sc104906's review against another edition
2.0
A "virus" has attacked various teenagers around the planet, giving them superpowers. The world is also experiencing various terrorist attacks. The infected teenagers may be able to save the world, or they may be destroying it. This is a series, which I will not be continuing on with. I didn't like any of the characters, they were all blah and the redeeming qualities weren't really all that redeeming. This book was ehn and I probably won't recommend it to others. It was a valiant effort, but I really couldn't get into it.
the_lady_reads's review against another edition
2.0
1.5 Stars
Goodness me, Blackout was not what I was expecting, and I must say that is not a good thing. This was my first book by Robison Wells and I had high hopes. The synopsis was pretty intriguing and original. Too bad it fell flat for me. I had seen some mixed ratings for this novel, but I try not to let my opinions on books be affected by others until I can form my own so I ignored them and decided to give Blackout a shot. I really wish I hadn't.
Blackout follows the lives of four teens, Alec, Laura, Aubrey and Jack, during the start of a reign of terror. All four of these kids suffer from a new virus that has caused them to manifest powers. Each of them as their own background that causes them to react differently to the manifestation and the journey that follows could be the start of the end of the world.
The background of the "virus" and the mutations that this teens had formed was severely lacking in depth. I had no grasp on why this was happening, how it was happening or really even what was happening. There wasn't enough detail for the reader to get a good grasp on the events of this novel. Maybe they will be explained further down the road, but I can't do that. I struggle with a book when I'm not completely in the know. I think that readers that are good with some intrigue will enjoy this--but that's not me.
I also loathed the characters. Do you know how difficult it is to read, and try to enjoy, a novel when you can't stand the characters about which you are reading? In case you didn't realize, it's extremely difficult. Not only did I not like them, I felt like I didn't know them. I couldn't tell you their motivation for anything. I didn't understand where they were coming from. Some of the changes in these characters seemed spontaneous and didn't tie in well to the story. It just didn't fit. Due to my struggle to form a connection to them, I contemplated putting the book several times, but there was the nagging voice in my head that kept saying, "What if it is about to get good?" Spoiler alert: It didn't. By the end, I sort of liked Aubrey and Jack, but as bad as this is to say, I really want someone to kill Laura and Alec, or at least lock them up and never talk to me about them again. They were utterly infuriating and I could hardly stand it.
Every once in awhile, I come across a book where I think, "What's the point?" Blackout was one of those book. It was too jumbled, like the author was having trouble mixing these ideas together. It dragged a lot, but at the same time… It moved too quickly. Does that even make sense? The author definitely should have explain the situations, the virus and the terrorism a lot more to make the story feel more believable. I don't think I'll be picking up the sequel, and honestly, I am a bit hesitant to read anything else by this author.
I received an e-copy of this novel from the publisher for my honest opinion and review via Edelweiss.
This review can also be seen here on my blog.
Goodness me, Blackout was not what I was expecting, and I must say that is not a good thing. This was my first book by Robison Wells and I had high hopes. The synopsis was pretty intriguing and original. Too bad it fell flat for me. I had seen some mixed ratings for this novel, but I try not to let my opinions on books be affected by others until I can form my own so I ignored them and decided to give Blackout a shot. I really wish I hadn't.
Blackout follows the lives of four teens, Alec, Laura, Aubrey and Jack, during the start of a reign of terror. All four of these kids suffer from a new virus that has caused them to manifest powers. Each of them as their own background that causes them to react differently to the manifestation and the journey that follows could be the start of the end of the world.
The background of the "virus" and the mutations that this teens had formed was severely lacking in depth. I had no grasp on why this was happening, how it was happening or really even what was happening. There wasn't enough detail for the reader to get a good grasp on the events of this novel. Maybe they will be explained further down the road, but I can't do that. I struggle with a book when I'm not completely in the know. I think that readers that are good with some intrigue will enjoy this--but that's not me.
