I like dystopian sci-fi, and if they read fast and furious then I am a fan.
This book by Clive Fleury, at 130 pages had a complete story in it, yet leaving a chance for the next book. The main character Hogan was well depicted, who was once in army, then in police, and now down on his luck when the world changed till he got an offer from National Security Council to join them, but only if he won all the tasks.
The story became exciting for me when the tasks started, where Hogan was ably supported by Ruby. A virtual world in a dystopian world where the lines of truth and created blurred, kept me glued to this book. I liked how Clive has given the story twists, and each subplot brought its own doubts.
Then came my niggles, I couldn’t get into this book from the beginning. It took me 3 tries at 3 different occasions. For me, the worldbuilding was just okay, I didn’t find it interesting. I like the lone-ranger kind of a hero, but sometimes it got to be a bit too much, especially in the action scenes where the bike went alongside a truck, and our hero could stand, hit the driver, and then climb from the bike into the truck through the window. Whoa!! And then Ruby did the same while driving the bike… I was pretty much laughing by this time.
Overall, a fun read with a world within a world, where virtual reality made things happen.
I downloaded a digital version of the book from Kindle Unlimited, and this is my journey into its pages, straight from the heart!!
All my reviews can be found here
Do you read dystopian sci-fi? What’s your favorite?
Clive Fleury is an award-winning writer of books and screenplays, and a TV and film director and producer. He has worked for major broadcasters and studios on a wide variety of successful projects in the US, UK, Australia, Europe, and the Middle East. Clive is British but currently lives in Miami, Florida with his wife and teenage daughter.
It’s the year 2031. Our future. Their present. A world decimated by climate catastrophe, where the sun’s heat is deadly and the ocean rises higher every day. A world ruled by the rich, powerful, and corrupt. A world where a good man can’t survive for long.
Hogan Duran was a good man once. He was a cop, forced to resign in disgrace when he couldn’t save his partner from a bullet. Now Hogan lives on the fraying edges of society, serving cruel masters and scavenging trash dumps just to survive.
But after four years of living in poverty, Hogan finally gets a chance to get back on his feet. He’s invited to join the National Security Council, the powerful paramilitary organization responsible for protecting the rich and powerful from the more unsavory elements of society. All he needs to do is pass their deadly entrance exam, and he’ll be rewarded with wealth and opportunity beyond his wildest dreams.
But this ex-cop’s path to redemption won’t be easy. The NSC are hiding something, and as Hogan descends deeper and deeper into their world, he starts to uncover the terrible truth of how the powerful in this new world maintain their power…and just how far they will go to protect their secrets.
In a world gone wrong, can one man actually make a difference, or will he die trying?
Publication Date: 5th December 2018
Publisher: TCK Publishing
24 Responses
Fab review! I feel the same way about badass women I either roll my eyes or the throw the book across the room! lol
Hahaha every action scene just happened. Zoom and in the truck via the window… Zoom and blast the bomb works… Zoom and all the villains are shot dead. 😂😂
I’m pretty tired of dystopian… There was a time last year where I felt like that was all that was out there to read and I started to get really bored of them… Although, I do like 130 pages!
Welcome back to my blog. It has been a few months since I saw you here. 😂😂 Or was it last year?
This was a fun mindless one hour book . It brought me back from a reading slump
Ya… I feel like I need something to get me out of a slump.
Also, NO ONE has seen me on their blog in a while! Lol! You know my work schedule! But, I’m trapped in a car for 3 + hrs so I figured I’d pop in and say hi!
Yayy hi!!!
Oh ho… that’s how come you were so chatty today… stuck in a car for three hours… well, at least you made sure to spend that time wisely. 😉
😝😝😝😂😂😂😂
hey I got the review copy for this too! yet to read it though 🙂
That’s great… You will like it. It is fun
I avoid dystopian – I don’t enjoy angst or the miasma of powerlessness and despondency
Whoa 3 words I don’t know the meaning of… Unfortunately there was no angst shown and there was virtual reality so there was lots of power and technology… Never got the feeling of dystopian. Rich became richer and poor became poorer… Well that’s happening in my country. 😂😂
Fun review for what looks like a fun fast book!
Yayy thank you 💖
I like these kinds of books. Quick reads for slumps!
Agreed… This was fun
I enjoyed reading your review and I’m glad to know that I’m not the only one who sometimes find the world building part of fantasy difficult. If it’s done right then I get it and follow it; if not, then I stay confused throughout the entire book. I always feel like such a loser.
I understand. This book hardly had any dystopia, just more of action
This sounds like so much fun, Shalini, and your review was super fun too! ♥️
Sounds like you managed to have some fun at least with this one. 😉
I did… At 130 pages one hour read.. 😂
Hey! Found your review! I totally agree with A LOT of what you’ve said, especially the world building (I touch upon that in my review too). I was hoping for much more in that regard … maybe in the second book?
I also want more focus on Ruby in the sequel — I know Hogan is the main, but I really like her character.
Wonderful review! Well thought out!
Oooh thank you so much. But you are right.. I liked Ruby too… She had more to get character than Hogen
Hogan was a typical main character like the hero who does it all. She was more fun. You are absolutely right. I will read your review tomorrow
Awe thanks! 🙂