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Mega #1
Mega
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There is something in the deep. Something large. Something hungry. Something prehistoric. And Team Grendel must find it, fight it, and kill it. Kinsey Thorne, the first female US Navy SEAL candidate has hit rock bottom. Having washed out of the Navy, she turned to every drink and drug she could get her hands on. Until her father and cousins, all ex-Navy SEALS themselves, offer her a way back into the as part of a private, elite combat Team being put together to find and hunt down an impossible monster in the Indian Ocean. Kinsey has a second chance, but can she live through it?1 pages, Audio CD
First published December 31, 2013
111 people are currently reading
521 people want to read
About the author
Jake Bible
157 books366 followersJake Bible, Bram Stoker Award nominated-novelist, short story writer, independent screenwriter, podcaster, and inventor of the Drabble Novel, has entertained thousands with his horror, sci/fi, thriller, and adventure tales. He reaches audiences of all ages with his uncanny ability to write a wide range of characters and genres.
Jake is the author of the bestselling Z-Burbia series set in Asheville, NC, the bestselling Salvage Merc One, the Apex Trilogy (DEAD MECH, The Americans, Metal and Ash) and the Mega series for Severed Press, as well as the YA zombie novel, Little Dead Man, the Bram Stoker Award nominated Teen horror novel, Intentional Haunting, the ScareScapes series, and the Reign of Four series for Permuted Press.
Find Jake at jakebible.com. Join him on Twitter @jakebible and find him on Facebook.
Jake is the author of the bestselling Z-Burbia series set in Asheville, NC, the bestselling Salvage Merc One, the Apex Trilogy (DEAD MECH, The Americans, Metal and Ash) and the Mega series for Severed Press, as well as the YA zombie novel, Little Dead Man, the Bram Stoker Award nominated Teen horror novel, Intentional Haunting, the ScareScapes series, and the Reign of Four series for Permuted Press.
Find Jake at jakebible.com. Join him on Twitter @jakebible and find him on Facebook.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
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July 30, 2016Chompity chomping sharks? Fo' free?
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January 30, 2016
3.5* The scientific evidence is conclusive: Giant monster sharks are awesome. So yeah, I'll be checking out book 2.
February 20, 2017
Pirates and giant sharks. I enjoyed the shit out of this. Ridiculous, but so much fun.
February 10, 2014
I love, love, love giant sharks. The thing I love even more than that are stories that put a rag tag bunch against nearly unbeatable odds. This book is a bit light on the first, but it hits the second nail on the head. There are giant sea critters, make no mistake, but most of that action takes place later in the book. The focus is largely on the interpersonal relationships and some epic military action. I was a little disappointed that the book, billed as a "Deep Sea Thriller" with a picture of a giant shark on the front, didn't give the beasts more page time.
With that gripe out of the way, I enjoyed the hell out of this book. There's a lot of humor of the dark variety on display, as any of Jake's readers will be hoping for. There's also some excellent character development. Kinsey, the character mentioned in the blurb, undergoes a very realistic transformation. I enjoyed watching that and getting to know the other members of Team Grendel, the pirate killing, hunters of giant sharks. (If a book that features pirate killing, giant shark hunters doesn't make you put this on your list, this isn't the book for you probably.)
The pace moves rapidly. Much of the first half of the book is set up, but it's entertaining set up. You need to meet these people and get to know them and it's as much fun as the rest. For all of the fun, this is a gritty book, filled to the gunwales with gore, coarse language, and extreme amounts of gunfire. If that appeals to you then check it out!
I give this book four dorsal fins out of five.
With that gripe out of the way, I enjoyed the hell out of this book. There's a lot of humor of the dark variety on display, as any of Jake's readers will be hoping for. There's also some excellent character development. Kinsey, the character mentioned in the blurb, undergoes a very realistic transformation. I enjoyed watching that and getting to know the other members of Team Grendel, the pirate killing, hunters of giant sharks. (If a book that features pirate killing, giant shark hunters doesn't make you put this on your list, this isn't the book for you probably.)
The pace moves rapidly. Much of the first half of the book is set up, but it's entertaining set up. You need to meet these people and get to know them and it's as much fun as the rest. For all of the fun, this is a gritty book, filled to the gunwales with gore, coarse language, and extreme amounts of gunfire. If that appeals to you then check it out!
I give this book four dorsal fins out of five.
November 12, 2018
Review to come.
Want to read
August 19, 2019Will this be as good as my beloved Meg? We will see...
January 17, 2014
I have read all the Steve Alten books about Meg, the Megalodon shark from prehistoric times that stayed in the Mariana Trench. Those books are absolutely fantastic, and original and I am anxiously awaiting the fifth installment of the series. Nightstalkers will be out sometime this year hopefully. This book felt like it was a sad imitation of Steve Alten's original Meg series. Even the character, a washed out SEAL was reminiscent of Jonas Taylor from Meg.
November 5, 2016
Let’s be honest, the sea creature genre is a tough pool to jump into. As an author, you almost have to decide to go in one of two directions: try to live up to the tension and genuine fear of Peter Benchley’s Jaws or go for the pure unadulterated fun of Piranha 3D. Both are valid subsects of the genre, creating a different form of entertainment for the consumer.
Jake Bible has expertly blended these two subgenres together into an exceptionally fun-loving, tension filled story, even borrowing a line or two.
Mega’s cast consists largely of a group of misfits pulled together under false pretenses to save the world’s oceans from being terrorized by a prehistoric shark. With all of the action, Jake Bible has created characters that I cared about. I felt like part of the crew. Some of them were over the top, but this only helped to add to the fun of the story.
The story really went above and beyond my expectations with the tension. A big part of the tension was my connection to the characters – If I don’t care about them, kill ‘em all, I just don’t care. But I cared about the crew of the Beowolf II, and I wanted them all to escape the crushing jaws of Mega.
Mega was a brilliantly written story that packs a powerful bite; I was hooked from the start and reeled in. I’m looking forward to more adventures with Team Grendel.
*4.5 Stars
Jake Bible has expertly blended these two subgenres together into an exceptionally fun-loving, tension filled story, even borrowing a line or two.
