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Sand Runner #1
Sand Runner
For fans of The Hunger Games and The Maze Runner comes a gripping new novel of action and suspense set in the world of extreme sports... SAND RUNNER.
Welcome to the No Limits Race.
In the near future, 16-year-old Kaiden Reed makes a bold and dangerous decision to enter the most brutal sports competition on the planet. One in which he will undergo a radical upgrade and become a new kind of athlete and a new kind of hero.
Part human. Part machine.
All Kai wants is a shot at a better life and to impress the girl of his dreams. But the stakes in the Race are higher, and the choices tougher, than Kai ever imagined. The physical challenges are just the beginning.
Ten days. Ten contenders. One winner.
Does Kai have what it takes to compete? How far will he go to win? And should he trust the person who recruited him in the first place - or is she using him to carry out a bold and dangerous agenda of her own?
Don't miss this action-packed new series - read SAND RUNNER now.
Welcome to the No Limits Race.
In the near future, 16-year-old Kaiden Reed makes a bold and dangerous decision to enter the most brutal sports competition on the planet. One in which he will undergo a radical upgrade and become a new kind of athlete and a new kind of hero.
Part human. Part machine.
All Kai wants is a shot at a better life and to impress the girl of his dreams. But the stakes in the Race are higher, and the choices tougher, than Kai ever imagined. The physical challenges are just the beginning.
Ten days. Ten contenders. One winner.
Does Kai have what it takes to compete? How far will he go to win? And should he trust the person who recruited him in the first place - or is she using him to carry out a bold and dangerous agenda of her own?
Don't miss this action-packed new series - read SAND RUNNER now.
249 pages, ebook
Published June 2, 2017
4 people are currently reading
2372 people want to read
About the author
Vera Brook
18 books143 followersVera Brook is a neuroscientist turned science fiction, fantasy, and romance writer. Her short fiction has appeared in Analog SF, Cast of Wonders, Factor Four Magazine, and Utopia SF, among other places. She is also the author of the Sand Runner Series (dystopian SF) and the Ever After Series (contemporary romance). Vera is a bookworm, and perpetually torn between reading books and writing them.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
September 5, 2017
Fantastic
I won this book after Goodreads giveaway.
I was astonished and blown away by every element of this book. It engulfed my every waking moment. When I wasn't reading this book I was thinking about it consumed me. The character development was amazing and these characters were easy to love. I can't wait to read the next book in the series. It is a perfect mix of laughter, determination, overcoming obstacles, love, and human nature. It is the perfect dystopian for any young adult readers.
It has multiple points of views but the main focus was Kai our Sand Runner. It is impossible to not fall in love with the kid from the beginning. He was easy to connect and relate to. It seems like his smile could easily melt my heart. I loved his sense of humanity and his eagerness to do the right thing. I just can't get over this book. I loved it so much.
My favorite moments were while Kai was training. You could see him change and evolve. It was quite the treat to watch him interact with the different characters and watch each relationship evolve.
It is going to be agonizing waiting for the next book. I just don't want to miss these characters. I will be recommending this book to all of my friends. I'm going to actually going to be screaming it from rooftops to anyone that might listen. I want to thank Goodreads and the author for offering the giveaway because I may have just found my new favorite series.
I won this book after Goodreads giveaway.
I was astonished and blown away by every element of this book. It engulfed my every waking moment. When I wasn't reading this book I was thinking about it consumed me. The character development was amazing and these characters were easy to love. I can't wait to read the next book in the series. It is a perfect mix of laughter, determination, overcoming obstacles, love, and human nature. It is the perfect dystopian for any young adult readers.
It has multiple points of views but the main focus was Kai our Sand Runner. It is impossible to not fall in love with the kid from the beginning. He was easy to connect and relate to. It seems like his smile could easily melt my heart. I loved his sense of humanity and his eagerness to do the right thing. I just can't get over this book. I loved it so much.
My favorite moments were while Kai was training. You could see him change and evolve. It was quite the treat to watch him interact with the different characters and watch each relationship evolve.
It is going to be agonizing waiting for the next book. I just don't want to miss these characters. I will be recommending this book to all of my friends. I'm going to actually going to be screaming it from rooftops to anyone that might listen. I want to thank Goodreads and the author for offering the giveaway because I may have just found my new favorite series.
August 27, 2017
This is the perfect mix of The Hunger Games, Maze Runner and Unwind- three of my favorite dystopian novels. After reading The Hunger Games, I've been on a quest to find another dystopian read that captures a similar flare and atmosphere while at the same time being unique. That's a tough order to fill, but Vera Brook nails it with Sand Runner.
Sand Runner is equal parts disturbing and fascinating, which is always a good mark on my literary report card. The world building is well done, although I worried at times that it was bordering on a similarity to what Suzanne Collins created, but it read true and believable. Great, strong characterization and I loved that Brook didn't shy away from the difficulties of enhancements, prosthetics and handicap. I read a lot of post-apoc and dystopian fiction and I love sequels; I'm looking forward to book 2 of Sand Runner more than any other book this year!
Sand Runner is equal parts disturbing and fascinating, which is always a good mark on my literary report card. The world building is well done, although I worried at times that it was bordering on a similarity to what Suzanne Collins created, but it read true and believable. Great, strong characterization and I loved that Brook didn't shy away from the difficulties of enhancements, prosthetics and handicap. I read a lot of post-apoc and dystopian fiction and I love sequels; I'm looking forward to book 2 of Sand Runner more than any other book this year!
Read
September 21, 2020My own book, so I'm biased. But I'm three books into this series, and it's a thrill to visit this world and hang out with these characters each time. If you pick it up, I hope you enjoy it!
June 8, 2017
I received this book from Goodreads.
Sand Runner immediately made me think of The Maze Runner . I was half afraid that this book would be a cheap ripoff of James Dashner's best seller.
I was wrong. I was so, so wrong.
Sand Runner is not a cheap imitation of The Maze Runner. Sand Runner is a book of it's own.
Sand Runner is in a league of it's own. This book is funny, imaginative, well written, heartfelt, suspenseful, creative, and so much fun to read. It was so easy to submerge myself into this world of life, death, and robotic legs that I read it as slowly as I possibly could. During the whole time I was reading it, I wished this book would stretch, lengthen, and never end. I knew I loved this book after page five and felt guilty for even assuming it'd copycat Maze Runner.
Granted, it has some similarity to The Hunger Games, but that made it all the better because I loved The Hunger Games.
I think I love Kia just as much as I do Katniss. Maybe more.
Vera Brook, you signed my copy, made me love your characters, and now you owe me a sequel.
Sand Runner immediately made me think of The Maze Runner . I was half afraid that this book would be a cheap ripoff of James Dashner's best seller.
I was wrong. I was so, so wrong.
Sand Runner is not a cheap imitation of The Maze Runner. Sand Runner is a book of it's own.
