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M.A.B.E.T.
Korku bir hapishanedir. Dehşetin asla bitmediği yer.
Manchester sokaklarına bir korku hâkimdi:Bir kız kaybolmuştu.
Preston, kaybolan arkadaşını ararken şehri incelemeye, keşfetmeye başladı. Gizli bir bilim laboratuvarının derinliklerinde, suç işleyen çocukları uzaklaştıran kötücül bir makine buldu. Bu devasa yere hapsedilen ve cezaya çarptırılan Preston, kaçmakta kararlıydı. Fakat mahsur kaldığı yer, sıradan bir hapishane değildi.
Özgürlük, intikam ve devrim için verilen bu doludizgin savaşta arkadaşliklar kurulacak ve hayatlar kaybedilecek.
Manchester Üniversitesi’nde İngiliz Edebiyatı okumuş olan M. A. Griffin, Manchester’da bir okulda öğretmenlik yapmaktadır. Eskiden sınıf öğretmenliği, kütüphanecilik ve Fransa ile İspanya’da minibüs şoförcülüğü yapan yazarın MABET romanı, genç yetişkinler için yazdığı ilk eseridir.
Manchester sokaklarına bir korku hâkimdi:Bir kız kaybolmuştu.
Preston, kaybolan arkadaşını ararken şehri incelemeye, keşfetmeye başladı. Gizli bir bilim laboratuvarının derinliklerinde, suç işleyen çocukları uzaklaştıran kötücül bir makine buldu. Bu devasa yere hapsedilen ve cezaya çarptırılan Preston, kaçmakta kararlıydı. Fakat mahsur kaldığı yer, sıradan bir hapishane değildi.
Özgürlük, intikam ve devrim için verilen bu doludizgin savaşta arkadaşliklar kurulacak ve hayatlar kaybedilecek.
Manchester Üniversitesi’nde İngiliz Edebiyatı okumuş olan M. A. Griffin, Manchester’da bir okulda öğretmenlik yapmaktadır. Eskiden sınıf öğretmenliği, kütüphanecilik ve Fransa ile İspanya’da minibüs şoförcülüğü yapan yazarın MABET romanı, genç yetişkinler için yazdığı ilk eseridir.
264 pages, Paperback
First published April 7, 2016
14 people are currently reading
472 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
January 15, 2024
Particularly pertinent in current political climate, this fresh Middle-Grade mystery-adventure is a phenomenally fantastic read for all ages. Mace may be a bit of a conspiracy theorist, but when weird news of missing teens and strange sights at night hits close to home, even practical Preston is pulled in. Also….he is pretty sure he is partly to blame for the most recent disappearances.
Attempting to trace Alice’s steps, Preston walks the night streets of Manchester and senses a spooky truth to the recent rumors. He enlists Mace to delve deeper and the two stumble onto a pseudo-futuristic-sci-fi scene. Children are trapped in a prison prototype with dwindling supplies and absolutely no way out. The only way in, is scheduled to be permanently shut down in less than twenty-four hours.
The juvenile delinquents are not completely alone. One young lady is the daughter of a recently deceased politician, her “crime”: doubting that her father’s death was an accident. She is not going down until the guilty party pays. Two Urban Explorers snuck into the prison to help facilitate an escape and two workers who never wanted their creations to be used in this manner will fight for freedom.
The story plays out in a matter of days; the pace is very quick and quite captivating. A bit of sharp wit, an unexpected kindness keeps the book from becoming bleak. Many questions are answered, but nothing is too pat; there’s plenty to think on…..in a sneaky kind of way.
This review was written for Buried Under Books by jv poore.
Attempting to trace Alice’s steps, Preston walks the night streets of Manchester and senses a spooky truth to the recent rumors. He enlists Mace to delve deeper and the two stumble onto a pseudo-futuristic-sci-fi scene. Children are trapped in a prison prototype with dwindling supplies and absolutely no way out. The only way in, is scheduled to be permanently shut down in less than twenty-four hours.
The juvenile delinquents are not completely alone. One young lady is the daughter of a recently deceased politician, her “crime”: doubting that her father’s death was an accident. She is not going down until the guilty party pays. Two Urban Explorers snuck into the prison to help facilitate an escape and two workers who never wanted their creations to be used in this manner will fight for freedom.
The story plays out in a matter of days; the pace is very quick and quite captivating. A bit of sharp wit, an unexpected kindness keeps the book from becoming bleak. Many questions are answered, but nothing is too pat; there’s plenty to think on…..in a sneaky kind of way.
This review was written for Buried Under Books by jv poore.
February 7, 2017
It's tough to pinpoint exactly what type of book Lifers actually is. I lean towards a mystery or thriller, but in fact this book is kind of a genre mash-up. Take a bit of dystopia, some science fiction, a dash of mystery, shake it all up and you'll have Lifers at the end. This story defies categorization, and it was honestly kind of refreshing in a way.
