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The Unwanted
"Let the Lightning Engulf you”
15-year-old Alexander Charon embarks on his journey at a new school as he struggles to form bonds and relationships with those around him. He begins to unravel his hidden talents, forcing his life to take an unexpected turn as he witnesses the murder and kidnapping of his friends. He must use his newly found skills to solve mysteries and protect those he cares for before it's too late. Can Alex rise up as he attempts to persevere against adversities? Or will he fall into despair as hope dwindles with each new obstacle?
15-year-old Alexander Charon embarks on his journey at a new school as he struggles to form bonds and relationships with those around him. He begins to unravel his hidden talents, forcing his life to take an unexpected turn as he witnesses the murder and kidnapping of his friends. He must use his newly found skills to solve mysteries and protect those he cares for before it's too late. Can Alex rise up as he attempts to persevere against adversities? Or will he fall into despair as hope dwindles with each new obstacle?
- GenresFantasyYoung Adult
260 pages, ebook
First published February 24, 2020
3 people are currently reading
48 people want to read
About the author
Z.T. Soyoye
1 book15 followersWriting has always been a hobby and a cathartic experience for me. Turning my passion for telling stories into a career as an Author has been one of my significant accomplishments. Since 2016, I’ve been constantly educating myself with new ideas and challenging myself to improve my writing techniques and develop a unique writing style in order to provide the most immersive experience to my readers.
I love learning more about my readers and would love to hear more about yourself, your tastes, and any ideas you may have for my future projects.
I love learning more about my readers and would love to hear more about yourself, your tastes, and any ideas you may have for my future projects.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
August 9, 2020
An very good debut novel. With more to come I hope. The book was a little slow at the beginning but really got better towards last quarter. That last quarter I did not want to put the book down. With a few minor improvement I think this series could be not hood but great.
To me what makes a hero is someone pushing past their limits be it, fear, self doubts, or physical limitations, as well as being compassionate and drawing strength from those they are fighting for. Alex ticks all the boxes.
The only bits I would have changed was given the story a linget time period it seems too rushed for a couple of days. I am a big believer is learning as you do or in the heart of the moment, but I also believe is putting the work in to progress, to fit in to the time scale training over a week instead of hours. I would also have liked a bit more of a back story, however if I am guessing from the ending there are a lot of secrets to come.
I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to what is to come next. Always the mark of a good book enjoyable but wanting more.
To me what makes a hero is someone pushing past their limits be it, fear, self doubts, or physical limitations, as well as being compassionate and drawing strength from those they are fighting for. Alex ticks all the boxes.
The only bits I would have changed was given the story a linget time period it seems too rushed for a couple of days. I am a big believer is learning as you do or in the heart of the moment, but I also believe is putting the work in to progress, to fit in to the time scale training over a week instead of hours. I would also have liked a bit more of a back story, however if I am guessing from the ending there are a lot of secrets to come.
I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to what is to come next. Always the mark of a good book enjoyable but wanting more.
March 20, 2020
This was such a breath of fresh air, I really enjoyed reading this book and especially about the friendship between Alex, Anthony and Emma. I really loved their relationship and each character was well rounded, solid, caring, kind and really enjoyable to read about.
I was fascinated by this story, especially by the special abilities that each character seems to have. I'm really looking forward to the next book in the series because I have a feeling that there is still so much more to learn, especially after everything that happened in the last part of the book.
I would recommend this book to anybody, it was really very good!
I was fascinated by this story, especially by the special abilities that each character seems to have. I'm really looking forward to the next book in the series because I have a feeling that there is still so much more to learn, especially after everything that happened in the last part of the book.
I would recommend this book to anybody, it was really very good!
December 7, 2020
I loved the storyline and the friendship that connects the characters. It’s the gripping story of a group of teenagers with different abilities, that they’re just discovering and can’t fully comprehend. When one of them gets killed and the day resets, Alex makes it his mission to prevent the murder from happening. Things don’t go as planned and although his friend survives, something else bad happens. Alex feels guilty and goes above and beyond to make things right again.
The story is original and the writing is tight, well-paced, and engaging with relatable, multidimensional characters. I wish I knew more about the superpowers each character has, like where did these powers come from. But I suspect the author plans on revealing this a little bit at a time, and I’m okay with it.
Read full review and more at https://www.summonfantasy.com/book-re...
