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Beat
"A sci-fi thriller in a dystopian world, fans of the Hunger Games or the movie Speed will love the premise of Beat." -- Adam Glendon Sidwell, author of Chum.
If your heart rate goes over 140 beats per minute, you die.
Fifteen-year-old Nik Granjer hates the Bug. It was the Bug that destroyed the world when it wiped out over ninety percent of humanity a hundred years ago. Even now, the Bug kills anyone whose heart rate goes over 140 beats per minute. That’s why the Prime Administrator gave everyone the Papas – digital wrist monitors that put people to sleep when their heart rate gets too high. The Papas saved humankind.
But one night on the border of New Frisko, when Nik tampers with his Papa and discovers there is more to the Bug than he thought, a brutal enforcement squad from the city suddenly forces Nik into hiding.
On the run and searching for allies, Nik’s only hope is to escape with his life and discover the truth about the Prime Administrator’s regime and the origins of the Bug. But can Nik and his friends keep their heart rates under 140 when it matters most?
Beat is a post-apocalyptic dystopian science fiction thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
If your heart rate goes over 140 beats per minute, you die.
Fifteen-year-old Nik Granjer hates the Bug. It was the Bug that destroyed the world when it wiped out over ninety percent of humanity a hundred years ago. Even now, the Bug kills anyone whose heart rate goes over 140 beats per minute. That’s why the Prime Administrator gave everyone the Papas – digital wrist monitors that put people to sleep when their heart rate gets too high. The Papas saved humankind.
But one night on the border of New Frisko, when Nik tampers with his Papa and discovers there is more to the Bug than he thought, a brutal enforcement squad from the city suddenly forces Nik into hiding.
On the run and searching for allies, Nik’s only hope is to escape with his life and discover the truth about the Prime Administrator’s regime and the origins of the Bug. But can Nik and his friends keep their heart rates under 140 when it matters most?
Beat is a post-apocalyptic dystopian science fiction thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
296 pages, Paperback
First published June 14, 2015
43 people are currently reading
1126 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
June 25, 2015
I loved this book from the moment I read the description! I'm a sucker for YA post apocalyptic and dystopian novels like the Hunger Games, the Legend series, and the Giver so I couldn't help myself when I read this book's description. The book itself doesn't disappoint either!
One of the things I really liked about this book is that the author is able to draw you into this incredibly complex world without using a lot of exposition to explain the world. Instead you learn just enough as you go along to understand what you need to know. From the Papas to contraptions like the Food-Jeni or the new modified alphabet and the curious city of New Frisko, it's obvious that every detail, large or small, doesn't go unnoticed.
So, if you're a fan of novels with top notch world building AND if you love the thrill of post-apoc and dystopian genres, this book will not disappoint. The twists and turns are surprising and kept me at the edge of my seat. I hope I can read a sequel in the near future. That's a wink to you, Mr. Garrett ;)
One of the things I really liked about this book is that the author is able to draw you into this incredibly complex world without using a lot of exposition to explain the world. Instead you learn just enough as you go along to understand what you need to know. From the Papas to contraptions like the Food-Jeni or the new modified alphabet and the curious city of New Frisko, it's obvious that every detail, large or small, doesn't go unnoticed.
So, if you're a fan of novels with top notch world building AND if you love the thrill of post-apoc and dystopian genres, this book will not disappoint. The twists and turns are surprising and kept me at the edge of my seat. I hope I can read a sequel in the near future. That's a wink to you, Mr. Garrett ;)
June 26, 2015
So what I liked about this book was the tension it built right away with the heart rate problem. Having a cap to the physical activity you could do really limits the actions anyone can do in a story. Luckily Nik (slight spoiler warning) in the book has figured out a way to be "immune" to that. He first tampers with his Papa - they're devices that inject the wearer with a kind of sedative if thier hear gets too high. That's what enables him to figure out that he won't die. But then some things happen right away that twist that assumption on its head- so it's really a back and forth as they try to figure out what is really going on. That's what's cool is the story is complex enough that there are many different facets for Nik and his friends to explore. I think that if you are a fan of the dystopian craze, or if you like stories like Gattica or hunger games, then you would be into this book.
June 24, 2015
It's been a long time since I've read a YA novel. I forgot how much I really like them.
I'm a fan of dystopian stories. I love Animal Farm, 1984, The Giver, Atlas Shrugged, etc. And Beat threw me right into the middle of a believable and futuristic world, a world where a virus had all but decimated the human population. Those who lived did so because of the great minds of man.
Beat is action-packed and creatively engineered. I love the descriptions of the technology. I can picture it in my head. I also love hearing how the main character Nik looked to the past and wondered about things that are all to common place to us, such as cars, music and choices.
I give this book 5 stars because it not only keeps my attention where others do not, but it leaves me wanting to know more after I put the book down. Well done! Would love to see it made into a movie!!
I'm a fan of dystopian stories. I love Animal Farm, 1984, The Giver, Atlas Shrugged, etc. And Beat threw me right into the middle of a believable and futuristic world, a world where a virus had all but decimated the human population. Those who lived did so because of the great minds of man.
