Fugitive X by Gregg Rosenblum

Release Date: 1-7-2014

Series: Revolution 19 (bk. 2)

Genera(s): Dystopian Sci-fi

Subjects: robots, survival, adventure, post-apocalyptic

Setting: In the future, 100 years or so. Possibly in New York or Massachusetts 

POV/Tense: 3^rd person, past tense. Rotating between Nick, Kevin and Cassie

Age/Grade Level: Teens 13+

Length: 261 pgs.

HC/PB: Hardcover

List Price: $17.99

Publisher: HarperTeen and Alloy Entertainment

Summary/ product description: “Their fight for freedom is humanity's last hope for survival. The chilling Revolution 19 trilogy continues in Fugitive X.

A war between humans and robots is on the horizon, and only one side will survive.

Siblings Nick, Kevin, and Cass are struggling to survive in a world where deadly, sophisticated robots have turned on their creators and enslaved mankind. Fugitives from one of the bot-controlled Cities, the siblings venture into the woods, but when they are attacked by bot foot soldiers, the siblings are separated...and for the first time, they are on their own.

Created in conjunction with Alloy Entertainment; Howard Gordon, showrunner of 24 and Showtime's Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning Homeland; and James Wong, writer-director of the Final Destination films, Fugitive X is the gripping next installment in the cinematic Revolution 19 series.”

My Review: This series continues to disappoint me, yet I still read it. I keep on hoping it’s going to turn into the Terminator, but it never does. The characters aren’t all that interesting, except maybe Kevin. The world building is kind of interesting. Some of the robots are kind of like androids, others are floating orb or walking robots. There’s technology and cities and there’s the wilds and Freeposts. 

In this book the three main characters, Nick, Kevin and Cassie (the adopted sister of Nick and Kevin) get separated early on.  Cassie is taken to the City for re-education, and is brainwashed and placed with her supposed biological family. Kevin ends up in a place called the Island. It’s a town that they’re building a wall around, and he’s not allowed to leave. Nick tries to find them and ends up meeting a girl named Erica who takes her to another Freepost near by. They all have their separate adventures and some meet back up later on. I really enjoyed Cassie’s part when she was in the city. It was interesting to see how people lived under the rules of the bots. I also liked when Kevin said funny comments to the bot known as 23. Can bots learn sarcasm and humor?

This book was short and not as thrilling as I hoped. There were action scenes, but I found it hard to keep track of what was going on and who’s POV it was. I skimmed at times. I think that the typeface and leading of the pages may have contributed to me not being able to read well. Maybe if the letters were bigger or if there was more space on the page I wouldn’t feel so bored. Since I was reading an ARC, it’s possible that sometimes may be changed in the final hardcover. 

I really wanted to like this book more, but it just turned out okay for me. It works as a sequel. There were some revelations and surprises. Some people may end up loving these books and I definitely would recommend this to a younger audience, ages 11 and up. There are a few swear words, but nothing too bad. This would be a great book series to give to 13-year-old boys who love all those robot toys. I recommend this if you liked BZRK by Michael Grant, Cinder, or any other books that feature either robots or nanobots. If you’re looking for teen Terminator, this is not it. 

Cover Art Review: Not too crazy about the eye being a girl's (especially that black eyebrow, and mascara), but the bionic eyeball is cool. I like the title treatment.