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Creature Kid #1
Shadow of Darkness
Alternate title/cover edition for ASIN: B006SD3L7M
Anthony Dimair isn't your average teenager. Anthony Dimair doesn't have your average teenage problems. Unfortunately, Anthony Dimair doesn't know that yet.
By most accounts Anthony's been a pretty normal kid his whole life. When he starts what should be a normal year of high school, he suddenly begins to change. There's something dark buried deep inside him, but it wants to get out.
As people start disappearing and unknown assailants start following him, Anthony turns to his Uncle for answers. With only the help of his friends he sets off on a quest to discover the truth. But discovering the truth may very well get him killed.
Follow Anthony on an epic adventure as he races against time and the darkness inside him. Will he survive to find out the truth? Or will he get himself and his friends killed in the process?
Anthony Dimair isn't your average teenager. Anthony Dimair doesn't have your average teenage problems. Unfortunately, Anthony Dimair doesn't know that yet.
By most accounts Anthony's been a pretty normal kid his whole life. When he starts what should be a normal year of high school, he suddenly begins to change. There's something dark buried deep inside him, but it wants to get out.
As people start disappearing and unknown assailants start following him, Anthony turns to his Uncle for answers. With only the help of his friends he sets off on a quest to discover the truth. But discovering the truth may very well get him killed.
Follow Anthony on an epic adventure as he races against time and the darkness inside him. Will he survive to find out the truth? Or will he get himself and his friends killed in the process?
- GenresYoung AdultHorrorFantasy
174 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2012
3 people are currently reading
927 people want to read
About the author
Rashad Freeman
61 books94 followersThe date was October 31, 1979. The air was cool and a light fog blew in from the gulf, cloaking the Tampa area in an ominous, tight-fitting tunic. The annual Halloween festivities had just begun and a night of mischievous tomfoolery was afoot.
Scandalous and nefarious characters took flight. Doorbells were rung and ill-boding tricks were played regardless of the treats given. This was the dark reality of the bustling Florida metropolitan.
To the north, Grateful Dead crooned the night's theme music at the Nassau Coliseum. Within earshot of the concert, witnesses stated a UFO hovered over the grounds for thirty minutes before vanishing.
At the same time the Cromarty's were busy hosting their notorious Halloween party at 112 Ocean Ave., better known as the Amityville Horror House. Screams and cries for help were reported throughout the night, punctuated with the disappearance of the family next door. They were never heard from again.
Unknowingly altering the course of history, Kurt Vonnegut released "Jailbird" the same week KISS gained infamy on The Tomorrow Show. The aftermath of this collision would not be felt for decades until the emergence of Justin Bieber.
After a night filled with mayhem and destruction and the deaths of several prominent entertainers, politicians and a notorious bank robber, the Federal government was forced to loan $1.5 billion dollars to Chrysler. This spurred a series of violent protests, resulting in the Brunah Agate oil spill. Over 10.7 million gallons of oil were dumped into the Galveston Bay. This became the worst oil spill disaster in U.S. history.
A few hours later on November 1, 1979, Rashad Freeman was born. Feel free to draw your own conclusions.
Scandalous and nefarious characters took flight. Doorbells were rung and ill-boding tricks were played regardless of the treats given. This was the dark reality of the bustling Florida metropolitan.
To the north, Grateful Dead crooned the night's theme music at the Nassau Coliseum. Within earshot of the concert, witnesses stated a UFO hovered over the grounds for thirty minutes before vanishing.
At the same time the Cromarty's were busy hosting their notorious Halloween party at 112 Ocean Ave., better known as the Amityville Horror House. Screams and cries for help were reported throughout the night, punctuated with the disappearance of the family next door. They were never heard from again.
Unknowingly altering the course of history, Kurt Vonnegut released "Jailbird" the same week KISS gained infamy on The Tomorrow Show. The aftermath of this collision would not be felt for decades until the emergence of Justin Bieber.
After a night filled with mayhem and destruction and the deaths of several prominent entertainers, politicians and a notorious bank robber, the Federal government was forced to loan $1.5 billion dollars to Chrysler. This spurred a series of violent protests, resulting in the Brunah Agate oil spill. Over 10.7 million gallons of oil were dumped into the Galveston Bay. This became the worst oil spill disaster in U.S. history.
A few hours later on November 1, 1979, Rashad Freeman was born. Feel free to draw your own conclusions.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
February 3, 2012
Why do the movies always portray mutants as having some kind of glorious plight? If a kid got bit by a radioactive spider he’d probably puke webs right before he died. Men that can walk through bullets and fly don’t dress in tights and pretend to be newspaper reporters. And there are no special flashlights to shine in the air to signal you when there’s trouble. You want to be a superhero and fight crime? Prospects are unlikely at best. Chances are you’d just get sued by the criminals you arrested and put in prison for delivering your own vigilante justice.
