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Children of Nostradamus #1
Nighthawks
New England is a walled off radioactive prison. People exhibiting extraordinary abilities are hunted for experiments. The only talent twenty-six-year-old Conthan has in life is his art and knack for sarcasm. When a cop threatens his life, Conthan discovers he has the ability to teleport. Hunted by the military and a woman with her own gifts, Conthan finds exiles in the Boston wastelands with powers of their own. For the first time, he sees potential to become a hero. But as he unravels a conspiracy threatening the world, he must decide between his survival and his humanity.
366 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2016
252 people are currently reading
2631 people want to read
About the author
Jeremy Flagg
38 books233 followersJoin the Children of Nostradamus Community:
https://discord.gg/u4uc4362aC
It started with single comic book. Jeremy’s mother was determined to make a reader out of him. Shunning traditional literature at a young age, his mother placed X-Men Classic #69 in his lap and for the first time he was exposed to the phrases, “Mutants,” “BAMF,” and “SNIKT.” He is still waiting for his acceptance letter to the Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters at 1407 Graymalkin Lane.
Despite voraciously consuming anything by R.A. Salvatore, Mercedes Lackey, and Laurel K. Hamilton, his first love remains the superheroes in comic books. Because of this he has written multiple series in the dystopian superhero universe, the Children of Nostradamus. He is a fan of fast-paced action, the darker side of humanity and incredibly snarky dialogue.
Jeremy became known as a geek before it was a trend. During college Jeremy would be shortened to Remy as friends discovered his goal of reading every X-Men comic. Being able to explain the many incarnations of Jean Grey and her alternate-dimensional children remains a badge of honor.
When not pounding away at the keyboard he is… nevermind, he’s always at his keyboard working on the next novel.
https://discord.gg/u4uc4362aC
It started with single comic book. Jeremy’s mother was determined to make a reader out of him. Shunning traditional literature at a young age, his mother placed X-Men Classic #69 in his lap and for the first time he was exposed to the phrases, “Mutants,” “BAMF,” and “SNIKT.” He is still waiting for his acceptance letter to the Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters at 1407 Graymalkin Lane.
Despite voraciously consuming anything by R.A. Salvatore, Mercedes Lackey, and Laurel K. Hamilton, his first love remains the superheroes in comic books. Because of this he has written multiple series in the dystopian superhero universe, the Children of Nostradamus. He is a fan of fast-paced action, the darker side of humanity and incredibly snarky dialogue.
Jeremy became known as a geek before it was a trend. During college Jeremy would be shortened to Remy as friends discovered his goal of reading every X-Men comic. Being able to explain the many incarnations of Jean Grey and her alternate-dimensional children remains a badge of honor.
When not pounding away at the keyboard he is… nevermind, he’s always at his keyboard working on the next novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
January 16, 2017
Review copy
Nighthawks: Children of Nostradamus Book 1 is a complex and fascinating read.
Eleanor Valentine is a psychic to the first woman president, Cecelia Joyce, but when she attempts to assassinate her boss it leads to her death and to "The Culling" of all mentalists.
The mentalists are not the only ones with powers beyond those of mortal men. There are The Children of Nostradamus. "Where the Children of Nostradamus have hundreds of recorded abilities, there are certain things we all have in common. We have a natural immunity to all illnesses. We have higher endurance, we heal quicker..."
In addition to the Children of Nostradamus, some of the other players in the story include the Outlanders and the Paladins. And for me this is where it got to be a bit much. I get the feeling we'll learn more about the other groups in future books and yes there will definitely be more in the series.
In the meantime, book one is a superhero story with a bit of humor and better than you might expect. In many ways it has feel of a graphic novel without the artwork and the way they got the name Nighthawks was inspired.
Although I wasn't blown away by book one I certainly will return to the world of the Nighthawks and can recommend you check this one out, as well.
From Limitless Publishing, Nighthawks is available in both paperback and e-book formats. If you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited you can read it at no additional charge. Also, if you are an Amazon Prime member you can read it for FREE using the Kindle Owners Lending Library.
From the authors bio - It started with single comic book. My mother was determined to make a reader out of me. Shunning traditional literature at a young age, my mother placed X-Men Classic #69 in my lap and for the first time I was exposed to the phrases, "Mutants," "BAMF," and "SNIKT." From that moment on, I imagined my enrollment at Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters.
I came to writing late in my professional career. For a short period I majored in Creative Writing but eventually turned to Graphic Design for my career. It wasn't until 2006 that I participated in my first NaNoWriMo writing an epic science fiction novel. Later I would use the opportunity to write Suburban Zombie High and my first draft of Children of Nostradamus. Now I am the NaNoWriMo Municipal Liaison to the Massachusetts Metrowest Region. I also belong the New England Horror Writer's Association where I'm known as the sarcastic zombie author.