The story is original and the writing is tight, well-paced, and engaging with relatable, multidimensional characters. I wish I knew more about the superpowers each character has, like where did these powers come from. But I suspect the author plans on revealing this a little bit at a time, and I’m okay with it.
Read full review and more at https://www.summonfantasy.com/book-re...
March 20, 2020
The Unwanted is a fantastic tale of teenagers with superpowers who work to fight against a terrible tragedy. I was entertained throughout the book and was never bored. I wanted to know more about these powers and how they came to be and read every word with concentration rarely seen before. I was antsy to find out what was coming next.
Though, I was concerned about one of the "bad guys" being described as having bipolar disorder as I was worried that it would be a throwaway stereotype, though I was assured by the author that this would be approached in later books through the series.
Also, a purely personal preference, but the cliffhanger ending was a letdown. I wish more authors would wrap up the story of the first book while still working to get you to the next book. This is a personal pet peeve and does not lessen the feelings I have about this book.
I want to thank the author for providing me with a copy of The Unwanted in exchange for an honest review.
Though, I was concerned about one of the "bad guys" being described as having bipolar disorder as I was worried that it would be a throwaway stereotype, though I was assured by the author that this would be approached in later books through the series.
Also, a purely personal preference, but the cliffhanger ending was a letdown. I wish more authors would wrap up the story of the first book while still working to get you to the next book. This is a personal pet peeve and does not lessen the feelings I have about this book.
I want to thank the author for providing me with a copy of The Unwanted in exchange for an honest review.
December 6, 2020
The confusing beginning almost caused me to put it down. I began to get into the characters and then I began frustrated with the mini lectures on life and choices. I enjoyed the powers of the kids but got to a point where I did not believe in the reality of the fight scene. How much beating can a body take and how long did it take the police to get there. Sometimes the stupidity of Alex (no common sense) was further confused by random scientific phrases and explanations. If this book was edited to better balance the fantasy and reality it might have been more enjoyable. I recommend having an editor pull out the lectures and help with the common sense aspect. This would help to make Alex a more believable character
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 2, 2020
This book was phenomenal. The friendship between the characters, the storyline, everything was amazing. The story started out kind of slow but I could not put it down once the story progressed. I felt that at some points, the story was a bit too fast-paced, but for a debut novel, this was very good.
The ending left me wanting to read the next book as soon as possible, so I cannot wait to get my hands on it soon!
A huge thank you to the author for giving me a review copy. This did not affect my review in any way.
For my full post, visit my blog- (https://theconfessionsofamusicandbook...)
The ending left me wanting to read the next book as soon as possible, so I cannot wait to get my hands on it soon!
A huge thank you to the author for giving me a review copy. This did not affect my review in any way.
For my full post, visit my blog- (https://theconfessionsofamusicandbook...)
January 14, 2021
At first I got into the book easily but as the short chapters went on it became more difficult to continue reading, I was very excited when I seen the blurb for the book as it looked right up my alley on what I love to read. However, I started to lose focus of why I was reading this. Initially, it seemed like the book would jump right into the story, but the setting of the scene took too long in my opinion. It started off well but I have had little motivation to continue reading the book. I think this book is better aimed at a younger audience as it references a boy in school so I probably would have enjoyed it more when I was younger.
April 2, 2020
Read a few lines and it seems good.will finish the book this night.nice work
August 7, 2020
I was recommended this book by one of my friends. The author contacted me and asked if I would give an honest review of the book. So first I wanted to say thank you to my friend and the author for an excellent read.
This book captured my attention from the first paragraph which is what surprised me. While reading this book I felt as if I was in the world with alexander. It reminds of another series percy Jackson and the lightning thief. While reading I could feel the emotions that the main character was going through.
Alexander is a character I could relate to. Growing up he was trying to form bonds and find his talents that best fit him. Through out his journey alexander had to face many hardships that we as a society could hardly ever comprehend. when we are faced with decisions as was alexander we must make a choices that can lead to certain consequences or actions that are either good or bad.
In the end it was an excellent book and I would recommend this to anyone. I loved the flow of the writing style. I could feel the author put their heart into making a book that not only will adults enjoy but young readers as well. Once again I wanted to say thank you to my friend meisha mull and the author for recommending this amazing book to me.
This book captured my attention from the first paragraph which is what surprised me. While reading this book I felt as if I was in the world with alexander. It reminds of another series percy Jackson and the lightning thief. While reading I could feel the emotions that the main character was going through.