Mega’s cast consists largely of a group of misfits pulled together under false pretenses to save the world’s oceans from being terrorized by a prehistoric shark. With all of the action, Jake Bible has created characters that I cared about. I felt like part of the crew. Some of them were over the top, but this only helped to add to the fun of the story.
The story really went above and beyond my expectations with the tension. A big part of the tension was my connection to the characters – If I don’t care about them, kill ‘em all, I just don’t care. But I cared about the crew of the Beowolf II, and I wanted them all to escape the crushing jaws of Mega.
Mega was a brilliantly written story that packs a powerful bite; I was hooked from the start and reeled in. I’m looking forward to more adventures with Team Grendel.
*4.5 Stars
March 22, 2020
Mega
Mega Series, Book 1
By: Jake Bible
Narrated by: Neil Hellegers
I read this before but forgot to write the review.( I often read/listen to a few then review them all at the same time.) I bought the audible thinking I hadn't read it yet. I enjoyed it again! 😁
I liked the twists, action, suspense, and characters. The characters weren't as personable as other of his books.
The narrator was not right for this book in my opinion. He was okay and I could hear him as a narrator for other books but just not this one.
Mega Series, Book 1
By: Jake Bible
Narrated by: Neil Hellegers
I read this before but forgot to write the review.( I often read/listen to a few then review them all at the same time.) I bought the audible thinking I hadn't read it yet. I enjoyed it again! 😁
I liked the twists, action, suspense, and characters. The characters weren't as personable as other of his books.
The narrator was not right for this book in my opinion. He was okay and I could hear him as a narrator for other books but just not this one.
August 22, 2014
The concept of a prehistoric-era shark in modern times isn't a new one, but Jake Bible's twist on the tale is a more modernized version of the classic tampering-with-nature theme that is so prevalent in supersized monster stories. Mega almost feels like two stories in one. The first is a story of a modern-day Captain Ahab trying ot find his literal elusive whale (a comparison to which he bristles in the story), who decides it is in his best interest (for a variety of reasons, not all of which are fiduciary) to team up with another person who is looking for a supersized shark. The second is the team of ex-navy SEALs that Mr. Moneybags hires to provide security for this mission, but who first must go through an "interview" process rescuing prisoners from Somali pirates.
Wait, wait. Mystery whales, navy SEALs, Somali pirates and giant sharks? For real? Yes. All in one story. As absurd as it may seem, the four items combine for a pretty gripping and suspenseful tale that is very cinematic in its reading. The scenes appear to be set up very much with an eye for film and cinematic suspense. There are some very tense open-sea terror moments that no doubt borrowed from other tales of deep sea monsters. But the aspects of modern tech that are shoehorned into the plot, along with the firepower and tactics of navy SEALs, all combine for an exciting tale that keeps you on the edge of your diving board.
I burned through this book very quickly; it was pretty hard to put down. The beginning seemed a little odd. The chapter construction felt a little helter-skelter, but the turbulence only lasts for a little while, and the ship levels out fairly quickly.
Wait, wait. Mystery whales, navy SEALs, Somali pirates and giant sharks? For real? Yes. All in one story. As absurd as it may seem, the four items combine for a pretty gripping and suspenseful tale that is very cinematic in its reading. The scenes appear to be set up very much with an eye for film and cinematic suspense. There are some very tense open-sea terror moments that no doubt borrowed from other tales of deep sea monsters. But the aspects of modern tech that are shoehorned into the plot, along with the firepower and tactics of navy SEALs, all combine for an exciting tale that keeps you on the edge of your diving board.
I burned through this book very quickly; it was pretty hard to put down. The beginning seemed a little odd. The chapter construction felt a little helter-skelter, but the turbulence only lasts for a little while, and the ship levels out fairly quickly.
November 25, 2015
Do not let the 3 star review fool you. I did like this book for what it is: a nice low budget Mega Shark action thriller. While not as sophisticated as Steve Alten's Meg stories
, it does have a B movie thrill to it. Think "The A-Team vs Jaws"!
I enjoyed the action and most of the characters. I plan to continue on and give the 2nd (of 4) books a read:
.
, it does have a B movie thrill to it. Think "The A-Team vs Jaws"!I enjoyed the action and most of the characters. I plan to continue on and give the 2nd (of 4) books a read:
.
December 23, 2024
A fun read which I genuinely thought I was going to be able to get done in one sitting. The pace and action just kept a firm grip on my attention. Sadly, the back end of this book began to slide and at times became a little difficult to follow the action. A chapter or 2 too long but good read over all.
April 2, 2017
Violent!
After reading this I never want to go on, or in, the sea again.
Great characters and a fascinating, violent story. Yet another series from Mr Bible that I'm going to have to buy.
After reading this I never want to go on, or in, the sea again.
Great characters and a fascinating, violent story. Yet another series from Mr Bible that I'm going to have to buy.
October 22, 2016
Mega (Boring) DNFed at 20%. The story is involving cargo pirates, ransom and a SEAL team. That isn't what I signed on for. Maybe the next one will be better. I want shark-loving gore.
August 12, 2024
This was included on audible, so I have it a go. If you can’t tell in recent years, I’m definitely on an ocean/shark journey (Jaws, all of the Meg series, Megalodon: Bloodbath).
This was a bit confusing honestly. Where almost all of those I named above feature something other than just sharks, be it the mafia, rich overlords, drug cartels, competitor countries, and more, this novel felt almost entirely about something else. It begins with a focus on Somali pirates, where someone is hired to create a group of people that can rescue hostages. While the first mysterious siting of the beast happens here, it is then gone for such a huge portion of the story as to be forgotten.
The shark, the meg, is a clone, as of course the original species is long extinct, and while each of these books tend to search for a reason why there’s a killer beast on the loose (especially the extinct prehistoric kind) this one spent so long in getting to the point that it kind of erases the threat.
The end itself does have some of the desired killer shark energy I was so invested for, so at least I got that. It is however, kind of outlandish (even for a megalodon) in a kind of almost ‘original idea for Jurassic Park 4 plot’ way—think militarized dinosaurs…
Although it mostly lacked what I was looking for, it does have some strong characters, as well as character development, within the crew of navy seals, and it was fast paced enough to enjoy.
https://fanfiaddict.com/review-mega-b...