Nighthawks: Children of Nostradamus Book 1 is a complex and fascinating read.
Eleanor Valentine is a psychic to the first woman president, Cecelia Joyce, but when she attempts to assassinate her boss it leads to her death and to "The Culling" of all mentalists.
The mentalists are not the only ones with powers beyond those of mortal men. There are The Children of Nostradamus. "Where the Children of Nostradamus have hundreds of recorded abilities, there are certain things we all have in common. We have a natural immunity to all illnesses. We have higher endurance, we heal quicker..."
In addition to the Children of Nostradamus, some of the other players in the story include the Outlanders and the Paladins. And for me this is where it got to be a bit much. I get the feeling we'll learn more about the other groups in future books and yes there will definitely be more in the series.
In the meantime, book one is a superhero story with a bit of humor and better than you might expect. In many ways it has feel of a graphic novel without the artwork and the way they got the name Nighthawks was inspired.
Although I wasn't blown away by book one I certainly will return to the world of the Nighthawks and can recommend you check this one out, as well.
From Limitless Publishing, Nighthawks is available in both paperback and e-book formats. If you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited you can read it at no additional charge. Also, if you are an Amazon Prime member you can read it for FREE using the Kindle Owners Lending Library.
From the authors bio - It started with single comic book. My mother was determined to make a reader out of me. Shunning traditional literature at a young age, my mother placed X-Men Classic #69 in my lap and for the first time I was exposed to the phrases, "Mutants," "BAMF," and "SNIKT." From that moment on, I imagined my enrollment at Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters.
I came to writing late in my professional career. For a short period I majored in Creative Writing but eventually turned to Graphic Design for my career. It wasn't until 2006 that I participated in my first NaNoWriMo writing an epic science fiction novel. Later I would use the opportunity to write Suburban Zombie High and my first draft of Children of Nostradamus. Now I am the NaNoWriMo Municipal Liaison to the Massachusetts Metrowest Region. I also belong the New England Horror Writer's Association where I'm known as the sarcastic zombie author.
August 4, 2017
Nighthawks (Children of Nostradamus Book 1) by Jeremy Flagg, narrated by Robin J Sitten, is an audible book I requested and the review is voluntary. This book I fell in love with! There was an event that caused some kids to be different, special gifts, but the government doesn't consider them gifts. but a danger and. They lock these kids up or send these people out to the zone to live on their own, the zone that is radiated. Sometimes these gifts develop late in life, in a moment of crisis. This is just such an action packed, secret filled, fun, X-men type story that I loved it. There is one called Angel because she has wings. There is one that can transport. There are secrets going on too, in the research facility. So much great intrigue, adventure, suspense, and fantasy! LOVED it! The narration was perfect too! Great job all around.
September 3, 2019
Wow! This is a story of how mutant humans with powers come to interrelate by the hand of another woman with the ability to foresee the future to create a rebellion and the transition of their lives to be able to live with their powers, sometimes a curse, and how they defend themselves from the persecution of the government. Great story line and in depth of the characters! The author’s linguistic richness and his ingenious world created from scratch compile a novel which promises intense suspense and plot twists. I loved every minute of it. A series worth following.
July 7, 2019
My rating 4.0
The book "Nighthawks (Children of Nostradamus # 1)" by Jeremy Flagg is a solid story about superheroes. The story takes us in a dystopian world where due to changes in the sun appear people who have superpowers. The government at all costs is trying to put all those who have new superpowers under their control. But because of their behavior, a terrorist group attacked the US and activating the nuclear head. Parts of America are contaminated and government all that which are "out of the law" sent to this apocalyptic wasteland. The government does not give up on controlling all individuals who have any power and places them in a special constituency Facility. The young painter Conthan is just setting up an exhibition of paintings drawing his friend who was sent by the government to the constituency Facility. The same exhibition is criticized by the public because ordinary people do not like new superheroes and soon there is a mess with the protesters. Conthan barely pulls out the living head after escalating the conflict with the protesters. The government sent special units to the Pretorian to contain the mess, and when one of the Pretorians tried to kill Conthan, his power was activated and he killed him. At that point, he becomes a target of government and he must flee. He moves toward devastated cities to avoid being arrested. The book is fun and if you love superheroes, robots, and cyborgs then you will love the book. I'd recommend to the lovers of science fiction and the post-apocalypse.
