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Showing posts with label Dan Wells. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dan Wells. Show all posts
Thursday, June 25, 2015
Ruins An Exciting, Satisfying Finale to Partials Series
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
(Note: While this review will not contain spoilers for Ruins, it may inadvertently reveal plot surprises from earlier Partials books. As always, I recommend reading books in a series in order.)
As the tension between humans and Partials reaches a deadly breaking point, Kira Walker knows it's up to her to bring the two sides together. Half human, half Partial, the 17-year-old wants nothing more than peace between the two species. It won't be easy to stop the killing, the hate, the prejudice that is driving the two sides to war. Especially when both have weapons capable of annihilating the other. Even with the help of friends from both species, the outcome for Kira—as well at the world at large—looks pretty bleak. If she gives everything she has, everything she can, will it be enough? Or is this the end of it all?
Like the first two books in the Partials trilogy by Dan Wells, Ruins offers a high-stakes, adrenaline-fueled apocalyptic survival story. Laced with humor, romance, and a whole lot of blood, it's engrossing for sure. In this finale, all the story's loose ends are wrapped up neatly—probably too neatly—making for a satisfying end to an exciting series. Still, I have the same complaints about Ruins that I did about Partials and Fragments—the characters remain pretty flat and the prose is more tell than show. Overall, then, I liked Ruins, but didn't love it. Same with the series as a whole. It's entertaining, just not my favorite.
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (no F-bombs), violence/gore, and sexual innuendo
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of Ruins from the generous folks at HarperCollins as part of my work as a judge for the Association for Mormon Letters Awards. Thank you!
Tuesday, May 05, 2015
Lengthy Fragments Just Okay
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
(Note: While this review will not contain spoilers for Fragments, it may inadvertently reveal plot surprises from its predecessor, Partials. As always, I recommend reading books in a series in order.)
After discovering that she's an unlinked Partial created by the scientists at ParaGen, Kira Walker struggles to accept the truth of her identity. It doesn't matter that she has found the cure for RM—the virus that has been killing every newborn human for years—if her friends find out she shares DNA with the enemy robots who are trying to destroy humanity, they'll turn their backs on Kira. Even Kira doesn't know what to think. All she knows is that she needs answers. And she's not finding them in Manhattan. No one knows what lies beyond the human settlement in New York—anything could be lurking in the untamed, post-apocalyptic western wilderness. Or worse, there could be nothing out there. No survivors, no information, no life, no answers. But Kira has to try.
In the old world, ParaGen was headquartered in Denver, Colorado. If there's any information to be had, that's where it will be stored. If the building is still standing, if the computers can be made to work, if Denver still exists, if ... It's a long shot, but there's where Kira plans to go. Samm, the Partial boy who confuses Kira's every emotion, insists on going with her. As does Heron, a combative Partial spy model. The trio must also drag along Afa Demoux, ParaGen's once-brilliant IT manager. Now a rambling drifter, he's a necessary, albeit unbalanced companion.
As the group moves further into the ruins of a forgotten world, they encounter every kind of challenge imaginable (as well as some they never could have conjured up). With the fate of their world hanging in the balance, they must mount every obstacle, fight every battle, and above all, survive. Before time runs out for them all.
Although I enjoy Dan Wells' unsettling adult novels, I haven't been particularly wowed by his YA offerings. Partials kept me reading, but not rushing to find out what was going to happen. I had a similar experience with its sequel, Fragments. While the novel has flashes of tense, exciting action, not just between the principal characters and their environment, but between the story people themselves, the plot drags. Quite a lot. There are a few surprises, sure—I just felt that a good 100 pages could have been chopped from the book without losing anything important. Character development would have been a good way to use those extra words. Even after two (long) books, Wells' cast still feels flat to me. Overall, then, Fragments was just an okay read for me. If you enjoyed Partials, you'll probably like this one just fine. If Partials didn't do it for you, this one likely won't either. A lot of readers adore this series; for me, it's just been so-so.
(Readalikes: Partials and Ruins by Dan Wells)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
As the group moves further into the ruins of a forgotten world, they encounter every kind of challenge imaginable (as well as some they never could have conjured up). With the fate of their world hanging in the balance, they must mount every obstacle, fight every battle, and above all, survive. Before time runs out for them all.
