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Spirral
In this second book of The Cort Chronicles, Andy, John, Wendy, and Zack go on a quest to save their world from a powerful Corporation named CORT. This company controls the lives of almost everyone, yet a spark of hope still lays hidden underground with the Resistance. Then, from deep in the woods comes a new evil, named Spirral. If CORT is successful in finishing this project, human life as we know it will be over. Our heroes must find Spirral's heart and destroy it. Will good prevail over evil or vice versa? Responding to COVID-19 and the greed seen during the pandemic, David D. Bernstein continues his sci-fi/fantasy trilogy with both a response to our reality and a thrilling escape from it-into an alternate one where good eventually rises again.
178 pages, Hardcover
Published April 30, 2021
6 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
February 3, 2022
“Spirral” is the second book in The Cort Chronicles, a science fiction series for teens by David D. Bernstein.
In the story, a powerful corporation named CORT controls just about everything in the world. If successful in achieving total domination, human life as we know it will cease to exist. There is a resistance faction working to destroy the totalitarian conglomerate, including 4 teens selected as the “chosen ones.” They have a daunting task ahead of them, especially since CORT’s latest technology, “Spirral” appears to be indestructible. Do these kids have what it takes to save the world?
“Spirral” opens with the rescue of Andy, an eleven-year-old boy taken by CORT to one of their “remake” schools where he was subjected to torture and mind control. Andy, his brother Zack, and two teens from a different time, Wendy and John, learn that they are destined to save the world. Each are gifted with special powers to assist them on their mission, but will it be enough to overtake the evil CORT?
The author has built an eerie yet entertaining futuristic world from the remnants of a long-forgotten Earth. There’s magic and dystopia, a cautionary tale, coming of age, and the angst of first love all wrapped up in one story. One of the places the teens visit on their quest, Icy City, with its distorted view of heroism, reminded me of The Hunger Games.
I enjoyed the premise for this story, though I feel like more time could have been spent further developing the characters and the potentially epic dystopian world. It’s a bit rough around the edges both developmentally and polish-wise and felt like it was rushed to publication. The character seem to be confused themselves as to how old they are. Fleshing out the characters more would take their authenticity up a notch. The biggest reading deterrent for me was the dialogue between the characters as much of it feels forced with the constant dialogue tags stilting the flow of the reading.
Overall, “Spirral” is a good story that has the potential of being a great story, with a few tweaks. I thoroughly enjoyed the illustrations interspersed throughout the story. The series is best geared toward a middle grade crowd.
In the story, a powerful corporation named CORT controls just about everything in the world. If successful in achieving total domination, human life as we know it will cease to exist. There is a resistance faction working to destroy the totalitarian conglomerate, including 4 teens selected as the “chosen ones.” They have a daunting task ahead of them, especially since CORT’s latest technology, “Spirral” appears to be indestructible. Do these kids have what it takes to save the world?
“Spirral” opens with the rescue of Andy, an eleven-year-old boy taken by CORT to one of their “remake” schools where he was subjected to torture and mind control. Andy, his brother Zack, and two teens from a different time, Wendy and John, learn that they are destined to save the world. Each are gifted with special powers to assist them on their mission, but will it be enough to overtake the evil CORT?
The author has built an eerie yet entertaining futuristic world from the remnants of a long-forgotten Earth. There’s magic and dystopia, a cautionary tale, coming of age, and the angst of first love all wrapped up in one story. One of the places the teens visit on their quest, Icy City, with its distorted view of heroism, reminded me of The Hunger Games.
I enjoyed the premise for this story, though I feel like more time could have been spent further developing the characters and the potentially epic dystopian world. It’s a bit rough around the edges both developmentally and polish-wise and felt like it was rushed to publication. The character seem to be confused themselves as to how old they are. Fleshing out the characters more would take their authenticity up a notch. The biggest reading deterrent for me was the dialogue between the characters as much of it feels forced with the constant dialogue tags stilting the flow of the reading.
Overall, “Spirral” is a good story that has the potential of being a great story, with a few tweaks. I thoroughly enjoyed the illustrations interspersed throughout the story. The series is best geared toward a middle grade crowd.
August 10, 2021
I received the audiobook for free in exchange for an honest review. While I really want to like this series, it has plot similarities to some of my favorite things. It's like The Matrix, meets The Giver, meets a Wrinkle in Time, I do find myself having difficulty following along. I feel like there are missed opportunities to develop characters with more unique voices, which cause me to have suspension of disbelief problems. The child protagonists don't even seem to worry about having time traveled away from their parents until about 3/4s of the way through this second book. But, being someone who has concentration issues, if the comps above are of interest to you, I certainly don't want to unfairly dissuade you from giving this series a shot.
August 15, 2021
Fun read for younger kids.
I received the audio book for free for an honest review.
The description says the book is aimed at 11-16 year olds. As a former fourth through eighth grade teacher, I think the series is better suited to younger readers. Fourth through sixth graders would eat it up. Children older than 11 or 12 are reading more complex YA works. They want to identify with a protagonist and not jump back and forth between four characters.
I received the audio book for free for an honest review.
The description says the book is aimed at 11-16 year olds. As a former fourth through eighth grade teacher, I think the series is better suited to younger readers. Fourth through sixth graders would eat it up. Children older than 11 or 12 are reading more complex YA works. They want to identify with a protagonist and not jump back and forth between four characters.
July 1, 2025
This is a good story. I liked the ideas and the storyline but there are a few plot holes and discrepancies but if you can overlook these it is an entertaining listen. the sudden addition of magic and superpowers to the children took the story in a different direction then I was expecting after reading book 1. Narration is good and easy to listen to.. I received a complimentary copy of the audio and am leaving a honest voluntary review
September 12, 2021
I was given a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
This is the second book in the series; and, as with the first, I feel that this book could be great, but it needs...... more. This book could easily have been 2-3 times longer had the characters, events and storyline been more developed.
Again, this book felt like a condensed version of itself.
This is the second book in the series; and, as with the first, I feel that this book could be great, but it needs...... more. This book could easily have been 2-3 times longer had the characters, events and storyline been more developed.
Again, this book felt like a condensed version of itself.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews