aprilk's review against another edition
5.0
Survivor is the second book in the Alone series and picks up right where Chasers ended. Still trying to make it in the devastation of the attack on New York, Jesse is now alone but has found hope in a video he found from a young girl who is also a survivor. As Jesse sets out to find other survivors and try to get them all to safety, the Chasers are now posing a new threat. They now seem to no longer be solely opportunist but also hunters. They are becoming smarter and banding together to try to hunt down their next meal. If Jesse and his new found companions are not careful it could be them.
After reading the twist ending of the first book I could not wait to get my hands on this second book in the series. Sometimes after such an amazing first book the expectations for the second is so high that it gets unfairly judged. I for one did not feel let down one bit. Survivor is an enthralling fast paced read that had me anxiously hanging on every word to find out what would happen next. New pieces of the puzzle fall into place that help us figure out a little more of what happened but still leaves us with some aching questions that have me longing for book three. The new characters were a nice addition to the story but I think my favorite thing about the books is James writing style. I feel like he just has such an amazing way with words. I was consumed by the words on the page and felt the emotions and will to survive burning stronger inside of me with the turn of every page. The writing is graphic and intense but not overly so. We get to see all the intensity but without all the gore, which makes this the perfect book for young and mature readers alike.
** I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review **
Review to be posted on my blog at www.bookhoardermom.blogspot.com
After reading the twist ending of the first book I could not wait to get my hands on this second book in the series. Sometimes after such an amazing first book the expectations for the second is so high that it gets unfairly judged. I for one did not feel let down one bit. Survivor is an enthralling fast paced read that had me anxiously hanging on every word to find out what would happen next. New pieces of the puzzle fall into place that help us figure out a little more of what happened but still leaves us with some aching questions that have me longing for book three. The new characters were a nice addition to the story but I think my favorite thing about the books is James writing style. I feel like he just has such an amazing way with words. I was consumed by the words on the page and felt the emotions and will to survive burning stronger inside of me with the turn of every page. The writing is graphic and intense but not overly so. We get to see all the intensity but without all the gore, which makes this the perfect book for young and mature readers alike.
** I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review **
Review to be posted on my blog at www.bookhoardermom.blogspot.com
jenbsbooks's review against another edition
3.0
The first book was such a quick read, I decided to go ahead with book two immediately after. There are some reflections on book 1, which is great for a recap if it's been a while, but it was redundant for me, reading the books back to back.
While the story/action was fine ... for me it was just another post-apocalyptic tale. Not much really to make it stand out others. As the characters talked about how post-apocalyptic movies/books & video games had provided them with some training/background ... I really didn't feel like this book did. The survival was just running away from the chasers and avoiding the destruction in the city. While there are some new characters introduced, a lot of the book is still just Jesse on his own. While I really liked it in the Brian/Hatchet series (a more realistic survival setting) it dragged a bit here.
Still no explanations of who was behind the attack, or how widespread it is ... I'll go on to book 3 and see if it is there.
While the story/action was fine ... for me it was just another post-apocalyptic tale. Not much really to make it stand out others. As the characters talked about how post-apocalyptic movies/books & video games had provided them with some training/background ... I really didn't feel like this book did. The survival was just running away from the chasers and avoiding the destruction in the city. While there are some new characters introduced, a lot of the book is still just Jesse on his own. While I really liked it in the Brian/Hatchet series (a more realistic survival setting) it dragged a bit here.
Still no explanations of who was behind the attack, or how widespread it is ... I'll go on to book 3 and see if it is there.
lavenderquills's review against another edition
4.0
a one day read!! was very invested,, not much more to say :)
jeanz's review against another edition
4.0
Read in one sitting!
MY REVIEW
My daughter received this for review from K-Teen and as I had just recently read Chasers I decided to snag this one as soon as it arrived and read and review it as my daughter is in the process of reading some other titles at the moment.
So the cover, fits very well with Bk#1, the guy on the front presumably being Jesse in his hoodie with his head down. There's the New York skyline in the back ground to so the theme continues. The "Alone" series name is again featured and the series "logo" is actually explained within this book. I won't explain it as I think you should come across it within the context in the book. I love the byline again, this time it say's, "The smoke has cleared . . . Now they can see you...." So would I pick this book up from a book store shelf? Yes
The blurb gives us the bleak outlook that Jesse and any fellow survivors have to face on a daily basis. The blurb therefore describes the book very well,so yes I'd say the blurb works.
So Jesse has seen signs of other survivors, will he ever find any. The book starts with Jesse in someones home watching a video they have made. the person on the video is called Felicity, and she's gone in search of the "friendly Chasers" the ones who still seem to have some humanity, that don't chase you down to drink your blood. So Jesse leaves a note before heading out into New York City again, with a time and place to meet up with Felicity.
So the drama and action continue in this book, Jesse does see other humans, but doesn't always get the help or comfort he wants from them.
I did enjoy this book, but it's so difficult to say much about it without giving away spoilers for it or book one! In this book we meet new characters, Felicity, Rachel, and Caleb. For who they are and what happens to them you'll have to read the book! There are new dangers to be faced in this book, there's the Chasers, the "virus/toxin", and the unexploded bombs too. If an unexploded bomb goes off it re-releases the "virus/toxin" into the air, so there's a renewed risk of being turned into a violent blood thirsty Chaser . . .Things aren't easy for Jesse, will he ever escape the horror that is New York City? Will he ever make it home? Does home even still exist anymore? How far has the destructive "virus/toxin" travelled across america or the world.
