Scan barcode
lfitzmaurice's review against another edition
4.0
This book was a fast-paced, exciting, thrill of a read. I was initially intrigued by the blurb, since this sounded like a Crichton-type science fiction book and I am a huge fan of his work. I was not disappointed by this offering from McBride. I enjoyed the blend of science, mythology, and horror and kept turning pages right up until the end.
However, as with some other fast-paced science fiction, the characters suffered here. I unfortunately did not realize this was a sequel before I started reading, and had a lot of trouble differentiating between characters. There are a lot of point of view changes throughout the story and it was disorienting at times.
I would recommend to other readers who, like me, need something to fill the Crichton sized hole in their heart, but also enjoy a healthy dose of blood and guts. I plan to read more of McBride's offerings in the future (hopefully with a few less POV characters).
However, as with some other fast-paced science fiction, the characters suffered here. I unfortunately did not realize this was a sequel before I started reading, and had a lot of trouble differentiating between characters. There are a lot of point of view changes throughout the story and it was disorienting at times.
I would recommend to other readers who, like me, need something to fill the Crichton sized hole in their heart, but also enjoy a healthy dose of blood and guts. I plan to read more of McBride's offerings in the future (hopefully with a few less POV characters).
being_b's review against another edition
3.0
That was not as fun. Less science, lots of new mysteries, and very little progress. I feel a creeping X-files fear that the plot will just continue to elaborate and elaborate in future books and never actually resolve. Jumping ship now.
liannekb's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
A fun story, but full of smart people being really stupid and dying as a result. Lots and lots and lots of dying as a result. Except for our five lead characters who survive everything, no matter how improbably.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
dnemec's review against another edition
3.0
Apparently, Forsaken is the second book in the Unit 51 series. Not having read Subhuman, I wasn't really sure what I was in for. What a wild ride!
The book primarily flips back and forth between Forward Base Atlantis in Antarctica and ancient ruins in Mexico, with some diversions to England the African jungle. A few months earlier, creatures that had been frozen in time beneath the ice in Antarctica were unearthed by several scientists. Unfortunately, said creatures were not dead, merely in a state of hibernation that the scientists unwittingly terminated. And they aren't friendly. Now one creature (formerly one of the original scientists) is being observed in Antarctica. But it knows something they don't, and isn't anxious to share.
Simultaneously, the ancient ruins in Mexico are providing some interesting information. Drawings in the ruins are similar to some found in the pyramid in Antarctica. Then some flooding allows the scientists to stumble across an ancient maze that doesn't quite have a prize in the middle. And the maze is the same design as the crop circles in England, which mirrors one of the few clues provided to the Antarctican scientists by the living creature...
I don't know if I'd call this horror or science fiction or thriller (there is a LOT of shooting and special ops guys in there), but it was really entertaining. It was interesting how there were events occurring all over the world that were seemingly linked. I have to agree with some of the other reviewers that there are a lot of characters to track and it can get confusing jumping back and forth. Overall, the tale was quite good.
The book primarily flips back and forth between Forward Base Atlantis in Antarctica and ancient ruins in Mexico, with some diversions to England the African jungle. A few months earlier, creatures that had been frozen in time beneath the ice in Antarctica were unearthed by several scientists. Unfortunately, said creatures were not dead, merely in a state of hibernation that the scientists unwittingly terminated. And they aren't friendly. Now one creature (formerly one of the original scientists) is being observed in Antarctica. But it knows something they don't, and isn't anxious to share.
Simultaneously, the ancient ruins in Mexico are providing some interesting information. Drawings in the ruins are similar to some found in the pyramid in Antarctica. Then some flooding allows the scientists to stumble across an ancient maze that doesn't quite have a prize in the middle. And the maze is the same design as the crop circles in England, which mirrors one of the few clues provided to the Antarctican scientists by the living creature...
