Wednesday 7 May 2014

Book Review: Thirteen by Tom Hoyle



Wow, cults are thing you know. Five year old self had no idea.

Born at midnight in London, on the stroke of the new millennium, Adam is the target of a cult that believes boys born on this date must die before the end of their thirteenth year. Twelve boys have been killed so far. Coron, the crazy cult leader, will stop at nothing to bring in his new kingdom. And now he is planning a bombing spectacular across London to celebrate the sacrifice of his final victim: Adam.

This book has so many issues. The believable factor went out the window half way through the book. It meant to deal with this real thing of cults but all the main characters, protagonist and antagonist get out situations in ways that make no sense. Bodily harm is threaten a lot in this book but no one gets majorly hurt (until convenient). I mean Adam has the best luck in the world, besides having a cult after him. Coron does as well.

My real issue with this book that it has the adults and police that only exist in horror films within it. They’re idiots that don’t question anything, even stuff that clearly dodgy. In this modern world you don’t get away with just stating things, you need evidence. Except if you make bomb threat. Plot is just filled with too many holes to float. Yes, cults are scary and have power but a cult with this much power would have a very hard time staying secret. These things get out; they also do crimes in very public places. This is meant to be Young Adults but it falls more into the Middle Grade age range of well 13 and younger. It’s too immature for teenagers, mainly due to these plot holes.

I didn’t get very attached to the characters. They just have their roles in the stories.

The writing style was alright. It’s written in third person and point of view jumps from character to character a lot which I liked.

Overall, I gave this book 3 out of stars for over stimulated ears. It was alright, light read. It was enjoyable once I ignore my issues with it.

I got this off Netgalley for a review. It’s published by Macmillan Children's Books and out now.

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