Black Tide (Matt Rowley)

Review copy

Three years ago I started reading an up-and-coming horror writer by the name of Patrick Freivald. An interesting guy who happens to be a High School teacher, a robotics coach, and a bee-keeper, yet still finds the time to write compelling fiction.

Patrick's first two novels were YA zombie books about Ani Romero, a normal sixteen-year-old girl with a secret. She's a zombie. Twice Shy and Special Dead are still two of my favorite zombie books. It's a world I'd love to see Patrick get back to, someday. (Hint, hint).

I can see why it might be difficult to get back to Ani's story since Patrick's muse has taken him into the world of Matt Rowley a character who hasn't been human for years. A commando for ICAP, the International show more Council and Augmented Phenomena, he hunts down superhuman monsters the military can't handle. Book 1, Jade Sky, was published last Spring, and Black Tide is it's sequel.

Black Tide, is very close to a perfect novel. A compelling story with a flawed hero, surrounded by richly crafted characters who are just as imperfect as Matt.

Chapter 1 would have made a fitting climax in any SF adventure novel, but in Black Tide, it was just the beginning.

There are significant changes for book 2 in the Matt Rawley series. "Matt found himself without rank, command, or superiors. His reassignment to the Department of Homeland Security's newly created Special Threats Bureau came with no mission and no directives, but a shiny new ID badge that might get him out of speeding tickets. As the only Aug left in the world, the UN, NATO, and the United States never ran out of things 'only he' could do."

There is plenty of violence and some pretty horrific stuff goes down, but when Matt takes vengeance on the bad guys and girls, it feels so good.

There are some genuine, "Oh, wow!" moments here and the end is the perfect setup for the next book in the series, which can't come soon enough.

My favorite quote from Black Tide, comes from Matt Rawley. "I kill to protect my family, my town, my country. I kill bad people when they need killing."

Black Tide is available now in a variety of ebook formats and paperback from JournalStone through their website. Book 1 in the Matt Rawley series is recommended reading, but not required.

I can highly recommend this series and anything written by its author. show less

Patrick Freivald does it again! The next installment in the Matt Rowley saga, Black Tide features some religious fanatics going after Matt and his family for being Augmented. Of course, Matt seeks revenge, and the story is an action-apcked thrill ride from there. At times, I found the religious zealousness to be conspiracy theorist/ Da Vinci Code- esque, but it was still a good read. However, I was shocked and miffed by the ending.

The subject of several books and novellas, Matt Rowley is the only member of a task force of augmented soldiers to survive both the crazies (the rest would eventually go off their nut and need to be put down), and the demise of the creator whose own lunacy was the cause. The character of Rowley started out interesting -- and his struggle to maintain his humanity while transformed into a killing machine was noteworthy. However, as the series has gone out, more and more needless supernatural elements are added to the mix. It kind of reminds me of back in the D&D days when mundane creatures could no longer challenge the characters and things continually escalated until they faced a menagerie of gods. Rowley has leveled up to that point.

The show more book starts with Rowley being recruited to investigate demonic possessions, some affecting children. That story line is rather abandon midway though as another UBG, this one, a former colleague of Rowley who bonked once upon a time. Demons were involved in the end as well, but there was no continuity in that story line. In the meantime, Rowley's wife and child are once again used as a distraction -- continually having to ensure their well-being seems to be Rowley's Achilles heel.

I might be done with this character. Too much paranormal BS takes away what was interesting in the first place. show less

As with the first book in this series, I found this to be a fun, light read. It certainly doesn't go deeply into character development, but the story-line is well done and original, and the action is fast-paced and well thought out. The main character is fleshed out well enough to be likable, but, for character development, that's about it.

Overall, I would recommend this book for a quick read that doesn't require a lot of deep thought.

BLACK TIDE is Book 2 in the Matt Rowley series. I read it in one night. As much as I enjoyed Book 1, Book 2 is twice as entertaining.

Matt Rowley is back, and the danger (from Book 1), lingers. No. Intensifies. After the destruction of the nephilim, the augmented people have been saved, returning to "normal." Except Matt. His regenerative abilities, and superhuman strength returns. As do the whispers. Cults spring up all over the globe. Matt Rowley may be the only one who can battle the gathering forces. As usual, Matt Rowley depends on his wife, is inspired by his son (and family), and realizes it is dangerous trusting anyone!

In almost first-person shooter video game style, this military/thriller is (like the first book) packed-full of show more action. There is not a dull chapter in the book. Freivald incorporates unique and exotic locales. The contemporaneous story lines keep the tension taut. Grow your fingernails. My guess? You'll be chewing away at them page after page.

I most definitely recommend reading JADE SKY first. But, have BLACK TIDE handy because once you start the series, I'm not sure you'll be able to stop!

Phillip Tomasso
Author of Severed Empire: Wizard's Rise and Damn the Dead show less

Matt Rowley is an augmented super-soldier, battling on two sides against a demonic threat and the Humans for Humanity terrorist group that threaten Matt and his infant son.

Why I picked it up: It stood out in the Early Reviewers list as something I might like, but it was very difficult to get into. Freivald excels at action-writing, and seems to have a deft hand with quick and effective character-sketching, but his exposition is clumsy and narrative clarity suffers a bit.

Why I finished it: The action is so good, it doesn't really matter that the rest doesn't hold together.

It's perfect for: Readers who like their supernatural-fusion genres on the more violent side and without a lot of moral hand-wringing. I think this would appeal to show more fans of the more conservative thriller writers, like Brad Thor or Vince Flynn. show less

I mowed through this pretty quickly. I thoroughly enjoyed JADE SKY, but this one ups the ante. Not as druggy or angel-ly as the first Matt Rowley book, but just as action-packed thrill ride as that one. Matt's organization has been dissolved and he is the only Aug left on the planet. So now he is being over-utilized. It is exhausting to read, since the reader easily puts him/herself into the action. Excellent fight scenes, great action across the board. I feel for Matt's family since he is on the road all the time and his wife and baby son are left to fend for themselves from the evil that uses them to get to Matt. No wilting violets there, they can handle what comes close.
Once again it's "buckle up buttercup". DH asked to read them, a show more first.
Definite recommend. show less