2 out of 4 stars
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Phoenix One, written by Chase MacLeod, is the perfect book for those who like Sci-fi, aliens, and action-packed scenes. When I started reading the book, I thought I was not going to like it. However, I later realized how wrong I was; this book was a pleasant surprise. This is a story about creating bonds in unexpected places, betrayal, love, hope, and survival. Fair warning: The book covers a lot of mature topics and has very graphic scenes, so I would not recommend it to younger audiences nor to people who are sensitive.
Planet Earth is dying. Due to the presence of toxic gases and mutations, humanity can no longer live on the planet’s surface. So, humans, or what is left of them, are forced to live on floating platforms in the sky. However, that is just a temporary solution. The lack of oxygen and the toxic environment are becoming a problem impossible to ignore. Everything seems lost until two alien races, the Troovians and the Calvorans, decide to offer a helping hand. Humans and aliens join forces, and technology, to create a new environment in which all people, regardless of race, can coexist. The name of this project is “Phoenix One”. Phoenix One is the key to preserve both the human and the alien race, and time is running out. Finally, humans will find salvation, or so they think.
The book has 314 pages filled with a lot of violence, action, and funny remarks. Although it has several points of view, the story mainly revolves around two characters: Devin Slade and Elaina Perry. Devin is part of a group called the Scavengers, a group rejected from society. People discriminate them, and only the lucky ones stay in the sky to do labor work. Unfortunately, Devin was not one of them. He lives his days below the floating cities, collecting antiques, trying to survive, and escaping from the Bandits, which are Scavengers who turned into savages. After Devin is suspected of treason, his somewhat “peaceful” life changed forever. Elaina, on the other hand, is privileged. She is good looking and smart, lives in the sky, and has a great job. However, there is more to Elaina than meets the eye. After seeing something she should not have, Elaina is forced to flee. Now, she must deliver an important message that would change everything.
I liked how the author transitioned from one character’s point of view to the other. I found this to be quite helpful since each character had a specific mission to fulfill, and they were in different places, doing different things. Although there were different storylines, or subplots, the author managed to bring these stories together in the end. The plot was interesting, and it was easy to understand. The author was consistent from beginning to end; I think that Mr. MacLeod tied all the relevant loose ends. However, I thought the ending of the book was a little bit rushed. The author spent too much time building up the story to the final battle and when it finally came, it ended too fast. I was expecting something more remarkable.
When it comes to the characters, they were, probably, the main reason why I enjoyed reading this book. Devin, the main character, felt like a real person with strengths and insecurities; his character was portrayed realistically. He has always been alone, and he never cared for anyone but himself. Now, he is forced to take care of others. He was reluctant at first, but the reader can see how he changes throughout the book. Elaina was an interesting character, faced with personal demons. Initially, I loved her, but her character became a bit plain afterwards. There are some romantic interactions between this character and another. I thought this was unnecessary to the story, and it felt out of place because of the circumstances Elaina was in. The romance was really uncalled for. As for the other characters, they were great. I really liked this Troovian soldier named Ryve. He was my favorite.
The biggest downside of the book was the grammar. I noticed that it was not professionally edited. I saw so many mistakes that I lost count. The author confused the singular form of a verb with its plural form quite often. For example, he wrote that a person “were” able instead of “was” able. Also, I noticed that one sentence used both present and past tense, which made me feel really confused. I found run-on sentences, comma splices, wrong punctuation, and so on. Basically, there was a little bit of everything. However, I did not see awkward wording, surprisingly. The language used was concise and clear, and the author used lots of details in his writing; in my mind, I could perfectly see the chaotic world portrayed in the story. If the book hadn't had so many grammatical errors, the writing style would have been so smooth and easy to follow along.
Overall, I rate this book 2 out of 4 stars. I had a hard time deciding on a rating for this story. However, due to the amount of errors and the rushed ending, I could not give it three stars. To be honest, my ideal rating would be somewhere in-between of two and three, but I am not allowed to give half stars. I think that this book has a lot of potential, but it needs some polishing. If the book were better edited, I would totally recommend it to almost anyone.
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Phoenix One
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