Book Review: Sylo by D.J. MacHale

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Sylo (The SYLO Chronicles #1) by D.J. MacHale
Release Date: July 2nd, 2013
Book Format: Library Book
Rating: Four stars

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.

This is one of those books that, when I go out to look at the bookshelves in the stores, I tell myself it's a good buy. It looks like a good book, with a good premises, but it isn't long before I worry myself in thinking what if it isn't a good book like I assumed? What if it ends up being one of those books I end up regret buying because I assumed wrong. Yeah, I worry myself about this stuff all the time. It wasn't until I went to the bookmobile one day to return some of my books and I happen to see it on one of my shelves and decided I'll read it when I get the chance to. At the least, I'm not loosing money... right?

But I am happy to say that my first initial reactions to this book was more accurate than the afterthoughts.

We follow a boy named Tucker as he sits on the sidelines at a football game. It's a small town, so of course there's not that many people there. I start to feel comfortable because, hey, I grew up in a small town myself. It's boring and life just becomes stale after a while. It's just another normal night of teenagers playing football and their parents watching them either do well or... well, do horrible. That is until one of the star football players, after hitting the touchdown of the game, suddenly falls down and dies right in front of everyone.

Everything stops being the same from there.

It's a small town. It's not that often that someone dies. At least, according to Tucker. But him, and his close friend Quinn, after going through a midnight motorcycle ride to cool down see something strange one night... it becomes clear that things were going to change. Especially when there are more deaths that just randomly happen. Especially when the military, under the disguise of 'Sylo', decide to take over and isolate the island from the rest of the United States.

Earlier on, there was already a guy who was suspicious in the first place: Feit, who carries around stuff that he has dubbed 'Ruby'. But it's not just nothing- when consumed, it can make the person feel stronger and energetic. With the first thought, it's not difficult to notice that this is one of the things that Sylo could be looking for. But there's is so much more than what meets the eye and it's someone that no one had seen coming.

There's trouble and no one is safe.

I loved this book. I fell in love with the story development and the pacing of everything, nothing felt like it was slowed down too much. I'm still left with the lingering thoughts of 'what the hell's happening here', but I suppose that's what the second book is for: hopefully to figure out what and why everything's going down and what's really the main issue is.

The one thing that bothered me was character consistency for some of the characters. Tucker grew up throughout the book but, at the same time, it didn't feel like his character didn't change as much as the others. At the same time, however, I felt like the other characters' personalities (Olivia and Kent) wasn't as solid. Olivia seemed like this shy and unintelligent young teenager, but when she was needed she kept her calm and suddenly took the lead. At least... until it was over. Kent was shown as this tough guy throughout the book but, around the end, well... I'll just say, not as much. But I feel like I'm over analyzing things. Maybe I am. The characters were still lovable and I still cared for them. Well... some of them.

But it shouldn't deter any potential readers. This was still a wonderful read and I'm looking forward to the next book. If you like dystopian books with mysteries, secrets, etc- then you'll like this book, for sure.

Originally posted and shared January 8th, 2014