This was a bit confusing honestly. Where almost all of those I named above feature something other than just sharks, be it the mafia, rich overlords, drug cartels, competitor countries, and more, this novel felt almost entirely about something else. It begins with a focus on Somali pirates, where someone is hired to create a group of people that can rescue hostages. While the first mysterious siting of the beast happens here, it is then gone for such a huge portion of the story as to be forgotten.
The shark, the meg, is a clone, as of course the original species is long extinct, and while each of these books tend to search for a reason why there’s a killer beast on the loose (especially the extinct prehistoric kind) this one spent so long in getting to the point that it kind of erases the threat.
The end itself does have some of the desired killer shark energy I was so invested for, so at least I got that. It is however, kind of outlandish (even for a megalodon) in a kind of almost ‘original idea for Jurassic Park 4 plot’ way—think militarized dinosaurs…
Although it mostly lacked what I was looking for, it does have some strong characters, as well as character development, within the crew of navy seals, and it was fast paced enough to enjoy.
https://fanfiaddict.com/review-mega-b...
August 29, 2014
Rarely mentions the Megs
This book is primarily about a pack of misfits (that) who swear incessantly, and (that) who were brought together by a corporation, presumably to seek out an extinct whale, also man-made. But wait! The company rep (that) who manages these losers really wants them to kill the man-made Megs (that) which are born pregnant, by the way.
Oh, and snakes give birth to clutches, not sharks. Depending upon the type of shark, their offspring are born as eggs, (that) which drift off and hatch when ready, or the eggs are hatched within the female (that are) and born as pups (that) who immediately leave the area or risk becoming food for mama. The egg laying sharks (that) give birth to anywhere from 1 to 100 eggs.
I suffered through the swearing, the incorrect punctuation, the unbelievably persistent use of the word 'that,' (almost all of which should be replaced by more appropriate words), incorrect word choice and poor writing. The author seemed to think (that) the brunt of quotations should end with: he said, she said, with rare variation; he needs to learn (that) he can insert text before and after quotes with sentences, words or phrase aside from just: he said, she said.
I kept reading, strictly because I kept thinking (that) the Meg story would begin. To no avail. There was barely two percent of the text (that involved) involving the Megs, meaning (that) it was mentioned here and there, with a little more at 85%, and even (that) then it was vague.
Consider this poorly written book to be a very long prologue to get the reader to buy book 2, which I can only presume to be a book actually dealing with C. Megaladon. But I wouldn't count on (that), it as he clearly loves his frequent temper tantrum throwing idiots.
The shear volume of swearing alone means I won't waste my money. More than that is how poorly written this book is. This is the first time I have given spoilers; normally I delve into the writing and grammar aspects. This is also my first single-star rating as I try to find some redeeming value within the storyline.
All of the (that) insertions are where the author would have inserted the word in this review, which sometimes requires the deletion of on or two words I used. This demonstrate how frequently the author would have used 'that' had he written this review. I used it just once. Read it without 'that' to see how much better it reads. Overuse of the word, that, is a big pet peeve of mine and is why I inserted it here.
One last thing - these Megs have somehow been genetically altered for military use; it seems they are retaliatory and automatically know where the engine room is located, among other things.
This book is primarily about a pack of misfits (that) who swear incessantly, and (that) who were brought together by a corporation, presumably to seek out an extinct whale, also man-made. But wait! The company rep (that) who manages these losers really wants them to kill the man-made Megs (that) which are born pregnant, by the way.
Oh, and snakes give birth to clutches, not sharks. Depending upon the type of shark, their offspring are born as eggs, (that) which drift off and hatch when ready, or the eggs are hatched within the female (that are) and born as pups (that) who immediately leave the area or risk becoming food for mama. The egg laying sharks (that) give birth to anywhere from 1 to 100 eggs.
I suffered through the swearing, the incorrect punctuation, the unbelievably persistent use of the word 'that,' (almost all of which should be replaced by more appropriate words), incorrect word choice and poor writing. The author seemed to think (that) the brunt of quotations should end with: he said, she said, with rare variation; he needs to learn (that) he can insert text before and after quotes with sentences, words or phrase aside from just: he said, she said.
I kept reading, strictly because I kept thinking (that) the Meg story would begin. To no avail. There was barely two percent of the text (that involved) involving the Megs, meaning (that) it was mentioned here and there, with a little more at 85%, and even (that) then it was vague.
Consider this poorly written book to be a very long prologue to get the reader to buy book 2, which I can only presume to be a book actually dealing with C. Megaladon. But I wouldn't count on (that), it as he clearly loves his frequent temper tantrum throwing idiots.
The shear volume of swearing alone means I won't waste my money. More than that is how poorly written this book is. This is the first time I have given spoilers; normally I delve into the writing and grammar aspects. This is also my first single-star rating as I try to find some redeeming value within the storyline.
All of the (that) insertions are where the author would have inserted the word in this review, which sometimes requires the deletion of on or two words I used. This demonstrate how frequently the author would have used 'that' had he written this review. I used it just once. Read it without 'that' to see how much better it reads. Overuse of the word, that, is a big pet peeve of mine and is why I inserted it here.
One last thing - these Megs have somehow been genetically altered for military use; it seems they are retaliatory and automatically know where the engine room is located, among other things.
March 21, 2015
ABR's full Mega audiobook review and many others can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.
Murphy’s Law: If anything can go wrong, it will, at the most inconvinent time.
That seems to be the theme of “Mega: Deep Sea Thriller. From the first page to nearly the last that is what happens.
Ex-SEAL, Darren Chambers, hoped he had his financial problems in hand. OOPS, the bank repos his ship and leaves him and his crew high and dry.
Here comes Mr. Balentine, corporate money man with his own agenda, and his bodyguard Darby(female ex-Mosad).
Balentine hires Darren and his men to aid in the rescue of kidnapped sailors from Somali pirates. Then they would search for the monster whale that Darren has been looking for. He even makes Darren the captain of his new, larger, research ship named “Beowolf II”. Which BTW also has all the equipment and files from Darren’s old ship. (Don’t ask what happened to Beowolf I)
Balentine has also hired a team of ex-Seals, named them his Team Grendel, to run the rescue operation. Yup, Murphy’s Law.
