June 08, 2011

REVIEW: THE DARK ZONE BY DOM TESTA





When the tail of a comet flicks through the Earth’s atmosphere, deadly particles are left in its wake, and mankind is confronted with a virus that devastates the adult population. A renowned scientist proposes a bold plan: to build a ship that will carry a crew of 251 teenagers to a home in a distant solar system. Two years later, Galahad and its crew is launched. If their mission fails, it will be the end of the human race…

Hardcover: 288 pages
Published March 1st, 2011
Publisher: Tor Teen
Series: The Gallahad Books
URL: http://www.domtesta.com/galahad-series.cfm



This novel was an interesting one to read considering when I picked it up, I realized that it was the fourth in a series that I knew nothing about! Fortunately for me, you don't have to know everything that's happened to quickly and easily catch up to the story.

The Dark Zone is one of the books in the Galahad series that centers around a group of teenagers who have been chosen to leave Earth just as a deadly virus overtakes the population. The teens are on their way to a new planet where they will essentially re-start the human race. In this book, they are now one year into their journey. Their guide along the way is an artifically-intelligent computer named Roc.

I have to say...I actually really enjoyed this novel. There were so many things going on - from teenage angst & crushes to alien machines being stuck to the ship - that I felt like there was always something in the story to catch my attention. The novel is told from the point of view of a few of the teenagers on board and I think what I loved the most was that I looked forward to each person's story. No one character was more fun or interesting than the rest.

I especially loved the leader of the ship, Triana. Her character is so bold, honest and intelligent, and I think a lot of sci-fi books make characters like her to be men, so it was a refreshing change to have this young lady in charge. Triana is a fantastic role model for any teenage girl.

Roc, the computer, has a great sense of humor and is used well in the story to add laughter when things start getting too serious.

Overall, The Dark Zone ws a great read and I'd recommend it to everyone, not just teens, and especially anyone who likes sci-fi. I look forward to reading the first three books in the series, and the next one which should be released this October, 2011.

LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK!!!

4 out of 5 stars







2 comments:

  1. This series sounds very interesting. I'm going to check out the first book. Thanks for the heads up.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Your welcome, Tammy. Make sure you let me know what you thought of it!

    ReplyDelete

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