markmtz's review against another edition
2.0
I picked up this novel after I learned it was the inspiration for a short-lived CBS television series, Intelligence. As it turns out, the book and the show have only one thing in common. The main character of each has a microchip implanted in his body. In the novel. it's not about the microchip, or "cheep", as the evil doctor, whose hobby is making kids "sing" with torture, calls it. It's about the sixteen year-old kid with a passion for boxing who has been manipulated into a vicious juvenile boot camp that secretly trains kids to be mercenaries for a megalomaniac out to remake the world to his own standards. The story is well-written but after finishing, I don't feel a need to continue in the series. Curiously, I think the television series would have been more interesting if it had adapted the novel instead of merely taking inspiration from it.
wayamariana's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
tense
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? Yes
5.0
tessa_grayreading's review
1.0
Psychopaths who want to take over the world, clueless kids who do not understand anything even after it has beaten them to an inch of their life multiple times, a female character who cannot do anything besides wish the hero will come and save her, endless running through the jungle, completely unnecessary moral dilemmas whenever they're faced with any kind of decision and the most obvious plot twists I have come across in a while.
Consider me unimpressed.
Consider me unimpressed.
maryelena07's review
4.0
3,5 ★.
En este libro está basada la serie de televisión "Intelligence"; Gabriel Vaughn (interpretado por Josh Holloway) es un operador de inteligencia de alta tecnología, mejorado con un microchip de una super-computadora en su cerebro. Con este implante, Gabriel es el primer humano conectado directamente la red de información global, con esto puede ingresar en cualquier centro de datos e ingresar a la inteligencia, la cual es fundamental en la lucha para proteger a Estados Unidos de sus enemigos. Vaughn está bajo el ala de Lillian Strand, quien es la directora de la agencia de seguridad cibernética del gobierno de élite que lo apoya y supervisa las misiones de la unidad. Strand asigna a Riley Neal, una agente del servicio secreto, para proteger a Gabriel de las amenazas externas, así como de su apetito por el comportamiento impredecible imprudente, y el desprecio por el protocolo. Mientras tanto, Gabriel se aprovecha de su chip para buscar a su esposa que desapareció hace años en una misión comandada por la CIA.
Toda una trama futurísta con toques de romance que funcionó muy bien hasta que la cancelaron... :/
El libro no es como la serie. El protagonista es Carl Freeman, un adolescente huérfano con un historial policial bastante extenso, en donde su "crimen" es siempre el mismo: agresión, pero motivada para defender a los inocentes que están siendo agredidos por un tercero. El sistema ya no sabe que hacer con Carl y en lugar de enviarlo a prisión lo envían a Phoenix Island, una isla fuera del territorio de los EEUU donde bajo un régimen casi militar se pretende crear hábitos a estos "prisioneros" para re-insertarlos luego en la sociedad. La isla está dividida en varios sectores en donde en cada uno de ellos se somete a castigos físicos y psicológicos a Carl y sus compañeros reclusos. La verdad que la isla no es ningún paraíso y no hay forma de salir.... en otras palabras es una institución de experimentación con la finalidad de crear soldados perfectos, con la ayuda de tecnología que los haga eficientes y resistentes.
La historia es desesperante en algunos momentos!! Ya que realmente no hay forma de salir y las personas que resultan importantes para Carl en la isla se convierte en su punto más débil cuando Stark, el jefe de toda la operación, se da cuenta de que Carl es el candidato ideal para probar el primer prototipo mejorado del chip cerebral.
Es definitivamente una historia distópica y tiene un final acorde a este género, pero me pareció adecuado. Se podría decir que el libro sería una especie de precuela de la serie de TV.... cuando el chico se convierte en un agente del servicio militar y jura cumplir la promesa que le realizó a su padre antes de morir.
"This is what I do, Carl. And someday when you grow up, it will be up to you to protect them, all the people who can’t fend for themselves. A good man won’t give in to fear when there’s work to be done and someone needs him. Will you do it?
And Carl’s reply: Yes. I promise . . ."