Beat is action-packed and creatively engineered. I love the descriptions of the technology. I can picture it in my head. I also love hearing how the main character Nik looked to the past and wondered about things that are all to common place to us, such as cars, music and choices.
I give this book 5 stars because it not only keeps my attention where others do not, but it leaves me wanting to know more after I put the book down. Well done! Would love to see it made into a movie!!
May 21, 2019
I received a free Beta copy of this book (a while ago).
This is a story of high adventure and nonstop action, with near escapes, getting caught, breaking out, and breaking in. If I’d read it as a teen, I would have read it over and over. As it started, I thought I could tell where things were going, but I was wrong. So it ended up being unpredictable enough and kept me up too late too often. The ending felt a tad rushed – the scenes could have been drawn out some more.
In this future, some spellings have been altered to make more sense, like eliminating the letter ‘c’ and making some words more phonetic. I can see this really bothering some people while other people will think it’s a great idea.
Content is appropriate for all ages.
This is a story of high adventure and nonstop action, with near escapes, getting caught, breaking out, and breaking in. If I’d read it as a teen, I would have read it over and over. As it started, I thought I could tell where things were going, but I was wrong. So it ended up being unpredictable enough and kept me up too late too often. The ending felt a tad rushed – the scenes could have been drawn out some more.
In this future, some spellings have been altered to make more sense, like eliminating the letter ‘c’ and making some words more phonetic. I can see this really bothering some people while other people will think it’s a great idea.
Content is appropriate for all ages.
July 8, 2015
Enjoyable read
I read this book on a recommendation of a friend and was pleasantly surprised by the Quality of the story. I would recommend it to anyone.
I read this book on a recommendation of a friend and was pleasantly surprised by the Quality of the story. I would recommend it to anyone.
March 19, 2017
This book started so well...
It was fresh and interesting and I had such high hopes for it.
But then it started fading slowly into a flat recounting of each and every move the main character takes, told in painful detail, down to individual body parts. Everything is in first person and all that happens involves Nik's body or is something he did, saw or feel. The story turned into an enumeration of little facts and deeds that I couldn't care about. Page after page are just a slow motion description of what Nik personally did with his own two hands:
"I eased forward, reaching as far as I could", "I grabbed a rung as tightly as I could with my right hand", "I pushed, felt some give, and pushed harder", "I found a helpful piece of metal".
Don't think I had to look through the entire book to find these examples. They sit very close to each other on on page the middle of chapter 20.
The entire second part of the book is either this or continuous chase. They run around getting hurt and or shooting people with little sense of purpose. I have no idea what they intend to do, and I have a feeling the author didn't either:
"I didn't halt. I spun and ran, making for the door I’d just come through. A quick, loud explosion behind me; I flinched and dodged." then "I ran through the Prime Administrator’s office" then "I ran down the hallway, glancing behind me for other guards or robots" then "I closed on the elevator door quickly "
Again, all these examples are from just one first page in chapter 22.
Not awful. I mean I was able to finish it. I usually throw away books I don't like. Life is too short to read through a book you don;t enjoy. I don't think I'll read Push.
It was fresh and interesting and I had such high hopes for it.
But then it started fading slowly into a flat recounting of each and every move the main character takes, told in painful detail, down to individual body parts. Everything is in first person and all that happens involves Nik's body or is something he did, saw or feel. The story turned into an enumeration of little facts and deeds that I couldn't care about. Page after page are just a slow motion description of what Nik personally did with his own two hands:
"I eased forward, reaching as far as I could", "I grabbed a rung as tightly as I could with my right hand", "I pushed, felt some give, and pushed harder", "I found a helpful piece of metal".
Don't think I had to look through the entire book to find these examples. They sit very close to each other on on page the middle of chapter 20.
The entire second part of the book is either this or continuous chase. They run around getting hurt and or shooting people with little sense of purpose. I have no idea what they intend to do, and I have a feeling the author didn't either:
"I didn't halt. I spun and ran, making for the door I’d just come through. A quick, loud explosion behind me; I flinched and dodged." then "I ran through the Prime Administrator’s office" then "I ran down the hallway, glancing behind me for other guards or robots" then "I closed on the elevator door quickly "
Again, all these examples are from just one first page in chapter 22.
Not awful. I mean I was able to finish it. I usually throw away books I don't like. Life is too short to read through a book you don;t enjoy. I don't think I'll read Push.
June 25, 2015
How to suspend disbelief.
This is a great book for a teenager who wants an exciting book with action and tension. For a teenager who is analytical or an adult who is marginally familiar with statistics it could only be considered an average read--too many plot holes and far too many bullets for a fifteen-year-old boy to survive.
I'll try to avoid spoilers...
