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Eclipsed
When a deadly bacterium strikes, a virus could be humanity's best hope.
The Eclipse epidemic is sweeping the world, leaving millions of orphans. As a new wave of the contagion spreads through the country, sixteen-year-old Jackie joins a research facility racing to find a cure. Her job: caring for the laboratory chimpanzee.
A snarky, average-in-everything survivor, Jackie has a chip on her shoulder, soft spot for animals, and a determination to find the truth. As mishaps haunt the lab, she turns up secrets that pose a danger to her, to her friends, and to humanity’s future.
Eclipsed delves into today’s headlines of disease outbreaks and innovative treatments in a thrilling new science fiction mystery.
The Eclipse epidemic is sweeping the world, leaving millions of orphans. As a new wave of the contagion spreads through the country, sixteen-year-old Jackie joins a research facility racing to find a cure. Her job: caring for the laboratory chimpanzee.
A snarky, average-in-everything survivor, Jackie has a chip on her shoulder, soft spot for animals, and a determination to find the truth. As mishaps haunt the lab, she turns up secrets that pose a danger to her, to her friends, and to humanity’s future.
Eclipsed delves into today’s headlines of disease outbreaks and innovative treatments in a thrilling new science fiction mystery.
- GenresScience Fiction
325 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 15, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 19, 2020
Let's get this out of the way. I was invited by the author to read an advance copy of "Eclipsed". I told her it's a good book with only a few flaws. Now I'm telling you.
"Eclipsed" reads a lot like young-adult fiction. The main character is a sixteen-year-old adopted orphan. Many of her companions are orphaned teenagers. These things don't preclude adult readers (I'm an adult and quite enjoyed this). However, themes of general mistrust - as well as being alone, bullied, ignored, and misunderstood - will resonate more with younger ones. Even so, there are a few historical references and phrases only an older reader would likely understand.
The book covers violence, death, and animal creulty. There is some swearing - no F-bombs, though. If "Eclipsed" was a film, I'd rate it "PG".
This is written entirely from the main character's point of view. We know what Jaclyn knows, and nothing more. This style of writing suits the mystery genre well, as we figure out whodunnit - and why they dunnit - together. The author has created an interesting main character with a strong voice so we don't tire of her along the way.
About that main character...Jackie is an everygirl living in extraordinary times. She isn't among the best or brightest. However, she's tough, stubborn, adaptable, and compassionate. These qualities alternately help or hurt her. Our heroine acts/reacts believably and stays in character throughout.
Several science-based ethical dilemmas are thrown into the narrative. I felt they were handled very well. If you have read Michael Crighton's "Next", you know how they shouldn't be handled. There's no over-the-top moralizing in "Eclipsed". Difficult choices are made without excessive hand wringing. These are tough times, and the characters know it.
Most of the characters are well developed with distinct personalities. They speak and act realistically. Even so, a few could've used a little more meat on their bones. I rolled my eyes maybe a couple of times when one or another fell into a brief cliché. Thankfully, this didn't happen often.
The non-human characters are authentic and properly researched. The author doesn't insult the reader's intelligence by trying to make the chimpanzees "human". Some similarities between the species are explored, yet not necessarily those one would expect.
Getting back to the homo sapiens...in some stories featuring a strong young character, adults are portrayed as clueless and inept. Yet in "Eclipsed", teenage abilities and intelligence aren't boosted by dumbing down older characters. This isn't "Ralph Wrecks the Internet".
About the capital-I Internet...there's hardly a mention of it. Most mobile devices are absent from the story, as well. There are no references to WhatsApp, Snapchat, or even Google. It may be that the networks on which these services rely are no longer active (we aren't told one way or the other). Otherwise, these omissions date the prose somewhat. Yet this may have been intentional.
Parts of Eclipsed feel like a homage to paperback mysteries of the 1970s. This isn't really a criticism; I kinda' dig the subtle retro vibe. Mobile networks may be down, but there is broadcast television. The prose wanders into nostalgia from time to time. I laughed out loud when at one point Jaclyn exclaimed "Jumping giraffes!" No doubt this was the author having fun. Don't worry...you won't find "Gee willikers!" or "those pesky kids" anywhere. Despite the occasional indulgence, this is NOT a campy novel.
While this has an old-school feel, it's not old fashioned. There's gene editing, a doomsday cult, and modern social interactions among characters. Of course, the plot is very relevant in 2020.
Unlike some indie novels, "Eclipsed" has very few spelling or grammatical errors. The prose is clean, clear, and understandable. 70,000 words is enough space to make it work. Both the characters and plot are credible. The story was interesting and deep enough to hold my interest.
The ending left me satisfied.
"Eclipsed" reads a lot like young-adult fiction. The main character is a sixteen-year-old adopted orphan. Many of her companions are orphaned teenagers. These things don't preclude adult readers (I'm an adult and quite enjoyed this). However, themes of general mistrust - as well as being alone, bullied, ignored, and misunderstood - will resonate more with younger ones. Even so, there are a few historical references and phrases only an older reader would likely understand.
The book covers violence, death, and animal creulty. There is some swearing - no F-bombs, though. If "Eclipsed" was a film, I'd rate it "PG".
This is written entirely from the main character's point of view. We know what Jaclyn knows, and nothing more. This style of writing suits the mystery genre well, as we figure out whodunnit - and why they dunnit - together. The author has created an interesting main character with a strong voice so we don't tire of her along the way.
About that main character...Jackie is an everygirl living in extraordinary times. She isn't among the best or brightest. However, she's tough, stubborn, adaptable, and compassionate. These qualities alternately help or hurt her. Our heroine acts/reacts believably and stays in character throughout.