So did you enjoy the book? Yes! Would you recommend the book? To all those that love post apocalyptic tales yes. Will I read a Bk#3? Yes, I don't just want to know what happens to Jesse and his friends I now need to know lol! Would I read other books by James Phelan? Mmm yes, of course I really like his writing style.
MY REVIEW
My daughter received this for review from K-Teen and as I had just recently read Chasers I decided to snag this one as soon as it arrived and read and review it as my daughter is in the process of reading some other titles at the moment.
So the cover, fits very well with Bk#1, the guy on the front presumably being Jesse in his hoodie with his head down. There's the New York skyline in the back ground to so the theme continues. The "Alone" series name is again featured and the series "logo" is actually explained within this book. I won't explain it as I think you should come across it within the context in the book. I love the byline again, this time it say's, "The smoke has cleared . . . Now they can see you...." So would I pick this book up from a book store shelf? Yes
The blurb gives us the bleak outlook that Jesse and any fellow survivors have to face on a daily basis. The blurb therefore describes the book very well,so yes I'd say the blurb works.
So Jesse has seen signs of other survivors, will he ever find any. The book starts with Jesse in someones home watching a video they have made. the person on the video is called Felicity, and she's gone in search of the "friendly Chasers" the ones who still seem to have some humanity, that don't chase you down to drink your blood. So Jesse leaves a note before heading out into New York City again, with a time and place to meet up with Felicity.
So the drama and action continue in this book, Jesse does see other humans, but doesn't always get the help or comfort he wants from them.
I did enjoy this book, but it's so difficult to say much about it without giving away spoilers for it or book one! In this book we meet new characters, Felicity, Rachel, and Caleb. For who they are and what happens to them you'll have to read the book! There are new dangers to be faced in this book, there's the Chasers, the "virus/toxin", and the unexploded bombs too. If an unexploded bomb goes off it re-releases the "virus/toxin" into the air, so there's a renewed risk of being turned into a violent blood thirsty Chaser . . .Things aren't easy for Jesse, will he ever escape the horror that is New York City? Will he ever make it home? Does home even still exist anymore? How far has the destructive "virus/toxin" travelled across america or the world.
So did you enjoy the book? Yes! Would you recommend the book? To all those that love post apocalyptic tales yes. Will I read a Bk#3? Yes, I don't just want to know what happens to Jesse and his friends I now need to know lol! Would I read other books by James Phelan? Mmm yes, of course I really like his writing style.
thiefofcamorr's review against another edition
Katharine is a judge for the Sara Douglass 'Book Series' Award. This entry is the personal opinion of Katharine herself, and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of any judging panel, the judging coordinator or the Aurealis Awards management team.
I won't be recording my thoughts (if I choose to) here until after the AA are over.
I won't be recording my thoughts (if I choose to) here until after the AA are over.
lookingstrongjohn's review against another edition
5.0
I think I like the first book better only because of the massive twist at the end, but this is still a really great, spooky read :)
bsparx's review against another edition
5.0
When I finish a book that I’m going to review, I usually try to write about it straight after so my thoughts are still fresh and I still remember the feeling it left with me, but that wasn’t the case with Survivor. I’m still writing this review within a couple hours of finishing it, but I’m also procrastinating.
I finished reading Survivor and opted to potter around the house, do a little housework, and I admit I let out some discontented sighs every now and then because of the book… This sounds like I’m going in a negative direction doesn’t it? I’m not. It’s been awhile since I read a novel in part of a series or trilogy that left me wanting more; left me wanting more enough to lament reading it in the first place and ruing the decision not to wait till the next book!
I find Survivor, just like its predecessor, to be one of those books that are hard to put down, make you want to miss out on sleep, and get so sucked in to the character’s world that it can take awhile to come back again. The trilogy so far is, in short, addictive.
After the twist at the end of Chasers, and thankfully to a re-read just before I began Survivor, I was left saddened and wondering how Jesse was going to cope with not only his revelation, but being alone from then on. I was a little thrown by where he was when we first come across him because of where the previous book had left him and the idea of where he would be had taken a deep root into my brain, but it soon became clear what was going on and once again I was able to be sucked into his story.
The way Survivor is written gives you a chance to mourn and come to grips with the loss of his friends at the same time Jesse does, which is great because that revelation was quite the shell shocking kind if you didn’t see it coming.
For the rest of my review, please visit my blog.
I finished reading Survivor and opted to potter around the house, do a little housework, and I admit I let out some discontented sighs every now and then because of the book… This sounds like I’m going in a negative direction doesn’t it? I’m not. It’s been awhile since I read a novel in part of a series or trilogy that left me wanting more; left me wanting more enough to lament reading it in the first place and ruing the decision not to wait till the next book!
I find Survivor, just like its predecessor, to be one of those books that are hard to put down, make you want to miss out on sleep, and get so sucked in to the character’s world that it can take awhile to come back again. The trilogy so far is, in short, addictive.
After the twist at the end of Chasers, and thankfully to a re-read just before I began Survivor, I was left saddened and wondering how Jesse was going to cope with not only his revelation, but being alone from then on. I was a little thrown by where he was when we first come across him because of where the previous book had left him and the idea of where he would be had taken a deep root into my brain, but it soon became clear what was going on and once again I was able to be sucked into his story.
The way Survivor is written gives you a chance to mourn and come to grips with the loss of his friends at the same time Jesse does, which is great because that revelation was quite the shell shocking kind if you didn’t see it coming.
For the rest of my review, please visit my blog.
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