At least none of them got killed, this time
This book is so filled with corporate intrigue, backstabbing, lies, and bickering you might think you were in a session of Congress.
The banter among the crew and Seals is quite funny at times. I liked the twins best.
There are so many people to try to keep track of it is almost a relief when some of them are taken out.
Oh yes, there is a really big shark too and don’t forget the really big whale that Darren is searching for, and when they find them, it’s action,adventure, blood, and terror.
This book has it all and it is also fun to read, in this case listen too. The narrator was fantastic. He really got into it bringing the characters to life. I like it so much I kept repeating parts. The production of the audio was flawless. I’m going to get Bible’s other books.
Audiobook purchased for review by ABR.
Murphy’s Law: If anything can go wrong, it will, at the most inconvinent time.
That seems to be the theme of “Mega: Deep Sea Thriller. From the first page to nearly the last that is what happens.
Ex-SEAL, Darren Chambers, hoped he had his financial problems in hand. OOPS, the bank repos his ship and leaves him and his crew high and dry.
Here comes Mr. Balentine, corporate money man with his own agenda, and his bodyguard Darby(female ex-Mosad).
Balentine hires Darren and his men to aid in the rescue of kidnapped sailors from Somali pirates. Then they would search for the monster whale that Darren has been looking for. He even makes Darren the captain of his new, larger, research ship named “Beowolf II”. Which BTW also has all the equipment and files from Darren’s old ship. (Don’t ask what happened to Beowolf I)
Balentine has also hired a team of ex-Seals, named them his Team Grendel, to run the rescue operation. Yup, Murphy’s Law.
At least none of them got killed, this time
This book is so filled with corporate intrigue, backstabbing, lies, and bickering you might think you were in a session of Congress.
The banter among the crew and Seals is quite funny at times. I liked the twins best.
There are so many people to try to keep track of it is almost a relief when some of them are taken out.
Oh yes, there is a really big shark too and don’t forget the really big whale that Darren is searching for, and when they find them, it’s action,adventure, blood, and terror.
This book has it all and it is also fun to read, in this case listen too. The narrator was fantastic. He really got into it bringing the characters to life. I like it so much I kept repeating parts. The production of the audio was flawless. I’m going to get Bible’s other books.
Audiobook purchased for review by ABR.
July 22, 2021
Updated review (2021):
This is my 2nd time reading this book. The very first time was in 2016. I had just as much fun this time around as I did the first time I read this book! I basically even wrote the same thoughts down in my 2016 and 2021 reading journals. 😀
Mega is filled with action pretty much straight out of the gate. The opening chapter hooks you and never lets go. You get plenty of set up in the beginning without it ever taking too long. There is more action then you can even shake a stick at. The finale at the end ramps up the insanity with plenty of blood, guts, and suspense!
My favorite thing about Mega would be the characters. They have a wonderful chemistry with each other. The banter between the two brothers is particularly great. There was a nice amount of growth with the main cast, while still leaving us with a lot of questions. In the beginning, the set up builds a backstory of how each member of the team and crew are broken outcasts and misfits. It is amazing watching the team bond and grow together.
This 2nd time around, I listened to Mega with an audio book (1st time was on kindle). The narrator does a perfect job finding everyone’s voice. I loved how everyone sounded different and unique, with personalities and quirks shining through. Gender, age and accents were all on point.
Mega is such an entertaining and fun book! The ending makes me want to run right out and listen to the next book in the series. Highly recommended to anyone who wants a fun action packed story that is filled with sea monsters and big explosions! What a great summer read.
_________________________________________________
(Original 2016 review):
Prehistoric sea creatures terrorizing and destroying ships out? Oh yeah! The author delivers a fun and action packed story. Very likeable group of outcasts are brought together to try stop the death and destruction. I enjoyed watching the group come together and work well with each other. The story was entertaining all the way to the very end. I look forward to reading book 2.
This is my 2nd time reading this book. The very first time was in 2016. I had just as much fun this time around as I did the first time I read this book! I basically even wrote the same thoughts down in my 2016 and 2021 reading journals. 😀
Mega is filled with action pretty much straight out of the gate. The opening chapter hooks you and never lets go. You get plenty of set up in the beginning without it ever taking too long. There is more action then you can even shake a stick at. The finale at the end ramps up the insanity with plenty of blood, guts, and suspense!
My favorite thing about Mega would be the characters. They have a wonderful chemistry with each other. The banter between the two brothers is particularly great. There was a nice amount of growth with the main cast, while still leaving us with a lot of questions. In the beginning, the set up builds a backstory of how each member of the team and crew are broken outcasts and misfits. It is amazing watching the team bond and grow together.
This 2nd time around, I listened to Mega with an audio book (1st time was on kindle). The narrator does a perfect job finding everyone’s voice. I loved how everyone sounded different and unique, with personalities and quirks shining through. Gender, age and accents were all on point.
Mega is such an entertaining and fun book! The ending makes me want to run right out and listen to the next book in the series. Highly recommended to anyone who wants a fun action packed story that is filled with sea monsters and big explosions! What a great summer read.
_________________________________________________
(Original 2016 review):
Prehistoric sea creatures terrorizing and destroying ships out? Oh yeah! The author delivers a fun and action packed story. Very likeable group of outcasts are brought together to try stop the death and destruction. I enjoyed watching the group come together and work well with each other. The story was entertaining all the way to the very end. I look forward to reading book 2.
November 27, 2021
Mega did not grab me. I can't put my finger on exactly why, as it had all the ingredients of a potentially entertaining read. I'd probably give it 2.5 stars, but I may be a bit harsh in my assessment judging from my comments below.
Perhaps it was the rather poor execution of South African sayings and accents that left me feeling let down right from the start. Yes, I listened to the audiobook on Scribd, and while the narration was pretty good overall, the narrator was poor at producing South African accents and expressions. It sounded more Jamaican. Many sayings, such as "bra", for brother are inappropriately used. As a South African, I can confirm that we are are extremely diverse (for example, 11 official languages in our country alone) and the author revealed a very narrow understanding and appreciation for our culture. That aside.
