OnlineBookClub.org

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Tactile Therapy: Volume One" by Durell Arrington.]

In the distant future, an asteroid is thwarted by the efforts of Russia and the United States before it can collide with Earth. Upon the destruction of the asteroid, two aliens also arrive on Earth. One of the aliens, Minutia, can slow objects around her and teams up with eleven-year-old Calvin to recover an artifact that fell to Earth, along with the debris from the asteroid. The pair further seek The Man in the Dirty Robes as he is the only other person that might be like Calvin, who has abilities of his own. Meanwhile, Olpha Chambers (AKA Nerosion) attempts to juggle his home-life with protecting the people of Opia as riots and illegal drugs become prevalent in the aftermath of the asteroid. It is a time of heroes and villains that arise from the chaos around them, but who will be which.

Durell Arrington’s Tactile Therapy Volume I is a fast-paced, action-packed, character-rich novel set in a distant dystopian future. It is a novel that is both new and familiar as the author creates a relevant and engaging story that blurs the lines between hero and villain.

Arrington keeps me on my toes with his many characters and their quests, which gives this novel an epic feel. The characters are relatable, witty, and thought-provoking, making this more than an adventure story and reminiscent of X-Men. Part of what I like about this is that it is reminiscent of X-Men and other superhero fiction that I have enjoyed since I was young. The author even references Marvel and D.C Comic characters, thus adding to the entertainment value. All in all, this is a fantastic and enjoyable tale that is a balance of character-driven story, action, science-fiction/fantasy/superhero, and realism.

However, I do not care for the inclusion of a child using a sub-machine gun. While this adds to the dystopian feel and is a plot point, I find it disturbing that a child is training to be a warrior.

I recommend Arrington’s novel to young adults and adults who enjoy stories by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, action/adventure, dystopian future, and character-rich stories. This novel does contain non-graphic violence, drug use, and severe cursing, which makes it unsuitable for all audiences.

I rate Arrington’s Tactile Therapy Volume I 4 out of 4 stars as it is well-written, thought-provoking, witty, and contains few errors. The errors are so few that they do not take away from the story itself. In fact, this novel is so compelling and entertaining that I wish to read more from this author as well as to reread this particular one.

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Tactile Therapy: Volume One
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I'm always a fan of science fiction but not much of a superhero fan. The plot seems engaging and I hope to read this book.

This sounds like an action packed book. Thank you for your review.

Sounds like a fascinating book. I've only watched movies of aliens invading Earth and causing chaos, never read a book. This one might just be a first. Nice review.

I'm not sure I'm in the mood for a dystopian novel right now, but this one seems intriguing with food for thought. Thank you for your great review!

The blurred lines between the hero and the villain are intriguing. And it is interesting it is reminiscent of the X-men. Thanks for the comprehensive review!

Books on time-travel are way out of my fancy. Sometimes, I feel they are a bit fake. However, this review is making me think otherwise. I should read this book after all.

I like that you compare the feel of this book to the X-Men comics; that helped me quickly understand the style of this book. Thanks for your review!

Great action, story and adventure, wrapped with super hero fill.

I'm not sure that this is my kind of book, but it does sound very interesting!

Looks like a thrilling action-packed plot narrating an interesting tale that dangles between the hero and villain. I think the introduction of aliens in the flow is another puller to read in. Good review, RKeinath. Thanks,

I usually don't care for sci-fi novels, but your review makes this one sound interesting. I like the fact that the characters can be humorous, and the storyline doesn't sound like it is complicated. I may have to check this one out! Thanks for the excellent review!

This sounds like an exciting mixture of sci-fi and action-packed super hero stuff. An asteroid threatening to destroy Earth and the presence of aliens sounds intriguing. Thanks for the lovely review.

I loved your review! Sadly, aliens and the distant future do not interest me.

I can see how the fact that the child is training to be a warrior might be disturbing. I agree with you. It can be a dystopian element but still worrisome. Good job with the review.