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Relapse (Vs. Reality #2)

by Blake Northcott (Goodreads Author)

4.14 of 5 stars 4.14 · rating details · 36 ratings · 11 reviews

At 8:51 am on August 26, 2011, a fifty-storey building in the north end of Manhattan exploded like an overfilled water balloon. Millions of gallons of water and fifty thousand tons of brick slammed into the surrounding streets, causing a series of tidal waves that washed away virtually everything within a one-mile radius.

The Mayor of New York City - James Kerrigan - has la...more

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Published June 8th 2012 by Blake Northcott

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Oct 20, 2012 Kara rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, for-review, own, sci-fi

So this is book two in the Vs. Reality series. If you haven't read book one, you really should do so, especially if you love superhero stories and movies like X-Men and Spiderman and the such. I, admittedly, am NOT a comic book fan, but that doesn't mean this book doesn't have something to offer for those who do not enjoy them. Because it's still a really exciting series. Now I didn't like this book as much as I liked the first one, but I still quite enjoyed it.

One of the best things about thes...more So this is book two in the Vs. Reality series. If you haven't read book one, you really should do so, especially if you love superhero stories and movies like X-Men and Spiderman and the such. I, admittedly, am NOT a comic book fan, but that doesn't mean this book doesn't have something to offer for those who do not enjoy them. Because it's still a really exciting series. Now I didn't like this book as much as I liked the first one, but I still quite enjoyed it.

One of the best things about these books are they are very fast reads. Not only are they short (about 175 pages each), but they also read very quickly because they are so action packed and full of excitement. I ran into a bit of a problem with this one because I didn't find it as exciting as the first, but I did appreciate the direction the author took the story arc in and I approve of the way the characters continued to develop. Still, if you are looking for a quick read, you can polish these off in a couple of hours.

So if I liked it so much, why did I give it 3 stars? Well, I did give the first book 4 stars. But because I didn't like this one as much, I couldn't give it the same rating. Aside from the lack of action, I did have some small issues with the writing.

First of all, you should know I HATE usage of the"R" word in fiction. I feel that way about a lot of words, but this one irritates me more than most. And it's a no-no. Sometimes it's passable if a character says it but then is reprimanded, but how often does that really happen? I have yet to see it. Here it was used flippantly as an insult and I am so not okay with that. That being said, I would rather it be left out altogether.

And then, there was a fair amount of head-jumping. It was definitely an intentional writing style, but it yanked me out of the narrative more than once. Also, the present tense to past tense switching got on my nerves, especially towards the beginning. Sometimes easier is better. I'm not sure if this was supposed to be third person omniscient, but it sort of felt like it was and sort of felt like it wasn't. If that is the case, I understand the head-jumping, but a narrator was never mentioned and I feel it could have been executed better. But that's just me.

The book, however, is definitely still worth reading. It's a decent self-published series and I can assuredly say that I think this author is going places. She's got a lot of skill, and with a little refinement could really write something special. If you are looking for something fast-paced, look no further. These books are full of exploding and read like the screenplay to an action movie. Well done.

Oh, and I adore GOTO. (less)

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Feb 20, 2013 Todd rated it 5 of 5 stars

So...I admit, my review of the first book was a tad harsh when taken together with this book. WOW. Ms. Northcott has not just written a singular story with this series but has actually created an entire (and fascinating) world in which the books take place. There is an entire UNTOLD back-story just sitting there on the tree; waiting to be plucked down and put in your pocket.

As for this specific volume, the pace was fast, dialog great, twists and turns. A solid read. BUT, what truly sold me on th...more

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Jun 16, 2012 Amy Strickland rated it 5 of 5 stars

I really loved the first, so much, in fact, that my words are used on some of the book promotion by Blake Northcott. It was fast-paced and full of action and snappy dialogue. If you like block paragraphs of florid description, Vs. Reality is not for you. These books move like a Juiced Olympic Sprinter.

