Showing posts with label Natalie Wright. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Natalie Wright. Show all posts

Monday, January 8, 2018

Audio Book Review: H.A.L.F. Origins

H.A.L.F. Origins

By:  Natalie Wright

Publish Date:  August 24, 2017, Audiobook Release November 21, 2017

Format:  Audiobook - 12 hrs 42 mins
Narrated By:  Dylan White

Genre:  Science Fiction

Series:  3rd in H.A.L.F. series; 1st Book ~ The Deep Beneath, 2nd Book ~ The Makers

Impression:  The informative conclusion to the H.A.L.F. series.

Synopsis:
A deadly alien virus spawns an epidemic. Predators attack Europe. And a clandestine organization conspires to profit from chaos and forge a New World Order.

In this heart-pounding finale of the award-winning H.A.L.F. series, Tex, Erika and the rest are in a race against time. They fought for their lives. Now they battle to save our species.

Tex and Erika are fugitives and running for their lives. But when Tex falls gravely ill, a Navajo healer is his only hope for survival. Tex emerges from the ordeal changed in body and mind and with vital information: how to stop the predatory M’Uktah from overtaking the human population and destroying those he has come to love.

Erika Holt seeks a respite from the constant threats to her life but she’s not about to give up. As she and Tex launch a mission to shut down the intra-galactic highway used by invaders who prey on humans, she grows closer to her troubled half-human companion. But what about her on-again, off-again boyfriend, Jack?

Jack Wilson, with his friend Anna Sturgis, is on a mission of his own. He’s determined to destroy The Makers, an illuminati-like organization behind the H.A.L.F. program. It’s time to put an end to their schemes for world domination. Complicating matters, an anti-viral that could save millions from an alien virus has been stolen. As both alien and human forces line up against them, the destiny of all mankind is hand the hands of these young warriors. And time is running out.

First Sentence:
Raindrops pelted the windshield of the rust-bucket truck Erika had borrowed from Ian's dad.

Purchase At:
Amazon

Audible 


My Thoughts and Summary:
*I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

We pick up where the second book, The Makers, ended with our characters. They are all still separate in a work of turmoil as a few major cities on Earth are attacked by a deadly alien. Erika, Jack, Ian, Tex, and Alecto learn what they must do to save the world.

Dylan voices the story with different feelings in his voice for the characters, even different tones for our characters. One thing that I struggled with though, the audio sounded as though there was an object that moved in front and away from the microphone, blocking it and sounding muffled from time to time. I always wonder if it's my iPod or if it's the actual audio when I hear these things. There is one small section that's repeated, missed in editing. But these are small if you are looking to listen to the ending of the series.

Everyone's in tough spots. They've all done things they aren't proud of, and still doing those things to survive. There are attacks in Europe - London and Paris - putting the area in darkness. The attack on Earth has started. The world feels to be falling apart and Tex, Erika, Jack, and others feel to be the glue to bring it all together and save the world.

We get a few POVs that tell us what is happening as information is gathered from different directions. We stay with our friends, all in different areas as they fight to survive. Erika, Jack, and Tex. We also get to see through William Croft's eyes. He's one of The Makers and has insight to what was created to save them when the attacks started. Ian wasn't as much a main character in this book as he was in the past. And we got a point of view for the captain of the M'Uktah who have invaded the Earth.

Our friends learn much about themselves as they age in feelings and mind through this book. They live through terrible tragedies and have to do things to survive they don't want to do, like kill. But through this they see things are changing, and so are they. They even find loves in their lives they never thought they'd find, and worry about what their dear friends would think.

The M'Uktah we see here learns much about his world and what was to happen to him based on those who were around him. I thought at the end that there's possibly more to the story with M'Uktah and on their world. But things care cleared up here on Earth for everyone.

We see Tex and our friends figure out what to do with the M'Uktah along with what happens to the The Makers organization that had plans in place for when the M'Uktah arrived. This was the reason all of this started, with Tex and Alecto, bring the story full circle for the reason Tex and Alecto and the underground city were created.

Tex grows as a person as well. He makes some huge discoveries but also learns what it's like to be a teenage boy in love. He has some huge decisions to make. Alecto struggles a little with not being commanded by Lillian Sturgis. Alecto feels she was created to take and follow commands, so this is something she needs to learn to work through, and become an individual.

The title of the book is true to the story. Origins. We learn where the human race along with others came from. This is a journey that Tex needs to make to figure out how to save the people he's come to care deeply about. In doing so, he learns of the origin of his people along with humans and other races in the universe. This is where the story stretched further than just aliens in science fiction fantasy.

