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thisistrashpsyd's review
5.0
Wow.
My first five star read of 2016. I absolutely love this trilogy. The problem a lot of authors have is that they don't know how to end a series successfully. They always do something to screw it up. Here we have, what I will say is the perfect mix of action, emotion, politics, and morality to make everyone who reads it pleased with the end result. No wonder this book (and many of Sakey's other booths) have been optioned for movies. He pretty much hands the directors a hit, this one included. So if you know what's good for you, you'll give this trilogy a shot. I promise it won't disappoint.
My first five star read of 2016. I absolutely love this trilogy. The problem a lot of authors have is that they don't know how to end a series successfully. They always do something to screw it up. Here we have, what I will say is the perfect mix of action, emotion, politics, and morality to make everyone who reads it pleased with the end result. No wonder this book (and many of Sakey's other booths) have been optioned for movies. He pretty much hands the directors a hit, this one included. So if you know what's good for you, you'll give this trilogy a shot. I promise it won't disappoint.
molokov's review
4.0
Marcus Sakey finishes of his not-quite-superhero series with the world (or at least America) at war with itself. As with the previous volumes, this is highly readable, quite exciting and far far too close to reality. It's also a reminder of how scarily America loves their guns and people like me in Australia just don't get it. And, although it's science fiction, the people seem real enough (even the "villains") so it's easy to see all POV characters' points of view... even though they all do abhorrent and immoral things, just to survive. Highly recommended.
eggplantia5's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
wanserjc's review against another edition
4.0
Solid work all the way through the trilogy. And I suspect a fourth book will appear.
mefi's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
cora273's review against another edition
2.0
This is the third book in the brilliance trilogy. If I didn't buy all three books at the same time, I would not have read all three. I understand why the second and third book explain things that happened in the first but the way that they seemed to explain things with the exact same wording each time got really old, really fast. Example, the way they describe Shannon in each book seems to be exactly the same so if you read all three books in order you'll almost be able to recite her description word for word. I still couldn't really get into the characters and just didn't really care about them. Overall for the trilogy, I think the idea was amazing but the actual books that came from the idea were not that great. I wouldn't recommend this trilogy to anyone.
vailynst's review against another edition
4.0
Mini-Review:
This book is how the whole series should have been. I wonder if there will be anymore stories written in this world because the most interesting parts are left as guesses for the future.
The brilliants are the 1% of people who are born with a knack or skill that seems like magic. The way they might easily learn languages, figure out behavioral patterns, predict other's actions or read emotions can seem to be effortless. A line between those who are brilliant and not are drawn. Various forces connive to fan the flames of distrust and fear until the whole of the US is caught up in a personal war.
Cooper is a brilliant. He's knack is a hyper intuition that allows him to read people and situations to figure out what may happen next. He had a rough childhood because he was different but he had a loving home. He grew up with a strong sense right & wrong and the drive to protect others from danger. It's the reason why he became a government agent and hunted down criminal brilliants. In this installment, Cooper is in a race against time to stop another civil war from wrecking the US.
Some of my issues with the series were addressed in this book. There's a lot of harsh sequences that hammer in the horrible violence that can be done by people who believe they are doing the right thing. This was a good action thriller that gave a hard look at what could happen when people give in their fears, let their actions be driven by hate and allow lies to form stabbing cocoons to hide beneath. I really liked the core ideas but feel that the overall effects were lost in trying to be too complex. Origin & answers felt too simplified in the way they were displayed and that made an awkward contrast. Still, the family & friendship bonds were great. The action felt personal and brutal. This was the best book of the saga.
This book is how the whole series should have been. I wonder if there will be anymore stories written in this world because the most interesting parts are left as guesses for the future.
The brilliants are the 1% of people who are born with a knack or skill that seems like magic. The way they might easily learn languages, figure out behavioral patterns, predict other's actions or read emotions can seem to be effortless. A line between those who are brilliant and not are drawn. Various forces connive to fan the flames of distrust and fear until the whole of the US is caught up in a personal war.
Cooper is a brilliant. He's knack is a hyper intuition that allows him to read people and situations to figure out what may happen next. He had a rough childhood because he was different but he had a loving home. He grew up with a strong sense right & wrong and the drive to protect others from danger. It's the reason why he became a government agent and hunted down criminal brilliants. In this installment, Cooper is in a race against time to stop another civil war from wrecking the US.