Sand Runner is in a league of it's own. This book is funny, imaginative, well written, heartfelt, suspenseful, creative, and so much fun to read. It was so easy to submerge myself into this world of life, death, and robotic legs that I read it as slowly as I possibly could. During the whole time I was reading it, I wished this book would stretch, lengthen, and never end. I knew I loved this book after page five and felt guilty for even assuming it'd copycat Maze Runner.
Granted, it has some similarity to The Hunger Games, but that made it all the better because I loved The Hunger Games.
I think I love Kia just as much as I do Katniss. Maybe more.
Vera Brook, you signed my copy, made me love your characters, and now you owe me a sequel.
April 26, 2017
***** 5 Cranky Stars *****
Once again, the gods of books blessed me with a gem just when I was thinking I was never going to give out those 5 sparkling stars!
This book reminded me of Hunger Games as well as LEGO Racers 4D (those in the know would understand!). Hunger Games because it’s about new world set in the future where live games of competitors trying to out-win one another no matter what is prime time viewing. LEGO racers because it is about a race and because of the terrain used in the book. Then that’s about the extent of the comparison because Sand Runner is a marvel in its own right.
The story is set in a dystopian world where everything can be made by 3D printers from food, clothing, furnishing - anything a designer imagines can be printed…as long as you have enough credits to pay for it. And that includes human parts.
We follow Kai, a vibrant young man who likes to run. In fact, he loves it so much that he runs in their local racing competition dreaming that one day he would win and get the girl of his dreams, Sara. Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined that he would be picked as a contender for the biggest racing competition, the No Limits Race.
Then one day, he got all three.
A mysterious agent named Emily recruited him using a rather unconventional approach. But Kai knew the stakes and accepted without batting an eyelid.
What followed next was like a whirlwind of activity it took my breath away! From Kai’s physical preparation for the Race, the rigorous training, the drama caused by the competition and even a budding romance for our unlikely hero.
I was so gripped by this story that I read it at every opportunity I could get. The excitement kept building and didn’t let up until the very end. The target readers are young adult. I’m young at heart and felt that did not matter at all. I was right there with Kai from the word go sharing his hardship, hunger, triumph and sorrow.
I loved Emily. She was the perfect agent. I would want somebody like her by my side had I been Kai. Andy and Neen were the best team mates and looked after Kai from the start.
Seriously, I can’t find any fault in this story. What’s more, it ended as a complete book without a cliff-hanger even though it said “Book 1”. I would definitely be looking forward to the next instalment in this series. Highly recommended.
November 30, 2020
I love indie authors, because they do things with a narrative that feel downright artistic. This book knows itself and presents itself strongly--it has a presence that comes from the author having thought through every last detail of the story she wants to tell. A rich world to get lost in.
The novel has a great pace, very easy to binge read, and is a great introduction to what I am certain is a great series. Our hero Kai makes compelling choices from start to end, and the training sequences with him were handled beautifully.
I don't want to give away the hooks and twists, so I won't, except to say that I'd never seen disability handled in this way and I found Brook's approach really intriguing. More generally, the care in writing and producing this book is phenomenal. If you like page-turning, well plotted action books, try this one.
Really well done. :)
The novel has a great pace, very easy to binge read, and is a great introduction to what I am certain is a great series. Our hero Kai makes compelling choices from start to end, and the training sequences with him were handled beautifully.
I don't want to give away the hooks and twists, so I won't, except to say that I'd never seen disability handled in this way and I found Brook's approach really intriguing. More generally, the care in writing and producing this book is phenomenal. If you like page-turning, well plotted action books, try this one.
Really well done. :)
March 8, 2018
The action and adrenaline of this story were consistent, and the backstory was decently developed. The language and violence makes it applicable to an older YA audience, but it was nice to read a title in the genre that bring something fresh as it tips its hat to other works (i.e., The Hunger Games & The Maze Runner).
May 27, 2017
I won this book on a Goodreads giveaway.
Having liked The Hunger Games, I couldn't pass up the chance to win and advance copy of Sand Runner, which I was fortunate enough to have won. In many ways Sand Runner is like a typical YA novel, but despite a few flaws, it stands out and (to me) outshines The Maze Runner.
Unlike many dystopian novels this story doesn't revolve around a vague natural or man-made disaster, in which a big brother-eqsue government/tyrant/king takes over and controls everyone. Instead this story presents us with a terrifying and plausible alternative: the take over of corporations and our complete reliance on technology.
In order for these companies to line their own pockets, they've pushed the use of 3D printing and like many corporations even now, they set trends that can push people to spend money in their favor. In this world, it isn't "fashionable" to fix things that are broken. It isn't illegal per-say but it is heavily frowned upon, instead you are encouraged to throw away the broken object and use the "allowance" you've been given to have a new one reprinted.
At first glance this might not seem so bad, a bit frivolous to the average reader perhaps, but nothing threatening. Until you realize just how badly its affected the average blue collar worker. With 3D printing in fashion and cheaper than paying someone to fix things, those poor souls who were already struggling to make ends meet working in construction, factories, or stores, suddenly found themselves jobless and forced out into the "forgotten fringes" of society, clawing and fighting each other for even the lowliest jobs while struggling to survive.
Eventually this frivolousness and convince leads to more "well-off" members of society to realize they can use this technology to cheaply print prosthetic limbs. And not only that, they realize they can use these prosthetic and their rapidly advancing technology to make themselves better. Similar to the manga Ghost in the Shell, people began experimenting by mixing prosthetic and technology together. Creating a society where being a cyborg is becoming the latest trend, while the unaware masses are actually allowing corporations to more easily manipulate them.
Much like the Hunger Games, this situation leads to desperate and disillusioned youths. Many of them are then sponsored by corporations to run in this dangerous race, just for a slim chance to make the lives of themselves and their loved ones better.
That's where our main character, Kaiden (Kai), comes in. Kai lives in one of these forgotten towns and is desperate to make life easier and impress the girl of his dreams. So when he's offered a place in the most popular and dangerous race*, he jumps on the chance. What better way to catch Sara's eye and possibly make life easier for everyone he cares about? Even though he knows his chances of winning, never mind survival, are slim.
*Imagine the Olympic running events being moved to a wild area with next to no civilization, filled with traps, and with no rules except that they have ten days to survive and be the first to cross the finish line to win.
Kai is a very interesting character, from the start we can get the sense that he's a "average" teenage boy: moody, daring, independent, defiant, and a bit naive. What I also liked about Kai (besides his realism) is that instead of being some sort of outcast in their small community (Katniss, for example), he has a lot of friends and is very social.
As the story continues and we get to know Kai a bit better the reader can begin to realize that under that aloof veneer, Kai (like most teenagers) cares deeply for his community and the people around him (his "family", as it were). So much so, he's willing to put his life in danger to be given the chance to help those he loves. And as the races push him to the limits, his motivations begin to evolve and mature.
He realizes the races aren't what they appear to be and that the races presented on TV in millions of peoples homes is actually a carefully "scripted" lie. There's forces behind the scenes that are pulling the strings of this race in order to get the results they believe will benefit their own agendas.
The story itself moves at a runners pace, the plot doesn't tend to linger too long in one place, but the author still found a way to add beautiful descriptions of Kai's surroundings without interrupting the flow of the story. There's enough description to get a "feel" for the world, and let your imagination fill in the blanks.