I don't know if I'd call this horror or science fiction or thriller (there is a LOT of shooting and special ops guys in there), but it was really entertaining. It was interesting how there were events occurring all over the world that were seemingly linked. I have to agree with some of the other reviewers that there are a lot of characters to track and it can get confusing jumping back and forth. Overall, the tale was quite good.
aliciaface's review against another edition
5.0
Moves so quickly
Such a great book! Read thru it very quickly cuz I couldn't put it down! Definitely worth the read. Can't wait for the sequel
Such a great book! Read thru it very quickly cuz I couldn't put it down! Definitely worth the read. Can't wait for the sequel
mpetruce's review against another edition
3.0
Not quite as solid as the first book in the series. The team gets split up. And then a few things just suddenly happen (though I listened to this, so I may have missed something). Also, the monsters go to having new powers or something and some odd what was learned in book one seems to have been forgotten in book two. But still fun. On to the third book.
waheela's review against another edition
5.0
Better than the first book. Suspense held up through the whole book.
Characters were nothing special. Excecpt for a couple I found boring and cliché.
The author manages to steer around the typical bad guy in this series. That is refreshing and kept the focus on the suspense and mystery.
Characters were nothing special. Excecpt for a couple I found boring and cliché.
The author manages to steer around the typical bad guy in this series. That is refreshing and kept the focus on the suspense and mystery.
bookanonjeff's review against another edition
5.0
Read Book 1 First... And Be Glad You Have This Book On Hand. This is one of those sequels that picks up from the first book and directly uses its base to tell this book's story. So if you haven't read Book 1 (Subhuman) yet, start there first. But go ahead and buy this book so you have it on hand when you finish Subhuman.
If you like classic horror/ scifi tales along the lines of Aliens, The Thing, or even Jurassic Park... you're gonna want to pick up this series. If you're looking for a Crichton-esque technothriller or a Preston/Child-esque dark mystery or a Brett Battles-esque tale of global peril... you're gonna want to pick up this series.
Indeed, my *only* quibble here, and I happen to be in somewhat of a rare/ possibly unique position to have it, is that here, in this ostensibly horror/ scifi tale, McBride creates a bigger and more ominous global threat than his alter ego Michael Laurence has created by the end of his own Book 2 in the Exinction Agenda series (which is still awesome in its own right, as more of a police procedural/ scifi action thriller). That noted... I happen to be glad I have an ARC of the next book in this series, Mutation, which releases in just 10 days from the time I write this review. Very much recommended.
If you like classic horror/ scifi tales along the lines of Aliens, The Thing, or even Jurassic Park... you're gonna want to pick up this series. If you're looking for a Crichton-esque technothriller or a Preston/Child-esque dark mystery or a Brett Battles-esque tale of global peril... you're gonna want to pick up this series.
Indeed, my *only* quibble here, and I happen to be in somewhat of a rare/ possibly unique position to have it, is that here, in this ostensibly horror/ scifi tale, McBride creates a bigger and more ominous global threat than his alter ego Michael Laurence has created by the end of his own Book 2 in the Exinction Agenda series (which is still awesome in its own right, as more of a police procedural/ scifi action thriller). That noted... I happen to be glad I have an ARC of the next book in this series, Mutation, which releases in just 10 days from the time I write this review. Very much recommended.
tpaulschulte's review against another edition
4.0
I didn't thgink that author McBride could ratchet up the action any higher than he did in Subhuman. I was wrong. Forsaken is a mile a minute thrill ride that takes place in such exotic locales as Teotihuacan, Antartica and the englisf moors. Between shadowy organizations and monsters from your worst nighmares, McBride keeps the storyline from Subhuman moving and evolving. Using ancient myth and our world's greatest mysteries from Stonehenge to the Nazca Drawings to the Great Pyramids in Eygpt to crop circles in the english countryside, this is on heck of a book. But, you really need to read Subhuman first. You will be lost if ou don't.
Next up Mutation Unit 51 #3!
Next up Mutation Unit 51 #3!