Review by FEislandqueen13 -- Doomsday by R. L. Gemmill

[FEislandqueen13]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Doomsday" by R. L. Gemmill.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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Kelly, Jon and Travis Bishop had a rough start in life. They saw their parents die in a car accident. As a result, they were placed in foster care and for several years the three siblings remained separated. But the silver lining of Kelly’s dark clouds came in the form of Angie and Chris McCormick; they took in the Bishop siblings. Just like that, Kelly got her family back and life for the girl had never been sweeter. Then there was Pandora's Cave.

Caving was supposed to be a fun pastime, not the manifestation of a child’s nightmare. The Bishop siblings had stumbled upon something they never expected to witness inside a cave of all places – a demon meeting. Yes, demons. And they are plotting to overthrow mankind in a strategic move to retake the surface. Kelly was able to record the entire event before the demons realized that their secret gathering was no longer private. Kelly, Jon and Travis must escape from Pandora’s Cave to have any chance of exposing this evil plan to the authorities. Saving the world from monsters is asking a lot from a thirteen year old girl, but Kelly is up for the challenge.

 Doomsday is the first book in The Doomsday series written by R.L. Gemmill. Gemmill has made it his business to craft captivating narratives that would set the reader’s imagination ablaze. Without a doubt Gemmill achieved his gold.  Although I wished the book had been longer there was nothing to dislike. The storyline was well - paced and the vibrant energy that the author started with he maintained throughout the entire book. 

What stood out to me was the author’s  writing style. Consequently, it was what I liked most about the book. The story was told from the third person point of view and the tone was conversational. Gemmill did not simply tell me a series of events, he took me in to his world then made me apart of the plot. I felt like a fly on the wall.

Another reason for liking the author’s style is that the words had a natural flow to them. The wording was not complicated and I appreciated that.  One would not have to reread the sentences three or four times  just to grasp their meaning. I never got lost as the ideas were expressed clearly. But this does not equate to the plot lacking any depth. Events transitioned smoothly from one point to the next. Each chapter served to build up anticipation for the following chapter, which in turn held my interest and kept me turning pages. Eager to discover how this gripping tale of survival would end. Gemmill cleverly employed various literally devices, such as imagery, onomatopoeia, foreshadowing and so forth, to make his writing more impactful. As a result, all five of my senses were stirred. I cried and I laughed. Thankfully, no one was around to witness my mood swings. I empathized with the Bishop siblings in no time; they were just teenagers trying to protect their family from a danger no one else believed existed. 

I am pleased to rate  Doomsday 4 out of 4 stars. This book had been professionally edited. I found no grammatical mistakes. However, there are some typographical errors. These errors in no way detract from the enjoyment of this book. Another reason for the four star rating is the unforgettable characters. It was difficult to choose only one for my favorite as they were all relatable. Their personalities were rich and developed. You will not find any Mary Sues or John Does in  Doomsday. Gemmill wrote realistic characters complete with flaws. Each had their own little quirk which distinguished one character from another. For instance, Kelly was telepathic but she could never wink just one eye - she blinked.  

Doomsday is a relatively short thriller that focuses on family. Anyone who enjoys young adult books about monsters, coming of age and paranormal activity will adore this read. This book has vivid action, delightful drama, and a blush of romance that I found charming. Ages 14 and up can read this. While it has zero erotic content, it does have borderline profanity and moderate violence. Because of this I can’t recommend the book to a younger audience.  Doomsday is the kind of work that makes a bookworm fall in love with reading all over again. I can read this book a thousand times and never grow bored. A true masterpiece, indeed!

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Doomsday
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[Manang Muyang]

You seem to have struck gold with this book. I hope the young Bishops defeat the wretched demons.

That's a compelling review! I think you will be a wonderful writer. Again, please remember me when you're famous!

[Raluca_Mihaila]

Wow! Caves, demons, and mysteries... it seems like this book should be on my list! Thank you for this amazing review!

[TheMazeRunner]

Definitely sounds like something I would choose for my library. Great job with the review!

[Mariana Figueira]

Sounds amazing, I'm really into YA novels lately, I'm adding it to my list. Thanks for the wonderful review!

[Saint Bruno]

I am rooting for Kelly to save mankind from the evil ones. Like you, I enjoy a book better when the author's writing style is exciting. Thanks for the detailed review and recomendation.