Review: Strike: Dawn Of The Daybreaker

Title: Strike: Dawn of the Daybreaker

Series: The STRIKE Trilogy Book 2

Author: Charlie Wood

Publisher: Createspace

Published: October 9, 2012

Genre: Young Adult

Format: Paperback

Pages: 211

Source: Received from author

Read: March 13-23 2013

My Rating: 3 Stars

Goodreads: Add To Your TBR Shelf

Goodreads Synopsis:

It has been seven months since Tobin Lloyd became the superhero known as “Strike,” and the city of Boston, Massachusetts has never been safer. Yes, it turns out Tobin is pretty good at this superhero-stuff…even if he has to balance it with hanging out with friends, doing homework, and trying to graduate from high school.

However, a threat is looming that Tobin is unaware of: the red giant named Rigel—the last follower of the super-villain Vincent Harris—is still alive, and he is plotting to continue Vincent’s invasion and enslavement of the planet Earth. To do so, he is searching for a bizarre creature known as “The Daybreaker,” a super-villain so powerful that no one on Earth (or Capricious) will be able to stop it.

Will Tobin and his friends—Orion, Keplar, and Scatterbolt—discover Rigel’s plan before it is too late? Exactly who is this Daybreaker, and where did he come from? And even if the heroes succeed, will anything ever be the same again?

Featuring new characters, new locations, and new revelations, STRIKE: DAWN OF THE DAYBREAKER is the thrilling sequel to the young adult fantasy novel STRIKE: THE HERO FROM THE SKY.

Tobin Lloyd’s adventures are about to continue…whether he is ready for them or not

Melissa's Musings:

Tobin's adventures pick up 7 months from where he left off. He's still trying to find a balance between normal life and that of a superhero, and it's definitely a challenge for him.

This book is full of action and cool stunts, and quip filled dialogue. While the action is full, as are the twists and turns to keep things interesting, I have to say that for me, this book suffered a bit of the sophomore slump. 

Yes, there's action, yes there are twists and turns, but it feels like the author was struggling a bit in this middle book of the trilogy, leaving the really juicy dialogue and descriptions for the last book in the series. Some of the descriptions are repetitive in spots, and some of the sequences just seem a little too formal, they don't mesh with the flow you might expect.

In other spots, some of the action sequences in particular, I could really imagine the scenes as they were happening. At a few points I found myself thinking that this set of books with some polishing would make a really neat superhero franchise.

There are a few elements that I really liked. For instance, the introduction of Adrianna as a love interest for Tobin. She's supposed to be on the opposing team, but then she ends up helping Tobin out a few times as well. The love interest element is simple, and not overdone, which is great.

I also like the attention to some of the smaller details such as the Chrono Key. I really like the fact that this super hero gadget allows the user to travel through time, but only into the past, because the future hasn't happpened yet and is constantly changing with every decision that's made. Often times, stories with elements of time travel can account for suspected futures, but it makes a person wonder what they're really based on and what shaped these futures. The past has already happened, so you have a solid base to go back to, and as a reader you (usually) know what has happened so it's easier to navigate through than imagined futures might be.

That's not to say that I don't like stories with future time travel, I just think that the author made a wise choice in making it so that the Chrono Key can only take someone into the past.

The copy that I have has a different cover than the one posted here, and  I have to say I like the cover on my copy better. The cover pictured above is just cold and a bit stiff. The one I've got is more vibrant and colorful which is why I enjoy it more.

The story is solid and sets up well with an enticing cliffhanger that makes you wonder just how it's all going to turn out in the end. I'd recommend this for anyone who likes stories about superheroes.

Strike: The Hero From the Sky-An awesomely adventurous read

How I received this book: The book was provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Read: From April 22-24th

My Rating: A solid 4 stars

I would describe this novel in a few words as: Electrifyingly adventurous.

Goodreads Synopsis:  

Tobin Lloyd's life is perfect: he's a senior at Bridgton High, he's one of the funniest kids in school, and his only worry is whether or not his latest prank is going to result in yet another detention.

But when he wakes up in the world of Capricious, a place where superheroes are real and attacks by super-villains are just another hassle of living in the city, all of that changes. Suddenly, Tobin's last year of high school is not going as he expected.

Far from home and pretty sure he's gone insane, Tobin must join a strange group of companions (including a beer-drinking dog and a genius, three-foot-tall robot) as he desperately tries to find a way back to Earth. However, that may be even harder than Tobin knows: a mysterious super-villain named Vincent Harris has big plans for the planet Earth...and Tobin is the only person standing in his way.

A carefree, C-student class clown is the world's last hope? Yikes.

Full of action and adventure, STRIKE: THE HERO FROM THE SKY is the perfect novel for anyone who loves a good adventure.(less)

Melissa's Musings:

This book is an awesome adventure. You're pulled in from the very first line. The opening is somewhat mysterious, and grabs you, making you want to find out more. 

After the initial pull, the story gives slight background of Tobin's life, that of a typical teenager with a bad case of senioritis. Tobin doesn't seem to know exactly what he wants to do in life, but a phone call demanding that he come help a distressed woman changes all of that. Tobin is thrust into a confusing world of strange creatures and superheroes. The real question is, will he be able to handle it all?

One of the aspects that I was most pleased with in this story is that the character dialogue in this story is very realistic and flows smoothly. In some of my latest reviews this has been a sticking point, so I was very happy to read "real characters" The language isn't forced or stiff. The kids use abbreviations, and slang. 

The plot flows together nicely. Events happen at a quick pace, like you would expect from an adventure, but not so fast as it doesn't seem real. And in a story about superheroes, you've got to keep it real enough for it not to be campy. I originally thought it might end up being cheesy, but it's not. The fact that Tobin is real makes you feel for him, connect with him. It's the fact that he is a kid with doubts and hesitations. A kid who doesn't just jump into the role of a superhero like it's the normal thing to do, because of the cool super powers.All these things are what keeps the story grounded.

 While I was reading, I kept thinking to myself that this was somehow like a live action comic book without all the cool pictures of course. But, through Wood's descriptive imagery, I could see the pictures that might accompany it in my head, which is awesome. I love being carried so far into a story that I can imagine it for myself.

  

One of the elements that really helps draw the reader in  is the authors use of color. I'm a real stickler for details like this to help bring me into the story. When Tobin first arrives in Capricious, he wakes up to find himself lying on blue grass, under a yellow sky, with pink clouds in it. And he's being chased by a blood-red dinosaur. In one of the action sequences, they're surrounded by purple fire. I think it's the fact that Wood uses unusual colors for these objects that helps the events resonate. Clouds, grass, sky these are all normal things, but the colors help carry you away into this alternate world.

While there was great action, and realistic dialogue, not everything was perfect. I was slightly disappointed by the character development. Orion and Tobin, two of the main characters were really well developed. I felt that the rest of the supporting characters weren't developed enough. Interestingly, the characters with the more unique names I found myself wondering about their role in the story, and if they were truly key players. I'm hoping that this will be addressed in the next books in the series.  

Overall, this was an excellent read. If you're looking for a great adventure with a superhero twist, this is it. I'm excited to read the next books from this author.

What would you do if you were being chased by a blood-red dinosaur and later found out you were the  world's next superhero? What would your superhero power be? 

Mine would be lightning speed.