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The Enemy Within
Seventeen-year-old Max has always felt like an outsider. When the agonizing apocalyptic visions begin, he decides suicide is his only escape. He soon finds himself in an institution under the guidance of a therapist who sees something exceptional in him. Just as he begins to leave the hallucinations behind, Max discovers the visions weren't just in his head.
There are three others who have shared those same thoughts and they've been searching for Max. Like him, they are something more than human. Each of them possesses certain abilities, which they're going to need when a covert military group begins hunting them down.
As the danger escalates, Max doesn’t know which side to trust. But in the end, his choice will decide the fate of both species.
There are three others who have shared those same thoughts and they've been searching for Max. Like him, they are something more than human. Each of them possesses certain abilities, which they're going to need when a covert military group begins hunting them down.
As the danger escalates, Max doesn’t know which side to trust. But in the end, his choice will decide the fate of both species.
219 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 24, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
March 16, 2017
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I've been craving some YA, sci-fi adventure for a while, so when I got my hands on The Enemy Within I was prepared for an extra terrestrial trip!
meets I am number 4 in Scott Burn debut novel, while bringing a new spin on the human/alien conflict.
Max always felt he was different, he was never able to fit right in, but since the visions came he feels totally estranged. He keeps on seeing a burning city, pain and suffering overtaking his mind. He can't understand what he is experiencing and it's getting stronger with time. Thinking he is going crazy he attempts suicide, failing and as a consequence handing up in a mental institution. But sooner he will discover that his hallucinations weren't just in his head.
While stuck in the mental hospital, three others are searching for Max. They , as Max, don't really fit in with humans but are something more. Each of them has a special ability, that will come in handy when a military organization comes after them.
The novel has simple premise, that we can find in a lot of YA books, but we get some twist and turns that are worth the reading. Even though it uses some eternal sci fi clichè, which I'm sick of seeing in movies and books, the writer is able to make the story interesting with some unexpected plot twists.
The characters are well outlined, the author was able to give them a good psychological depth. The protagonists of our story are really fun to read about - some exchanges were hilarious - and it was nice to see their relationships evolve.
I loved the story and how everything played out, but what is bugging me was the world construction and the absence of descriptions. A lot was left out to the reader's imagination, there was too much blank space to fill in, making the scene and settings sometimes difficult to picture. It felt, at time, more like a script than a book, which was a shame since the story had a great potential.
Apart from my little grumbles it's a good reading, quick and fun. You will certainly not regret it!
3.5/5 STARS
I've been craving some YA, sci-fi adventure for a while, so when I got my hands on The Enemy Within I was prepared for an extra terrestrial trip!
meets I am number 4 in Scott Burn debut novel, while bringing a new spin on the human/alien conflict.
Max always felt he was different, he was never able to fit right in, but since the visions came he feels totally estranged. He keeps on seeing a burning city, pain and suffering overtaking his mind. He can't understand what he is experiencing and it's getting stronger with time. Thinking he is going crazy he attempts suicide, failing and as a consequence handing up in a mental institution. But sooner he will discover that his hallucinations weren't just in his head.
While stuck in the mental hospital, three others are searching for Max. They , as Max, don't really fit in with humans but are something more. Each of them has a special ability, that will come in handy when a military organization comes after them.
The novel has simple premise, that we can find in a lot of YA books, but we get some twist and turns that are worth the reading. Even though it uses some eternal sci fi clichè, which I'm sick of seeing in movies and books, the writer is able to make the story interesting with some unexpected plot twists.
The characters are well outlined, the author was able to give them a good psychological depth. The protagonists of our story are really fun to read about - some exchanges were hilarious - and it was nice to see their relationships evolve.
I loved the story and how everything played out, but what is bugging me was the world construction and the absence of descriptions. A lot was left out to the reader's imagination, there was too much blank space to fill in, making the scene and settings sometimes difficult to picture. It felt, at time, more like a script than a book, which was a shame since the story had a great potential.
Apart from my little grumbles it's a good reading, quick and fun. You will certainly not regret it!
3.5/5 STARS
May 22, 2017
Title: The Enemy Within
Author: Scott Burn
Publisher: Scott Burn, 2016
Genre: YA Science Fiction
**I received a copy of this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review**
This review can be found on myÌý,Ìý, or myÌýÅ·±¦ÓéÀÖÌýpage
My Review:
As y'all know, I'm a big fan and supporter of indie authors. Without us, they can't thrive or even survive among the big 5 publishing conglomerates. They reach out to us, especially the bloggers, with their books, and they ask so nicely if we would review a copy of their baby. Some bloggers are so busy that they can't. I get it: there's so many books out there and only so much time. I, however, thought Burn's book sounded just like something I would die to read from the big pubs, so I said, ok, send me a copy and I'll check it out.
Guys, I'm glad I did.
This story hooks you. From the very beginning. It's good. I was surprised. Let me tell you a little about this...
So Max has visions. Horrible ones. Apocalyptic ones. Makes sense that he would think he was going crazy. After a suicide attempt that, to his disappointment, fails miserably, he winds up in the Hanover Insitute...a mental institution.
At 17, Max has had it rough: mom deceased, dad long gone, and a foster father only there to get the checks from the state. Max has no one...but he's used to it.Ìý
When a kind doctor won't give up, Max finally starts to trust enough to open up: the visions of a world on fire...and a carousel waiting in an abandoned amusement park. What does it mean? Max and the doc seem to both agree that Max is broken.
However...
Three kids are looking for Max. Without him, they won't make it. As they sit at the abandoned carousel, waiting for Max to get the message, they realize that Max isn't exactly in a place where he can be reached.Ìý
Because Max's visions? Well...they're not exactly hallucinations. More like a prophecy....
And they need Max before it's too late.
Is It Classroom-Appropriate?
Yes! The book is only 161 pages (which is kind of sad because I honestly wanted more!), and I can see this as a book that teens, both girls and boys, would enjoy. With a hint of Ender's Game (just a hint, mind you...not enough to even compare, but it came to mind at one point), this story will appeal to the reluctant reader in all students. It's quick, full of action, and easy to read. It also brings up a moral dilemma: should you care for the people that cause you harm?Ìý
Definitely full of classroom discussion and it's short enough that it could be a week-long lesson plan. I can't see any drawbacks to using this in a Freshman setting...if the swearing was removed. More on that in a minute.
Age Range:
There's some swearing, so there's that. A couple of F bombs and some "shits" in there...I practically forgot about them because that's almost teenage vernacular...well, honestly, it's almost most venacular. So I almost didn't even realize it was there. There could be a "clean" classroom copy if the words were switched out to other words...maybe damn or something similar. Swearing is tricky. Some great books have swearing. And kids have heard it all before. (They have: trust me)
There's nothing inappropriate otherwise...so I'm torn. I would say stick to high school for this book. I recommend readers 15 and up, and that's simply because of the swearing. If it was changed or removed, then it could very well be a middle grade book, too. As it stands, as long as it was approved by the curriculum, I would use it in class. And I would still let teens read it, mainly because the story is too good. But I leave that up to how comfortable you are with swear words.
End Result:
I loved it. I really did. I want a sequel now.Ìý
I rate The Enemy Within ★★★★�. Solid read, especially if you're a light sci-fi fan like me, who likes science fiction but isn't exactly able (or willing) to learn Klingon or become a member of the United Federation of Planets (Star Trek reference, guys!). So that means...(yes, I'm going to deface this edgy, science fiction book with my happy rating system):
Will you give Scott Burn's book a chance? Only $.99 on Kindle, so what are you waiting for? Seriously! That's prime entertainment for $1!!!
Happy Reading, y'all!
Author: Scott Burn
Publisher: Scott Burn, 2016
Genre: YA Science Fiction
**I received a copy of this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review**
This review can be found on myÌý,Ìý, or myÌýÅ·±¦ÓéÀÖÌýpage
My Review:
As y'all know, I'm a big fan and supporter of indie authors. Without us, they can't thrive or even survive among the big 5 publishing conglomerates. They reach out to us, especially the bloggers, with their books, and they ask so nicely if we would review a copy of their baby. Some bloggers are so busy that they can't. I get it: there's so many books out there and only so much time. I, however, thought Burn's book sounded just like something I would die to read from the big pubs, so I said, ok, send me a copy and I'll check it out.
Guys, I'm glad I did.
This story hooks you. From the very beginning. It's good. I was surprised. Let me tell you a little about this...
So Max has visions. Horrible ones. Apocalyptic ones. Makes sense that he would think he was going crazy. After a suicide attempt that, to his disappointment, fails miserably, he winds up in the Hanover Insitute...a mental institution.
At 17, Max has had it rough: mom deceased, dad long gone, and a foster father only there to get the checks from the state. Max has no one...but he's used to it.Ìý
When a kind doctor won't give up, Max finally starts to trust enough to open up: the visions of a world on fire...and a carousel waiting in an abandoned amusement park. What does it mean? Max and the doc seem to both agree that Max is broken.
However...
Three kids are looking for Max. Without him, they won't make it. As they sit at the abandoned carousel, waiting for Max to get the message, they realize that Max isn't exactly in a place where he can be reached.Ìý
Because Max's visions? Well...they're not exactly hallucinations. More like a prophecy....
And they need Max before it's too late.
Is It Classroom-Appropriate?
Yes! The book is only 161 pages (which is kind of sad because I honestly wanted more!), and I can see this as a book that teens, both girls and boys, would enjoy. With a hint of Ender's Game (just a hint, mind you...not enough to even compare, but it came to mind at one point), this story will appeal to the reluctant reader in all students. It's quick, full of action, and easy to read. It also brings up a moral dilemma: should you care for the people that cause you harm?Ìý
Definitely full of classroom discussion and it's short enough that it could be a week-long lesson plan. I can't see any drawbacks to using this in a Freshman setting...if the swearing was removed. More on that in a minute.
