87th out of 302 books
—
316 voters
Vs. Reality (Vs. Reality #1)
by
Blake Northcott (Goodreads Author),
Jim Deley , Jennifer Joseph (Goodreads Author)
If your deepest desires spontaneously manifested into reality, giving you powers and abilities once limited to your dreams, what would you do?
Donovan Cole hates his life: his body, his job, his relationship…until one night a violent confrontation outside a nightclub causes him to change – instantly infusing him with almost supernatural size and strength.
The transformation...more
Donovan Cole hates his life: his body, his job, his relationship…until one night a violent confrontation outside a nightclub causes him to change – instantly infusing him with almost supernatural size and strength.
The transformation...more
Kindle Edition, 1st Edition, 176 pages
Published
July 25th 2011
by Blake Northcott
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Goodreads Summary:
If your deepest desires spontaneously manifested into reality – giving you powers and abilities once limited to your dreams – what would you do?
Donovan Cole hates reality: his body, his job, his relationship…until one night a violent confrontation outside a nightclub causes him to change – instantly infusing him with almost supernatural size and strength.
The transformation is only temporary, and before long he realizes that he’s not the only one – people around the world hav...more
If your deepest desires spontaneously manifested into reality – giving you powers and abilities once limited to your dreams – what would you do?
Donovan Cole hates reality: his body, his job, his relationship…until one night a violent confrontation outside a nightclub causes him to change – instantly infusing him with almost supernatural size and strength.
The transformation is only temporary, and before long he realizes that he’s not the only one – people around the world hav...more
Jan 21, 2012
Paperpeninc
added it
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Aug 08, 2012
Jonathan
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Anyone who likes a bit of comicbook style frolics.
Shelves:
kindle,
blake-northcott
Blake Northcott
It surprised me to discover that amongst my various reviews, story pimping and other endorsements of Vs.Reality, I had failed to provide an opinion on here.
Sorry Blake! Mea culpa.
Anyway, anyone who hasn't read it yet? You really should. I won't rehash the synopsis, but what I will say is that it's fun, fast-paced, there's superpowers, violence and it has a distinct comic-book air that should lend itself well to the upcoming movie/graphic novel adaptations.
More than that, the char...more
It surprised me to discover that amongst my various reviews, story pimping and other endorsements of Vs.Reality, I had failed to provide an opinion on here.
Sorry Blake! Mea culpa.
Anyway, anyone who hasn't read it yet? You really should. I won't rehash the synopsis, but what I will say is that it's fun, fast-paced, there's superpowers, violence and it has a distinct comic-book air that should lend itself well to the upcoming movie/graphic novel adaptations.
More than that, the char...more
An excellent book. The characters were good and the dialog was natural. The arc of the book is great in that you care what happens but the outcome was not obvious. A fun read indeed.
My main issue would have been that as a Canadian author, she should have taken advantage of her first-hand knowledge and had the story center around Toronto, not New York. At times, her view as an outsider was readily apparent. Having spent many summers in the TO area, the wealth of untapped settings is just begging...more
My main issue would have been that as a Canadian author, she should have taken advantage of her first-hand knowledge and had the story center around Toronto, not New York. At times, her view as an outsider was readily apparent. Having spent many summers in the TO area, the wealth of untapped settings is just begging...more
I enjoyed this book. It's a very interesting and unique take on the superhero genre as well as a quick and fun read. The only negative thing I can say is that the story pov was a little...different. There's nothing wrong with a 'now' pov, just something I'm not very used to reading. That said, though, I would wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys the genre. I'm looking forward to the second book.
This debut novel from Blake Northcott jumps all over the place between parallel worlds and is populated with characters that can change their appearance and abilities with a wonder drug or sometimes at will.
It does have a ‘seen it all before’ vibe to it. The themes of a disparate group of people joining together and becoming superheroes has been done over and over in the last decade so if you are tired of ‘Heroes’, ‘X-Men’, ‘The Avengers’ and ‘Alphas’ then maybe this won’t be for you.
It’s not pe...more
It does have a ‘seen it all before’ vibe to it. The themes of a disparate group of people joining together and becoming superheroes has been done over and over in the last decade so if you are tired of ‘Heroes’, ‘X-Men’, ‘The Avengers’ and ‘Alphas’ then maybe this won’t be for you.