The premise is fun but a little too simple to work. Ninety percent of humanity is wiped out by a bug that kills when a victim's heart rate exceeds 140 to 150 beats per minute. This happened about 100 years before Nik Granjer rides his bike through New Frisko, a calm and controlled reproduction of the former, but now dead, city. I got the impression that the infection came during out current era. By my calculation there should have been over 700 million people left on earth; many more than seem to be left in this society.
This was the first thing that challenged my ability to suspend disbelief. With only ten percent of humanity left there would not be enough infrastructure left to not only continue the existing level of technology, but actually advance way beyond that.
The story is told in the first person point of view. I'm not a big fan. As a result, the middle twenty percent of the story drags as Nik "notices" and "realizes" things, and processes his thoughts over and over, and develops his theories.
Finally hooking up with a friend, the story picks up its pace again and becomes more interesting.
The author alters some spelling conventions under the pretense that these letters have been outlawed to simplify communication. I found these misspellings distracting and inconsistent.
This is a great book for a teenager who wants an exciting book with action and tension. For a teenager who is analytical or an adult who is marginally familiar with statistics it could only be considered an average read--too many plot holes and far too many bullets for a fifteen-year-old boy to survive.
I'll try to avoid spoilers...
The premise is fun but a little too simple to work. Ninety percent of humanity is wiped out by a bug that kills when a victim's heart rate exceeds 140 to 150 beats per minute. This happened about 100 years before Nik Granjer rides his bike through New Frisko, a calm and controlled reproduction of the former, but now dead, city. I got the impression that the infection came during out current era. By my calculation there should have been over 700 million people left on earth; many more than seem to be left in this society.
This was the first thing that challenged my ability to suspend disbelief. With only ten percent of humanity left there would not be enough infrastructure left to not only continue the existing level of technology, but actually advance way beyond that.
The story is told in the first person point of view. I'm not a big fan. As a result, the middle twenty percent of the story drags as Nik "notices" and "realizes" things, and processes his thoughts over and over, and develops his theories.
Finally hooking up with a friend, the story picks up its pace again and becomes more interesting.
The author alters some spelling conventions under the pretense that these letters have been outlawed to simplify communication. I found these misspellings distracting and inconsistent.
May 19, 2016
***I received this book in exchange for an unbiased review***
This is a very clean dystopian novel. After only one chapter in, I was reminded of The Giver from the chosen professions of the people to everything being regulated in the peoples' lives to taking an injection daily "for their own good". The people didn't know how the real world used to work and everything was gray and colorless. I was also reminded on Divergent because there was an outsider group called the Wanderers who weren't subject to all of the rules of The New Chapter.
I thought it was clever how they spelled things because they didn't want to make the same mistakes as the old world. They took out letters that made more than one sound and replaced them with the letters that made more sense.
The middle of the book started to drag though and it seemed like he was repeating himself a lot in his monologues. There were weird unnecessary measurements of things in meters and used the term "scrubbed my face" way too much.
Overall, a clever book that follows the story line of most dystopian novels but clean (fake swearing). Good work.
This is a very clean dystopian novel. After only one chapter in, I was reminded of The Giver from the chosen professions of the people to everything being regulated in the peoples' lives to taking an injection daily "for their own good". The people didn't know how the real world used to work and everything was gray and colorless. I was also reminded on Divergent because there was an outsider group called the Wanderers who weren't subject to all of the rules of The New Chapter.
I thought it was clever how they spelled things because they didn't want to make the same mistakes as the old world. They took out letters that made more than one sound and replaced them with the letters that made more sense.
The middle of the book started to drag though and it seemed like he was repeating himself a lot in his monologues. There were weird unnecessary measurements of things in meters and used the term "scrubbed my face" way too much.
Overall, a clever book that follows the story line of most dystopian novels but clean (fake swearing). Good work.
June 13, 2016
Dystopian books are one of my new favorite books to read lately and this is a nice twist on a genre that gets the same story copied and copied time after time. I will try not to add any spoilers to this because I don't want to ruin it for anyone.
At first it took me a while to get in to the book, the misspellings and odd words had me thrown off for a while. After I realized the intentions of them it went a lot better. I enjoyed the character development of Nik, the main character. He is a young teen that likes to push his luck for an Adrenalin fix when ever he can.
I was very please at the story line and how it ended, it was well written and provided enough action and adventure to keep me interested in the book with a great twist to blow your mind away as well. It was fast paced and if you can get past the different word spellings it goes fast and before you know it......You will have to read it and find out what happens, it is so worth the read and is a must for any YA, Dystopian fan.
I received this book for free in exchange for my honest opinion and review.
At first it took me a while to get in to the book, the misspellings and odd words had me thrown off for a while. After I realized the intentions of them it went a lot better. I enjoyed the character development of Nik, the main character. He is a young teen that likes to push his luck for an Adrenalin fix when ever he can.
I was very please at the story line and how it ended, it was well written and provided enough action and adventure to keep me interested in the book with a great twist to blow your mind away as well. It was fast paced and if you can get past the different word spellings it goes fast and before you know it......You will have to read it and find out what happens, it is so worth the read and is a must for any YA, Dystopian fan.