However, this pacing is what causes some flaws to begin to appear. There is a lot of POVs in this story, it switches frequently between people and while that maybe okay to some, it bothered me a little bit. This caused a bit of a "disconnect" between me and the characters, I felt like we never really got to know them very well because we couldn't "linger" with them longer. For example, we hear a lot about Kai's infatuation with Sara, but we never really get to hear or know much of anything about Sara. So some of Kai's (beginning) motivations for doing the race are left in the dark.
A lot of interesting characters are introduced and it was hinted on more than one occasion that these characters have deeper stories. That this seeming idyllic life they lived in inside the city, wasn't the utopia the media portrayed it to be.
But at the same time, I realize that writing backgrounds for all these characters would have taken up a lot of space and time. It would interrupt the action-packed pacing of the story and the races. Maybe in future installments, we'll get to know some of these people a little better.
This is definitely worth the read if you like YA books like The Hunger Games, The Maze Runner, and even 1984. The story is action-packed, fast paced, and full of interesting characters, and beautiful descriptions. This book transports you to a terrifyingly plausible dystopian world where the media and corporations collaborate to manipulate and control the masses to fulfill their own agendas and line their own pockets. We're given the prospective of the "average" teenage boy who realizes things aren't what they seem and is faced with difficult choices...
Does he fall into the fold and allow himself to be used and manipulated? Or does he fight against the odds and try to win on his own?
Having liked The Hunger Games, I couldn't pass up the chance to win and advance copy of Sand Runner, which I was fortunate enough to have won. In many ways Sand Runner is like a typical YA novel, but despite a few flaws, it stands out and (to me) outshines The Maze Runner.
Unlike many dystopian novels this story doesn't revolve around a vague natural or man-made disaster, in which a big brother-eqsue government/tyrant/king takes over and controls everyone. Instead this story presents us with a terrifying and plausible alternative: the take over of corporations and our complete reliance on technology.
In order for these companies to line their own pockets, they've pushed the use of 3D printing and like many corporations even now, they set trends that can push people to spend money in their favor. In this world, it isn't "fashionable" to fix things that are broken. It isn't illegal per-say but it is heavily frowned upon, instead you are encouraged to throw away the broken object and use the "allowance" you've been given to have a new one reprinted.
At first glance this might not seem so bad, a bit frivolous to the average reader perhaps, but nothing threatening. Until you realize just how badly its affected the average blue collar worker. With 3D printing in fashion and cheaper than paying someone to fix things, those poor souls who were already struggling to make ends meet working in construction, factories, or stores, suddenly found themselves jobless and forced out into the "forgotten fringes" of society, clawing and fighting each other for even the lowliest jobs while struggling to survive.
Eventually this frivolousness and convince leads to more "well-off" members of society to realize they can use this technology to cheaply print prosthetic limbs. And not only that, they realize they can use these prosthetic and their rapidly advancing technology to make themselves better. Similar to the manga Ghost in the Shell, people began experimenting by mixing prosthetic and technology together. Creating a society where being a cyborg is becoming the latest trend, while the unaware masses are actually allowing corporations to more easily manipulate them.
Much like the Hunger Games, this situation leads to desperate and disillusioned youths. Many of them are then sponsored by corporations to run in this dangerous race, just for a slim chance to make the lives of themselves and their loved ones better.
That's where our main character, Kaiden (Kai), comes in. Kai lives in one of these forgotten towns and is desperate to make life easier and impress the girl of his dreams. So when he's offered a place in the most popular and dangerous race*, he jumps on the chance. What better way to catch Sara's eye and possibly make life easier for everyone he cares about? Even though he knows his chances of winning, never mind survival, are slim.
*Imagine the Olympic running events being moved to a wild area with next to no civilization, filled with traps, and with no rules except that they have ten days to survive and be the first to cross the finish line to win.
Kai is a very interesting character, from the start we can get the sense that he's a "average" teenage boy: moody, daring, independent, defiant, and a bit naive. What I also liked about Kai (besides his realism) is that instead of being some sort of outcast in their small community (Katniss, for example), he has a lot of friends and is very social.
As the story continues and we get to know Kai a bit better the reader can begin to realize that under that aloof veneer, Kai (like most teenagers) cares deeply for his community and the people around him (his "family", as it were). So much so, he's willing to put his life in danger to be given the chance to help those he loves. And as the races push him to the limits, his motivations begin to evolve and mature.
He realizes the races aren't what they appear to be and that the races presented on TV in millions of peoples homes is actually a carefully "scripted" lie. There's forces behind the scenes that are pulling the strings of this race in order to get the results they believe will benefit their own agendas.
The story itself moves at a runners pace, the plot doesn't tend to linger too long in one place, but the author still found a way to add beautiful descriptions of Kai's surroundings without interrupting the flow of the story. There's enough description to get a "feel" for the world, and let your imagination fill in the blanks.
However, this pacing is what causes some flaws to begin to appear. There is a lot of POVs in this story, it switches frequently between people and while that maybe okay to some, it bothered me a little bit. This caused a bit of a "disconnect" between me and the characters, I felt like we never really got to know them very well because we couldn't "linger" with them longer. For example, we hear a lot about Kai's infatuation with Sara, but we never really get to hear or know much of anything about Sara. So some of Kai's (beginning) motivations for doing the race are left in the dark.
A lot of interesting characters are introduced and it was hinted on more than one occasion that these characters have deeper stories. That this seeming idyllic life they lived in inside the city, wasn't the utopia the media portrayed it to be.
But at the same time, I realize that writing backgrounds for all these characters would have taken up a lot of space and time. It would interrupt the action-packed pacing of the story and the races. Maybe in future installments, we'll get to know some of these people a little better.
This is definitely worth the read if you like YA books like The Hunger Games, The Maze Runner, and even 1984. The story is action-packed, fast paced, and full of interesting characters, and beautiful descriptions. This book transports you to a terrifyingly plausible dystopian world where the media and corporations collaborate to manipulate and control the masses to fulfill their own agendas and line their own pockets. We're given the prospective of the "average" teenage boy who realizes things aren't what they seem and is faced with difficult choices...
Does he fall into the fold and allow himself to be used and manipulated? Or does he fight against the odds and try to win on his own?
March 4, 2018
Vera Brook delivers a text that I would gladly add to my school library or classroom bookshelf. The book has notes of Maze Runner, The Hunger Games, and Divergent, while working in its own way. It would be a featured recommendation in my own middle grades/high school English class and, like many young adult books, grown ups can enjoy it as well. Recommended for readers looking for the next series that can draw in science fiction, fantasy, and dystopia.
January 15, 2018
So I won a copy of this book via Goodreads and the author! Thank you so much! I gave it a five star rating because it was definitely a great read and I enjoyed it! I’m not crazy into scifi but I like it if its good. This book jumped right in and just kept going. I thought the characters were great, the main ones were pretty developed and were interesting. The plot and all the action was great, I loved the suspense and the ending. My only downside would be that I feel like a lot of the world was unexplained, I would like to know more, but definitely not a count against the story!