Alexander is a character I could relate to. Growing up he was trying to form bonds and find his talents that best fit him. Through out his journey alexander had to face many hardships that we as a society could hardly ever comprehend. when we are faced with decisions as was alexander we must make a choices that can lead to certain consequences or actions that are either good or bad.
In the end it was an excellent book and I would recommend this to anyone. I loved the flow of the writing style. I could feel the author put their heart into making a book that not only will adults enjoy but young readers as well. Once again I wanted to say thank you to my friend meisha mull and the author for recommending this amazing book to me.
August 14, 2020
A week ago, the author contacted me in the hope of giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I read the description of ‘The Unwanted’ and found it interesting. The novel also was a great chance for me to diversify my shelf, so I was pretty happy about that too. It took me three days to finish, and I enjoyed reading it.
The book was easy to read, and it can be finished in one sitting. The pacing was a bit off; in the beginning, the actions were happening quite fast, throughout the middle part, the pacing slowed down, and towards the end, it was fast again. A lot of things happened in the last 5 per cent of the book, but I didn’t mind it. It hyped me for the next book in the series (at least, I hope there will be a second book). The writing was clear and easy to follow, and even if sometimes it contained terms used in chemistry, I found that they made the story more engaging.
THE REST OF THE REVIEW IS ON MY BLOG: https://dailydooseofbooks.wordpress.c...
The book was easy to read, and it can be finished in one sitting. The pacing was a bit off; in the beginning, the actions were happening quite fast, throughout the middle part, the pacing slowed down, and towards the end, it was fast again. A lot of things happened in the last 5 per cent of the book, but I didn’t mind it. It hyped me for the next book in the series (at least, I hope there will be a second book). The writing was clear and easy to follow, and even if sometimes it contained terms used in chemistry, I found that they made the story more engaging.
THE REST OF THE REVIEW IS ON MY BLOG: https://dailydooseofbooks.wordpress.c...
March 31, 2021
*** Disclaimer : I received e-copy of this book from the author, in exchange for an honest review. ***
The Unwanted was interesting YA fantasy that revolved around 15 yrs. old Alex who discovered his supernatural ability and was trying to use it in saving his friends.
Theme and layers The Unwanted covered were, teenage angst, personal growth, self-esteem, courage, friendship, family, team work, and overcoming problems physically and mentally.
Friendship between Anthony and Alex was lovely to read. Their different nature, skill and talent balanced their friendship and what was lacked in other so well. Even though they didn’t know Emma well, the bond all three of them made was great.
There wasn’t much to world in this book. I hope there is more about world in next books. Message in the book was good. There was whole chapter on reflection and so many philosophies. First half of the book was fast paced but then pace became bumpy and it was slow in last 30% of the book. Most twist and turns were predictable but there were enough surprises that made the story interesting. End was good. I’m curious to see what’s going to happen next.
read full review by following this link to my book blog - https://booksteacupnreviews.com/2021/...
The Unwanted was interesting YA fantasy that revolved around 15 yrs. old Alex who discovered his supernatural ability and was trying to use it in saving his friends.
Theme and layers The Unwanted covered were, teenage angst, personal growth, self-esteem, courage, friendship, family, team work, and overcoming problems physically and mentally.
Friendship between Anthony and Alex was lovely to read. Their different nature, skill and talent balanced their friendship and what was lacked in other so well. Even though they didn’t know Emma well, the bond all three of them made was great.
There wasn’t much to world in this book. I hope there is more about world in next books. Message in the book was good. There was whole chapter on reflection and so many philosophies. First half of the book was fast paced but then pace became bumpy and it was slow in last 30% of the book. Most twist and turns were predictable but there were enough surprises that made the story interesting. End was good. I’m curious to see what’s going to happen next.
read full review by following this link to my book blog - https://booksteacupnreviews.com/2021/...