Although I enjoy Dan Wells' unsettling adult novels, I haven't been particularly wowed by his YA offerings. Partials kept me reading, but not rushing to find out what was going to happen. I had a similar experience with its sequel, Fragments. While the novel has flashes of tense, exciting action, not just between the principal characters and their environment, but between the story people themselves, the plot drags. Quite a lot. There are a few surprises, sure—I just felt that a good 100 pages could have been chopped from the book without losing anything important. Character development would have been a good way to use those extra words. Even after two (long) books, Wells' cast still feels flat to me. Overall, then, Fragments was just an okay read for me. If you enjoyed Partials, you'll probably like this one just fine. If Partials didn't do it for you, this one likely won't either. A lot of readers adore this series; for me, it's just been so-so.
(Readalikes: Partials and Ruins by Dan Wells)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (no F-bombs), violence, and scenes of peril
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of Fragments from the generous folks at HarperCollins. Thank you!
Monday, August 13, 2012
Compelling Mind-Bender My Favorite Wells Book Yet
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
When 20-year-old Michael Shipman wakes up in a hospital bed, he's confused. He can't remember where he's been for the last two weeks or why he now needs medical care. Vague images of an empty, hollow city are the only memories swimming through his muddled mind. Michael has no idea what happened to him, but he knows who's responsible—Them. Of course, the doctors don't believe in Them. They might even be Them. He can't trust his medical team any more than he can trust anyone. His best bet is to convince the doctors he's healthy and get the heck out of Dodge.
In his heart, Michael knows he's not a killer. And yet, he's pretty sure his alarm clock will attack him if he doesn't keep it covered. What is real? What's only true in his head? In order to save himself, Michael must figure it out before he's condemned to a lifetime of incarceration in a mental hospital—or worse.
The Hollow City, the newest adult novel by horror writer Dan Wells, is a riveting mind-twister. I don't want to spoil it by saying too much, so I'll just tell you that I loved this entertaining psychological/supernatural thriller. To me, it's more compelling, more entertaining, and a whole lot less gruesome than Wells' John Cleaver series. I may be in the minority here, but I really think The Hollow City is Wells' best novel to date. It's my favorite, anyway.
(Readalikes: Reminds me a little of Dan Wells' John Cleaver series [I Am Not A Serial Killer; Mr. Monster; I Don't Want to Kill You] and a teensy bit of Before I Go To Sleep by S.J. Watson)
Grade: B+
If this were a movie, it would be rated: PG-13 for mild language (no F-bombs), violence/gore and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of The Hollow City from the generous folks at Tor/Forge. Thank you!
**Don't forget that you can win yourself a copy of this excellent psychological/supernatural thriller. Click here to enter the giveaway. It ends on August 15th, so don't delay!
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
The One Where My Impatience Pays Off—For You (With a Giveaway!)
I was visiting with a friend, who happens to be a huge Dan Wells fan. When she asked me if I'd read the author's new book, I (very articulately) said, "Huh?" Being the incredibly informed book blogger that I am, I somehow missed the news about Well's newest, The Hollow City. After my friend gushed about how brilliant the novel is, I knew I needed to read it. Being of a practical mind (Will someone tell my husband to stop laughing?), I checked for it at the library. No dice. Then, I thought of Tor/Forge, Wells' fabulous publisher, a company which also happens to send me review books on a regular basis. Maybe, just maybe, they were winging a copy to me. A few weeks went by and nothing happened. Finally, after hearing more great reviews of the book, I snapped. I couldn't wait another second. So, I ordered it online. A few hours later, the doorbell rang. The UPS guy handed me—what else?—a brand, spankin' new copy of The Hollow City, courtesy of the publisher. After bemoaning my own impatience (not for the first time, believe me), I rushed to the computer and tried to cancel my online order. Again, no dice. I probably could return the second book to the online store from which it came, but, frankly, I'm just too darn lazy. So, I decided to give it away instead.
