Night Runner

It's nice to get a break from all the swooning once in a while. This was a fun vampire story with a likable narrator in Zack, a boy who has lived in a mental hospital for several years after being bitten by a "dog" when he was a child. At the same time, his father was killed, leaving him an orphan. With Zack's allergy to the sun and to all foods except his special red shakes, the author doesn't really keep the reader in the dark about his character's true nature, but he does keep Zack in the dark for a while. Zack's only contact with the outside world has been through limited outings, TV and visits from his best childhood friend, so his introduction to the human world later in the book is as entertaining as his introduction to the show more vampire world, and his comments that compare pop cultural relationship ideals to real life are humorous. The story was simply told, but good enough that I want to check out the next one in the series. show less

There are a few things for certain that I did not know when I received this book.

1. I had no idea it was a Young Adult Novel upon receipt.
2. I had no idea it was a vampire tale.

To be honest, I really didn’t know what to expect – but this wasn’t it. That’s not a bad thing, though. Even so, I loved it. Absolutely loved it. I love any novel that has some sort of psychological aspect. Starting out in a mental ward was incredibly interesting to me, although the novel didn’t truly discuss the other patients. Fortunately, this book starts out pretty quickly and before you know it, Zack is on the loose and running to find out the truth – and to live undead.

Night Runner was a highly suspenseful, yet quick read. It definitely had a show more different take on Vampire-ism, and more from the “virus” aspect rather than paranormal. It almost made Vampirism believable as a true disorder. The only part I did not like about this, was the ending. It felt jumbled up and quick. I hate to go into it, so I won’t.. but the ending wasn’t believable for me. Almost too good to be true, in a way. Also – I know he’s 15 and all, but he falls in love with this girl in 24 hours. That bugged me.. but I guess most 15 year olds do, at least their idea of love. Considering he’s been locked up in a metal ward for 8 years, I guess that can be semi-believable.

Before this, I had never read anything by Max Turner.. but after this, I will definitely read something else of his. I really hope he develops more Zach books because Zach was a truly likeable character and I would like to find out how he is further coping with his new realized identity. show less

NightRunner focuses on Zack Thomson and his friend Charlie. Zack relates the story from his point of view so Turner filters everything Zack experiences from the perspective of a 15 year old teenager who hasn't had much experience in the outside world. I found this technique interesting and refreshing.

I found the perspective refreshing because I:

1. Don't read too much YA books (although I would like too) and sometimes teenage characters provide interesting observations about events that as an adult, I find to be ordinary or dull, or a pain.

2. Don't read many books where teenage boys are the main characters. A teenage boy provides a perspective on events, people, and conversations are different from teenage girls and of course, adults.

I show more enjoyed Zack and Charlie's dynamic with each other as friends. And I enjoyed Zack's observations about the people he meets when he leaves Nicholls Ward. Zack's a compassionate character who makes difficult decisions. He's a person trapped in a situation and with a physical condition not of his own choosing. He must flee the Ward because others have made that a necessity.

Night Runner moves quickly. At times I thought the plot predictable (especially if you've read plenty of vampire stories) but Turner provides some interesting plot twists that caught me by surprise. I probably should have seen them coming, but I didn't, probably because I was caught up in the book's action--always a good thing. Overall, I enjoyed this book. While the plot's pretty simple, the book discusses making choices--choices between good and evil and right or wrong without becoming sanctimonious or overbearing in the process. show less

I won this book from Early Reviewers but I didn't remember requesting it. It's not something I would normally have picked. But when it came I decided to check it out. The story set up - orphan being pursued by the evil man who killed both his parents finds out that he has supernatural powers - was too reminiscent of Harry Potter. However, I liked the story very much. Zach and his friends are very likable and inject alot of humor into what could have been a dull chase story. The dialogue rings true. I actually liked all the updated vampire lore too. It made it much more believable than older vampire stories. I also liked the Canadian setting as well. This is a good easy read for YAs and appears to set up many sequels to come. Now that show more I've met them I think I would enjoy keeping up with Zach, Charlie, Luna, Suki and Ophelia in their next adventures. I'm also hoping that we haven't actually seen the last of Mr. Entwhistle. He's just too good a character. Max Turner tells a great fast paced story with believable and engaging characters and new twists on an old genre. Great job! show less

Night Runner, by Max Turner, is about a teenage vampire. Zach doesn't know he's a vampire. He's lived in a mental ward since he was 8, not because he's crazy but because he's an orphan with severe sun and food allergies. It isn't all bad; Zach doesn't go to school, his childhood friend Charlie comes to visit in the evenings, pretty nurse Ophelia takes him bowling and to the movies too. So what if he can only eat weird strawberry smoothies?

Zach's well ordered life is thrown into chaos one night when a man on a motorcycle crashes into the ward and tells Zach to run. Zach's surprised, even more so when the man jumps out of an ambulance after being shot in the chest! The next night Zach's uncle Max shows up and tells him that not only was show more Zach's dad a vampire hunter, the vampire who killed him infected Zach. While this knowledge at least clears up some of Zach's past, it really complicates his future.

I liked this book because i liked Zach. He's a sweet, pretty innocent kid. He's naive so makes some choices about who to trust that end up hurting him. In some novels these come off as just plot devices, but it makes sense from the character's perspective: he's been so sheltered his entire life that he's got no experiences to draw from. He's also not a Bella "vampires are the coolest thing ever" character. He's torn over what he is and really would rather be normal with a regular life.

Turner writes decently though i feel the book was a bit fast. Turner seems to like writing action; it's easy to follow and i never wondered what was going on. As for the characters, Zach is fully formed but a some of the other characters are only lightly done: "best friend" Charlie, "love interest" Luna, "protective mom figure" Ophelia. Maybe that will change a bit if this book becomes a series. show less

Action packed and nonstop from the beginning I instantly fell in love with Night Runner's main character Zack. His existence, while almost-excepted on his behalf but still sad, drew me in from the beginning. His story intrigued me and even if he didn't want to solve the mystery that surrounded his life I sure as heck did. This book while not something I would typically pick up ended up being one I loved for many reasons including Max's voice and personality. The secondary characters in this story also offer a great foundation to this story rounding it out. Romance took a backseat in this novel making it great for teen guys and girls alike.

Zack is a fifteen year old orphan plagued with an unknown condition and consequently forced to live in a mental institution. His life consists of sleeping by day (due to his strange allergy to light and food and pretty much everything) and entertaining himself by night via the gym and the television. He is completely cut off from the outside world with the exception of his life-time friend Charlie; in conclusion, his life is a total bore. Until one night when a crazy old man crashes into the building and tells Zack that people are after him and he has to run. From that point on Zack can kiss his boring life behind as everything is thrown into chaos and confusion and Zack goes on a journey to figure out himself and reveal what really show more happened to his parents.

This book is definitely a twist on the old vampire tale---although when I began it I did not realize it was a vampire novel. I wasn't sure whether I would like this book or not in the beginning because it is written in first person and Zack, the narrator, is a little unreliable, not to mention a little strange after being practically raised in isolation. Even though I thought it could be a bit more detailed in some parts, also a little more gory, I liked how the tale is told from a vampire's perspective, even though he is just getting used to the idea. Despite my longing of more detailed description it was a fun read, and kind of seems like it needs a sequel. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a vampire story told from a different angle. Or a teenager. show less