August 11, 2021
the unwanted is a strong debut novel, with lots of good ideas.
the start of the book was a little slow. but once things got moving, that’s when i started to get into it. the ending was eventful, and well written.
one thing i liked about the unwanted is the use of the people’s different abilities. i liked that a lot of them felt unique and different. i don’t want to give too much away, so i won’t go into detail, but i think this is the first book where the character’s abilities were what they are.
i also really enjoyed the relationship between alex and anthony. i felt it was well written and very well developed. they were fun to read about. throwing emma into the mix was a very good choice from the author. i loved her character. i just wish we had more time to properly get to know her.
the book takes place over a couple of days, making some of the training seem illogical. (however it didn’t take away from my reading experience, it’s just something i noted as odd). due to the book being taken over a short period of time, i felt this affected the relationships between the main characters. if they had more time, i think we could’ve seen a lot more of their friendship (mostly with emma).
overall, i enjoyed reading this book. although it was plot motivated, i enjoyed the characters and their relationships more.
the start of the book was a little slow. but once things got moving, that’s when i started to get into it. the ending was eventful, and well written.
one thing i liked about the unwanted is the use of the people’s different abilities. i liked that a lot of them felt unique and different. i don’t want to give too much away, so i won’t go into detail, but i think this is the first book where the character’s abilities were what they are.
i also really enjoyed the relationship between alex and anthony. i felt it was well written and very well developed. they were fun to read about. throwing emma into the mix was a very good choice from the author. i loved her character. i just wish we had more time to properly get to know her.
the book takes place over a couple of days, making some of the training seem illogical. (however it didn’t take away from my reading experience, it’s just something i noted as odd). due to the book being taken over a short period of time, i felt this affected the relationships between the main characters. if they had more time, i think we could’ve seen a lot more of their friendship (mostly with emma).
overall, i enjoyed reading this book. although it was plot motivated, i enjoyed the characters and their relationships more.
January 13, 2021
Calling all Percy Jackson and Harley Merlin fans! This is a book for you! A unique writing style which quickly picks up pace. This fantasy and adventure story also contains shades of the Harry Potter series, as the three central characters develop and combine to begin a lasting bond of friendship and loyalty, in a battle against evil. This book leaves you wanting more but tantalises you with the promise of a sequel...
March 17, 2020
Disclaimer: I received an advanced reader's copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Alex Charon is, off the bat, a very interesting protagonist.
When starting this read, I was never sure what was going to happen next. Then when, slowly, supernatural elements in the novel came to the surface, AND the trope (friends overcoming evil together and each of them bringing something important to the table) I knew I would love this book, and it did not disappoint.
The novel carries a lot of strong, important messages that never take away from the story itself, but add to it.
I would especially recommend this for YA fantasy fans.
Overall, this was a superb first novel from Z.T. Soyoye, and I'm really excited to see what happens next.
Alex Charon is, off the bat, a very interesting protagonist.
When starting this read, I was never sure what was going to happen next. Then when, slowly, supernatural elements in the novel came to the surface, AND the trope (friends overcoming evil together and each of them bringing something important to the table) I knew I would love this book, and it did not disappoint.
The novel carries a lot of strong, important messages that never take away from the story itself, but add to it.
I would especially recommend this for YA fantasy fans.
Overall, this was a superb first novel from Z.T. Soyoye, and I'm really excited to see what happens next.
March 12, 2020
We all have a moment where sometimes we want to do something, but if we do it, it might have other consequences, and the other way around. This shows the incredible sacrifices Alex makes for the love and protection of his friends. Who wouldn't want a second chance to fix things before it actually happens? The book has the discovery of new talents and how you can use them for good and justice. Really an amazing piece!
August 2, 2020
My thoughts on the book:
I really enjoyed the book and I love the fact that the main protagonist, Alexander Charon is a work in progress and isn’t one of those annoying characters who are perfect in every aspect and don’t seem realistic at all. It was extremely enjoyable to know what each character is capable of! I feel like the book was a bit slow in the beginning but got extremely good later and kept me hooked! My favorite part of this book is a 100% the characters, especially Alexander. Overall, I thought it was a great debut novel and a really good YA novel.
My rating:
⭐⭐⭐⭐
A solid 4 stars, Meaning I loved it!
I really enjoyed the book and I love the fact that the main protagonist, Alexander Charon is a work in progress and isn’t one of those annoying characters who are perfect in every aspect and don’t seem realistic at all. It was extremely enjoyable to know what each character is capable of! I feel like the book was a bit slow in the beginning but got extremely good later and kept me hooked! My favorite part of this book is a 100% the characters, especially Alexander. Overall, I thought it was a great debut novel and a really good YA novel.
My rating:
⭐⭐⭐⭐
A solid 4 stars, Meaning I loved it!
February 2, 2021
Really enjoyed this book, it had the feel and pace of “I am Number Four”. Well written and will appeal to a wide audience. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
January 9, 2020
Wonderful read!