The truth of the matter is living as a mutant is risky business. Uncontrollable outbreaks, delusions of grandeur and don’t forget the horde of scientists eager to pick you apart to figure out what makes you tick. Did you really expect a special school to crop up just to take care of all the misfortunate adolescents? Or you could create your own little team by adding Fantastic, Super, or Glorious to the front of a number. No, you wouldn’t be so lucky. And neither was Anthony Dimair, as a matter of fact he was the exact opposite. Now he must survive long enough to find the meaning of his Uncle’s cryptic message while avoiding capture, fighting the elements, and trying to not end up as dinner.
My Review:
The first couple pages were hard to hold my attention but then the speed picked up to where my attention was caught. I though this book wasn't going to go anywhere since its only 186 pages but i was pleasantly surprised. This book has lots of action and suspense that keeps you reading and wanting more. The author does a great job in description of characters, scenery, buildings, ect. without it being two paragraphs or more. This book has great mature content that doesnt make the book childish. This book has a huge cliffhanger ending that makes you really want to keep reading! Cant wait for the next volume! I enjoyed reading this book and will be recommending it.
The truth of the matter is living as a mutant is risky business. Uncontrollable outbreaks, delusions of grandeur and don’t forget the horde of scientists eager to pick you apart to figure out what makes you tick. Did you really expect a special school to crop up just to take care of all the misfortunate adolescents? Or you could create your own little team by adding Fantastic, Super, or Glorious to the front of a number. No, you wouldn’t be so lucky. And neither was Anthony Dimair, as a matter of fact he was the exact opposite. Now he must survive long enough to find the meaning of his Uncle’s cryptic message while avoiding capture, fighting the elements, and trying to not end up as dinner.
My Review:
The first couple pages were hard to hold my attention but then the speed picked up to where my attention was caught. I though this book wasn't going to go anywhere since its only 186 pages but i was pleasantly surprised. This book has lots of action and suspense that keeps you reading and wanting more. The author does a great job in description of characters, scenery, buildings, ect. without it being two paragraphs or more. This book has great mature content that doesnt make the book childish. This book has a huge cliffhanger ending that makes you really want to keep reading! Cant wait for the next volume! I enjoyed reading this book and will be recommending it.
January 18, 2012
The best book I've read this year. Although it's only January 18th, lol. But seriously really good book loved the fast paced action and in depth details. Eager to see what else this author has to offer.
February 8, 2012
Just A Boy?
Anthony Dimar is just trying to survive his freshman year of high school in one fairly intact physical and mental piece. He seems to be doing a good job of it too, until...
HIS WINGS COME IN!
Yes, you heard right!
No, this was not the blessed event that he had been waiting for to make his life complete.
NO...IT IS NOT TIME FOR THE SUPERMAN MUSIC AND TIGHTS!
Sorry this is not that kind of story.
In this story, after the wings which by the way, are of the "furry bat variety" and not the "angelic sexy angel type" that seem to be all the rage right now. Everything that can come out of the woodwork to attack Anthony and his motley crew of friends does just that.
A Read Anyone Could Love
This book is one to give to the person in your life who "doesn't read". With instantly likeable characters, a fast-paced but well constructed plot and story line, and well written scenes this book is a really great read.
Readers will be surprised to find that though this book is quite fun and written from the viewpoint of a boy in his early teens, it is a very intelligent story.
Thank you Mr. Freeman for an original tale of friendship, adventure, bravery and fun in 186 pages!
This was a joy to read and I can't wait for the next installment.
Review cross-posted from http://wtfareyoureading.blogspot.com/...
Anthony Dimar is just trying to survive his freshman year of high school in one fairly intact physical and mental piece. He seems to be doing a good job of it too, until...
HIS WINGS COME IN!
Yes, you heard right!
No, this was not the blessed event that he had been waiting for to make his life complete.
NO...IT IS NOT TIME FOR THE SUPERMAN MUSIC AND TIGHTS!
Sorry this is not that kind of story.
In this story, after the wings which by the way, are of the "furry bat variety" and not the "angelic sexy angel type" that seem to be all the rage right now. Everything that can come out of the woodwork to attack Anthony and his motley crew of friends does just that.
A Read Anyone Could Love
This book is one to give to the person in your life who "doesn't read". With instantly likeable characters, a fast-paced but well constructed plot and story line, and well written scenes this book is a really great read.
