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4.15 AVERAGE
4.15 AVERAGE
Well. Tom is stupider than a guy with a computer brain should be.
I LOVED this book! If you haven't read this book trilogy yet, READ IT. The book starts off with Tom being an idiot. Throughout the book Tom seems an it self centered but he sees the error of his ways after. It has it funny moments and it's really cool. The ending was epic and I can't wait to see what happens in Catalyst!
Man, this book is pretty hardcore compared to the majority of 'young adult' books.
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Days ago, I read Insignia, the first book in Kincaid's trilogy. After finishing it, I thought it was intriguing, but overall, it was okay. Luckily, I didn't drop the series, as it does have potential to be entertaining.
Now, after reading Vortex, the second installment, I am very pleased by my predictions.
Vortex continues the main character Tom Raines's story as he resumes his training in the Pentagonal Spire, along with his friends, Wyatt, Vik, and Yuri. However, Tom's dreams of becoming a Combatant are put to the test when he has to do one thing that he despises the most: ass-kissing. Not only that, but Tom realizes that the Spire is not all that it's cracked up to be, as conspiracy and corruption rises, challenging Tom's beliefs and his friends.
Okay, that was kind of a crappy summary. But, I will admit: this book took a darker turn in the series than I thought. The humor was toned down compared to the first one, so you know that shit was gonna get real. I mean, I've read some dark-toned things, but the way things went with this book, it made feel as hopeless as the characters.
Now the characters:
Tom - I'll have to admit, Tom grew to be a very good protagonist. There were times of when I cringed at his immaturity when visiting the companies, but towards the second half of the novel, I began to appreciate the way Tom was, to an extent. There are times of when you shouldn't be too prideful, especially when your future is at stake, but it is also good to stick to your guns and show people what you're capable of. I don't know if that makes sense, especially if you were to compare Tom to real-life situations, but that's what I got out of Tom. After all of the stuff he went through, from his life with his father, Neil, to the situations in the Spire, Tom has matured significantly.
Wyatt, Vik, and Yuri - These three secondary characters were also good, as well. Wyatt is still the brainy, apex-predator-type person as she is, but is still as socially awkward as ever. Vik is also developed to be very interesting as a person, as his loyalty is also put to the test towards Tom. With Yuri, I had a feeling that he would have fallen into the shadows, never to be heard of again. But, he wasn't, and I was glad, especially towards the end. Overall, these three turned out to be very good friends to Tom, even through their fallout.
Blackburn - Blackburn has some sort of anti-hero streak going in him. In the first book, he was already deemed an enemy towards Tom. But, in the second book, he's starting to seem more as an ally. Sure, not a friend, but an ally is close enough. Yeah, he only saves Tom continuously because of Tom's skill, but...I don't know. Blackburn is a pretty complex character.
Now, the romance. To be honest, this is probably one of the first series that doesn't say the three-word phrase ("I love you"). I mean, there are other series in which the characters don't say the three-word phrase because you can already feel it based on their interactions with each other. Like, they think about it, but don't actually say it, you know? The only two series that pop up are Chaos Walking and No. 6. Other than that, with other series, there are times of when it feels too soon to just to say the three-word phrase. In short, insta-love kills. Hard.
But, with Tom and Medusa (and Wyatt and Yuri, but I will only focus on Tom and Medusa, or Tom and Yaolan, which is Medusa's name), I'm not sure if I would call it love that they're feeling for each other. But, I will admit that they feel attracted to each other, despite meeting virtually. Plus, they're only fifteen years old. Love takes time. And, I hope that they do stay together. Somehow.
And, another thing about the romance: there was not a touch of insta-love. Not. One. Bit. And, that makes me happy.
Overall, this is a 4/5 stars, much higher than the first book. Like a lot of people said, this series is more aimed towards kids that are either in middle school, or lower high school level (8th-10th grade, at most). But, as an eighteen-year old, anybody can read it if it interests you. Boys will be very entertained by this book, as well as girls, as there's not a lot of male protagonists in dystopian novels nowadays (would this be considered dystopian? Hmm...). But, other than that, this was, indeed, a good read, and I can't wait to get my hands on the third installment.
