Review: Fast paced scifi action story.
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 07 1, 2013
Alien Disaster by Rob May is a good novel that has some tried and true, but entertaining ideas. Where the book excelled for me was concerning the back story of how events came to be. I was immensely caught up in the tale of an alien world threatened by the megalomaniacal villain of the book and how his warmongering led to the invasion of Earth. I also found the histories of the hero's origins to be quite engaging. I wasn't, however, as interested in the main story. I felt the characters weren't altogether likeable. Perhaps, it had more to do with the fact that the story moves so quickly, there isn't a chance to really delve into the characters personas per se except for snippets delivered on the fly.Speaking of which, the breakneck pace of the book, which is one of its strengths, also works against it. There is always some action scene or other element drawing the reader's attention. But I felt rather as if I was being pulled in to many narrative directions at once and was sometimes overwhelmed by it all. I also don't feel the book does a good job expressing the gravity of the events or the significance of a world that is on the verge of being either destroyed or conquered. Perhaps, it may have something to do with the age of the main characters. But I wanted to feel more empathy for what was happening and never reached that level of concern for the characters.With that said, the book is well-written with all the usual elements of an invasion story. I am, convinced that younger readers who are the book's intended audience will no doubt devour every page. There is action aplenty and strange aliens to keep them flipping pages. Based off of the ending of the book, there seems to be an impending sequel. There are many directions it can go, so I'll definitely check it out. But I'll keep my fingers crossed that it can deliver a more emotionally satisfying experience for me.3 Stars.Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest, non-reciprocal, review.