The book "Nighthawks (Children of Nostradamus # 1)" by Jeremy Flagg is a solid story about superheroes. The story takes us in a dystopian world where due to changes in the sun appear people who have superpowers. The government at all costs is trying to put all those who have new superpowers under their control. But because of their behavior, a terrorist group attacked the US and activating the nuclear head. Parts of America are contaminated and government all that which are "out of the law" sent to this apocalyptic wasteland. The government does not give up on controlling all individuals who have any power and places them in a special constituency Facility. The young painter Conthan is just setting up an exhibition of paintings drawing his friend who was sent by the government to the constituency Facility. The same exhibition is criticized by the public because ordinary people do not like new superheroes and soon there is a mess with the protesters. Conthan barely pulls out the living head after escalating the conflict with the protesters. The government sent special units to the Pretorian to contain the mess, and when one of the Pretorians tried to kill Conthan, his power was activated and he killed him. At that point, he becomes a target of government and he must flee. He moves toward devastated cities to avoid being arrested. The book is fun and if you love superheroes, robots, and cyborgs then you will love the book. I'd recommend to the lovers of science fiction and the post-apocalypse.
May 2, 2020
Wow! This story of how mutant humans with powers come to interrelate by the hand of another woman with the ability to foresee the future to create a rebellion and the transition of their lives to be able to live with their powers, sometimes a curse, and how they defend themselves from the persecution of the government. Great story line and in depth of the characters!
October 22, 2018
The advisor to the president has powers of precognition. She isn't the only one, but she is the most powerful. When a vision shows her a dark world to come, she writes letters for the principal parties and heroically but fruitlessly attempts to stop what's coming.
The story begins with massive time jumps and action skips between the chapters and it isn't until almost 30% through that the reader is given a cohesive overview of the plot. It turns out there are people who have evolved special powers. The powers are as varied as the people. Telekinesis, pyrotechnics, super strength, etc., a la X-Men. The government wants to eradicate these people. They start with attempted genocide and, when that doesn't do the trick, they proceed to create enhanced soldiers to round up and exterminate any known Children of Nostradamus.
They fight back.
This is the beginning of a series so we get world building and a slow introduction to the characters and their plight. It's full of action and slow reveals. An interesting spin on the X-Men trope.
Review ARC graciously provided by the publisher via NetGalley
The story begins with massive time jumps and action skips between the chapters and it isn't until almost 30% through that the reader is given a cohesive overview of the plot. It turns out there are people who have evolved special powers. The powers are as varied as the people. Telekinesis, pyrotechnics, super strength, etc., a la X-Men. The government wants to eradicate these people. They start with attempted genocide and, when that doesn't do the trick, they proceed to create enhanced soldiers to round up and exterminate any known Children of Nostradamus.
They fight back.
This is the beginning of a series so we get world building and a slow introduction to the characters and their plight. It's full of action and slow reveals. An interesting spin on the X-Men trope.
Review ARC graciously provided by the publisher via NetGalley
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September 5, 2017
My original Nighthawks audiobook review and many others can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.
Eleanor Valentine is a powerful psychic able to predict the near future with astounding accuracy. As an advisor to the president, she has used her powers to help steer the workings of government to positive outcomes. She discovers that a horrible darkness looms for the world, the only solution is to assassinate the president, but fails in her attempt and is killed in the process.
Now forty years in the future, the world is playing out the way Eleanor predicted. The children of Nostradamus, people with extraordinary abilities, are being rounded up or murdered outright as dangers to society. Their only refuge is the radioactive wasteland of northern New England. A small band of super humans, having received 40 year-old letters from Eleanor, finds their only hope of survival is to strike at the heart of the secret government organization trying to exterminate them.
There are many similarities to X-Men and the author even alludes to this humorously. The characters are different in that they must discover their abilities on their own, or hopefully with help from their peers. Most would just rather get along, integrating with society, but are not given that option as they are rounded up, or shot out of hand. There are many interesting dynamics that make the characters more human than mutant.
It is an entertaining story with an engaging plot. There is plenty of supernatural action to satisfy most lovers of the genre. They aren’t invincible or supermen, just people with extraordinary skills they can barely control at times.
Robin J. Sitten performs the story well. She has a pleasant voice and a matter-of-fact tone that gets out of the way. Audiobook listeners might be more accustomed to the many actors who perform books dramatically. Sitten is more about reading the story transparently, letting the listener imagine the action and drama in their own minds. It is a personal taste, but she is highly competent and easy to listen to.
Nighthawks is an entertaining story with imaginative characters and plenty of supernatural action. It is the first in a series of unknown length, wrapping up well, but giving us the groundwork for future sequels. If you enjoy this book, you will be looking forward to future novels.
Audiobook was provided for review by the author.
Eleanor Valentine is a powerful psychic able to predict the near future with astounding accuracy. As an advisor to the president, she has used her powers to help steer the workings of government to positive outcomes. She discovers that a horrible darkness looms for the world, the only solution is to assassinate the president, but fails in her attempt and is killed in the process.
Now forty years in the future, the world is playing out the way Eleanor predicted. The children of Nostradamus, people with extraordinary abilities, are being rounded up or murdered outright as dangers to society. Their only refuge is the radioactive wasteland of northern New England. A small band of super humans, having received 40 year-old letters from Eleanor, finds their only hope of survival is to strike at the heart of the secret government organization trying to exterminate them.