It’s not pe...more
RE: a watershed novel
Blake Northcott's debut novel -- "vs Reality" -- contains a character who uses the word 'watershed' often and often in the wrong context. However, calling Blake's first installment in a planned 3-part series a watershed novel is not only the correct usage of the word, but apropos. Having said that, I usually utilize the word 'conceit' when I come across original ideas in any medium -- books, comics, films, etc. And the conceit of Blake's novel is what makes "vs Reality" som...more
Blake Northcott's debut novel -- "vs Reality" -- contains a character who uses the word 'watershed' often and often in the wrong context. However, calling Blake's first installment in a planned 3-part series a watershed novel is not only the correct usage of the word, but apropos. Having said that, I usually utilize the word 'conceit' when I come across original ideas in any medium -- books, comics, films, etc. And the conceit of Blake's novel is what makes "vs Reality" som...more
Kick-Ass on Steroids!
It may sound like the perfect way to cap off a romantic evening, but the little blue pill in Vs. Reality causes an entirely different sort of explosion. Side effects may include super-human strength, Pantene-perfect hair, glowing eyeballs, and the inadvertent destruction of those around you.
After a fight outside a night club almost kills him, Donovan Cole manifests superhuman strength and discovers he's one of a few humans who can activate super abilities by taking an exper...more
It may sound like the perfect way to cap off a romantic evening, but the little blue pill in Vs. Reality causes an entirely different sort of explosion. Side effects may include super-human strength, Pantene-perfect hair, glowing eyeballs, and the inadvertent destruction of those around you.
After a fight outside a night club almost kills him, Donovan Cole manifests superhuman strength and discovers he's one of a few humans who can activate super abilities by taking an exper...more
Originally posted on Pretty in Fiction
Title: Vs. Reality
Author: Blake Northcott
Published: July 25 2011
Rating: 4/5
What would you do if you suddenly became the ideal version of yourself?
That's the question 27 year old Donovan Cole has to answer in Blake Northcott's Vs. Reality .
Donovan is a mixed martial arts fighter, or actually more like an ex-mixed martial arts fighter. He was undefeated until one loss seriously messed up his head. Now he's not so much fighting as taking beatings regularly i...more
Title: Vs. Reality
Author: Blake Northcott
Published: July 25 2011
Rating: 4/5
What would you do if you suddenly became the ideal version of yourself?
That's the question 27 year old Donovan Cole has to answer in Blake Northcott's Vs. Reality .
Donovan is a mixed martial arts fighter, or actually more like an ex-mixed martial arts fighter. He was undefeated until one loss seriously messed up his head. Now he's not so much fighting as taking beatings regularly i...more
Vs. Reality is a book that pushes the boundaries with regards to manipulating the environment and humans. All around the world people are manifesting into what they consider to be their better selves, becoming like their own superhero using powers that they manifest into their being.
Trying to contain and control this phenomenon are The Collectors. They round up people with the ability to manifest and take them to The Basement where they are never seen or heard from again.
Dia, Brodie and Paige a...more
Trying to contain and control this phenomenon are The Collectors. They round up people with the ability to manifest and take them to The Basement where they are never seen or heard from again.
Dia, Brodie and Paige a...more
Set in an alternate timeline, Vs. Reality is the story of a group of young people with extra special powers on the run from a super secret organization looking to capture them because they have extra special powers. Though it may sound like every comic book that has ever been released since the days of Stan Lee, Vs. Reality actually has a little something that makes it different; heart.
I know, that sounds cheesy, but it’s true. You can tell that Blake Northcott put a lot of heart into her charac...more
I know, that sounds cheesy, but it’s true. You can tell that Blake Northcott put a lot of heart into her charac...more
Ordinarily a book of this caliber would merit a solid three stars. It was a solidly fun science fiction read with an interesting twist. The author's openness and fan-friendly nature definitely had an impact as I read the book and witnessed her personality shining through the pages, whether it was in some of the quirky, modern dialogue or through the personification of her comic book ideals. For this reason I was glad to give her the same number of stars that I gave a book I recently read by the...more
Vs. Reality is a quick and engaging read that will keep you pressing that [Next Page] button until there's nothing left to read. The first volume is short, but creates an entertaining introduction to a series that promises longer future volumes. It's an amazing debut from a first-time author, blogger Blake Northcott.
I bought Vs. Reality on the reputation that Northcott had already built up as one of my favorite bloggers and tweeters. The thing that impresses me most about her reviews is that Nor...more
I bought Vs. Reality on the reputation that Northcott had already built up as one of my favorite bloggers and tweeters. The thing that impresses me most about her reviews is that Nor...more
Blake Northcott has created a slam-bang action story that rips and roars along, leaving you breathless. Try to keep up, because it's a fast, fun thrill ride.
People access powers and abilities, as in other stories that have been touched on in different media: Heroes, The Matrix, Jumper. There's a cadre of baddies, and a renegade band of good guys just trying to stay one step ahead of the Collectors.
This ain't no quilting bee, it's a street-fight of a book. If you like it tough and raw and quick...more
People access powers and abilities, as in other stories that have been touched on in different media: Heroes, The Matrix, Jumper. There's a cadre of baddies, and a renegade band of good guys just trying to stay one step ahead of the Collectors.