Now, I feel it only fair to let all readers out there know that this book is written in third person. After much practice, I've learned to connect better with this type of writing. I do know that it is difficult for some people to feel fully immersed though. The saving grace is that Griffin does an excellent job of putting you right inside Preston's head. From the very first moment that he stumbles upon the mystery surrounding Alice's disappearance, it's easy to follow along with him. Despite anything else, Preston's ability to problem solve and keep calm under pressure is a constant.
As for the story itself, I was actually quite impressed with the way it was laid out. It's tough to share too much without spoilers, but there's a really clever basis to all the madness that Preston gets wrapped up in. I was intrigued by the science fiction portion of this story. The idea of being lost somewhere beyond. The concept of being so far from any type of help that it feels hopeless. I would have definitely liked to see more character build up, but the story kept me rapt.
If the beginning of this book seems a little slow, keep at it. Once I reached the middle, I was so wholly impressed with the way that things were being strategically laid out, and the build up to the ending honestly had me breathless with anticipation. Preston's wild misadventure ended up being something that I wasn't expecting, but was really glad I read. If you're looking for the type of story that doesn't fit nicely into a genre, and will challenge your mind, this is what you're looking for.
Now, I feel it only fair to let all readers out there know that this book is written in third person. After much practice, I've learned to connect better with this type of writing. I do know that it is difficult for some people to feel fully immersed though. The saving grace is that Griffin does an excellent job of putting you right inside Preston's head. From the very first moment that he stumbles upon the mystery surrounding Alice's disappearance, it's easy to follow along with him. Despite anything else, Preston's ability to problem solve and keep calm under pressure is a constant.
As for the story itself, I was actually quite impressed with the way it was laid out. It's tough to share too much without spoilers, but there's a really clever basis to all the madness that Preston gets wrapped up in. I was intrigued by the science fiction portion of this story. The idea of being lost somewhere beyond. The concept of being so far from any type of help that it feels hopeless. I would have definitely liked to see more character build up, but the story kept me rapt.
If the beginning of this book seems a little slow, keep at it. Once I reached the middle, I was so wholly impressed with the way that things were being strategically laid out, and the build up to the ending honestly had me breathless with anticipation. Preston's wild misadventure ended up being something that I wasn't expecting, but was really glad I read. If you're looking for the type of story that doesn't fit nicely into a genre, and will challenge your mind, this is what you're looking for.
May 10, 2020
Bir ergen kitabı olduğunu nereden bilebilirdim ki?
Konusu için çok değişik diyemeyeceğim. Daha önce okuduğum Fırın (Furnace) serisini inanılmaz anımsattı.
Onda da ergenler başrolde. Onda da suç işleyen çocuklar bir yete atılıyor. Düşündüğümden çok daha benziyorlar.
Kitap biraz daha günlük konuşma tarzıyla yazılmış. Rahatsız edici seviyede değil ama mevcut.
Kitabı okurken çok içine çekilemedim ve olayın sonunu çok merak etmedim. O yüzden ortalama altı diyorum. Okumasanız da olur diyorum.
Konusu için çok değişik diyemeyeceğim. Daha önce okuduğum Fırın (Furnace) serisini inanılmaz anımsattı.
Onda da ergenler başrolde. Onda da suç işleyen çocuklar bir yete atılıyor. Düşündüğümden çok daha benziyorlar.
Kitap biraz daha günlük konuşma tarzıyla yazılmış. Rahatsız edici seviyede değil ama mevcut.
Kitabı okurken çok içine çekilemedim ve olayın sonunu çok merak etmedim. O yüzden ortalama altı diyorum. Okumasanız da olur diyorum.
November 17, 2017
Genre - Young Adult/Alternative History/Thriller
Publication Date - April 7, 2016
Format - Paperback
Pages - 352
Stars - 🌟🌟🌟
“Lifers” by M.A. Griffin was a bit of a miss for me. I had a very hard time following the storyline and I was not quite sure how to categorize this in any one genre as it was a mash of a few different genres. The story was slow and lacked continuity in my opinion. I understand that sometime the story will not come together until later in the book, but this one only got exciting for me towards the end when it started to make sense to me as to what was going on. I would have liked to have know more about the world that exists below ground and the backstory of some of the more prominent characters. It is a very interesting concept but just missed the mark for me.
Synopsis (from back cover): Fear haunts the streets of Preston's city: a girl has disappeared. Preston is drawn to investigate, exploring the city in the hunt for his missing friend. And deep in the bowels of a secret scientific institute, he discovers a sinister machine used to banish teenage criminals for their offenses.
Captured and condemned to a cavernous dimension, Preston is determined to escape. But this is no ordinary jail. Friendships will be forged and lives will be lost in a reckless battle for freedom, revenge--and revolution.