There are many similarities to X-Men and the author even alludes to this humorously. The characters are different in that they must discover their abilities on their own, or hopefully with help from their peers. Most would just rather get along, integrating with society, but are not given that option as they are rounded up, or shot out of hand. There are many interesting dynamics that make the characters more human than mutant.
It is an entertaining story with an engaging plot. There is plenty of supernatural action to satisfy most lovers of the genre. They aren’t invincible or supermen, just people with extraordinary skills they can barely control at times.
Robin J. Sitten performs the story well. She has a pleasant voice and a matter-of-fact tone that gets out of the way. Audiobook listeners might be more accustomed to the many actors who perform books dramatically. Sitten is more about reading the story transparently, letting the listener imagine the action and drama in their own minds. It is a personal taste, but she is highly competent and easy to listen to.
Nighthawks is an entertaining story with imaginative characters and plenty of supernatural action. It is the first in a series of unknown length, wrapping up well, but giving us the groundwork for future sequels. If you enjoy this book, you will be looking forward to future novels.
Audiobook was provided for review by the author.
April 6, 2016
This jacked up version of X-men is a wild ride!
It begins with a woman who can see the future and a plan that unravels from page to page. No one knows where it’s going, not the characters and not the reader, and it keeps you guessing until the very end!
The world is half in ruins. Deviants to the normal course of humanity have emerged, as Nostradamus had once predicted, and they are targeted. The government strains to keep them in check and the ever present question is: should they? New England is nothing more than a scorched remnant left behind from nuclear explosions - the radiation present would poison any normal human. Outlanders are banished here, doomed to live shortened life spans. And the Children, those who show abilities beyond what is considered human, those who have run from authority and containment Facilities, sequester in the ruins as well.
Firstly, I have to say, I was immediately drawn in by the author’s descriptive telling of the super-human powers his characters possess. He didn’t just tell us someone was a telepath, he showed us in a descriptive, suck-you-in kind of way. While reading, I could feel the pull of thoughts and sense the power that surged through the Children of Nostradamus. In this way, this book stood out for me from the superheroes I had read about and seen in neon spandex suits in the past. It was refreshing and engaging and kept me invested and involved as the story unfolded.
The characters are diverse and are pulled together through the course of the novel. I loved the evolution of the Nighthawks and can’t wait to see where this author goes with them next! Definitely check this out!
It begins with a woman who can see the future and a plan that unravels from page to page. No one knows where it’s going, not the characters and not the reader, and it keeps you guessing until the very end!
The world is half in ruins. Deviants to the normal course of humanity have emerged, as Nostradamus had once predicted, and they are targeted. The government strains to keep them in check and the ever present question is: should they? New England is nothing more than a scorched remnant left behind from nuclear explosions - the radiation present would poison any normal human. Outlanders are banished here, doomed to live shortened life spans. And the Children, those who show abilities beyond what is considered human, those who have run from authority and containment Facilities, sequester in the ruins as well.
Firstly, I have to say, I was immediately drawn in by the author’s descriptive telling of the super-human powers his characters possess. He didn’t just tell us someone was a telepath, he showed us in a descriptive, suck-you-in kind of way. While reading, I could feel the pull of thoughts and sense the power that surged through the Children of Nostradamus. In this way, this book stood out for me from the superheroes I had read about and seen in neon spandex suits in the past. It was refreshing and engaging and kept me invested and involved as the story unfolded.
The characters are diverse and are pulled together through the course of the novel. I loved the evolution of the Nighthawks and can’t wait to see where this author goes with them next! Definitely check this out!
September 3, 2017
I received this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
I loved this book! It's a bit like X-Men only much more in depth. After an event that caused these differences to become widespread and well known, the government locks up the people who develop changes. Alternatively, they can be exiled to New England, which is a scorched out ruin.
Conthan discovers that he is a child of Nostradamus, somebody who has an ability deviant from the norm, after a cop threatens his life. I loved Conthan. I thought he was really interesting and it was so cool to see his character develop over the book.
I really liked this book. I found it interesting and it drew me in, until I didn't want to stop listening. The author also has this incredible talent at descriptive text. Instead of just telling you one of the Children of Nostradamus's abilities, he explains it and it's absolutely wonderful reading.
I loved this book! It's a bit like X-Men only much more in depth. After an event that caused these differences to become widespread and well known, the government locks up the people who develop changes. Alternatively, they can be exiled to New England, which is a scorched out ruin.
Conthan discovers that he is a child of Nostradamus, somebody who has an ability deviant from the norm, after a cop threatens his life. I loved Conthan. I thought he was really interesting and it was so cool to see his character develop over the book.
