Review: A bit repetative
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 08 13, 2013
I bought these books for 99 cents.  Realistically the first two books could be edited and compiled into one.  The third book was really a little mini-novela covering the same story but from different viewpoints.Overall the storyline was pretty good.  I like the general concept of a future where companies would use drugs to help people develop their innate mental/physical abilities.  These books focus on a main character who develops “Affinity for the Dead” (AFTD) and a group of his friends as they come into their abilities and eventually fun afoul of the a secret government organization that wants to recruit (forcibly) the main character.The subplots revolve around the groups interactions with another group of kids and constant fighting with them and the main characters love interest with a female empath.While I liked the general idea, I wasn’t overly fond of the author’s dialogue.  The characters (and the author) used the same descriptive words repetitively and came across a bit fake at times.Additionally, the story became very repetitive and predictable with the constant fighting between the groups of kids.  No matter where they were, who was there, and what was going on, if the two groups of kids came in contact they always ended up fighting physically.  It frequently involved the main characters group “protecting” the females and obviously they were weak and needed constant protection from being called bad names… a few physical altercations may have added to the story but it became too much.Also the failure to have any female characters that actively used their powers constructively or even really had an active ability, in my opinion was a fail.  All the male characters except one, have active powers that they use during the conflicts, and are constantly “protecting” the girls, who are typically weak and fragile (except one token who is mouthy but still has second rate abilities.)The constant language and disrespect of any and all adults or authority figures was a bit iffy.  I understand that teens at 14 and 15 can be like that but seriously, how may practically dry hump their girlfriend in front of their parents and/or constantly cuss, fight, etc and barely get a reprimand?As a quick read from a teens perspective these books may be pretty good.  There’s some stuff as an adult reader that make it difficult to read but that teens would likely overlook and therefore enjoy.  I wouldn’t pay full book price but for 99 cents you can’t beat it.  I think with some harsh editing and a rewrite this actually could have been a good book for an older target and been a good fantasy/scifi read.