felinity's review against another edition
1.0
I'd earlier made an attempt but it was a DNF. This time I forced my way to the end just to see how it wrapped up. (It's part 1 of a series, just so you know.)
The best way to explain this without any spoilers or too many details: imagine Dan Brown discovered one of the mystical philosophies/religions, then went through something traumatic and partnered with a horror-thriller writer to get it out of his system.
Too much detail in some place, weird hallucinations/visions/dreams and too many layers. Not quite thriller, not quite apocalyptic, not quite horror, not quite suspense. And not worth reading even the once, IMO. Definitely not touching the second.
The best way to explain this without any spoilers or too many details: imagine Dan Brown discovered one of the mystical philosophies/religions, then went through something traumatic and partnered with a horror-thriller writer to get it out of his system.
Too much detail in some place, weird hallucinations/visions/dreams and too many layers. Not quite thriller, not quite apocalyptic, not quite horror, not quite suspense. And not worth reading even the once, IMO. Definitely not touching the second.
travvyt's review against another edition
2.0
This book started out strong - the general premise of the story is very intriguing and has so much potential. Unfortunately, it was potential that was never really realized. The book kept getting lost down twists and turns that made no sense (some that seemed to be there just for the shock value in that they provided absolutely nothing to advance the overall narrative) and just lost me completely about 70% through the story. I don't want to give away any specifics but for me, the story went from believable to somewhat far fetched to downright silly in the last few pages. This was my first Steve Alten book and I know people rave about MEG so I'll probably give his books another chance but I have no desire to read the sequel to this one.
paulopaperbooksonly's review against another edition
2.0
After beingin a reading slump I try this game since it's a thriller with post apocalpytic fiction so I thought it would be a sure win....
~
Well first of all, Steve Alten is not a unknown guy. I've already tried reading 7 years ago Loch having not enjoyed or at least not getting to enter the novel and giving up after 50 pages or so.
I read Meg and gave it 2 stars so not that hopeful...
So let start, first of all, this novel is divided in 3 parts. The first part is the introduction of the characters; the second part it focus on the main plot/deliver of the plague and the last part is the voyage of our main character through the nine levels of hell (allegory not real one like in dante).
This novel, if you know Dante's Inferno then you will probably enjoy a bit more, it's not necessary BUT it gives another layer. OR at least go to wikipedia and read about it. Just know what the nine levels of hell are and what they mean.
So, to start let us talk about what this novel is about. This novel is about the end of days (it's in the title) where a new disease is being conceived and delivered into US Soil. At the same time this novel is about redemption, it's about a man journey through "hell" to get salvation; it's about conspiracy theories, pseudo-religions & about the way USA treats his war veterans (spoiler - Like crap) and why and how they go to war.
I am trying not to spoil the novel BUT it's fairly difficult not to do it.
Steven Alten get us to think - and that's a good thing. I like to think about it. I like to think about why wars happen, how they happen, I like tot hink about religion and how I see it and other people see it. I like to read conspiracies theories - some may even be true, who knows it. After all a conspiracy theory is the un-accepted reality. If most people believe that X happen - then X happen. Unfortunately that's how history is make. The Nazis were the bad guys because they lost the war. If they had won, they would be "good". Isn't that so? One beautiful example is URSS - some countries are pro-communist so it's good and others it's bad. That's "History" to you guys.
Well, as I said I like all that - but I don't like being called stupid or self-blind if you will. When talking about the 9/11 you've got the "told" history like the planes hit the towers and the pentagon but there are conspiracies theories that don't support that view and think it was man-made, explosions and such. Is it true? Who knows it. I, as reader, and with open mind, have my own opinion - and I accept you have yours. Will not try to say - you're wrong. But our "writer" say just that. When they are talking about 9/11 he puts in the last line a author's note saying - "see X and Y links or don't see it....." Why? This is not the first instance he put that links and such... Why not in the end put all that stuff and either I read it or not - it's my choice but no, he had to call people who don't believe in the conspiracy theories to be self-blind and plain idiot. To me was a turnoff. so great that I stop enjoying the novel.
I don't like being told If I don't accept X I am wrong. I like authors who can give their political, religious whatever views without making you feel stupid if you don't follow them.
Another stuff, was the all pseudo-religion - he mixes several religions and twist them to his own purpose, yeah I can grab a line in the Bible and make look that all Christians are nothing but a bunch of machismo or haters. Anyone can do that. I can twist Budhism and Judaism as well... But here he just made god really un-caring and Satan the real main character of religion- It's like seeing Lucifer tv Series.
Alten also doesn't like war or soldiers - he depicts every soldier as un-caring, happy to gun down without discrimination and so on. There are bad evil soldier? Of course but not 100%.