I really liked this book. I found it interesting and it drew me in, until I didn't want to stop listening. The author also has this incredible talent at descriptive text. Instead of just telling you one of the Children of Nostradamus's abilities, he explains it and it's absolutely wonderful reading.
August 15, 2020
Wow. Filled with action to make this an awesome story. Impossible to figure out what will happen next. Ready for the next.
July 5, 2016
I only kind of enjoyed reading comics as a kid. I always wanted more from the characters and the storyline; things I got in novels that took a long and expensive time to receive through comics. Jeremy Flagg has given me exactly what I want--comic book superheroes who are people I can get to know and develop a relationship without needing to read decades of backstory that may or may not be current with today's version.
Nighthawks, while lacking the characteristic "POW" and "BANG" found in comics, has enough action to keep a reader's attention during and between battles. This book is just as fast-paced as the comics which influenced Flagg's work, with brief but effective interludes to develop the characters and immense backstory which spans 4 decades. It combines the ever-popular dystopian world with superheroes who aren't really all that different from us on the inside. I also appreciate the nuances within the story. Although Conthan is the main character, you can easily see that this is true only on the surface--Conthan is the Point-of-View character who allows us the reader to enter Flagg's world rather than simply be an outsider looking in on all of these beings we can't connect with. The main characters (at least as I see this story) are women--one long dead, one powerful and beautiful. This is what I appreciated most about Nighthawks--the female characters get just as much screen-time as the males, and are equal or stronger in power. Flagg doesn't discriminate and tactfully includes a variety of diversity.
Upon coming to the end, you know that there's more to come, even if the words "Volume 1" weren't on the cover. I look forward to the sequels (and inevitable prequels which will come from having the story REALLY begin 40 years in the past).
Nighthawks, while lacking the characteristic "POW" and "BANG" found in comics, has enough action to keep a reader's attention during and between battles. This book is just as fast-paced as the comics which influenced Flagg's work, with brief but effective interludes to develop the characters and immense backstory which spans 4 decades. It combines the ever-popular dystopian world with superheroes who aren't really all that different from us on the inside. I also appreciate the nuances within the story. Although Conthan is the main character, you can easily see that this is true only on the surface--Conthan is the Point-of-View character who allows us the reader to enter Flagg's world rather than simply be an outsider looking in on all of these beings we can't connect with. The main characters (at least as I see this story) are women--one long dead, one powerful and beautiful. This is what I appreciated most about Nighthawks--the female characters get just as much screen-time as the males, and are equal or stronger in power. Flagg doesn't discriminate and tactfully includes a variety of diversity.
Upon coming to the end, you know that there's more to come, even if the words "Volume 1" weren't on the cover. I look forward to the sequels (and inevitable prequels which will come from having the story REALLY begin 40 years in the past).
January 14, 2017
Nighthawks is an impressive and well-conceived page-turner. Set within a dystopian future New England, a diverse and engaging set of superpowered characters (the Children of Nostradamus) join forces on a collision course against a Killgravian megalomaniacal telepath and sinister government forces. Flagg pays clear homage to his influences, most notably the X-Men--but his references are never derivative. The story's characters (most of whom are women or people of color--thumbs up!) are developed with a deft blend of humanity and snark, and must engage their enemies while simultaneously battling their own inner demons. The master plot is far reaching and ambitious, leaving me enthusiastic to follow the Nighthawks into a what I can only imagine will be a darker second act.
Jeremy Flagg is a writer to be reckoned with. If you enjoy superhero comics, dystopian SF or just plain old-fashioned good storytelling, you will find Nighthawks an exciting and satisfactory read.
Jeremy Flagg is a writer to be reckoned with. If you enjoy superhero comics, dystopian SF or just plain old-fashioned good storytelling, you will find Nighthawks an exciting and satisfactory read.
July 3, 2020
I really enjoyed this book! It took a while to get my head around so many characters, but in many ways it was like an X-Men reboot with some interesting new powers. The first half is backstory of a few main characters, some of whom are only just discovering their powers, and the second half is pretty much non-stop action/battle. Not that there isn't quite a lot of action in the first half. Very well written with great dialogue and everything kept at a fast paced throughout, I'm glad I finally got around to read this first in what seems to be a pretty extensive series. If you like your superhero stories violent and at times snarky (in a good way), this is definitely one you should check out.
December 20, 2018
The twists in this novel are mind-blowing. I was partly laughing part crying over one of the twists because the character tried so hard to do what needed to be done to ensure the evil never came to pass. Instead, he helped it right along. The characters are loveable, and the plot is incredible. I loved the abilities the characters had and different points of views. Also, the characters reactions were believable. It was a refreshing read that I could not put down, and I now need to find all the books so I can find out what happened.
5/5 stars.