The other irritating factor is the clichés used to the extreme in dialogues. This is especially true for the interaction between the Navy Seals. Me Tarzan, you Jane! This was my biggest gripe with the book.
The storyline was also rather thin, and I had a feeling the author realised it hallway through. The initial story was then subsequently supplemented with additional information. However, it did not feel like a gradual reveal, but rather like a hastily stuck-on band-aid.
In the end the book did not feel like the original Jaws movie. It felt more like Jaws 4. Throw in a few Navy Seals from a B-rated movie and you get the picture. Will I read Mega 2? No, I doubt it. It is not that Mega was that bad, but I fear it will only be more of the same. There are many other books beckoning my attention and I'll rather invest my time in those.
Perhaps it was the rather poor execution of South African sayings and accents that left me feeling let down right from the start. Yes, I listened to the audiobook on Scribd, and while the narration was pretty good overall, the narrator was poor at producing South African accents and expressions. It sounded more Jamaican. Many sayings, such as "bra", for brother are inappropriately used. As a South African, I can confirm that we are are extremely diverse (for example, 11 official languages in our country alone) and the author revealed a very narrow understanding and appreciation for our culture. That aside.
The other irritating factor is the clichés used to the extreme in dialogues. This is especially true for the interaction between the Navy Seals. Me Tarzan, you Jane! This was my biggest gripe with the book.
The storyline was also rather thin, and I had a feeling the author realised it hallway through. The initial story was then subsequently supplemented with additional information. However, it did not feel like a gradual reveal, but rather like a hastily stuck-on band-aid.
In the end the book did not feel like the original Jaws movie. It felt more like Jaws 4. Throw in a few Navy Seals from a B-rated movie and you get the picture. Will I read Mega 2? No, I doubt it. It is not that Mega was that bad, but I fear it will only be more of the same. There are many other books beckoning my attention and I'll rather invest my time in those.
August 25, 2016
Before reading this, I had read Jake's Z-Burbia and Blood Cruise, so I knew to expect a rollicking wild ride with quirky characters and some snark to offset the serious nature of the situation. This one doesn't disappoint. It has all the elements of a wild ride, with Giant sharks and whales, Somali Pirates, Ex-Navy SEALS, a Mysterious boss and his deadly, ex-Mossad assistant, and a boatload of corporate intrigue. Oh, did I mention GIANT SHARKS? A wild snarky ride, ably narrated by Lee Strayer, who nailed the characters and brought the story to life. Any fan of Jake's, or fans of books like MEG or Sahara should really enjoy this one.
May 19, 2014
I enjoyed this book and am torn between a 3 and a 4 star rating. It is an entertaining action thriller and although there are sharks in the story they aren't central to the plot in that if the sharks were substituted by something else it wouldn't have made a whole lot of difference to the story.
This isn't a spin on Steve Alten's Meg series as some seem to think although it's not better (or for that matter, worse). If you enjoy rip roaring action yarns then this is for you.
I will be in the queue for the sequel as soon as it is released.
This isn't a spin on Steve Alten's Meg series as some seem to think although it's not better (or for that matter, worse). If you enjoy rip roaring action yarns then this is for you.
I will be in the queue for the sequel as soon as it is released.
July 31, 2014
I bought this book for the shark and what I got was a terrible, testosterone fulled nightmare. I think, a few times here and there, there may have been mention of a shark. I'm not sure if, by the end of the story, I could have cared any less about the characters in this book; they were nothing more than a rag tag group of cardboard cut outs and walking stereotypes.
Gets two stars though, for the shark and the fact that reading reviews of this book introduced me to the Meg series by Steven Alten.
Gets two stars though, for the shark and the fact that reading reviews of this book introduced me to the Meg series by Steven Alten.
April 29, 2016
Was not expecting to love this book as much as I did. Some times a little over the top even for me but that was easy to get past. Overall very happy with the read and looking forward to the next.
March 17, 2021
Hello Gemmies! I have an entertaining audiobook review to share with you today. I absolutely love sharks so I decided to give MEGA by Jake Bible a try. Man am I glad I did! This book took me by complete surprise! Jake has seamlessly blended the military thriller, science fiction, action, humor, and horror, genres into one roller coaster thrill ride! MEGA was a lot of fun to read!
MEGA is the first book in the MEGA series. We follow a privately funded elite combat team made up of mostly ex navy seals to find and hunt down an impossible monster in the Indian Ocean. The action starts right from the first chapter and it is quickly evident that not all is as it seems and there are plots within plots. At times you are left wondering, who's the bigger monster? Man or Beast? Jake Bible has created a unique story full of pulse pounding action, including a band of unlikely heros, cheeky humor, and an array of character's you just root for the shark to eat! The character development is where I think this book really shines. You will fall in love with this group of misfits. They are flawed, funny, and brave.
The world building is also very well done. There is a lot of military and weaponry details added in that make the story feel authentic. There are a few light science facts sprinkled in as well. Now I must put a disclaimer in, I would have liked a lot more science and shark carnage, but that is the fake marine biologist in me LOL. It does not take away from the story at all.
MEGA is narrated by one person, Neil Hellegers. Neil did a brilliant job bringing all of these characters to life. He is able to add enough differentiation to his voice to give each character a unique personality. The pacing was perfect and the story never felt rushed. Neil also gave just the right amount of snark to convey the sarcastic humor sprinkled throughout the book.
If you love killer sharks, military action, weapons, flawed characters, dark humor, marine biology nerd fiction, and deep sea adventures go read this book! Published by Severed Press, MEGA is available for purchase from all major booksellers. I give MEGA 4 out of 5 gems. I am really looking forward to reading the rest of the books in this series. Happy Reading!
MEGA is the first book in the MEGA series. We follow a privately funded elite combat team made up of mostly ex navy seals to find and hunt down an impossible monster in the Indian Ocean. The action starts right from the first chapter and it is quickly evident that not all is as it seems and there are plots within plots. At times you are left wondering, who's the bigger monster? Man or Beast? Jake Bible has created a unique story full of pulse pounding action, including a band of unlikely heros, cheeky humor, and an array of character's you just root for the shark to eat! The character development is where I think this book really shines. You will fall in love with this group of misfits. They are flawed, funny, and brave.