Age Range:
There's some swearing, so there's that. A couple of F bombs and some "shits" in there...I practically forgot about them because that's almost teenage vernacular...well, honestly, it's almost most venacular. So I almost didn't even realize it was there. There could be a "clean" classroom copy if the words were switched out to other words...maybe damn or something similar. Swearing is tricky. Some great books have swearing. And kids have heard it all before. (They have: trust me)
There's nothing inappropriate otherwise...so I'm torn. I would say stick to high school for this book. I recommend readers 15 and up, and that's simply because of the swearing. If it was changed or removed, then it could very well be a middle grade book, too. As it stands, as long as it was approved by the curriculum, I would use it in class. And I would still let teens read it, mainly because the story is too good. But I leave that up to how comfortable you are with swear words.
End Result:
I loved it. I really did. I want a sequel now.Ìý
I rate The Enemy Within ★★★★�. Solid read, especially if you're a light sci-fi fan like me, who likes science fiction but isn't exactly able (or willing) to learn Klingon or become a member of the United Federation of Planets (Star Trek reference, guys!). So that means...(yes, I'm going to deface this edgy, science fiction book with my happy rating system):
Will you give Scott Burn's book a chance? Only $.99 on Kindle, so what are you waiting for? Seriously! That's prime entertainment for $1!!!
Happy Reading, y'all!
April 19, 2017
I received a free ecopy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Max has always felt like an outsider and when the apocalyptic visions begin. After he attempts suicide, he winds up under the guidance of a therapist who believes him to be an exceptional seventeen year old. After Max begins to give up the ideas of the visions, he realizes that the visions weren't just in his head. Three others have also been having these visions and they're looking for Max.
The Enemy Within by Scott Burn is an action-packed YA sci-fi novel that doesn't waste any time jumping right into the thick of things. Max is an intriguing character to follow and I liked following his story. However, I had a difficult time connecting to anyone else throughout the story. Everyone else fell flat for me and consistently felt quite static in comparison and lacking dimension to really flesh them out. I also think I would have preferred less jumping around when it comes to character perspective. As interesting as it was to see the military have a presence, it takes away crucial time with our main cast that could have been spent fleshing them out a bit more.
Overall, I liked the story and the plot of Scott Burn's novel, The Enemy Within, particularly the concept, the action, the twists, and Max. However, in retrospect, it doesn't stand out that well in my memory against other YA sci-fi novels. It's a short and fun read, but could ultimately benefit from improved character development.
Thanks again to the author for the opportunity to read this novel!
Max has always felt like an outsider and when the apocalyptic visions begin. After he attempts suicide, he winds up under the guidance of a therapist who believes him to be an exceptional seventeen year old. After Max begins to give up the ideas of the visions, he realizes that the visions weren't just in his head. Three others have also been having these visions and they're looking for Max.
The Enemy Within by Scott Burn is an action-packed YA sci-fi novel that doesn't waste any time jumping right into the thick of things. Max is an intriguing character to follow and I liked following his story. However, I had a difficult time connecting to anyone else throughout the story. Everyone else fell flat for me and consistently felt quite static in comparison and lacking dimension to really flesh them out. I also think I would have preferred less jumping around when it comes to character perspective. As interesting as it was to see the military have a presence, it takes away crucial time with our main cast that could have been spent fleshing them out a bit more.
Overall, I liked the story and the plot of Scott Burn's novel, The Enemy Within, particularly the concept, the action, the twists, and Max. However, in retrospect, it doesn't stand out that well in my memory against other YA sci-fi novels. It's a short and fun read, but could ultimately benefit from improved character development.
Thanks again to the author for the opportunity to read this novel!
December 7, 2016
The Enemy Within by Scott Burn is such a delightful read, one that is deserving of so much attention. If you’re a fan of young adult science fiction, or even light science fiction, then I certainly recommend you get your hands on this book. It’s a super quick read, one that is a lot of fun, and I promise you will enjoy it.
It’s a very simple premise, one that sounds like a few others out there, but I can assure you this read is not a replication of any of the books that are liable to pop into your head when you read the synopsis.
I admit that, like many teen stories, we have a main character that feels as though they do not belong � but this plays into the story. We do not spend countless pages listening to teenage angst of how he does not fit in; rather we’re shown how his life has been influenced by this. We know the why, we get to see what causes this, and very quickly Max becomes a very solid main character.
The visions were a lot of fun, too. We’re not given much, but what we are given quickly pulls you in. You’re left wanting more and so many theories enter your mind. I promise you, the explanation is not what you’ll first assume. It’s such a great twist, adding so much depth to the story.
The three other main characters, those who share the same thoughts and are something more than human, were also enjoyable. I didn’t enjoy them as much as I’d been hoping to, but they made the story great in its own way. They’re somewhat clichéd, and you can guess where certain things are going, but they are really enjoyable. Each character is their own and the interaction between the group is a lot of fun to watch play out.
Honestly, I could say so much, but I fear I will give spoilers. This is one of those stories that slowly comes together, with things being exceptionally well connected. Whilst you see some of the twists and turns coming, other aspects will leave you shocked. The ending in particular � oh boy. That ending was not at all what I had expected. It was such a pleasant surprise; I really enjoyed the way things turned out. As the ending was closing in I felt as though events were lacking in the emotional impact they could have had � and then my world was knocked all skewed as the very ending hit me hard.
I really did have so much fun with it. I would have liked it even more had the story been longer, had things been developed even more. Whilst there was plenty given within this story, I simply wanted even more.
Overall, I loved it. I want to thank Scott Burn for contacting me for a review, as he has left me excited to see what else is to come from his mind.
It’s a very simple premise, one that sounds like a few others out there, but I can assure you this read is not a replication of any of the books that are liable to pop into your head when you read the synopsis.
I admit that, like many teen stories, we have a main character that feels as though they do not belong � but this plays into the story. We do not spend countless pages listening to teenage angst of how he does not fit in; rather we’re shown how his life has been influenced by this. We know the why, we get to see what causes this, and very quickly Max becomes a very solid main character.
The visions were a lot of fun, too. We’re not given much, but what we are given quickly pulls you in. You’re left wanting more and so many theories enter your mind. I promise you, the explanation is not what you’ll first assume. It’s such a great twist, adding so much depth to the story.
The three other main characters, those who share the same thoughts and are something more than human, were also enjoyable. I didn’t enjoy them as much as I’d been hoping to, but they made the story great in its own way. They’re somewhat clichéd, and you can guess where certain things are going, but they are really enjoyable. Each character is their own and the interaction between the group is a lot of fun to watch play out.
Honestly, I could say so much, but I fear I will give spoilers. This is one of those stories that slowly comes together, with things being exceptionally well connected. Whilst you see some of the twists and turns coming, other aspects will leave you shocked. The ending in particular � oh boy. That ending was not at all what I had expected. It was such a pleasant surprise; I really enjoyed the way things turned out. As the ending was closing in I felt as though events were lacking in the emotional impact they could have had � and then my world was knocked all skewed as the very ending hit me hard.
I really did have so much fun with it. I would have liked it even more had the story been longer, had things been developed even more. Whilst there was plenty given within this story, I simply wanted even more.
Overall, I loved it. I want to thank Scott Burn for contacting me for a review, as he has left me excited to see what else is to come from his mind.
March 13, 2017
*2.5 Stars*
I was a bit skeptical to read THE ENEMY WITHIN when I received Scott Burn's request- I do enjoy sci-fi, but I haven't read too many books within this area of the genre. Figuring that it wouldn't hurt to give this a try, I nodded my head at the request.
Unfortunately, my gut feeling ended up being right. This book was definitely not the right one for me. As most of you know, action is not my favourite thing in books, thus I think that this book would appeal more to action fans.
Basically, this story revolves around a teenage boy named Max, who has strange visions that keep him up at night. To get rid of these creepy visions, he decides to commit suicide and ends up in an institution where he is valued for the special person that he is. There, he discovers he's not alone- three other patients share the same condition as him... and it isn't just inside their brains.
There were four main characters in this book, with Max being the one in the spotlight the most. I found that I wasn't able to connect to any of the characters very well, nor easily keep track of their doings. The third-person POV with switching perspectives may have been the cause of the problem, as it really confused me!
The plot of this story was full of action, which can be great for some people- just not for me. I often find action to be bland, probably since it is hard for me to relate to. But basically, this book for me was simply a whole jumble of confusion.
The writing was the one thing that kept me reading this book until its end. Scott Burn really has a way with words and descriptions, and I just loved seeing how he decided to structure his words.
As you can probably tell, THE ENEMY WITHIN wasn't my cup of tea. It was pretty bland and there were very few things about it that amused me, but that doesn't stop me from recommending it to other types of readers. Hence, I believe that lovers of more action-packed, supernatural stories are going to enjoy this so much more. But if you are like me and tend to gravitate towards fluffy romances, then I'd say to give this one a pass.
*I received a digital ARC of this book from author Scott Burn in exchange for an honest review.*
I was a bit skeptical to read THE ENEMY WITHIN when I received Scott Burn's request- I do enjoy sci-fi, but I haven't read too many books within this area of the genre. Figuring that it wouldn't hurt to give this a try, I nodded my head at the request.
Unfortunately, my gut feeling ended up being right. This book was definitely not the right one for me. As most of you know, action is not my favourite thing in books, thus I think that this book would appeal more to action fans.
Basically, this story revolves around a teenage boy named Max, who has strange visions that keep him up at night. To get rid of these creepy visions, he decides to commit suicide and ends up in an institution where he is valued for the special person that he is. There, he discovers he's not alone- three other patients share the same condition as him... and it isn't just inside their brains.
There were four main characters in this book, with Max being the one in the spotlight the most. I found that I wasn't able to connect to any of the characters very well, nor easily keep track of their doings. The third-person POV with switching perspectives may have been the cause of the problem, as it really confused me!
The plot of this story was full of action, which can be great for some people- just not for me. I often find action to be bland, probably since it is hard for me to relate to. But basically, this book for me was simply a whole jumble of confusion.