I received this book for free in exchange for my honest opinion and review.
June 2, 2016
Synopsis: This Young adult dystopian novel takes place in a modified United States that is divided up into concentrated cities all run by a central government. With the motto of "Better Calm than Dead" the protagonist questions authority by "pushing" the limits of his heart rate and the belief that a "bug" is still in the air.
For me this novel actually felt very much like the Giver only a bit more graphic in violent details and considerably more flesh to it. I very much liked the lead character Nik he had the inquisitive mind of a teenager as well as was written very much with the rebellion required to push the social limits. The idea although not completely novel was modified in a way to give life to an already established ideology. The major issue I had was the lack of the letter C, but this may just be a personal preference.
Overall I would recommend this to anyone age 8 & Up they should be able to comfortably enjoy this book. I received this book as an ARC.
For me this novel actually felt very much like the Giver only a bit more graphic in violent details and considerably more flesh to it. I very much liked the lead character Nik he had the inquisitive mind of a teenager as well as was written very much with the rebellion required to push the social limits. The idea although not completely novel was modified in a way to give life to an already established ideology. The major issue I had was the lack of the letter C, but this may just be a personal preference.
Overall I would recommend this to anyone age 8 & Up they should be able to comfortably enjoy this book. I received this book as an ARC.
August 25, 2015
Beat is a wonderfully adventurous novel that takes the moral and political questions of Gerald Lund's "The Alliance," or "The Giver" and quite skillfully amalgamates it with the action-packed pacing of James Dashner's "The Maze Runner." The action and new elements of this dystopian world will keep you turning the pages (or flipping the e-reader screen) until there aren't any left to read. The characters are well developed and well rounded, allowing for the reader to engage with the story at an intimate level.
One word of caution to this tale. Some of the odd spellings at the beginning of the novel are not typos - if you keep reading you'll soon discover the reason behind the different language syntax and spelling, so don't let it throw you.
If you enjoy action-packed novels that keep you reading through all hours of the night, Beat is the book for you.
One word of caution to this tale. Some of the odd spellings at the beginning of the novel are not typos - if you keep reading you'll soon discover the reason behind the different language syntax and spelling, so don't let it throw you.
If you enjoy action-packed novels that keep you reading through all hours of the night, Beat is the book for you.
May 4, 2016
The twist at the end of this one is just...brilliant.
January 23, 2018
Beat is the story of Nik Granjer, a teenager living in New Frisko. 90% of humanity has been wiped out by what is known as "The Bug," a fatal disease that activates when one's heart rate gets elevated past 140 bpm. Nik is a Pusher, someone who likes to see how high he can get his heart rate without going over 140 and getting the Knockout, a preventative injection that automatically knocks someone out when their heart rate gets too high. But soon he begins to have suspicions that the Bug isn't exactly what it seems to be...
The Good:
The pacing in this book was very good. Key reveals were spaced out enough to allow the plot to unfold in a very satisfying manner. The writing was clear and the story was engaging. The heart rate plot device was a good means of adding suspense (side note: I think Beat would adapt extremely well as a short film, especially if scored with a Hans Zimmer-like rhythmic pulse that quickens with the main character's heart beat.) Some of the suspense of the heart rate plot device is muted by the fact that we have to rely on Nik explaining what his heart rate is from time to time, but there's not really any way around that.
The so-so:
Dystopian has never really been my favorite genre. Too often, it falls into the trope of "plucky youngsters overthrowing the government," and Beat tends to hit some of these beats (pardon the pun) as well. If you like dystopian, it probably won't bother you at all. There were some interesting reveals about the Prime Administrator later on in the book that move beyond the typical "oppressive authority figure," but for much of the book, he comes across as a generic dystopian bad guy. Which again, if dystopian is your thing, you'd probably enjoy it.
What I didn't enjoy as much:
Nik's plans are often haphazardly thrown together with a very low probability of succeeding (Nik admits as much regularly), but it felt like sometimes things worked out really conveniently for him for the sake of plot. Stuff like, there are no Enforsers until right after he's doing the thing he needs to do. In general, Nik's fly-by-the-seat-of-his-pants attitude made everything feel hectic at times, even in the quieter moments. Personally, I would've preferred him to take a little more time to develop a plan with a little more purpose.
All in all, I would recommend Beat to fans of dystopian sci-fi stories.
The Good:
The pacing in this book was very good. Key reveals were spaced out enough to allow the plot to unfold in a very satisfying manner. The writing was clear and the story was engaging. The heart rate plot device was a good means of adding suspense (side note: I think Beat would adapt extremely well as a short film, especially if scored with a Hans Zimmer-like rhythmic pulse that quickens with the main character's heart beat.) Some of the suspense of the heart rate plot device is muted by the fact that we have to rely on Nik explaining what his heart rate is from time to time, but there's not really any way around that.
