Review of Lock Down Protocol

[Mayang Bature]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Lock Down Protocol" by J. T. Fluhart.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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The world is in disarray as animals, even household pets, undergo mutations into violent beasts that attack humans. Because no one has ever encountered anything like this outside of bedtime stories, humanity is helpless. Benjamin Masters, a CIA agent, joins forces with the Rurales, a Mexican law enforcement group, to face this terrible anomaly caused by the "supermoon". The outcome of their efforts is left for the reader to find out.

I admired the action-packed nature of this book, which lived up to its genre of action and adventure. J. T. Fluhart's adept choice of words brought the thrilling scenes to life, and the inclusion of weapon names like "Hellfire missiles" and "Rods of God" sent chills down my spine, perfectly fitting the arsenal's formidable nature. This contributed to an immersive reading experience. While encountering these beasts would typically invoke a sense of impending danger, the author's descriptive language left me yearning for more. The vivid depiction of truck-sized bulls with razor-sharp fangs enabled me to visualize the author's intended imagery. Although graphic scenes may not appeal to everyone, in this book they were skillfully executed, taking into account the target audience's preferences.

This novel, at the very least, provided enlightening information. I had no idea that Apple Siri was based on a military project named Cognitive Assistant that Learns and Organizes (CALO), which was created in the early 2000s. I was also stunned to discover that self-driving cars have been around since the 1980s, thanks to Carnegie Mellon University's Autonomous Land Vehicle (ALV) projects. This simply shows the author's dedication to conducting extensive research prior to writing this story. The attention to detail extended to the characters, who each had their own unique backstory that was thoroughly explored in the story. This gave each character a distinct demeanor that could be detected just by their speech. 

However, this novel has its flaws. Because of Rob's constant napping and Mel's playful teasing, I initially assumed Rob and Mel, who were among the Rurales, were children. I was surprised when I realized Mel was not only an adult but also skilled in combat and marksmanship. Also, the frequent mention of the moon as a "supermoon" with no explanation confused me. Because this is the second book in a series, I'm assuming these details were covered in the first. The primary issue I had was the amount of information supplied all at once in a character’s backstory, which seemed overkill and detracted from the main story. Breaking these details down into smaller chunks would have reduced distraction and streamlined the story.

Lock Down Protocol is an exceptional novel that deserves a perfect 5 out of 5 stars. It provides a fascinating experience while expertly blending factual data and vivid descriptions that answer every question one may have about it. Although it had small editing problems, the primary issue of character motivation was easily overlooked. Young adults who enjoy stories about deadly arsenals and are comfortable with violent portrayals of bloodshed done by savage beasts will love this book.

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Lock Down Protocol
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[Odichimma Okoye]

That's crazy! I can imagine dogs mutating. What caused their mutation though? Was it planned or abrupt? Nice review as always!

[Mayang Bature]

That's crazy! I can imagine dogs mutating. What caused their mutation though? Was it planned or abrupt? Nice review as always!

Science experiment related stuff caused the issues, as you may have guessed. The book covers that in detail. And, thanks for the kind words... again.

[NetMassimo]

A story full of action that includes tropes from various genres centered around mutated animals seems intriguing and I'm curious to see what's behind that and the story's development. I'll look into this series. Thank you for your great review!