Now, after reading Vortex, the second installment, I am very pleased by my predictions.
Vortex continues the main character Tom Raines's story as he resumes his training in the Pentagonal Spire, along with his friends, Wyatt, Vik, and Yuri. However, Tom's dreams of becoming a Combatant are put to the test when he has to do one thing that he despises the most: ass-kissing. Not only that, but Tom realizes that the Spire is not all that it's cracked up to be, as conspiracy and corruption rises, challenging Tom's beliefs and his friends.
Okay, that was kind of a crappy summary. But, I will admit: this book took a darker turn in the series than I thought. The humor was toned down compared to the first one, so you know that shit was gonna get real. I mean, I've read some dark-toned things, but the way things went with this book, it made feel as hopeless as the characters.
Now the characters:
Tom - I'll have to admit, Tom grew to be a very good protagonist. There were times of when I cringed at his immaturity when visiting the companies, but towards the second half of the novel, I began to appreciate the way Tom was, to an extent. There are times of when you shouldn't be too prideful, especially when your future is at stake, but it is also good to stick to your guns and show people what you're capable of. I don't know if that makes sense, especially if you were to compare Tom to real-life situations, but that's what I got out of Tom. After all of the stuff he went through, from his life with his father, Neil, to the situations in the Spire, Tom has matured significantly.
Wyatt, Vik, and Yuri - These three secondary characters were also good, as well. Wyatt is still the brainy, apex-predator-type person as she is, but is still as socially awkward as ever. Vik is also developed to be very interesting as a person, as his loyalty is also put to the test towards Tom. With Yuri, I had a feeling that he would have fallen into the shadows, never to be heard of again. But, he wasn't, and I was glad, especially towards the end. Overall, these three turned out to be very good friends to Tom, even through their fallout.
Blackburn - Blackburn has some sort of anti-hero streak going in him. In the first book, he was already deemed an enemy towards Tom. But, in the second book, he's starting to seem more as an ally. Sure, not a friend, but an ally is close enough. Yeah, he only saves Tom continuously because of Tom's skill, but...I don't know. Blackburn is a pretty complex character.
Now, the romance. To be honest, this is probably one of the first series that doesn't say the three-word phrase ("I love you"). I mean, there are other series in which the characters don't say the three-word phrase because you can already feel it based on their interactions with each other. Like, they think about it, but don't actually say it, you know? The only two series that pop up are Chaos Walking and No. 6. Other than that, with other series, there are times of when it feels too soon to just to say the three-word phrase. In short, insta-love kills. Hard.
But, with Tom and Medusa (and Wyatt and Yuri, but I will only focus on Tom and Medusa, or Tom and Yaolan, which is Medusa's name), I'm not sure if I would call it love that they're feeling for each other. But, I will admit that they feel attracted to each other, despite meeting virtually. Plus, they're only fifteen years old. Love takes time. And, I hope that they do stay together. Somehow.
And, another thing about the romance: there was not a touch of insta-love. Not. One. Bit. And, that makes me happy.
Overall, this is a 4/5 stars, much higher than the first book. Like a lot of people said, this series is more aimed towards kids that are either in middle school, or lower high school level (8th-10th grade, at most). But, as an eighteen-year old, anybody can read it if it interests you. Boys will be very entertained by this book, as well as girls, as there's not a lot of male protagonists in dystopian novels nowadays (would this be considered dystopian? Hmm...). But, other than that, this was, indeed, a good read, and I can't wait to get my hands on the third installment.
I loved this book. Though a lot of lose ends were tied up the book ended with a terrific cliffhanger of open defiance to power. Im definitely seeking out the next book in the series.
Vortex was surprisingly better than Insignia. You get to explore deeper in how things work in the spire. You'll find shocking secrets and will want the third book immediately.