First, let me tell you about the book. Then, I'll give you all the details on how to win your own copy. The jacket copy goes a little something like this—
Dan Wells won instant acclaim for his three-novel debut about the adventures of John Wayne Cleaver, a heroic young man who is also a potential serial killer. All who read the trilogy were struck by the distinctive, believable voice Wells created for John. (This is true in my case. Though I found the books disturbing, they were, without a doubt well written. Click on the book titles to see my reviews: I Am Not A Serial Killer; Mr. Monster; I Don't Want to Kill You)
Now Wells returns with another innovative thriller told in a very different, but equally unique voice; a voice that comes to us from the realms of madness.
Michael Shipman has paranoid schizophrenia; he suffers from hallucinations, delusions, and complex, horrific fantasies of persecution. They are as real to him as your life is to you. He is haunted by sounds and voices, stalked by faceless men, and endlessly pursued by something even deeper and darker—something he doesn't dare think about.
Soon the authorities are linking him to a string of gruesome serial killings, and naturally no one believes his protestations of innocence. On his worst days, he doesn't believe them himself. Hounded on every side, Michael contemplates a terrifying possibility: that some of the monsters he sees are real.
Who can you trust if you can't even trust yourself? The Hollow City is a mesmerizing journey into madness, where the most frightening enemy of all is your own mind.
Intriguing, right? I haven't read the book yet—I'm starting it today, in fact—so I can't tell you much about it except that it sounds really, really good. If you've read it, what did you think?
I promised you giveaway details, so here you go: You can win a brand new, hardcover copy of The Hollow City by Dan Wells. All you have to do is leave a comment on this post telling me about your favorite psychological thriller (supernatural or otherwise), be it a book or a movie (or both!). If you do not have a public blog that you check regularly, please leave your email address as part of your comment. The giveaway is open to readers with U.S. and Canadian addresses and will close on August 15. That's it. Unless, of course, you want to spread the word about the giveaway or chat up my blog in the social media venue of your choice. Because I give extra entries for that. I'll give you a breakdown of how that works here in a second—please tell me, in the comments section, which you did (no need for a bunch of separate entries) and I'll reward you accordingly :) Good luck!
- Follow my blog via GFC or other method (though I prefer GFC): (+1)
- Follow me on Twitter (@bbbforme): (+1)
- Become a fan on Facebook (you can click on the badge in the left sidebar): (+1)
- Blog, Tweet, or post on Facebook about this contest (+1 per method of word-spreading)
Oh, and don't forget to enter the other giveaway I've got going on right now. I don't have too many entrants at the moment, so the odds of winning are very, very good!
Monday, June 18, 2012
Is It Battlestar Galactica? No, It's Partials by Dan Wells.
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
In the not-so-distant future, a crippled U.S. fights for survival.
In desperation, American scientists create an army of "engineered organic beings" to battle the country's enemies.
These "Partials" look like humans, but are, in fact, super soldiers. Super fast. Super strong. They don't love, don't hate, don't reproduce. They are nearly indestructible.
When the Partials turn on their creators, a bloody war ensues.
Only 40,000 humans survive.
Crammed together on Long Island, the people who remain live in fear of the next Partial attack.
The super soldiers have not been seen in 11 years, but everyone knows they're out there. Just waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
That moment is now.
The human world is already in chaos. Women are being forced to bear children at ever younger ages. Not that it matters. Babies don't survive in this new world. Every one of them is born with RM, the deadly virus the Partials unleashed during their war with the humans over a decade ago. And yet, the so-called "Hope Act" demands that women do their civic duty, birthing as many children as possible in the hope that a healthy new generation will emerge.
As the Voice—a group of rebels fighting for their right to procreate only when and if they want—sows discontent among the law-abiding citizens of East Meadow, the threat of civil war looms.
Between the Partial menace, the dying babies and the in-fighting, extinction is only a matter of time for what's left of the human race.
A very short amount of time.
Kira Walker, a 16-year-old medic-in-training, can't let her people die. She must find a solution. But how? How can she possibly succeed when so many others have failed? Only by trying something that's never been tried before. Something crazy. Something dangerous. Something impossible.
