn Harper’s high school years come to an abrupt end.
Implanted in a rural camp, Brooklyn and her friends are cut off from their families and the outside world. Each day is filled with combat training to assure their safety against the crazed, belligerent, and deadly— those infected with a mysterious virus.
If the world couldn’t get any crazier, a letter ups the insanity...
After being assured day after day that the world outside their little camp had been compromised, Brooklyn’s cabin-mate, Dawson Winters, finds a letter that turns everything they’d known upside down. There is a world outside the trees that surrounds their camp, and the virus they all feared seems non-existent.
Determined to see it herself, Brooklyn plots with others to attempt an escape...
On the outside, Brooklyn finds the world is as normal as ever. But when they are attacked in the city, they dispose of their attackers far more efficiently than any normal human.. Is there more to Brooklyn and her friends then just being highly trained?
As their exploration continues, the group is faced with impossible feats. Betrayal, love, death, and a powerful sense of camaraderie lead Brooklyn and her friends to fight for their life, their freedom, and most of all, each other.
The Analysis
Just remembering that those were my impressions and opinion as a reader:)
Can I just say something? WOW.
I wish I could say that’s my review, because I’m at a loss for words, haha! You see, I usually don’t read post-apocalyptic or zombie books – don’t really know why, as I liked all my reads from this genre to this day. Hum… Anyway, Omen Operation exceeded my expectative and I really enjoyed it. I only thought it a bit slow in the beginning, as it didn’t quite hold my interest. I’m glad I kept reading, because I had a mind-blow, haha! Overall, four stars :)
The narrative was third person styled (yay!) from several points of view. In the beginning, I kept losing focus of who was telling the story, but once I got used to it (I’m awful with names, haha!), I didn’t even feel the change anymore, it was something natural!
The plot was very good. A bit complex and the start of the book overall is confusing, as I think Brooke wanted us readers to feel like one of the teens in the cabin, but it didn’t work out for me, haha! I felt like a complete outsider on the first half of the book. Oh, well.
The characters were a surprise. As they are rather thrown at the reader in the beginning, I didn’t expect to like them as much as I did! Also, I’ve seen some people exalting the diversity of characters in every sense of the world that was present in Omen Operation and, as much as I love it, I was afraid it would be too stereotyped. THANK HEAVENS I WAS WRONG! <3 I liked them a lot and loved how things went between them and how they dealt with things. Awesome!
Oh, and of course, I have to comment the zombie aspect: highly surprising!! =O
I definitely have to invest more in zombie books, haha! I really enjoyed Omen Operation and can’t wait for the next volume!
Thanks for reading my review! And thanks again to Xpresso Book Tours for my review copy :D
I received this copy from Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. Let's go :D
The Story
Goodreads' blurb
After an epidemic spreads through the country, Brooklyn Harper’s high school years come to an abrupt end.
Implanted in a rural camp, Brooklyn and her friends are cut off from their families and the outside world. Each day is filled with combat training to assure their safety against the crazed, belligerent, and deadly— those infected with a mysterious virus.
If the world couldn’t get any crazier, a letter ups the insanity...
After being assured day after day that the world outside their little camp had been compromised, Brooklyn’s cabin-mate, Dawson Winters, finds a letter that turns everything they’d known upside down. There is a world outside the trees that surrounds their camp, and the virus they all feared seems non-existent.
Determined to see it herself, Brooklyn plots with others to attempt an escape...
On the outside, Brooklyn finds the world is as normal as ever. But when they are attacked in the city, they dispose of their attackers far more efficiently than any normal human.. Is there more to Brooklyn and her friends then just being highly trained?
As their exploration continues, the group is faced with impossible feats. Betrayal, love, death, and a powerful sense of camaraderie lead Brooklyn and her friends to fight for their life, their freedom, and most of all, each other.
The Analysis
Just remembering that those were my impressions and opinion as a reader:)
Can I just say something? WOW.
I wish I could say that’s my review, because I’m at a loss for words, haha! You see, I usually don’t read post-apocalyptic or zombie books – don’t really know why, as I liked all my reads from this genre to this day. Hum… Anyway, Omen Operation exceeded my expectative and I really enjoyed it. I only thought it a bit slow in the beginning, as it didn’t quite hold my interest. I’m glad I kept reading, because I had a mind-blow, haha! Overall, four stars :)
The narrative was third person styled (yay!) from several points of view. In the beginning, I kept losing focus of who was telling the story, but once I got used to it (I’m awful with names, haha!), I didn’t even feel the change anymore, it was something natural!
