Invasion by J.S. Lewis
Reviewed by Katie Hart
"...the intriguing premise, detailed storyworld, and irresistible gadgets make the novel sparkle."
After his parents’ tragic
death, sixteen-year-old Colt McAllister moves to Arizona to live with
his grandfather. With the help of his childhood
friend Danielle and a new friend, Oz, Colt starts to adjust to life at
Chandler High. But before things have a chance to settle down, a mysterious
contact tells Colt that his parents were killed because his mother was
about to expose Trident Industries.
Then Colt finds out that the comic books he read growing up are based on
historical fact. A secret government agency called the Central Headquarters
Against the Occult and Supernatural (or CHAOS) has been battling hostile
aliens for decades, and they want Colt to join the fight. Gateway portals
separate the worlds, and CHAOS agents keep a tight rein on the entry points.
But the shape-shifting aliens who control Trident Industries aren’t
about to let anyone get in the way of their plans.
Non-stop action keeps the plot barreling along for the major portion of
this teen adventure novel. At times, though, the story gets bogged down
with information. One of the main culprits is the unusual opening chapters.
Colt visits the invitation-only CHAOS academy and learns about the aliens,
their worlds, and the fight to keep peace. At the end of his visit, he
is given a serum to make him forget all he’s learned. Then, throughout
the rest of the novel, he finds out about CHAOS and the aliens again. Readers,
however, know what happened at the academy and so are forced to read through
two slightly different versions of the same information.
The plot-driven story also doesn’t allow readers to connect very
deeply with the characters. Yet the intriguing premise, detailed storyworld,
and irresistible gadgets make the novel sparkle. This book is just waiting
to be turned into a summer popcorn flick. While it may not change your
life, you’ll be sure to enjoy the ride.
Katie Hart loves the written word. She's published several articles, poems, and
nearly 200 reviews in magazines and websites such as Christian Communicator,
Church Libraries, Infuze Magazine, Christian Library Journal, and ChristianBookPreviews.com.
She's written two novels and is working on her third, a fantasy. Also a Christian
music fan, she helps out regularly with concerts at her church and strives to
promote the artists and bands she enjoys. Visit her online at her
blog.
