(Book Review) Clear and Present Danger

I haven’t done a book review in quite a while, so here is a masterpiece which awarded itself a movie as one of the best political conspiracy novels out there. Besides, Tom Clancy is a flawless author who has tons of games praising his works!

With election year on the horizon, we learn about the President’s failure to administer the war on drugs, resulting in a losing streak behind a though, sophisticated Senator Fowler, leaving the President with no choice but to authorize Defence Minister Cutter to begin a list of covert operations in Columbia, with the exclusive and secretive help of Robert Ritter, CIA Deputy Director of Operations and Arthur Moore, the Director of the CIA with intent to disrupt the illegal drug trade in Columbia.

Just before that, the US Coast Guard discovers a yacht with an American Entrepreneur and his whole family murdered by 2 Columbians. Through intense interrogation, the druggies eventually spilled the beans with an adequate confession which could give them the Electric Chair! The intentions, however, weren’t yet clear at that time…

We are then introduced the Domingo ‘Ding’ Chavez, a light infantry sergeant who gets chosen to go along with an entire Hispanic Covert Squad, who all had dark roots or relations to drugs and precisely sought revenge. Operation SHOWBOAT gives them the chance to show what they were made off through sabotage missions in enemy territory! Going along is also Operation Taper and Eagle Eye, which involves some reconnaissance by CIA agents and intercepts by F15 fighters respectively.

With this operation being an eyes-only, most of the CIA and FBI have no clue on what is really going on just yet.

Similarly, Escobedo, one of the drug kingpins, are also noticing weird coincidences taking place, such as ‘magically’ disappearing flights, destroyed airports and more. Yet, both he and his intelligence officer, Felix Cortez have no idea either. However, when Cortez learns that the FBI director Jacob’s would be visiting Bogota, Escobedo plans an ambush on Jacob’s convoy, which results in Jacob’s death and many other high FBI figures.

Enraged, the President lets Operation Reciprocity go through, which is considered a direct attack on the cartel, beginning an all out war!

Unfortunately, Cortez, being an intelligent and skilled officer of his own, has his own plans that would startle you!

Overall, this book is filled with plot twists that’s really a brain stretcher that would leave you in awe!

Name: Clear and Present Danger

Author: Tom Clancy

Age Group: 13+

Genre: Politics, Suspense

(Book Review) Halfmen of O

Sometime ago, my class and I studied this adventurous fantasy novel called Halfmen of O, together, we read this widely sought out book and I have to say, it was really the experience it was renowned for!
Set in the New Zealand countryside by a kiwi author, we are introduced to the 2 protagonists of the story, a weird yet fascinated girl called Susan and her adventurous cousin Nick, the duo, on an average summer holiday are doing the mediocre things, like swimming and walking!

However, the dopey girl soon meets this suspicious old man who works near an unused mineshaft while she was exploring the vast forest. Gaining his trust, Susan starts to meet the elder more often before finally, the old man pounces.

Subduing Susan, he forces her to drink an uncharted potion and wow, did things get hectic from there. Nick, aware of Susan’s predicament after sneakily stalking her decides to aid her as he, too drinks the remarkable elixir and enters the dull World of O, a land in black and white, Nick, appalled by the missions, shoves his thoughts aside in a ditch effort to save Susan, who is under the arms of ferocious men, called the Deathmen, led by a despicable yet lethal Odo Cling.

After Nick meets up with some new allies called the highlanders, they go on a quick covert mission to get Susan and escape the clutches of Odo Cling temporarily as they get chases to the Highlander’s homelands, there, both of them are introduced to a flower that gives the gift of colour as the duo learn about their inevitable mission they will have to take to save this cursed world from utter doom, a heavy burden, but a necessary one, especially for Susan…

Overall, this book is the real deal and really keeps your eyes tuned to the imaginative world created by Maurice Gee.

Name: Halfmen of O

Author: Maurice Gee

Genre: Fantasy

Age Group: 8-15

(Book Review) The Rule of Three: Will to Survive

During the 2 week school holiday, I honestly had lots of free time. So I decided to occupy some of that well-earned yet restless period with some exciting reads. I borrowed 2 books from the library one called The Rule of 3: Will to Survive and Ithaca.

I had just finished both books and they are worth the look at! Anyways, let me talk about the first book, The Rule of 3: Will to Survive.

