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Will is different. A genius at maths who, though at school, lives on his own in a dingy, run-down bed-sit and works at night to support himself. Sophie is different too, but she spends her days in a secret government facility creating unfathomable patterns on endless sheets of graph paper.
EllieM: Are you wondering 'what next?' after reading the The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo? I recommend that you try Child of The Hive by Jessica Meats.
Both books are plot driven action packed thrillers with a rather unexpected heroine. Like Lisbeth Salander, Child of the Hive's Sophie is a highly intelligent computer geek. Someone you would not necessarily choose as a best friend but you grow fond of her as the story progresses.
Stieg Larsson's blockbuster is a more traditional 'whodunnit' and the main plot puzzle is the identity of the murderer. Jessica Meats writes in a slightly a different genre, Child of The Hive is a speculative thriller on the borders of science fiction, and as such it presents different puzzles. For example a moral one, exactly which sub group should I classify as 'the bad guys'? As for guessing the ending, most people will not see where the book is going. I failed. But the surprising nature of the story is much of its fun. With the benefit of hindsight you can see that the climax of 'Child' is tidy and satisfactory. Certainly not one of those annoying thrillers with a plot balanced on one very unlikely clue which has been carefully draped in numerous red herrings.
Both books should appeal to a wide range of readers, but I suggest Child of the Hive is also more suitable for a slightly younger group than The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo which is distinctly adult in places.
Child of The Hive is a really ‘good read’, I give it 5 stars out of five… (more)
I haven’t read anything like this before. The general idea felt fresh and original, and I particularly like the fact it was told from multiple POV as this meant you followed the story, and not everything happens to the one unlucky guy. It also helped build strong characters, making the whole story more engaging. You can tell the author knows a thing or two about computer programming and seeming I couldn’t know less, I learnt a thing or two reading this. I thoroughly enjoyed it, the twists were brilliant I was given a proof copy so I found a few mistakes (like serious instead of series) but that didn’t matter once the story got going.
However, there were a few reasons why I wouldn’t give this five stars. The opening scene is a rush of names and confusion, and turns out, an important scene to remember for later in the novel. This initially made it hard to get into and put me off a little. Also there were some places that felt rushed, where I felt it needed a little padding out for tension and for the story to feel more realistic and emotional. I also felt like this could easily be two novels, and may even be better if it was. The novel seems to pick up where the good bits are, just after all the struggling which means that the climax just isn’t as high as it could have been. That being said, it was worth reading and I loved the ending. I wouldn’t change a thing about that. ( )
An engaging look at a near-future society, I'd recommend this book to the older end of the young adult audience. Adults may initially find the young cast offputting, especially if they're not used to YA, but if you can read past that this is a fast paced action story. The book has a strong British setting that's very refreshing, and does not pull punches. I'd be interested in seeing it released as an eBook - or maybe two, as it was originally intended.
In this book, Jessica Meats has managed a wonderful balancing act including near-future technology, artificial intelligence, secret organisations, free will, war and its effects, being a teenager/young adult, depression, isolation, love, longing, sharehousing, independence, ...
... I'll stop now. But amazingly she manages to do all of this seamlessly, while keeping you interested in the characters and the events, never being predictable, and never allowing you to settle on a perspective. Even you as an outsider probably won't be sure where your loyalties lie, or what is right, much of the time while reading this. And on top of all of that, the book isn't nearly as intense or difficult a read as you'd be led to expect by the above. In fact, based on her generally straightforward writing style in this novel, I would in particular recommend this book to teenage/young adult readers, though it's definitely an enthralling read for adults as well. ( )
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I like all sorts of books including detective/thriller types and this is a great read. A fast paced adventure with plenty of twists and surprises to keep you on your toes and to challenge the assumptions you begin to make as the story unfolds. The characters are likeable and you find yourself hoping everyone can get things resolved but knowing this can't possibly happen, or can it?
Although I wouldn't generally look in the SciFi genre having erroneously imagined that this only covered Space and Aliens I'm very glad I took this up. The technology although futuristic is perfectly believable, the author obviously knows her stuff.
Well written and yet an 'easy' read at the same time, not a combination that is always achieved. For this reason I also think it might appeal to youngsters/teens who have outgrown children's books but are only just getting into longer adult novels. ( )
I have just finished reading Child of the hive & i belive it is the best book i have read this year. I would not recomend this book for younger children though, in my opinion i would say it is aimed at young adults say 15+. It has a great story line and there is a lot of humer, there is something for everyone. I recomend this book whole heartedly. ( )
Will is different. A genius at maths who, though at school, lives on his own in a dingy, run-down bed-sit and works at night to support himself. Sophie is different too, but she spends her days in a secret government facility creating unfathomable patterns on endless sheets of graph paper.
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nick_the_insane | Jan 8, 2010 | 
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However, there were a few reasons why I wouldn’t give this five stars. The opening scene is a rush of names and confusion, and turns out, an important scene to remember for later in the novel. This initially made it hard to get into and put me off a little. Also there were some places that felt rushed, where I felt it needed a little padding out for tension and for the story to feel more realistic and emotional. I also felt like this could easily be two novels, and may even be better if it was. The novel seems to pick up where the good bits are, just after all the struggling which means that the climax just isn’t as high as it could have been. That being said, it was worth reading and I loved the ending. I wouldn’t change a thing about that. (