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jacqueshol's review against another edition
5.0
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Yes, it is far-fetched and rather gory, but I am a sucker for these kind of books. It reminded me a lot of James Rollins' Subterranean and even Excavation. Fantastical creatures abound and the story is fairly predictable, but hey, it was fun.
The story left a lot of unanswered questions, but clearly a sequel is in the world. I can't wait.
The story left a lot of unanswered questions, but clearly a sequel is in the world. I can't wait.
knightofswords's review against another edition
1.0
I know it's genre fiction, but this was one of the worst horror novels I've ever read, in spite of having *two* authors
Two heads put together came up with this, good lord.
Two heads put together came up with this, good lord.
skizzbot's review against another edition
4.0
This books gets rolling from the very start. Fast-paced, action-packed, and a heck of a lot of fun with some intriguing twists I didn't foresee. Looking forward to the next one, and I wouldn't be surprised if we see this story getting adapted for TV sometime soon.
gimpyknee's review against another edition
3.0
The "scary" introductory portion of the book was 4-stars. The political sub-plot portion only 2-stars contributing to an overall rating of 3-stars. There is certainly plenty of action but also somewhat predictable. Satisfying enough to make me want to read the sequel.
dgivi13's review against another edition
3.0
3.75 stars. Very easy read with little “fluff”. Writing is a little amateur. Story started off fast and strong, keeping momentum til the very end. Would make a decent movie
bmg20's review
3.0
3.5 stars
Short Summary: When a new subway line connecting New Jersey and New York makes its inaugural journey, it arrives in the station to a crowd of spectators that watch in horror as they realize that the train is completely empty but there’s blood everywhere.
Thoughts: This one was a ton of fun and full of creepy moments but the shift in the second half where the story focused primarily on political drama/conspiracies instead was somewhat disappointing.
Verdict: With similarities to The Strain and the very script-like way this was written, this would be a most excellent tv show.
I received this book free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Short Summary: When a new subway line connecting New Jersey and New York makes its inaugural journey, it arrives in the station to a crowd of spectators that watch in horror as they realize that the train is completely empty but there’s blood everywhere.
Thoughts: This one was a ton of fun and full of creepy moments but the shift in the second half where the story focused primarily on political drama/conspiracies instead was somewhat disappointing.
Verdict: With similarities to The Strain and the very script-like way this was written, this would be a most excellent tv show.
I received this book free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
mxsallybend's review against another edition
3.0
A good book that started out as a great book, before getting derailed about halfway through, Awakened was a fun popcorn read about subterranean monsters.
James S. Murray & Darren Wearmouth waste absolutely no time getting down to business. The first chapter features a harrowing accident, rescue, and ultimate disaster that got the adrenaline running. I expected the story to settle down after that, plod along for a big, and then circle back to the action, but this is not a patient read. The second chapter careens headlong into horror, leaving the pages dripping with blood, and things just keep getting more intense from there.
As much as I didn't care for the mid-book twist that dragged the story into Illuminati, government conspiracy, high-tech monster hunting territory, I loved what Murray & Wearmouth did with the first half. Everybody jumps to the conclusion that the subway disaster is terrorist related. They spend far too much time trying to figure out human motivations and methods, never suspecting for a moment that it's really an inhuman terror stalking them. It works because it's realistic, it's plausible, it's what real people would do. Were this to happen in real-life, monsters would be the farthest thing from anybody's thoughts.
The moments before the twist is revealed are well-done, adding a layer of human drama and anxiety to the monster story, and I liked that it made us question everything and everyone. I did a double-take at the first glimpse of the weird laser gun with "a transparent handle that glowed pink around Samuels’ fingers and a smooth black body with no visible markings," and may have audibly groaned at the whole discussion between the President and his secret service agent about the man named Van Ness. Don't get me wrong, it's an interesting subplot, and could have made for a fun read on its own, but I felt like it took away from the monster horror I was enjoying.
For me, the whole was something less than the sum of its parts. With that conspiracy angle, the story really stretched the bounds of credibility, and the plot hole became more glaringly apparent. Instead of grinning along with the carnage, cheering the MacGyver like survival scenarios, and rooting for the everyday heroes, I found myself shaking my head and questioning everything. It doesn't help that it becomes clear this is meant to be part of a series, which means a lot of questions are left open. In my opinion, Awakened would have been better as a straight monster thriller, but the opening 100 or so pages are well worth the price of admission.
James S. Murray & Darren Wearmouth waste absolutely no time getting down to business. The first chapter features a harrowing accident, rescue, and ultimate disaster that got the adrenaline running. I expected the story to settle down after that, plod along for a big, and then circle back to the action, but this is not a patient read. The second chapter careens headlong into horror, leaving the pages dripping with blood, and things just keep getting more intense from there.
As much as I didn't care for the mid-book twist that dragged the story into Illuminati, government conspiracy, high-tech monster hunting territory, I loved what Murray & Wearmouth did with the first half. Everybody jumps to the conclusion that the subway disaster is terrorist related. They spend far too much time trying to figure out human motivations and methods, never suspecting for a moment that it's really an inhuman terror stalking them. It works because it's realistic, it's plausible, it's what real people would do. Were this to happen in real-life, monsters would be the farthest thing from anybody's thoughts.
The moments before the twist is revealed are well-done, adding a layer of human drama and anxiety to the monster story, and I liked that it made us question everything and everyone. I did a double-take at the first glimpse of the weird laser gun with "a transparent handle that glowed pink around Samuels’ fingers and a smooth black body with no visible markings," and may have audibly groaned at the whole discussion between the President and his secret service agent about the man named Van Ness. Don't get me wrong, it's an interesting subplot, and could have made for a fun read on its own, but I felt like it took away from the monster horror I was enjoying.
For me, the whole was something less than the sum of its parts. With that conspiracy angle, the story really stretched the bounds of credibility, and the plot hole became more glaringly apparent. Instead of grinning along with the carnage, cheering the MacGyver like survival scenarios, and rooting for the everyday heroes, I found myself shaking my head and questioning everything. It doesn't help that it becomes clear this is meant to be part of a series, which means a lot of questions are left open. In my opinion, Awakened would have been better as a straight monster thriller, but the opening 100 or so pages are well worth the price of admission.
lylyan_aki's review against another edition
4.0
I'm not into fantasy, sci-fi, those genres. So I was caught off guard that this book involves monsters. (I should have read the descriptions more carefully). But it was surprisingly entertaining and fast pace. Actually a joy to read
annaonthepage's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
A truly horrible time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Violence