I recommend it for all ya and scifi readers out there. 👍
I recommend it for all ya and scifi readers out there. 👍
April 16, 2020
Take a chance!!!
When I see, "For fans of the Hunger Games and the Maze Runner series," I don't believe the book they are comparing to those others will stand up to it. Boy o boy was I wrong. I absolutely love the Maze Runner series! And I really enjoyed the Hunger Games. So when I finally took a chance and read Sand Runner, I was kicking myself for taking so long to get to it!
You have the introduction of the characters. You learn a little about them, and then the race happens. It's a very well written tale, with some amazing science. I love the world, and the characters! I'm excited to see what happens in b#2.
Vera Brook is now one of my favorite authors.
When I see, "For fans of the Hunger Games and the Maze Runner series," I don't believe the book they are comparing to those others will stand up to it. Boy o boy was I wrong. I absolutely love the Maze Runner series! And I really enjoyed the Hunger Games. So when I finally took a chance and read Sand Runner, I was kicking myself for taking so long to get to it!
You have the introduction of the characters. You learn a little about them, and then the race happens. It's a very well written tale, with some amazing science. I love the world, and the characters! I'm excited to see what happens in b#2.
Vera Brook is now one of my favorite authors.
July 8, 2017
If you enjoyed The Hunger Games or The Maze Runner you'll likely enjoy this story set in a similarly dystopian world. A story that kept me wanting to turn the pages in a world that I found fascinating. I loved the roles of those supporting the runners (Agent, 3D Printers providing different legs for various race locales), the concept of the sponsors and the "The Running Man" meets Olympics coverage style television program for the races.
I am curious to learn more about the world that Kai and the runners and the contest operate, as well as to see where the author goes next in the series.
I am curious to learn more about the world that Kai and the runners and the contest operate, as well as to see where the author goes next in the series.
September 15, 2017
what a great book . I had fun with it from page one to page last fast pace great character development I cared for the characters cannot wait for book 2
March 15, 2023
Vera Brook's Sand Runner keeps up a heady and thrilling pace from start to finish with its fierce competition, corporate espionage, media circus, and a sweet slow-burn forbidden romance.
Memorable characters stake everything on the sensational televised No Limits Race involving cybernetic legs and shifting obstacle courses in extreme terrain--and the twists keep on coming, on and off the racetrack.
This is one of many books I rushed through and then spent too much time thinking how to do it justice in a review. It's an obvious page-turner to offer readers who enjoyed The Hunger Games. But I'd also heartily recommend it to those who didn't, because it’s less grim and because Brook is an excellent storyteller.
Brook shines in her character development and relationships, her uses of multiple points of view (easy to distinguish thanks to chapter headings), her unique impetus for a futuristic setting, and the sheer creativity of how her deadly competition is structured. She’s also got real flair when it comes to evocatively describing physical sensations that lends extra emotional heft.
Not to mention (no spoilers, I promise) this series kickoff had an ending that I didn't see coming and simply adored.
The deadly race is a great hook in itself: young folks with corporate sponsors (greedy and exploitative, of course) must run on cybernetic legs designed by elite engineers through obstacle courses made staggeringly difficult and perilous by shifting and unstable terrain. Not to mention needing to watch out for traps and ambushes by the most ruthless racers, like one of the corporate sponsor's own sons. And part of each Runner's score is based on the audience's vote that must be courted via multiple live interviews and “backstage footage” often aired without the racers’ permission.
Side note, though she doesn't appear often, the obsessive engineer of the cybernetic legs got me so invested that I almost wish Neen's narration had led off the entire story. Another surprising POV character was a reporter struggling with his personal ethics and I couldn’t wait to see how that turned out. I can’t recall a POV I didn’t enjoy returning to, so again kudos to Brook.
Our first main POV character is new Runner Kai, a teen lovable for his friendliness and optimism, grit, compassion, and unselfish plans to uplift his small town and the lives of his closest pals with his race winnings. I also cherished Kai for having led a rough life of poverty and loss without becoming embittered, or self-centered in "survival mode," or emotionally closed off to avoid being hurt again—on the contrary he and his found family keep each other grounded.
As a bonus for me, Kai matures in a few ways including realizing the shallow depth of his childhood crush fairly quickly so there’s no drawn-out love triangle. (As to whether I mean the shallow depth of the girl’s personality or of his own feelings…read it and see.)
My favorite character was Emily, Kai's teen trainer with a mysterious past who allows occasional flashes of compassion and vulnerability to show through her blunt, tough exterior. Her secretiveness about, among other details, what curtailed her plans to compete in the No Limits Race and put her in a wheelchair, leaves Kai intrigued and eager to break through her protective walls and get to know her. It also leaves his obviously untrustworthy and sinister corporate sponsor paranoid enough to spy on Emily for a hidden agenda.
(And yes, Emily is definitely embroiled in undercover shenanigans with a secret contact, that’s revealed early, and her tenuous position and shifting loyalties generate plenty of suspense.)
Final note, Brook's near future has been shaped by the ubiquity of 3D printing that can produce everything from a shoe to an entire house, and handcrafting and even repairs have become social taboos. It’s a creative inlet to a familiar form of dystopia where the wealth and resource gaps between the haves and have-nots are staggering in their breadth and injustice. Means aside, it’s a logical progression of the current wealth gaps and corporate overreach IMHO, and also a necessary hotbed to motivate various characters to participate in such gonzo, death-defying race challenges.
TL;DR: if you’re looking for a near-future thriller with a big heart, pick up Sand Runner and you’re off to the races!
WHEN A SERIES RUNS AWAY WITH YOUR IMAGINATION AND YOUR HEART, DON’T JUST STAY THE COURSE--BOOST THE SIGNAL!
Memorable characters stake everything on the sensational televised No Limits Race involving cybernetic legs and shifting obstacle courses in extreme terrain--and the twists keep on coming, on and off the racetrack.
This is one of many books I rushed through and then spent too much time thinking how to do it justice in a review. It's an obvious page-turner to offer readers who enjoyed The Hunger Games. But I'd also heartily recommend it to those who didn't, because it’s less grim and because Brook is an excellent storyteller.
Brook shines in her character development and relationships, her uses of multiple points of view (easy to distinguish thanks to chapter headings), her unique impetus for a futuristic setting, and the sheer creativity of how her deadly competition is structured. She’s also got real flair when it comes to evocatively describing physical sensations that lends extra emotional heft.
Not to mention (no spoilers, I promise) this series kickoff had an ending that I didn't see coming and simply adored.
The deadly race is a great hook in itself: young folks with corporate sponsors (greedy and exploitative, of course) must run on cybernetic legs designed by elite engineers through obstacle courses made staggeringly difficult and perilous by shifting and unstable terrain. Not to mention needing to watch out for traps and ambushes by the most ruthless racers, like one of the corporate sponsor's own sons. And part of each Runner's score is based on the audience's vote that must be courted via multiple live interviews and “backstage footage” often aired without the racers’ permission.