Publication Date - April 7, 2016
Format - Paperback
Pages - 352
Stars - 🌟🌟🌟
“Lifers” by M.A. Griffin was a bit of a miss for me. I had a very hard time following the storyline and I was not quite sure how to categorize this in any one genre as it was a mash of a few different genres. The story was slow and lacked continuity in my opinion. I understand that sometime the story will not come together until later in the book, but this one only got exciting for me towards the end when it started to make sense to me as to what was going on. I would have liked to have know more about the world that exists below ground and the backstory of some of the more prominent characters. It is a very interesting concept but just missed the mark for me.
Synopsis (from back cover): Fear haunts the streets of Preston's city: a girl has disappeared. Preston is drawn to investigate, exploring the city in the hunt for his missing friend. And deep in the bowels of a secret scientific institute, he discovers a sinister machine used to banish teenage criminals for their offenses.
Captured and condemned to a cavernous dimension, Preston is determined to escape. But this is no ordinary jail. Friendships will be forged and lives will be lost in a reckless battle for freedom, revenge--and revolution.
February 6, 2017
3.5 Stars
Lifers is a unique young adult novel that blends elements of several genres together to create something fresh and new. I wasn't quite sure what to think going in to the book - the description was pretty vague, but it sounded interesting. It took me a little while to get into the story. The book is told from the third person point of view - and if you've read any of my other reviews, you'll know that I'm not a big fan of this style. It was a bit hard to connect with the characters, especially Preston (the main character), because of the POV. Personally, I think it hindered my reading experience more than I thought it would, but this is purely my own preference and other readers won't have the same issue. The author also uses a lot of flashbacks and memories throughout the novel - which I normally don't mind - but due to the POV, I just couldn't connect with them. If the story had been told from the first person perspective, I truly believe it would have been a whole different story for me. Again - just my own opinion.
The plot of the story was intricate and did a fantastic job of weaving together several genres. There's a bit of something for everyone - mystery, dystopia, contemporary, suspense/thriller, science fiction, action and adventure. I have to give props to the author for doing such a fantastic job of meshing all of these genres together and then make it incredibly fascinating. The story line had several layers and I enjoyed trying to figure things out before they happened - even though most of the time I was wrong. The author uses lots of detailed descriptions and vivid imagery to really bring the characters and the plot to life. I definitely recommend it to readers who enjoy all types of fiction and for those looking for something different than what's out there right now.
Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Lifers is a unique young adult novel that blends elements of several genres together to create something fresh and new. I wasn't quite sure what to think going in to the book - the description was pretty vague, but it sounded interesting. It took me a little while to get into the story. The book is told from the third person point of view - and if you've read any of my other reviews, you'll know that I'm not a big fan of this style. It was a bit hard to connect with the characters, especially Preston (the main character), because of the POV. Personally, I think it hindered my reading experience more than I thought it would, but this is purely my own preference and other readers won't have the same issue. The author also uses a lot of flashbacks and memories throughout the novel - which I normally don't mind - but due to the POV, I just couldn't connect with them. If the story had been told from the first person perspective, I truly believe it would have been a whole different story for me. Again - just my own opinion.
The plot of the story was intricate and did a fantastic job of weaving together several genres. There's a bit of something for everyone - mystery, dystopia, contemporary, suspense/thriller, science fiction, action and adventure. I have to give props to the author for doing such a fantastic job of meshing all of these genres together and then make it incredibly fascinating. The story line had several layers and I enjoyed trying to figure things out before they happened - even though most of the time I was wrong. The author uses lots of detailed descriptions and vivid imagery to really bring the characters and the plot to life. I definitely recommend it to readers who enjoy all types of fiction and for those looking for something different than what's out there right now.
Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
May 6, 2016
3.5/5
REVIEW BY BETH
Manchester is one of my favourite places and a former home and so when I read the synopsis of Lifers I was drawn in by this element most of all. Preston’s Manchester though, is not much like the one I spent a few years living in and the world Griffin has created is fascinating if a little complicated to get your head around (or my head around at the very least!)
It begins quite normally, bits of Manchester which are easily recognisable by anybody who knows the city are seen but it is soon skewed into an alternative place and a dark, sinister place where a foreboding scientific discovery and a dangerous machine play a key role.
I was initially drawn into the novel, I needed to find out what Preston was hiding and why and also what this mysterious thing he had discovered was but unfortunately the pace of the novel was a little slow and it took longer to get into than I had hoped for. It is a novel which certainly asks plenty of questions and nudges you to read on to find out what might be around the next corner. Griffin’s idea of combining a gritty real world setting with a dystopian sci-fi plot is clever and it works on many levels.
The characters don’t all appeal and I was frustrated with more than one and as more and more are thrown into the mix this is where it gets a little more complex and I found myself regularly trying to remember who was who, what they had done and why they were there. This novel did suffer from the middle not being as captivating as the beginning or end and if I hadn’t needed to get answers I may not have made it to the end!
My love for Manchester and curiosity about what was actually going on kept me hooked and I found Griffin’s style engaging for the most part. I think perhaps I just wanted a little more action a little more quickly.
