The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
gingerblack's review
4.0
Mysteries, humanity and the ever present battle with technology. Things we deal with everyday. Now here is a plausible series of what can happen when it all goes wrong.
blood_rose_books's review
5.0
4.5 Stars
In the first in a series and debut novel by A.J. Eversley, she takes the reader to dystopia Earth, where machines that look like human rule and the humans that are left are slowly losing the battle save humanity:
Sawyer is the younger Watcher in her resistance that is sworn to protect humanity. It is her job to watch over the city and protect the few humans that are left. The Bots and Carbons that come out each day to try and find the last humans so they can be taken away to who knows what fate have been changing and evolving. They have now decided to target the Watcher's themselves. On a rescue mission Sawyer is faced to make a choice who lives and who dies. But something about this mission does not add up, someone has betrayed them. Sawyer made a promise to protect humanity, but that comes at a cost as she tries to figure out who is friend and who is foe and who ultimately needs to die.
This was a really interesting debut novel and I really enjoyed getting to know the world and main characters that Eversley created. The world is very interesting, you can tell that Eversley used some tried and true ideas from other popular media forms, but I think that overall she was able to make them her own on most fronts by blending them together. I did not sit there reading thinking to myself oh here we go again with any of the ideas presented in this book. Additionally, I think that Eversley understood the flow that this book needed, and while it was fast paced moving from action scene to action scene, Eversley also took the time to let the reader get to know the two main characters better.
I enjoy reading within the dystopia genre and some of them have been geared towards YA readers and what I really appreciate with what Eversley did within this book is to not make the book about Sawyer's romance or the need to have a guy help/save her (and also a plus in my books is that there does not seem to be a love triangle coming...finally). So this leads me to not only enjoying this book more but also liking Sawyer as a character. Though at times I found her slightly immature in her thinking process or her actions outside of a battle, but that was something more that would come in time and maturity which I do not expect Sawyer to have yet even though she has had to grow up in a war zone. Like I said above I was extremely happy that she was not boy obsessed and when push comes to shove she will do what needs to be done, even if that means killing someone. With this being said you can probably guess that there are some darker undertones within this book that I was not expecting as well.
This book was like part Matrix part Terminator, so if either of those descriptors piqued your interest you should check this book out. This was great debut novel and I am looking forward to continuing on with the series. I am really looking forward to where Eversley takes the readers next.
Enjoy!!!
In the first in a series and debut novel by A.J. Eversley, she takes the reader to dystopia Earth, where machines that look like human rule and the humans that are left are slowly losing the battle save humanity:
Sawyer is the younger Watcher in her resistance that is sworn to protect humanity. It is her job to watch over the city and protect the few humans that are left. The Bots and Carbons that come out each day to try and find the last humans so they can be taken away to who knows what fate have been changing and evolving. They have now decided to target the Watcher's themselves. On a rescue mission Sawyer is faced to make a choice who lives and who dies. But something about this mission does not add up, someone has betrayed them. Sawyer made a promise to protect humanity, but that comes at a cost as she tries to figure out who is friend and who is foe and who ultimately needs to die.
This was a really interesting debut novel and I really enjoyed getting to know the world and main characters that Eversley created. The world is very interesting, you can tell that Eversley used some tried and true ideas from other popular media forms, but I think that overall she was able to make them her own on most fronts by blending them together. I did not sit there reading thinking to myself oh here we go again with any of the ideas presented in this book. Additionally, I think that Eversley understood the flow that this book needed, and while it was fast paced moving from action scene to action scene, Eversley also took the time to let the reader get to know the two main characters better.
I enjoy reading within the dystopia genre and some of them have been geared towards YA readers and what I really appreciate with what Eversley did within this book is to not make the book about Sawyer's romance or the need to have a guy help/save her (and also a plus in my books is that there does not seem to be a love triangle coming...finally). So this leads me to not only enjoying this book more but also liking Sawyer as a character. Though at times I found her slightly immature in her thinking process or her actions outside of a battle, but that was something more that would come in time and maturity which I do not expect Sawyer to have yet even though she has had to grow up in a war zone. Like I said above I was extremely happy that she was not boy obsessed and when push comes to shove she will do what needs to be done, even if that means killing someone. With this being said you can probably guess that there are some darker undertones within this book that I was not expecting as well.
This book was like part Matrix part Terminator, so if either of those descriptors piqued your interest you should check this book out. This was great debut novel and I am looking forward to continuing on with the series. I am really looking forward to where Eversley takes the readers next.