The so-so:
Dystopian has never really been my favorite genre. Too often, it falls into the trope of "plucky youngsters overthrowing the government," and Beat tends to hit some of these beats (pardon the pun) as well. If you like dystopian, it probably won't bother you at all. There were some interesting reveals about the Prime Administrator later on in the book that move beyond the typical "oppressive authority figure," but for much of the book, he comes across as a generic dystopian bad guy. Which again, if dystopian is your thing, you'd probably enjoy it.
What I didn't enjoy as much:
Nik's plans are often haphazardly thrown together with a very low probability of succeeding (Nik admits as much regularly), but it felt like sometimes things worked out really conveniently for him for the sake of plot. Stuff like, there are no Enforsers until right after he's doing the thing he needs to do. In general, Nik's fly-by-the-seat-of-his-pants attitude made everything feel hectic at times, even in the quieter moments. Personally, I would've preferred him to take a little more time to develop a plan with a little more purpose.
All in all, I would recommend Beat to fans of dystopian sci-fi stories.
February 23, 2021
This is a very exciting post-apocalyptic story about a young man who lives in a society that can't get too excited. Literally. They're told that if their heartrate goes over 140, that the "bug" that's in their systems will activate and kill them. So they're told. But Nik suspects otherwise. As he starts to uncover the truth, he starts to learn how controlling his society is. But he also finds himself and his friends in greater and greater danger. When he realizes what the Prime Administrator is willing to do to anyone who knows the truth, he realizes he needs to get the truth out there, all while staying away from the Enforsers.
I really enjoyed this book, and recommend it to anyone who likes exciting, non-stop action, and post apocalyptic stories.
I really enjoyed this book, and recommend it to anyone who likes exciting, non-stop action, and post apocalyptic stories.
September 13, 2018
This book was an exciting read. It was action packed and full of adventure. It put a perspective on your morals. It Made you think about the world you live in. This book talks about how one person can do a whole lot. It takes on adventure never seen before. It held deep meaning and wasn't as shallow as other books and kept you captivated. It makes you wanna go out there and look at the world differently see if you can change the society you live in. I believe this is a book everyone should read. I gave it 4 Stars.
April 23, 2025
This was OK for a YA. The overall premise was intriguing. The characters were pretty shallow and the plot points got to be a bit repetitive.
Go to this super secure place and waltz in easily while getting shot at. Waltz back out and flee the city while getting shot at. Return to the super secure place, again easily. Flee it again, also easily. Repeat ad nauseum. If I was to create a fascist dystopia I think I would have better locks and passwords on my computers.
It was not good enough for me to consider the next in the series.
Go to this super secure place and waltz in easily while getting shot at. Waltz back out and flee the city while getting shot at. Return to the super secure place, again easily. Flee it again, also easily. Repeat ad nauseum. If I was to create a fascist dystopia I think I would have better locks and passwords on my computers.
It was not good enough for me to consider the next in the series.
May 23, 2020
Felt like a good time to read a dystopian novel about a virus causing a radical change in society. I think the idea of the disease being tied to heart rate was creative & interesting. The fight scenes were tedious, and I’m not sure I believe the main character would really have been successful. But it was a fun & quick read, and it was compelling enough I’d like to read the second one.
September 19, 2018
This was really good, I will be defo checking out the next instalments in this series!
November 26, 2022
Wow. What a story. A bug that kills anyone whose heart rate is too high. A watch that can save everyone, is it possibly or even real. Kept be guessing as to what could happen next.
July 10, 2016
Nik naturally is a young man that sets out on a mission to discover what the bug is and save the world. The book is told in the first person which that in of itself complicates the story. The motivations behind the bug or why certain characters react a certain way are lost because it is all from Nik's perspective. In this case with a story so expensive, it would be to the author's benefit to tell the story in the third person. Additionally, they book asks the reader many, many times to suspend their belief in the natural world. With ninety percent of the population of earth killed off it is tough to imagine only ten percent advancing technology. I find it very hard to believe actually.
There is a particular scene in the book in which Nik suffers from the injuries of ten gunshot wounds. It is difficult to believe he would be running around still saving the world with the holes in him. Not to mention he also is able to function while he has a fractured arm. Yet, again this is another book with two people falls in love in an hour or so. I struggled to find their love believable and I almost stopped reading the book at this point. If a romance is going to suddenly pop up there shouldn't be one when it really has nothing to do with the story. There is a lot of suspension of belief in this book.
Additionally, the odd use of spelling words and the substitution of curse words is strange. There is a good reason for them however, it is really confusing during the initial portion of the story.
The opening up of the story during a mundane event in Nik's life. The pacing of Beat is very slow in the beginning. Suddenly, it picks up speed and then slows down to a crawl while Nik is trying to understand what the bug is and the motivations of the government. Towards the end of the novel it picks back up again but at this point it struggles to recapture the reader's attention. There are far too many inner monologs that which again would have been better suited to tell the story in the third person.
Garrett's interpretation of a dystopian world is not lost on the reader. Yet, there are isn't a ton of originality brought to the table. Overall, he is an experienced writer well on his way to becoming great, but his storytelling in this book was just not enough to keep me interested.