There are lines in the story that feel as though they were lines the author wanted to use like others have. These lines are ones that feel to be said in about every other book. I would have loved these to be written differently. All I do and will do are for you, where one ended and the other began - in a love scene, emotions run high, they are a matched pair, she fits perfectly to him. Ugh. Put these in different words. It would have felt to have fit the writing style better for me if the author reworded these sayings.

These small sayings aside, the book came to a conclusion for the series. It all comes together as things tie up.



****If you found my thoughts helpful, please click Yes at Amazon and/or Audible. Thank you!

Monday, January 9, 2017

Audio Book Review: H.A.L.F.: The Makers

H.A.L.F.: The Makers

By:  Natalie Wright

Publish Date:  April 7, 2016, Audiobook Release November 10, 2016

Format:  Audiobook - 12 hrs 27 mins
Narrated By:  Dylan White

Genre:  Science Fiction

Series:  2nd H.A.L.F. series: 1st Book ~ The Deep Beneath

Impression:  Things may not be brighter on the other side...

Synopsis:
"The Makers" is the follow-up to Natalie Wright's multiple award-winning debut science fiction novel "H.A.L.F.: The Deep Beneath." "We've seen grey aliens on T.V. and in movies. We may think we know all about them. But what if everything we think we know is wrong?" Erika Holt dodged death and departed Earth in an alien ship. It wasn't how she'd planned to spend her senior year. Is Erika on her way to paradise? Or to a hell worse than the underground lab she escaped? The greys rescued Tex from A.H.D.N.A. and promised him a life he could never have imagined. But what will he have to give up to become one with The Conexus? Jack Wilson is still Commander Sturgis' prisoner, but a promise of freedom comes from an unlikely source. Will his liberation cost more than he's willing to pay? Caught up in their personal battles and focused on our war with the grey aliens, will any of them realize the true threat that looms over us all before it's too late?

First Sentence:
The cold void that had swallowed Erika's scream as she entered the alien ship enveloped her.

Purchase At:
Amazon  /  Barnes & Nobles  /  Book Depository

Audible

My Thoughts and Summary:
*This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review at my request.

Erika, Tex, Ian, and Dr. Randall are pulled through the light to the alien ship, or so they think is a ship. But things are as Tex suspected from what he'd heard. There is more and they need to survive and get home to help save the world. Jack was rejected by the light and facing the changes at A.H.D.N.A. Changes that are not good for the world. Jack must work with those he doesn't know to break out the one person that recently threatened his life, Commander Sturgis. She holds knowledge that is going to be needed in what's to come.

Dylan White is a new voice for me. He does well with different voice tones and personality to share the feel of the characters as they speak. I did find that the volume, in which the recording was done, was very quiet. I had to turn this book up louder than many of my other audio books to hear all the words that were spoken. But I enjoyed the story that Dylan voiced for us.

We start exactly where the first book ends. Our characters moving on with the unknown that's about to happen to them.

POV is through a few different eyes: Erika, Commander Sturgis, Jack, Tex, and U'Vol. All are at different places and witnessing or experiencing different things in the world. Erika is taken with Ian, Dr. Randell, and Tex by the aliens. However, Tex is separated from them. Jack was rejected in the taking, and is left on land with Commander Lillian Sturgis, but Commander Sturgis is arrested and none know Jack is there. U'Vol is a new character for us, an alien of a different world. I have a feeling U'Vol will become more important in the next book, especially after the last chapter with him in this book.

Each character has an important rule to play in this book. Erika sees the side of what's being done to her and her friends and works to escape where they are. Tex is wanted by the aliens, Conexus, because of how he was created and could help them. He also gives us the view of what's happened and what the Conexus is and wants. Commander Sturgis only has a few sections, but she knows there is trouble coming and will do anything to protect the world, and her knowledge is needed. Jack is on Earth and working with new characters to save the one person he didn't think he'd ever want to see again, then to save the world. Then there is U'Vol. I won't say much of him as he's new and an interesting view into things to happen.

Where I felt the first book was similar to many alien stories, this one was more impressive. Sure there are some spots that are common, but the story here feels to move to a new level. There are interesting connections between where Erika, Ian, Dr. Randell, and Tex go to with the aliens and where we've been. Very interesting!

I can see small sparks of love starting through the story. The couple we originally thought would be together, could grow to learn they love others, finding the one that may fit. Or maybe not. I'm not sure how the love angle will work out in this series. They are still young after all.

