Author: Veronica Rossi
Series: Riders #1
Genres: Fantasy, YA
Publisher: Tor Teen
Source: eGalley (Excerpt)
Pages: 368 (preview is about 30%)
Publication: February 16th, 2016
Add to GoodReads // Buy on BookDepository
SYNOPSIS: Riders. A new fantasy adventure from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Veronica Rossi.
For eighteen-year-old Gideon Blake, nothing but death can keep him from achieving his goal of becoming a U.S. Army Ranger. As it turns out, it does.
Recovering from the accident that most definitely killed him, Gideon finds himself with strange new powers and a bizarre cuff he can't remove. His death has brought to life his real destiny. He has become War, one of the legendary four horsemen of the apocalypse.
Over the coming weeks, he and the other horsemen--Conquest, Famine, and Death--are brought together by a beautiful but frustratingly secretive girl to help save humanity from an ancient evil on the emergence.
They fail.
Now--bound, bloodied, and drugged--Gideon is interrogated by the authorities about his role in a battle that has become an international incident. If he stands any chance of saving his friends and the girl he's fallen for--not to mention all of humankind--he needs to convince the skeptical government officials the world is in imminent danger.
But will anyone believe him?
So I read an excerpt via NetGalley and this review will be based in the excerpt which comprised about 30% of the book. I will update my review once I read the whole book.
THIS COVER! The very first thing, the very very first thing that made me want to check out this book was the cover. I love horses so I thought maybe the book was about horses like The Scorpio Races or something but nope, not exactly at least... it's about the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse!
THIS COVER! The very first thing, the very very first thing that made me want to check out this book was the cover. I love horses so I thought maybe the book was about horses like The Scorpio Races or something but nope, not exactly at least... it's about the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse!
THE WORLD: Technically it is still our normal world but these Four "chosen ones" have been given the powers of the Four Horsemen --Conquest, War, Famine, Death. There are also antagonist creatures (or other normal people who were given powers I don't know... it doesn't specify in the excerpt) called the Kindred whose mission is to kill the Four Horsemen.
CHARACTERS: The main character is Gideon Blake. As the summary states he joined the U.S. Army after graduating high school, which makes me suspect he is around 18-19 years old, and while in training he had an accident. One that should've killed him but it didn't. In fact, he woke up almost healed and around his wrist he found a cuff that cannot be removed. After his accident he goes to his twin sister's student hall where things get twisted... let's say that there's a reason why college parties need to be avoided *wink wink* but the good thing of that part is that we get to meet a new character, Daryn! As the book is narrated on Gideon's POV all we get is "pretty, fierce-looking, pretty again" you get the point. Daryn explains the situation to Gideon because until then he had no clue what was going on and convinces him to go on a road trip with her to find the other Three Horsemen. Together they have to seek the other Three Horsemen while avoiding the Kindred. Towards the end of the excerpt, which is probably about 1/3 of the book, we meet Sebastian Luna (Conquer, Famine or Death? place your bets) as well as the rider's horses!
Let's see... judging from the excerpt I first thought Gideon was a prick, the typical good boy who changes after a traumatic event to someone aggressive and unreliable, etc. I mean he joined the Army for a reason and he is War for a reason but somehow he makes me pity him, I don't know I can understand him at least which is good. Then Daryn is a mystery, not much is known about her and even less when you've only read a third of the book but I can say I don't like her. There is something off with her character, hmm suspicious. Sebastian barely has 2 lines on the excerpt oh poor guy but he seems okay so far.
My favorite characters? The horses.
Let's see... judging from the excerpt I first thought Gideon was a prick, the typical good boy who changes after a traumatic event to someone aggressive and unreliable, etc. I mean he joined the Army for a reason and he is War for a reason but somehow he makes me pity him, I don't know I can understand him at least which is good. Then Daryn is a mystery, not much is known about her and even less when you've only read a third of the book but I can say I don't like her. There is something off with her character, hmm suspicious. Sebastian barely has 2 lines on the excerpt oh poor guy but he seems okay so far.
My favorite characters? The horses.
LOVE: Hmm there is a pairing mentioned but it's not a big focus... who needs romance when you can have the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse going on a mission?
PLUS: I liked everything! The story actually starts backwards. We start at the present and then we go back in time to get to know the whole story... is like a big flashback! A lot of thriller-action movies start this way. I thought it was interesting, original, and rather appropriate for this plot. The characters are not the most likable but they are well described and developed, I even feel sympathy towards Gideon! And let's not even talk about how much I want to know what happened? Oh my! Because the story is written in this flashback style I got to read nothing about the big event. The event, you know.
(I hope the rest of the book features the horses more often. I love horses ♥)
MINUS: I found no minuses so far... well, I thought that Gideon believed in Daryn's explanation really quickly even though it sounded crazy he was just cool with it which I found weird but oh well.
PLUS: I liked everything! The story actually starts backwards. We start at the present and then we go back in time to get to know the whole story... is like a big flashback! A lot of thriller-action movies start this way. I thought it was interesting, original, and rather appropriate for this plot. The characters are not the most likable but they are well described and developed, I even feel sympathy towards Gideon! And let's not even talk about how much I want to know what happened? Oh my! Because the story is written in this flashback style I got to read nothing about the big event. The event, you know.
(I hope the rest of the book features the horses more often. I love horses ♥)
MINUS: I found no minuses so far... well, I thought that Gideon believed in Daryn's explanation really quickly even though it sounded crazy he was just cool with it which I found weird but oh well.
OVERALL: 4.5 stars. GIMME THE WHOLE BOOK! I know I will like the rest of it so I will be pre-ordering it as soon as I get money (meaning Christmas). And can we please talk about the cover? It's gorgeous!
EXTRA: For those who are not very familiar with the Bible. Here is some extra information about the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse:
- Conquest -- The White Horse
Horse color: white.
Interpretations: as righteous (conquest), as infectious disease (pestilence), as evil (pestilence), as empire prosperity (conquest).
Interpretations: as righteous (conquest), as infectious disease (pestilence), as evil (pestilence), as empire prosperity (conquest).
- War -- The Red Horse
Carries a sword.
Horse color: referred to as "fiery" red or "blood" red.
Interpretations: as empire division.
Interpretations: as empire division.
- Famine -- The Black Horse
Horse color: black.
Interpretations: as empire oppression.
Interpretations: as empire oppression.
- Death -- The Pale Horse
Horse color: can be interpreted as "pale, pale-green, yellowish-green..."
(in my opinion its color is probably closer to the "champagne" denomination)
Interpretations: as empire destruction.
What do you guys think about RIDERS?
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