December 27, 2020
Solid story of teens with superpowers with some nice character moments but not quite enough in plot or storyline to keep me reading the series
Full review - https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...
Full review - https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...
August 3, 2020
First off, thank you to the author for sending me an e-copy in exchange for an honest review! And for being patient with me.:) you’re the best!
Second... This is a debut? What?? I am so impressed with this author and his work! There were a couple areas that had some minor problems with wording. But i really enjoyed the writing style! The writing style made it easy to understand the magic system and made for a fast paced, page turner!
I felt that the magic system was well thought out. And I really appreciated that the main characters actions had consequences. Nothing was just given to him or made easy. I see that small fault in some books and was so happy that that wasn’t the case here. Alex really had to work for what he wanted.
There’s also some diversity in this book, which was really refreshing to see! And there were a couple of characters I would have liked to get to know a little bit better. Emma being the main one! However, even in a short amount of time (250+ pgs) I still found myself very attached to all of them. It takes a lot of talent to be able to do that! I was particularly fond of Anthony. Anthony is one of the main side characters and I think the author did an amazing job with him. Anthony is a very flushed out and well rounded character. I really had a soft for him. There were times when I almost thought he was real!
I also really enjoyed the plot. The plot was fast paced and gripping! I always had a hard time putting it down. Haha
I really hope the author writes more in this series as I would love to see more of the world and the characters.
Z.T Soyoye is such a fantastic writer and I can’t wait to read more by him! Keep up the phenomenal work!
Second... This is a debut? What?? I am so impressed with this author and his work! There were a couple areas that had some minor problems with wording. But i really enjoyed the writing style! The writing style made it easy to understand the magic system and made for a fast paced, page turner!
I felt that the magic system was well thought out. And I really appreciated that the main characters actions had consequences. Nothing was just given to him or made easy. I see that small fault in some books and was so happy that that wasn’t the case here. Alex really had to work for what he wanted.
There’s also some diversity in this book, which was really refreshing to see! And there were a couple of characters I would have liked to get to know a little bit better. Emma being the main one! However, even in a short amount of time (250+ pgs) I still found myself very attached to all of them. It takes a lot of talent to be able to do that! I was particularly fond of Anthony. Anthony is one of the main side characters and I think the author did an amazing job with him. Anthony is a very flushed out and well rounded character. I really had a soft for him. There were times when I almost thought he was real!
I also really enjoyed the plot. The plot was fast paced and gripping! I always had a hard time putting it down. Haha
I really hope the author writes more in this series as I would love to see more of the world and the characters.
Z.T Soyoye is such a fantastic writer and I can’t wait to read more by him! Keep up the phenomenal work!
March 25, 2020
Disclaimer: I received a PDF copy of this book in exchange for my review.
For starters, I want to start off by saying I loved the characters. Immediately, we are introduced to quite a few of them - including, Alex, Anthony, and Emma - three friends who are carried on throughout the book. Not only does the author do an excellent job of weaving in elements of friendship, sacrifice, humor, and other norms that we often witness during a teen/young adult experience, but he's also managed to reel readers in with the well-rounded characters that can relate to us.
There are definitely some moments where I felt things could have been clearer or touched upon a little better. For instance, a few of the character introductions at the beginning - I felt as though they could've been smoother. While the little quick summaries of their characters were nice, I would have loved to see more of their character traits/background shown a bit more through their actions and dialogue instead of being told straight-out.
Besides that, I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good tale that explores a world where humans have special abilities! It's definitely worth the read. And I can't wait to see what else Z.T. has in store!
For starters, I want to start off by saying I loved the characters. Immediately, we are introduced to quite a few of them - including, Alex, Anthony, and Emma - three friends who are carried on throughout the book. Not only does the author do an excellent job of weaving in elements of friendship, sacrifice, humor, and other norms that we often witness during a teen/young adult experience, but he's also managed to reel readers in with the well-rounded characters that can relate to us.
There are definitely some moments where I felt things could have been clearer or touched upon a little better. For instance, a few of the character introductions at the beginning - I felt as though they could've been smoother. While the little quick summaries of their characters were nice, I would have loved to see more of their character traits/background shown a bit more through their actions and dialogue instead of being told straight-out.
Besides that, I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good tale that explores a world where humans have special abilities! It's definitely worth the read. And I can't wait to see what else Z.T. has in store!