REVIEW BY BETH
Manchester is one of my favourite places and a former home and so when I read the synopsis of Lifers I was drawn in by this element most of all. Preston’s Manchester though, is not much like the one I spent a few years living in and the world Griffin has created is fascinating if a little complicated to get your head around (or my head around at the very least!)
It begins quite normally, bits of Manchester which are easily recognisable by anybody who knows the city are seen but it is soon skewed into an alternative place and a dark, sinister place where a foreboding scientific discovery and a dangerous machine play a key role.
I was initially drawn into the novel, I needed to find out what Preston was hiding and why and also what this mysterious thing he had discovered was but unfortunately the pace of the novel was a little slow and it took longer to get into than I had hoped for. It is a novel which certainly asks plenty of questions and nudges you to read on to find out what might be around the next corner. Griffin’s idea of combining a gritty real world setting with a dystopian sci-fi plot is clever and it works on many levels.
The characters don’t all appeal and I was frustrated with more than one and as more and more are thrown into the mix this is where it gets a little more complex and I found myself regularly trying to remember who was who, what they had done and why they were there. This novel did suffer from the middle not being as captivating as the beginning or end and if I hadn’t needed to get answers I may not have made it to the end!
My love for Manchester and curiosity about what was actually going on kept me hooked and I found Griffin’s style engaging for the most part. I think perhaps I just wanted a little more action a little more quickly.
April 11, 2016
Lifers was a book I heard about from the publicist, and I looked forward to reading this one. But when I began reading I struggled. The first few pages drew me in, but as the story progressed I found myself getting distracted and picking up others books. With a clear weekend I made the decision to pick this one up again, and not move until I had finished, or at least made it further into the book.
On my second go at reading Lifers, I did mange to finish the book, but it wasn't an easy journey. The beginning of the book really held my attention, I loved the whole idea of the Kepler Valve and ending up somewhere else,...but obviously not for the reasons people are there for. About half way through the book I did struggle. There was an influx of characters and I found it hard to really pinpoint who was who and what they were there for. Towards the end of the book however, it picked up again, and I really found myself enjoying it again.
Lifers is a book full of mystery and definitely keeps you in suspense, wondering what will happen next. I did have really mixed feelings about this book, there were parts that I really found fascinating and moments where I was easily distracted. The characters were somewhat likeable, occasionally annoying with thier actions at certain points.
Final Verdict
Lifers was a likeable book, although I did enjoy parts of it, it just didn't click with me 100%
On my second go at reading Lifers, I did mange to finish the book, but it wasn't an easy journey. The beginning of the book really held my attention, I loved the whole idea of the Kepler Valve and ending up somewhere else,...but obviously not for the reasons people are there for. About half way through the book I did struggle. There was an influx of characters and I found it hard to really pinpoint who was who and what they were there for. Towards the end of the book however, it picked up again, and I really found myself enjoying it again.
Lifers is a book full of mystery and definitely keeps you in suspense, wondering what will happen next. I did have really mixed feelings about this book, there were parts that I really found fascinating and moments where I was easily distracted. The characters were somewhat likeable, occasionally annoying with thier actions at certain points.
Final Verdict
Lifers was a likeable book, although I did enjoy parts of it, it just didn't click with me 100%
February 18, 2017
First sentence: It must have been quiet for him to hear the rattling.
Premise/plot: Lifers is a premise-driven science fiction novel for young adults set in Manchester, England. Since it's premise-driven, it's key to know about the premise before picking it up! A secret agency (society?) has found a new way to deal with young delinquents they want off the streets. The solution to send them BTV, beyond the valve. They send them underground, perhaps to another dimension? Regardless, it's a one-way ordeal. There's no coming back if you're a prisoner. Those sent BTV have not been prosecuted and found guilty; they've just disappeared from the system completely. Preston and his friend Mace are investigating very, very vague clues left behind by their friend, Alice, who has disappeared. Alice started investigating because one of her friends, Ryan, disappeared without a trace. And chances are Ryan started investigating because one of his friends disappeared. Curiosity is risky in Lifers. The greater the risk, the greater the reward? Possibly.
My thoughts: The premise was a little over my head. Okay, the premise was a LOT over my head. Much of it depends on world-building. And the author certainly did that. Unfortunately, for me, I really need a connection with the characters to enjoy a book and get excited about it. I didn't care for the characters much, and, wasn't that invested in who made it out of the valve and who didn't.
I do think reading is subjective. Other readers may connect with Preston, Mace, Alice, Ryan, Ellsworth, Shade, etc. and find it a super compelling read. For me, it remains an almost.