For my full review see my blog https://bookgirlreviewsbooks.blogspot...
5/5 stars.
For my full review see my blog https://bookgirlreviewsbooks.blogspot...
April 5, 2016
The author had me from the very first line. I like when this happens, when you open a book and from the moment you start reading you feel like you can't put it away. With so many dystopian novels out there, it is hard to create something new and interesting. I think Jeremy Flagg did an outstanding job at setting this book apart from the others, and he did it through a dynamic and compelling storytelling and a set of complex and intriguing characters. I would definately recommend his book and I look forward to the next one!
July 8, 2020
Fear of the different brings out the worst in people. In this story, different means empowered. After mutated humans begin exhibiting strange powers, the "children of Nostradamus" as they are called, are persecuted. Some want to use them. Some want them dead.
Nighthawks brings together an assemble cast to introduce what looks to be an engaging series of superhero stories. I really enjoyed the creative use of powers in fight scenes and the interplay between characters. I'll be back to see what this team does in future volumes!
Nighthawks brings together an assemble cast to introduce what looks to be an engaging series of superhero stories. I really enjoyed the creative use of powers in fight scenes and the interplay between characters. I'll be back to see what this team does in future volumes!
March 2, 2016
I was offered an advance copy in exchange for an honest review, and was excited to read Jeremy Flagg's new novel. It's a dystopian science-fiction and I found the story compelling and intriguing, but also complex and intense, like many in the genre. You need to keep your wits about you with this book, as it's fast-paced and the characters are varied, but it's well worth a read. Looking forward to more of this series.
January 15, 2017
Brilliant and imersive
Jeremy Flagg takes the superhero model and runs with it. The richly drawn characters are easy to relate to and root for. A well crafted tale that will pull you in and keep you immersed. Highly recommended if you are a fan of edgy superhero tales or apocalyptic lore.
Can't wait for the next entrance in the series.
Jeremy Flagg takes the superhero model and runs with it. The richly drawn characters are easy to relate to and root for. A well crafted tale that will pull you in and keep you immersed. Highly recommended if you are a fan of edgy superhero tales or apocalyptic lore.
Can't wait for the next entrance in the series.
October 9, 2018
My review is based on the audiobook. Nighthawks is a fabulous first in series that kept my interest from start to finish. The story is told in multiple POV's which takes a bit to get used to but the narrator did a fantastic job and I was able to follow along easily once I got used to the flow. I look forward to more in this series.
January 8, 2020
This was extremely enjoyable. The characters were great, and the story was interesting. There was a lot of action. At the end I felt as if I had just gone on an adventure quest, only the whole team were magic users with vastly different skills. I received a free review copy of the audio version of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 2, 2020
Nighthawks are the New X-Men!
Wonderful new fast-paced futuristic adventure where mutant humans with super powers are being hunted and killed or placed in facilities similar to concentration camps. I loved the snarky characters and look forward to more of their adventures. Enjoy!
Wonderful new fast-paced futuristic adventure where mutant humans with super powers are being hunted and killed or placed in facilities similar to concentration camps. I loved the snarky characters and look forward to more of their adventures. Enjoy!
February 8, 2025
This book is my genre. It has everything going for me like the urban setting, sci-fi, superpowers, and fast pacing. Perfection in a premise. However, I could not give it more than 2 stars because I did not enjoy it, and it all comes down to the writing.
Firstly, this book lacks variety in sentence structures, and while that might not seem like a huge deal, it took me out of the story. There are too many beginning with noun-verb, especially name-verb, and it gives a monotonous, stilted feel to the prose. Sentences would start we "He" and then action consecutively, and it was very distracting, and sometimes sentences ended on the same word. The writing was very much not enjoyable. The good thing that came out of this, though, is that the pacing was never off in the story. This type of sentence structure gives way to action upon action. However, this also worked against the book because we had few moments of introspection, which is the perk of books over other media.
My other gripe is info dumps. My goodness, information would be introduced naturally at some point in the story, which is proof that Jeremy Flagg is a brilliant with stories. At the same time, info would also be dumped at the reader. Boring way of discovering this wondrous world. And on top of that, it was dragged down by cliche lines that I couldn't help but cringe at.
Switching POVs was also really confusing cause no names would be mentioned in the beginning, and only pronouns would be there. Might be a tactic to introduce mystery, but it didn't work for me.
Lastly, this is minor, but a character replying to being asked if she's a Middle Eastern with "Yes" is just ... you know, I don't know anyone in my life who'd just be content with saying yes. People would be like "yes, from Egypt, actually" or "yes, I came from Syria".
All in all, I think this has potential to win me over, but the writing let it down. Wished I'd enjoyed it more. Bummer.