June 24, 2020
Within the first few minutes of starting this book I was laughing out loud about a science problem that the main character, Alex, was faced with which intrigued my teenage daughter. We ended up reading it together ... which is something that never happens so major bonus points right away!
We both really enjoyed the storyline as well as getting to know all of the characters; a group of teenagers with different abilities who come together to use them for good.
I am glad that this book is part of a series as I look forward to reading more about these characters! So does my daughter!!!
We both really enjoyed the storyline as well as getting to know all of the characters; a group of teenagers with different abilities who come together to use them for good.
I am glad that this book is part of a series as I look forward to reading more about these characters! So does my daughter!!!
April 1, 2020
First I'd like to point out that I haven't read the final version of this in its entirety, but rather the unfinished - being edited - version. But it was a good YA book with deep and well-rounded characters. Three teenagers are faced with great peril, they rise and work together, both physically and emotionally to overcome their problem, only to find out it's bigger than they originally thought. I like the warm friendship and support they give each other. There are also several things in this book that hint at past events and future problems that I really like since it gives depth and mystery. There's character growth, and everything comes at a price. I also like the descriptions in this book. They are very vivid and close to the protagonist. The powers are revealed at a slow pace and feel natural in their setting.
I'd recommend this if you like mystery, superpowers, good vs evil, and friendship.
I'd recommend this if you like mystery, superpowers, good vs evil, and friendship.
March 25, 2020
This is an amazing story of courage, self discovery and so much more. I enjoyed following the characters as they discovered their talents. I found I couldn't stop reading as the action became more intense. This is a gripping and action packed story that will keep you turning the pages late into the night. I highly recommend reading this story.
January 21, 2022
My brother liked it and said that if I gave it another shot he'd use his goodreads account. Second time around, it's still not my favorite. I found the characters a bit annoying though the story wasn't too bad. This book was meant for younger audiences but with the amount of violence in it I don't believe that to be the case.
April 16, 2020
Wow. I could not put this down. It had me hooked from page 1. If it is a stand alone, it was great. But I genuinely hope the author writes more, as I would like to know how Alex, Anthony and Emily got there powers, as well as Anthony's brother. I highly recommend this to everyone. 💯
October 6, 2023
First off, I would like to thank Voracious Readers for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review. Second, these are just my opinions.
The title: Love it. Grabbed my attention, but that’s it. The title didn’t feel like it fit the book.
Characters: Alex, Anthony, and Emma are the three friends. Alex and Anthony’s relationship I found to be really nice and genuine. Emma joining the group, although nice, felt a bit strange? Let me explain, it’s hard to judge her placement in the group if she’s barely present first off. Second, all three of them just felt like long-time friends instead of Alex just meeting Emma for the first time. Call me crazy, but I want to know more about David. His character felt the most interesting out of all of them.
Magic/Abilities: So is it just Alex, Anthony, Emma, and David who have abilities? I get not wanting to publicly announce it, but considering what gets revealed at the end, I got the feeling that more people in the general public should know. I’m guessing that they were all born with these abilities? Could have gone into more detail here.
Overall thoughts: How many days does this plot span? It felt rushed and the mystery of the kidnappers felt bland to me. I get the need to rush an investigation with a missing person case, but the amount of clues with it felt a bit much…?
I’ll admit, the writing style wasn’t for me. It felt chunky without a real mix. There were either paragraphs of dialogue, paragraphs of action/detail, and paragraphs of thought which were all done in italics (not my personal favorite and annoyed me). There definitely could’ve been a better balance and mix between the three so that it didn’t feel too clunky.
Another thing are the random jumps that happened. One example happened in the beginning in chemistry class. Alex arrives at the answer but the reader doesn’t find out until the end of the following chapter. This happens multiple times where action occurs but the reader doesn’t find out until later.
Lastly, I felt there were too many lectures mixed in and Alex was directly telling the reader what the lesson was.
In the end, I would say 2.5.
The title: Love it. Grabbed my attention, but that’s it. The title didn’t feel like it fit the book.
Characters: Alex, Anthony, and Emma are the three friends. Alex and Anthony’s relationship I found to be really nice and genuine. Emma joining the group, although nice, felt a bit strange? Let me explain, it’s hard to judge her placement in the group if she’s barely present first off. Second, all three of them just felt like long-time friends instead of Alex just meeting Emma for the first time. Call me crazy, but I want to know more about David. His character felt the most interesting out of all of them.