I also loathed the characters. Do you know how difficult it is to read, and try to enjoy, a novel when you can't stand the characters about which you are reading? In case you didn't realize, it's extremely difficult. Not only did I not like them, I felt like I didn't know them. I couldn't tell you their motivation for anything. I didn't understand where they were coming from. Some of the changes in these characters seemed spontaneous and didn't tie in well to the story. It just didn't fit. Due to my struggle to form a connection to them, I contemplated putting the book several times, but there was the nagging voice in my head that kept saying, "What if it is about to get good?" Spoiler alert: It didn't. By the end, I sort of liked Aubrey and Jack, but as bad as this is to say, I really want someone to kill Laura and Alec, or at least lock them up and never talk to me about them again. They were utterly infuriating and I could hardly stand it.
Every once in awhile, I come across a book where I think, "What's the point?" Blackout was one of those book. It was too jumbled, like the author was having trouble mixing these ideas together. It dragged a lot, but at the same time… It moved too quickly. Does that even make sense? The author definitely should have explain the situations, the virus and the terrorism a lot more to make the story feel more believable. I don't think I'll be picking up the sequel, and honestly, I am a bit hesitant to read anything else by this author.
I received an e-copy of this novel from the publisher for my honest opinion and review via Edelweiss.
This review can also be seen here on my blog.
rebelrider's review against another edition
3.0
This book was okay. It had a decent idea, I liked the powers, and the plot was good. My main problem was it didn't engage me and another thing that annoyed me was that the terrorists' motivation wasn't fleshed out even though they were POV characters. I wanted to know why they were attacking the US. What had happened that made them this way and how did they justify it? Now that the enemy is more clear, as of the last sentence in the book, there will hopefully be more fleshing out of the enemy's POV.
pieshypie's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed the book. I would have given it another star if there had been any hint as to WHY everything was happening. If it was there, I totally missed it. Still a great book and can’t wait to jump into the next book.
chllybrd's review against another edition
3.0
As the blurb states, a mysterious virus is spreading that only infects teenagers. All the teens are rounded up and tested for the virus and those that have it are taken away to the unknown. Jack and Aubrey are no longer friends but when they see all their friends being round-up at prom they successfully hide and escape being round-up. Unfortunately that doesn't last long and they are eventually taken like the rest of the teens and test positive for the virus. Laura and Alec use their superpowers for evil. They are part if a terrorist group trying to take down America and now they infiltrate the other kids that have been found to have the virus to further their destruction.
I enjoyed BLACKOUT but there were way to many POV's. Looking at other reviews this is a common complaint. It was akin to getting whiplash jumping from one character to the other and it kept me from feeling connected to them and becoming fully invested in their struggles. I did still enjoy the storyline. The pace was fast and the story did have a way of drawing you in. The virus giving superpowers was a fun concept. I wanted to contract the virus by the end of the book! I think we could have learned more about the virus. The author doesn't really dive into it like I wanted. I also was not crazy about how the book ended.
I could probably be persuaded to pick up the next book in the series but it's not one of my must buy, wish list series. It has potential though so maybe I will be surprised.
I enjoyed BLACKOUT but there were way to many POV's. Looking at other reviews this is a common complaint. It was akin to getting whiplash jumping from one character to the other and it kept me from feeling connected to them and becoming fully invested in their struggles. I did still enjoy the storyline. The pace was fast and the story did have a way of drawing you in. The virus giving superpowers was a fun concept. I wanted to contract the virus by the end of the book! I think we could have learned more about the virus. The author doesn't really dive into it like I wanted. I also was not crazy about how the book ended.
I could probably be persuaded to pick up the next book in the series but it's not one of my must buy, wish list series. It has potential though so maybe I will be surprised.
sarahonthecoast's review against another edition
3.0
I didn't love it but this book gets an extra star for being at least a little bit original.
In a seemingly never ending stream of young adult dystopian novels, Blackout has managed to be just unique enough to set itself apart. Although it’s predictable, this new twist on the future of our country is fast-paced, action packed, and will please dystopian fans. The major cliffhanger will leave them scrambling to get their hands on the next installment.