Premise/plot: Lifers is a premise-driven science fiction novel for young adults set in Manchester, England. Since it's premise-driven, it's key to know about the premise before picking it up! A secret agency (society?) has found a new way to deal with young delinquents they want off the streets. The solution to send them BTV, beyond the valve. They send them underground, perhaps to another dimension? Regardless, it's a one-way ordeal. There's no coming back if you're a prisoner. Those sent BTV have not been prosecuted and found guilty; they've just disappeared from the system completely. Preston and his friend Mace are investigating very, very vague clues left behind by their friend, Alice, who has disappeared. Alice started investigating because one of her friends, Ryan, disappeared without a trace. And chances are Ryan started investigating because one of his friends disappeared. Curiosity is risky in Lifers. The greater the risk, the greater the reward? Possibly.
My thoughts: The premise was a little over my head. Okay, the premise was a LOT over my head. Much of it depends on world-building. And the author certainly did that. Unfortunately, for me, I really need a connection with the characters to enjoy a book and get excited about it. I didn't care for the characters much, and, wasn't that invested in who made it out of the valve and who didn't.
I do think reading is subjective. Other readers may connect with Preston, Mace, Alice, Ryan, Ellsworth, Shade, etc. and find it a super compelling read. For me, it remains an almost.
May 17, 2016
I love Martin's writing - it's so involving, fast-paced and it unabashedly plonks you right in the thick of a character's feelings and actions. Lifers is no exception. It's brilliantly original and really drew me in from the beginning.
It's about a girl going missing and several other lads - in Manchester - trying to hunt her down. They discover a sinister, secret world of criminal justice metered out by a sociopath MP and his secret experiment - a weird transportation system sending young criminals on a one-way journey to their "correction". Into a strange and really off-kilter unknown (fantastically imagined).
I thought the two main guys - Preston and Mace - were vividly imagined, and they held my attention. You really felt Preston's difficulty with his actions compared to his inner, often torn, thoughts. And I liked Mace, a kinda of almost comic-book-like kid who enjoyed pretending he was a detective logging their every move. I know kids like Mace from my youth work.
I would say I thought the author's note at the end was unnecessary. I realise Martin was "apologising" to the people of Manchester about the liberties he may have taken in its description, but we - as readers - knew this had happened, so I'm not sure the explanation was needed.
Other than that, this book is a brilliant, fast-paced, quirky and uniquely imaginative 5-star read.
It's about a girl going missing and several other lads - in Manchester - trying to hunt her down. They discover a sinister, secret world of criminal justice metered out by a sociopath MP and his secret experiment - a weird transportation system sending young criminals on a one-way journey to their "correction". Into a strange and really off-kilter unknown (fantastically imagined).
I thought the two main guys - Preston and Mace - were vividly imagined, and they held my attention. You really felt Preston's difficulty with his actions compared to his inner, often torn, thoughts. And I liked Mace, a kinda of almost comic-book-like kid who enjoyed pretending he was a detective logging their every move. I know kids like Mace from my youth work.
I would say I thought the author's note at the end was unnecessary. I realise Martin was "apologising" to the people of Manchester about the liberties he may have taken in its description, but we - as readers - knew this had happened, so I'm not sure the explanation was needed.
Other than that, this book is a brilliant, fast-paced, quirky and uniquely imaginative 5-star read.
December 15, 2016
Pants. Too much mystery, not enough character or story to make me hooked/invested. Gave up after 4 chapters :(
February 5, 2025
there’s something about this book that i really like and after reading a few reviews i think it’s the way that it meshes a few genres together. it’s sci-fi x dystopia x what i imagine lord of the flies to be like (and a little bit of coming of age as well).
and although it’s not life changing, it’s a good read and i appreciate the unique and honestly disturbing imagery (again this is a book i’m rereading from childhood so i’ve been haunted by many of its images for years xx), and the ending (the very last chapters ab the aftermath) really display the reality of stagnancy after trauma and returning to normalcy.
i was going to avoid spoilers but i just think that the ending where shade’s brother sees them but just returns to his self imposed prison deserves a mention and I love it. hits you with the reminder of the guilt and self imposed punishment
and although it’s not life changing, it’s a good read and i appreciate the unique and honestly disturbing imagery (again this is a book i’m rereading from childhood so i’ve been haunted by many of its images for years xx), and the ending (the very last chapters ab the aftermath) really display the reality of stagnancy after trauma and returning to normalcy.
i was going to avoid spoilers but i just think that the ending where shade’s brother sees them but just returns to his self imposed prison deserves a mention and I love it. hits you with the reminder of the guilt and self imposed punishment
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 14, 2016
I really enjoyed this book. It did take me a few chapters to get into it as I am in a bit of a reading slump at the moment, but once I got past that I really liked the story.
This story is set in Manchester but, not the Manchester how we know it. A school girl has gone missing and Preston sets out to find her, his friend. But he ends up somewhere very dark, very sinister and this is defiantly not the Manchester we know. It involves a scientific institute, a politician who banishes troublesome children into a prison.
This book is filled with wonderful characters and a brilliant plot line that looks at young people and prisons and it was really interesting to read.