Readers will be surprised to find that though this book is quite fun and written from the viewpoint of a boy in his early teens, it is a very intelligent story.
Thank you Mr. Freeman for an original tale of friendship, adventure, bravery and fun in 186 pages!
This was a joy to read and I can't wait for the next installment.
Review cross-posted from http://wtfareyoureading.blogspot.com/...
April 25, 2012
Cant wait to read the next book in the series.
September 28, 2012
Wow!!! I literally scowered the internet last night looking for book 2. What's up with that cliffhanger. Is this seriously the only book out for the series right now? You can't do that to people.
October 30, 2013
This was a fabulous book. From the first chapter where you read what seems to be a lab experiment gone terribly wrong the action never stops. There is a lot of humor built into the book that will definitely grab middle grade kids. Anthony Dimair has started high school with his best friends. However, in addition to the normal teenage angst he suddenly sprouts wings and doesn't know why. The author has created characters that are very believable in their actions. You get a feel immediately that they are teens. He has created a plot that will keep you reading from beginning to end. I read the whole book in just two hours. I was surprised by the way the book ended. I didn't want it to end that way. However, I have to say that since this is the first book in this series that it definitely had a great ending. I can't wait until the next book comes out. I am sure this is a book that my students will definitely love.
August 8, 2012
Anthony Dimar has just entered his first year of high school which would normally be more than enough to deal with. But add a pair of bat-like wings, someone hunting him down and going on a crazy journey in search for the truth Anthony’s life flips into a world wind of crazy!
Creature Kid is a short novella told from the perspective of a teenage boy. Anthony was authentic, brave and determined. I really liked his relationship with his three best friends, Mikey, Mit, and Steve. The boys are loyal without question and accept each other without judgment. They reminded me of the boys from the movie Stand By Me. They are true brothers to each other.
The plot itself was fairly well. The novella does not really solve any of the mysterious events that are presented throughout the plot leaving the reader with far more questions than any real answers. I know the novella is more short story than novel length but I would have liked more of an explanation to what happened to Anthony’s missing friend or what was going on with Anthony. Perhaps the novella would have worked better as a novel than a short story. The pacing began slow and picked up a bit by the time Anthony discovered he had just sprouted wings from nowhere but never really managed to pull me in as a reader.
Creature Kid was a pretty good read for being so short and targeted to a young audience. The novella could use a polish both with grammar and fluidity and the book would work better as a novel. But for a quick and fun read, it’s a really good book to sit back and enjoy a few good laughs with.
Creature Kid is a short novella told from the perspective of a teenage boy. Anthony was authentic, brave and determined. I really liked his relationship with his three best friends, Mikey, Mit, and Steve. The boys are loyal without question and accept each other without judgment. They reminded me of the boys from the movie Stand By Me. They are true brothers to each other.
The plot itself was fairly well. The novella does not really solve any of the mysterious events that are presented throughout the plot leaving the reader with far more questions than any real answers. I know the novella is more short story than novel length but I would have liked more of an explanation to what happened to Anthony’s missing friend or what was going on with Anthony. Perhaps the novella would have worked better as a novel than a short story. The pacing began slow and picked up a bit by the time Anthony discovered he had just sprouted wings from nowhere but never really managed to pull me in as a reader.
Creature Kid was a pretty good read for being so short and targeted to a young audience. The novella could use a polish both with grammar and fluidity and the book would work better as a novel. But for a quick and fun read, it’s a really good book to sit back and enjoy a few good laughs with.
March 15, 2012
Beneath the moon and stars review
The beginning of this book was very slow. It's kinda short so I wondered if it was gonna pick up. It did :). This was actually a very fast paced book.
Anthony is just an average teenage boy about to start his first year of high school when he randomly grows wings in the school bathroom. Anthony was smart and seemed to be worried about the dangers. His friends just thought it was cool and didn't bother to think about what could happen if someone found out. Of course someone does find out and then they go on some crazy adventure in the woods. If you can't tell this was a very entertaining book.
Overall I really liked this book. It has everything a good book needs. Great characters with a fast paced plot and some humor. 4/5 stars
http://beneaththemoonandstars.blogspo...
The beginning of this book was very slow. It's kinda short so I wondered if it was gonna pick up. It did :). This was actually a very fast paced book.
Anthony is just an average teenage boy about to start his first year of high school when he randomly grows wings in the school bathroom. Anthony was smart and seemed to be worried about the dangers. His friends just thought it was cool and didn't bother to think about what could happen if someone found out. Of course someone does find out and then they go on some crazy adventure in the woods. If you can't tell this was a very entertaining book.