There is a particular scene in the book in which Nik suffers from the injuries of ten gunshot wounds. It is difficult to believe he would be running around still saving the world with the holes in him. Not to mention he also is able to function while he has a fractured arm. Yet, again this is another book with two people falls in love in an hour or so. I struggled to find their love believable and I almost stopped reading the book at this point. If a romance is going to suddenly pop up there shouldn't be one when it really has nothing to do with the story. There is a lot of suspension of belief in this book.
Additionally, the odd use of spelling words and the substitution of curse words is strange. There is a good reason for them however, it is really confusing during the initial portion of the story.
The opening up of the story during a mundane event in Nik's life. The pacing of Beat is very slow in the beginning. Suddenly, it picks up speed and then slows down to a crawl while Nik is trying to understand what the bug is and the motivations of the government. Towards the end of the novel it picks back up again but at this point it struggles to recapture the reader's attention. There are far too many inner monologs that which again would have been better suited to tell the story in the third person.
Garrett's interpretation of a dystopian world is not lost on the reader. Yet, there are isn't a ton of originality brought to the table. Overall, he is an experienced writer well on his way to becoming great, but his storytelling in this book was just not enough to keep me interested.
May 3, 2016
Beat is a Scifi Book set in a post-apocalyptic dystopia on earth. It is told through the eyes of Nik, a rebellious teenager who likes to push his heartbeat up to the dangerous level of 140 BPM. The first thing I thought about the book was that there were spelling mistakes throughout. That is not the case. The misspells were actually a device used by the Author to show the changes to the surviving society on earth. The society is painted as a computer-controlled communist-like state where the primary means of control is a wrist-device called a PAPA. However these PAPAs are proclaimed to be lifesaving devices that protect the people against the virus that swept the Earth killing nearly 90% of the population. By the time the book begins it had been over a Century since the apocalyptic event and Nik discovers a terrible truth about one of the fundamental doctrines of the New Chapter. In a race against Time and the “Enforsers” of the New Chapter, Nik must gather evidence and expose the truth to the people of his hometown of “New Frisko” in order to free them from the Designs of the Prime Administrator.
The book is engaging and thrilling with a very fast pace. I loved it so much that I when finished it, I was left wanting to read a sequel. Excellently written and easy to read once the apparent misspells are understood. (My only issue is that the explanation for them doesn’t come until Chapter 4, I feel that it would be better given several chapters earlier to increase reader acceptance of the fact that: “The New Chapter was all about efficiency, even down to the new spelling rules.” (Beat, Chapter 4, Page 26).) I would recommend that anyone who loves Post-Apocalyptic, Science Fiction, Thriller, or Dystopian Society Books pick up a copy of Beat and give it a read, you won’t be disappointed.
The book is engaging and thrilling with a very fast pace. I loved it so much that I when finished it, I was left wanting to read a sequel. Excellently written and easy to read once the apparent misspells are understood. (My only issue is that the explanation for them doesn’t come until Chapter 4, I feel that it would be better given several chapters earlier to increase reader acceptance of the fact that: “The New Chapter was all about efficiency, even down to the new spelling rules.” (Beat, Chapter 4, Page 26).) I would recommend that anyone who loves Post-Apocalyptic, Science Fiction, Thriller, or Dystopian Society Books pick up a copy of Beat and give it a read, you won’t be disappointed.
February 23, 2017
To see my full review of "Beat" by Jared Garrett, visit my book blog, So Few Books, at: https://sofewbooks.blogspot.com/2017/...!
This dystopian futuristic sci-fi tale about 15-year-old Nik Granjer starts out strong on action and seldom lets up. Without offering any spoilers, let me just say that one of the opening scenes was way too sad for me! You are left wondering throughout most of the narrative what is really going on. And there is a huge twist near the end that you can only very minimally see coming.
This book is full of excellent world-building, done by the author using minimal information and yet somehow still getting the message across very clearly. I found this method very intriguing and quite powerful. He does use a lot of alternate spelling, apparently as a device to enhance the futuristic setting. However, I just found this distracting and annoying, and thought it was used rather inconsistently.
About the only other real negative for me was that Nik seemed to survive, unscathed, way too many encounters with the administration. The middle of the novel does tend to drag a little bit as well.
Mostly, however, the story was a very good one that kept me intrigued as to what was going to happen next. And even during the slow portions, the author’s writing style kept me reading just for the great way in which the words were strung together.
This was definitely not a cliff-hanger ending, with just enough closure to make a good stand-alone book, but still enough unresolved material to suggest there will be at least one future installment.
I received a copy of this title free from the author for a contest on Facebook, and have willingly provided an honest review.
This dystopian futuristic sci-fi tale about 15-year-old Nik Granjer starts out strong on action and seldom lets up. Without offering any spoilers, let me just say that one of the opening scenes was way too sad for me! You are left wondering throughout most of the narrative what is really going on. And there is a huge twist near the end that you can only very minimally see coming.