Some of my issues with the series were addressed in this book. There's a lot of harsh sequences that hammer in the horrible violence that can be done by people who believe they are doing the right thing. This was a good action thriller that gave a hard look at what could happen when people give in their fears, let their actions be driven by hate and allow lies to form stabbing cocoons to hide beneath. I really liked the core ideas but feel that the overall effects were lost in trying to be too complex. Origin & answers felt too simplified in the way they were displayed and that made an awkward contrast. Still, the family & friendship bonds were great. The action felt personal and brutal. This was the best book of the saga.
alexctelander's review against another edition
4.0
Tensions in the United States are at the brink in Written in Fire, Marcus Sakey’s concluding volume to the Brilliance Trilogy. And like any addictive thriller, be it science fiction or not, it’s all essentially up to one man.
The White House is now a smoking pile of ashes due to what is called a terrorist attack, but was in fact conducted at the instigation of a brilliant whose self-created town was threatened and under attack. Madison Square Garden has become an interment camp for brilliants. The government would like them all tagged and controlled. The irony is not missed here.
Meanwhile there’s the town of Tesla, one that is separate from the United States, under the control and jurisdiction of a very rich and successful brilliant who caused the stock markets to crash. This town is about to be attacked by a self-appointed militia of thousands looking to take over a good portion of brilliants and bring these “abnorms” to their knees and take back their country. The town of Tesla has an impressive defensive structure in place: a microwave magnetic field that will slowly cook a person who strays too far. But the militia have captured all the brilliant children and are using them as human shields.
Like the other two books, Sakey has a talent for building the tension one block on top of another, keeping the reader addicted to the page. Our protagonist Nick Cooper seems to get all the ladies and find just the right way of resolving everything and coming out a little battered and bruised but still alive and well. Nevertheless, Written in Fire is the epitome of a thrilling read that still leaves the reader wondering until the very end how it will all play out.
Originally written on March 26, 2016 ©Alex C. Telander.
For more reviews, check out the BookBanter site.
The White House is now a smoking pile of ashes due to what is called a terrorist attack, but was in fact conducted at the instigation of a brilliant whose self-created town was threatened and under attack. Madison Square Garden has become an interment camp for brilliants. The government would like them all tagged and controlled. The irony is not missed here.
Meanwhile there’s the town of Tesla, one that is separate from the United States, under the control and jurisdiction of a very rich and successful brilliant who caused the stock markets to crash. This town is about to be attacked by a self-appointed militia of thousands looking to take over a good portion of brilliants and bring these “abnorms” to their knees and take back their country. The town of Tesla has an impressive defensive structure in place: a microwave magnetic field that will slowly cook a person who strays too far. But the militia have captured all the brilliant children and are using them as human shields.
Like the other two books, Sakey has a talent for building the tension one block on top of another, keeping the reader addicted to the page. Our protagonist Nick Cooper seems to get all the ladies and find just the right way of resolving everything and coming out a little battered and bruised but still alive and well. Nevertheless, Written in Fire is the epitome of a thrilling read that still leaves the reader wondering until the very end how it will all play out.
Originally written on March 26, 2016 ©Alex C. Telander.
For more reviews, check out the BookBanter site.
mind_altering_reads's review against another edition
5.0
Book Review: Written in Fire by Marcus Sakey
“Why is a little artistic enthusiasm a perilous mistake? Because artists are more dangerous than murderers. The most prolific serial killer might have dozens of victims, but poets can lay low entire generations.”
Thoughts: What an amazing ending to this trilogy! I really cannot say enough about it. As I’ve mentioned in my previous reviews, this series is action packed and really looks at the issues with American government and its citizens through a fictional, yet not so fictional, lens. It is such a fast read and in my opinion, the perfect ending. Please check this series out! It will not be the last book I ready by Sakey. The entire series is available on #kindleunlimited and also has free on #audible if you use KU.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“Why is a little artistic enthusiasm a perilous mistake? Because artists are more dangerous than murderers. The most prolific serial killer might have dozens of victims, but poets can lay low entire generations.”
Thoughts: What an amazing ending to this trilogy! I really cannot say enough about it. As I’ve mentioned in my previous reviews, this series is action packed and really looks at the issues with American government and its citizens through a fictional, yet not so fictional, lens. It is such a fast read and in my opinion, the perfect ending. Please check this series out! It will not be the last book I ready by Sakey. The entire series is available on #kindleunlimited and also has free on #audible if you use KU.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️