Nick reviews TimeRiders

TimeRiders 
by Alex Scarrow
Published by Puffin
Release Date: February 4th 2010
Edition: Kindle Edition, 412


What GoodReads has to say: 

Liam O’Connor should have died at sea in 1912.
Maddy Carter should have died on a plane in 2010.
Sal Vikram should have died in a fire in 2026.

Yet moments before death, someone mysteriously appeared and said, ‘Take my hand ...’

But Liam, Maddy and Sal aren’t rescued. They are recruited by an agency that no one knows exists, with only one purpose—to fix broken history. Because time travel is here, and there are those who would go back in time and change the past. That’s why the TimeRiders exist: to protect us. To stop time travel from destroying the world... 

Likes:
A book about time travel you say? Winner for me! This book was a pleasant 99 cent surprise. I knew that I would love this from the moment I started reading. The writing easily grabs you from the start and rarely gives you a few seconds to let you catch your breath. The characters are well done and very likeable. Especially the walking humanoid computer, Bob, that accompanies Liam throughout the story. Reminded me of Data from Star Trek: The Next Generation and The Terminator a few times. Also, for some reason, the person who forms the "TimeRiders" and guides them to become a great team, Foster, reminded me of Liam Neeson. If you can get me to picture any of your characters in your book like that great man, you are doing fantastic. I really enjoyed the villain in the story as well. Villains that are doing what they believe is honestly going to make the world a better place, but execute it so that it ends up causing more grief than good are my favorite. Especially when if it has anything to do with rewriting history. Even better when it involves kicking Adolf Hitler off his high horse.

Dislikes:
There was a moment or two during the time of reading about the villain, Kramer, that I was greatly confused on what or who they were talking about. Kramer and his posse are all German and they use the German language to refer to different military positions. At first, it was a bit confusing figuring out who was who in rank and who was the highest rank of them all. After awhile, it irons itself out and becomes understandable. Also, only a few times did the storytelling confuse me a bit too. It jumps back and forth from 1956 and 2001 to let you know what is going on in both time frames. Though, several of those times, it jumps back and forth from 1956 to 1957 and then back to 1956 and then forward to 2001. A bit confusing at first but that too irons itself out and makes sense the more you read.

Who would I recommend this to:
If you love YA science fiction, timetraveling, and even some history added in for fun, this book is for you. Like, for serious, if you have any way to read an eBook, go to Amazon right now and pick this book up for 99 cents. It is so easily worth the price of admission and then some. I will most certainly be continuing this series. Especially since the 2nd book has to deal with dinosaurs. Another instant winner! 

Nick reviews Rot & Ruin

Rot & Ruin
by Jonathan Maberry
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Release Date: September 14th 2010
Edition: Paperback 458 pgs (Purchased)

What the back of the book has to say...

In the zombie-infested world Benny has grown up in, teenagers must work once they turn fifteen-or they'll lose their food rations. Benny isn't interested in taking on the family business, but he reluctantly agrees to train as a zombie killer with is boring big brother, Tom. He expects a dull job, whacking zombies for cash. What he discovers is a vocation that will teach him what it really means to be human.

    As his worldview is challenged again and again by the lessons he learns from Tom, Benny is forced to confront another horrifying reality: Sometimes the most terrible monsters are human.

Likes:
Oh man, I think I could go on for awhile on what I liked about this book. The writing was fun and the author sucked you right in with on the first page. It flowed so well. Not a single part of this book drags or slows down. The author does a wonderful job of explaining what has happened in the world without it being a huge info bomb. The characters were wonderful and very easy to like. Especially Tom. I really enjoyed his this book really gives you a different perspective about zombies and what they are. It truly makes you feel sorry for them. I really the loved the so-called "cliffhanger" that appears before the big finale that makes you think, "Holy crap, where did that come from?" It will make you crave the 2nd book, Dust & Decay.


Dislikes:
Okay, so I thought really long and hard about what I disliked about this book. This took me a good 30mins just to even muster some lame reason just for the sake of having one. Even though the author did a wonderful job of explaining everything that went wrong with world that Tom and Benny live in, he did happen to leave one very small thing out that I really hope he clears up in the next book. You know, just for a small clarification. Nothing huge though.

Who would I recommend this to:
This is easily quite possibly one of the best zombie stories that I've come across since the whole zombie craze came about. I was a hesitant about reading this because I'm really burnt out on zombies. It's just everywhere and it was honestly becoming stale. Though if you like zombies in any way shape or form, this book is very much for you. I was certainly surprised by it and if it wasn't for my Good Reads group, Rated YA-MA, having this title as the read of the month, I would have never picked it up. I am so very glad I did. It was such a wonderful read.