Side note, though she doesn't appear often, the obsessive engineer of the cybernetic legs got me so invested that I almost wish Neen's narration had led off the entire story. Another surprising POV character was a reporter struggling with his personal ethics and I couldn’t wait to see how that turned out. I can’t recall a POV I didn’t enjoy returning to, so again kudos to Brook.
Our first main POV character is new Runner Kai, a teen lovable for his friendliness and optimism, grit, compassion, and unselfish plans to uplift his small town and the lives of his closest pals with his race winnings. I also cherished Kai for having led a rough life of poverty and loss without becoming embittered, or self-centered in "survival mode," or emotionally closed off to avoid being hurt again—on the contrary he and his found family keep each other grounded.
As a bonus for me, Kai matures in a few ways including realizing the shallow depth of his childhood crush fairly quickly so there’s no drawn-out love triangle. (As to whether I mean the shallow depth of the girl’s personality or of his own feelings…read it and see.)
My favorite character was Emily, Kai's teen trainer with a mysterious past who allows occasional flashes of compassion and vulnerability to show through her blunt, tough exterior. Her secretiveness about, among other details, what curtailed her plans to compete in the No Limits Race and put her in a wheelchair, leaves Kai intrigued and eager to break through her protective walls and get to know her. It also leaves his obviously untrustworthy and sinister corporate sponsor paranoid enough to spy on Emily for a hidden agenda.
(And yes, Emily is definitely embroiled in undercover shenanigans with a secret contact, that’s revealed early, and her tenuous position and shifting loyalties generate plenty of suspense.)
Final note, Brook's near future has been shaped by the ubiquity of 3D printing that can produce everything from a shoe to an entire house, and handcrafting and even repairs have become social taboos. It’s a creative inlet to a familiar form of dystopia where the wealth and resource gaps between the haves and have-nots are staggering in their breadth and injustice. Means aside, it’s a logical progression of the current wealth gaps and corporate overreach IMHO, and also a necessary hotbed to motivate various characters to participate in such gonzo, death-defying race challenges.
TL;DR: if you’re looking for a near-future thriller with a big heart, pick up Sand Runner and you’re off to the races!
WHEN A SERIES RUNS AWAY WITH YOUR IMAGINATION AND YOUR HEART, DON’T JUST STAY THE COURSE--BOOST THE SIGNAL!
May 16, 2021
Sand Runner by Vera Brook is in the running for my favorite book of the year. With impressive character development, beautiful varied settings, and just the right amount of drama, I was entranced from page one.
In the near future, 16-year-old Kaiden Reed makes a bold and dangerous decision to enter the most brutal sports competition on the planet. One in which he will undergo a radical upgrade and become a new kind of athlete and a new kind of hero. Part human. Part machine. All Kai wants is a shot at a better life and to impress the girl of his dreams. But the stakes in the Race are higher, and the choices tougher than he ever imagined. The physical challenges are just the beginning.
This book was an adventure to end all adventures. Running for your life, wagers bet for or against you and everything depends on how well you perform. The team around you is invested in your victory and you must win at all costs. How do you feel? Saying Kai is overwhelmed is an understatement. Brook has effortlessly made the plot of this story flow like a gentle river and the reader is floating along with ease. The balance of drama, action and even romance is perfect and I can’t say enough about how immersed I was in the storyline. I also really liked how familiar this book felt but there was always something new or interesting included in the book that helped it stand apart from similar books.
I was very invested in Kai and Emily’s story. For the first time in a long time, the main character was my favorite! I always seem to like secondary characters for some reason, but this time Kaiden is my favorite. I love his temper, I love his determination. He is the definition of love hard. He does everything hard! Train hard! Run hard! Get mad hard! I loved it. He was so passionate and I was really glad Brook made the choice to make him hot-headed. All of his actions led to his growth so it was well worth it to watch him explode sometimes.
The world that Brook built was AMAZING. I think it was perfectly done. Going from setting to setting can be terrible in a book and lead to a ton of exposition, no action and just a boring book, but I loved every single new setting and location that was introduced. Brook does not let descriptions get in the way of the story and I love that. Just enough to get the gist, not more needed.
I loved the theme of perseverance in this book, not just the race aspect and how the runners had to really pull their strength from down deep, but also the main character has to keep working at his relationships, his growth and restraint throughout. Our main character, despite occasional temper tantrums, was always looking for a way to improve. He trained non-stop, he repaired broken communication and he pushed through some serious troubles. I love his drive.
This book was very easy to read. Brook used simple to understand concepts and word choices while also giving us a world that is nothing like what we’re used to. I was able to read through the book very quickly without any issues! If you like the Hunger Games and Maze Runner, you will LOVE this book.
In the near future, 16-year-old Kaiden Reed makes a bold and dangerous decision to enter the most brutal sports competition on the planet. One in which he will undergo a radical upgrade and become a new kind of athlete and a new kind of hero. Part human. Part machine. All Kai wants is a shot at a better life and to impress the girl of his dreams. But the stakes in the Race are higher, and the choices tougher than he ever imagined. The physical challenges are just the beginning.
This book was an adventure to end all adventures. Running for your life, wagers bet for or against you and everything depends on how well you perform. The team around you is invested in your victory and you must win at all costs. How do you feel? Saying Kai is overwhelmed is an understatement. Brook has effortlessly made the plot of this story flow like a gentle river and the reader is floating along with ease. The balance of drama, action and even romance is perfect and I can’t say enough about how immersed I was in the storyline. I also really liked how familiar this book felt but there was always something new or interesting included in the book that helped it stand apart from similar books.
I was very invested in Kai and Emily’s story. For the first time in a long time, the main character was my favorite! I always seem to like secondary characters for some reason, but this time Kaiden is my favorite. I love his temper, I love his determination. He is the definition of love hard. He does everything hard! Train hard! Run hard! Get mad hard! I loved it. He was so passionate and I was really glad Brook made the choice to make him hot-headed. All of his actions led to his growth so it was well worth it to watch him explode sometimes.
The world that Brook built was AMAZING. I think it was perfectly done. Going from setting to setting can be terrible in a book and lead to a ton of exposition, no action and just a boring book, but I loved every single new setting and location that was introduced. Brook does not let descriptions get in the way of the story and I love that. Just enough to get the gist, not more needed.
I loved the theme of perseverance in this book, not just the race aspect and how the runners had to really pull their strength from down deep, but also the main character has to keep working at his relationships, his growth and restraint throughout. Our main character, despite occasional temper tantrums, was always looking for a way to improve. He trained non-stop, he repaired broken communication and he pushed through some serious troubles. I love his drive.
This book was very easy to read. Brook used simple to understand concepts and word choices while also giving us a world that is nothing like what we’re used to. I was able to read through the book very quickly without any issues! If you like the Hunger Games and Maze Runner, you will LOVE this book.
May 20, 2017
Weaving the certainties and urgencies of young adult dystopia with the plausible nuances of adulthood, Brook creates science-fiction that speaks both to those seeking fast-paced teenage heroism and those seeking a more complex struggle.