In a seemingly never ending stream of young adult dystopian novels, Blackout has managed to be just unique enough to set itself apart. Although it’s predictable, this new twist on the future of our country is fast-paced, action packed, and will please dystopian fans. The major cliffhanger will leave them scrambling to get their hands on the next installment.
mvsstevens's review against another edition
1.0
I felt as though I' d joined in the middle of a conversation and once I finally caught on, everybody just walked away.
Forced myself to finish.
Forced myself to finish.
breerashel's review against another edition
3.0
I had a hard time with this book. The world building was not done as well as I would have liked. It's like the author wanted everything in the book to be taken at face value without anyone wanting any answers or for the author to delve deeper into the subject matter. I didn't understand the exact goal of the terrorists or the purpose of infecting other people with superpowers. I guess that could have been an accident that they did not account for. The author never gives a definitive answer about any of anything.
I liked the book but I wanted more depth. I wanted more from the characters other than saying that Laura wants to be in a position of power even though her comrades think that she is a pretty, dumb, and blond. That is literally all we find out about her over the course of the book. I thought that the idea of terrorists that are super powered was an interesting one. It makes it more difficult to defeat an enemy that have an clear advantage over soldiers. It evens the odds to have other teenagers have powers as well but not know if there are terrorists among them. The whole concept was intriguing.
https://fictionedtodeath.blogspot.com/
I liked the book but I wanted more depth. I wanted more from the characters other than saying that Laura wants to be in a position of power even though her comrades think that she is a pretty, dumb, and blond. That is literally all we find out about her over the course of the book. I thought that the idea of terrorists that are super powered was an interesting one. It makes it more difficult to defeat an enemy that have an clear advantage over soldiers. It evens the odds to have other teenagers have powers as well but not know if there are terrorists among them. The whole concept was intriguing.
https://fictionedtodeath.blogspot.com/
siobhan27's review against another edition
4.0
What I love about the YA genre is its ability to create fantastical situations without taking away from great characterization. And something that I loved most about Blackout by Robison Wells was the character growth that happened right along with the plot growth. It was trill ride that I loved reading.
I will admit that I have never read anything by Robison Wells before. I have Variant on one of my many bookshelves but I have never gotten around to reading it. But I am so glad I picked up his latest book because damn, was it good.
The characters were my favorite aspect of the story because they were never overdone to the point where you question their actions. I feel that in YA, some authors have a need to create the perfect main character, especially if there is a love interest. But in Blackout the character were real, and dealt with craptastic situations in a very real teenager way. By freaking out and then thinking rationally after. The growth not only in the character but also the plot was great.
I did love that Robison took a genre that is beloved--Super powers in teenagers--and turned it into something that is familiar to this generation--terrorism. although I did find that the plot lagged in places, I found myself really intrigued by the characters and what they meant to the overall story line. We get a glimpse of this throughout the book, but there are still many questions that need to be answered. And I seriously cannot wait until the next book comes out so I can continue this awesome story.
I will admit that I have never read anything by Robison Wells before. I have Variant on one of my many bookshelves but I have never gotten around to reading it. But I am so glad I picked up his latest book because damn, was it good.
The characters were my favorite aspect of the story because they were never overdone to the point where you question their actions. I feel that in YA, some authors have a need to create the perfect main character, especially if there is a love interest. But in Blackout the character were real, and dealt with craptastic situations in a very real teenager way. By freaking out and then thinking rationally after. The growth not only in the character but also the plot was great.
I did love that Robison took a genre that is beloved--Super powers in teenagers--and turned it into something that is familiar to this generation--terrorism. although I did find that the plot lagged in places, I found myself really intrigued by the characters and what they meant to the overall story line. We get a glimpse of this throughout the book, but there are still many questions that need to be answered. And I seriously cannot wait until the next book comes out so I can continue this awesome story.