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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
I'm only about 25% of the way through this book, and I'm having a hard time staying interested in it. I bought this book (and audiobook version) on sale after having Amazon constantly pushing it on me. Plus it had thousands of five star reviews. I had a feeling it wasn't for me, but figured I could give it a shot for $1.99.
I should have stuck to my intuitions. This story was written squarely in the YA category (rife with emotional outbursts and lunchroom bullies). I have read all three "Hunger Game" novels and never really felt talked-down to in them, but this one feels like a teenager wrote it. And why would they keep Joe alive? He's too old, stronger than the rest of the kids, very rebellious, and a loose canon. One of the main aliens even recalls a psychic reading that foretold his death at the hands of someone with a tattoo exactly like Joe's. The alien jokes about killing Joe to thwart his own fate, but of course, doesn't. It feels like "Battlefield Earth" where the captors let the most dangerous prisoner live... because plot devices. They even give him additional knowledge and make him a leader of his squadron. WTF master alien race?
As far as the sci-fi aspects go, this one is definitely on the soft side of the genre. We get first encounter, total world domination, submission of all of Earth's children ages 5-12, and are in deep outer space in the first couple of chapters. The author doesn't spend any time explaining these massive shifts from our current reality. I very much prefer harder sci-fi; so the departure here made my interest level descend rapidly.
On a side note, the audiobook version is nearly awful. The audio quality jumps from OK to sounding like sections were recorded in a foam-lined soda can. It's quite jarring. Also, there are times (seemingly random) when this little chime jingle plays. It scared the hell out of me the first few times it happened. Do not waste your money on it!
I'm not quite sure if I'll finish this book. Listening to the audiobook is an easy time investment, but I find my mind wandering away from the story quite a bit already. Reading other reviews-where they talk about even more gratuitous child brutality and 80% of the book dwelling in bootcamp-makes me even less inclined to bother. *sigh*
I should have stuck to my intuitions. This story was written squarely in the YA category (rife with emotional outbursts and lunchroom bullies). I have read all three "Hunger Game" novels and never really felt talked-down to in them, but this one feels like a teenager wrote it. And why would they keep Joe alive? He's too old, stronger than the rest of the kids, very rebellious, and a loose canon. One of the main aliens even recalls a psychic reading that foretold his death at the hands of someone with a tattoo exactly like Joe's. The alien jokes about killing Joe to thwart his own fate, but of course, doesn't. It feels like "Battlefield Earth" where the captors let the most dangerous prisoner live... because plot devices. They even give him additional knowledge and make him a leader of his squadron. WTF master alien race?
As far as the sci-fi aspects go, this one is definitely on the soft side of the genre. We get first encounter, total world domination, submission of all of Earth's children ages 5-12, and are in deep outer space in the first couple of chapters. The author doesn't spend any time explaining these massive shifts from our current reality. I very much prefer harder sci-fi; so the departure here made my interest level descend rapidly.
On a side note, the audiobook version is nearly awful. The audio quality jumps from OK to sounding like sections were recorded in a foam-lined soda can. It's quite jarring. Also, there are times (seemingly random) when this little chime jingle plays. It scared the hell out of me the first few times it happened. Do not waste your money on it!
I'm not quite sure if I'll finish this book. Listening to the audiobook is an easy time investment, but I find my mind wandering away from the story quite a bit already. Reading other reviews-where they talk about even more gratuitous child brutality and 80% of the book dwelling in bootcamp-makes me even less inclined to bother. *sigh*
Un concepto diferente para lo que es ciencia ficción. Muy bien escrito, muy buen desarrollo, crudo, con elementos "saramaguescos". Me sorprendió de buena manera.
4.5 stars
Liam Owen did such a fantastic job narrating this one.
I just spent close to 19 hours listening to this incredible story. The whole time cringing and flinching from the gruesomeness and visciousness of the details.
This is not a YA novel
The characters are human children and alien species (monsters). However, do not mistake this for a YA novel. In no way does this read as YA. It is harsh. It is brutal. It is honest and it is emotionally draining.
I lived each of Joe's trials. I fretted over each of his decisions. I loved all of his friends.
I only had a problem with Joe's Mom. Her character seemed to be a little OTT. Libby's Mom was a little questionable too. But neither mom appeared too often in the story so they were relatively easy to overlook amidst all the crazy action and heart stopping scenes in this story.
I was so invested that when I finished, I felt (happily) drained.
If you enjoy reading science fiction involving alien species, this one is not to be missed.
Liam Owen did such a fantastic job narrating this one.
I just spent close to 19 hours listening to this incredible story. The whole time cringing and flinching from the gruesomeness and visciousness of the details.
This is not a YA novel
The characters are human children and alien species (monsters). However, do not mistake this for a YA novel. In no way does this read as YA. It is harsh. It is brutal. It is honest and it is emotionally draining.
I lived each of Joe's trials. I fretted over each of his decisions. I loved all of his friends.