In the near future, ubiquitous 3D printing has all but destroyed traditional industry, leaving many communities surviving on only their printing allowance. The leading sport is now running. However, not just any running: endurance racing through the harshest terrain. Sixteen-year-old Kaiden Reed is one of the best runners in his town; but no matter how fast he runs, he can’t escape his lack of prospects. Until a talent scout offers him a chance to compete in the most famous race of all, a race so hard that the competitors undergo radical cybernetic upgrades just to survive.
As with many young adult dystopias, this novel opens on a teenage protagonist in the resource-starved ruins of the modern world. However, here the transition to a bleaker world is both stated and plausible: in a society where anything that can be engineered once can be replicated endlessly, manufacturing and bulk transport cease to matter; creating a world where most of the jobs supporting infrastructure are wiped out at a stroke.
This sense of plausibility also pervades the neo-gladiatorial sport at the centre of the plot. While it isn’t possible now, advances in 3D printing could easily create a world where someone could create prosthetics designed to be stronger, faster, or more efficient at certain tasks than flesh and bone. And, once someone can rebuild themself to leap further, climb faster, or any other athletic pursuit, people will try to rebuild themselves to be better than that again, and corporations will be all too happy to pay for the research in exchange for having their name in every photo op and report.
However, this is not a dry text on future history. While Brook has created a blood-sport-obsessed dystopia that is more plausible than many, she mostly leaves the reader to infer the course of history from glimpses and asides. This leaves plenty of space for the traditional young adult threads of teen love and the underdog fighting against an unfair world.
While these threads make this book well suited to the core of the young adult market, Brook weaves them with the same skill that she used in world building. Young love burns bright, yet it remains only a part of the plot rather than intruding into movements of real threat; as such, readers are unlikely to find themselves wishing to bang characters heads together. Similarly, the corporate world is not some monolithic oppressor to be smashed, but rather a complex system that can bring good or bad.
Kaiden is an engaging character. While he begins as the poor yet talented contender from a disadvantaged area who is motivated by a pretty face rather than more mature concerns, Brook swiftly reveals him not to be a stereotype. Instead of preparing for and running the race, his greatest obstacles and victories are internal: finding ways to motivate himself when the girl he fancies isn’t there to see; deciding whether to take the comfort his new life might offer or stay true to his past; and facing how much he might be prepared to sacrifice to win.
The supporting cast are similarly complex characters rather than ciphers: his fellow runners aren’t evil, but they do have something more important to them than being decent; corporate support crews want their runners to be happy and healthy, until it risks their own chance at staying above the poverty line.
Overall, I enjoyed this novel. I recommend it to readers seeking fast-paced yet feasible young adult dystopian thriller.
I received a free copy from the author with a request for a fair review.
In the near future, ubiquitous 3D printing has all but destroyed traditional industry, leaving many communities surviving on only their printing allowance. The leading sport is now running. However, not just any running: endurance racing through the harshest terrain. Sixteen-year-old Kaiden Reed is one of the best runners in his town; but no matter how fast he runs, he can’t escape his lack of prospects. Until a talent scout offers him a chance to compete in the most famous race of all, a race so hard that the competitors undergo radical cybernetic upgrades just to survive.
As with many young adult dystopias, this novel opens on a teenage protagonist in the resource-starved ruins of the modern world. However, here the transition to a bleaker world is both stated and plausible: in a society where anything that can be engineered once can be replicated endlessly, manufacturing and bulk transport cease to matter; creating a world where most of the jobs supporting infrastructure are wiped out at a stroke.
This sense of plausibility also pervades the neo-gladiatorial sport at the centre of the plot. While it isn’t possible now, advances in 3D printing could easily create a world where someone could create prosthetics designed to be stronger, faster, or more efficient at certain tasks than flesh and bone. And, once someone can rebuild themself to leap further, climb faster, or any other athletic pursuit, people will try to rebuild themselves to be better than that again, and corporations will be all too happy to pay for the research in exchange for having their name in every photo op and report.
However, this is not a dry text on future history. While Brook has created a blood-sport-obsessed dystopia that is more plausible than many, she mostly leaves the reader to infer the course of history from glimpses and asides. This leaves plenty of space for the traditional young adult threads of teen love and the underdog fighting against an unfair world.
While these threads make this book well suited to the core of the young adult market, Brook weaves them with the same skill that she used in world building. Young love burns bright, yet it remains only a part of the plot rather than intruding into movements of real threat; as such, readers are unlikely to find themselves wishing to bang characters heads together. Similarly, the corporate world is not some monolithic oppressor to be smashed, but rather a complex system that can bring good or bad.
Kaiden is an engaging character. While he begins as the poor yet talented contender from a disadvantaged area who is motivated by a pretty face rather than more mature concerns, Brook swiftly reveals him not to be a stereotype. Instead of preparing for and running the race, his greatest obstacles and victories are internal: finding ways to motivate himself when the girl he fancies isn’t there to see; deciding whether to take the comfort his new life might offer or stay true to his past; and facing how much he might be prepared to sacrifice to win.
The supporting cast are similarly complex characters rather than ciphers: his fellow runners aren’t evil, but they do have something more important to them than being decent; corporate support crews want their runners to be happy and healthy, until it risks their own chance at staying above the poverty line.
Overall, I enjoyed this novel. I recommend it to readers seeking fast-paced yet feasible young adult dystopian thriller.
I received a free copy from the author with a request for a fair review.
May 29, 2022
Loved this book! That said, I was NOT this books target audience. Which may or may not contribute to my loving it so much. But I have only read one other YA dystopian novel series, 'The Partials' by Dan Wells (Loved that series as well). I was only vaguely familiar with the genre having no experience with other books which are compared to this one.
But I found 'The Sand Runner' very hard to put down, and when I did, I couldn't wait to pick it back up. The story was strong, as were the characters. Kai and Emily, as the protagonists, both had layers and learning experiences. I'd have to say Emily was probably a tad more in-depth as a character, but Kai was strong enough to hold the book together and keep it moving forward through his struggles and learning. I also enjoyed the format in which the story was told, with the added 'audio' recordings sprinkled in for deeper insight into the background and world behind Kai.
Like I said, I'm not normally a reader of YA, so there were times I had to take a step back and remind myself this book is technically meant for a younger audience, because it felt a little forced to me. For example, Kai's initial motivations for joining the race and how easy it was for him to 'give up' what he did for a girl. But by the end, I don't think Kai would have made the same choices because he'd grown. The book would have been different if the Kai, and Emily, from the end of the book actually started the book. And that's what you want for characters; to change and grow into themselves, especially at the YA level.
It will be interesting to see where these characters go in the next books in the series now that they've evolved.
But on top of that, the storyline and action were fast paced, written in a clean, smooth manner. And along with the short chapters, everything moved the story along at a proper action story pace.
I highly recommend.