Overall I really liked this book. It has everything a good book needs. Great characters with a fast paced plot and some humor. 4/5 stars
http://beneaththemoonandstars.blogspo...
February 13, 2012
What a lovely premise for a book. I loved this book. Anthony is a normal boy with some special abilities. I liked that this book shows what happens when someone develops new powers. We get to see him adjusting to trying to learn how to use his powers and it not being as easy as it is always made to look. Anthony has a great group of friends that support him and are willinging to help him. This is a great book for kids that are having starting high school fears as this touches on that too. Anthony has to contend with starting high school and his new abilities. This book has it all suspense,intrigue and humor. Overall this is a really good read and I would certainly recommend it to others.
October 9, 2012
Have to admit I had no clue who this author was, but a friend suggested I try one of his books so I did. Then I read another and another. The only thing that pisses me off is two of his current works are in a series yet they're the only ones out right now. I feel like I did when I was waiting for Deathly Hallows...just hurry up already.
February 3, 2012
Wow, was pleasantly surprised with this one. I mean I think the cover is awesome but expected this to be a childish read. Was shocked, great action, great flow and kept me turning the page. If I had any recommendations I think some of the scenes could have flowed better and had a bit more story behind them, but then again it's a series so perhaps my questions will be answered in the following books. Definitely worth the read, can't wait for the next one!
October 10, 2012
Um, I read this book in 3 days in between a whinning two year old, work and school. Honestly that was hell week and I think this was my only escape. The book was very well written and took me on a journey. It was like a little vacation in my mind lol although I had to sneak off and read it in places like the bathroom. (I know TMI!!!)
September 4, 2012
Really fun book. I like the whole non human angle. Curious where this is headed.
January 19, 2013
This was a short novella and the beginning to The Creature Kid series.The age group of our main character and his friends is 13/14 years old, and I'll be honest, at first I struggled to immerse myself in the plot. This book was a little bit younger of a YA then I'm used to reading, However, at the halfway point I realized that I needed to approach this story from a different angle. I had to stop attempting to see it from an older stand point and see it from the stand point similar to which an adult would read the Harry Potter novels. Once I took on that mindset it allowed me to enjoy the story on a different level.
The premise for the story is interesting and full of mystery. The characters are fleshed out fairly well and I think we get a good feel for our main character and his friends. I felt that the author succeeded in making the teenagers "feel" like teenagers in the manner of their speech and interactions with one another. There's a fair amount of adventure to the story and the band of friends get themselves into some sticky situations. Since this is the first in a series don't be looking to get any answers to most questions just yet though.
I would recommend this book if you're looking for a quick entertaining read. Since it is meant to appeal to the younger crowd I would be inclined to recommend it for the teenagers in your life especially if they have a bit of a dark side.
The premise for the story is interesting and full of mystery. The characters are fleshed out fairly well and I think we get a good feel for our main character and his friends. I felt that the author succeeded in making the teenagers "feel" like teenagers in the manner of their speech and interactions with one another. There's a fair amount of adventure to the story and the band of friends get themselves into some sticky situations. Since this is the first in a series don't be looking to get any answers to most questions just yet though.
I would recommend this book if you're looking for a quick entertaining read. Since it is meant to appeal to the younger crowd I would be inclined to recommend it for the teenagers in your life especially if they have a bit of a dark side.
October 5, 2012
Wow!! First off I guess this is an old cover because my kindle updated with the new cover on amazon which looks freaking awesome. Now onto the book, I loved it. I think I might have a new favorite series, I'll fully commit once I see another book. But so far I'm sold this book rocked.
September 5, 2012
Good quick read. Shame that other books from the series aren't out yet. I'll definitely keep an eye out.
November 5, 2013
Clearly a labor of love, Anthony’s story sticks to the general rules one would expect from the synopsis. Fans of 80s kid-ensemble stories, such as Goonies, may enjoy the “let’s go on an adventure” spirit. However, none of the cast reaches their full potential, instead remaining clichés armed with indistinguishable voices and personalities better suited to after-school cartoons. The same can be said of the plot, which never veers from the well-trodden trope paths laid down by decades of novels, comics, and movies before it.
The dramatic reveal of Anthony’s true nature comes at the 11th hour—when even the newest paranormal YA reader will have already figured out the twists. In general, this one reads like a prequel to a more interesting later story, one more mature and filled with dark purpose.