Then there is the far-left touching communist agenda (why so many rich authors are communists? - in the communist soviet or china they would be censored and criticized or killed lol and their rich life? yeah not gonna happen) - he criticises openly about the war machine that operates in USA and their right wing agenda (LOL). He is not shy to say all wars on terrorism were bush fault and they were money related. As a portuguese I believe USA didn't enter Iraq to free Iraq. Saddam Hussein was against Bin Laden. They went due to the Oil. In Afeghnestian it's another thing... They try to take the power from the Taliban (the same ones they help during the Soviet war - if you don't want to read just watch Rambo 3)
Alten goes everywhere criticizing everything and everyone that even remotes of people of power. I am going to stop here because my complains would only amount.
Bear in mind that is not the worst book ever BUT it's not good by any means unless you are a far left communist anti-estabelishment american (which it seems there are a lot nowadays on twitter).
~
Well first of all, Steve Alten is not a unknown guy. I've already tried reading 7 years ago Loch having not enjoyed or at least not getting to enter the novel and giving up after 50 pages or so.
I read Meg and gave it 2 stars so not that hopeful...
So let start, first of all, this novel is divided in 3 parts. The first part is the introduction of the characters; the second part it focus on the main plot/deliver of the plague and the last part is the voyage of our main character through the nine levels of hell (allegory not real one like in dante).
This novel, if you know Dante's Inferno then you will probably enjoy a bit more, it's not necessary BUT it gives another layer. OR at least go to wikipedia and read about it. Just know what the nine levels of hell are and what they mean.
So, to start let us talk about what this novel is about. This novel is about the end of days (it's in the title) where a new disease is being conceived and delivered into US Soil. At the same time this novel is about redemption, it's about a man journey through "hell" to get salvation; it's about conspiracy theories, pseudo-religions & about the way USA treats his war veterans (spoiler - Like crap) and why and how they go to war.
I am trying not to spoil the novel BUT it's fairly difficult not to do it.
Steven Alten get us to think - and that's a good thing. I like to think about it. I like to think about why wars happen, how they happen, I like tot hink about religion and how I see it and other people see it. I like to read conspiracies theories - some may even be true, who knows it. After all a conspiracy theory is the un-accepted reality. If most people believe that X happen - then X happen. Unfortunately that's how history is make. The Nazis were the bad guys because they lost the war. If they had won, they would be "good". Isn't that so? One beautiful example is URSS - some countries are pro-communist so it's good and others it's bad. That's "History" to you guys.
Well, as I said I like all that - but I don't like being called stupid or self-blind if you will. When talking about the 9/11 you've got the "told" history like the planes hit the towers and the pentagon but there are conspiracies theories that don't support that view and think it was man-made, explosions and such. Is it true? Who knows it. I, as reader, and with open mind, have my own opinion - and I accept you have yours. Will not try to say - you're wrong. But our "writer" say just that. When they are talking about 9/11 he puts in the last line a author's note saying - "see X and Y links or don't see it....." Why? This is not the first instance he put that links and such... Why not in the end put all that stuff and either I read it or not - it's my choice but no, he had to call people who don't believe in the conspiracy theories to be self-blind and plain idiot. To me was a turnoff. so great that I stop enjoying the novel.
I don't like being told If I don't accept X I am wrong. I like authors who can give their political, religious whatever views without making you feel stupid if you don't follow them.
Another stuff, was the all pseudo-religion - he mixes several religions and twist them to his own purpose, yeah I can grab a line in the Bible and make look that all Christians are nothing but a bunch of machismo or haters. Anyone can do that. I can twist Budhism and Judaism as well... But here he just made god really un-caring and Satan the real main character of religion- It's like seeing Lucifer tv Series.
Alten also doesn't like war or soldiers - he depicts every soldier as un-caring, happy to gun down without discrimination and so on. There are bad evil soldier? Of course but not 100%.
Then there is the far-left touching communist agenda (why so many rich authors are communists? - in the communist soviet or china they would be censored and criticized or killed lol and their rich life? yeah not gonna happen) - he criticises openly about the war machine that operates in USA and their right wing agenda (LOL). He is not shy to say all wars on terrorism were bush fault and they were money related. As a portuguese I believe USA didn't enter Iraq to free Iraq. Saddam Hussein was against Bin Laden. They went due to the Oil. In Afeghnestian it's another thing... They try to take the power from the Taliban (the same ones they help during the Soviet war - if you don't want to read just watch Rambo 3)
Alten goes everywhere criticizing everything and everyone that even remotes of people of power. I am going to stop here because my complains would only amount.