En este libro está basada la serie de televisión "Intelligence"; Gabriel Vaughn (interpretado por Josh Holloway) es un operador de inteligencia de alta tecnología, mejorado con un microchip de una super-computadora en su cerebro. Con este implante, Gabriel es el primer humano conectado directamente la red de información global, con esto puede ingresar en cualquier centro de datos e ingresar a la inteligencia, la cual es fundamental en la lucha para proteger a Estados Unidos de sus enemigos. Vaughn está bajo el ala de Lillian Strand, quien es la directora de la agencia de seguridad cibernética del gobierno de élite que lo apoya y supervisa las misiones de la unidad. Strand asigna a Riley Neal, una agente del servicio secreto, para proteger a Gabriel de las amenazas externas, así como de su apetito por el comportamiento impredecible imprudente, y el desprecio por el protocolo. Mientras tanto, Gabriel se aprovecha de su chip para buscar a su esposa que desapareció hace años en una misión comandada por la CIA.
Toda una trama futurísta con toques de romance que funcionó muy bien hasta que la cancelaron... :/
El libro no es como la serie. El protagonista es Carl Freeman, un adolescente huérfano con un historial policial bastante extenso, en donde su "crimen" es siempre el mismo: agresión, pero motivada para defender a los inocentes que están siendo agredidos por un tercero. El sistema ya no sabe que hacer con Carl y en lugar de enviarlo a prisión lo envían a Phoenix Island, una isla fuera del territorio de los EEUU donde bajo un régimen casi militar se pretende crear hábitos a estos "prisioneros" para re-insertarlos luego en la sociedad. La isla está dividida en varios sectores en donde en cada uno de ellos se somete a castigos físicos y psicológicos a Carl y sus compañeros reclusos. La verdad que la isla no es ningún paraíso y no hay forma de salir.... en otras palabras es una institución de experimentación con la finalidad de crear soldados perfectos, con la ayuda de tecnología que los haga eficientes y resistentes.
La historia es desesperante en algunos momentos!! Ya que realmente no hay forma de salir y las personas que resultan importantes para Carl en la isla se convierte en su punto más débil cuando Stark, el jefe de toda la operación, se da cuenta de que Carl es el candidato ideal para probar el primer prototipo mejorado del chip cerebral.
Es definitivamente una historia distópica y tiene un final acorde a este género, pero me pareció adecuado. Se podría decir que el libro sería una especie de precuela de la serie de TV.... cuando el chico se convierte en un agente del servicio militar y jura cumplir la promesa que le realizó a su padre antes de morir.
"This is what I do, Carl. And someday when you grow up, it will be up to you to protect them, all the people who can’t fend for themselves. A good man won’t give in to fear when there’s work to be done and someone needs him. Will you do it?
And Carl’s reply: Yes. I promise . . ."
shortstack930's review
3.0
Wasn't crazy about it. I liked Carl's character growth but felt like his romance with Octavia lacked any real sparks.
unknownbooks23's review
4.0
This book, while falling into a category of young adult fiction that I read from quite a bit, is not something I would have picked up on my own. It is well written and at times almost believable, and I found myself not wanting to put the book down.
That said, while I was reading, I found myself outraged at the treatment the kids are forced to endure for the sake of "progress." I found myself outraged at the fact that in this book's setting, orphans are considered easily disposed of since no one cares for them anyway. I found myself seething every time Carl had to listen to the leader, Stark, go on about his dream for humanity. Realizing that this is fiction and not real, the subject matter nonetheless invoked frustration at the orphans' plight, because no matter how you looked at it, who would have believed these kids anyway?
This is not a book I would recommend to everyone, because there is violence and abuse. But if you are interested in dystopian fiction, then definitely feel free to pick this up.
That said, while I was reading, I found myself outraged at the treatment the kids are forced to endure for the sake of "progress." I found myself outraged at the fact that in this book's setting, orphans are considered easily disposed of since no one cares for them anyway. I found myself seething every time Carl had to listen to the leader, Stark, go on about his dream for humanity. Realizing that this is fiction and not real, the subject matter nonetheless invoked frustration at the orphans' plight, because no matter how you looked at it, who would have believed these kids anyway?
This is not a book I would recommend to everyone, because there is violence and abuse. But if you are interested in dystopian fiction, then definitely feel free to pick this up.
didyousaybooks's review against another edition
4.0
3,5 I received an arc copy of this book via netgalley in exchange of an honest review
ok if you followed my reading, you'll know I was quite excited with this book.