Perhaps the hardest part for anyone picking up Anthony’s story will be the writing. Basic spelling, grammar, and punctuation are ignored from page one. Story structure is significantly lacking. Dialogue is stilted and filled with exposition.
The author has a small fanbase dedicated to putting this story into the hands of readers. However, it would do Anthony and the author both well to direct that energy at a professional technical and content editor first instead.
Appropriate for ages 13+. Some intense situations, scenes of violence and torture, latent racism and sexism.
Deals with identity, coming of age, government conspiracies, and the horror of scientific testing done to humanoid subjects.
This book could be for you if you enjoy reading a writer’s early self-published works. Or are a fan of action-adventure comic books.
(Review copy provided by Melissa Garofano in exchange for an honest review.)
[[review initially published at http://www.youngadultmag.com/Browse/A...]]
The dramatic reveal of Anthony’s true nature comes at the 11th hour—when even the newest paranormal YA reader will have already figured out the twists. In general, this one reads like a prequel to a more interesting later story, one more mature and filled with dark purpose.
Perhaps the hardest part for anyone picking up Anthony’s story will be the writing. Basic spelling, grammar, and punctuation are ignored from page one. Story structure is significantly lacking. Dialogue is stilted and filled with exposition.
The author has a small fanbase dedicated to putting this story into the hands of readers. However, it would do Anthony and the author both well to direct that energy at a professional technical and content editor first instead.
Appropriate for ages 13+. Some intense situations, scenes of violence and torture, latent racism and sexism.
Deals with identity, coming of age, government conspiracies, and the horror of scientific testing done to humanoid subjects.
This book could be for you if you enjoy reading a writer’s early self-published works. Or are a fan of action-adventure comic books.
(Review copy provided by Melissa Garofano in exchange for an honest review.)
[[review initially published at http://www.youngadultmag.com/Browse/A...]]
December 17, 2012
Shadow of Darkness by Rashad Freeman is a novella length story introducing Anthony Dimair. At first it seems like Anthony is just a normal highschool kid until one day he sprouts gigantic wings from his back. Soon after he finds himself under surveillance by mysterious men and strange things start happening. He and his friends decide to head out to try to reach his uncle with the hopes that he can shed some light on the situation.
This book seemed to me to be more of an introduction to the series than anything. The characters got pretty well fleshed out and there was a good amount of details revealed, but I didn't really think any questions were answered. We know that Anthony has wings, but the book stops before there are really any answers revealed. I understand it was most likely to build anticipation and was very successful in doing so, but I would have liked to have gotten a little bit of the mystery revealed.
Despite being left hanging a bit by the first book I have been keeping my eye out for the sequel. Most likely I will check it out when it becomes available to see what is really happening with Anthony and his friends. I know this sounds a bit vague, but I really don't want to give any of the ending away so I can't really cite any examples. One other thing to note is the copy that I read is an older version so I'm not sure if there were any major changes made to the book other than the cover and the title.
Review copy provided by the author.
This book seemed to me to be more of an introduction to the series than anything. The characters got pretty well fleshed out and there was a good amount of details revealed, but I didn't really think any questions were answered. We know that Anthony has wings, but the book stops before there are really any answers revealed. I understand it was most likely to build anticipation and was very successful in doing so, but I would have liked to have gotten a little bit of the mystery revealed.
Despite being left hanging a bit by the first book I have been keeping my eye out for the sequel. Most likely I will check it out when it becomes available to see what is really happening with Anthony and his friends. I know this sounds a bit vague, but I really don't want to give any of the ending away so I can't really cite any examples. One other thing to note is the copy that I read is an older version so I'm not sure if there were any major changes made to the book other than the cover and the title.
Review copy provided by the author.
October 15, 2012
For once the rumors were true. Really enjoyed this book thanks to Tommy Boy's blog for the recomendation.
May 2, 2017
Anthony Dimair and his three friends have promised each other that they would never miss an adventure. But when school and Anthony's birthday rolls around, they soon find themselves in a more dangerous adventure when Anthony sprouts wings and a strange white van is seen following them. Then when a girl from their school goes missing, Anthony and his friends must find his uncle who seems to know what is going on.
I don't really know how I feel about this book. Mostly, it just feels unfinished, and it really needed an editor before being published, as the whole book is punctuated by grammatical and spelling errors. I also really don't enjoy reading about teenage boys being dumb and not thinking things through.However, more than both of these aspects (which I can tolerate), what this book really suffered from was bad pacing. It moves slowly until about the last quarter of the book, where all the action and 'shocking reveals' happen. The rest of the book is slow and made up of pointless filler - such as the "cute girl from school" and a "murder mystery neighbor" tropes - that doesn't go anywhere and left me feeling like "what was even the point of this? Why did I read this if it has absolutely no impact on the actual story?" The second dream sequence of his first day of school was the biggest culprit of this, which could have easily been summarized and left behind as high school jitters.
