I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Two teens who survived a terror attack on the augmented world they met in find themselves pushed to the limits by new threats in author Pat Daily’s “Fire”, the second book in The Spark Chronicles series.
The Synopsis
WB and Feral have survived the attack on SPARK, but the terrorists are not through. Forces intent on stealing the technology behind Black Grass and the AI necessary to make it work are on the move again. As WB and Feral attempt to return to their normal lives, they realize that the enemy will never quit until they have the tech or SPARK itself is destroyed.
Flying below the radar kept them safe before, but increased notoriety works against the two as everyone from the FBI to gang members know who they are. Now, local bureaucrats, terrorists, and even fans intrude on the gamers’ lives. WB and Feral butt heads and hold hands as events and outsiders attempt to pull them apart.
Meanwhile the duo struggle to control an AI who has decided that killing humans can be an effective and efficient strategy.
The Review
This was a compelling sci-fi action read. The story creatively blends theme park culture with the growing use of augmented reality, and the action is perfectly balanced with strong character dynamics and emotional growth. The strong imagery in the author’s writing brought SPARK to life as a theme-park Augmented Reality world that readers and the gamers of this story alike could easily step into, and the rich mythos the author builds upon will have readers falling down the rabbit hole instantly.
The driving force of this narrative was the character development and world building that this game took on. After the threat the two protagonists faced in the first book, not only was the author able to up the ante so to speak, but gave each character their own personal and unique struggle to go through on their own, allowing them both to grow and face the world on their own while also determining what that meant to them as a duo throughout the story. The way the author is able to touch upon more serious themes like teen relationships and surviving trauma while also keeping the story light with sci-fi action was incredible to see come to life on the page.
The Verdict
Thrilling, action-packed, and compelling, author Pat Daily’s “Fire” is a must-read sci-fi action novel and a great sequel in the Spark Chronicles series. The twists and turns the narrative takes, the lighthearted action, and the angst and drama of teen romance will keep readers invested until the book’s final pages. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
About the Author
Pat Daily is a polymath, serial entrepreneur, gamer, and the author of SPARK, a near future science fiction novel. Pat began his professional career as an engineer and Air Force test pilot. After leaving the military, Pat worked at NASA’s Johnson Space Center on both the Space Shuttle and International Space Station programs before launching his first company. He has worked globally as a human performance and safety consultant.
When not writing or trying to bring new airplane designs to life, Pat can be found gaming. He is a fan of role-playing games – particularly open worlds with engaging storylines where actions have consequences. Pat and his wife live in Houston.
Social media links:
Website: https://thepatdaily.com
Blog: https://feraldaughters.wordpress.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patdailyauthor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patdailypics/
Twitter: @patdailyauthor
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21521042.Pat_Daily