The writing was the one thing that kept me reading this book until its end. Scott Burn really has a way with words and descriptions, and I just loved seeing how he decided to structure his words.
As you can probably tell, THE ENEMY WITHIN wasn't my cup of tea. It was pretty bland and there were very few things about it that amused me, but that doesn't stop me from recommending it to other types of readers. Hence, I believe that lovers of more action-packed, supernatural stories are going to enjoy this so much more. But if you are like me and tend to gravitate towards fluffy romances, then I'd say to give this one a pass.
*I received a digital ARC of this book from author Scott Burn in exchange for an honest review.*
March 11, 2017
This was 3.5 stars for me, but I prefer to round up than down when rating titles that I still enjoyed.
Yes, I know.. I have all but sworn off YA. However, after reading a favorable review by another blogger and being contacted by the author, I decided to give The Enemy Within an honest read. I had explained to Scott that I was very hesitant to review another YA title at this time, but he was confident enough to “roll the dice� as he put it. Having drifted away from sci-fi, this seemed like a potentially nice starting point for a light reintroduction.
My full review can be found
Yes, I know.. I have all but sworn off YA. However, after reading a favorable review by another blogger and being contacted by the author, I decided to give The Enemy Within an honest read. I had explained to Scott that I was very hesitant to review another YA title at this time, but he was confident enough to “roll the dice� as he put it. Having drifted away from sci-fi, this seemed like a potentially nice starting point for a light reintroduction.
My full review can be found
March 7, 2017
*Review copy provided by the author for an honest review - thanks so much Mr. Burn!*
Besides the great and unknown scifi, I really don't really too many the-world-is-ending books. Mostly because I can never spell dystopia right - I literally had to Google how to spell it right now. But when Burn approached me to read this, I couldn't pass up after reading the blurb and reading the Teacher of YA's review here. And despite me not using going for this, I found myself enjoying this thrilling ride!
This book wastes no time jumping right into the action. I was honestly hooked right from the start, and all of my reservations flew out about reading this genre. I loved how we didn't have any preamble and it left me questioning to keep going - and not questions that would have left me confused.
I enjoyed the characters as well. I liked them all, and I felt that each of them was individual enough to differentiate - even all the science people that I was confused about in the beginning. I also thought they were super realistic. These kids felt like actual teens to me. They were a bit dark and moody and broody - which in a lot of fluffy YA seems to show a lot of sunshine and rainbows.I thought it was perfect for this atmosphere, and just gave the book a little bit of a grittier age. Noah was definitely my favorite character, and I was so entertained by him. Max was a great narrator as well. However, since there was a lot of characters, I never felt super connected to any of them although I did enjoy and like them a lot.
There was a good fast pace as well. Sometimes when there is a fast pace, it gets too rushed and jumpy, and I felt this novel never really did it. Some things were taken with really no questions asked, but after what was saw and done, it did make more sense. I loved how quick it all went, and I could binge read a couple of chapters super fast - which is always a major plus.
The entire concept was very interesting as well. While there were some elements I thought could be cliche when I first began it, I was super surprised and thrilled that Burn took them in new and different directions. I really didn't know where things were headed, and I thought that was great.
As I said, this isn't the type of book I usually read, and it's honestly why the crowns got a little dented when they were going up for the rating. My lack of love for the genre kind of gave me a general disconnect from the book, and while there was a lot of exciting things going on, I never really fully got invested. That was the main issue I had with the book, and it was really my own issue with my genre love.
Overall, this was definitely a good book! Although it wasn't my usual read, I still enjoyed it, and I think Burn definitely has a great writing style since he got me to enjoy a genre I don't usually like. Four crowns, and a Merida rating (usually Merida is used for lower stars reviews, but I think Merida would definitely have the best chance if she was placed in the-world-is-ending books so here she is)!
Check out more of my reviews at
Besides the great and unknown scifi, I really don't really too many the-world-is-ending books. Mostly because I can never spell dystopia right - I literally had to Google how to spell it right now. But when Burn approached me to read this, I couldn't pass up after reading the blurb and reading the Teacher of YA's review here. And despite me not using going for this, I found myself enjoying this thrilling ride!
This book wastes no time jumping right into the action. I was honestly hooked right from the start, and all of my reservations flew out about reading this genre. I loved how we didn't have any preamble and it left me questioning to keep going - and not questions that would have left me confused.
I enjoyed the characters as well. I liked them all, and I felt that each of them was individual enough to differentiate - even all the science people that I was confused about in the beginning. I also thought they were super realistic. These kids felt like actual teens to me. They were a bit dark and moody and broody - which in a lot of fluffy YA seems to show a lot of sunshine and rainbows.I thought it was perfect for this atmosphere, and just gave the book a little bit of a grittier age. Noah was definitely my favorite character, and I was so entertained by him. Max was a great narrator as well. However, since there was a lot of characters, I never felt super connected to any of them although I did enjoy and like them a lot.
There was a good fast pace as well. Sometimes when there is a fast pace, it gets too rushed and jumpy, and I felt this novel never really did it. Some things were taken with really no questions asked, but after what was saw and done, it did make more sense. I loved how quick it all went, and I could binge read a couple of chapters super fast - which is always a major plus.
The entire concept was very interesting as well. While there were some elements I thought could be cliche when I first began it, I was super surprised and thrilled that Burn took them in new and different directions. I really didn't know where things were headed, and I thought that was great.
As I said, this isn't the type of book I usually read, and it's honestly why the crowns got a little dented when they were going up for the rating. My lack of love for the genre kind of gave me a general disconnect from the book, and while there was a lot of exciting things going on, I never really fully got invested. That was the main issue I had with the book, and it was really my own issue with my genre love.
Overall, this was definitely a good book! Although it wasn't my usual read, I still enjoyed it, and I think Burn definitely has a great writing style since he got me to enjoy a genre I don't usually like. Four crowns, and a Merida rating (usually Merida is used for lower stars reviews, but I think Merida would definitely have the best chance if she was placed in the-world-is-ending books so here she is)!
Check out more of my reviews at
March 16, 2017
The Enemy Within is a powerful Sci-Fi novel that will hold you in it's grips from beginning to the end. You will be taken on a journey of self discovery, friendship, loss, and a fight between worlds. Imagine taking the idea of "sleeper cells" and combining it with a story like the TV series "Roswell" and you will find the intriguing, emotional book that is The Enemy Within.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and its main characters. The story was interesting and really made you think, "hmm, I wonder..." I could see this being turned in to a movie or mini series and would compare it to "Roswell," (as mentioned above), and The Fifth Wave. The Enemy Within was a real page turner and I was not left disappointed in the least.
I felt the emotion Max felt in the beginning of the story when he was clueless as to why he kept experiencing his terrifying visions. I empathized with him as he tried to end it all, and worried about him when he was sent to Hanover. His character was well developed and felt so authentic. I admired the bond he created with Noah and understood why he became attracted to Jamie. In the end of the story I felt a sense of pride in his decision and his bravery.
Noah's character felt like the "comic relief" of the story. He was necessary in creating a trustworthy bond with Max to keep him with the group and his character used a familiar coping mechanism to handle the dire situation the group found themselves in. More importantly though, he brought laughter to the story. Even though he wasn't 100% human, he brought human emotion to the book.
Jamie's character felt like the typical passive player you often find in groups. Though I felt that she added the needed facet of feminism to the group and kept them grounded, she fit the bill of the character that always seems to go along with what's happening. In the end this does not play to her advantage, but she was an enjoyable and much needed character.
I actually feel like I enjoyed Vincent's character the most. As the unspoken leader of the group he was strong and decisive. I truly felt like he cared about the survival of the group and he had a cool edge about him. His character was written so well that I did not see the plot twist coming from him until it happened.
This story felt familiar and yet felt new and invigorating. The characters fit well and the plot twist was a big surprise and, yet, it made sense and concluded the story well. I almost feel like the book ended with allowance for a sequel. I would definitely rate this one with 5 stars and would look forward to a sequel if announced.
Thank you to author Scott Burn for sending me a free e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and its main characters. The story was interesting and really made you think, "hmm, I wonder..." I could see this being turned in to a movie or mini series and would compare it to "Roswell," (as mentioned above), and The Fifth Wave. The Enemy Within was a real page turner and I was not left disappointed in the least.
I felt the emotion Max felt in the beginning of the story when he was clueless as to why he kept experiencing his terrifying visions. I empathized with him as he tried to end it all, and worried about him when he was sent to Hanover. His character was well developed and felt so authentic. I admired the bond he created with Noah and understood why he became attracted to Jamie. In the end of the story I felt a sense of pride in his decision and his bravery.
Noah's character felt like the "comic relief" of the story. He was necessary in creating a trustworthy bond with Max to keep him with the group and his character used a familiar coping mechanism to handle the dire situation the group found themselves in. More importantly though, he brought laughter to the story. Even though he wasn't 100% human, he brought human emotion to the book.
Jamie's character felt like the typical passive player you often find in groups. Though I felt that she added the needed facet of feminism to the group and kept them grounded, she fit the bill of the character that always seems to go along with what's happening. In the end this does not play to her advantage, but she was an enjoyable and much needed character.
I actually feel like I enjoyed Vincent's character the most. As the unspoken leader of the group he was strong and decisive. I truly felt like he cared about the survival of the group and he had a cool edge about him. His character was written so well that I did not see the plot twist coming from him until it happened.
This story felt familiar and yet felt new and invigorating. The characters fit well and the plot twist was a big surprise and, yet, it made sense and concluded the story well. I almost feel like the book ended with allowance for a sequel. I would definitely rate this one with 5 stars and would look forward to a sequel if announced.
Thank you to author Scott Burn for sending me a free e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
April 6, 2017
The Enemy Within has a really unique concept, and it had my interest as soon as I read the synopsis! Scott didn't waste time getting into the story, and he didn't include anything that wasn't necessary in the long run- I really appreciated that. A lot of authors like to include nonsense that plays no part in the story, but Scott didn't do that!