The plot was very good. A bit complex and the start of the book overall is confusing, as I think Brooke wanted us readers to feel like one of the teens in the cabin, but it didn’t work out for me, haha! I felt like a complete outsider on the first half of the book. Oh, well.
The characters were a surprise. As they are rather thrown at the reader in the beginning, I didn’t expect to like them as much as I did! Also, I’ve seen some people exalting the diversity of characters in every sense of the world that was present in Omen Operation and, as much as I love it, I was afraid it would be too stereotyped. THANK HEAVENS I WAS WRONG! <3 I liked them a lot and loved how things went between them and how they dealt with things. Awesome!
Oh, and of course, I have to comment the zombie aspect: highly surprising!! =O
I definitely have to invest more in zombie books, haha! I really enjoyed Omen Operation and can’t wait for the next volume!
Thanks for reading my review! And thanks again to Xpresso Book Tours for my review copy :D
May 15, 2016
Everything changed for Brooklynn on prom night. Doesn’t it always, though? But Brooklynn didn’t even make it to prom. Decked out in her best she met a group of friends in a limo, but partway to the school came to a halt when screams came filtering through the windows from the street outside. Brooklynn got out to make sure nobody was hurt and ended up being chased by a clearly insane woman bleeding black blood. To her shock she instinctively knew what to do, how to move…what knife to grab, and where to stab. Shaking with the bleeding corpse at her feet she passed out when help arrived, only to wake up in a military training camp with the news that the woman she had killed was part of a viral outbreak that had overtaken the world. For the next two years Brooklynn and the other survivors in her training camp were taught weaponry, armed combat, and survival to prepare for the day they went back into the world. Until the letter from outside arrived.
I really like the plot of this book. I kept thinking I knew what was happening, but every time I started to think it was getting a little cliche BAM Taylor Brooke pulled a sharp turn and surprised me. From start to end it was one wild ride, and what is so crazy is I can absolutely see something like this happening. Omen Operation is a very realistic (I think) portrayal of one route that weaponized genetic testing could go – and the military has done testing similar to this! It just makes the book even more tense and interesting.
And the incredibly detailed environment? I am totally in love with the pacific northwest; my body may be in the midwest but my heart lies by the sea. They don’t stick to just the cities, which many authors do because cities are easy to describe – especially with tools like Google Maps giving you the insider scoop without having to leave your bed! The Omens are camping and hiking through dense woods trying to survive in the national forests of Oregon. They’re traveling from Oregon up to Washington fighting the whole way, trying to keep civilians out of it. It’s breathtaking and dangerous.
One thing I didn’t like was the characters. Ugh, I know. But most of them just felt like undeveloped side characters except for Brooklynn, Gabriel and Porter. Brooklynn is the one that I have major issues with – she just hit every single wrong nerve in me. The entire time I was reading I was complaining to my husband about how could THIS be the strongest, most skilled genetically modified super human government soldier? She was passive, afraid, whiny, and so concerned with her best friend that she let her teammates die while she just stood there looking in a circle to see where Gabriel was. Then letting herself be isolated from everyone because of her feelings for Porter? She’s a terrible teammate. Fortunately she begins to realize this about herself and we see some positive changes, so I am hopeful for major growth from her in book two.
This is definitely a series I want to follow. It is right up my alley with post-apocalyptic government conspiracy themes and teen super warriors. I might even try to get my husband to read it, there is no defining gender theme here that would make girls or boys prefer it. While the sort of dystopian feel is a more niche genre, Omen Operation will appeal to almost anyone who likes government conspiracies and combat stories.
**I received a free ARC in exchange for my honest review**
I really like the plot of this book. I kept thinking I knew what was happening, but every time I started to think it was getting a little cliche BAM Taylor Brooke pulled a sharp turn and surprised me. From start to end it was one wild ride, and what is so crazy is I can absolutely see something like this happening. Omen Operation is a very realistic (I think) portrayal of one route that weaponized genetic testing could go – and the military has done testing similar to this! It just makes the book even more tense and interesting.
And the incredibly detailed environment? I am totally in love with the pacific northwest; my body may be in the midwest but my heart lies by the sea. They don’t stick to just the cities, which many authors do because cities are easy to describe – especially with tools like Google Maps giving you the insider scoop without having to leave your bed! The Omens are camping and hiking through dense woods trying to survive in the national forests of Oregon. They’re traveling from Oregon up to Washington fighting the whole way, trying to keep civilians out of it. It’s breathtaking and dangerous.
