barb4ry1's review against another edition
3.0
Actual rating: 3.5/5
The book hooked me with the title - what on Earth does it mean?
It turns out it's a prison. Scary and creepy one.
The story follows John Dray, a survivor of a brutal alien invasion. He lives in remains of Belfast and he's a regular teenager trying to survive and help his less resourceful siblings. He’s caught up in a conspiracy which threatens Earth and everyone he loves.
The story contains a strong mix of action, mystery, and politics. And did I mention a galactic war between strange species? Because there is one and humanity may be already lost.
The characters we follow are young and bit angsty. They feel real, I'll give you that. On the other hand, teenagers feeling real involves plenty of emotions and questionable behaviors. I remember being a teenager once but thankfully it's over and done. I usually have a hard time rooting for teenagers. It does happen, but it didn't happen here for big part of the book. To be fair, though, I need to emphasize this is a very intelligent book - (don't look for a savior figure/trope). But also dark and brutal - the terror imposed by alien-invasion is palpable. I can see why things went this way and not the other. While the characters feel and act as young survivors, it's definitely not a YA book. Unless YA became bleakly realistic and devastating? I mean, life pictured in the book isn't a magical quest, it's a desperate struggle from one moment to the next and the hope is in short supply.
Human characters are well defined and, to some extent, relatable. The Zelotyr and Barath’na less so, but they still feel interesting and unique (I can be wrong here as I read too little Sci-fi and my knowledge of the genre is limited).
The conclusion of the book is satisfying and suggests that Zebedee is an excellent story architect - it's hard to guess it but it was there almost from the beginning.
In the end, I would say it's clever, intelligent and gritty dystopian tale worth trying. I gave it 3.5 stars only because I had a hard time connecting with the characters and lack of emotional component tends to decrease reading pleasure a bit. Intellectually, though, I'm impressed and I'm definitely interested in reading more books by the author.
I read the book as part of the TBRind - An Indie Author and Reviewer Matching Service created and maintained by The Weatherwax Report.
The book hooked me with the title - what on Earth does it mean?
It turns out it's a prison. Scary and creepy one.
The story follows John Dray, a survivor of a brutal alien invasion. He lives in remains of Belfast and he's a regular teenager trying to survive and help his less resourceful siblings. He’s caught up in a conspiracy which threatens Earth and everyone he loves.
The story contains a strong mix of action, mystery, and politics. And did I mention a galactic war between strange species? Because there is one and humanity may be already lost.
The characters we follow are young and bit angsty. They feel real, I'll give you that. On the other hand, teenagers feeling real involves plenty of emotions and questionable behaviors. I remember being a teenager once but thankfully it's over and done. I usually have a hard time rooting for teenagers. It does happen, but it didn't happen here for big part of the book. To be fair, though, I need to emphasize this is a very intelligent book - (don't look for a savior figure/trope). But also dark and brutal - the terror imposed by alien-invasion is palpable. I can see why things went this way and not the other. While the characters feel and act as young survivors, it's definitely not a YA book. Unless YA became bleakly realistic and devastating? I mean, life pictured in the book isn't a magical quest, it's a desperate struggle from one moment to the next and the hope is in short supply.
Human characters are well defined and, to some extent, relatable. The Zelotyr and Barath’na less so, but they still feel interesting and unique (I can be wrong here as I read too little Sci-fi and my knowledge of the genre is limited).
The conclusion of the book is satisfying and suggests that Zebedee is an excellent story architect - it's hard to guess it but it was there almost from the beginning.
In the end, I would say it's clever, intelligent and gritty dystopian tale worth trying. I gave it 3.5 stars only because I had a hard time connecting with the characters and lack of emotional component tends to decrease reading pleasure a bit. Intellectually, though, I'm impressed and I'm definitely interested in reading more books by the author.
I read the book as part of the TBRind - An Indie Author and Reviewer Matching Service created and maintained by The Weatherwax Report.
theresab's review
4.0
This is not the sort of book is usually read. I picked it up because I learned it had been written by someone who lives locally to me, but otherwise I woujdbg have tried it.
I was pleasantly surprised! An enjoyable, fast paced story, easy to read and filled with local spots which are familiar to me.
Fun story, quick and easy read. Maybe this will encourage me to pick up more books that I would normally try.
I was pleasantly surprised! An enjoyable, fast paced story, easy to read and filled with local spots which are familiar to me.