This ain't no quilting bee, it's a street-fight of a book. If you like it tough and raw and quick...more
I usually don't give star reviews, but since GR seems to require it, here it is.
This book was an interesting read. I really enjoyed Cole as a character. I felt everything he went through really showed him as being well rounded and I was rooting for him throughout the book. He was a great main character. The other characters I was a little iffy about. They all sort of seemed like bad people and often I wondered if Cole was actually on the right side or not. I did felt like there needed to be mor...more
This book was an interesting read. I really enjoyed Cole as a character. I felt everything he went through really showed him as being well rounded and I was rooting for him throughout the book. He was a great main character. The other characters I was a little iffy about. They all sort of seemed like bad people and often I wondered if Cole was actually on the right side or not. I did felt like there needed to be mor...more
After enjoying following the author on Twitter for a very long time, this novel was highly anticipated by me. It was the first title I purchased when I finally had an e-reader. (Unfortunately, I purchased the sequel prior to reading the first book.) And while the premise of the book was very intriguing, the shortcomings in its execution were too distracting for me to enjoy it. The dialogue did not ring true for the main male character, and was too cliché for some of the others. The main female c...more
The concept is interesting.
People around the world are developing powers that could threaten the fate of the entire world. A group of cast-offs have developed a way to give 'potentials' a chance at that power with the pop of a pill.
The characters are fun, the action fast and the story is light. Don't let the three-star rating put you off, those interested in comic-books and superheroes - this could easily be a 4. I was expecting a little more description regarding the world and I would have li...more
People around the world are developing powers that could threaten the fate of the entire world. A group of cast-offs have developed a way to give 'potentials' a chance at that power with the pop of a pill.
The characters are fun, the action fast and the story is light. Don't let the three-star rating put you off, those interested in comic-books and superheroes - this could easily be a 4. I was expecting a little more description regarding the world and I would have li...more
VS reality is exceptional, an entertaining and thought-provoking superhero story. The novella has a larger than life comic book feel but with very real and relevant themes running beneath the surface. Manifesting a superpower is a rush and the drugs that bring it on could easily become emotionally (& perhaps physically) addictive. Like a junkie, Dia has been finding it harder and harder to feel what she needs to make the change and Donavon challenges her to ‘come clean’ and be her natural se...more
This book rocked my world!!
I read this a while back just figured I'd do a quick review. I didn't know what to expect because I don't get the chance to read too many books, but Vs. Reality definitely rocked it. It was a somewhat short read, and I read it in two sittings, each about 90 minutes or so but I am a very fast reader.
I don't want to do any spoilers so I'll just say it's a really action packed book with lots of four letter words, violent altercations and some really intense fight scenes....more
I read this a while back just figured I'd do a quick review. I didn't know what to expect because I don't get the chance to read too many books, but Vs. Reality definitely rocked it. It was a somewhat short read, and I read it in two sittings, each about 90 minutes or so but I am a very fast reader.
I don't want to do any spoilers so I'll just say it's a really action packed book with lots of four letter words, violent altercations and some really intense fight scenes....more
TOTALLY AMAZING. Just finished this book so I wanted to write my first ever review. As a fan of comic book movies, sci-fi and action this was right up my alley, but I see why it wouldn't be for everyone. It was very violent in some parts and had some pretty pointed social commentary, which I liked a lot. The author definitely took some chances here and it definitely paid off.
I heard this was getting some positive buzz and that a movie might be made which is just awesome news. I would be first in...more
I heard this was getting some positive buzz and that a movie might be made which is just awesome news. I would be first in...more
Very fast, very exciting read!! I can't wait for Volume 2.
I read this book all night and couldn't put it down. I felt like this could be a big budget action movie, like a summer blockbuster with superheroes, but Rated-R.
Anyone who is a fan of fantasy, action and adventure would love this, and the best part was the dialog. Some of the interaction between Cole (the main character) and his friend Jens was as funny as something you'd see in Superbad or a Kevin Smith movie.
My biggest complaint is th...more
I read this book all night and couldn't put it down. I felt like this could be a big budget action movie, like a summer blockbuster with superheroes, but Rated-R.
Anyone who is a fan of fantasy, action and adventure would love this, and the best part was the dialog. Some of the interaction between Cole (the main character) and his friend Jens was as funny as something you'd see in Superbad or a Kevin Smith movie.
