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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Brava., September 5, 2008
This review is from: Countdown (SHOMI) (Mass Market Paperback)
Forty percent of human life was wiped out by the Great Plague. Kira Jordan was born three years afterward. Those born with psi-abilities were sent to Offworld and taught. (Yes, that is the name of the planet.) Those without abilities or only testing as low-level were left on Earth with the others who cannot afford to leave the planet. If Kira touches someone's skin and "flexes her mind" in a certain direction, she can get a decent "read" on the person. She can see into their soul to tell whether they are honest or not. Seven years ago, as a teen, Kira's family had been murdered. She was the only survivor. Because of this Kira has a fear of the dark. So when Kira wakes up in a pitch-black room handcuffed to a wall, she is terrified. She has sixty seconds to escape or die. Rogan Ellis is also handcuffed in the room. Rogan and Kira must work as a team if they have any chance of surviving what is happening to them. Rogan explains to Kira that they had been recruited to play in a secret game. Rich and bored people "subscribers" around the globe have had special implants placed in their heads so they may watch couples try to live through six levels of a game called The Countdown. Rogan and Kira have implants in their heads as well. If they get more than ninety feet from each other, their heads will explode. Each level is a different task. Each level has a time limit. Each level must be won or they die. If they try to get help or tell others what is happening, they and the people they spoke with will die. Kira has never counted on anyone besides herself. She does not totally trust anyone, not even her friends. Rogan would be especially hard to trust. The man has spent the last few years in prison, convicted of nine counts of murder. Even though Kira's "flex" says he is innocent of the crimes, it also tells her that he is hiding something. **** The story is written in the First Person. Readers follow Kira the entire time. The author did a good job of slowly informing me, as the reader, about Kira's background and later about Rogan's. I found some parts very predictable and others had unexpected twists. The story has a light flavor of the science fiction movie "The Running Man". But do not worry, the resemblance is minor. I only mention it because if you have seen the old movie, chances are it will keep popping into your head. Best of all, in my opinion, is that this is a stand alone book. So many books today are part of a series or a trilogy. It is so nice to pick up a book and not worry that I would find myself lost due to not having read the previous novels. Author Michelle Maddox has a new fan in me. BRAVA! **** Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
exciting science fiction thriller, August 3, 2008
This review is from: Countdown (SHOMI) (Mass Market Paperback)
The Great Plague destroyed over forty percent of the human population. Besides the death toll, the consequential economic disaster wiped out more people as poverty became the norm. Finally, the pandemic changed life in other ways as some individuals born after the global calamity contained psi skills. Those who tested with strong levels were quickly taken from the dying planet to Offworld where they learned to use their gifts. Kira Jordan was born after the plague with strong psi ability; she was transferred to Offworld and taught to use her skills. Kira can read people's thoughts and see their souls if she touches them while flexing her mind. Seven years ago, someone murdered the then teen's entire family; so when she awakens handcuffed in the dark she panics as she fears the darkness. Also locked up in the room is Rogan Ellis, who calmly explains they have been abducted to participate in The Countdown, a game of survival established to entertain wealthy subscribers who enjoy watching others die. If the pair separate by ninety feet, implants in their brains will explode. There are six levels of teaming or dying; Kira knows by flexing that her partner is a convicted serial killer who spent time in jail for crimes he did not commit, but he hides something from her that makes the already wary psychic distrust him. This is an exciting science fiction thriller with obvious connections to the Richard Bachman novel and Arnold Schwarzenegger film The Running Man in terms of the decadent affluent spectators cheering for death in a deadly game show. Michelle Maddox refreshes the concept through her key cast members as they are radically different from those in the movie. Kira is a terrific lead character whose thoughts especially fears enable the reader to understand her distrust of her game partner; whereas Rogan pretends to trust, but readers know better. Fans will wonder whether the team of Kira and Rogan will make it through the six levels and then what awaits them for we too do not trust the game master either. Harriet Klausner
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
4.5 Stars - This deadly game is a great mix of futuristic romance with a touch of paranormal., September 13, 2008
This review is from: Countdown (SHOMI) (Mass Market Paperback)
I loved the hook to Countdown. Two strangers are dropped into the middle of a deadly game - they must work as partners in order to make it to the next level, each level is timed, the Countdown begins now, and only the winners survive. Kira, a thief, has used her latent psychic talent to survive on the streets after her family was brutally murdered and she'll need the edge that talent gives her to survive the game, where emotions are manipulated to up the viewer ratings. She is partnered with Rogan, a dangerous and deadly convict, the facts tell Kira one thing about Rogan and her instincts another, how can she trust a murderer? Countdown is one of the newest additions to the multi-author Shomi collection. All are standalone action packed futuristic romances, some with touches of the paranormal or time travel. I truly enjoyed this one. I loved the narrator Kira, even though her smarts were of the street variety she's the one that gives the pair a chance, and she has a good 'voice' for a 1st person heroine. Rogan is a perfectly decent romantic lead with a bad boy edge and hidden vulnerability. The action is pretty much non-stop and entertaining while the game is in progress, and the story only takes a minor hit in the wrap up - it's hard to tie up a romance like this one in a way that's as unique as the rest of the story. Still, I definitely recommend this one from author Maddox (who also writes vamps as Michelle Rowen) and I will be on the look out for more Futuristics from her and more of the Shomi's too.
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