This book is full of excellent world-building, done by the author using minimal information and yet somehow still getting the message across very clearly. I found this method very intriguing and quite powerful. He does use a lot of alternate spelling, apparently as a device to enhance the futuristic setting. However, I just found this distracting and annoying, and thought it was used rather inconsistently.
About the only other real negative for me was that Nik seemed to survive, unscathed, way too many encounters with the administration. The middle of the novel does tend to drag a little bit as well.
Mostly, however, the story was a very good one that kept me intrigued as to what was going to happen next. And even during the slow portions, the author’s writing style kept me reading just for the great way in which the words were strung together.
This was definitely not a cliff-hanger ending, with just enough closure to make a good stand-alone book, but still enough unresolved material to suggest there will be at least one future installment.
I received a copy of this title free from the author for a contest on Facebook, and have willingly provided an honest review.
April 15, 2016
I found this book exhilarating and scary at the same time!
Nik Granjer is like any 15-year-old kid. Fighting "the man" holding him down. Sort of. Unfortunately, this "man" is a bug. It caused a pandemic over 100 years ago.
The origins of the bug are unknown, but the Prime Administrator assures everyone that it is still in the air. Your heart rate can not go over 140, or the bug in the air will kill you.
A gruesome death as something attacks you from within.
Nik and his friends have been experimenting with their "papas."
They are worn on the wrist and when your heart rate gets too high, they inject you with something that knocks you out immediately.
But when something terrible happens, Nik panics and takes off, leaving the city behind.
This book grabbed me right away!
The author has a way of describing the scenes and this "perfect" civilization without too many words.
I felt like I could use my imagination and create what he was trying to say. I found that very satisfying.
The plot moves pretty quickly, and I like the structure of the book as well.
The characters are mostly teens, but that doesn't make it any less interesting for adults who appreciate a good Dystopian story.
The ideas in the book are just scary! LOL
The scariest part is that this could happen to us! Thre are so many biological things floating around the scientific community that we could see this happen
within our lifetimes. I certainly hope not, though!!
This book makes being a prepper look a little more inviting!
I give this story 4.5 stars!
*I received this title for free in exchange for my honest opinion
Nik Granjer is like any 15-year-old kid. Fighting "the man" holding him down. Sort of. Unfortunately, this "man" is a bug. It caused a pandemic over 100 years ago.
The origins of the bug are unknown, but the Prime Administrator assures everyone that it is still in the air. Your heart rate can not go over 140, or the bug in the air will kill you.
A gruesome death as something attacks you from within.
Nik and his friends have been experimenting with their "papas."
They are worn on the wrist and when your heart rate gets too high, they inject you with something that knocks you out immediately.
But when something terrible happens, Nik panics and takes off, leaving the city behind.
This book grabbed me right away!
The author has a way of describing the scenes and this "perfect" civilization without too many words.
I felt like I could use my imagination and create what he was trying to say. I found that very satisfying.
The plot moves pretty quickly, and I like the structure of the book as well.
The characters are mostly teens, but that doesn't make it any less interesting for adults who appreciate a good Dystopian story.
The ideas in the book are just scary! LOL
The scariest part is that this could happen to us! Thre are so many biological things floating around the scientific community that we could see this happen
within our lifetimes. I certainly hope not, though!!
This book makes being a prepper look a little more inviting!
I give this story 4.5 stars!
*I received this title for free in exchange for my honest opinion
June 27, 2016
I have to be perfectly honest; when I first started the book "BEAT" by Jared Garrett, I assumed it would just be another dystopian novel where the long suffering protagonist whines about their society but doesn't do much than mope over their two love interests.
If you think I sound plenty sardonic towards dystopian novels, you're not wrong. It takes a really excellent specimen to impress me, and to my surprise, this book stood out.
Nik Granjer lives in a society where everything about daily life is closely monitored and controlled, because if a heartbeat goes over 140 beats per minute, they are doomed to die in a horrific manner via the "Bug".
So this is nothing really new when it comes to dystopian literature. And at first Nik seems cliche as well-another teenager whining about their society via lots of internal monologuing.
However Nik proves pretty quickly that he is not a passive protagonist. He's actively searching for a way to prove that the government is flawed, and encouraging the others to help him prove that the Bug doesn't exist any longer.
Of course, he ends up being wrong about that. In a pretty horrifying way.
But Nik takes action and continues to actively, vengefully, search for answers, all while being selfless without being stupidly self sacrificing. By the end you're passionately cheering him on as a genuine, passionate teenager changes his entire world.
Oh and there's no love triangle. Not even a romance. Huzzah!
If you think I sound plenty sardonic towards dystopian novels, you're not wrong. It takes a really excellent specimen to impress me, and to my surprise, this book stood out.
Nik Granjer lives in a society where everything about daily life is closely monitored and controlled, because if a heartbeat goes over 140 beats per minute, they are doomed to die in a horrific manner via the "Bug".