No, it's not Battlestar Galactica (although I have to agree that the plots are a little too similar), it's Partials, the first book in a new YA dystopian series by horror writer Dan Wells. As you can probably tell, the story speeds along, with plenty of action to keep it moving. An exciting, entertaining ride, for sure. Wells does take the time to build his dystopian world, fleshing it out with enough historical and political detail to bore some readers. Not this one. To me, all the background information makes Kira's world more believable. It helped me not just to understand the society, but also to care about its salvation.
Although it's not the most original series in the world, I enjoyed Partials. Sure, it could use more surprises (the plot gets pretty predictable), better character development (especially of the guys), and something different to really distinguish it from other stories (thankfully, the humans don't take to space or it would have been a complete Battlestar Galactica ripoff). Overall, though, it's an absorbing read. And, truthfully, if you handed me the sequel right now (which isn't actually possible since Wells is still writing it, but whatever), I would clear my schedule to make room for it. Today. Right now. Yeah, I totally would.
(Readalikes: Reminded me of other YA dystopians like Delirium and Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver and Matched by Ally Condie)
Grade: B-
If this were a movie, it would be rated: PG-13 for language (no F-bombs), violence and sexual innuendo
To the FTC, with love: I received an ARC of Partials from the generous folks at Balzer and Bray (an imprint of Harper Collins). Thank you!
Friday, April 06, 2012
Zany Victorian Horror Story A Delightful Romp
(Image from Amazon)
If you're a Dan Wells fan—and even if you're not—you should be getting your hands on his hilarious novella, A Night of Blacker Darkness. 'Course, that's a lot easier said than done right now. As far as I can tell, the only way you can get the book (until May, anyway, when the ebook will again be available) is to buy it at as an audiobook at Audible.com. Luckily for me, Whitney Academy members have access to a PDF version, which I happily downloaded and read on my Kindle Fire. It didn't take long for the story to make me laugh out loud. In fact, I decided pretty early on that A Night of Blacker Darkness is my favorite of Wells' books. It's that delightful.
I like the plot summary I found on Wells' website, so I'm just going to go ahead and use it:
A Night of Blacker Darkness is even more zany, even more fun than it sounds. It does get a little ridiculous, a little grotesque, a little insane, but the crazier it gets, the funnier it gets. I love—and totally agree with—what sci fi/fantasy writer Brandon Sanderson said about it: "...[A Night of Blacker Darkness is] quirky and strange, but very amusing and borderline genius." Amen, brother.It's 1817. Wrongly imprisoned, Frederick Whithers is desperate to commit the crime he's already being punished for: defrauding the bank out of a vast inheritance. He fakes his death to escape, but when he's seen climbing out of a coffin everyone assumes he's a vampire; when he shows none of the traditional vampire weaknesses, they assume he must be the Great One, the most powerful vampire in the history of the world.
Half horror and half farce, Frederick's tale is an ever-growing avalanche of bankers, constables, graverobbers, poets, ghouls, morticians, vampires, vampire hunters, not to mention some very unfortunate rabbits. With a string of allies even more unlikely than his enemies, can Frederick stay alive long enough to claim his (well, somebody's) money? And if he can't, which of his innumerable enemies will get to him first?
(Readalikes: Nothing that I can think of)
Grade: A-
If this were a movie, it would be rated: PG-13 for language (no F-bombs) and violence/gore
To the FTC, with love: I received a PDF of A Night of Blacker Darkness courtesy of Dan Wells and the Whitney Awards Committee. Thank you!
Tuesday, April 03, 2012
Trilogy Ends On Not-Quite-As-Gory Note
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
(Note: While this review will not contain spoilers for I Don't Want to Kill You, it may inadvertently reveal plot surprises from the first two books in the trilogy. As always, I recommend reading books in a series in order.)
I have a little bit of a love/hate relationship with the John Cleever series by Dan Wells. The books are all well-written, compelling and thought-provoking, to be sure, but they're also gory, violent and disturbing. So, while I find them entertaining, I also find them a little hard to stomach. The middle book (Mr. Monster) made me feel physically ill, so I was a tad reluctant to pick up I Don't Want to Kill You, the last book in the trilogy. If it hadn't been nominated for this year's Whitney Awards, I probably would have put off reading it a bit longer, which would have been a shame because it's not nearly as unsettling as its predecessors. Or maybe it's just me—it's entirely possible that prolonged exposure to the twisted mind of Dan Wells has deadened my frailer sensibilities. 