The writing felt to ring home much better with me in this book. I really like the description as the story starts in Erika's POV. Wow. Well done. I feel this book has more emotion and depth to the characters than the first story. Living through these hard times and fighting to live and return home or save others has brought them all to a new level. This book felt more invested and better written to me.

The ending concludes the troubles the characters are in with this book. But, it doesn't bring us completely to an end and there are new complications to face. We will be waiting for book three to see where we end up and what happens next!



****If you found my thoughts helpful, please click Yes at Amazon and/or Audible. Thank you!

Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Audio Book Review: The Deep Beneath

The Deep Beneath

By:  Natalie Wright

Publish Date:  January 7, 2015, Audiobook Release June 22, 2015

Format:  Audiobook - 8 hrs 46 mins
Narrated By:  Andrew Tell

Genre:  Urban Fantasy

Series:  1st in H.A.L.F series

First Impression:  Alien/human hybrid getting his first glimpse of the world, and trying to get free.

Synopsis:
H.A.L.F. 9 has taken his first breath of desert air and his first steps in the human world. Created to be a weapon, he proved too powerful for his makers and has lived a sedated life hidden from humans. But H.A.L.F. 9 has escaped the underground lab he called home, and the sedation has worn off. He has never been more alive. More powerful. Or more deadly.

Erika Holt longs to ride her motorcycle east until pavement meets shore. She bides her time until graduation when she’ll say adios to the trailer she shares with her alcoholic mother and memories of her dead father. But a typical night in the desert with friends thrusts Erika into a situation more dangerous than she ever imagined.

Circumstances push the two together, and each must make a fateful choice. Will Erika help H.A.L.F. 9 despite her “don’t get involved” rule? And will H.A.L.F. 9 let Erika live even though he was trained to kill?

The two may need to forget their rules and training and if either is to survive the dangers of the deep beneath them.

First Sentence:
Lucia lay on the well-worn couch, its cushions drenched with her sweat.

Purchase At:
Amazon  /  Barnes & Nobles  /  Book Depository

Audible

My Thoughts and Summary:
*I requested to review a copy of this audiobook for an honest review from the author or narrator.

Erika just wants to relax and enjoy the wind in her hair. Lounging in the desert restricted military zone, watching stars with friends, danger comes right to Erika, Ian, and Jack. Men plan to take Erika from her friends with dark plans for the night. Suddenly a new stranger appears, killing one of the two men who threatening Erika, Ian, and shoot Jack without touching them. Though, seeing the stranger will change their life when they are caught by the soldiers come for him.

Dr. Randall told H.A.L.F 9 to wait 30 days, if he hasn't returned then H.A.L.F 9 is to save himself. H.A.L.F 9 did just that, escaping the lab he's called home for his 17 years of life. He is free and happy for the first time in his life as he runs through the dry desert, until he become drawn to the three teens he finds in danger.

I've listened to Andrew Tell narrate a few books now. I like that he does tone changes for different characters. It helps keep the characters straight when listening to the story. There are a few characters that seem to pop more than others with a different tone and personality present to them. Andrew's narration is always as clear and clean as expected in his work.

The beginning starts with a strong influence in an attack. There is a lead up to potential rape. Three teen friends, two boys and a girl, go out in the desert to relax and look at the stars. There are two men that show up, and threaten the kids along with strong suggestions what they want with Erika.

Erika is working through her own emotions as a teen when she meets H.A.L.F. 9. She doesn't want to let herself love Jack and wants nothing more than to get out of the town to see the ocean. Her night on the run with her two best friends and a half alien wanting to live will bring her to think on things differently. There is some draw to Erika that H.A.L.F 9 doesn't understand. H.A.L.F 9 listens when Erika asks him to not kill the men. But H.A.L.F. 9's display with the six soldiers makes Commander Sturgis more curious of his limits, yet worried as he showed concern for others which was to be breed out of him to make the perfect weapon. H.A.L.F. 9 learns about himself as the story goes on as well. He has powers he didn't even know about, and can communicate with his grey cousins.

It's been a while since I saw the movie I Am Number 4, but this book reminds me of that story line though with alien DNA. It feels like the same old sort of story with an alien hybrid and humans. There are those that want to experiment, those who don't like, and the few that try to help the locked up alien hybrid.

If it wasn't for the subject of looming rape at the beginning of the story, I would say this is a great story for middle school grade as they get to enjoy 9's firsts in the human world as H.A.L.F. 9's innocence in the human world brings a young feel to the story.



*If you found my thoughts helpful, please click Yes at Amazon and/or Audible. Thank you!