justpollux's review
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Suicide, and Death
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Violence
Minor: Death of parent
carleeiigh's review
4.0
It's really obvious that this book is the author's first, the writing is very simple and exposition isn't handled great and the characters need to be fleshed out a lot more.
But it's a really fun read after the first half.
I'm probably too forgiving because I am a big fan of achievement hunter and Jeremy, and it does have a few flaws, but once the story gets going it's gets fun and I got wrapped up in the action. There are ridiculous sci fi tropes that I laughed at, the characters seem one dimensional at first but thankfully get a lot better as the book goes on (though I will say surprisingly the main lead doesn't have a lot of personality, but at this point it's run of the mill for these 'superhero' series).
The action is good, sometimes great, and just so creative. That's really what makes this so enjoyable, just how creative it is. the villains are over the top, but still menacing when needed to be. The skill sets have a cool twist to them, even the plot has a few twists and turns I couldn't predict. Not all of them, one in particular you can spot a mile away, but a few.
I wish we spent more times actually getting to know each character, actually having them train together at least for a little bit before springing into action. There's almost no downtime in the book except for the beginning, and that's just for introductions. The timeframe is also unclear, it kind of seems like it all takes place in one night, which it probably shouldn't. But again, first time author and I can forgive it.
All in all the technical writing stuff isn't great, but it's so creative and fun it doesn't drag the book down. If the first half drags a little, give it time to hook you.
But it's a really fun read after the first half.
I'm probably too forgiving because I am a big fan of achievement hunter and Jeremy, and it does have a few flaws, but once the story gets going it's gets fun and I got wrapped up in the action. There are ridiculous sci fi tropes that I laughed at, the characters seem one dimensional at first but thankfully get a lot better as the book goes on (though I will say surprisingly the main lead doesn't have a lot of personality, but at this point it's run of the mill for these 'superhero' series).
The action is good, sometimes great, and just so creative. That's really what makes this so enjoyable, just how creative it is. the villains are over the top, but still menacing when needed to be. The skill sets have a cool twist to them, even the plot has a few twists and turns I couldn't predict. Not all of them, one in particular you can spot a mile away, but a few.
I wish we spent more times actually getting to know each character, actually having them train together at least for a little bit before springing into action. There's almost no downtime in the book except for the beginning, and that's just for introductions. The timeframe is also unclear, it kind of seems like it all takes place in one night, which it probably shouldn't. But again, first time author and I can forgive it.
All in all the technical writing stuff isn't great, but it's so creative and fun it doesn't drag the book down. If the first half drags a little, give it time to hook you.
eleanor_nicbhatair's review
5.0
I really enjoyed this book. I know Jeremy put a lot of hard work into this and it shows. When you read the book knowing that it is for teenagers, you can really apreciate the story and the characters, and how well it is written for a self-published novel. My only slight criticism is how much all the characters yelled everything that they said. :D
I'm looking forward to the sequals to come.
Well done JDools
I'm looking forward to the sequals to come.
Well done JDools
sammyelliott_'s review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and Gun violence
Moderate: Grief and Fire/Fire injury
ashlee1's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
My big issue with this book were the spelling errors. There were quite a few and are easy to notice. I also had a hard time following who was who in the story due to switching from their real names to code names in the story. The story was actually really good and there were some great action sequences. The characters were also good and I am excited to see if there will be more books to come
teenage_reads's review
3.0
Plot:
Dr. Phillip Redman was undergoing the biggest project of his life. Project Nitro, was what it was called, and even without the board’s approval, Redman went through with it anyway. With the Blades, a powerful group of rebels out to destroy the city, Redman knew the only way to stop them was to create super-powerful biohumans. Each Nitro took two years to make, bounding their genes with the chemical Otrolium, giving them their own individual gifts. The team have all lose someone to the Blades, a father, brother, family, these young adults are out to stop the Blades not only for the world, but for themselves. The team (with their superhero/ subject name): Nick (Nuclear), Megan (Reactor), Diego (Atomic), Dante (Blast) and Steven (Explosion). Nick though is different. With more Otrolium in his veins, he is more powerful than the rest, but his hatred for the Blades was equal with his teammates. The Blades took away his family, so he was going to take away theirs. While hunting for the blade leader, Nick learns more about his team (who they are and their reason for being here), the Blade leader himself, and Nick begins to question the real motive behind Redman’s plan.
Thoughts:
As a fan of Rooster Teeth, Dooley Noted, and of Jeremy Dooley in general, I was ecstatic when I found out he was writing a book. In which Dooley did not disappoint. Straight from a comic book or video game, Go Nitro: Rise of the Blades had this badass-like feel, with tons of action, and none of that yucky romance stuff. Where this being Dooley’s first novel, there were some mistakes (i.e. page 35 when Blast talks, but we do not know that Dante is Blast yet). The biggest complaint? Stop giving everyone nicknames! I get it, having a super hero/villain name beside your birth name is great, but why does every single character has one? Not only when reading did you have to remember which Nitro had what name, but also the villains from Germ, Hard Drive, Slicer, and more. Like Dooley; that is way too many names. With the Nitros who also switch back and forth calling each other their project name, or their real name, Dooley left us with no want for more characters. The plot of the story was good, different, taking on a more actionable pack story line than one lined with romance. Passed all the other issues, this is a really good story, and I am not just saying that because I am a fan of Dooley. A superhero group of teens who begin to bond at the end of the story, fighting powerful bad guys who have killed someone the teens love. With some fights, truth hunting, the power rangers better watch out, as the Nitros is here to stay.