Now, it may seem like I'm only being critical here, but obviously I didn't hate it or I wouldn't have finished it right? I was just kind of frustrated, as I really wanted to like this book - I mean, its been at the very top of my To Read list for months - and it began and ended pretty interesting. But considering this book that just fell kind of flat overall, even if it ended well, I don't think I can bring myself to continue reading this series.
As for some good points of the book, I felt like the events that were full of action and horror were the strongest parts of the book and should have been more prevalent. During these events I found myself shocked and horrified that a book from the YA genre (which tends to be kind of benign) would cause such harm to its characters. Considering I was not particularly attached to these characters who are the embodiment of dumb teenage boys, this is quite the feat. Had the book depended more on its innately interesting supernatural intrigue rather than standard YA plot devices (like dating the cute crush from school, worrying about bullies, etc) then it would have been more interesting and enjoyable.
I don't really know how I feel about this book. Mostly, it just feels unfinished, and it really needed an editor before being published, as the whole book is punctuated by grammatical and spelling errors. I also really don't enjoy reading about teenage boys being dumb and not thinking things through.However, more than both of these aspects (which I can tolerate), what this book really suffered from was bad pacing. It moves slowly until about the last quarter of the book, where all the action and 'shocking reveals' happen. The rest of the book is slow and made up of pointless filler - such as the "cute girl from school" and a "murder mystery neighbor" tropes - that doesn't go anywhere and left me feeling like "what was even the point of this? Why did I read this if it has absolutely no impact on the actual story?" The second dream sequence of his first day of school was the biggest culprit of this, which could have easily been summarized and left behind as high school jitters.
Now, it may seem like I'm only being critical here, but obviously I didn't hate it or I wouldn't have finished it right? I was just kind of frustrated, as I really wanted to like this book - I mean, its been at the very top of my To Read list for months - and it began and ended pretty interesting. But considering this book that just fell kind of flat overall, even if it ended well, I don't think I can bring myself to continue reading this series.
As for some good points of the book, I felt like the events that were full of action and horror were the strongest parts of the book and should have been more prevalent. During these events I found myself shocked and horrified that a book from the YA genre (which tends to be kind of benign) would cause such harm to its characters. Considering I was not particularly attached to these characters who are the embodiment of dumb teenage boys, this is quite the feat. Had the book depended more on its innately interesting supernatural intrigue rather than standard YA plot devices (like dating the cute crush from school, worrying about bullies, etc) then it would have been more interesting and enjoyable.
April 4, 2014
(I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for a review).
(This review may contain spoilers).
I did find this book one that was really easy to read. It was really entertaining to read and I did like the characters in the book.
At times, I did find it a bit difficult to differentiate between the characters, though. Mit and Mikey had very similar names, so I kept getting confused between the two. I did, however, find the characters to be really well-written for the most part.
I thought it was good that the author spent as much time on the characters as the storyline itself. It was particularly realistic how Anthony and his friends reacted to the differences that Anthony was showing. It was also nice to see that his friends acted like true friends - they didn't just abandon him once the differences became clear.
It was good to see realistic consequences happen to the characters. The danger they were in came across really well and it was intense enough to keep me reading.
I did notice quite a lot of errors in the book - mostly wrong words being used, rather than misspellings. For instance, 'wrapping' was used instead of 'rapping' and 'curdled' instead of 'curled'.
This was a really good book and I would definitely be interested in reading the next book in the series in the future, when I've finished the many books I currently have left to read.
(This review may contain spoilers).
I did find this book one that was really easy to read. It was really entertaining to read and I did like the characters in the book.
At times, I did find it a bit difficult to differentiate between the characters, though. Mit and Mikey had very similar names, so I kept getting confused between the two. I did, however, find the characters to be really well-written for the most part.
I thought it was good that the author spent as much time on the characters as the storyline itself. It was particularly realistic how Anthony and his friends reacted to the differences that Anthony was showing. It was also nice to see that his friends acted like true friends - they didn't just abandon him once the differences became clear.
It was good to see realistic consequences happen to the characters. The danger they were in came across really well and it was intense enough to keep me reading.
I did notice quite a lot of errors in the book - mostly wrong words being used, rather than misspellings. For instance, 'wrapping' was used instead of 'rapping' and 'curdled' instead of 'curled'.