But I found 'The Sand Runner' very hard to put down, and when I did, I couldn't wait to pick it back up. The story was strong, as were the characters. Kai and Emily, as the protagonists, both had layers and learning experiences. I'd have to say Emily was probably a tad more in-depth as a character, but Kai was strong enough to hold the book together and keep it moving forward through his struggles and learning. I also enjoyed the format in which the story was told, with the added 'audio' recordings sprinkled in for deeper insight into the background and world behind Kai.
Like I said, I'm not normally a reader of YA, so there were times I had to take a step back and remind myself this book is technically meant for a younger audience, because it felt a little forced to me. For example, Kai's initial motivations for joining the race and how easy it was for him to 'give up' what he did for a girl. But by the end, I don't think Kai would have made the same choices because he'd grown. The book would have been different if the Kai, and Emily, from the end of the book actually started the book. And that's what you want for characters; to change and grow into themselves, especially at the YA level.
It will be interesting to see where these characters go in the next books in the series now that they've evolved.
But on top of that, the storyline and action were fast paced, written in a clean, smooth manner. And along with the short chapters, everything moved the story along at a proper action story pace.
I highly recommend.
August 6, 2019
I used to love dystopian books, but I guess I'm getting burnt out on them. So many of them are the same -- they seem to go down a checklist of all items a dystopian story has to have.
Much like The Hunger Games, Sand Runner is set in the future when the vast majority of people are poor, and they enter a "blood sport" kind of thing to try to earn a better future. But, like Hunger Games and so many other dystopian stories, there's more to the sport than there seems to be -- it's a whole political/economic tactic.
For all this was a way, way too familiar story, I still mostly enjoyed it. While it did go down a checklist of dystopian story plot points, there was just enough of an interesting twist to keep me reading.
In the Sand Runner world, rich people are bored. Bored with being rich. Bored with being beautiful. (Gotta suspend belief a bit there, huh?) So they invent a new thing -- a race, making poor people run to try to win. But since good looking people are boring, they want more than that -- they want people melded with tech. So every poor person who enters the race has their legs cut off and replaced with tech. That's the point where I decided to finish this book, because that's a new (if horrible) idea.
I can't say the plot was anything new or great, but it was interesting enough that once we got to the leg cutting off part (early on), I never thought about not finishing the story. I really really did not like the romance in the book, and unfortunately that was a major part of the plot. Adding up all that, I really shouldn't have liked this book as much as I did, but it was sort of like empty enjoyment? I like dystopian, this was dystopian, thus I liked it even though the individual parts didn't work for me.
Much like The Hunger Games, Sand Runner is set in the future when the vast majority of people are poor, and they enter a "blood sport" kind of thing to try to earn a better future. But, like Hunger Games and so many other dystopian stories, there's more to the sport than there seems to be -- it's a whole political/economic tactic.
For all this was a way, way too familiar story, I still mostly enjoyed it. While it did go down a checklist of dystopian story plot points, there was just enough of an interesting twist to keep me reading.
In the Sand Runner world, rich people are bored. Bored with being rich. Bored with being beautiful. (Gotta suspend belief a bit there, huh?) So they invent a new thing -- a race, making poor people run to try to win. But since good looking people are boring, they want more than that -- they want people melded with tech. So every poor person who enters the race has their legs cut off and replaced with tech. That's the point where I decided to finish this book, because that's a new (if horrible) idea.
I can't say the plot was anything new or great, but it was interesting enough that once we got to the leg cutting off part (early on), I never thought about not finishing the story. I really really did not like the romance in the book, and unfortunately that was a major part of the plot. Adding up all that, I really shouldn't have liked this book as much as I did, but it was sort of like empty enjoyment? I like dystopian, this was dystopian, thus I liked it even though the individual parts didn't work for me.
June 1, 2017
Vera Brook's Sand Runner is a YA dystopian sci-fi thriller that will excite and intrigue you in equal measure. Brook's writing and world-building powers are impressive as we enter the near future where 3-D printing has overtaken the world in a strange and menacing way. Here meet Kai, a scrappy and ambitious runner in a small desert town. He's living a quiet life, trying to be the big fish in a small pond and to impress the girl of his dreams, Sara.
But Kai's running makes an impression on more than just the girl next door. He impresses Emily, a mysterious Agent, a scout and representative for a life-changing Race that reaps huge cash rewards; she brings him to the training center where his legs are replaced with the best prosthetic legs that science can design. Kai's training and the growth that follows are filled with intrigue as he learns to work the Race system and grow out of his childish crush as he becomes infatuated with the formidable and mysterious Emily. I particularly enjoyed the Emily character and we do get little insights into her life through a dialogue with the mysterious "Mentor" figure - although I would have happily read a whole book about her (and with a sequel on the horizon, my fingers are crossed). The secrets of the race, Emily's past and Kai's challenges as he attempt to beat the system will keep you turning the pages and you'll root for his win against the odds. Sand Runner has a strong premise, a vivid original world, great writing and memorable characters - I can't wait for the sequel!
Note: I received an advance copy of this book in return for an honest review.
But Kai's running makes an impression on more than just the girl next door. He impresses Emily, a mysterious Agent, a scout and representative for a life-changing Race that reaps huge cash rewards; she brings him to the training center where his legs are replaced with the best prosthetic legs that science can design. Kai's training and the growth that follows are filled with intrigue as he learns to work the Race system and grow out of his childish crush as he becomes infatuated with the formidable and mysterious Emily. I particularly enjoyed the Emily character and we do get little insights into her life through a dialogue with the mysterious "Mentor" figure - although I would have happily read a whole book about her (and with a sequel on the horizon, my fingers are crossed). The secrets of the race, Emily's past and Kai's challenges as he attempt to beat the system will keep you turning the pages and you'll root for his win against the odds. Sand Runner has a strong premise, a vivid original world, great writing and memorable characters - I can't wait for the sequel!
Note: I received an advance copy of this book in return for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 3, 2017
Superficial , predictable, just skip it.
As a fan of dystopian fiction, I was excited to read this book, but now I wish I hadn't wasted my time.
The characters were likable but I didn't end up caring about any of them.
It all was very superficial like just trying to draw in the lines or check off all the boxes for a good dystopian read and thus lacked depth.
And really everything you prepared for ...like 4 things all happened in the Race? Like are there no surprises?
The only curious thing was about Emily and it didn't get answered in this book and honestly I don't care enough about her to read the next book that might answer the questions regarding her character. Oh well.
As a fan of dystopian fiction, I was excited to read this book, but now I wish I hadn't wasted my time.
The characters were likable but I didn't end up caring about any of them.
It all was very superficial like just trying to draw in the lines or check off all the boxes for a good dystopian read and thus lacked depth.
And really everything you prepared for ...like 4 things all happened in the Race? Like are there no surprises?
The only curious thing was about Emily and it didn't get answered in this book and honestly I don't care enough about her to read the next book that might answer the questions regarding her character. Oh well.
June 27, 2017
Gee I enjoyed this book. I preordered it for 99 cents because I really like the Maze Runner books and Hunger Games, etc. I was absolutely not disappointed and read this at every opportunity. I thought it was for a young adult audience but I found myself engrossed in the main character Kai and everything he had to go through. It was quite shocking what he agreed to do to go in the race and the author's imagination in coming up with different scenarios for each race was fascinating. Definitely recommend this book and hope the second one doesn't take too long (says every reader, ever!)