The characters were really interesting, but sometimes they did seem to fall flat and I didn't seem to ever...click with them. Know what I mean? But, nevertheless, these characters had really strong, defined, & developed personalities, and who doesn't love that?! I really enjoyed having Max as our main character.
The writing was very well structured, & I was really impressed with how easily everything flowed together! The story was confusing at times, but overall it was pretty easy to follow. But I'll admit, it did take me a bit of time to adjust to this style of writing and the alternating chapters.
The reason I gave this novel 3/5 stars is because I felt a disconnect between myself and the story. I did enjoy the characters, and the plot was interesting, but something was missing! I couldn't ever put my finger on it. This novel was a lot different than I had originally thought it was going to be, so that threw me off for a little bit!
Huge thanks to the author for sending his book to me in exchange for this review!
The characters were really interesting, but sometimes they did seem to fall flat and I didn't seem to ever...click with them. Know what I mean? But, nevertheless, these characters had really strong, defined, & developed personalities, and who doesn't love that?! I really enjoyed having Max as our main character.
The writing was very well structured, & I was really impressed with how easily everything flowed together! The story was confusing at times, but overall it was pretty easy to follow. But I'll admit, it did take me a bit of time to adjust to this style of writing and the alternating chapters.
The reason I gave this novel 3/5 stars is because I felt a disconnect between myself and the story. I did enjoy the characters, and the plot was interesting, but something was missing! I couldn't ever put my finger on it. This novel was a lot different than I had originally thought it was going to be, so that threw me off for a little bit!
Huge thanks to the author for sending his book to me in exchange for this review!
February 5, 2017
A strange world is burning in Max’s head and crippling him with seizures. When a botched suicide attempt lands him in psychiatric care, his doctor is convinced that he’s suffering from hallucinations, but neither of them is aware of the high-level panic in the highest echelons of the USA’s armed forces: a satellite of no known provenance has appeared in Earth orbit, and is repelling all efforts to learn more about it. Max’s visions and the satellite are linked in ways that no one initially understands � and on that understanding, everything may rest.
The Enemy Within is a brilliantly written sci-fi thriller, with a plot twisty enough to keep you guessing all the way. I particularly enjoyed the psychology that went into the characters; Max, especially, is damaged, wary, and very plausible. Author Scott Burn has made a refreshing break with the usual stereotypes of dumbed-down teenage heroes. As a bonus, between the armed forces, determined to protect against the unknown, the group of desperate teenagers on the run, and the mysterious Eye, the divergent interests in play kept the stakes and the tension high right through to the finale. This book kept me turning pages right through to the end � I highly recommend it.
Reviewed for .
The Enemy Within is a brilliantly written sci-fi thriller, with a plot twisty enough to keep you guessing all the way. I particularly enjoyed the psychology that went into the characters; Max, especially, is damaged, wary, and very plausible. Author Scott Burn has made a refreshing break with the usual stereotypes of dumbed-down teenage heroes. As a bonus, between the armed forces, determined to protect against the unknown, the group of desperate teenagers on the run, and the mysterious Eye, the divergent interests in play kept the stakes and the tension high right through to the finale. This book kept me turning pages right through to the end � I highly recommend it.
Reviewed for .
December 31, 2016
I didn't like the beginning but as the story progressed I got really invested and even though I'm not particularly happy with the ending... it wasn't a bad book. A super fast and interesting read for sure
January 27, 2017
I really enjoyed this book. The story was pretty standard science fiction but was unique enough in content and writing style to set it apart in my mind.
July 1, 2017
Seventeen-year-old Max has always felt like an outsider. When the agonizing apocalyptic visions begin, he decides suicide is his only escape. He soon finds himself in an institution under the guidance of a therapist who sees something exceptional in him. Just as he begins to leave the hallucinations behind, Max discovers the visions weren't just in his head.
There are three others who have shared those same thoughts and they've been searching for Max. Like him, they are something more than human. Each of them possesses certain abilities, which they're going to need when a covert military group begins hunting them down.
As the danger escalates, Max doesn’t know which side to trust. But in the end, his choice will decide the fate of both species.
Rating: 3.5/5 Penguins
Quick Reasons: slightly confusing premise; I felt some important information was just sort of tossed at us at weird times; interesting, complex characters; the ending felt a bit forced/cliche; I wish this had felt more "alien" than it did
Huge thanks to Scott Burns for sending me a free digital galley of this title in exchange for a (voluntary!) honest review! This in no way altered my read of or opinions on this book.
"Let the hens peck each other. All I care about is that we're all in the same boat."
"What boat is that, sir?"
"The one with a bird of prey circling over it."
This book was SUPER interesting, Penguins! I was sucked into the story almost immediately, and taken on such a wild journey I don't quite know where to begin. The characters are well-rounded; their personalities practically leap off the pages and into reality. I felt as if I were, for brief moments, part of the gang--I felt their struggles, I empathized (maybe a little too much for a few). I also really enjoyed that we're given brief glimpses into the most important players. Each voice is distinctly crafted and easy to tell apart, and each shift brought something new and unexpected.
I did, several times, find myself wishing this felt MORE alien. While it becomes apparent early on that the main group are not "human"....I found myself forgetting this fact several times. So far as I can tell, they look human and for the most part act human and have very limited "powers," which made reading this--especially during those quiet moments of the story--feel a bit more normal and every day than I felt it should. In fact, there weren't many moments that the main group felt actually alien; throughout this entire read, their reactions to and interactions with the world were weighted more toward "human" than "not," which sort of disappointed me.
"One world was lost, but a life was saved and that changed the fate of another entire world. Maybe there's a little Superman in us."
"And a lot of Clark Kent in you," Noah said, looking at Max with a grin.
I did, however, like the way the battle between the sides was written. While I really loathed many of the (actual) humans in the military group chasing these kids, I also found myself being suspicious of and eventually loathing a few of the other characters as well. This balancing act between "good" and "evil"--and the ways each side portrayed themselves as the victims--really validated this journey and helped make it more realistic for me. The fact that each side also has personalities with...questionable morals is the right term, I suppose...only helped to more fully immerse me in the read (and the characters' mindsets).
This was a super intriguing and thought-provoking read, though I do wish it had felt just a bit more "alien" and a bit less "another day in the human world." The characters are complex and interesting, and there were a couple "laugh out loud" snark moments that I really enjoyed. I'd recommend this to lovers of science fiction, "alien" versus "human," and fast-paced reads. The Eye is watching, Penguins; which side are you on?
December 12, 2016
Originally published at .
Scott Burn's The Enemy Within is a welcome addition to young adult science fiction, because it's an exciting and well written novel. It was a pleasant reading experience for me, because I found myself captivated by the fast-moving story and its entertainment values. The story was satisfyingly fresh and a bit different from what has been recently published, because it featured identity issues, morality issues and survival themes.
I've noticed that there's an increasingly popular trend going in YA science speculative fiction, which has resulted in gritty novels that feature realistic depiction of events and don't shy away from difficult and challenging material. Scott Burn's The Enemy Within belongs to this group of novels, because it begins with the protagonist's suicide attempt and then focuses on what happens to him afterwards and how he deals with what he finds out about himself. It is not your normal kind of fluffy YA science fiction in which everything is neat and tidy, because it has a strong and gritty story.
One of the things that often annoys me in YA speculative fiction is that way too many authors add shallow characters, melodramatic moments, transparent love triangles or blissfully happy endings to their novels (in my opinion, these matters are especially annoying when coupled with mediocre writing). Fortunately, Scott Burn avoids these common mistakes in his novel and exhibits signs of original storytelling and rich imagination. He dares to entertain his readers with fresh material.
In my honest opinion, this self-published novel rivals anything that has been published by big publishing companies over the recent years. It surpasses many new novels in terms of freshness and fluent storytelling, because it's more compact than them and the story is being powerfully driven forward by the author's fluent writing style.
Here's a bit of information about the story:
- Seventeen-year-old Max sees apocalyptic visions about cloud of smoke and ash swirled through the city. Waves of fire consume buildings and structures collapse with mighty force. No one survives the inferno, except Max. He sees these visions over and over each day.
- Max doesn't want to die, but he feels that death is the only way to escape the visions. He breaks into a drug store, takes pills and wanders outside to die, but fails at committing a suicide. He is rescued and transported to Hanover Institute. He meets Doctor Garner who tries to help him.
- Unbeknownst to Max, there are others like him - Vincent, Noah and Jamie - who are aware of his existence. Just like Max, they're something more than human. They have abilities that set them apart from normal people. They know that they have to find Max or they'll die...
This is the beginning of an exciting story about a different kind of teenager's life and fate and the survival of two species.
I like the author's writing style, because he doesn't get stuck on meaningless issues, but focuses on writing a compact and strong story. He has cut out all the unnecessary elements that would've hindered him from creating a strong story.
The characterisation is surprisingly good and effective. The protagonist and the other characters are interesting and the author gradually reveals more information about them and what they have to do in order to survive.
Max is a realistic protagonist who has not had an easy life. He believes that he is an offspring of a one-night-stand. His mother has died and his father is unknown to him. His foster father doesn't care about him (when he had his first vision, his foster father thought that he was on meth and ignored him). His life has not been simple since leaving his foster father, because he has had odd jobs and has spent time at libraries and museums.
One of the things that impressed me in this novel is that the author doesn't spend time on reflecting how Max does not fit in with others, but concentrates on writing about how much Max's life has changed because of not being able to fit in and how he tries to cope with his problems. Max does his best to make sense of things that seem strange to him.
I enjoyed reading about the other main characters - Vincent, Noah and Jamie - because they were different from normal people and had interesting abilities. It was interesting to read about them and how they interacted with each other, because their dialogues were good. It was especially fascinating for me to read about Vincent who sensed the Eye that looked after them. I won't go into details about what the Eye is or what it does, but I can mention that the storyline involves aliens.
