Review of The Fourth Kinetic

[jr610]

[Following is a volunteer review of "The Fourth Kinetic" by Brady Moore.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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 The Fourth Kinetic—Clairvoyants  by Brady Moore


I found  The Fourth Kinetic—Clairvoyants  by Brady Moore very interesting. It opens with a teenage boy, Rion, who is tired of moving every few months for his mother's job as a researcher. Unable to make friends, he has become a loner, only spending time with his mom when she gets home from work early enough. She acts rushed and uncommunicative when Rion asks about her job, her past or his father. Rion knows he is different from the other students, and readers soon find out just how different he really is. Alone in his room, Rion experiments with his nascent telekinetic abilities, delighted when he can summon a water bottle to his hand. But shortly after making his first real friend at school, he and his mother are uprooted again. The wild ride that ensues separates Rion from his mother and introduces him to two ragtag “families” of other people with superpowers. Rion quickly learns which are benign and helpful, and which are more hostile to him. The government agency chasing these superhumans have their leader in captivity on an airborne vessel, and were chasing Rion and his mother when they fled. Determined to find his mother, Rion bands with the others who want to rescue their leader. From then on, the excitement grows and suspense keeps you turning pages. From Rion's growing powers to his deepening relationships with his strange “siblings,” the fast-paced plot includes fantastical battles, a mysterious flash drive and a very helpful cat with much human understanding.

Moore captures the angst of an alienated teenager, the depth of commitment the clairvoyants have for one another, the violence that erupts from a superpower group nicknamed Predators, the confusion and tenderness of first love, the frustration of learning a new skill, and the heart-thumping adrenaline that fuels the characters' powers. The author details the tentative bonds that strengthen when Rion's mission takes him deep into enemy territory, and how his powers explode during a thrilling rescue and escape.

Moore's writing contains some cliched phrasing but flows quite well. Not one for verbose description, he excels at action scenes and delves into his characters' motivations and heartaches. He inserts surprises into many of the book's chapters, adding intrigue to the mix. I was slightly disappointed by the ending, which left too many questions unresolved.

I highly recommend this “can't put down” story to anyone who likes nail-biting tension, magical elements and a great, imaginative tale that thunders through the pages. I rate it a 4 out of 4.


Reviewed by Jennifer Reyes

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The Fourth Kinetic
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[Amy Luman]

I was also really captivated by this novel. I love how well Rion fits in with his new “friends” so quickly. Thanks for the review.