Why put 3.5 stars then, you'll ask?
It's easy I prefered the first half of the book to the second. That being said it was still a good entertaining, action-packed read. And a read full of violence too.
What I liked:
the book started right away and you get a first glimpse of who's Carl, our main character, in the real world, then it moved quickly to the camp part.
Carl is a very headstrong boy, and while his a great fighter his mind and spirit is really what helped me the most.
I liked the idea, there is definitely a Lord of the Flies feel to this story. A bunch of teenagers on a island, with violence and manipulation. Expect in this case there are girls, even if it doesn't really change anything really, but most of all adults and no freedom at all. Here the teenagers are not abandonned to themselves, quite the contrary actually, which bring to the story a totally different angle, even if at the end the manipulation and isolation also ends in really radical group behavior.
Also the book deals with bullying. With a military-type of order on the island, it paints it in the most violent way. Carl hates bullies, that's why he ended up in the camp in the first place, and this book is full of them. And the worst kind: bullies that feel entitled to what's they're are doing.
Yes, here, the bullies are teenagers but worst adults. Of course, I'm not naïve enough to think people stop to bully at 18 or later in life (I do hope they stop at some point) but to me, adults in position of power are the worst kind of bullies. Either they go on with it because no one tell them to stop or even worst, because they're asked to do so. And get a kick out of it.
So yeah, put a bunch of violent, orphaned teenagers, an isolated island out of reach and under no civilized laws, military experts in physical and psychological abuse and you have Phoenix Island. It's not a light read, but a powerful one. It feels like the feelings, good or bad, are developing quickly, but it's not wonder with character living in such an ostracized environment. That's why the relationships developed and some of Carl reactions felt ok to me.
I think what is to be taken out of a book of the genre is the "probability" of the situation told to us. And what I liked the most. I'm not saying the US government is sending troubled orphan to deadly boot camp, but compare to vampire or magic books, it's way more a possibility.
It's no secret children soldier are indeed a sad reality in some countries so a story of the genre isn't so far a stretch and that's what I liked the most in the first half of the novel.
Which lead me to the thing I enjoyed less.The science experiment to enhance soldiers.
The idea in itself isn't a bad one and it's been done before but I felt it didn't bring anything to the story. Carl could have struggle through it all without that part.
It not really the experimentation on people that bothered me but the less believable "chip" thingy and all that kind of defeated the purpose but I guess it help Carl overcoming all the injuries he got.
Also the special commando unit was a good idea to explain what happened to the people that went to the medical place but the motives behind "the Old Man" plan are still kind of blurry and one dimensional to me. Is he a power-angry anarchist? And what with his obsession with Carl for so many years...?
Those were the elements that made the story a little less enjoyable for me at the end.
In all, I feel after the first excitation wore off, Phoenix Island ended up to be more predictable than I expected. With the theme and the outcome and yet still a good read.
It was definitely a violent one and if you don't like boot camps, torture and death, just don't read that book. If it doesn't bother you, give it a try.
Boys and girl can read the book obviously but the book definitely has a boyish feel. I don't say that for many books but it is more probable to attract the male readership. Like Muchamore's Cherub series for instance.
Also I love the cover. Too bad I don't have a physical copy of the book...
ok if you followed my reading, you'll know I was quite excited with this book.
Why put 3.5 stars then, you'll ask?
It's easy I prefered the first half of the book to the second. That being said it was still a good entertaining, action-packed read. And a read full of violence too.
What I liked:
the book started right away and you get a first glimpse of who's Carl, our main character, in the real world, then it moved quickly to the camp part.
Carl is a very headstrong boy, and while his a great fighter his mind and spirit is really what helped me the most.
I liked the idea, there is definitely a Lord of the Flies feel to this story. A bunch of teenagers on a island, with violence and manipulation. Expect in this case there are girls, even if it doesn't really change anything really, but most of all adults and no freedom at all. Here the teenagers are not abandonned to themselves, quite the contrary actually, which bring to the story a totally different angle, even if at the end the manipulation and isolation also ends in really radical group behavior.