Firstly, this book lacks variety in sentence structures, and while that might not seem like a huge deal, it took me out of the story. There are too many beginning with noun-verb, especially name-verb, and it gives a monotonous, stilted feel to the prose. Sentences would start we "He" and then action consecutively, and it was very distracting, and sometimes sentences ended on the same word. The writing was very much not enjoyable. The good thing that came out of this, though, is that the pacing was never off in the story. This type of sentence structure gives way to action upon action. However, this also worked against the book because we had few moments of introspection, which is the perk of books over other media.
My other gripe is info dumps. My goodness, information would be introduced naturally at some point in the story, which is proof that Jeremy Flagg is a brilliant with stories. At the same time, info would also be dumped at the reader. Boring way of discovering this wondrous world. And on top of that, it was dragged down by cliche lines that I couldn't help but cringe at.
Switching POVs was also really confusing cause no names would be mentioned in the beginning, and only pronouns would be there. Might be a tactic to introduce mystery, but it didn't work for me.
Lastly, this is minor, but a character replying to being asked if she's a Middle Eastern with "Yes" is just ... you know, I don't know anyone in my life who'd just be content with saying yes. People would be like "yes, from Egypt, actually" or "yes, I came from Syria".
All in all, I think this has potential to win me over, but the writing let it down. Wished I'd enjoyed it more. Bummer.
October 9, 2018
I was given a copy of this audio book in exchange for an honest review.
The Story
A good post apocalyptic story of people who have powers beyond normal humans and their struggles with life and agencies looking to control them, I wanted to find out what was going to happen to the characters and the story had enough twists to keep me guessing. It's by no means completely original (obviously you think straight away of X-men or similar) but it's also not a direct rip off of anything I can think of and is a fun well written tale with some interesting characters and abilities. Obviously part one of a larger series and i'd definitely be interested to see where the story goes from here.
The Production
A good clear narrator who reads well with enough emotion to keep things moving well and engage the reader and doesn't detract in any way from the story. She doesn't really try and do character voices which might have brought things alive a bit more but 'no voices' is better than 'bad voices' so I can't really complain as the quality of her reading and the sound itself was of a very good standard.
The Story
A good post apocalyptic story of people who have powers beyond normal humans and their struggles with life and agencies looking to control them, I wanted to find out what was going to happen to the characters and the story had enough twists to keep me guessing. It's by no means completely original (obviously you think straight away of X-men or similar) but it's also not a direct rip off of anything I can think of and is a fun well written tale with some interesting characters and abilities. Obviously part one of a larger series and i'd definitely be interested to see where the story goes from here.
The Production
A good clear narrator who reads well with enough emotion to keep things moving well and engage the reader and doesn't detract in any way from the story. She doesn't really try and do character voices which might have brought things alive a bit more but 'no voices' is better than 'bad voices' so I can't really complain as the quality of her reading and the sound itself was of a very good standard.
April 21, 2020
A tale set in the near future of a modern day witch hunt. The hunted are the Children of Nostradamus. Those people with genetic differences that give super powers and the fear and hatred of those not affected. Deceit and betrayal is the norm except for a few brought together to try and save the innocent. Interesting characters, suspense and action will keep you listen until the very end. I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request, and have voluntarily left this review.
March 27, 2016
Loved it!
If you enjoy dystopian novels, I highly recommend this book! This book brings elements of superhero-like characters to a dystopian society. Each character is well developed and an intricate part of the story. The story is action packed and keeps you guessing. I'm so excited that this is only book 1 and I can't wait to read the next one!
If you enjoy dystopian novels, I highly recommend this book! This book brings elements of superhero-like characters to a dystopian society. Each character is well developed and an intricate part of the story. The story is action packed and keeps you guessing. I'm so excited that this is only book 1 and I can't wait to read the next one!
August 4, 2021
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
This is a very fast pace and semi chaotic book. I had to restart the first two chapters a couple times to grasp onto what was being said. It does get a little easier to follow but your definitely let wanting more that end.
I would recommend this to those who like dystopian style books
This is a very fast pace and semi chaotic book. I had to restart the first two chapters a couple times to grasp onto what was being said. It does get a little easier to follow but your definitely let wanting more that end.
I would recommend this to those who like dystopian style books
July 1, 2022
Nighthawks is a refreshing superhero book written by Jeremy Flagg. The characters are written well, distinguishable, and you want the to win in their fights. The world unfurls before us as Jeremy shows us the world through and around our super humans. I look forward to the next book in this series! Audio Version: Robin J Sitten does a good job with the narration and overall character voices.
July 7, 2018
Excellent
Awesome. Very X-Men sort of feel. If possible check out the prequel, "morning sun," first for some additional background on the characters.
Awesome. Very X-Men sort of feel. If possible check out the prequel, "morning sun," first for some additional background on the characters.
December 14, 2018
Originally posted at ragdollreads.co.uk
TL;DR - A book about super-humans, government oppression and revenge. An enjoyable concept I just couldn't get in to.