This book is very urban Sci-Fi. It is fast-paced, thrilling and a book you won't want to put down until you finish it. I haven't read anything by Griffin before but I can tell I will be reading a lot more from him. He is a fantastic writer and really knows how to pull the reader in and take them on a journey and not let them go until the story is over, even then you won't be able to stop thinking about the book.
If you're looking for a story about young people dealing with prison and being an amazing thrilling read then I defiantly suggest this book to you. I read it in one sitting as it was that gripping and just fantastic!
This story is set in Manchester but, not the Manchester how we know it. A school girl has gone missing and Preston sets out to find her, his friend. But he ends up somewhere very dark, very sinister and this is defiantly not the Manchester we know. It involves a scientific institute, a politician who banishes troublesome children into a prison.
This book is filled with wonderful characters and a brilliant plot line that looks at young people and prisons and it was really interesting to read.
This book is very urban Sci-Fi. It is fast-paced, thrilling and a book you won't want to put down until you finish it. I haven't read anything by Griffin before but I can tell I will be reading a lot more from him. He is a fantastic writer and really knows how to pull the reader in and take them on a journey and not let them go until the story is over, even then you won't be able to stop thinking about the book.
If you're looking for a story about young people dealing with prison and being an amazing thrilling read then I defiantly suggest this book to you. I read it in one sitting as it was that gripping and just fantastic!
February 7, 2017
This story had some issues, I won't sugar coat it. It certainly was not the best mystery I have ever read, but it isn't the worst (The Outliers, anyone?). I just expected more. Full review to come soon.
Full review:
I have been drawn to a lot of mysteries and whodunits lately, so this book felt like it was calling to me. The blurb sounded fascinating and I couldn’t wait to dive into this story. Unfortunately, the pace of the novel was quite bothersome. It felt very slow and it took an awfully long time to really get started. It wastes no time explaining that there is a mystery going on, but it did not do a good job of explaining why there was a mystery. There are several other questions asked and the reader is prompted to continue, but there were a lot of bumps along the way.
I did not connect with all of the characters, but I was still prompted to finish the story to find out what happened. I wish there were not so many characters as they sort of became jumbled as the story continued. I was struggling to remember who did what and why everyone was there. The sheer need to find out what happened is what pushed me to finish. This was not the best mystery I have read, as I wish there had been more action and less description, but it was still enjoyable.
Full review:
I have been drawn to a lot of mysteries and whodunits lately, so this book felt like it was calling to me. The blurb sounded fascinating and I couldn’t wait to dive into this story. Unfortunately, the pace of the novel was quite bothersome. It felt very slow and it took an awfully long time to really get started. It wastes no time explaining that there is a mystery going on, but it did not do a good job of explaining why there was a mystery. There are several other questions asked and the reader is prompted to continue, but there were a lot of bumps along the way.
I did not connect with all of the characters, but I was still prompted to finish the story to find out what happened. I wish there were not so many characters as they sort of became jumbled as the story continued. I was struggling to remember who did what and why everyone was there. The sheer need to find out what happened is what pushed me to finish. This was not the best mystery I have read, as I wish there had been more action and less description, but it was still enjoyable.
December 14, 2016
I thought I would really like this book, but I found it a little disappointed:(
August 23, 2017
My reading pet peeve is when a book’s cover and jacket do not correctly portray a book’s essence and it’s even worse when both have information that’s not true for the book. I understand that an author usually has little to no control over this, but in this case I understand why the publisher has “Fear is a prison” and “Where terror never stops” written boldly on the cover with a picture of a person trapped behind prison bars. Pretty interesting, eh? However, this story is shrug for me as I’ve seen a similar premise done much better in the form of Alexander Gordon Smith’s Escape from Furnace series.
Set in England, the news features stories of missing teens, but Preston doesn’t worry until his friend (and secret crush) Alice disappeared three days ago after sending him a text that reads, “Sorry. Going in.” Following sketches he glimpsed in her private notebook, he ends up at M.I.S.T. (Manchester Institute for Science and Technology) and sneaks inside.
Preston witnesses a kid wearing huge goggles exhibiting strange shaking behaviors and is promptly caught and injected with something and wakes up at home. Supposedly this injection should have totally wiped out his memory as it was a double dose. This only increases Preston’s motivation to return with his friend, Mace. The two end up witnessing a group of teenagers being forced into a strange metal chamber called a valve that ends up transporting them into a juvenile prison somewhere underground.
This new way of handling juvenile delinquents has been a classified project overseen by Justice Secretary Armstrong who is not pleased with how it’s been run and is shutting it down--leaving dozens of kids trapped down below with no more food or water and no chance of survival. If news of his failed project was publicized, he would lose the election coming up.
Luckily Preston meets two nightwardens who never thought their scientific work would be put to use imprisoning kids and who decide to help Preston go through a valve to rescue Alice. Once down below, there’s a bit of action and adventure similar to Maze Runner as it’s a race to find Alice and escape before Armstrong permanently shuts down all the valves.