6 months after a global blackout which shut down all electric-run systems everywhere, Adam Daley, a teenager of a suburban town, was forced to kill 2 fugitives, who, along with a group of other outlaws escaped the maximum security grounds in town. Brett, an arch-enemy of the Daley family has made things personal for Adam and his friend Herb. He was the leader of the escapees and was making his way to “The Division,” an ex-military group’s base. According to Adam, they were ruthless and sophisticated, something to be feared from.

Adam was kidnapped by the 2 prisoners and Herb was assassinated in his bedroom and presumed dead. After the dark display of dead bodies had been cleared off and Adam being checked. He visits Herb’s remains to miraculously find him alive!

With the duo still alive and well, they hatch a plan to destroy The Division’s base once and for all! With the Cessna Adam was supposedly forced to fly the previous night, they make their way to the division’s base with bombs instead of the fugitives and successfully survive the suicide mission obliterating the base into ashes.

When Brett learns about what Adam has done, he starts to make things personal for them, which would lead to the fate of the town’s future.

Will Adam take down Brett and his remaining allies or will Brett eliminate Adam in cold blood? Well you got to read the book!

Overall, I have to say the book was better than I expected and had lots of action which was worthwhile. I can’t wait to read its 2 prequels!

Name: The Rule of 3: Will to Survive

Author: Eric Walters

First Published: 2016

Age Groups: 10-16

The Scorch Trials

Ever since reading The Maze Runner, which was just a masterpiece, I could not wait to get my hands on James Dashner’s dystopia sequel, “The Scorch Trials”. When I finally got it from my school library, I wasn’t disappointed. Just like its predecessor, this book is another page turner which of course left me in awe and ready for the next one. Anyways, let’s get started.

After finally escaping the Maze, Thomas and his fellow Gladers thought it was all over. No more problems to solve, no more challenges, no more lethal tests. They were wrong. The Maze was just the beginning.

WICKED, (World In Catastrophe: Killzone Experiment Department) a group of scientists and governments are the ones who spearheaded the experiments in order to not only test how their subjects react to the multiple experiments they conduct, but to possibly create a new era of superhumans.

As Thomas continues regaining memories off his past life before joining the chaos of the Maze, he and his friends now face phase 2 of WICKED’s tests, The Scorch Trials.

After finally being rescued by a group of anonymous people, the group go back into chaos as not only is The Scorch Trials harder than it sounds, there is a time limit in which the group have to reach a certain checkpoint since they have caught a disease called the Flare, which would cause them to become Cranks, a maniac that has no utter sense of compassion and has a love for blood, which technically makes them zombies.

A man in a white suit, who is called Rat Man releases them back into a destroyed and scorching hot world where the Gladers face deadly storms, another Group of survivors that has orders to kill Thomas and outrageous, psychopathic Cranks.

Would Thomas and his friends go through the horrors of the Scorch? Well, you have to read the book.

Name: The Scorch Trials
Author: James Dashner
Publisher: Chicken House
Age Group: 10-15

The Last Battle

Here comes another good book review, this time about the final instalment of the Chronicles of Narnia, The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis. A few months ago, I also read the first and most popular book, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

As always, I wasn’t disappointed and the book was certainly above expectations. What a great way to end a lovable series!

We start off in the far west of Narnia, in a forest where an Ape, called Shift and a donkey, called Puzzle, live. At that point in time, the World of Narnia was at peace and all three creatures were living happily in this enchanted place.

However, as you know, things don’t always stay the same…

When the duo finds a piece of Lion Skin which was left unattended in a river near a waterfall, the Ape, also considered the ‘Smart’ one, asks Puzzle to get it and examine it.

After retrieving the piece of skin which was left by a hunter who killed a lion previously, Shift decides to make a coat for Puzzle, who disagrees with his idea since it is insulting Aslan, the righteous ruler of Narnia. However, Shift, acting like a smart-alec, explains to Puzzle that wearing the coat would make Narnia bow to them, also suggesting that the fact the skin was given to them was an act by the real Aslan.

Back in the main city of Narnia, the current king, King Tirian, is having a peaceful rule over the city. However, one fine evening while chatting with his best friend, Jewel, a centaur, named Roonwit, explains that Narnia is in grave danger, based on what the future holds from the stars.

Soon enough, chaos strikes in the world of Narnia as Puzzle, the fake Aslan is presented in Calormene, where the beasts celebrate for his return. However, its not the fake Aslan who is running the show, it is the Ape, Shift!

Will King Tirian stop the Calormenes, now their enemy and the deceitful Ape? Well you have to read this epic finale!

Name: The Last Battle
Author: C.S. Lewis
First Published: 1956 by The Bodley Head
Age Group: 7-12