Review: Reluctant Hero Meets Predator Meets Strong Female Lead
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 01 30, 2014
Ravening series is a sleeper hit. I gave The Ravening (Book 1) a try because it was free or .99 and I had read and enjoyed the Captured series as it was a refreshing twist on an old favorite plot.The Ravening (Book 1) stole my heart. I eagerly dropped the money for Taken (Book 2) and then waited and waited and waited...for Reclamation!I read it in two days. It would have been read faster but I have a ton of kids and junk that I had to do.Reclamation picks up from Book 2 and hits the ground running.Even though it had been a year and a half or so since I read 'Taken', Stevens' storytelling brought it all back fresh in my mind, without the super annoying 'recaps' that most authors do in their subsequent books. I really hate those recaps that try to sound like part of the story when everybody knows the author is trying to remind the reader or worse, tell a new reader what they missed if they didn't read the first two books or whatever. Reclamation didn't resort to those annoying tactics at all.Let's talk 'building a great read'.Characters: do you care about them? can you relate to them? are they plausible, likable, hateable? Yes to all of the above.Setting: Is it realistic? Well-described? Do you want to be there when you're reading the book? Yes. Even when it's terrifying, heart stopping action, the reader pictures themselves deposited in the middle of the action.Plot development: do the actions follow a sensible sequence? Did it make sense? Does the storyline keep the reader's interest? Yes to all of the above.Genre: does it fit what is generally accepted as the genre? I'm not sure! I would put this firmly in the Sci-Fi genre, because it was full of science fiction action. Aliens invade planet earth, employ human engineering to convince the humans to go without some basic amenities like fossil fuel-driven transportation and cell phones in exchange for cures for devastating illnesses. Completely plausible motivation for the humans on earth. Then all heck breaks loose!I don't read a whole bunch of sci-fi so I don't know what's out there or what Erica Stevens is competing against. But I really loved the action-packed adventure, the sturdy band of patriots trying to first-survive...then REVOLT against the nightmare that invaded the planet.The romance was extremely satisfying and just as clean and fulfilling as it can get.I love how unique the plot is compared to the many trendy paranormal fantasies that pepper the sales' lists on Amazon.I highly recommend this series to anyone who enjoys fantasy/paranormal/dystopian/young adult/science fiction or even vampire fiction. Erica Stevens managed to write a series that can seriously appeal to that wide range of readers.Furthermore, there is no foul language or gratuitous sex. The one scene is portrayed intimately and discreetly as tender love; it isn't graphic at all, but manages to express the pure emotions of the participants. Cleanest sex scene I've ever read, and frankly I wouldn't be embarrassed to have my kids read the book.Now, there is a reason I used 'Predator' in the title of the review. The Aliens are bloodthirsty, cold and ruthless. There are a few scenes that depict this, but it's really the only way to convey the idea of just how horrific the aliens are and just how necessary it is for our hero/heroine to try and save the world.Buy the entire series; you won't regret it. Reclamation is the cherry on top of this great reading sundae.