The world building is also very well done. There is a lot of military and weaponry details added in that make the story feel authentic. There are a few light science facts sprinkled in as well. Now I must put a disclaimer in, I would have liked a lot more science and shark carnage, but that is the fake marine biologist in me LOL. It does not take away from the story at all.
MEGA is narrated by one person, Neil Hellegers. Neil did a brilliant job bringing all of these characters to life. He is able to add enough differentiation to his voice to give each character a unique personality. The pacing was perfect and the story never felt rushed. Neil also gave just the right amount of snark to convey the sarcastic humor sprinkled throughout the book.
If you love killer sharks, military action, weapons, flawed characters, dark humor, marine biology nerd fiction, and deep sea adventures go read this book! Published by Severed Press, MEGA is available for purchase from all major booksellers. I give MEGA 4 out of 5 gems. I am really looking forward to reading the rest of the books in this series. Happy Reading!
November 13, 2018
If you are a fan of Jake Bible’s previous works, a book like Mega is what one expects from this author. It is a book packed with action, adventure and mystery, yet the author does not skimp on the important elements of telling a tantalizing story. The audiobook is well narrated by Neil Hellegers who is no stranger to the narration scene with nearly one-hundred titles at the time of this review. So, all-in-all, with Mega, the listener is presented with a fun and at times horrific tale of a prehistoric mega-sized creature terrifying the depths of the ocean and those who ravel upon it. If you felt that after reading Jaws you did not want to swim in the ocean again, Mega will simply reinforce that feeling all over again. Mega is the first book in the Mega Series, so if you do not get enough from the first book, rest assured there will be more; the second in the series is also in audiobook format. I’m mostly familiar with Mr. Bible’s science fiction space series Roak and his fantasy Level Dead series, but I can say that Mega fits right in there as a contemporary sea monster horror thriller. If this at all sounds interesting, I recommend you pick up a copy and give it a listen.
As with all of the previous Bible books I have listened too, this one opens with a fair amount of action, intrigue, and suspense. Because it is in the horror genre, there is quite a bit of graphic and descriptive violence along with some strong language use throughout. What could go wrong when you have a behemoth-sized creature desiring to remain undiscovered, modern-day pirates, and a ship’s crew who will stop at nothing until they can either capture or at least be the ones to reveal this monster to the rest of the world. In many ways, this book will be compared to a smash-up of both Jaws and Moby Dick, however this book is told in a more modern setting. And for me, it worked quite well. However, the similarities apart, this story felt unique and well-done in a sea of other monster-type tales. In some ways, it brought back watching Godzilla, but in full color and without the voice dubbing. You will need to suspend belief throughout most of the story, but that is what makes Bible’s stories more entertaining and bigger than life. When you face a creature that is large enough to easily consume not only sharks but can take sizable bites out of whales, you have a major problem on hand. And, I think in future books this will only get worse.
I enjoyed the more modern spin on the regular monster story by including contemporary technologies such as iPhones, YouTube, and references that would only be known to our generation. As with most of Mr. Bible’s other works, this book has people dying in gruesome and painful ways. The action is on the scale of heroic, yet the book felt like it had a purpose and direction. I also liked that the characters struggled with their own personal issues along with the common problem of being given the wrong intel of the situation they were being dropped into. There was always some feeling of mystery and suspense as we not only have the Mega creature to deal with, but a number of corporate mega suits who needed to ensure all aspects of the project did not violate any of the corporate insurance policies; nice. Even though it was quite suspenseful there were times of humor and more light-hearted scenes. Again, it is what many of us have come to expect from Bible’s work.
The audiobook’s narration by Neil Hellegers was professional and overall performed well. The audio itself was crisp and clear of any audio artifacts that would distract the listener. There were no pops, background noises or swallows I could recall. At times, I would have liked to have had a bit more inflection or feeling instead of the narrator simply reading. Inflection was used at specific scenes, yet it was not consistent throughout the book making the places it laced more noticeable. I also would have liked to have had a bit more distinction between various characters. A few times I found it difficult to tell who was speaking and it took a bit of conversation to get back into the story. I did think the use of accents helped better distinguish characters and they also gave the book both life and depth.
For parents and younger readers, as mentioned in the second paragraph, this book contains a fair amount of vulgar language, sexual subject matter, and quite graphic violence. Nothing that would be considered excessive if you are a listener of the author’s other works. If any of the above is offensive to you, I suggest you find a different series to listen too. This book is targeted as more mature listeners.
In summary, if you are a fan of Mr. Bible’s other works, I would say that picking up Mega is a no-brainer. It is full of action, adventure, and fun, but it also has elements of horror and suspense woven in. Although the story is a series, as with many of Bible’s other works, this one can be enjoyed as a stand-along piece. Nearly all of the plot-lines are closed at the end of the book, but if you feel you want more, you can pick up Mega 2 which also currently available in the Audible store at the time of this review. If you are a fan of Jaws or Moby Dick, this story will also keep you out of the water!
As with all of the previous Bible books I have listened too, this one opens with a fair amount of action, intrigue, and suspense. Because it is in the horror genre, there is quite a bit of graphic and descriptive violence along with some strong language use throughout. What could go wrong when you have a behemoth-sized creature desiring to remain undiscovered, modern-day pirates, and a ship’s crew who will stop at nothing until they can either capture or at least be the ones to reveal this monster to the rest of the world. In many ways, this book will be compared to a smash-up of both Jaws and Moby Dick, however this book is told in a more modern setting. And for me, it worked quite well. However, the similarities apart, this story felt unique and well-done in a sea of other monster-type tales. In some ways, it brought back watching Godzilla, but in full color and without the voice dubbing. You will need to suspend belief throughout most of the story, but that is what makes Bible’s stories more entertaining and bigger than life. When you face a creature that is large enough to easily consume not only sharks but can take sizable bites out of whales, you have a major problem on hand. And, I think in future books this will only get worse.
