arianna9's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
5.0
kandicez's review against another edition
2.0
I like Patterson's style. I have always liked his adult books, and fell in love with the Maximum Ride series. I was looking for that. It's obvious he was going for the same feeling with Daniel, but fell short of the mark.
Reading this book was like reading a comic book someone had written instead of drawn. I DO mean comic book, NOT graphic novel. The situations were so forced, and the action so unreal, I could just imagine the "Kablam!!", "!Kapowwie!" and "Swoosh!" captions you see alongside the arc of a punch. I like comics as much as any young boy, so my mind was very good at filling those in. I generally prefer to SEE my comics, though.
I think the biggest failing with the story was the lack of friendship, loyalty and love. With Max and her flock, they are all for one and one for all...to the death. Their actions can almost always be accredited to their love of one another. Patterson tried to create that dynamic here with Daniels posse, but, really, psychic mainifestations of dead friends just don't instill the same emotions in me as real-life friends do. Not to mention the fact that his pretend friends don't need his protection. THEY AREN'T REAL.
We do meet some of Daniel's family, but it's too little, too late, and then done on too grand a scale. Same with the elephants. We can tell they will figure in later, but...it seems a little like a throwback when they DO appear. Almost as if Patterson remembered that he had alluded to their importance, so he better fit them in somewhere.
I will continue to read Patterson. I love his bullet like chapters, even those that end in mid action or even thought, but I will not continue with this series.
Reading this book was like reading a comic book someone had written instead of drawn. I DO mean comic book, NOT graphic novel. The situations were so forced, and the action so unreal, I could just imagine the "Kablam!!", "!Kapowwie!" and "Swoosh!" captions you see alongside the arc of a punch. I like comics as much as any young boy, so my mind was very good at filling those in. I generally prefer to SEE my comics, though.
I think the biggest failing with the story was the lack of friendship, loyalty and love. With Max and her flock, they are all for one and one for all...to the death. Their actions can almost always be accredited to their love of one another. Patterson tried to create that dynamic here with Daniels posse, but, really, psychic mainifestations of dead friends just don't instill the same emotions in me as real-life friends do. Not to mention the fact that his pretend friends don't need his protection. THEY AREN'T REAL.
We do meet some of Daniel's family, but it's too little, too late, and then done on too grand a scale. Same with the elephants. We can tell they will figure in later, but...it seems a little like a throwback when they DO appear. Almost as if Patterson remembered that he had alluded to their importance, so he better fit them in somewhere.
I will continue to read Patterson. I love his bullet like chapters, even those that end in mid action or even thought, but I will not continue with this series.
marqamy's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
datoismyname's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting concept. A bit too much like a Superman or space-age story. Over all it was still interesting.
bxermom's review against another edition
1.0
Hated it. I think this is the first James Patterson book that I didn't like. It was BORING! and predictable.
bachya's review against another edition
4.0
At first, the one distinct thought this book gave me was, "What the...?" The topic of this book - an adolescent alien hunter searching for his parents' extraterrestrial killer - is somewhat of a departure from Patterson's usual mystery works.
However, as I progressed through this book, I started to really enjoy it. Patterson's lending of a sassy demeanor to his main character produces an excellent sense of adventure (not to mention that the kid's powers of creation are pretty darn cool).
While the story progresses nicely, Patterson leaves some very loose ends. The Prayer - the beastly thing that murders Daniel's parents in the opening chapter - isn't seen again through the rest of the book (the great majority of the story revolves around Daniel's hunt of alien #6, Seth). This may mean Patterson intends to continue this story elsewhere, but it didn't seem terribly clear.
Overall, Patterson's writing style (including his trademark 1-2 page chapters) and his craft of an intriguing story make this an excellent read.
However, as I progressed through this book, I started to really enjoy it. Patterson's lending of a sassy demeanor to his main character produces an excellent sense of adventure (not to mention that the kid's powers of creation are pretty darn cool).
While the story progresses nicely, Patterson leaves some very loose ends. The Prayer - the beastly thing that murders Daniel's parents in the opening chapter - isn't seen again through the rest of the book (the great majority of the story revolves around Daniel's hunt of alien #6, Seth). This may mean Patterson intends to continue this story elsewhere, but it didn't seem terribly clear.
Overall, Patterson's writing style (including his trademark 1-2 page chapters) and his craft of an intriguing story make this an excellent read.
itabar's review against another edition
2.0
I can see how this would appeal to readers who haven’t read as much SF as I have. But it was filled with so many plot holes! I skipped quite a few bits that I knew were there for “cute” but didn’t advance the plot, which was ~50% of the book.
I only read this because I was flying and it was the first paper book to come to hand. I had tons of GOOD ebooks on my phone but had packed up my charging cord and didn’t want to drain the phones battery.
I only read this because I was flying and it was the first paper book to come to hand. I had tons of GOOD ebooks on my phone but had packed up my charging cord and didn’t want to drain the phones battery.
aschembra76's review against another edition
2.0
Eh... this was okay.
It's rare that I don't care much for a James Patterson book, but The Dangerous Days of Daniel X is one of those rare instances.
Daniel is a 15-year-old boy who lost him paretns when they were killed by an alien known as "The Prayer." As Daniel grows up, he follows in his father's footsteps as an alien hunter, crossing aliens off his father's list. When Daniel comes up against #6 on his list, he realizes he might not be as strong as he thinks. After being overpowered by the alien, Daniel is taken to his home planet where his powers grow, he learns about his family, and finally is able to defeat the alien.
As this is one of James Patterson's YA books, it was written more simply than his normal novels. The chapters were still super short and it's still a fast read, but I didn't find myself enjoying it as much as his others. The descriptions seemed more juvenile than other YA books, as did the conversations.
As I read this, I kept in mind my 8-year-old Godson, who loves to read and reads way above his age. I think the descriptions might be a little over his head and there are a couple of parts that might be too descriptive (ex. when Daniel defeats the alien).
I know this is the first of a series of about 6 or 7 books, but I won't be reading the rest of them.
It's rare that I don't care much for a James Patterson book, but The Dangerous Days of Daniel X is one of those rare instances.
Daniel is a 15-year-old boy who lost him paretns when they were killed by an alien known as "The Prayer." As Daniel grows up, he follows in his father's footsteps as an alien hunter, crossing aliens off his father's list. When Daniel comes up against #6 on his list, he realizes he might not be as strong as he thinks. After being overpowered by the alien, Daniel is taken to his home planet where his powers grow, he learns about his family, and finally is able to defeat the alien.
As this is one of James Patterson's YA books, it was written more simply than his normal novels. The chapters were still super short and it's still a fast read, but I didn't find myself enjoying it as much as his others. The descriptions seemed more juvenile than other YA books, as did the conversations.
As I read this, I kept in mind my 8-year-old Godson, who loves to read and reads way above his age. I think the descriptions might be a little over his head and there are a couple of parts that might be too descriptive (ex. when Daniel defeats the alien).
I know this is the first of a series of about 6 or 7 books, but I won't be reading the rest of them.
dhilderbrand's review against another edition
Yuck! It is supposed to be sci-fi, but yuck! I didn't enjoy it at all. I am glad it was so short!
chloetaylor's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0