Bear in mind that is not the worst book ever BUT it's not good by any means unless you are a far left communist anti-estabelishment american (which it seems there are a lot nowadays on twitter).
kath021's review against another edition
4.0
Me pareció una lectura bastante entretenida; la temática y el viaje de los personajes me gustó bastante, sin embargo, no encontré ninguna conexión con ningún personaje porque los sentí muy vacíos... además que el final me dejó como "¿what? ¿En serio así acaba?" De todas formas no es un mal libro, le doy 4.2 estrellas.
ivanimalnott's review against another edition
3.0
El libro en sí está bien, y a pesar de que no soy nada fan de las idas de olla filosóficas, las de este libro me han gustado bastante y me han hecho pensar e incluso llegar a plantearme toda la idea de religión que conocemos. Otro aspecto que me ha gustado bastante es el del terrorismo, sobre todo el biológico, y cómo te hace pensar en si todas las desgracias que vivimos día a día son como nos dicen que son y no manipulaciones del gobierno (este libro me ha dejado muy tocado, lo reconozco).
Lo único malo que le veo al libro es lo tedioso que se te hace en algunas ocasiones el viaje del protagonista, que aunque ya sé que tienen que estar ahí porque está basado en la Divina Comedia de Dante, me pareció que sobraban.
Lo único malo que le veo al libro es lo tedioso que se te hace en algunas ocasiones el viaje del protagonista, que aunque ya sé que tienen que estar ahí porque está basado en la Divina Comedia de Dante, me pareció que sobraban.
ctorretta's review against another edition
5.0
Buckle your seat belts kids, we're going for a ride!
Grim Reaper End of Days by Steve Alten is at the very least a roller coaster ride through hell. The main character's wife, Patricia loves Dante's Inferno and as the main character, Shep (Patrick Shepherd) goes through his trials throughout the book he goes back again and again to the passages in Dante's Inferno.
Most of this book is about spirituality, although you wouldn't know it while you learn about bio terrorism, conspiracy theories and war stories. Shep isn't alone in this story however, all of the world sits by while wars, killing, rape, greed runs rampant. It's better to turn your eye than to do something about it, to speak against those in power, those with the money.
No Snowflake in an avalanche feels responsible -- Page 96
Everyone has a part to play in this book. Each character is pivotal to the development of the story, and to the development of what happens after the plague is released, on purpose, in Manhattan. As we go through the book, we learn that Shep's role isn't that small, but he must be assisted by many others to get to where he needs to go. His friend Virgil helping him more than most to descend through the layers of his own hell, while he figures out and tries to work through the guilt of the many years at war, and the many sins he committed.
Patrick "Shep" Shepherd was a promising major league rookie baseball pitcher when September 11th, 2001, hit. Shaken by the attacks, Shep left behind his soul mate and newborn daughter to enlist in the Armed Forces. Eleven years and four deployments later, Shep finds himself in Manhattan's VA hospital. His left arm is gone, his wife and daughter are gone, and he is haunted by the nightmares of war. December 21st.: While world leaders meet at the U.N., Mary Klipot, a bio-hazard level-4 scientist working at the CIA labs in Fort Detrick, enters the Big Apple with Scythe, a swift-acting version of the Black Death designed to wipe out America's enemies abroad. Believing she is carrying out God's wishes, Mary infects herself, then unleashes Scythe upon Manhattan. The threat of a worldwide pandemic forces officials to seal off the island . . . the president among those trapped. Determined to rescue his wife and child, Shep follows his guide, Virgil Shechinah, through the plague-infected neighborhoods of Manhattan, revisiting the "Nine Circles of Hell" as portrayed in Dante's Inferno. And the Grim Reaper, loosed upon the land by a humanity who has once again tipped the scales in favor of evil over good, is stalking Patrick Shepherd.
Once Mary releases the plague we live through the eyes of the victims, who are quite literally facing a hell on earth as they try to survive. Some pillage or resort to all sorts of violence just as they did prior to the plague. But others have the light in their hearts to have faith in God and that everything, even hell on earth is for a reason. As Shep and his friends learn the reasons, they also learn why Shep is there and what he must do to save not only himself and his friends, but all of civilization.
Gustave Doré's illustration to Dante's Inferno...
Welcome to Hell, abandon all hope upon entering. -- Dante Alighieri, Dante's Inferno
**Spoiler alert**
I don't want to give anything away about the story and there was one paragraph that really spoke to me. So, without telling you anymore about this story, I'm still going to share this paragraph.
We're all God's children. All of us. The real sin is man's refusal to become what we are. Spirituality isn't about religion, it's about loving God. Two thousand years of bickering, persecution, hatred and war, all caused by some silly competition over who Daddy loves best. All we have to do is love unconditionally. When each man becomes his brother's keeper... that's when everything changes. It's not too late.
If you do not like spirituality, do not let this turn you away. This book has some serious spots that had my heart palpitating! Absolutely loved every bit of it. Although Bubonic Mary isn't my favorite person... but you'll see what happens to her. All I can say is marshmallow!
And my favorite quote from Shep when you know he has finally found his inner bad ass! Go Shep Go!
Not this time.
5/5 For a heart wrenching grand time!