This was a really good book and I would definitely be interested in reading the next book in the series in the future, when I've finished the many books I currently have left to read.
November 14, 2012
Anthony is this strange kid. I mean he seems normal at first, but there is a lot of conflict going on here. I love the connection he shares with his friends, reminds me of those older movies like Goonies or something. I like the imagery used it really puts you in each scene and makes the conflict all the more real. The plot is very interesting and I really want to see where this thing goes. The ending really sucked me into the series. I think it could've been a bit longer and maybe some ports expanded more. All in all really good book and looking forward to part 2 :-)
July 19, 2013
Overall a good book, but I had my issues. I don't like the Nickie character she seemed too perfect to me. I would've liked it if the parts where they were in the woods etc. was longer. It felt a bit rushed to me. Seemed like it was border line juvenille, but I get it if throughout the series the characters are aging. Overall good book and definitley hooked me enough to continue with the series. Besides it ends on a cliff hanger and I can't really just let that go.
August 8, 2015
Um.. Not sure if I read the same book the other reviewers have. The book they're describing sounds wonderful. The book I just finished wasn't. It reminded me of a badly written Goosebumps story.
January 12, 2014
**Disclaimer: I got this book for free in return for a review, however this did not affect my thoughts at all**
Shadow of Darkness by Rashad Freedom: 3 Stars
Plot: Anthony was a normal 13-year-old boy. His life is going well, when for his birthday he got a letter from his uncle that tells him he can talk to him at “anytime.” This seems odd, but his uncle is an odd man. Soon, he forgets about it. Then one day, he suddenly gets wings! He can’t control them, and they seem to be more of decoration than anything else. His life is going well, even with them, as he is determined to have a normal, high school life. He gets on the varsity soccer team, and finally finds the will to ask out his crush. Only his close friends know about his wings. They have a bit of small adventures together, but nothing big until one day someone disappears from their town. Soon after that, another boy their age, (his best friend is the person who disappears) sees Anthony trying to fly. (It doesn’t work) They catch sight of people in weird suits following Anthony, and are getting more and more paranoid. Then, Anthony’s house gets broken into. The only room that seems touched is Anthony’s. Nothing seems to be stolen, but the letter from his uncle is on the ground. That is when Anthony and his friend’s decide to find some answers. They decide to go on a trip to Anthony’s uncle’s house. This trip will be dangerous, as men are trying to get them. Will they get there alive? And will they find answers to their questions?
Overall: This book seemed more of a prologue than anything else. I didn’t really like the plot, as most of the book was about Anthony doing everyday things like asking out his crush. This book was short, and in my opinion should have been part of another book, maybe as the first half of it. So I would recommend this book if you are looking for a quick read, and are planning to read the next in the series.
Shadow of Darkness by Rashad Freedom: 3 Stars
Plot: Anthony was a normal 13-year-old boy. His life is going well, when for his birthday he got a letter from his uncle that tells him he can talk to him at “anytime.” This seems odd, but his uncle is an odd man. Soon, he forgets about it. Then one day, he suddenly gets wings! He can’t control them, and they seem to be more of decoration than anything else. His life is going well, even with them, as he is determined to have a normal, high school life. He gets on the varsity soccer team, and finally finds the will to ask out his crush. Only his close friends know about his wings. They have a bit of small adventures together, but nothing big until one day someone disappears from their town. Soon after that, another boy their age, (his best friend is the person who disappears) sees Anthony trying to fly. (It doesn’t work) They catch sight of people in weird suits following Anthony, and are getting more and more paranoid. Then, Anthony’s house gets broken into. The only room that seems touched is Anthony’s. Nothing seems to be stolen, but the letter from his uncle is on the ground. That is when Anthony and his friend’s decide to find some answers. They decide to go on a trip to Anthony’s uncle’s house. This trip will be dangerous, as men are trying to get them. Will they get there alive? And will they find answers to their questions?
Overall: This book seemed more of a prologue than anything else. I didn’t really like the plot, as most of the book was about Anthony doing everyday things like asking out his crush. This book was short, and in my opinion should have been part of another book, maybe as the first half of it. So I would recommend this book if you are looking for a quick read, and are planning to read the next in the series.
March 27, 2012
Review brought to you by Annabell
Beware of spoilersAnthony Dimar has just entered his first year of high school which would normally be more than enough to deal with. But add a pair of bat-like wings, someone hunting him down and going on a crazy journey in search for the truth Anthony’s life flips into a world wind of crazy!
Creature Kid is a short novella told from the perspective of a teenage boy. Anthony was authentic, brave and determined. I really liked his relationship with his three best friends, Mikey, Mit, and Steve. The boys are loyal without question and accept each other without judgment. They reminded me of the boys from the movie Stand By Me. They are true brothers to each other.