I only had a problem with Joe's Mom. Her character seemed to be a little OTT. Libby's Mom was a little questionable too. But neither mom appeared too often in the story so they were relatively easy to overlook amidst all the crazy action and heart stopping scenes in this story.
I was so invested that when I finished, I felt (happily) drained.
If you enjoy reading science fiction involving alien species, this one is not to be missed.
This is a great book. I make it a habit lately of buying small house published or self-published books. Sometimes you are surprised and sometimes not. Sometimes those surprises are good and sometimes not so good. I have to say this books is a surprise and of the very good kind. While not clean enough to recommend for my children it is an excellent story. I really appreciate the strong character driven writing style. The book is a beefy 600+ pages long but none of it feels like fluff. A true joy to read that is not predictable and engrossing. Definitely one of those books that keep you up at night and you think about for weeks after finishing reading. Sara writes in a brave and unafraid style and she is not afraid to wreck havoc with our emotions. Thanks Sara and keep on writing!
I was given this copy by the author to listen and review.
First, I think the voice actor is amazing. The characters stand out and the performance was one of the best I’ve ever heard.
Second, I feel like this book should come with a trigger warning. Topics like child abuse, rape and long term verbal & mental abuse are experienced by most of the main characters. It’s tough to listen to how these children are treated, and it’s not just occasionally- it’s the entirety of this book. The characters experiences many unpleasant instances from being physically mutilated to being yelled at like a dog. There is a point where the main character has some brief moments of less pain but it doesn’t negate the brainwashing and abuse he had to go through.
Kudos to the author for giving me such visceral reactions to the characters, I felt that pain and suffering. She’s an excellent writer and the characters came to life.
I would not read this if you had a difficult childhood or have children and your fear is them being taken and abused.
I finished this book but were times I wasn’t sure if I wanted to. The story telling and the hope for some pleasant outcomes kept me going.
Overall 3 stars for a decent sci-fi story.
First, I think the voice actor is amazing. The characters stand out and the performance was one of the best I’ve ever heard.
Second, I feel like this book should come with a trigger warning. Topics like child abuse, rape and long term verbal & mental abuse are experienced by most of the main characters. It’s tough to listen to how these children are treated, and it’s not just occasionally- it’s the entirety of this book. The characters experiences many unpleasant instances from being physically mutilated to being yelled at like a dog. There is a point where the main character has some brief moments of less pain but it doesn’t negate the brainwashing and abuse he had to go through.
Kudos to the author for giving me such visceral reactions to the characters, I felt that pain and suffering. She’s an excellent writer and the characters came to life.
I would not read this if you had a difficult childhood or have children and your fear is them being taken and abused.
I finished this book but were times I wasn’t sure if I wanted to. The story telling and the hope for some pleasant outcomes kept me going.
Overall 3 stars for a decent sci-fi story.
I'd been on a date zero kick
I had some weird thing about buying books with "zero in the title. It sat waiting in a queue for a long time. Then I decided to read it. An alien empire comes to Earth and demands something like 95% of children between the ages of five and twelve to serve in their military. Except one recruit is older and there's a prophecy around him, like it or not. There's a lot of death, a lot of "I can't believe they killed a five year old". It's scary and tells you a lot about Congress. Joe, or Zero, is at the center of everything and prophecy of all that keeps him alive. He resilience and defiance are an immediate asset.
This is a story of a teenage boy challenging a cruel empire. Is he up for it? Prophecy says yes but he's not sure.
I had some weird thing about buying books with "zero in the title. It sat waiting in a queue for a long time. Then I decided to read it. An alien empire comes to Earth and demands something like 95% of children between the ages of five and twelve to serve in their military. Except one recruit is older and there's a prophecy around him, like it or not. There's a lot of death, a lot of "I can't believe they killed a five year old". It's scary and tells you a lot about Congress. Joe, or Zero, is at the center of everything and prophecy of all that keeps him alive. He resilience and defiance are an immediate asset.
This is a story of a teenage boy challenging a cruel empire. Is he up for it? Prophecy says yes but he's not sure.
dark
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Another youngsters in jeopardy, though this is children 5-12, except for 14 year old Joe. They are given hormonal treatments to make their bodies grow for the aliens who invaded earth and took the kids to serve in the army of Congress, which has thousands of species. (But the one that deals with the humans seems to have gender binary.)
Too much brutality to kids, one-dimensional characters, and uneven writing (imaginative bits alternating with overused plot points) and prophesies that foretell our hero's future plus random brutality to animals are not my cuppa. Add in grammatical mistakes, hints that rape is on the horizon for very underage kids, and I can't immerse. Setting aside.
Too much brutality to kids, one-dimensional characters, and uneven writing (imaginative bits alternating with overused plot points) and prophesies that foretell our hero's future plus random brutality to animals are not my cuppa. Add in grammatical mistakes, hints that rape is on the horizon for very underage kids, and I can't immerse. Setting aside.