Nick Reviews 172 Hours on the Moon

172 Hours on the Moon
by Johan Harstad
Publisher: Little Brown Books
Release Date: April 7, 2012
Edition: Hardback 355 pgs (purchased)

Summary from GoodReads. . . .

 It's been decades since anyone set foot on the moon. Now three ordinary teenagers, the winners of NASA's unprecedented, worldwide lottery, are about to become the first young people in space--and change their lives forever.

Mia, from Norway, hopes this will be her punk band's ticket to fame and fortune.

Midori believes it's her way out of her restrained life in Japan.

Antoine, from France, just wants to get as far away from his ex-girlfriend as possible.

It's the opportunity of a lifetime, but little do the teenagers know that something sinister is waiting for them on the desolate surface of the moon. And in the black vacuum of space... no one is coming to save them.

In this chilling adventure set in the most brutal landscape known to man, highly acclaimed Norwegian novelist Johan Harstad creates a vivid and frightening world of possibilities we can only hope never come true. 

Likes:
There were so many things I love about this book. I love the flow of it. It was well written. I loved that the idea of the plot even though it was a little off-the-wall. It reminded me A LOT of the 1986 movie "Space Camp." The characters were well developed. I especially liked the main character Mia. The book had a very interesting twist of our nation's space history. I love books like this.

Dislikes:
THE ENDING! The book ended so terrible. It broke my heart on how bad this book ended. I also disliked NASA in this story. I let the silly plot point slide but there was one part of this book that I could not even believe NASA would suggest even doing. I mean, they are scientists. They SHOULD know their science. Atleast, I would think the author would have done some research on this particular topic.


Who would I recommend this to:
If you love science fiction or even have a slight intrest in the space program, this book is for you. I would just have to warn you about the ending.

Nick Reviews: Unholy Night by Seth Grahame-Smith

Unholy Night

By Seth Grahame-Smith
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Release Date: April 1, 2012
Format: Hardback, 307 pages
* Note: This is Adult Fiction and is written by the same author as Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, and Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.


What the inside flap has to say:

It's one of the most iconic images in history: three men on camel back, arriving at a manger, bearing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. An impossibly bright star in the vast desert sky above. A moment of serenity and grace. A holy night.
   But who were the Three Wise Men? The Bible has almost nothing to say about them. Not even their names are mentioned. The historical record is vague at best. How do we know they were three kings from the East? What if they were petty, murderous thieves- on the run, escaping through Judea under cover of night? Leave it to Seth Grahame-Smith, the brilliant and twisted mind behind Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter and Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, to take a little mystery, bend a little history, and weave an epic tale.
   In Grahame-Smith's telling, the so-called "Three Wise Men" are led by the dark, murderous Balthazar- the infamous "Antioch Ghost." After a brutal escape from Herod's prison, they stumble upon the famous manger and its newborn king. The last thing Balthazar needs is to be slowed down by young Joseph, Mary, and their infant. But when Herod's men begin to slaughter the first born in Judea, he has no choice but to help them escape to Egypt.
   It's the beginning of a dark and Savage tale that will see them cross paths with biblical figures like Pontius Pilate and John the Baptist, as the magic of old times gives way to the vicious empire of man.

Likes:
Practically everything in this book I loved. I felt that the pacing was perfect. The authors writing style was great. It never seemed like there was a dull moment in the book. The fight scenes, while a little graphic at times, were a lot of fun to read and they were written very well. The main character, Balthazar, was the bad boy you just had to cheer for despite him being a thief. In fact, all the characters were all well done. I kept telling my wife over and over that I was so happy to Mary have some sass to her character. One of my favorite things while reading this book was you sort of got a history lesson while reading along with fiction. I could literally go on and on about how I enjoyed this book but then this blog would be completely filled and my wife would not be pleased about that. Out of all 3 of the authors books, despite only having read just 2 of them, I really honestly believe this book would make a better movie choice out of the 3. I'm sure it would be just as fun to watch as it was to read.

P.S.  Did I mention I loved this book? Even the paper that the book jacket is made from is awesome.

Dislikes:
It ended. I really didn't want it to end. I enjoyed it that much.

Who I would recommend this to:
I would recommend this to anyone who wants a fun read and has an open mind. The book does not slander any part of the Bible in anyway.