The main characters feel a bit like a YA take on X-Men and other similar kind of superheroes because of their abilities, but they're totally different from superheroes. The author's vision of them feels realistic, because their motives are gradually revealed to readers and they're described as persons who try to survive while being hunted down by a covert military group.
In my opinion, Scott Burn manages to portray teenage life and angst in an interesting way. His combination of various teenage problems (alienation, neglect, abuse, mental health) and science fiction elements works well, because there's a good balance between different elements and he's capable of delivering a few surprises.
The scenes in which Max and Doctor Garner discuss various things and try to figure out what goes on inside Max's mind are well written. The author has done a convincing job at writing about how therapists do their job and how they try to help other people.
It's great that the author has created a fresh vision of alien species and its survival. He pays attention to writing about what may have to be done in the name of survival to avoid extinction. His thought-provoking way of writing about survival issues impressed me, because he handled everything well and avoided melodramatic moments.
This novel has a bit of humour in it, which is nice, because it offers counter-balance for the dark happenings. Some of the comments and remarks made by the characters are amusing and witty (I'm sure that many readers will enjoy them).
I look forward to reading what Scott Burn writes next, because he's a talented author who has a gift for addictive storytelling and fluent characterisation. I sincerely hope that he will continue to write more YA science fiction, because he doesn't repeat the same mistakes that so many other authors manifest in their novels, but concentrates on writing fresh fiction.
Scott Burn's The Enemy Within is a fast-paced, interesting and well written YA sci-fi novel that differs from many other similar kind of novels, but is akin enough to them to attract the attention of readers who enjoy reading this kind of fiction. I can recommend it to young adults and adults alike, because it will please both readerships. If you've enjoyed reading novels by Rick Yancey, Dan Wells and Pittacus Lore, you'll most likely enjoy The Enemy Within and will find it satisfying and intriguing. It's a hidden gem of YA science fiction that awaits to be discovered by readers.
Exciting, entertaining and well written YA science fiction!
Scott Burn's The Enemy Within is a welcome addition to young adult science fiction, because it's an exciting and well written novel. It was a pleasant reading experience for me, because I found myself captivated by the fast-moving story and its entertainment values. The story was satisfyingly fresh and a bit different from what has been recently published, because it featured identity issues, morality issues and survival themes.
I've noticed that there's an increasingly popular trend going in YA science speculative fiction, which has resulted in gritty novels that feature realistic depiction of events and don't shy away from difficult and challenging material. Scott Burn's The Enemy Within belongs to this group of novels, because it begins with the protagonist's suicide attempt and then focuses on what happens to him afterwards and how he deals with what he finds out about himself. It is not your normal kind of fluffy YA science fiction in which everything is neat and tidy, because it has a strong and gritty story.
One of the things that often annoys me in YA speculative fiction is that way too many authors add shallow characters, melodramatic moments, transparent love triangles or blissfully happy endings to their novels (in my opinion, these matters are especially annoying when coupled with mediocre writing). Fortunately, Scott Burn avoids these common mistakes in his novel and exhibits signs of original storytelling and rich imagination. He dares to entertain his readers with fresh material.
In my honest opinion, this self-published novel rivals anything that has been published by big publishing companies over the recent years. It surpasses many new novels in terms of freshness and fluent storytelling, because it's more compact than them and the story is being powerfully driven forward by the author's fluent writing style.
Here's a bit of information about the story:
- Seventeen-year-old Max sees apocalyptic visions about cloud of smoke and ash swirled through the city. Waves of fire consume buildings and structures collapse with mighty force. No one survives the inferno, except Max. He sees these visions over and over each day.
- Max doesn't want to die, but he feels that death is the only way to escape the visions. He breaks into a drug store, takes pills and wanders outside to die, but fails at committing a suicide. He is rescued and transported to Hanover Institute. He meets Doctor Garner who tries to help him.
- Unbeknownst to Max, there are others like him - Vincent, Noah and Jamie - who are aware of his existence. Just like Max, they're something more than human. They have abilities that set them apart from normal people. They know that they have to find Max or they'll die...
This is the beginning of an exciting story about a different kind of teenager's life and fate and the survival of two species.
I like the author's writing style, because he doesn't get stuck on meaningless issues, but focuses on writing a compact and strong story. He has cut out all the unnecessary elements that would've hindered him from creating a strong story.
The characterisation is surprisingly good and effective. The protagonist and the other characters are interesting and the author gradually reveals more information about them and what they have to do in order to survive.
Max is a realistic protagonist who has not had an easy life. He believes that he is an offspring of a one-night-stand. His mother has died and his father is unknown to him. His foster father doesn't care about him (when he had his first vision, his foster father thought that he was on meth and ignored him). His life has not been simple since leaving his foster father, because he has had odd jobs and has spent time at libraries and museums.
One of the things that impressed me in this novel is that the author doesn't spend time on reflecting how Max does not fit in with others, but concentrates on writing about how much Max's life has changed because of not being able to fit in and how he tries to cope with his problems. Max does his best to make sense of things that seem strange to him.
I enjoyed reading about the other main characters - Vincent, Noah and Jamie - because they were different from normal people and had interesting abilities. It was interesting to read about them and how they interacted with each other, because their dialogues were good. It was especially fascinating for me to read about Vincent who sensed the Eye that looked after them. I won't go into details about what the Eye is or what it does, but I can mention that the storyline involves aliens.
The main characters feel a bit like a YA take on X-Men and other similar kind of superheroes because of their abilities, but they're totally different from superheroes. The author's vision of them feels realistic, because their motives are gradually revealed to readers and they're described as persons who try to survive while being hunted down by a covert military group.
In my opinion, Scott Burn manages to portray teenage life and angst in an interesting way. His combination of various teenage problems (alienation, neglect, abuse, mental health) and science fiction elements works well, because there's a good balance between different elements and he's capable of delivering a few surprises.
The scenes in which Max and Doctor Garner discuss various things and try to figure out what goes on inside Max's mind are well written. The author has done a convincing job at writing about how therapists do their job and how they try to help other people.
It's great that the author has created a fresh vision of alien species and its survival. He pays attention to writing about what may have to be done in the name of survival to avoid extinction. His thought-provoking way of writing about survival issues impressed me, because he handled everything well and avoided melodramatic moments.
This novel has a bit of humour in it, which is nice, because it offers counter-balance for the dark happenings. Some of the comments and remarks made by the characters are amusing and witty (I'm sure that many readers will enjoy them).
I look forward to reading what Scott Burn writes next, because he's a talented author who has a gift for addictive storytelling and fluent characterisation. I sincerely hope that he will continue to write more YA science fiction, because he doesn't repeat the same mistakes that so many other authors manifest in their novels, but concentrates on writing fresh fiction.
Scott Burn's The Enemy Within is a fast-paced, interesting and well written YA sci-fi novel that differs from many other similar kind of novels, but is akin enough to them to attract the attention of readers who enjoy reading this kind of fiction. I can recommend it to young adults and adults alike, because it will please both readerships. If you've enjoyed reading novels by Rick Yancey, Dan Wells and Pittacus Lore, you'll most likely enjoy The Enemy Within and will find it satisfying and intriguing. It's a hidden gem of YA science fiction that awaits to be discovered by readers.
Exciting, entertaining and well written YA science fiction!
March 16, 2017
Same Review Also Posted In My Blog:
* ecopy received from the author in exchange for an honest review *
Well, this was an interesting book to read but I really can’t say that it was mindblowingly amazing. Though the plot felt very realistic and intriguing, it failed to excite me as much as I thought it would. I liked the switching multiple perspectives of the story which brought tension to the story but sometimes it hindered my enjoyability. Reading this book felt like watching an above average sci-fi movie. I loved the sci-fi elements and super powers aspect in this story. I felt a little bit sad when the book ended with no alien interaction from the other world and I also want to know more about the Eye. Nonetheless, I think it’s a good sci-fi read that many sci-fi lovers would love to devour.
The story is about Max, a seventeen year old boy who’s having apocalyptic visions that pretty much messed up his life which eventually lead him to commit suicide to get free from the nightmares. Unfortunately, he gets saved by the cops and sent to an psychiatric asylum for teenagers with drug addictions and other issues. There he meets a therapist who helps Max with his problem and he says that Max is a genius and he deserves a better life. Later Max learns that his hallucinations are more than what they seem when he sees people he never met before but strangely they seem familiar to him. When he finally meets the other three, he discovers that they are same nonhuman like him and all of them have been on earth to fulfill a mission. Now the fate of two species lies on Max’s hands. With the military forces on their trail, Max needs to make a decision that’ll change everything.
Honestly, I can’t connect with any of the characters in this book maybe because I can’t relate to them. I liked Max but the secondary characters Vincent, Jamie and Noah pretty much lacked in depth and I didn’t care much about them. The character Max felt very realistic and I liked the character development of him. He started as a weak and naive teenager who doesn’t know how to deal with his visions and the special powers but as the story progresses he begins to grow strong. Vincent is kinda alpha of the group who always looks out for the safety of their group, Noah is a jokester of the group who always seems to be drunk and finally, we have Jamie who is sort of a mind reader, she can easily read your deep thoughts without any struggle. All four of them possess unique super powers and I enjoyed how they used their powers to deflect all of their obstacles to reach their destination.
The plot is unique and interesting. Though I liked the story, I have to be honest that I got bored in the middle part of the book. The plot is also pretty confusing at the start but as the story progressed I was able to put everything together and I finally ended up liking it but not loving it. The Eye, the strange alien satellite definitely brought intrigue to the story. The romance aspect in this book seemed unnecessary because it didn’t bring anything to the plot. The twist at the end is pretty clever, I didn’t see that coming. I quite enjoyed the action parts in the book and also the ending where things became more intense. As I already said before, the book was told in multiple perspectives[third person] but I mostly enjoyed Max and the military guys perspectives. The author’s writing style is okay, it is simple and easy enough to understand.