At any rate, I Don't Want to Kill You begins a couple of months after Mr. Monster ends. John Wayne Cleever, a 16-year-old sociopath, is waiting patiently for the arrival of a demon named Nobody. The monster is coming, John knows that; it's just a matter of when she'll show up. Whenever she makes her arrival, he'll be ready. He might study serial killers, he might dream of murder, but John's tired of watching people he knows die. It's time for him to take control, to destroy the demon who may already be darkening the streets of his hometown, masquerading as a normal, everyday resident of Clayton, North Dakota.
John's unusual psychological makeup makes him the perfect demon hunter, but he can't let his darker impulses control him if he wants to have any kind of normal life. And he does, he really does. To triumph over Mr. Monster, the devil that lurks inside him, John must focus on the hunt for Nobody. In order to save the people of Clayton, he has to take a careful, probing look at each and every one of them. All of them, as he soon discovers, are hiding something, but which one of them conceals a demon? It will take all of John's wit, all of his strength, all of his talent to find and eliminate Nobody before she takes over the town and everyone in it.
Like the first two books in the trilogy, I Don't Want to Kill You explores the idea of people choosing their own destinies, in spite of all the things that might be working against them. This intriguing premise is what elevates the novels above other horror stories. In addition, John is a character who probably shouldn't be sympathetic, but is, simply because he's trying so hard to overcome his baser instincts. He's a fascinating hero, one for whom I always find myself rooting, even when he's having homicidal thoughts toward his mother (shudder). So, while the John Cleever books make me distinctly uncomfortable, I still think they're sort of brilliant. Just in a gross, disturbing kind of way.
Grade: B
If this were a movie, it would be rated: PG-13 for language (no F-bombs); violence/gore; and sexual innuendo
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Monday, March 21, 2011
Disturbing Sequel Makes Me Think, Dry Heave
(Image from Indiebound)(Note: While this review will not contain spoilers for Mr. Monster, it may inadvertently reveal plot surprises from its predecessor, I Am Not A Serial Killer. As always, I recommend reading books in a series in order.)
In I Am Not A Serial Killer, Dan Wells' disturbing debut novel, 15-year-old John Wayne Cleaver kills a murderer. He doesn't want to kill anyone. Not really. Even if he does have dark, violent thoughts. Even if he studies serial killers obsessively. Even if the dead bodies that arrive in his family's mortuary fascinate him a whole lot more than they really should. John's a sociopath, but he's not a killer. At least he wasn't until he came face-to-face with a foe so unbelievable, so formiddable, that the only way to save his town from more grisly murders was to tap into his violent side and take out the monster. Only this monster wasn't human like Ted Bundy or the BTK Strangler. And this monster, apparently, brought along some friends. At least that's what John comes to 
believe when dead bodies start turning up once again in his hometown.
Mr. Monster begins with a murdered woman discovered in an irrigation canal. John can't be sure it's the work of another demon, but what else makes sense? As other victims are found, John studies the crimes for evidence of an otherworldly killer. His interest in the killings, coupled with his presence at one of the crime scenes, raises the suspicions of Clark Forman, the FBI agent in charge of investigating the killings. Even though Agent Forman finds John's obsession strange, he can't deny the usefulness of John's uncanny ability to get inside the head of a killer. John can't deny it either - hunting down the killer satisfies the hungry need of his inner demon, who he refers to as Mr. Monster. As much as John resists tapping into the side of himself, he has to unleash it in order to truly understand who - or what - is stalking his little town.
The closer John gets to discovering the identity of the murderer, the more perilous his situation becomes. Not only is the killer hunting John, but unleashing Mr. Monster is making John dangerous to himself and everyone around him. Can he control his inner demon long enough to save the town once again or will this new round of murders finally put John over the edge?
