Blackout

Interesting idea that got bogged down in the details.

I really did enjoy the first half of this book. I might even say almost 3/4 of the book was interesting and held my attention. But once it got too far into the military part of it - it just got...boring. And that is a really tough part to get boring at.

I didn't mind the lack of world building or even a real explanation as to why this all happened because we were never really with an official who knew anything. And the teens were just experiencing it and didn't know why. I found the ways their powers manifested to be an interesting slant on this idea (since we've seen this genre a lot lately) and I thought the broken out idea of their tactical usefulness and their different powers all show more well done.

I also really like Jack, Aubrey, Laura - even the addition of Alec and Nicole brought a different slant to the story and reminded us that there are two sides to every coin.

But they spent too long getting off course and giving me details about things I just wasn't interested in. The chapters on the testing and walking and gathering and having all of this told two different times from two different people just made my eyes glaze over.

I might still continue the series, just to see where it goes. show less

Something strange is happening to certain teenagers. It's not ... normal. With the terrorism that's crippling America, and the fact that some of these special teenagers seem to be involved with the terrorist acts, the government has only one option ... find them and utilize their abilities or keep them locked away for the safety of the general population.

Blackout by Robison Wells explores the idea of a virus that gives teenagers superhuman qualities and what they will do with it, how the government will respond to "superheroes and super-villains", as well as the debilitating effects that a superpower could have on a regular human body. It's an intriguing concept and a lot heavier than one would expect from the subtext in the novel, but show more the balance is there most of the time. The characters - Aubrey and Jack - are likable, though I often wanted to hit them both over the head and scream: "Wake the hell up!" because they make idiotic choices that, were I in the same position, I would never have made. In other words, I didn't relate to them much. As for the terrorists - Alec and Laura - even they weren't very good with the decision-making of their efforts to piss off the government. They were successful, mind, but Mojo-Jojo would have been able to escape the government when they were rounding up the kids, so ... there's that.

I expected more from Blackout, after reading the blurb of the book, and I have to admit that although Audrey is a refreshing change to the usual female protagonists commonly found in YA novels, her presence wasn't enough to save the whole book. The writing wasn't bad whatsoever and I liked the concept a lot. However, the plot holes will annoy readers. Also, other characters, like Nicole, aren't explored and utilized in the way they should have been.

Basically, Blackout (as a standalone read) is a hit and miss in every way. Either you'll like it or you'll hate it ...

Review originally posted on:
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So, you know how I’m always going on and on about how I’m a highly character-focused reader? Well, this book is one of those rare exceptions where I’m totally in the book for something else. The amount that I enjoyed this was definitely out of character for me (see what I did there?), but it was a thrill ride of adventures and powers and betrayal, so, frankly my dears, I do not give a damn.

Read the full review at A Reader of Fictions

Attacks are sweeping across America.

Alec and Laura are at the center of the violence, while in a small town out west, Jack and Aubrey feel sheltered from the turmoil.

But these four teens are about to find their lives intertwined in ways they never could have imagined -- and one wrong step could trigger an explosion that ends it all.

So, how to describe this book... hmmm.... I'm having trouble. I really enjoyed Variant, by Robison Wells, so I was excited to read this book. And I enjoyed it, but there are a lot of unanswered questions and unexplained motives. I'm assuming there will be at least one sequel and that may be why. In some ways, I don't think enough was explained to keep me interested in the next one. Then again, I really show more want to know what, "For your mother and mine." means. The phrase is spoken by the teenage terrorists with powers (in the first chapter, so no spoilers here).

Not a bad book, and teens who enjoy dystopian novels will most likely enjoy it.

Recommended to:
Grades 6-12, fans of YA dystopian novels, maybe fans of X-men as the teens have "mutant" powers which may or may not have been caused by a virus.... show less

2.5 Stars rounded up to 3

Well that was an entertaining action story about some over-powered teens!

I liked the premise and the multi POV. I'd like to have seen a bit more use of their powers in battle situations but overall it was a satisfying story. What was missing was some much needed world building. We had no context for why there were terrorists and what they hoped to achieve. I will actually follow up with book two at some point however it will be a wee way down the TBR to be honest.

In Blackout, teenagers all across the country have been exposed to a virus that gives them powers; some weak, and some very strong. Aubrey can make it seem as though she is invisible for short periods of time and Jack has extremely heightened senses. Both are anxious to help the government deal with powerful teenagers who are using their powers to topple world governments including the United States. When Aubrey and Jack meet Laura, who has superior strength and speed, and Alec, who has the ability to control the thoughts of others, they soon realize that the two "Lambdas" they are helping may actually be the ones they should be fighting.

This book builds a good, thought-provoking story. It would benefit from a little more character show more development, but overall the story is a good one. Much of the background regarding the origin of the virus and how it creates powers isn't explained in this book, but I assume those things will be covered in the sequel, Dead Zone. show less

3.75 stars for Blackout!

This book had a really interesting concept: What if teenagers were terrorists with superpowers?

I mean, what?! So intriguing!

I thought this book was really great and I enjoyed reading about each of the different characters and how they were involved in the "war" that was going on.

Alec, Laura, and Dan are teenage terrorists. Aubry and Jack are not. They're two best friends who have drifted apart but are brought back together when everything starts to go to shit. They each have a really cool super power that is bestowed upon them through a disease that only affects teenagers. Some of the teens are using these powers to commit acts of terror, while others are being recruited by the Army to fight back.

This story was show more really fast paced and action packed and I really loved that aspect of the novel. There were a few things at the end that I still has questions about, but there's going to a sequel coming out this year that I hope will answer everything that was left untouched.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it if you like superheroesque stories with a dash of terror and destruction. show less