So this is nothing really new when it comes to dystopian literature. And at first Nik seems cliche as well-another teenager whining about their society via lots of internal monologuing.
However Nik proves pretty quickly that he is not a passive protagonist. He's actively searching for a way to prove that the government is flawed, and encouraging the others to help him prove that the Bug doesn't exist any longer.
Of course, he ends up being wrong about that. In a pretty horrifying way.
But Nik takes action and continues to actively, vengefully, search for answers, all while being selfless without being stupidly self sacrificing. By the end you're passionately cheering him on as a genuine, passionate teenager changes his entire world.
Oh and there's no love triangle. Not even a romance. Huzzah!
May 5, 2016
Beat is a very engaging, thrilling and extremely well written book. It has a very fast pace, but it’s still paced in a way that you get all the details and don’t miss out on anything. This Sci-Fi and Action gripping story is set in a Dystopian Society and it’s full of unexpected twists and turns, making your heart rate increase several times as you are reading it, so the title is in fact more than appropriate.
Initially I thought there were spelling mistakes in the book but eventually realized that it’s all part of this efficient and evolved dystopian society. Main characters are well developed and the whole story grips you almost from the start, keeping you hooked and rooting for the heroes (no spoiler here for my fellow readers!). When I finished it I wished I had a sequel to read.
All in all, it’s a great book that will keep your heart rate high and always expecting another unexpected turn of facts and events. I would definitely recommend Beat to anyone who likes reading Sci-Fi and Dystopian Society books. #futurehousepub
Initially I thought there were spelling mistakes in the book but eventually realized that it’s all part of this efficient and evolved dystopian society. Main characters are well developed and the whole story grips you almost from the start, keeping you hooked and rooting for the heroes (no spoiler here for my fellow readers!). When I finished it I wished I had a sequel to read.
All in all, it’s a great book that will keep your heart rate high and always expecting another unexpected turn of facts and events. I would definitely recommend Beat to anyone who likes reading Sci-Fi and Dystopian Society books. #futurehousepub
April 20, 2016
I received the ebook for free in return for my honest opinion. As soon as I read the description for Beat, I was Instantly curious. I hadn't heard anything like it before.
Set in a world where a virus/bug has wiped out most of the world population. If your heartbeat goes above 140 you could die from the bug, so everyone still alive is controlled and monitored by a wristband called the papas. It provides a 'knockout' if your heartbeat hits 140 and above, making you pass out so that the bug won't kill you. One boy sets out on a journey to find proof that the bug is no longer in the air, but finds himself in trouble along the way.
It has a plot where you want to know what's going on and what will happen next, all while trying to figure out if the bug really is still there or not. Nicely paced, unique story-line, and an ending that will leave you wondering 'what's next?'
http://futurehousepublishing.com #futurehousepub
Set in a world where a virus/bug has wiped out most of the world population. If your heartbeat goes above 140 you could die from the bug, so everyone still alive is controlled and monitored by a wristband called the papas. It provides a 'knockout' if your heartbeat hits 140 and above, making you pass out so that the bug won't kill you. One boy sets out on a journey to find proof that the bug is no longer in the air, but finds himself in trouble along the way.
It has a plot where you want to know what's going on and what will happen next, all while trying to figure out if the bug really is still there or not. Nicely paced, unique story-line, and an ending that will leave you wondering 'what's next?'
http://futurehousepublishing.com #futurehousepub
December 9, 2018
I honestly don’t know how so many people like this book, it’s mediocre at best. The writing drives me nuts, the characters are not even halfway developed and I’m just curious how we’re supposed to believe a kid is going to take down a dystopian society all by himself when he has zero plan on how to do so, and really, how do these “enforsers” not catch him? Literally how? This kid is not the brightest, and he’s been shot, broke his arm and has been running for what seems like non-stop and he doesn’t seem to really feel fatigue, which seems unlikely since citizens are not allowed to have a heart rate above 140, so how does he never seem to tire?
The only thing that was all that interesting in this book were the Wanderers. Everything else... meh.
The only thing that was all that interesting in this book were the Wanderers. Everything else... meh.
May 3, 2016
I don't do spoilers but I will tell you, that I love this book. It is almost scary to think that the world can be taken out so easily. I can see someone stepping up and doing something horrible afterwards. They have to wear something that sounds a lot like a pedometer, to track their heart rate. Too high and they are killed. When an experiment goes wrong, people are in trouble and their lives may be in danger.
I received this early copy from Future House Publishing.
I received this early copy from Future House Publishing.
May 12, 2016
Mission Impossible meets Madelynne L'Engle, like 1984 for kids with some cool tech and lots of action. Appropriate for teens, YA lovers and sci-fi fans. It is definitely a book you will not want to put down. The action scenes are sometimes tricky to follow because you are reading so fast to find out what happens.
November 5, 2015
This book had an excellent premise, but I was distracted from the beginning by the colorful spelling. Though the discrepancies were addressed by a few side comments a couple of chapters in, it did nothing to reduce the distraction for me - others may overlook easily.
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