Riders by Veronica Rossi

Series: Riders Duology (bk. 1)

Genera(s): Paranormal Romance/Thriller

Subjects: supernatural, demons, angels, magic, horses, apocalypse

Setting: California, Rome, Italy, Norway

POV/Tense: 1^st person POV, past tense: Gideon Blake

Age/Grade Level: Teen

Length: 362 pgs.

HC/PB: Hardcover

List Price: $17.99

Publisher: Macmillan: TorTeen

Summary/ product description: “Nothing but death can keep eighteen-year-old Gideon Blake from achieving his goal of becoming a U.S. Army Ranger. As it turns out, it does.

While recovering from the accident that most definitely killed him, Gideon finds himself with strange new powers and a bizarre cuff he can’t remove. His death has brought to life his real destiny. He has become War, one of the legendary four horsemen of the apocalypse.

Over the coming weeks, he and the other horsemen—Conquest, Famine, and Death—are brought together by a beautiful but frustratingly secretive girl to help save humanity from an ancient evil on the emergence.

They fail.

Now—bound, bloodied, and drugged—Gideon is interrogated by the authorities about his role in a battle that has become an international incident. If he stands any chance of saving his friends and the girl he’s fallen for—not to mention all of humankind—he needs to convince the skeptical government officials the world is in imminent danger.

But will anyone believe him?”

My Review:  Riders is a pretty good series opener. The beginning of the book starts weeks after the fact, and Gideon is telling his story to a woman named Natalie Cordero, who’s possibly a psychologist or interrogator with a government agency. There are some interruptions when she asks him questions. She seems skeptical of his story, but also seems to put on an act of believing him.

Gideon was training for the army to be in the 75^th Ranger Regimen. He has an accident on his 6^th time parachuting and almost dies. He wakes up with a strange red metallic bracelet on his wrist. He’s healing from his injuries mysteriously fast. He goes to a party at his sister’s college and meets a girl that tells him he has to come with her. This girl is Daryn, and claims that she is a Seeker in search of the current incarnations of the four horsemen of the apocalypse, and tells Gideon that he’s War.

Gideon’s in disbelief even after being attacked by the Kindred at the party. They travel across California to find Famine and Death, and eventually Conquest, who’s in Europe. Along the way, they try their best to evade the Kindred, but still some attacks occur. Also the horsemen don’t all get along. Gideon’s got quite the temper sometimes. My favorite character is probably Sebastian (Bas). He’s such a nice guy, doesn’t want to fight. He had dreams of being a famous actor, and Gideon actually met him during Bas’s audition. There’s some romance between Daryn and Gideon. Daryn seems like a cool girl and reminds me of other female characters I’ve read.

I love the horses. I didn’t expect that there would be horses. I thought “horsemen” would just be a title with no actual horses involved. But there are horses! Gideon’s horse is a fiery red stallion. This horse has real flames for its mane and tail, like Ponyta & Rapidash from Pokémon. Also it makes me think of Ghost Rider. Bas’s mare is dark and shadowy, but beautiful. There’s Death’s pale horse, an ashy mare. And Conquest’s glowing white horse. I like the names they each come up with for their horses too.

This was pretty exciting. Can’t wait to see how it ends in the sequel-finale. I recommend this to people who enjoy shows like Supernatural or Messengers (which was cancelled after 1 season) or Constantine. Also fans of paranormal book in general. If you like horses, too.

Cover Art Review: Cool fiery horse!!! Really awesome cover.

Will to Survive by Eric Walters

Series: The Rule of Three (bk. 3)

Genera(s): Apocalyptic Dystopian Sci-fi

Subjects: blackouts, survival, thriller, pilots

Setting: The suburban neighborhood of Eden Mills, which is a real place in Ontario Canada, west of Toronto, near the Credit River, but supposed to be set in the USA for this series.

POV/Tense: 1st person POV, past tense: Adam

Age/Grade Level: Teen

Length: 310 pgs.

HC/PB: Hardcover

List Price: $17.99

Publisher: Macmillan: FSG

Summary/ product description: “As this apocalyptic trilogy hurtles to a chilling conclusion, Adam is pushed to the edge of his endurance and sanity.

Adam has killed again. It had to be done, part of him knows that, but murder changes a person. It can certainly change a teenager who's already grown up too quickly, too harshly, in the wake of the catastrophic global blackout five months ago. In the name of safety and survival, Adam and his neighbors have turned their middle American suburban neighborhood into a fortress, defending against countless enemies. But what's lurking in the dark is a greater danger than ever before: somebody who wants to destroy the neighborhood and Adam at any cost. Soon, the hunted will have to become the hunter . . . and Adam hates himself for what he will have to do. Because sometimes even the dark is not cover enough for things that would never happen in the light.”