When I picked up this book, I knew I was looking for something that could be on par with Red Rising and Ender's Game. Every summer starting from the summer of 2022, I've read a book that contained a young genius military commander going through a military academy and then rising to become a great general in a galactic war. While I knew I wanted something along those lines with a dash of space opera, I was not ready for Forging Zero.
I had this book picked out and ready to go last July, after I finished Ender's Game and was looking for something similar to fill the gap in my heart. Now after reading this first book, I'm not so sure that it would have. But after reading the 2nd book (that's when I started this review), my opinions are changing.
I spent 2-3hrs one afternoon in the summer of 2024 trying to find an audiobook, since that was the medium I had read its 2 predecessors in. Because so little people has read this book, unfortunately, that was not possible, which was a disappointment. But onto the book itself:
Right off the hook I was surprised at how we were just tossed into the new world. With Red Rising and Ender's Game, there were significant ground-laying and world-building at the start for us to understand what was going on. But with this book, nope. We were directly tossed into the galaxy, interacting with Ooreikis and the Dhasha and the Jreet.
And godDAMN that was dark. I did not expect SO MANY grotesque scenes and SO MANY deaths..
Speaking of characters, I just gotta say, Sara King is a damn good author. She managed to construct a sci-fi world with so much lore, yet still managed to make characters that we easily empathize with and care a lot about. The plot was also fast-paced and intense, and I found myself staying up until 1 on many evenings. Pure skill.
Lastly, I want to talk about Joe Dobbs. Joe was the best thing about both of these books. Without such a solid, smart, brilliant, compassionate, and righteous character to hold the entire series together, the bits and pieces would have fallen apart. He is LITERALLY the definition of a true leader. I GREATLY enjoyed his process of "being forged", running laps for the tiniest offense, wearing his sleeves up in a tiny form of rebellion, and inspiring an entire platoon to break the rules and take revenge with him. I am not surprised that people would follow him wherever he goes, and hell, if I were on the damn planet, I would have too.
Ok just so I don't forget, let me recount several of my favorite scenes:
1. Zero meeting his groundteam for the first time and gaining their loyalty
2. When his groundteam all gave him some of their share of the meal
3. Every DAMN interaction between him and Nebil
4. Every battle game down in the tunnels. Speaking of which, Sara, your idea of tunnel crawling and making the majority of battles like that is pure GENIUS.
5. Joe and Libby's dynamic (only occasionally though).
6. The CONSTANT deception by the Huoyut. Absolutely crazy.
7. BAKGHALLL
I had this book picked out and ready to go last July, after I finished Ender's Game and was looking for something similar to fill the gap in my heart. Now after reading this first book, I'm not so sure that it would have. But after reading the 2nd book (that's when I started this review), my opinions are changing.
I spent 2-3hrs one afternoon in the summer of 2024 trying to find an audiobook, since that was the medium I had read its 2 predecessors in. Because so little people has read this book, unfortunately, that was not possible, which was a disappointment. But onto the book itself:
Right off the hook I was surprised at how we were just tossed into the new world. With Red Rising and Ender's Game, there were significant ground-laying and world-building at the start for us to understand what was going on. But with this book, nope. We were directly tossed into the galaxy, interacting with Ooreikis and the Dhasha and the Jreet.
And godDAMN that was dark. I did not expect SO MANY grotesque scenes and SO MANY deaths.
Spoiler
The killing off of weaklings at the start? The growth-enhancement drugs? The slavery of humans? The rape, the tortures, the killings? The fact that basically the entire groundteam and everybody good died off at the end?? That was CRAZY. Like I was just getting attached to these characters?? Here is my ode to Scott Monk Libby NEBIL KIGHIL and god knows so many others ;-;Speaking of characters, I just gotta say, Sara King is a damn good author. She managed to construct a sci-fi world with so much lore, yet still managed to make characters that we easily empathize with and care a lot about. The plot was also fast-paced and intense, and I found myself staying up until 1 on many evenings. Pure skill.
Lastly, I want to talk about Joe Dobbs. Joe was the best thing about both of these books. Without such a solid, smart, brilliant, compassionate, and righteous character to hold the entire series together, the bits and pieces would have fallen apart. He is LITERALLY the definition of a true leader. I GREATLY enjoyed his process of "being forged", running laps for the tiniest offense, wearing his sleeves up in a tiny form of rebellion, and inspiring an entire platoon to break the rules and take revenge with him. I am not surprised that people would follow him wherever he goes, and hell, if I were on the damn planet, I would have too.
Ok just so I don't forget, let me recount several of my favorite scenes:
Spoiler
1. Zero meeting his groundteam for the first time and gaining their loyalty
2. When his groundteam all gave him some of their share of the meal
3. Every DAMN interaction between him and Nebil
4. Every battle game down in the tunnels. Speaking of which, Sara, your idea of tunnel crawling and making the majority of battles like that is pure GENIUS.
5. Joe and Libby's dynamic (only occasionally though).
6. The CONSTANT deception by the Huoyut. Absolutely crazy.
7. BAKGHALLL