Magic/Abilities: So is it just Alex, Anthony, Emma, and David who have abilities? I get not wanting to publicly announce it, but considering what gets revealed at the end, I got the feeling that more people in the general public should know. I’m guessing that they were all born with these abilities? Could have gone into more detail here.
Overall thoughts: How many days does this plot span? It felt rushed and the mystery of the kidnappers felt bland to me. I get the need to rush an investigation with a missing person case, but the amount of clues with it felt a bit much…?
I’ll admit, the writing style wasn’t for me. It felt chunky without a real mix. There were either paragraphs of dialogue, paragraphs of action/detail, and paragraphs of thought which were all done in italics (not my personal favorite and annoyed me). There definitely could’ve been a better balance and mix between the three so that it didn’t feel too clunky.
Another thing are the random jumps that happened. One example happened in the beginning in chemistry class. Alex arrives at the answer but the reader doesn’t find out until the end of the following chapter. This happens multiple times where action occurs but the reader doesn’t find out until later.
Lastly, I felt there were too many lectures mixed in and Alex was directly telling the reader what the lesson was.
In the end, I would say 2.5.
April 6, 2021
I received this book through Voracious Readers in exchange for an honest review.
I liked the idea of this story, three teenagers with special abilities. Their abilities were unique and I liked watching them learn to use and developed them. Alex and Anthony are clearly best friends and it broke my heart during the first incident. I liked Emma and it was clear that the boys would do anything for her, although we didn’t see enough of her to see how she truly fits into the group.
There were a couple of moments where I felt a disconnect from the story as it jumped into a scene I didn’t realised was happening. Like being in the middle of a fight where I hadn’t realised the first punch had been thrown, or seeing the results of an incident that I didn’t know had taken place because the incident wasn’t spoken about until after the fallout was described.
There were also a couple of times I was pulled out of the story due to character monologues. While I understand they were there to help the main character believe in himself and find the strength to do what needed to be done, I felt that there were a few to many and they slowed the story down a little. Why stand in the snow having that conversation when they had a plan and could be running to save their friend?
Overall I did enjoy the story and I liked the characters, I just had a little trouble with the flow of the story.
I liked the idea of this story, three teenagers with special abilities. Their abilities were unique and I liked watching them learn to use and developed them. Alex and Anthony are clearly best friends and it broke my heart during the first incident. I liked Emma and it was clear that the boys would do anything for her, although we didn’t see enough of her to see how she truly fits into the group.
There were a couple of moments where I felt a disconnect from the story as it jumped into a scene I didn’t realised was happening. Like being in the middle of a fight where I hadn’t realised the first punch had been thrown, or seeing the results of an incident that I didn’t know had taken place because the incident wasn’t spoken about until after the fallout was described.
There were also a couple of times I was pulled out of the story due to character monologues. While I understand they were there to help the main character believe in himself and find the strength to do what needed to be done, I felt that there were a few to many and they slowed the story down a little. Why stand in the snow having that conversation when they had a plan and could be running to save their friend?
Overall I did enjoy the story and I liked the characters, I just had a little trouble with the flow of the story.
December 2, 2020
This author is new to me. Now that I’ve read this book I will read more of what he has written. The story is about 15-year-old teenagers who have exceptional abilities that normal people don’t. I like the way the book is written along with how the author portrayed the main character Alex’s thoughts and feelings as he maneuvers through life. These kids are just trying to grow up in normal situations however their abilities have caught the eye of an unknown Group of evil doers. Alex, Emma, and Anthonys friendship grows throughout their adventures . Alex and Anthony go through many trials and tribulations to save Emma who was taken by a Kidnappers. She is considered the parcel throughout the story but the reason for the kidnapping is never truly revealed. This is a well written story and I’m looking forward to the second book in the series.
June 19, 2021
The idea for this story is fantastic, and while it did start off slow there were enough twists to keep you reading. I liked how the author showed the development of Alex as he tries to grow and find his strength. However I did feel that the dialogue of some of the characters as they try to teach him life lessons was a bit forced and at times tended to ramble. I feel it would have been better if these life lessons were less obvious.
I think with another good edit this story has huge potential. I look forward to seeing more work from this author.
I received a free digital copy of this book in return for an honest review from Voracious Readers.
I think with another good edit this story has huge potential. I look forward to seeing more work from this author.
I received a free digital copy of this book in return for an honest review from Voracious Readers.
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