Like Wells' first book, Mr. Monster is a deeply disturbing portrait of a boy at war with himself. John's violent thoughts are jarring, while his deep commitment to being a good person makes him complex and even sympathetic. Like I've said before, the most intriguing aspect of this series is its premise, which basically says that no matter what instincts we may or may not have been born with, the decisions we make are ultimately up to us. It's a fascinating concept, the exploration of which makes for some consistently compelling reads. Still, John's constant thoughts of death, combined with some pretty graphic, violent scenes in the book's finale, make Mr. Monster so dark and disturbing, I could barely stomach it. It made me think; it also made me want to vomit. And take some Prozak. So, yeah, I'm definitely on the fence about these ... Have you read them? What do you think?
(Readalikes: I Am Not A Serial Killer and I Don't Want to Kill You (available in the U.S. on March 29, 2011) by Dan Wells; Wells' work also reminds me quite a bit of Stephen King's)
Grade: B-
If this were a movie, it would be rated: R for mild language, mild sexual content and graphic/disturbing/violent images
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Dark Psychological Thriller's Gonna Take Some Mulling Over ...
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
"The monster was entwined around me so fully that I couldn't tell where it ended and I began, but I was still there, somewhere" (215).
Fate wants to mold 15-year-old John Wayne Cleaver into one thing: a serial killer. Not only does he share 2/3 of his name with a notorious killer, but his last name describes a co
mmon murder weapon. All of which could be dismissed as coincidence if it wasn't for the fact that John is a sociopath - someone incapable of empathizing with others - a trait commonly found in the most cold-blooded of murderers. It doesn't help that he obsesses about serial killers, can't stop thinking violent thoughts, and would rather spend his time with the corpses in his family's mortuary than hanging out with an actual living, breathing person.
mmon murder weapon. All of which could be dismissed as coincidence if it wasn't for the fact that John is a sociopath - someone incapable of empathizing with others - a trait commonly found in the most cold-blooded of murderers. It doesn't help that he obsesses about serial killers, can't stop thinking violent thoughts, and would rather spend his time with the corpses in his family's mortuary than hanging out with an actual living, breathing person.
The thing is, as fascinating as John finds these killers, he doesn't want to turn into one. He wants to be a good person. A normal teenager. So, he forces himself to live by strict rules - no stalking, no fixating, no dissecting dead animals, and above all, try to act like everyone else. It works. Until someone begans murdering people in John's small town. This is the closest he's ever been to an actual crime scene. Hardly able to contain his excitem
ent, John launches his own secret investigation. What he finds - a true monster - stuns him.
ent, John launches his own secret investigation. What he finds - a true monster - stuns him.
John's spent his whole life fighting against the urge to kill, but there seems to be no other way to stop the deaths. Only he knows the truth about the madman terrorizing Clayton County. Only he can take on the killer, because only another sociopath can think like the killer. Unleashing the monster inside himself is against every one of John's rules. Still, the very idea is as tempting as it is terrifying. If he lets out the demon that lurks inside of him, even for a good reason, will he ever be able to rein it back in? Or will he be destroying one killer only to release another? Can he overcome destiny's pull on him? Or will he succumb to the dark compulsions that are becoming so very difficult to ignore?
I Am Not A Serial Killer by Dan Wells boasts one of the most fascinating premises I've ever encountered in a book. While being inside the mind of a potential killer made me squirm, it also made me think hard about the life-changing power of choice. Very, very intriguing topic. As for the rest of the book, it wasn't exactly what I expected. I'm not even sure what genre it falls under - Horror? Psychological thriller? Cautionary tale? All of those, really. Dan Wells is kind of like Stephen King for the Mensa set, or at least the Advanced Placement-ers. It's an intellectual horror novel, if such a thing even exists. It's also a strange book - compelling, but disturbing - and I'm still not sure what I think of it. The best I can come up with is this: while I'll definitely read the rest of this series, I'm not exactly chomping at the bit. I'm disturbed enough for now, thank you very much.
(Readalikes: Reminded me a little bit of House Rules by Jodi Picoult)
Grade: B
If this were a movie, it would be rated: PG-13 (Although there are only a couple uses of mild language and only the vaguest of sexual innuendos, this book has enough violence and gore to make it inappropriate for readers under 13.)
To the FTC, with love: I bought I Am Not A Serial Killer from the author at this year's LDS Storymakers Conference.
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