My biggest complaint is th...more
I think this was a book that really had a chance to be good. The concept was interesting and the plot was fun, but when it comes down to it, there were issues I couldn't get past. The world created breaks its own rules often. The writing is loose and cliches appear far too often. The characters aren't consistent with themselves and there is a feeling that the story grew out of the plots needs rather than organically. I enjoy Northcott's blog and I think this series has potential. I think a lot o...more
This book deserves 5 stars across the board! It is filled with excitement from cover to cover, and it takes you on a journey like no other! I'm on my second read through, and I'm still pulled in by the amount of action and adventure contained in this book. Blake Northcott can write a book better than most recent authors I can think of! Her attention to telling everything in as much detail as possible, while combining an amazing story and lots of action and suspense, puts her far ahead of the com...more
Checked out this book on a lark as I follow the author on Twitter. It's an enjoyable and fast read that utilizes and interesting take on superheroes. Instead of everyone being powered all the time, they have to activate their abilities in different ways and then they only last for a limited time.
This book focuses on Cole, a boxer who can't win a fight and who finds himself thrust into the world of would-be heroes and a shadowy syndicate of Collectors that want to capture them for their own nefa...more
This book focuses on Cole, a boxer who can't win a fight and who finds himself thrust into the world of would-be heroes and a shadowy syndicate of Collectors that want to capture them for their own nefa...more
I loved this book! Blake Northcott's Vs. Reality is like nothing I've read before. Ms. Northcott's debut novel is a fast, easy read with an inspired plot, fascinating characters, outstanding dialogue, and intricate details. It makes one wonder--where has Blake been hiding all this time?
The plot revolves primarily around Donovan Cole, Dia Davenport, and the manifestation of various superpowers. Sometimes these manifestations are `triggered' under duress, other times that have to be kick-started w...more
The plot revolves primarily around Donovan Cole, Dia Davenport, and the manifestation of various superpowers. Sometimes these manifestations are `triggered' under duress, other times that have to be kick-started w...more
"I'm going to die. Right here, right now."
DUDE. First freaking line!!! Right? First, we are witness to the near attack of a woman, who is "saved" by Goto and Mr. Heinreich only to have THEM turn around and abduct- I mean take her in for 'processing' and take her to 'The Basement'.
Then we meet Marcus Mitchell as he gets the crap kicked out of him inside The Octagon (extreme fighting) and then his coach telling him he's lost whatever it was that used to make him great... I'm assuming it's this Ki...more
Loved the over all story although I am not used to reading many books in the narrative style/tense? that Blake choose, so it took a bit for me to get used to it. It is more geared I think to a comic book flow which I believe Blake explained was the stories original intend purpose.
Through part one of Vs. Reality, Blake discloses enough about each character to pique your interest but leaves enough hanging to make you want part two to hurry up and arrive.
Through part one of Vs. Reality, Blake discloses enough about each character to pique your interest but leaves enough hanging to make you want part two to hurry up and arrive.
I am being totally honest when i say great concept bad wording,editing, and sadly even passion. every person was described in measurements as if she was stating facts, as if she was a doctor making a daily check up. I wanted to hear her say lanky or small and thin not 5'4 and 120 pounds. Then there were so many editing errors i had to guess and think of what she meant. Lastly she sounded disconnected and unattached. oh but good concept and idea.
I'm a big comic book fan and follow the author of this book on Twitter so of course I spent $1 to support her. Overall, I enjoyed the book and will definitely buy the next part of the series. Blake has a straightforward writing style that manages to effortlessly blend violence and humor, often in the same paragraph. I know nothing of MMA; although I was once at a bar and tried to watch it but one of the fighters had a condom advertisement on the butt of his tiny shorts and appeared to be hump/hu...more
This book was a good short read. It had action, suspense, and superpowers. I can see what other people mean about this being like a comic book because you get super powers by taking a pill. But this is also has a feel of that movie Limitless with Bradley Cooper where he takes a pill and it kicks his brain up a few hundred notches to work perfectly.
Good way to spend a few hours.
Good way to spend a few hours.
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Author. Twitter-er. Slayer of vampires (only the ones that sparkle). I love reading, cooking, traveling and mixed martial arts. Dislikes include Wheel of Fortune and Ke$ha.
I live in a small, quiet town west of Toronto, and at the moment I'm writing and blogging full-time.
http://www.BlakeNorthcott.com
http://www.blakenorthcott.com/bn/
http://www.facebook.com/Vs.Reality
http://twitter.com/#!/ComicBookG...more
More about Blake Northcott...
I live in a small, quiet town west of Toronto, and at the moment I'm writing and blogging full-time.
http://www.BlakeNorthcott.com
http://www.blakenorthcott.com/bn/
http://www.facebook.com/Vs.Reality
http://twitter.com/#!/ComicBookG...more
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“You can bully people, you can threaten them, but you can't break someone unless they're willing to be broken.”
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Dec 27, 2011 09:11pm
Dec 27, 2011 09:37pm