Unfortunately, there’s just not enough character development for me to care about Alice or Preston. And a few times when the action was finally ratcheting up, it would quickly end with a summary telling what had happened. What’s even more surprising is that Preston quickly loses interest in Alice romantically and immediately falls for a girl he meets down there.
Set in England, the news features stories of missing teens, but Preston doesn’t worry until his friend (and secret crush) Alice disappeared three days ago after sending him a text that reads, “Sorry. Going in.” Following sketches he glimpsed in her private notebook, he ends up at M.I.S.T. (Manchester Institute for Science and Technology) and sneaks inside.
Preston witnesses a kid wearing huge goggles exhibiting strange shaking behaviors and is promptly caught and injected with something and wakes up at home. Supposedly this injection should have totally wiped out his memory as it was a double dose. This only increases Preston’s motivation to return with his friend, Mace. The two end up witnessing a group of teenagers being forced into a strange metal chamber called a valve that ends up transporting them into a juvenile prison somewhere underground.
This new way of handling juvenile delinquents has been a classified project overseen by Justice Secretary Armstrong who is not pleased with how it’s been run and is shutting it down--leaving dozens of kids trapped down below with no more food or water and no chance of survival. If news of his failed project was publicized, he would lose the election coming up.
Luckily Preston meets two nightwardens who never thought their scientific work would be put to use imprisoning kids and who decide to help Preston go through a valve to rescue Alice. Once down below, there’s a bit of action and adventure similar to Maze Runner as it’s a race to find Alice and escape before Armstrong permanently shuts down all the valves.
Unfortunately, there’s just not enough character development for me to care about Alice or Preston. And a few times when the action was finally ratcheting up, it would quickly end with a summary telling what had happened. What’s even more surprising is that Preston quickly loses interest in Alice romantically and immediately falls for a girl he meets down there.
June 22, 2018
Lifers is a hard book to pin down genre-wise. It is part mystery, the main characters spend much of the book following clues to lead them to a missing friend and figure out the coded messages left behind. It's part thriller, the characters keep finding themselves facing situations where they are about to be discovered breaking and entering secret facilities, getting into fights with or running from adversaries. It has an aspect of science fiction to it, once the characters discover the reason for the mysterious disappearances it turns out it's a bit out of this world. Then it even veers slightly into the realms of activism and politics.
With all that going on, plus numerous characters vying for space on the page there were many points where I felt lost as a reader and my interest in finishing the book grew steadily less as I read on. By the end I was skimming just to finish.
The book had a very promising start, the news is full of disappearing teens, including one high-profile politicians daughter as well as the main character's crush, who he is desperate to save. The main character has a couple clues that lead him to a mysterious government facility that doesn't seem to exist on any map. He has to infiltrate the facility, but runs into problems when he witnesses a kid stumble out of the facility wearing a strange mask, then die on the front steps in front of his eyes. What is going on here?
From there however I struggled to maintain my interest as at the most interesting aspects of the world are glossed over in favor of love triangles (that weren't all that tangled really) and other random weird stuff going on. I didn't ever feel invested in the outcome of the story, or the characters lives. Even the main character seems to be hard pressed to give a damn, once he finally reunites with the person he's been trying to save for the whole book, he's actually already developed a crush on another person instead.
It was ok, but for more thrilling adventures with mysterious elements I'd recommend Alexander Smith's Marbury Lens series instead.
With all that going on, plus numerous characters vying for space on the page there were many points where I felt lost as a reader and my interest in finishing the book grew steadily less as I read on. By the end I was skimming just to finish.
The book had a very promising start, the news is full of disappearing teens, including one high-profile politicians daughter as well as the main character's crush, who he is desperate to save. The main character has a couple clues that lead him to a mysterious government facility that doesn't seem to exist on any map. He has to infiltrate the facility, but runs into problems when he witnesses a kid stumble out of the facility wearing a strange mask, then die on the front steps in front of his eyes. What is going on here?
From there however I struggled to maintain my interest as at the most interesting aspects of the world are glossed over in favor of love triangles (that weren't all that tangled really) and other random weird stuff going on. I didn't ever feel invested in the outcome of the story, or the characters lives. Even the main character seems to be hard pressed to give a damn, once he finally reunites with the person he's been trying to save for the whole book, he's actually already developed a crush on another person instead.
It was ok, but for more thrilling adventures with mysterious elements I'd recommend Alexander Smith's Marbury Lens series instead.
November 8, 2017
This book reminded me of Tunnels by Roderick Gorman, a book full of promise but didn't quite deliver. You can read the blurb and synopsis elsewhere, I won't repeat them. I want to say that I found it slightly confusing. I wasn't sure when it was set, I suspect it is in the very near future, it is certainly politically relevant in today's climate, discussing the issue of crime and punishment, political deceit and money buying power. However, I didn't really connect with the characters enough to root for them. Having said that, I've read a lot worse this year and it was a change from the self-awareness, self-esteem YA books that are around at the moment. Much as I am concerned about the mental well-being of young people today, I do find the internalisation of self almost at the expense of other, to be slightly disturbing.