I enjoyed the more modern spin on the regular monster story by including contemporary technologies such as iPhones, YouTube, and references that would only be known to our generation. As with most of Mr. Bible’s other works, this book has people dying in gruesome and painful ways. The action is on the scale of heroic, yet the book felt like it had a purpose and direction. I also liked that the characters struggled with their own personal issues along with the common problem of being given the wrong intel of the situation they were being dropped into. There was always some feeling of mystery and suspense as we not only have the Mega creature to deal with, but a number of corporate mega suits who needed to ensure all aspects of the project did not violate any of the corporate insurance policies; nice. Even though it was quite suspenseful there were times of humor and more light-hearted scenes. Again, it is what many of us have come to expect from Bible’s work.
The audiobook’s narration by Neil Hellegers was professional and overall performed well. The audio itself was crisp and clear of any audio artifacts that would distract the listener. There were no pops, background noises or swallows I could recall. At times, I would have liked to have had a bit more inflection or feeling instead of the narrator simply reading. Inflection was used at specific scenes, yet it was not consistent throughout the book making the places it laced more noticeable. I also would have liked to have had a bit more distinction between various characters. A few times I found it difficult to tell who was speaking and it took a bit of conversation to get back into the story. I did think the use of accents helped better distinguish characters and they also gave the book both life and depth.
For parents and younger readers, as mentioned in the second paragraph, this book contains a fair amount of vulgar language, sexual subject matter, and quite graphic violence. Nothing that would be considered excessive if you are a listener of the author’s other works. If any of the above is offensive to you, I suggest you find a different series to listen too. This book is targeted as more mature listeners.
In summary, if you are a fan of Mr. Bible’s other works, I would say that picking up Mega is a no-brainer. It is full of action, adventure, and fun, but it also has elements of horror and suspense woven in. Although the story is a series, as with many of Bible’s other works, this one can be enjoyed as a stand-along piece. Nearly all of the plot-lines are closed at the end of the book, but if you feel you want more, you can pick up Mega 2 which also currently available in the Audible store at the time of this review. If you are a fan of Jaws or Moby Dick, this story will also keep you out of the water!
November 15, 2017
Leider ein furchtbares Buch - und nicht im für einen Horror-Roman guten Sinn.
Das ganze hätte Potential gehabt, liest sich als hatte Jake Bible sich gesagt was wenn die Action Stars der 80'er auf den Tierhorror der 70'er geprallt wären.
Was wenn nicht Roy Scheider sondern Chuck Norris den Weißen Hai gejagt hätte?
Leider ist damit auch schon alles summiert was man an dem Buch als gut benennen kann.
Es gibt unterirdisch schlechte markige Dialoge, der Held führt einen Trupp von seltsam lebensunfähigen an der Gesellschaft gescheiterten Supermännern an und seine Motivation wäre noch nicht einmal Stoff für eine gute Kommödie:
Echt jetzt?
Das ist das ganze Argument auf welches hin er seine Militärkarriere schmeißt?
Hinzugenommen das Jake Bible sich offenbar nicht die Mühe gemacht hat auch nur einen Scheiß über Meeresbewohner zu recherchieren, ist diese dünne Entschuldigung für eine Charaktermotivation der Tropfen welcher für mich das Fass zum Überlaufen brachte.
Nach über hundert Seiten tritt die Geschichte immer noch auf der Stelle und es wird klar, der Autor hatte keine Ahnung wie er die Seiten bis zum Finale füllen soll, geschweige denn die Geschichte vernüftig (oder wenigstens Unterhaltsam) voranbringen.
Schade um was im Kern ein nettes Action Abenteuer hätte sein können.
Das ganze hätte Potential gehabt, liest sich als hatte Jake Bible sich gesagt was wenn die Action Stars der 80'er auf den Tierhorror der 70'er geprallt wären.
Was wenn nicht Roy Scheider sondern Chuck Norris den Weißen Hai gejagt hätte?
Leider ist damit auch schon alles summiert was man an dem Buch als gut benennen kann.
Es gibt unterirdisch schlechte markige Dialoge, der Held führt einen Trupp von seltsam lebensunfähigen an der Gesellschaft gescheiterten Supermännern an und seine Motivation wäre noch nicht einmal Stoff für eine gute Kommödie:
Darren war seinem persönlichen Moby Dick begegnet. Bei seiner Rückkehr von einem Einsatz vor der somalischen Küste hatte er im Wasser Kontakt mit etwas, das ihm eine Heidenangst einjagte, und dies mochte bei einem abgehärteten SEAL eine Menge bedeuten.
...
Von dem Augenblick an war er in einen Bann geschlagen. Die Kreatur verfolgte ihn in seinen Träumen. So verließ er die Navy. Der Kontakt hatte nur wenige Sekunden gedauert, doch dies genügte dem Soldaten, um sich selbst in Zweifel zu ziehen. Chambers hatte Männer und Frauen getötet, Dörfer verwüstet und Wohnbunker gesprengt, Terrorzellen und Drogenkartelle ausradiert. All dies bedrückte ihn nicht, beziehungsweise er ließ es nicht zu, doch ein Wal, der ihn vor Furcht lähmte? Nicht hinnehmbar.
Echt jetzt?
Das ist das ganze Argument auf welches hin er seine Militärkarriere schmeißt?
Hinzugenommen das Jake Bible sich offenbar nicht die Mühe gemacht hat auch nur einen Scheiß über Meeresbewohner zu recherchieren, ist diese dünne Entschuldigung für eine Charaktermotivation der Tropfen welcher für mich das Fass zum Überlaufen brachte.
Nach über hundert Seiten tritt die Geschichte immer noch auf der Stelle und es wird klar, der Autor hatte keine Ahnung wie er die Seiten bis zum Finale füllen soll, geschweige denn die Geschichte vernüftig (oder wenigstens Unterhaltsam) voranbringen.
Schade um was im Kern ein nettes Action Abenteuer hätte sein können.
July 28, 2019
Mega is a strange book. It's like someone took two stories and cobbled them together. It's equal parts military gun porn and sharks which isn't typically how this goes. And while I enjoyed the time I spent with, and even decided to continue reading the series, I'm not entirely sure why.
The setup is quite strange and the book seems to lack a main character. It has plenty of characters but no-one really seems to take center stage. This is, of course, not an actual problem if you have an ensemble of interesting characters but these characters are... okay, at best. At worst, they're walking, paperthin cliches who swears almost constantly.