Review: Grim Reaper End of Days
Series: Grim Reaper – Book 1
Author: Steve Alten
No of Pages: 512
Release Date: October 10, 2010
Grim Reaper End of Days by Steve Alten is at the very least a roller coaster ride through hell. The main character's wife, Patricia loves Dante's Inferno and as the main character, Shep (Patrick Shepherd) goes through his trials throughout the book he goes back again and again to the passages in Dante's Inferno.
Most of this book is about spirituality, although you wouldn't know it while you learn about bio terrorism, conspiracy theories and war stories. Shep isn't alone in this story however, all of the world sits by while wars, killing, rape, greed runs rampant. It's better to turn your eye than to do something about it, to speak against those in power, those with the money.
No Snowflake in an avalanche feels responsible -- Page 96
Everyone has a part to play in this book. Each character is pivotal to the development of the story, and to the development of what happens after the plague is released, on purpose, in Manhattan. As we go through the book, we learn that Shep's role isn't that small, but he must be assisted by many others to get to where he needs to go. His friend Virgil helping him more than most to descend through the layers of his own hell, while he figures out and tries to work through the guilt of the many years at war, and the many sins he committed.
Patrick "Shep" Shepherd was a promising major league rookie baseball pitcher when September 11th, 2001, hit. Shaken by the attacks, Shep left behind his soul mate and newborn daughter to enlist in the Armed Forces. Eleven years and four deployments later, Shep finds himself in Manhattan's VA hospital. His left arm is gone, his wife and daughter are gone, and he is haunted by the nightmares of war. December 21st.: While world leaders meet at the U.N., Mary Klipot, a bio-hazard level-4 scientist working at the CIA labs in Fort Detrick, enters the Big Apple with Scythe, a swift-acting version of the Black Death designed to wipe out America's enemies abroad. Believing she is carrying out God's wishes, Mary infects herself, then unleashes Scythe upon Manhattan. The threat of a worldwide pandemic forces officials to seal off the island . . . the president among those trapped. Determined to rescue his wife and child, Shep follows his guide, Virgil Shechinah, through the plague-infected neighborhoods of Manhattan, revisiting the "Nine Circles of Hell" as portrayed in Dante's Inferno. And the Grim Reaper, loosed upon the land by a humanity who has once again tipped the scales in favor of evil over good, is stalking Patrick Shepherd.
Once Mary releases the plague we live through the eyes of the victims, who are quite literally facing a hell on earth as they try to survive. Some pillage or resort to all sorts of violence just as they did prior to the plague. But others have the light in their hearts to have faith in God and that everything, even hell on earth is for a reason. As Shep and his friends learn the reasons, they also learn why Shep is there and what he must do to save not only himself and his friends, but all of civilization.
Gustave Doré's illustration to Dante's Inferno...
Welcome to Hell, abandon all hope upon entering. -- Dante Alighieri, Dante's Inferno
**Spoiler alert**
I don't want to give anything away about the story and there was one paragraph that really spoke to me. So, without telling you anymore about this story, I'm still going to share this paragraph.
We're all God's children. All of us. The real sin is man's refusal to become what we are. Spirituality isn't about religion, it's about loving God. Two thousand years of bickering, persecution, hatred and war, all caused by some silly competition over who Daddy loves best. All we have to do is love unconditionally. When each man becomes his brother's keeper... that's when everything changes. It's not too late.
If you do not like spirituality, do not let this turn you away. This book has some serious spots that had my heart palpitating! Absolutely loved every bit of it. Although Bubonic Mary isn't my favorite person... but you'll see what happens to her. All I can say is marshmallow!
And my favorite quote from Shep when you know he has finally found his inner bad ass! Go Shep Go!
Not this time.
5/5 For a heart wrenching grand time!
Review: Grim Reaper End of Days
Series: Grim Reaper – Book 1
Author: Steve Alten
No of Pages: 512
Release Date: October 10, 2010
bookishsmiles's review against another edition
4.0
An interesting story but found it quite confusing
disis19's review
2.0
This was just ok for me. I suppose it wasn't the story I was expecting going in. It's a battle between good and evil with elements of spirituality and science, but there's a lot going on. There were many POVs and I felt like that made the story drag. This seems to be the start of a series per the last few pages in the book, but there have not been any subsequent novels published to date. I don't think I would've continued with this series if there were to be honest. This book did feel final enough for me in the epilogue.
Though I didn't enjoy this book very much, I have been enjoying the author's MEG series a lot and will try other books by him in the future.
Though I didn't enjoy this book very much, I have been enjoying the author's MEG series a lot and will try other books by him in the future.
jlechon's review
2.0
started out like a strong plague thriller. derailed into 9/11 conspiracy theories, bizarre political schemes, and heavy, heavy Christian themes. heavy enough that I felt Steve Alten preaching at me.
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