June 12, 2017
I received this through a Goodreads giveaway.
Set in Manchester, England, a teenage boy named Preston sets off at night to find his lost friend, Alice. What Preston will end up finding, however, is more frightening than not finding his friend. Preston, with the help of another friend Mace, will discover a program based on a radical new way to handle prisoners in the justice system. The book is fast paced and very easy to read and follow. The story was unique and I would recommend it for middl school and up.
Set in Manchester, England, a teenage boy named Preston sets off at night to find his lost friend, Alice. What Preston will end up finding, however, is more frightening than not finding his friend. Preston, with the help of another friend Mace, will discover a program based on a radical new way to handle prisoners in the justice system. The book is fast paced and very easy to read and follow. The story was unique and I would recommend it for middl school and up.
December 19, 2017
A very interesting thriller. There's quite a bit to unravel as it bounces between memories and regrets. It's easy to identify with Preston.
Urban explores who look at the world in a different way, looking for secret parts of a city, sound really interesting!
I do feel my appreciation was slightly hindered by an "accent/language" barrier, as there are some British words and references which I'm not sure I properly comprehended. This is a reflection on me, and how ridiculously long it's been since I traveled abroad, not on the book or the writer.
Urban explores who look at the world in a different way, looking for secret parts of a city, sound really interesting!
I do feel my appreciation was slightly hindered by an "accent/language" barrier, as there are some British words and references which I'm not sure I properly comprehended. This is a reflection on me, and how ridiculously long it's been since I traveled abroad, not on the book or the writer.
May 13, 2018
Ok. I did not like this book. The characters were irritating and the world just didn't really make sense. The story was so hard to visualise and almost jumped about in places, so I couldn't keep up. The romantic storylines didn't fit in with the rest of the book and seemed to come out of nowhere. It just had so many problems in general. I understood that it was going for The Maze Runner/Lord of the Flies angle but it totally failed. God, that was a slog!
March 13, 2017
When Alice, Preston Faulkner's older friend, disappears while exploring hidden parts of Manchester, Preston and Mace end up hunting for her. Preston feels guilty over his part in sending a text message to her boyfriend Ryan, but he has no idea where his search will lead him. Eventually, he and Mace uncover a secret prison system that takes care of troubled adolescents, removing them from the city streets, but also insuring that they can never return home. As Armstrong, the politician who has supported the prisons and used them for his own purposes, gets ready to erase all the tracks that might trace him to them, part of his shutting them down involves no longer sending supplies--food and water--to the prisoners, leaving them to starve to death. Thanks to help from Shade, one of the scientists who came up with the idea of this alternative world beyond the city's streets, Preston is able to help bring out Ellwood, the missing daughter of a politician killed in an accident, and bring down Armstrong. Although I'm no conspiracy theorist, it's easy to buy into that idea when considering how convenient it might be to have someone outspoken or inconvenient sent to a place from which there's no return. This is a pretty nifty science fiction title from the United Kingdom. It kept me turning the pages and reminded me in some respects of Lord of the Flies during the scenes in the underground prison where only a thin line kept order separated from chaos. The end comes a bit too fast after all that build-up, but I did enjoy meeting all the characters and having Mace have the last laugh after being teased about all his taping.
May 19, 2017
I don't know anything about Manchester, but this was an interesting seeing for me. The concept is intriguing and the story is well put together. But something about the characters seem one note. There were sections that made my heart pound a little faster, but I would have appreciated higher stakes and more action. It was worth a read but I don't think I'll pick it up again.
May 4, 2018
I think the book was worth reading. There wasn’t much actions scenes but lots of tense chapters where the characters where in a predicament and had to get out. The book had its slow parts but was overall fun to read. It relates to the world with corrupt politicians that people don’t know are corrupt and to watch what you sign up for.
March 14, 2019
Well... it went to my expectations and better, it also was fantastic on describing characters.
It’s not scary at all but confusing at the start because it starts off with a boy walking Manchester and his name is Preston like who is he describe what he does or something!
It’s not scary at all but confusing at the start because it starts off with a boy walking Manchester and his name is Preston like who is he describe what he does or something!
July 7, 2017
The blurb drew me in but the book was not satisfying for me. I gave up at about half-way through.
May 22, 2020
Hoo boy this one is terrible. DNF after 80 ish pages. I can't see YA readers getting into it, either.
December 10, 2020
This could've been so much better had it been more developed. Some parts of the novel were rushed and didn't get the writing they needed to make this ok book a great book.
dnf
June 19, 2022Dnf after 3 pages in (2021), I was bored
February 21, 2023
Disappointing ending.
August 14, 2024
I loved the male heroes in this story!
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