Book Review: Sylo by D.J. MacHale

Sylo by D.J. MacHale
Book Summary: Does Tucker Pierce have what it takes to be a hero when the U.S. military quarantines his island?

Fourteen-year-old Tucker Pierce prefers to fly under the radar. He’s used to navigating around summer tourists in his hometown on idyllic Pemberwick Island, Maine. He’s content to sit on the sidelines as a backup player on the high school football team. And though his best friend Quinn tells him to “go for it,” he’s too chicken to ask Tori Sleeper on a date. There’s always tomorrow, he figures. Then Pemberwick Island is invaded by a mysterious branch of the U.S. military called SYLO. And sitting on the sidelines is no longer an option for Tucker, because tomorrow may never come. 

It’s up to Tucker, Quinn, and Tori to uncover the truth about the singing aircraft that appears only at night—and the stranger named Feit who’s pushing a red crystal he calls the Ruby that brings unique powers to all who take it. Tucker and his friends must rescue not just Pemberwick Island, but the fate of the world—and all before tomorrow is too late.  

#1 New York Times bestselling author D.J. MacHale brings his brilliant plotting and breathless pacing to SYLO, the first in this ultimate end-of-the-world adventure trilogy.
Liana's Summary: Tucker Pierce doesn't try hard enough. He doesn't live up to his potential, his parents say. He always backs away before he can humiliate himself by trying, his best friend tells him. When Pemberwick Island, his home, is invaded by SYLO, and there's a mysterious man named Feit who tries to get Tucker to try a drug that can send power channeling through every vein of the body-- Tucker's world turns upside-down..

Rate(1-10): 7.5


I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really should have picked this up sooner. 

I'll just say that the only reason I wanted to read this was because I saw that D.J. MacHale was the author. I mean, the guy's awesome, even though I'd only read one book of his-- Merchant of Death. (And I still heard that that's not exactly the best book in the Pendragon series. Speaking of Pendragon, I really need to get the second book.)

This story started out with a football game. I frowned greatly at that. Football games in the beginning of an adventure story was all too cliche to me. But I'd ignored it and kept reading because I was just anticipating the adventure that was about to come. 

I'd actually consider this book to be a page-turner. A really, full-of-adventure page-turner.

It's really just this twisted, contemporary world in which the president is not our president, the world is not our world, their war is not our war-- but still set in the modern world. So, the best phrase I have for it is.. an alternative world.

Our characters are:

Tucker- Great guy, great protagonist, but I really don't think he would have gone anywhere without the rest of the characters. So I'd just say he's not as independent as we needed him to be.
Tori- Tori is awesome. She's a really important character, and a great one at that, too. She's strong and smart and everything a reader looks for in a character that plays a role that she played.
Quinn- Ah, Quinn. I adore Quinn. -chokes- You'll probably love Quinn too. 
Kent- Kent is actually a pretty good guy. Never would've thought he'd become so important. Always thought that he would be one of those characters that died off somewhere in the middle but it wasn't him.. Kent played a big role in this story-- yay Kent! Although he did scare me sometimes.
Olivia- At times, I'd thought that she was in the story just to be there, but it turns out she'd an impact on Kent and that's a fantastic thing. -thumbs up-

This story just really, flew by. From the plot twists to everything else. D.J. MacHale either writes and organizes his stories very well, or my foreshadowing skills really are that developed now. 

Despite everything, I'm still not sure I liked it enough to get the second book. BUT that ending was so gracefully written..

If this sounds like something you might be interested in, don't hesitate to give it a try!

Quotes:
Note: This is an ARC copy. Quotes from this book may not completely match those of the final print's.


"..and dropped dead."


This is where it begins, isn't it


"..and gave me a big kiss."


YAY


"So I say we get the hell of this island."


Well this is where it begins, isn't it?


"It was the shotgun. I hoped to God that we wouldn't have to use it."


You're gonna have to use it.. that's how stories work..


"He can't hear you," she said, crying.


NO!



"I was beginning to really like Tori Sleeper."


Well -raises eyebrow- -winks-


"Are we going to be okay?"


NOT IF YOU KEEP ASKING


"..I feared by sweatshirt would combust,.."


WHY ARE YOU WEARING A SWEATSHIRT


"A blossom of blood was growing on her back, soaking her shirt."


MACHALE, YOU ARE NOT KILLING OFF ANOTHER ONE OF MY FAVORITE CHARACTERS!


"That's when I saw it."


IS THE BOOK SERIOUSLY GONNA END LIKE THIS
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That's it! What do you think of this review?