Review by footfeet10 -- Becoming the Dragon by Alex Sapegin
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footfeet10
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- Latest Review: Becoming the Dragon by Alex Sapegin
Review by footfeet10 -- Becoming the Dragon by Alex Sapegin
[Following is a volunteer review of "Becoming the Dragon" by Alex Sapegin.]
3 out of 4 stars
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This book is about a teenage boy's unexpected journey to an unknown planet. It begins with his family life, talking about his beloved pet, his sister, and his mom and dad. His sister and her friends enjoy all things cosplay, and she suckers her little brother into making breakfast for them all. As a child, Andy went on a field trip that changed his life. While out with the class, a thunderstorm broke out, causing all the kids to seek shelter under trees. Andy is struck by lightning and from then on, he has to make major adjustments. He can no longer go near electronics without causing interference. Computers crash and signals go out whenever he gets too close, and so he has to find other hobbies and interests besides his former video game habits. In the present, he's asked to bring some important files to his father at work. Andy accidentally cuts through the experimental field that his father's company is working on and has just initiated to show their progress to higher ups. His father has no power and must watch on camera as his son disappears and is teleported to some unknown place, anywhere at all for all he knows. Andy is forced to find his way and become familiar with his new whereabouts, facing fantastical and ferocious predators of all kinds, both human and beast. Here he meets new interesting friends and enemies, and undergoes physical and mental changes that will alter his life forever.
What I liked most about this book is how the chapters flow easily into each other. The book keeps up a good and interesting pace, and the events go all over the area that Andy's been teleported to. There's so much variety that it really gives the reader something fascinating to figure out and take into consideration with whatever may be happening plot-wise. The narrator also changes sometimes from chapter to chapter, which gives a deeper understanding to the place they're in as well as the otherworldly inhabitants that Andy now lives among. There are multiple examples of foreshadowing in the beginning of the book that gently introduce the reader to the circumstances to come. There are quite a few characters that are introduced and delved into, and I think this helps to round out the novel and keep things refreshing; it gives the reader something to think about and consider how these different characters would think and act in a world that is so different from the real one.
What confused me about this book at times is the target audience. At some parts the reading ability level was very basic, almost too easy and simple, and other times the difficulty would pick up a lot to more complicated themes. Like I mentioned above, there are a lot of characters and backgrounds and such to consider, which adds variety and interest, but at some points is just too many names and too much information. I found myself needing to go back and reread passages to make full sense of it and relation to the plot, and at some points I wasn't sure of the connection. The book can seem a little all over the place as it tends to switch settings to quickly and go through such big and quick changes.
This book continues onto others, but it seems like there is a lot of information in this one that just doesn't find a use, or it's a faint connection. There's a good amount of talk about Andy being struck by lightning and the aftereffects, but it's almost left alone after that, which is odd for how much is was delved into. There's also a character and relationship in the introduction that is gone into that I haven't noticed a reason for in the rest of the book. I'm assuming that these elements will all tie together in further installments and that a book can only be so long and detailed, but those are my complaints as of now.
I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars. I did not give it 2 stars because I found it to be well done and an enjoyable read, but not 4 stars because of the reasons listed above. People that I think would enjoy this book are pretty diverse. I think it can be enjoyed and the basic elements understood enough by a younger and more immature audience, but I also think there's more to it behind the scenes and in the context for mature and advanced readers to hold interest as well. Everything was very well written with close to no errors, and the varying perspectives going from normal to extreme add a special element to the whole piece. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in regular fiction, fantasy fiction, the supernatural, survival, and those with any interests in dragons. Overall I enjoyed the book and think that many others can as well, and that the developed and intricate plot makes up for any areas that the story may be lacking.
******
Becoming the Dragon
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes | on Smashwords
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3 out of 4 stars
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This book is about a teenage boy's unexpected journey to an unknown planet. It begins with his family life, talking about his beloved pet, his sister, and his mom and dad. His sister and her friends enjoy all things cosplay, and she suckers her little brother into making breakfast for them all. As a child, Andy went on a field trip that changed his life. While out with the class, a thunderstorm broke out, causing all the kids to seek shelter under trees. Andy is struck by lightning and from then on, he has to make major adjustments. He can no longer go near electronics without causing interference. Computers crash and signals go out whenever he gets too close, and so he has to find other hobbies and interests besides his former video game habits. In the present, he's asked to bring some important files to his father at work. Andy accidentally cuts through the experimental field that his father's company is working on and has just initiated to show their progress to higher ups. His father has no power and must watch on camera as his son disappears and is teleported to some unknown place, anywhere at all for all he knows. Andy is forced to find his way and become familiar with his new whereabouts, facing fantastical and ferocious predators of all kinds, both human and beast. Here he meets new interesting friends and enemies, and undergoes physical and mental changes that will alter his life forever.
What I liked most about this book is how the chapters flow easily into each other. The book keeps up a good and interesting pace, and the events go all over the area that Andy's been teleported to. There's so much variety that it really gives the reader something fascinating to figure out and take into consideration with whatever may be happening plot-wise. The narrator also changes sometimes from chapter to chapter, which gives a deeper understanding to the place they're in as well as the otherworldly inhabitants that Andy now lives among. There are multiple examples of foreshadowing in the beginning of the book that gently introduce the reader to the circumstances to come. There are quite a few characters that are introduced and delved into, and I think this helps to round out the novel and keep things refreshing; it gives the reader something to think about and consider how these different characters would think and act in a world that is so different from the real one.
What confused me about this book at times is the target audience. At some parts the reading ability level was very basic, almost too easy and simple, and other times the difficulty would pick up a lot to more complicated themes. Like I mentioned above, there are a lot of characters and backgrounds and such to consider, which adds variety and interest, but at some points is just too many names and too much information. I found myself needing to go back and reread passages to make full sense of it and relation to the plot, and at some points I wasn't sure of the connection. The book can seem a little all over the place as it tends to switch settings to quickly and go through such big and quick changes.
This book continues onto others, but it seems like there is a lot of information in this one that just doesn't find a use, or it's a faint connection. There's a good amount of talk about Andy being struck by lightning and the aftereffects, but it's almost left alone after that, which is odd for how much is was delved into. There's also a character and relationship in the introduction that is gone into that I haven't noticed a reason for in the rest of the book. I'm assuming that these elements will all tie together in further installments and that a book can only be so long and detailed, but those are my complaints as of now.
I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars. I did not give it 2 stars because I found it to be well done and an enjoyable read, but not 4 stars because of the reasons listed above. People that I think would enjoy this book are pretty diverse. I think it can be enjoyed and the basic elements understood enough by a younger and more immature audience, but I also think there's more to it behind the scenes and in the context for mature and advanced readers to hold interest as well. Everything was very well written with close to no errors, and the varying perspectives going from normal to extreme add a special element to the whole piece. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in regular fiction, fantasy fiction, the supernatural, survival, and those with any interests in dragons. Overall I enjoyed the book and think that many others can as well, and that the developed and intricate plot makes up for any areas that the story may be lacking.
******
Becoming the Dragon
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes | on Smashwords
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Latest Review: Becoming the Dragon by Alex Sapegin