I gave Vs. Reality Five stars, but now I wish I had given in 4.5 so I would have somewhere to go! The first book had action, wit, and suspense. RELAPSE adds mystery to the mix. As I passed the 50%...more

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Jul 02, 2012 Dusty Craine rated it 3 of 5 stars

Let me begin by reminding folks that Goodreads indicates that 3 stars means "I liked it" while 4 stars means "I really liked it." Vs. Reality earned 4 stars from me. So why did the second book in the trilogy lose a star? Follow along and I'll share.

Vs. Reality introduced an interesting cast of characters and placed them smack dab in the middle of a high-adrenaline action flick. Whereas Relapse only delivers one or two memorable action sequences. Relapse is the calm before what is setup to be a r...more

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Aug 08, 2012 Jonathan rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: kindle, blake-northcott

First off, let me just say that I was I was lucky enough to have a small editorial role in Relapse so I wasn't going to be the first to review it. But now that time has passed and many (favourable) reviews have been posted, I felt confident that no-one would consider my opinions unduly biased by anything other than the story itself.

As a fan of Vs.Reality (Vol.1 for anyone who has come to the party fashionably late and is considering Blake's books) I have reviewed it in it's own entry, and res...more First off, let me just say that I was I was lucky enough to have a small editorial role in Relapse so I wasn't going to be the first to review it. But now that time has passed and many (favourable) reviews have been posted, I felt confident that no-one would consider my opinions unduly biased by anything other than the story itself.

As a fan of Vs.Reality (Vol.1 for anyone who has come to the party fashionably late and is considering Blake's books) I have reviewed it in it's own entry, and rest assured it's every bit the worthy follow-up.

It still has the action, there's lots of that. Fists, guns, superpowers, helicopters and a rental car. I felt the rental was underused personally, but then you can't have everything. Maybe Vol.3 will see it shine.

It still has the humour, which, like the first book, is provided by the dialogue rather than some kind of situation hilarity that would be completely out of place in a book like this.

It still has cracking characterisations - something that really stood out for me in the first book.

But now...NOW...it also has more drama, new layers, a couple of sizeable surprises (no spoilers, of course) and the characters have greater depth as more of their back-stories are explored and motivations uncovered. It's not nearly as black and white as it may have appeared in the first book. And there are whole new characters to add to the manic mix, not just exploring those already established. In particular, a little tennis diva. She's fun.

This said, it's not a huge book, and the pace keeps things moving along so it shouldn't take anyone long to get through, although because there is more background now, I personally gave myself a little more time to read it than I did the first volume. Editorials aside.

All of this pretty much guarantees you won't get bored, and it's definitely worth the time and investment, and I am looking forward to the next instalment already (work is already underway, I'm told).

Side-note: Vs.Reality is being adapted for the big screen. Check out IMDB.(less)

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Dec 17, 2012 Si rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: comic-book, fantasy, fiction, kindle

I'm not a huge fan of comic books, but I'm really enjoying this series. Cannot wait for the next one. Constant fun and excitement, the whole way, and great dialogue throughout.

It should also be said that Blake Northcott is one of the few modern authors who GETS modern media, she interacts on goodreads and on twitter, giving updates on new books and engaging with anyone who talks about her and her work. I really encourage anyone to give these books a punt - only cost about 99p from the Kindle sto...more

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Oct 31, 2012 Brett rated it 5 of 5 stars

Really enjoyed the VS Reality. This really builds on the first book. Blake has really grown as a writer. Can't wait for the last book.

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Oct 24, 2012 Neal W rated it 3 of 5 stars

Saturday afternoon popcorn matinee. Just a basic good read. Nothing flashy, just solid.

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Nov 18, 2012 Dave Lefevre rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: new-scifi, new-fiction

A very fun series that is slowly (and nicely) becoming more complex. I enjoy them immensely.

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Oct 08, 2012 Nigel Watts rated it 4 of 5 stars

The second book in the series and no let up in the pace of action. Another quick read that blends believable settings with the fantasy element of cartoon/super hero characters. Looking forward the the final episode now even more than after finishing the first book.

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Jul 06, 2012 Tony Fecteau rated it 4 of 5 stars

Crazy! loved this book and I loved the time twisting.... I really cannot wait til the next book. ;)

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About Blake Northcott

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/
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Relapse (Vs. Reality #2)

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