Enjoy!!!
allyah's review
3.0
Characterization, world-building, and the "science" in science fiction takes a backseat to the action and romance in this quick-paced YA book. The author relies a little too much on telling instead of showing, some things are a little too convenient, and I'm, spoiler alert, all out of f's top give about a main character being up upset about certain characters dying when I haven't been shown any reason why the main character should care (just saying they were close doesn't cut it). This book could have benefited from being fleshed out and being split into two. Still enjoyable to read and the target audience probably largely won't notice it's short-comings.
si0bhan's review
4.0
Watcher is the first book in A.J. Eversley’s Watcher series, and I’m interested in seeing what book two brings. Although this wasn’t quite a full four-star rating, it was so close I had to round up. It’s one of those books that slowly works into you, slowly leaves you wanting more, until you’re sucked in so deep and cannot wait to see how everything comes together.
I’ll be completely honest and say it takes a few chapters before you’re completely sucked into this one. Things start off with action – which is great – but it is a while before all the pieces of the puzzle start to come together. We had a world we do not understand, a character I did not like that much, and I was tentative for the future of the book. However, sticking with this one quickly pulls you in much deeper, and gives you so much in return.
Like many young adult dystopian novels, this book is filled with action and the work of bad guys. What makes this book stand out is the different topic – usually it’s just a case of overthrowing the government because the kids are in a precarious situation, but such is not the case here. We have a clear threat to the world, a clear evil that needs to be dealt with – while human evil is part of this, there is also something more. It certainly makes this one stand out amongst the other young adult dystopian novels on the market.
Of course, there are some necessities of the genre throughout this one. We have the romance, the deep friendship, the heartbreak, and a number of the other tropes – however, they are so well mixed into the story that I found myself uncaring about the occasional cliché element. I think, in part, this is because so much occurred throughout this story. From the very first page, something is happening in this one – events are non-stop, leaving you sucked in throughout.
Without a doubt, this one ended up surprising me. I wasn’t sure at first, but by the end I was addicted. There is no doubt of me diving into Carbon, book two.
I’ll be completely honest and say it takes a few chapters before you’re completely sucked into this one. Things start off with action – which is great – but it is a while before all the pieces of the puzzle start to come together. We had a world we do not understand, a character I did not like that much, and I was tentative for the future of the book. However, sticking with this one quickly pulls you in much deeper, and gives you so much in return.
Like many young adult dystopian novels, this book is filled with action and the work of bad guys. What makes this book stand out is the different topic – usually it’s just a case of overthrowing the government because the kids are in a precarious situation, but such is not the case here. We have a clear threat to the world, a clear evil that needs to be dealt with – while human evil is part of this, there is also something more. It certainly makes this one stand out amongst the other young adult dystopian novels on the market.
Of course, there are some necessities of the genre throughout this one. We have the romance, the deep friendship, the heartbreak, and a number of the other tropes – however, they are so well mixed into the story that I found myself uncaring about the occasional cliché element. I think, in part, this is because so much occurred throughout this story. From the very first page, something is happening in this one – events are non-stop, leaving you sucked in throughout.
Without a doubt, this one ended up surprising me. I wasn’t sure at first, but by the end I was addicted. There is no doubt of me diving into Carbon, book two.
saccalai's review
3.0
It took me a couple of chapters to get into the book as the start is mostly Sawyer going on about how fast and clever she is. She comes across as quite conceited rather than just confident, though I guess she's always had to act super-tough to fit in with the guys. However, I soon got pulled into the world and the story. It's a futuristic story where robots and Carbons have overrun the city and humans are being targeted.
Kenzie is a real mystery throughout the book. He's a very interesting character who seems genuine but you can never be sure.
I enjoyed the reading by 2 narrators. I think it gave a better feel for the 2 main characters.
I'm interested to carry on with the series.
Kenzie is a real mystery throughout the book. He's a very interesting character who seems genuine but you can never be sure.
I enjoyed the reading by 2 narrators. I think it gave a better feel for the 2 main characters.
I'm interested to carry on with the series.
aconitecafe's review
4.0
Overall this story is creepily realistic. Well thought out world building and premise. A few points fell flat for me, where I was thinking, okay get on with it already. But the twists made the wait worth it. Definitely worth reading if you are into post apocalyptic books. I look forward to discovering what happens next in Sawyers journey.
amia's review
4.0
Watcher took a few chapters to completely grab my attention but then I could not put the book down. I had to know the next turn was completed, discover who did what and if they survived. Overall, it is a really good dystopian tale, it is included in the collection of twelve apocalyptic/dystopian novels included in the enormous and awesome collection : Uprising . I highly recommend it and know that if this is a genre you like you will love this book.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this ARC and this is my honest and freely given review.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this ARC and this is my honest and freely given review.
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