Overall, it was a good read! Though I didn’t enjoyed it as much as I expected to, I would definitely read it’s sequel if the author decides to write it.
* ecopy received from the author in exchange for an honest review *
Well, this was an interesting book to read but I really can’t say that it was mindblowingly amazing. Though the plot felt very realistic and intriguing, it failed to excite me as much as I thought it would. I liked the switching multiple perspectives of the story which brought tension to the story but sometimes it hindered my enjoyability. Reading this book felt like watching an above average sci-fi movie. I loved the sci-fi elements and super powers aspect in this story. I felt a little bit sad when the book ended with no alien interaction from the other world and I also want to know more about the Eye. Nonetheless, I think it’s a good sci-fi read that many sci-fi lovers would love to devour.
The story is about Max, a seventeen year old boy who’s having apocalyptic visions that pretty much messed up his life which eventually lead him to commit suicide to get free from the nightmares. Unfortunately, he gets saved by the cops and sent to an psychiatric asylum for teenagers with drug addictions and other issues. There he meets a therapist who helps Max with his problem and he says that Max is a genius and he deserves a better life. Later Max learns that his hallucinations are more than what they seem when he sees people he never met before but strangely they seem familiar to him. When he finally meets the other three, he discovers that they are same nonhuman like him and all of them have been on earth to fulfill a mission. Now the fate of two species lies on Max’s hands. With the military forces on their trail, Max needs to make a decision that’ll change everything.
Honestly, I can’t connect with any of the characters in this book maybe because I can’t relate to them. I liked Max but the secondary characters Vincent, Jamie and Noah pretty much lacked in depth and I didn’t care much about them. The character Max felt very realistic and I liked the character development of him. He started as a weak and naive teenager who doesn’t know how to deal with his visions and the special powers but as the story progresses he begins to grow strong. Vincent is kinda alpha of the group who always looks out for the safety of their group, Noah is a jokester of the group who always seems to be drunk and finally, we have Jamie who is sort of a mind reader, she can easily read your deep thoughts without any struggle. All four of them possess unique super powers and I enjoyed how they used their powers to deflect all of their obstacles to reach their destination.
The plot is unique and interesting. Though I liked the story, I have to be honest that I got bored in the middle part of the book. The plot is also pretty confusing at the start but as the story progressed I was able to put everything together and I finally ended up liking it but not loving it. The Eye, the strange alien satellite definitely brought intrigue to the story. The romance aspect in this book seemed unnecessary because it didn’t bring anything to the plot. The twist at the end is pretty clever, I didn’t see that coming. I quite enjoyed the action parts in the book and also the ending where things became more intense. As I already said before, the book was told in multiple perspectives[third person] but I mostly enjoyed Max and the military guys perspectives. The author’s writing style is okay, it is simple and easy enough to understand.
Overall, it was a good read! Though I didn’t enjoyed it as much as I expected to, I would definitely read it’s sequel if the author decides to write it.
April 8, 2017
You can check out the review here: The Enemy Within
We received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Sci fi isn’t my usual genre but as soon as I read the synopsis I was intrigued and this book didn’t let me down.
I loved how we were In the story from first page and no wasting time. So Max is a seventeen year old boy who’s mother is dead, father long gone and a foster father who only cares about the money. Max has no one and he feels useless so when he starts hallucinating, thinking he’s crazy � he attempts suicide- only to be found and taken to a mental hospital where he finds strength through a doctor. But what he sees aren’t hallucinations- they’re prophecies and something needs to be done fast.
On the other side there are three other teenagers waiting for him- some kids who are like him , not exactly human. When Max finally gets together with Vincent, Noah and Jamie- his life changes. But will it be for better or for worse?
I enjoyed the story, its fast paced and even though its only around 150 pages, leaving some instances, it didn’t feel to rushed up. The plotline is pretty entertaining and I liked the fact that aliens aren’t just shown as a weird unusual or an in human figure but just as a normal but more advanced mankind.
I never felt like I connected to any of the characters but I like and enjoyed all of them. This book is more of a seeing a movie kind of perspective than living in it and that was fine too. Another thing I appreciate is that 17 year old kids behave and feel 17 they are still lost and trying to find what’s going on and a little moody and cranky but still supportive and loving. I think these days in most YA books, the characters just feel older than they are and this was a good change.
There were a few clichés and I’m not the biggest fan of the romance here but they didn’t take me too far away from the story.
The Enemy Within name suits so well to this story. It’s a fast, easy and fun read and I gave it 3.5 or 4/ 5 stars. Even if you don’t usually read sci-fi like me, I would totally suggest this book.
We received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Sci fi isn’t my usual genre but as soon as I read the synopsis I was intrigued and this book didn’t let me down.
I loved how we were In the story from first page and no wasting time. So Max is a seventeen year old boy who’s mother is dead, father long gone and a foster father who only cares about the money. Max has no one and he feels useless so when he starts hallucinating, thinking he’s crazy � he attempts suicide- only to be found and taken to a mental hospital where he finds strength through a doctor. But what he sees aren’t hallucinations- they’re prophecies and something needs to be done fast.
On the other side there are three other teenagers waiting for him- some kids who are like him , not exactly human. When Max finally gets together with Vincent, Noah and Jamie- his life changes. But will it be for better or for worse?
I enjoyed the story, its fast paced and even though its only around 150 pages, leaving some instances, it didn’t feel to rushed up. The plotline is pretty entertaining and I liked the fact that aliens aren’t just shown as a weird unusual or an in human figure but just as a normal but more advanced mankind.
I never felt like I connected to any of the characters but I like and enjoyed all of them. This book is more of a seeing a movie kind of perspective than living in it and that was fine too. Another thing I appreciate is that 17 year old kids behave and feel 17 they are still lost and trying to find what’s going on and a little moody and cranky but still supportive and loving. I think these days in most YA books, the characters just feel older than they are and this was a good change.
There were a few clichés and I’m not the biggest fan of the romance here but they didn’t take me too far away from the story.
The Enemy Within name suits so well to this story. It’s a fast, easy and fun read and I gave it 3.5 or 4/ 5 stars. Even if you don’t usually read sci-fi like me, I would totally suggest this book.
June 18, 2017
Teenage outsider Max can't deal with the chaos going on inside his own head, but after a failed suicide attempt he finds himself in an institution. Realising his 'visions' aren't necessarily signs of insanity, he learns he's not the only one who can see them. When three young people with similar abilities help him break out, he finds himself on the run from the military. As Max gets to grips with his new powers, he is faced with questions he can't answer - like who he really is, and what does he have that poses a threat to the Government?
While it seems to be aimed at YA sci-fi fans, this is a novel that would appeal to anyone with a taste for realistic and well-thought-out fiction with a speculative bent. The writing has a light and fresh touch to it, making it an easy and quick read. From the beginning, we're not really sure what's going on, but Scott Burn's character's are interesting and well rounded, drawing us into the story. The plot, though not exactly complicated, might easily have ended up tying itself in knots, but the author weaves the pieces together perfectly, giving us a denouement that leaves a pleasantly curious feeling in its readers.
A clever and thoughtful novel that promises great things for the future.
While it seems to be aimed at YA sci-fi fans, this is a novel that would appeal to anyone with a taste for realistic and well-thought-out fiction with a speculative bent. The writing has a light and fresh touch to it, making it an easy and quick read. From the beginning, we're not really sure what's going on, but Scott Burn's character's are interesting and well rounded, drawing us into the story. The plot, though not exactly complicated, might easily have ended up tying itself in knots, but the author weaves the pieces together perfectly, giving us a denouement that leaves a pleasantly curious feeling in its readers.
A clever and thoughtful novel that promises great things for the future.
April 13, 2017
I just finished this book and all I can say is whoa! The Enemy Within by Scott Burn is an awesome sci-fi story that is sure to leave the reader wanting more. I love a good sci-fi story and I knew I would like this one but I’m really surprised with how it surpassed my expectations. At less than 200 pages, it’s a quick read full of action and suspense with each page turn. Now that I have given so much praise, I should probably mention what the book is about. It is a story about a kid named Max who has had a rough life. On top of that, he also has terrible visions of a burning city and doesnt know why or how to drop them. Meanwhile a trio of teens are looking to team up with Max against a group that is after them. The 4 teens have something in common. They all have special abilities. Page turner and a fun ride from start to finish!
I loved this book and thoroughly hope that there will be a sequel. I’m grateful that the author, Scott Burn, sent me a copy to read and review however my thoughts and opinions are still my own. 4.5/5!
I loved this book and thoroughly hope that there will be a sequel. I’m grateful that the author, Scott Burn, sent me a copy to read and review however my thoughts and opinions are still my own. 4.5/5!
March 11, 2017
3.75 Full review to come!
Update: Full Review here->
*I was given a free copy in exchange for an honest review*
Scott Burn did a great job of bringing his alien species to life in the image of four teens. This novel had great perspectives and an intriguing story twist that I think many sci-fi fans will enjoy.
I think it had great sci-fi elements and the super-powers were great! The middle was a little boring and I was not too happy with the miniature romance aspect within the book. I think it would have been better with out it. The Eye was a little vague to me too and I wanted to explore it more than in just the final chapters. It makes you think about humanity and how our actions impact how the world sees us. It highlights the blurred lines between what is good and bad. Over all I enjoyed it and recommend it for sci-fi lovers!
Update: Full Review here->
*I was given a free copy in exchange for an honest review*
Scott Burn did a great job of bringing his alien species to life in the image of four teens. This novel had great perspectives and an intriguing story twist that I think many sci-fi fans will enjoy.
I think it had great sci-fi elements and the super-powers were great! The middle was a little boring and I was not too happy with the miniature romance aspect within the book. I think it would have been better with out it. The Eye was a little vague to me too and I wanted to explore it more than in just the final chapters. It makes you think about humanity and how our actions impact how the world sees us. It highlights the blurred lines between what is good and bad. Over all I enjoyed it and recommend it for sci-fi lovers!