Fun story, quick and easy read. Maybe this will encourage me to pick up more books that I would normally try.
tomunro's review
4.0
This is an inventive story of alien invasion that deals with the aftermath - the invasion has been lost and the world is caught in the feud between two alien species while a remote galactic council seeks to enforce rules of interactions with a human species belatedly admitted to be sentient. Sort of like the UN trying to preserve some semblance of decency in the Balkan war between rival Serbian and Croatian forces each seeking to extend their influence over one or other muslim enclave. In short - the scenario is a political and humanitarian nightmare.
Zebedee's story principally follows a young man John Dray and his sister Josie as their everyday struggle for survival gets swept up in a fast flowing tide of interplanetary rivalry, xenocide (the murder of a species), conspiracy, collaboration and good old fashioned human iniquity.
As I write this I am looking out of the window at Cavehill - scene of a key event near the book's opening and there is something very satisfying about seeing so alien a story based so closely in recognisable Northern Ireland landmarks. A key part of the action takes place on Raithlin Island (once by repute briefly home to Robert the Bruce and a persistent spider). I once spent a dour grey day in Ballycastle contemplating the distant windswept island sanctuary and those notes of resonance help with immersion in the book. It was perhaps too much to hope that the carrick-a-rede rope bridge would make an appearance! but the North Coast of Northern Ireland is a worthy setting for many a fine story - as Game of Thrones viewers may unwittingly have witnessed.
There is an inventiveness to Zebedee's writing - the very different forms of alien, the technology including a kind of living metal that can hold people in suffocating imprisonment like flies trapped on flypaper.
The young people at the heart of the story lead lives filled with angst and driven by trauma and Zebedee makes much of their fears and troubles. However these two didn't fire my interest in quite the same way as the supporting characters like Carter the policeman and Peters the soldier. I think that's because it is the actions of Carter and Peters and others that really move the story forward. For all the trauma that Josey and John endure I struggled to find key plot points where their positive actions/decisions ultimately made the difference to the story's outcome. Frequently they were saved from their own folly or the human/alien malice by the intervention of other characters and machines. Carter - especially was for me the enduring hero of the story and, to be fair, Zebedee gives him a good proportion of the air time.
So overall an enjoyable and inventive read, easily consumed with a plot strong enough to carry the reader along - though probably not one to subject to too much detailed scrutiny.
Zebedee's story principally follows a young man John Dray and his sister Josie as their everyday struggle for survival gets swept up in a fast flowing tide of interplanetary rivalry, xenocide (the murder of a species), conspiracy, collaboration and good old fashioned human iniquity.
As I write this I am looking out of the window at Cavehill - scene of a key event near the book's opening and there is something very satisfying about seeing so alien a story based so closely in recognisable Northern Ireland landmarks. A key part of the action takes place on Raithlin Island (once by repute briefly home to Robert the Bruce and a persistent spider). I once spent a dour grey day in Ballycastle contemplating the distant windswept island sanctuary and those notes of resonance help with immersion in the book. It was perhaps too much to hope that the carrick-a-rede rope bridge would make an appearance! but the North Coast of Northern Ireland is a worthy setting for many a fine story - as Game of Thrones viewers may unwittingly have witnessed.
There is an inventiveness to Zebedee's writing - the very different forms of alien, the technology including a kind of living metal that can hold people in suffocating imprisonment like flies trapped on flypaper.
The young people at the heart of the story lead lives filled with angst and driven by trauma and Zebedee makes much of their fears and troubles. However these two didn't fire my interest in quite the same way as the supporting characters like Carter the policeman and Peters the soldier. I think that's because it is the actions of Carter and Peters and others that really move the story forward. For all the trauma that Josey and John endure I struggled to find key plot points where their positive actions/decisions ultimately made the difference to the story's outcome. Frequently they were saved from their own folly or the human/alien malice by the intervention of other characters and machines. Carter - especially was for me the enduring hero of the story and, to be fair, Zebedee gives him a good proportion of the air time.
So overall an enjoyable and inventive read, easily consumed with a plot strong enough to carry the reader along - though probably not one to subject to too much detailed scrutiny.
maneatsbooks's review
4.0
Thoroughly enjoyed seeing my hometown in the aftermath of an alien invasion.
Great characterisation, particularly the older policeman.
Great characterisation, particularly the older policeman.
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