I don't mind swear or cursing but even I was a bit put off by how foul their language was at times. That said, I can totally believe that characters like these, if they existed in real life, would swear nearly as much. Let's just say it wouldn't surprise me.
And while the book is pretty much apolitical, with a leaning towards conservative values in certain areas, it went way out of its way to speak to the benefits of marijuana. Now, I'm not judgy and couldn't care less if you smoke pot but the lengths this book went to to justify the smoking was pretty ridiculous at times. There's essentially entire chapters dedicated to explaining just what a miracle substance it really is.
It caught me a bit off guard, to be honest.
All of that said, the book was still a pretty unique and entertaining tale that felt a bit schizophrenic at times (it takes for absolutely ever for the titled shark to even show after the epilogue) but ultimately it was enjoyable. I particularly enjoyed the twist and how it strived to set up a larger, more interesting world. If the sequel can actually pull it off remains to be seen but for what it's worth, it's a quick, fun read.
The setup is quite strange and the book seems to lack a main character. It has plenty of characters but no-one really seems to take center stage. This is, of course, not an actual problem if you have an ensemble of interesting characters but these characters are... okay, at best. At worst, they're walking, paperthin cliches who swears almost constantly.
I don't mind swear or cursing but even I was a bit put off by how foul their language was at times. That said, I can totally believe that characters like these, if they existed in real life, would swear nearly as much. Let's just say it wouldn't surprise me.
And while the book is pretty much apolitical, with a leaning towards conservative values in certain areas, it went way out of its way to speak to the benefits of marijuana. Now, I'm not judgy and couldn't care less if you smoke pot but the lengths this book went to to justify the smoking was pretty ridiculous at times. There's essentially entire chapters dedicated to explaining just what a miracle substance it really is.
It caught me a bit off guard, to be honest.
All of that said, the book was still a pretty unique and entertaining tale that felt a bit schizophrenic at times (it takes for absolutely ever for the titled shark to even show after the epilogue) but ultimately it was enjoyable. I particularly enjoyed the twist and how it strived to set up a larger, more interesting world. If the sequel can actually pull it off remains to be seen but for what it's worth, it's a quick, fun read.
June 14, 2024
If the title is reminiscent of the word "megalodon" and there's a shark on the cover, I expect the shark to play an active roll in the story and to be present for at least 50% of it. For a shark lover, this was a disappointment. Perhaps if I wasn't expecting a more shark-focused narrative, I would have enjoyed this more.
It's hard not to compare this to Alten's "Meg" series (especially since I recently binged all the audiobooks), but "Mega" is "Meg" lite. Rather than a tale of man vs. shark, this is a tale of ex-navy seals vs. pirates. The sharks are little more than McGuffins and, honestly, didn't even need to be megalodons. You could have replaced the sharks with any species of shark and the story would have stayed the same.
And, like other reviews I've seen, this book feels like a prequel to the series. It does little more than establish all of the main characters and plot points. And although there are some well-written, hard-hitting scenes, they are peppered in amongst passages of mediocrity. The only relationship that I belied and enjoyed was between the not-quite-twin brothers. All of the other character relationships felt forced and strained.
This one had potential, but I don't think I'll be reading the rest of the series.
2.5
It's hard not to compare this to Alten's "Meg" series (especially since I recently binged all the audiobooks), but "Mega" is "Meg" lite. Rather than a tale of man vs. shark, this is a tale of ex-navy seals vs. pirates. The sharks are little more than McGuffins and, honestly, didn't even need to be megalodons. You could have replaced the sharks with any species of shark and the story would have stayed the same.
And, like other reviews I've seen, this book feels like a prequel to the series. It does little more than establish all of the main characters and plot points. And although there are some well-written, hard-hitting scenes, they are peppered in amongst passages of mediocrity. The only relationship that I belied and enjoyed was between the not-quite-twin brothers. All of the other character relationships felt forced and strained.
This one had potential, but I don't think I'll be reading the rest of the series.
2.5
February 19, 2024
So….nachdem ich dieses Buch dann endlich geschafft hatte – was diesmal nicht unbedingt dran lag, dass es mist war, sondern eher daran, das ich irgendwie mal wieder nur müde bin und so auch immer nur paar wenige Seiten schaffe. Ja es ist jetzt nicht eines der Highlights in meinem Bücherregal, aber es stellt sich heraus, dass man solche Storys auch lesen kann und nicht nur zum schauen geeignet sind. Es war nicht wirklich spannend. War bisschen seicht, der Wal den hätten sie sich auch sparen können, es wird noch mal aufgefasst am Ende wenn sich nach dem auskurieren alle wieder treffen. Da erwähnt man nochmal, dass es nicht der richtige Wal war den man da fand und weitersuchen muss und natürlich noch weitere Haie und Geisel…..Es war wirklich ok….nichts was einem ein Gefühl des Staunens oder lange drüber Nachdenkens verpasst. Es ist kein Verlust, wenn man es nicht liest, aber auch nicht absolute Zeitverschwendung….Man muss sich halt bewusst machen, es ist ein B-C Movie somit auch ein B-C Buch….
Update 19.02.24 - die folgenden Teile wurden leider nie ins DE übersetzt.
Update 19.02.24 - die folgenden Teile wurden leider nie ins DE übersetzt.
December 3, 2024
3.5 out of 5
This is a fun action packed adventure.
So we have a giant shark, Pirates, and a group of sarcastic mercenaries with access to some big guns. Yep this is exactly what you expect it to be, and it was awesome.
I would have liked the shark to have a bit more personality and maybe some more shark carnage, but overall a fun and entertaining read.
So, if like me, you like books about giant sharks (or any sea creature really) or you like movies like Deep Rising from 1998 and Deep Blue Sea from 1999, then you will love this.
This is a fun action packed adventure.
So we have a giant shark, Pirates, and a group of sarcastic mercenaries with access to some big guns. Yep this is exactly what you expect it to be, and it was awesome.
I would have liked the shark to have a bit more personality and maybe some more shark carnage, but overall a fun and entertaining read.
So, if like me, you like books about giant sharks (or any sea creature really) or you like movies like Deep Rising from 1998 and Deep Blue Sea from 1999, then you will love this.
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