May 2, 2021
The world building in this book is excellent, the characters are believable, and the story is intense and engrossing.
I enjoyed the writing style of the author and Kai was a fabulous hero with his skill, courage, and determination. The secondary characters were also well-depicted and integrated perfectly in the story line. The fast pacing worked well with the events occurring throughout the story, keeping the reader “pumped up” and excited at where the story would plunge next. Grab your copy and enjoy the thrill and danger! This book is well-written, and I'm looking forward to Book 2.
I enjoyed the writing style of the author and Kai was a fabulous hero with his skill, courage, and determination. The secondary characters were also well-depicted and integrated perfectly in the story line. The fast pacing worked well with the events occurring throughout the story, keeping the reader “pumped up” and excited at where the story would plunge next. Grab your copy and enjoy the thrill and danger! This book is well-written, and I'm looking forward to Book 2.
December 10, 2018
Another dystopian young adult novel in which teens compete against each other. This one throws in a bit of rather physically gross enhancement, but saves itself by showing that in the end caring and wisdom win. If you like Hunger Games you will like this novels. But unlike Hunger Games more happens off the course than on it.
July 4, 2017
Was not disappointed at all. I enjoyed the book from cover to cover. I thought maze runner was good but this is like maze runner 3.0. The idea of man mix with machine is always amazing. This will keep you entertained and wanting more.
June 20, 2017
This book is pretty cool. Recently I have been getting into science fiction and actually found this fairly enjoyable. Definitely recommend.
September 16, 2017
Goodreads win review. I really enjoyed reading this book, in my opinion it was a mix between The Maze Runner and the Hunger Games. I would definitely purchase the next book in the series.
October 4, 2020
read a preview and don't think I'll be interested in reading it
January 22, 2022
I enjoyed this book. I found the character growth really well done and the ending wasn't what I expected it to be.
April 18, 2023
Good read. I look forward to reading the rest of the series. Frankly, I look forward to reading anything by Vera Brook.
Thank you!
Thank you!
April 1, 2017
Synopsis
Sand Runner is Vera Brook’s debut novel and follows the story of Kai, a teenage boy growing up in a dystopian future where the world of athletics has taken a dark turn. In Brook’s futuristic landscape, 3D printing is used to create virtually everything, including houses and food. Her novel paints an amplified picture of our throw-away society and feels like a warning for our not too distant future.
In Kai’s world, it has become a social faux pas to talk about repairing anything. If something breaks, don’t fix it, print a new one! That includes body parts. For the right price, 3D printing can give you upgrades on everything, including your face, your hands—your feet.
Enter the athletes. The Olympics are long forgotten. It’s all about the No Limits Race. Sponsors seek out athletic talent and offer them a chance to compete in a 10-day race through various environments, designed to take the runners to the extreme. Here’s the rub: every participant must go through “modifications” in the form of bionic surgeries, turning them into cyborg super-humans. So, it’s no surprise that the sponsors all work for 3D printing companies. In the Race, everyone has an ulterior motive.
Marketed as a YA dystopian sci-fi, Sand Runner should appeal to fans of books like The Hunger Games and Uglies.
Review
Vera Brook’s story is easy to read and well-written. Its style of writing follows suit with other contemporary YA novels. The language gets straight to the point. There’s plenty of action from the beginning, and the pace kicks into high gear when the Race begins. Brook introduces us to a solid male lead in Kai. He has his flaws, his inflated ego being one of them, but it’s probably his obsession with the most popular girl in town that makes him more believable. YA novels often feature awkward, social outcasts as their heroes. So, it’s refreshing to read about an average teenage boy who is confident, surrounds himself with plenty of friends, and is ruled by testosterone more than anything.
However, Brook’s characters lack depth. There are occasions when her attention to pacing wins over character development; therefore, the reader loses out on spending more quality time with the heroes, Kai and Emily. Perhaps it’s because there are too many points of view: the Runner, the Agent, the Sponsor, the Reporter and the Printmaker, and the narrative is spread too thin. So, the enrichment of Kai and Emily, as well as their romance, fall short of what they deserve.
But, on the whole, Brook’s novel is a good read. She takes the time to describe stunning settings in detail (Kai’s desert town, for example) without disrupting the flow of her narrative. And her story, as applies to most of the dystopian variety, serves as a means for social commentary and holds a mirror to our society. That aside, it stands on its own as an engaging novel. It has the makings of a great series, and I’ll probably be purchasing Vera Brook’s next adventure.
Sand Runner is Vera Brook’s debut novel and follows the story of Kai, a teenage boy growing up in a dystopian future where the world of athletics has taken a dark turn. In Brook’s futuristic landscape, 3D printing is used to create virtually everything, including houses and food. Her novel paints an amplified picture of our throw-away society and feels like a warning for our not too distant future.
In Kai’s world, it has become a social faux pas to talk about repairing anything. If something breaks, don’t fix it, print a new one! That includes body parts. For the right price, 3D printing can give you upgrades on everything, including your face, your hands—your feet.
Enter the athletes. The Olympics are long forgotten. It’s all about the No Limits Race. Sponsors seek out athletic talent and offer them a chance to compete in a 10-day race through various environments, designed to take the runners to the extreme. Here’s the rub: every participant must go through “modifications” in the form of bionic surgeries, turning them into cyborg super-humans. So, it’s no surprise that the sponsors all work for 3D printing companies. In the Race, everyone has an ulterior motive.
Marketed as a YA dystopian sci-fi, Sand Runner should appeal to fans of books like The Hunger Games and Uglies.
Review
Vera Brook’s story is easy to read and well-written. Its style of writing follows suit with other contemporary YA novels. The language gets straight to the point. There’s plenty of action from the beginning, and the pace kicks into high gear when the Race begins. Brook introduces us to a solid male lead in Kai. He has his flaws, his inflated ego being one of them, but it’s probably his obsession with the most popular girl in town that makes him more believable. YA novels often feature awkward, social outcasts as their heroes. So, it’s refreshing to read about an average teenage boy who is confident, surrounds himself with plenty of friends, and is ruled by testosterone more than anything.
However, Brook’s characters lack depth. There are occasions when her attention to pacing wins over character development; therefore, the reader loses out on spending more quality time with the heroes, Kai and Emily. Perhaps it’s because there are too many points of view: the Runner, the Agent, the Sponsor, the Reporter and the Printmaker, and the narrative is spread too thin. So, the enrichment of Kai and Emily, as well as their romance, fall short of what they deserve.
But, on the whole, Brook’s novel is a good read. She takes the time to describe stunning settings in detail (Kai’s desert town, for example) without disrupting the flow of her narrative. And her story, as applies to most of the dystopian variety, serves as a means for social commentary and holds a mirror to our society. That aside, it stands on its own as an engaging novel. It has the makings of a great series, and I’ll probably be purchasing Vera Brook’s next adventure.
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