One thing I didn’t like was the characters. Ugh, I know. But most of them just felt like undeveloped side characters except for Brooklynn, Gabriel and Porter. Brooklynn is the one that I have major issues with – she just hit every single wrong nerve in me. The entire time I was reading I was complaining to my husband about how could THIS be the strongest, most skilled genetically modified super human government soldier? She was passive, afraid, whiny, and so concerned with her best friend that she let her teammates die while she just stood there looking in a circle to see where Gabriel was. Then letting herself be isolated from everyone because of her feelings for Porter? She’s a terrible teammate. Fortunately she begins to realize this about herself and we see some positive changes, so I am hopeful for major growth from her in book two.
This is definitely a series I want to follow. It is right up my alley with post-apocalyptic government conspiracy themes and teen super warriors. I might even try to get my husband to read it, there is no defining gender theme here that would make girls or boys prefer it. While the sort of dystopian feel is a more niche genre, Omen Operation will appeal to almost anyone who likes government conspiracies and combat stories.
**I received a free ARC in exchange for my honest review**
April 22, 2016
**I was given a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review**
The Omen Operation is a young adult novel with sci-fi elements. The cover and synopsis both intrigued me, so I figured I'd give it a shot and see what the book was all about. Also, the girl on the cover reminded me of Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow. Just throwing that out there.
Ok, so, when the book first starts out, it just kind of jumps right into things. There's no real backstory or anything to lead up to where things start. It just...happens. I did find that a little confusing. I kept thinking to myself, "What is going on and why is this happening?" I mean, it's good that you're left trying to figure things out from the get-go, but at the same time, I would've liked a little bit more to sort of ease into what was going on. That would have been nice.
Plot-wise, other than what I mentioned above with the beginning, the story is intense and moves along at a really nice pace. You just sort of fly through the pages, eager for more. Eager to discover what's going on and why things are the way they are. It's post-apocalyptic and science fiction thrown together, and I loved it.
Like the synopsis says, you've got this group of kids holed up in this camp, training and preparing themselves in case the virus that wiped everyone out spreads... or worse. But then a letter shows up and things get turned upside down. These kids have been lied to, but not just about the virus. The world may be normal, but the kids are not.
I found myself enjoying the togetherness that the characters had going for them. Brooklyn is a great character who knows something is amiss, but she also wants to protect her friends while on the hunt for the truth. Gabriel, her BFF, is also a likeable character. I just got a little confused by her name. I kept wanting to call her Gabrielle, since Gabriel is more masculine a name. But that may just be me nitpicking.
Porter is a character you love, then hate, then love again. He's got secrets, but also good intentions. With him, he's kind of in-between when it comes to your feelings about him.
The other characters in Brooklyn's group, while not unforgettable, didn't really have a huge impact on me. I liked them well enough, but they didn't leave much of a lasting impression.
And, of course, you have your bad guys, who are known as ECHO. I won't say anything more about them, though. Just know that you will dislike them very much.
The writing, and imagery formed from that writing, suck you into another world and leave you breathless as you travel with Brooklyn and her friends in search of the truth. It's thrilling, page-turning, edge-of-your-seat excitement. You won't want to put it down.
Overall, I rate The Omen Operation four very well deserved stars, and I am definitely looking forward to the sequel! Highly recommend!
The Omen Operation is a young adult novel with sci-fi elements. The cover and synopsis both intrigued me, so I figured I'd give it a shot and see what the book was all about. Also, the girl on the cover reminded me of Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow. Just throwing that out there.
Ok, so, when the book first starts out, it just kind of jumps right into things. There's no real backstory or anything to lead up to where things start. It just...happens. I did find that a little confusing. I kept thinking to myself, "What is going on and why is this happening?" I mean, it's good that you're left trying to figure things out from the get-go, but at the same time, I would've liked a little bit more to sort of ease into what was going on. That would have been nice.
Plot-wise, other than what I mentioned above with the beginning, the story is intense and moves along at a really nice pace. You just sort of fly through the pages, eager for more. Eager to discover what's going on and why things are the way they are. It's post-apocalyptic and science fiction thrown together, and I loved it.
Like the synopsis says, you've got this group of kids holed up in this camp, training and preparing themselves in case the virus that wiped everyone out spreads... or worse. But then a letter shows up and things get turned upside down. These kids have been lied to, but not just about the virus. The world may be normal, but the kids are not.
I found myself enjoying the togetherness that the characters had going for them. Brooklyn is a great character who knows something is amiss, but she also wants to protect her friends while on the hunt for the truth. Gabriel, her BFF, is also a likeable character. I just got a little confused by her name. I kept wanting to call her Gabrielle, since Gabriel is more masculine a name. But that may just be me nitpicking.