February 27, 2017
This is such an incredibly creative story! We've all found science fiction out there in the realm of literature. We've all found dystopian stories, as well. This novel, though, sort of merges the two in a way that keeps you on your toes straight through the last page. The characters are beautifully intriguing and they seem to come alive from the start. I fell in love with most of them right away. Perhaps because of that, I never could quite tell which side I should be pulling for or which characters could or couldn't be trusted. I love the way that the reader endures that conflict right along with Max.
One of my favorite themes to explore is morality and the way that it can sort of break down depending on a person's perspective. This story played with that concept really nicely, factoring desperation into the equation as key players had to make difficult decisions. Honestly, even with the full knowledge of how the story ends, I can still see where people on each side of the conflict are coming from. This was truly a riveting read. It left me thinking and I was most definitely sad to realize that I'd found the last page. I'll definitely be looking for more from this author!
One of my favorite themes to explore is morality and the way that it can sort of break down depending on a person's perspective. This story played with that concept really nicely, factoring desperation into the equation as key players had to make difficult decisions. Honestly, even with the full knowledge of how the story ends, I can still see where people on each side of the conflict are coming from. This was truly a riveting read. It left me thinking and I was most definitely sad to realize that I'd found the last page. I'll definitely be looking for more from this author!
December 25, 2016
What is the essence of humanity? When we meet something strange, do we try to understand it, or do we whack it with a stick?
In “The Enemy Within,� seventeen-year-old Max gets all sorts of chances to find out. He has always felt separate from his fellow humans, and as the story progresses he finds out the size of that gulf. In the end, he does what every human must do. He makes a choice based on his own personal interpretation of what is right.
This is an archetypical tale, the story of a hero setting out on a journey to find out what he is made of, where he comes from, and who he wants to be. Other characters he meets show him differing examples of how he might act. In the end most of them are wrong, and he must choose his own path. And of course he finds his solution within his own soul. Hence the title.
This is a fine Sci-Fi story anchored to firm thematic material. The other three main characters are fully rounded and realistic. The antagonists are more stereotypical, representing the different choices mankind makes as history progresses. Although the main characters have science fictional powers, Mr. Burn avoids the temptation to turn the tale into a superhero Sci-Fi magic fest. Although there is plenty of action, including a motorcycle chase across the Western States and numerous obstacles and battles for the hero to surmount, the conflict is solved in his mind. In the final roundup, it is this internal argument that interests us the most. It is there that the character resonates with us.
A great combination of suspenseful action and empathetic characterization based on relevant ideas, which can be enjoyed on several levels. Highly recommended for all Sci-Fi and general novel fans.
In “The Enemy Within,� seventeen-year-old Max gets all sorts of chances to find out. He has always felt separate from his fellow humans, and as the story progresses he finds out the size of that gulf. In the end, he does what every human must do. He makes a choice based on his own personal interpretation of what is right.
This is an archetypical tale, the story of a hero setting out on a journey to find out what he is made of, where he comes from, and who he wants to be. Other characters he meets show him differing examples of how he might act. In the end most of them are wrong, and he must choose his own path. And of course he finds his solution within his own soul. Hence the title.
This is a fine Sci-Fi story anchored to firm thematic material. The other three main characters are fully rounded and realistic. The antagonists are more stereotypical, representing the different choices mankind makes as history progresses. Although the main characters have science fictional powers, Mr. Burn avoids the temptation to turn the tale into a superhero Sci-Fi magic fest. Although there is plenty of action, including a motorcycle chase across the Western States and numerous obstacles and battles for the hero to surmount, the conflict is solved in his mind. In the final roundup, it is this internal argument that interests us the most. It is there that the character resonates with us.
A great combination of suspenseful action and empathetic characterization based on relevant ideas, which can be enjoyed on several levels. Highly recommended for all Sci-Fi and general novel fans.
September 6, 2017
I wasn't a fan personally of the short writing style, I wanted more! But it was an engaging story.
January 12, 2017
My Book Review Number 133:
This review is on The Enemy Within by Scott Burn; the first book I have read by this author, which I found on BooksGoSocial.com. The author says this is his first novel, but he writes a Sci-Fi comic book series called AGON and other stories, so his writing style in this book is very good for a debut novel.
This book starts with an apocalyptic description of a sky on fire and a city dying in smoke and ash with burnt corpses lying on the ground while a young 17-year old boy named Max experiences the world-ending destruction around him. Max is the only one who survives and experiences this terrible tragedy in his mind, day after day. It is driving him to depression.
Max is different from other boys and it has caused much pain in his short life. Max wants to find a way to end the visions, but he only makes matters worse for himself. He ends up in a home called Hanover for troubled children where he meets Doctor Garner who tries to help him. Max finally begins to trust the doctor, but events unfold that lead Max to find others like himself.
Three other characters the same exact age as Max find him. They all have unusual abilities that can’t be explained as normal human attributes. There is Vincent who is the leader, Noah who likes the wild side and Jamie who can read minds. They break Max out of Hanover for a mission that must be completed successfully within days if they hope to survive on Earth.
As the story progresses, Max finally learns why he and the others are different. Because of their unusual abilities and the sudden appearance of a strange UFO above Earth that attacks orbiting satellites, the US Military becomes aware of the four teenagers and attempts to track them down. Events escalate and lead the military to the conclusion that the teenagers are dangerous and must be captured or killed. The tensions build between the teens and the authorities until people are killed trying to stop them.
I give this book Four Stars because the plot and storyline are very interesting and suspenseful. The characters are well developed and the writing is fast paced. The mystery of the teens and their purpose for being here unfolds gradually while the tension builds quickly to a final climax. My only regret is the story is relatively short for a novel at 161 pages and I wish it was longer. I hope the author decides to write a sequel and continues the storyline.
Keep reading good science fiction and let me know when you find an interesting novel or author.
This review is on The Enemy Within by Scott Burn; the first book I have read by this author, which I found on BooksGoSocial.com. The author says this is his first novel, but he writes a Sci-Fi comic book series called AGON and other stories, so his writing style in this book is very good for a debut novel.
This book starts with an apocalyptic description of a sky on fire and a city dying in smoke and ash with burnt corpses lying on the ground while a young 17-year old boy named Max experiences the world-ending destruction around him. Max is the only one who survives and experiences this terrible tragedy in his mind, day after day. It is driving him to depression.
Max is different from other boys and it has caused much pain in his short life. Max wants to find a way to end the visions, but he only makes matters worse for himself. He ends up in a home called Hanover for troubled children where he meets Doctor Garner who tries to help him. Max finally begins to trust the doctor, but events unfold that lead Max to find others like himself.
Three other characters the same exact age as Max find him. They all have unusual abilities that can’t be explained as normal human attributes. There is Vincent who is the leader, Noah who likes the wild side and Jamie who can read minds. They break Max out of Hanover for a mission that must be completed successfully within days if they hope to survive on Earth.
As the story progresses, Max finally learns why he and the others are different. Because of their unusual abilities and the sudden appearance of a strange UFO above Earth that attacks orbiting satellites, the US Military becomes aware of the four teenagers and attempts to track them down. Events escalate and lead the military to the conclusion that the teenagers are dangerous and must be captured or killed. The tensions build between the teens and the authorities until people are killed trying to stop them.
I give this book Four Stars because the plot and storyline are very interesting and suspenseful. The characters are well developed and the writing is fast paced. The mystery of the teens and their purpose for being here unfolds gradually while the tension builds quickly to a final climax. My only regret is the story is relatively short for a novel at 161 pages and I wish it was longer. I hope the author decides to write a sequel and continues the storyline.
Keep reading good science fiction and let me know when you find an interesting novel or author.
April 18, 2017
A great little science fiction book that is a fast read, and has no filler whatsoever. It was very refreshing to read!
The Enemy Within by Scott Burn has an interesting premise. Young Max has been getting visions, and ends up in an institution. It turns out that Max is not the only one receiving these visions, and finds several others like him, all age seventeen. That is about all I’m going to say about the plot of this book, as the book is fairly short (Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ has it at 161 pages long), and the plot moves very quickly.
I really enjoyed The Enemy Within. One of my reading goals for the year is to read more science fiction books, and so I was happy to accept this book from the author for review. I haven’t read a whole lot of science fiction, so I can’t compare it to other books in the genre, but I thought this was a smart, fast-paced adventure, full of twists and turns.
I really liked the main character, Max. Since the book is so short, there isn’t a lot of time to build the character, but Scott Burn did a great job here in introducing to us who Max is, and why we should care about him. Max was a bit different of a character in that he weighs his actions before acting. I can’t recall a young adult character stopping to ponder the bigger issue in a fast-paced action book prior to this. I really loved this aspect of his personality, and thought it was very smart. So many times authors just have characters do something without thinking it through, and I liked the reality of Max’s decisions being mentioned.
As I mentioned earlier, this is a very fast read. I read this in one evening, and I wanted more as soon as I finished it! There is zero filler in the book, and this was so refreshing to read. The author could’ve easily added a lot more to the book, and to the various characters, but all that would’ve been unnecessary. I really appreciated the “stripped down� plot and characters. It made for a fast-paced easy read that I think a lot of people will enjoy. The way the book ends will have you hoping that there is a second book!
A big thanks goes to the author, Scott Burn, for providing a copy of the book for me to review.
Bottom Line: A great, fast-paced science fiction adventure!
**I received a copy of The Enemy Within from the author in exchange for an honest review. This review first posted on my blog, luvtoread:
The Enemy Within by Scott Burn has an interesting premise. Young Max has been getting visions, and ends up in an institution. It turns out that Max is not the only one receiving these visions, and finds several others like him, all age seventeen. That is about all I’m going to say about the plot of this book, as the book is fairly short (Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ has it at 161 pages long), and the plot moves very quickly.