The plot itself was fairly good. The novella does not really solve any of the mysterious events that are presented throughout the plot leaving the reader with far more questions than any real answers. I know the novella is more short story than novel length but I would have liked more of an explanation to what happened to Anthony’s missing friend or what was going on with Anthony. Perhaps the novella would have worked better as a novel than a short story. The pacing began slow and picked up a bit by the time Anthony discovered he had just sprouted wings from nowhere but never really managed to pull me in as a reader.
Creature Kid was a pretty good read for being so short and targeted to a young audience. The novella could use a polish both with grammar and fluidity and the book would work better as a novel. But for a quick and fun read, it’s a really good book to sit back and enjoy a few good laughs with.
http://openbooksociety.com/article/ra...
Beware of spoilersAnthony Dimar has just entered his first year of high school which would normally be more than enough to deal with. But add a pair of bat-like wings, someone hunting him down and going on a crazy journey in search for the truth Anthony’s life flips into a world wind of crazy!
Creature Kid is a short novella told from the perspective of a teenage boy. Anthony was authentic, brave and determined. I really liked his relationship with his three best friends, Mikey, Mit, and Steve. The boys are loyal without question and accept each other without judgment. They reminded me of the boys from the movie Stand By Me. They are true brothers to each other.
The plot itself was fairly good. The novella does not really solve any of the mysterious events that are presented throughout the plot leaving the reader with far more questions than any real answers. I know the novella is more short story than novel length but I would have liked more of an explanation to what happened to Anthony’s missing friend or what was going on with Anthony. Perhaps the novella would have worked better as a novel than a short story. The pacing began slow and picked up a bit by the time Anthony discovered he had just sprouted wings from nowhere but never really managed to pull me in as a reader.
Creature Kid was a pretty good read for being so short and targeted to a young audience. The novella could use a polish both with grammar and fluidity and the book would work better as a novel. But for a quick and fun read, it’s a really good book to sit back and enjoy a few good laughs with.
http://openbooksociety.com/article/ra...
February 1, 2012
Creature Kid book consists of 104 pages and is Volume 1 of The Teenage Chronicles by Rashad Freeman.
I read this book very quickly. I liked the storyline however I was left feeling a little disappointed as I think the book could have had more detail in it and I got a bit lost in places, I was left wondering about what happened once a certain thing happened and it felt a little rushed in parts.
If being a teenager isn’t bad enough with raging hormones and the likes, without finding out you are a mutant too, Anthony seemed to take this pretty much in his stride and didn’t hide the fact from his close friends. Would I have told my close friends? Probably not, well not straight away anyway.
I did still enjoy the book though and was the ending was left on a cliffhanger, so I would definitely read Volume 2 to see what happens and how the story progresses.
I read this book very quickly. I liked the storyline however I was left feeling a little disappointed as I think the book could have had more detail in it and I got a bit lost in places, I was left wondering about what happened once a certain thing happened and it felt a little rushed in parts.
If being a teenager isn’t bad enough with raging hormones and the likes, without finding out you are a mutant too, Anthony seemed to take this pretty much in his stride and didn’t hide the fact from his close friends. Would I have told my close friends? Probably not, well not straight away anyway.
I did still enjoy the book though and was the ending was left on a cliffhanger, so I would definitely read Volume 2 to see what happens and how the story progresses.
December 11, 2013
Really great book! I read this book after reading a review here - http://www.themusingsofabookaddict.co...
It really grabbed me from the first scene to the very ending where I literally screamed out loud. It's not often you find a book that's able to appeal to such a wide audience and this one defintely does. I'm eager to read the rest of the series and find out what happens to Anthony and his band of friends.
It really grabbed me from the first scene to the very ending where I literally screamed out loud. It's not often you find a book that's able to appeal to such a wide audience and this one defintely does. I'm eager to read the rest of the series and find out what happens to Anthony and his band of friends.
June 27, 2013
Had this book on my shelf for a while and finally got to it. My only complaint is why didn't I read it sooner. This was a great read and I just picked up part two. The pacing was great the action was insane and for the first book in a series it left so many possibilities that I'm mad that the whole thing isn't done yet.
January 14, 2014
I enjoyed this book very much. It was a good read for children and adults alike. I found myself wanting to read it later into the night than I should. I stayed up too late one night trying to find a good place to stop. The end certainly left you hanging and that is good in a series, it makes you want to get the next book right away. I will certainly read the next one in the series.
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