Porter is a character you love, then hate, then love again. He's got secrets, but also good intentions. With him, he's kind of in-between when it comes to your feelings about him.
The other characters in Brooklyn's group, while not unforgettable, didn't really have a huge impact on me. I liked them well enough, but they didn't leave much of a lasting impression.
And, of course, you have your bad guys, who are known as ECHO. I won't say anything more about them, though. Just know that you will dislike them very much.
The writing, and imagery formed from that writing, suck you into another world and leave you breathless as you travel with Brooklyn and her friends in search of the truth. It's thrilling, page-turning, edge-of-your-seat excitement. You won't want to put it down.
Overall, I rate The Omen Operation four very well deserved stars, and I am definitely looking forward to the sequel! Highly recommend!
April 24, 2016
This book was very, very good! The storyline is definitely not unique, but this is a very good telling.
I really liked the writing. It stood out among many of the ARCs I receive. It had an emotional quality to it. There were memories and sweet, meaningful moments in all the right places. There were moments that seemed normal or even strange but were actually very emotional and poignant. I just love that. It’s like, you don’t need words to explain the feeling. You see the actions and you just know what’s going on. You just know what they’re feeling. It’s not something that can be explained. It’s beautiful.
I also grew very attached to the characters, which I don’t usually in these books because they tend to die off. Yes, it was dangerous in this book, because bad things do happen, but it turned out pretty darn all right. However that’s not to say that it didn’t get quite heart-wrenching at times. Gabriel (Brooklyn’s best friend) was someone who normally I wouldn’t like—she has a very loud personality—but I just fell completely in love with her. It took a while, but soon I could see what Brooklyn saw in her. The other characters were all real people too.
The romance was really quite pleasant. Slow-burn, full of awkward and sweet moments. Very emotional without becoming obvious. I could definitely get behind it. (And thank goodness there wasn’t a love triangle.)
There were some pretty cool plot twists! I really didn’t see any of them coming. Some plot events I could predict, but only minor ones. The plot didn’t have a definite direction or end-goal, only smaller and vaguer goals. But it was still interesting to follow. Honestly, I feel like the characters drove the story more than the plot—or external influences—did. But all in all, it was a pretty good mix of both. Not an utterly fantastic mix; like I said, the plot was not uncommon and somewhat directionless—but the characters really made the story.
In conclusion, it was a great read. Not as quick as I thought, either. I had to stop and savor the writing and the moments. She’s really good at writing individual scenes. She’s great at capturing emotion in ways that don’t have to be explained. It’s easy to infer what’s going on, and it’s more satisfying that way. It feels more real.
See the full review on my blog, Awesome Book Assessment.
I really liked the writing. It stood out among many of the ARCs I receive. It had an emotional quality to it. There were memories and sweet, meaningful moments in all the right places. There were moments that seemed normal or even strange but were actually very emotional and poignant. I just love that. It’s like, you don’t need words to explain the feeling. You see the actions and you just know what’s going on. You just know what they’re feeling. It’s not something that can be explained. It’s beautiful.
I also grew very attached to the characters, which I don’t usually in these books because they tend to die off. Yes, it was dangerous in this book, because bad things do happen, but it turned out pretty darn all right. However that’s not to say that it didn’t get quite heart-wrenching at times. Gabriel (Brooklyn’s best friend) was someone who normally I wouldn’t like—she has a very loud personality—but I just fell completely in love with her. It took a while, but soon I could see what Brooklyn saw in her. The other characters were all real people too.
The romance was really quite pleasant. Slow-burn, full of awkward and sweet moments. Very emotional without becoming obvious. I could definitely get behind it. (And thank goodness there wasn’t a love triangle.)
There were some pretty cool plot twists! I really didn’t see any of them coming. Some plot events I could predict, but only minor ones. The plot didn’t have a definite direction or end-goal, only smaller and vaguer goals. But it was still interesting to follow. Honestly, I feel like the characters drove the story more than the plot—or external influences—did. But all in all, it was a pretty good mix of both. Not an utterly fantastic mix; like I said, the plot was not uncommon and somewhat directionless—but the characters really made the story.
In conclusion, it was a great read. Not as quick as I thought, either. I had to stop and savor the writing and the moments. She’s really good at writing individual scenes. She’s great at capturing emotion in ways that don’t have to be explained. It’s easy to infer what’s going on, and it’s more satisfying that way. It feels more real.
See the full review on my blog, Awesome Book Assessment.
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