Review of Alpha Rising
Posted: 20 Jul 2022, 09:04
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Alpha Rising" by Jakcub Anthonnie Young.]
Alpha Rising by Jakcub Anthonnie Young presents a unique perspective on the conventional tale of teenagers and werewolves. Jacqueline, a typical girl who just entered college, starts noticing that her senses are unrealistically sensitive. After she experiences headaches and weird food cravings that are not satisfied with typical food, she realizes she is turning into a werewolf. Hendrix, a boy her age, grabs her attention, but it's unclear what he wants from her. Will he turn out to be a trusted ally or a feared enemy? Jacqueline never knew her father; he dumped her when she was only five. Could he be connected to all that's currently happening to her?
The first third of the book was conventional. I felt the book's main selling point, which was "not your average werewolf fantasy," was a scam. I thought I ended up picking up a tedious book about an introverted werewolf teenager. Slowly, it became evident the author enjoyed introducing twists and turns that were occasionally unpredictable. He also did not leave out horrific details that fans of the genre will appreciate. Characters in this story were decent and believable, driven by feelings of betrayal and contempt, which drove the narrative forward. As the chapters alternated between Jacqueline and Hendrix, readers were given a glimpse into the characters' minds without giving away too much. It shows the narration was nicely done, with thoughts going onto a separate line for easier reading.
As for the negatives, there were some prominent ones. The transformation into a werewolf part was extremely tedious to read. For instance, it would mention that the subject begins to take off their clothing (so as to not tear them) and then stands on all four. The subject then closes their eyes and thinks about transforming into a werewolf. I am sure readers can see why this is not the best (or most action-filled) way to describe such a transformation.
Also, the ending was extremely abrupt and did not serve the book right. Some characters entirely disappeared and never made a return, not even towards the end of the book. The narration was sometimes lacking in terms of describing a scene. It seems the book requires a sequel that expands on the disappeared characters and other loose ends. The book also contains more than ten errors.
Considering everything, I rate this book two out of four stars. I deducted a star for the errors encountered and another for the negatives I noticed, as they affected my overall enjoyment of the book. The book contains non-borderline profanity but no sexual content. It is better suited for young adults who are into supernatural novels and animalistic powers. Others not interested in these genres will not find this book enjoyable. Those looking for a complex story that includes great character development will not find this book satisfying. Considering the book is only composed of 121 pages, it acts as a light read for fans of the fantasy genre. Finally, I encourage the author to review his book to eliminate its shortcomings in order to receive a more pleasing rating.
******
Alpha Rising
View: on Bookshelves
Alpha Rising by Jakcub Anthonnie Young presents a unique perspective on the conventional tale of teenagers and werewolves. Jacqueline, a typical girl who just entered college, starts noticing that her senses are unrealistically sensitive. After she experiences headaches and weird food cravings that are not satisfied with typical food, she realizes she is turning into a werewolf. Hendrix, a boy her age, grabs her attention, but it's unclear what he wants from her. Will he turn out to be a trusted ally or a feared enemy? Jacqueline never knew her father; he dumped her when she was only five. Could he be connected to all that's currently happening to her?
The first third of the book was conventional. I felt the book's main selling point, which was "not your average werewolf fantasy," was a scam. I thought I ended up picking up a tedious book about an introverted werewolf teenager. Slowly, it became evident the author enjoyed introducing twists and turns that were occasionally unpredictable. He also did not leave out horrific details that fans of the genre will appreciate. Characters in this story were decent and believable, driven by feelings of betrayal and contempt, which drove the narrative forward. As the chapters alternated between Jacqueline and Hendrix, readers were given a glimpse into the characters' minds without giving away too much. It shows the narration was nicely done, with thoughts going onto a separate line for easier reading.
As for the negatives, there were some prominent ones. The transformation into a werewolf part was extremely tedious to read. For instance, it would mention that the subject begins to take off their clothing (so as to not tear them) and then stands on all four. The subject then closes their eyes and thinks about transforming into a werewolf. I am sure readers can see why this is not the best (or most action-filled) way to describe such a transformation.
Also, the ending was extremely abrupt and did not serve the book right. Some characters entirely disappeared and never made a return, not even towards the end of the book. The narration was sometimes lacking in terms of describing a scene. It seems the book requires a sequel that expands on the disappeared characters and other loose ends. The book also contains more than ten errors.
Considering everything, I rate this book two out of four stars. I deducted a star for the errors encountered and another for the negatives I noticed, as they affected my overall enjoyment of the book. The book contains non-borderline profanity but no sexual content. It is better suited for young adults who are into supernatural novels and animalistic powers. Others not interested in these genres will not find this book enjoyable. Those looking for a complex story that includes great character development will not find this book satisfying. Considering the book is only composed of 121 pages, it acts as a light read for fans of the fantasy genre. Finally, I encourage the author to review his book to eliminate its shortcomings in order to receive a more pleasing rating.
******
Alpha Rising
View: on Bookshelves