Also the book deals with bullying. With a military-type of order on the island, it paints it in the most violent way. Carl hates bullies, that's why he ended up in the camp in the first place, and this book is full of them. And the worst kind: bullies that feel entitled to what's they're are doing.
Yes, here, the bullies are teenagers but worst adults. Of course, I'm not naïve enough to think people stop to bully at 18 or later in life (I do hope they stop at some point) but to me, adults in position of power are the worst kind of bullies. Either they go on with it because no one tell them to stop or even worst, because they're asked to do so. And get a kick out of it.
So yeah, put a bunch of violent, orphaned teenagers, an isolated island out of reach and under no civilized laws, military experts in physical and psychological abuse and you have Phoenix Island. It's not a light read, but a powerful one. It feels like the feelings, good or bad, are developing quickly, but it's not wonder with character living in such an ostracized environment. That's why the relationships developed and some of Carl reactions felt ok to me.
I think what is to be taken out of a book of the genre is the "probability" of the situation told to us. And what I liked the most. I'm not saying the US government is sending troubled orphan to deadly boot camp, but compare to vampire or magic books, it's way more a possibility.
It's no secret children soldier are indeed a sad reality in some countries so a story of the genre isn't so far a stretch and that's what I liked the most in the first half of the novel.
Which lead me to the thing I enjoyed less.
The idea in itself isn't a bad one and it's been done before but I felt it didn't bring anything to the story. Carl could have struggle through it all without that part.
It not really the experimentation on people that bothered me but the less believable
Also the special commando unit was a good idea to explain what happened to the people that went to the medical place but the motives behind "the Old Man" plan are still kind of blurry and one dimensional to me. Is he a power-angry anarchist? And what with his obsession with Carl for so many years...?
Those were the elements that made the story a little less enjoyable for me at the end.
In all, I feel after the first excitation wore off, Phoenix Island ended up to be more predictable than I expected. With the theme and the outcome and yet still a good read.
It was definitely a violent one and if you don't like boot camps, torture and death, just don't read that book. If it doesn't bother you, give it a try.
Boys and girl can read the book obviously but the book definitely has a boyish feel. I don't say that for many books but it is more probable to attract the male readership. Like Muchamore's Cherub series for instance.
Also I love the cover. Too bad I don't have a physical copy of the book...
heatherreadsbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Teen orphan Carl Freeman is punished for overstepping the line one too many times with violence. As a young and praised boxer, he uses his talents to fight for those he feels need defending. His latest assault is the tipping point, seeing him sent to Phoenix Island.
At first it seems a mere military boot camp, where he will be 'rehabilitated' until his 18th birthday, but between the brute force of the commanders and the secrets spread as rumours, it proves more than he imagined.
You will soon grow to hate the word "HOOAH!" and wish to never hear it again. But the book is actually surprisingly grabbing - a cross of Lord of the Flies (my input) and Rocky (friend's input when described to her) - and you can't help but wonder how it will work itself out.
The actual fights are will written, better than most hand-to-hand combat comes off on the page, and it shows them battle many challenges along the way. Carl is driven by his emotions, but you can see that he had good intentions for the most part. You can't help back his determination.
Parker felt a bit one dimensional - bad for the sake of being bad - where as Stark had a little more to work with. Page turner, and something a wee bit different for me anyway.
At first it seems a mere military boot camp, where he will be 'rehabilitated' until his 18th birthday, but between the brute force of the commanders and the secrets spread as rumours, it proves more than he imagined.
You will soon grow to hate the word "HOOAH!" and wish to never hear it again. But the book is actually surprisingly grabbing - a cross of Lord of the Flies (my input) and Rocky (friend's input when described to her) - and you can't help but wonder how it will work itself out.
The actual fights are will written, better than most hand-to-hand combat comes off on the page, and it shows them battle many challenges along the way. Carl is driven by his emotions, but you can see that he had good intentions for the most part. You can't help back his determination.
Parker felt a bit one dimensional - bad for the sake of being bad - where as Stark had a little more to work with. Page turner, and something a wee bit different for me anyway.
aadaenyaa's review against another edition
This was excellent! It's not my usual type of story, but it kept me engaged and coming back for me to find out what happens. I'm expecting a sequel. It has also made me interested in the show based on it, but I'm avoiding it as I'm sure its set far in this character's future.