My Review:  Will to Survive is the 3^rd and final installment of the Rule of Three trilogy. If you’re not familiar with this series, it’s about a guy named Adam, who’ father is a pilot and who he himself knows how to fly a plane too. With the help of an old ex-military guy named Herb, Adam’s neighborhood of Eden Mills bands together to survive post-blackout.

A few months ago, a computer virus caused everything with computerized component controlling it to stop working. No phones, newer cars, laptops, and no electricity unless you have a generator or engine. Eden Mills for the sake of the story is supposed to be in the United States, near the north shore of one of the great lakes. In actuality it’s west on Toronto, Canada, near Mississauga, Ontario, along the Credit River, where the author lives. Maybe some stuff was changed for the US edition. I’m not sure if there is a Canadian edition.

In the previous book, Fight for Power, a young officer named Brett went rough and tried to kill Adam and Herb. He was helping the ex-military run group called the Division. Adam is now feeling paranoid that he could be attacked at anytime. It’s just a matter of time before Brett comes back and attacks Eden Mills again.

Herb is trying to strengthen the defenses. They decide to build another wall to encompass other neighborhoods close by. Adam, Lori, Herb and Todd go up in the Cessna plane to scout the area, looking for any that could help them. They create allies with other communities trying to survive, and develop trade. They’re trying their best to bring civilization back.

There’s also some romance between Lori and Adam. It’s kind of sweet, but not as important as the survival stuff. I like the humor and banter in the dialogue, especially Todd. Todd is a hilarious guy. He loves food and keeps talking about how much he misses the food they used to have. There’s also some action in this series, but I feel like parts of this book move too slow. I wish it was more thrilling. There’s definite appeal to a male audience with this series, but I enjoyed it anyways.

This series is a lot like Ashfall by Mike Mullin, minus the ash. Also it makes me think of the TV show Revolution, because the blackout. I recommend this book if you liked: Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick, The 5^th Wave, the Ashfall series, Life As We Knew It/The Last Survivors series.

Cover Art Review: Cool cover illustration reflecting the stories content. It is a little busy looking, but it is also eye catching.

Fight For Power by Eric Walters

Series: The Rule of Three (bk. 2)

Genera(s): Apocalyptic Dystopian Sci-fi

Subjects: blackouts, survival, thriller, pilots

Setting: A suburban neighborhood called Eden Mills

POV/Tense: 1st person POV, past tense: Adam

Age/Grade Level: Teen

Length: 346 pgs.

HC/PB: Hardcover

List Price: $17.99

Publisher: Macmillan: FSG

Summary/ product description: “As this apocalyptic trilogy hurtles to a chilling conclusion, Adam is pushed to the edge of his endurance and sanity.

Adam has killed again. It had to be done, part of him knows that, but murder changes a person. It can certainly change a teenager who's already grown up too quickly, too harshly, in the wake of the catastrophic global blackout five months ago. In the name of safety and survival, Adam and his neighbors have turned their middle American suburban neighborhood into a fortress, defending against countless enemies. But what's lurking in the dark is a greater danger than ever before: somebody who wants to destroy the neighborhood and Adam at any cost. Soon, the hunted will have to become the hunter . . . and Adam hates himself for what he will have to do. Because sometimes even the dark is not cover enough for things that would never happen in the light.”

My Review: Fight for Power is the sequel to The Rule of 3. 10 weeks ago the light went out. Everything connected to a computer system stopped working. The only electricity can come from generators and batteries. Newer car don’t work. No running water or pluming either. Adam’s neighborhood was attacked at the end of the previous book and they had to blow up a bridge and kill hundreds of the men attacking them.

The people in the neighborhood had banded together to create a functioning society in which everyone chips in on the work. Adam is flying his lightweight plane doing air patrol. Adam’s mom is over seeing law enforcement and patrol since she was originally the commanding officer/chief of police in their town. Brett is running night patrols. Other folk are doing their part to keep the town running. Without an outside threat anymore, tensions are high and little disputes get bigger. Also, Brett is a complete jerk to Adam and his girlfriend Lori.

There’s nothing spectacular about this sequel, honestly. Action-wise atleast. It’s more of an exploration of humanity and right vs. wrong is good. This story has good a good message. Herb is a mentor figure to Adam. Though Herb has a lot of personal demons in his past, he keeps the town running and became a fair leader. He’s nothing like the cruel dictators with secret agendas of other YA dystopian books. He’s always got a plan, but he’s not plotting to kill. Another character might be though. 

I feel like this series would definitely appeal to boys. The pilot aspect is cool. Dystopian is still pretty hot, but this is a post-catastrophe dystopian set only month after the fact. It’s a lot like Ashfall by Mike Mullin, minus the ash. Also it makes me think of the TV show Revolution, because the blackout. I recommend this book if you liked: Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick, the Ashfall series, Life As We Knew It/The Last Survivors series. Any dystopian book with survival, really.

Cover Art Review: Very dramatic illustration. Fits with previous cover.