I really enjoyed The Enemy Within. One of my reading goals for the year is to read more science fiction books, and so I was happy to accept this book from the author for review. I haven’t read a whole lot of science fiction, so I can’t compare it to other books in the genre, but I thought this was a smart, fast-paced adventure, full of twists and turns.
I really liked the main character, Max. Since the book is so short, there isn’t a lot of time to build the character, but Scott Burn did a great job here in introducing to us who Max is, and why we should care about him. Max was a bit different of a character in that he weighs his actions before acting. I can’t recall a young adult character stopping to ponder the bigger issue in a fast-paced action book prior to this. I really loved this aspect of his personality, and thought it was very smart. So many times authors just have characters do something without thinking it through, and I liked the reality of Max’s decisions being mentioned.
As I mentioned earlier, this is a very fast read. I read this in one evening, and I wanted more as soon as I finished it! There is zero filler in the book, and this was so refreshing to read. The author could’ve easily added a lot more to the book, and to the various characters, but all that would’ve been unnecessary. I really appreciated the “stripped down� plot and characters. It made for a fast-paced easy read that I think a lot of people will enjoy. The way the book ends will have you hoping that there is a second book!
A big thanks goes to the author, Scott Burn, for providing a copy of the book for me to review.
Bottom Line: A great, fast-paced science fiction adventure!
**I received a copy of The Enemy Within from the author in exchange for an honest review. This review first posted on my blog, luvtoread:
June 5, 2017
THE ENEMY WITHIN BY SCOTT BURN Spoiler-free book review
First of all, I need to apologise to the author. I am really sorry, Mr Burn. I finished reading your book in May but have not got around to write the review for it. I am really sorry.
And sorry to those who follow and read my blog! I have not posted for a loooooong time. Believe me, I miss writing blog posts. I miss you guys.
But anyway, I am now back with a spoiler-free book review! As it has been quite some time since I finished this book, this review will not be very detailed.
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions in the review are of my own.
RATING
3 out of 5 stars
PLOT
I found the plot too slow and not engaging at all. There were some exciting parts but other than those parts, I could doze off while reading this book. As it gets to the end, the pace did become faster. However, when it got faster, everything just happened and I was confused.
CHARACTERS
There was not much character building. The characters were not relatable or particularly likeable. I do not know if the author did this on purpose but I almost hated a few (yes, not just one but a few) supporting characters.
WRITING
The writing was not bad but there definitely was space for improvement. There were different perspectives in this book. I usually do not mind reading different POVs but it became a problem when I started thinking ‘This POV is just so boring. Can I just skip this?�. I did not skip any part of the book in the end, of course.
OVERALL
I know that I might sound a bit harsh in the book review but the book was not that bad. It was just not for me. Some parts were just all over the place for me. But besides those parts, it was okay.
I do not have much feeling for this book so I will end here. I hope you all had a great weekend! I will try to write soon. Keep reading crazily!
Find me on Instagram: @thecrazyreader_
Find me on Facebook: @thecrazyreader
Find me on WordPress: tinkareads.wordpress.com
First of all, I need to apologise to the author. I am really sorry, Mr Burn. I finished reading your book in May but have not got around to write the review for it. I am really sorry.
And sorry to those who follow and read my blog! I have not posted for a loooooong time. Believe me, I miss writing blog posts. I miss you guys.
But anyway, I am now back with a spoiler-free book review! As it has been quite some time since I finished this book, this review will not be very detailed.
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions in the review are of my own.
RATING
3 out of 5 stars
PLOT
I found the plot too slow and not engaging at all. There were some exciting parts but other than those parts, I could doze off while reading this book. As it gets to the end, the pace did become faster. However, when it got faster, everything just happened and I was confused.
CHARACTERS
There was not much character building. The characters were not relatable or particularly likeable. I do not know if the author did this on purpose but I almost hated a few (yes, not just one but a few) supporting characters.
WRITING
The writing was not bad but there definitely was space for improvement. There were different perspectives in this book. I usually do not mind reading different POVs but it became a problem when I started thinking ‘This POV is just so boring. Can I just skip this?�. I did not skip any part of the book in the end, of course.
OVERALL
I know that I might sound a bit harsh in the book review but the book was not that bad. It was just not for me. Some parts were just all over the place for me. But besides those parts, it was okay.
I do not have much feeling for this book so I will end here. I hope you all had a great weekend! I will try to write soon. Keep reading crazily!
Find me on Instagram: @thecrazyreader_
Find me on Facebook: @thecrazyreader
Find me on WordPress: tinkareads.wordpress.com
November 10, 2016
Full Review at:
The awesome author of this baby reached out to me and asked me to read, but the below review is my honest opinion.
I was so caught up in this, I probably read it in a good 3 hours (in between homework). What's better than a kid having visions of an apocalypse only to find out that they may be true? NOTHING!
I'm going to start by saying that this was new territory in a market of repetitive concepts. The main character, Max, is a 17 year old who's been in and out of foster homes his entire life. Once the visions of a burning world start to take over his mind, he will do anything to end it (including suicide). After an unsuccessful attempt, he is taken to an asylum where he eventually meets 3 other teens who understand him more than anyone in the world.
I liked the characters, I liked the setting, I liked the quick pace of the book. I could go on for a while about things that I liked. I really don't want to give away the plot of the book because there's so much more to it and I feel like if I mention the why of Max's visions that people may completely look past this book.
But really, I did have a few problems with it also. First, the reasoning & advancement of exactly what Max and the others can do was a little too advanced and/or confusing for me. I sometimes got lost in exactly what was going on (especially with Max and the red stuff and flowers). Also, there is a sort of 'mind reader' in the book, but for some reason she didn't read the (for lack of a better word) villain's mind to see through his plot. Also, I didn't feel that the little bit of romance in there was necessary or very deep as there wasn't much time within the book to explore a relationship.
I really enjoyed this. Thank you, Scott!
The awesome author of this baby reached out to me and asked me to read, but the below review is my honest opinion.
I was so caught up in this, I probably read it in a good 3 hours (in between homework). What's better than a kid having visions of an apocalypse only to find out that they may be true? NOTHING!
I'm going to start by saying that this was new territory in a market of repetitive concepts. The main character, Max, is a 17 year old who's been in and out of foster homes his entire life. Once the visions of a burning world start to take over his mind, he will do anything to end it (including suicide). After an unsuccessful attempt, he is taken to an asylum where he eventually meets 3 other teens who understand him more than anyone in the world.
I liked the characters, I liked the setting, I liked the quick pace of the book. I could go on for a while about things that I liked. I really don't want to give away the plot of the book because there's so much more to it and I feel like if I mention the why of Max's visions that people may completely look past this book.
But really, I did have a few problems with it also. First, the reasoning & advancement of exactly what Max and the others can do was a little too advanced and/or confusing for me. I sometimes got lost in exactly what was going on (especially with Max and the red stuff and flowers). Also, there is a sort of 'mind reader' in the book, but for some reason she didn't read the (for lack of a better word) villain's mind to see through his plot. Also, I didn't feel that the little bit of romance in there was necessary or very deep as there wasn't much time within the book to explore a relationship.
I really enjoyed this. Thank you, Scott!
January 27, 2017
One of the last books I read in 2016 and it didn’t disappoint.
It follows the story of a teenage boy, Max, who feels he is going crazy because he starts hallucinating the end of the world. However, when he finds out that three other people are going through the same things as him, things change. They’re different and are being hunted down by the military. Every step they take now will decide their fate and humanity’s.
It’s a very quick and fast paced novel, with some beautifully developed characters and a plot that took unexpected turns. I wasn’t very engrossed in the beginning but soon I was invested in the adventurous storyline.
At some points the story turned cliche but it didn’t take away the fun and even though it’s only 161 kindle pages, the story doesn’t feel rushed. Each aspect of the plot fit together at the right time and keeps you flipping through the pages. It’s an interesting read for sure.
I'd like to thank the author for providing us with a free copy of his e-book.
February 4, 2017
This is a book which I can easily imagine being dissected in an English Literature class. You know what I mean. When the teachers asks "what do you think the author was referencing when ... etc etc". I have often wondered whether authors approached novel writing with that kind of multi layered intent. But with this story, I can see it.
This novel just unfolds before the reader, and as you ease your way through the story, everything you think you knew about the characters will be questioned. But scratch beneath the surface a little, and you might find a commentary about how we treat those who are different.
Did the author intend that? I don't know. What I do know is that this little book felt like something much bigger and had my mind returning to it for a couple of days after I finished it.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.
This novel just unfolds before the reader, and as you ease your way through the story, everything you think you knew about the characters will be questioned. But scratch beneath the surface a little, and you might find a commentary about how we treat those who are different.
Did the author intend that? I don't know. What I do know is that this little book felt like something much bigger and had my mind returning to it for a couple of days after I finished it.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.
January 3, 2017
The Enemy Within, by Scott Burn, is an exciting adventure from the very first page straight through to the end. It was really difficult to put down. Even with the science fiction theme, there are human elements and messages throughout that make it even more compelling to read. Max, the main character, not only learns that his visions are real, but he learns what it’s like to be an outsider � which is something most of us have felt at one point or another. It’s so easy to relate to his situation and what he’s going through that one can’t help but keep turning each new page. The connection between the characters and the development of the dangers they face is positively phenomenal. A riveting read that will keep you on the edge of your seat even after you’ve finished it. I was extremely impressed with this author’s debut novel and cannot wait to see what else is in store for us from him!
April 20, 2019
This is a short but exciting page turner of a novel, it's a fast paced adventure following a teenager called Max as he gets admitted to a mental hospital after struggling to deal with his visions of an apocalypse. It's a very quick read and unfortunately I think this meant that I couldn't quite connect with the characters as much as I'd want to meaning they came across as a little 2d at times. It would have been great if more time could have been spent on them. I think this is natural for a book of this length though and the plot is enough to keep you interested and racing to the finish
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