Ragdoll Rating: 3/5 Buttons
Recommended For: Fans of X-men type novels
About the Book...
In the world of Nighthawks, super-powers exist and are heavily resisted by the American government. Powered humans (or, Children of Nostrodamus) are locked up, killed or forced to live in an uninhabitable wasteland - shunned by society. A powerful psychic made sends out a number of letters before her death, letters that bring together a group of Children who find themselves working together to fight back against their oppressors.
What I thought...
Nighthawks follows a fairly classic formula that I personally really enjoy. Powered humans are oppressed by somebody and spend the rest of the book fighting back. This is exactly my kind of plot, and because of this, I had high hopes for this book which unfortunately weren't met.
My first issue, which admittedly was the smaller of the two, is that the action sequences, particularly the fight scenes felt a little sterile. I'm not sure if it was a language or a pacing issue, but for whatever reason, I felt distinctly underwhelmed after the various fight scenes.
The bigger issue came from the fact the I really - and I mean really - struggled to follow the story as it moved along. The story uses multiple points of view which I found a little confusing at times given the authors tendency to switch POV and then spend a little while using impersonal pronouns (she/he) instead of names. In addition, I struggled to follow the plot from one point to another. At times it seemed to leap ahead - the final section of the book, where the characters invade a prison seemed to come out of nowhere and left me wondering if I'd skipped several chapters by accident. If I'm honest, I would struggle to give more than an extremely broad-strokes recap of the plot of this book.
Oh yeah, and one final thing. This book also contained the phrase "Conthan stood up and Dwayne gave him an awkward male-on-male hug." A sentence I hate so much I almost knocked a Button off the rating for.
That said, I did enjoy elements of the book. I particularly enjoyed the way the Children's powers work. They are each unique, and range from the mundane to the devastating. I liked that the powers had a downside to them, that prevented their over-use, the characters had to be careful using their powers or they would lose control. It was an interesting mechanic. I also enjoyed learning about the way society treats the Children of Nostradamus, and the interplay between government thugs and civil rights groups, something I would like to see explored further.
Final Thoughts…
I'm not sure, personally, if I would continue reading the series. My reason for this is that I'm not sure I could deal with the writing style, rather than the content itself. As such, you might find the writing suits you perfectly and enjoy this book a great deal, so I suppose you should give it a shot and find out.
TL;DR - A book about super-humans, government oppression and revenge. An enjoyable concept I just couldn't get in to.
Ragdoll Rating: 3/5 Buttons
Recommended For: Fans of X-men type novels
About the Book...
In the world of Nighthawks, super-powers exist and are heavily resisted by the American government. Powered humans (or, Children of Nostrodamus) are locked up, killed or forced to live in an uninhabitable wasteland - shunned by society. A powerful psychic made sends out a number of letters before her death, letters that bring together a group of Children who find themselves working together to fight back against their oppressors.
What I thought...
Nighthawks follows a fairly classic formula that I personally really enjoy. Powered humans are oppressed by somebody and spend the rest of the book fighting back. This is exactly my kind of plot, and because of this, I had high hopes for this book which unfortunately weren't met.
My first issue, which admittedly was the smaller of the two, is that the action sequences, particularly the fight scenes felt a little sterile. I'm not sure if it was a language or a pacing issue, but for whatever reason, I felt distinctly underwhelmed after the various fight scenes.
The bigger issue came from the fact the I really - and I mean really - struggled to follow the story as it moved along. The story uses multiple points of view which I found a little confusing at times given the authors tendency to switch POV and then spend a little while using impersonal pronouns (she/he) instead of names. In addition, I struggled to follow the plot from one point to another. At times it seemed to leap ahead - the final section of the book, where the characters invade a prison seemed to come out of nowhere and left me wondering if I'd skipped several chapters by accident. If I'm honest, I would struggle to give more than an extremely broad-strokes recap of the plot of this book.
Oh yeah, and one final thing. This book also contained the phrase "Conthan stood up and Dwayne gave him an awkward male-on-male hug." A sentence I hate so much I almost knocked a Button off the rating for.
That said, I did enjoy elements of the book. I particularly enjoyed the way the Children's powers work. They are each unique, and range from the mundane to the devastating. I liked that the powers had a downside to them, that prevented their over-use, the characters had to be careful using their powers or they would lose control. It was an interesting mechanic. I also enjoyed learning about the way society treats the Children of Nostradamus, and the interplay between government thugs and civil rights groups, something I would like to see explored further.
Final Thoughts…
I'm not sure, personally, if I would continue reading the series. My reason for this is that I'm not sure I could deal with the writing style, rather than the content itself. As such, you might find the writing suits you perfectly and enjoy this book a great deal, so I suppose you should give it a shot and find out.
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