Dr. Phillip Redman was undergoing the biggest project of his life. Project Nitro, was what it was called, and even without the board’s approval, Redman went through with it anyway. With the Blades, a powerful group of rebels out to destroy the city, Redman knew the only way to stop them was to create super-powerful biohumans. Each Nitro took two years to make, bounding their genes with the chemical Otrolium, giving them their own individual gifts. The team have all lose someone to the Blades, a father, brother, family, these young adults are out to stop the Blades not only for the world, but for themselves. The team (with their superhero/ subject name): Nick (Nuclear), Megan (Reactor), Diego (Atomic), Dante (Blast) and Steven (Explosion). Nick though is different. With more Otrolium in his veins, he is more powerful than the rest, but his hatred for the Blades was equal with his teammates. The Blades took away his family, so he was going to take away theirs. While hunting for the blade leader, Nick learns more about his team (who they are and their reason for being here), the Blade leader himself, and Nick begins to question the real motive behind Redman’s plan.
Thoughts:
As a fan of Rooster Teeth, Dooley Noted, and of Jeremy Dooley in general, I was ecstatic when I found out he was writing a book. In which Dooley did not disappoint. Straight from a comic book or video game, Go Nitro: Rise of the Blades had this badass-like feel, with tons of action, and none of that yucky romance stuff. Where this being Dooley’s first novel, there were some mistakes (i.e. page 35 when Blast talks, but we do not know that Dante is Blast yet). The biggest complaint? Stop giving everyone nicknames! I get it, having a super hero/villain name beside your birth name is great, but why does every single character has one? Not only when reading did you have to remember which Nitro had what name, but also the villains from Germ, Hard Drive, Slicer, and more. Like Dooley; that is way too many names. With the Nitros who also switch back and forth calling each other their project name, or their real name, Dooley left us with no want for more characters. The plot of the story was good, different, taking on a more actionable pack story line than one lined with romance. Passed all the other issues, this is a really good story, and I am not just saying that because I am a fan of Dooley. A superhero group of teens who begin to bond at the end of the story, fighting powerful bad guys who have killed someone the teens love. With some fights, truth hunting, the power rangers better watch out, as the Nitros is here to stay.
bethsroses's review
3.0
As has been stated by many before me, the writing style gives away the fact that Dooley is not a practiced writer. Personally, I usually have trouble getting into stories when they have this issue, but the world he created really drew me in. There's definitely something to be desired in the writing style and at some points the names of the characters, but overall this is a very good story that has been waiting a long time to be told.
cyanide_latte's review
2.0
Oof. Oof. I wanted to like this book, so bad. And I gotta give props to Jeremy Dooley of Rooster Teeth for wanting to break into writing books. I can definitely see there's a lot of promise and potential there, and if RT decided to pick up his books to make another indie anime they way they did with RWBY, I think his writing would work quite well for a visual medium like that. So please understand, I do think there's not a bad foundation and his concept is very interesting.
But it's definitely his first time writing and it shows. I have doubts about whether or not he had an editor, much less someone to Beta-read and give him advice on how to improve what he's written here. By the end of the book, his writing had gotten very formulaic and I was honestly struggling to not completely skim-read the action scenes. The names vs codenames switching was a nightmare at the start, and very quickly the book launched into a tendency to have chapters that were drawn-out fight scenes that the characters always end up winning (with very little issue along the way, I might add,) and the antagonists always wind up going "here, I'm not the person you want, it's this other person who has more information for you." It becomes dull and repetitive very quick. There's not really any downtime for the characters to rest either, which is exhausting. I'm also struggling to discern whether or not this entire book takes place in the span of 24 hours, because it absolutely feels like it does.
I'll keep the book for the foreseeable future, and I do plan on buying the sequel. I honestly hope that his writing has improved in that one, and that he plans to keep writing, because again, there's a lot of promise. But I do advise anyone interested in this book to please, please be patient with it. Or, you know, don't set your standards as ridiculously high as mine are.
But it's definitely his first time writing and it shows. I have doubts about whether or not he had an editor, much less someone to Beta-read and give him advice on how to improve what he's written here. By the end of the book, his writing had gotten very formulaic and I was honestly struggling to not completely skim-read the action scenes. The names vs codenames switching was a nightmare at the start, and very quickly the book launched into a tendency to have chapters that were drawn-out fight scenes that the characters always end up winning (with very little issue along the way, I might add,) and the antagonists always wind up going "here, I'm not the person you want, it's this other person who has more information for you." It becomes dull and repetitive very quick. There's not really any downtime for the characters to rest either, which is exhausting. I'm also struggling to discern whether or not this entire book takes place in the span of 24 hours, because it absolutely feels like it does.
I'll keep the book for the foreseeable future, and I do plan on buying the sequel. I honestly hope that his writing has improved in that one, and that he plans to keep writing, because again, there's a lot of promise. But I do advise anyone interested in this book to please, please be patient with it. Or, you know, don't set your standards as ridiculously high as mine are.
iva_greeno's review
5.0
I really love this book. It does read young adult. You can tell this was Jeremy Dooley's first book. However, I enjoyed the story. There was a plot that was continuously moving forward. The characters are well built up throughout the entire novel. I like the little heartfelt team building along the way. I could see this being an awesome graphic novel with the use of super powers. There is a use of new ideas that are not seen all over the super hero world. I highly recommend this book to anyone that loves super heros, fantasy worlds, or even just a quick read that will keep them hooked throughout. I can not wait to pick up the next book.