Several science-based ethical dilemmas are thrown into the narrative. I felt they were handled very well. If you have read Michael Crighton's "Next", you know how they shouldn't be handled. There's no over-the-top moralizing in "Eclipsed". Difficult choices are made without excessive hand wringing. These are tough times, and the characters know it.
Most of the characters are well developed with distinct personalities. They speak and act realistically. Even so, a few could've used a little more meat on their bones. I rolled my eyes maybe a couple of times when one or another fell into a brief cliché. Thankfully, this didn't happen often.
The non-human characters are authentic and properly researched. The author doesn't insult the reader's intelligence by trying to make the chimpanzees "human". Some similarities between the species are explored, yet not necessarily those one would expect.
Getting back to the homo sapiens...in some stories featuring a strong young character, adults are portrayed as clueless and inept. Yet in "Eclipsed", teenage abilities and intelligence aren't boosted by dumbing down older characters. This isn't "Ralph Wrecks the Internet".
About the capital-I Internet...there's hardly a mention of it. Most mobile devices are absent from the story, as well. There are no references to WhatsApp, Snapchat, or even Google. It may be that the networks on which these services rely are no longer active (we aren't told one way or the other). Otherwise, these omissions date the prose somewhat. Yet this may have been intentional.
Parts of Eclipsed feel like a homage to paperback mysteries of the 1970s. This isn't really a criticism; I kinda' dig the subtle retro vibe. Mobile networks may be down, but there is broadcast television. The prose wanders into nostalgia from time to time. I laughed out loud when at one point Jaclyn exclaimed "Jumping giraffes!" No doubt this was the author having fun. Don't worry...you won't find "Gee willikers!" or "those pesky kids" anywhere. Despite the occasional indulgence, this is NOT a campy novel.
While this has an old-school feel, it's not old fashioned. There's gene editing, a doomsday cult, and modern social interactions among characters. Of course, the plot is very relevant in 2020.
Unlike some indie novels, "Eclipsed" has very few spelling or grammatical errors. The prose is clean, clear, and understandable. 70,000 words is enough space to make it work. Both the characters and plot are credible. The story was interesting and deep enough to hold my interest.
The ending left me satisfied.
April 25, 2026
I'm not crying, you're crying.
They were happy tears. Good book, characters to like, characters dislike, and I learned some things. The ending was marvelous. The first thing I liked was the construction of Jackie being challenged to stop over using the word stupid and being given a thesaurus. And then she kept doing little lists of synonyms for things here and there. Which I think is a marvelous instructional technique for the young adults this book was aimed at. I read it to see if I thought it would be suitable for my granddaughter. And I wholeheartedly endorse it. I can't wait to talk to her after she's read it.
They were happy tears. Good book, characters to like, characters dislike, and I learned some things. The ending was marvelous. The first thing I liked was the construction of Jackie being challenged to stop over using the word stupid and being given a thesaurus. And then she kept doing little lists of synonyms for things here and there. Which I think is a marvelous instructional technique for the young adults this book was aimed at. I read it to see if I thought it would be suitable for my granddaughter. And I wholeheartedly endorse it. I can't wait to talk to her after she's read it.
July 13, 2020
Pandemics and the vaccination.
Is it ever right to treat animals and him and in such at as to demoralize society?
This book looks at how a fictional strain of an illness can be altered throughout each new wave. There are ethical and moral rules that are broken. Is it ever right do so one thing to achieve another?
An excellent look into the the human psyche and how affects everyone involved whilst telling the stortr.
Is it ever right to treat animals and him and in such at as to demoralize society?
This book looks at how a fictional strain of an illness can be altered throughout each new wave. There are ethical and moral rules that are broken. Is it ever right do so one thing to achieve another?
An excellent look into the the human psyche and how affects everyone involved whilst telling the stortr.
January 19, 2022
Very well thought out book
Written for our current time, this book has some well thought out scientific background. I also loved the main character and her honor. The idea of protecting others from bullying was great. It was a well written book as this author's other books have been. Looking forward to reading more from her.
Written for our current time, this book has some well thought out scientific background. I also loved the main character and her honor. The idea of protecting others from bullying was great. It was a well written book as this author's other books have been. Looking forward to reading more from her.
February 25, 2022
fiction
Fiction, or is it.? A book based on a disease that conquerors the world and makes the reader think of Covid-19. How far are scientists willing to go? Remind you of stem cell research? Many humans feel as if all animals are required to serve humans
Fiction, or is it.? A book based on a disease that conquerors the world and makes the reader think of Covid-19. How far are scientists willing to go? Remind you of stem cell research? Many humans feel as if all animals are required to serve humans
March 2, 2022
Dystopian?
Interesting premise. Well told story from a different perspective. I almost bypassed it because I’m not really a fan of dystopian sci-fi. Whatever it is, it has lot’s of twists and surprises and a very touching ending. I really enjoyed it.
Interesting premise. Well told story from a different perspective. I almost bypassed it because I’m not really a fan of dystopian sci-fi. Whatever it is, it has lot’s of twists and surprises and a very touching ending. I really enjoyed it.
March 30, 2025
thought provoking
Presenting the cold reality of what disease can do to ravage a world. Bits of Covid, the reality of a lab animal’s life, the coldness of an orphans way, and how someone who is “noone special” can change the world.
Presenting the cold reality of what disease can do to ravage a world. Bits of Covid, the reality of a lab animal’s life, the coldness of an orphans way, and how someone who is “noone special” can change the world.
February 23, 2022
Timely
Loved the story. A very good read with characters that become very real. Timely because of the pandemic in our country. Entertaining as well.
Loved the story. A very good read with characters that become very real. Timely because of the pandemic in our country. Entertaining as well.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews