The Loop (1)

This plot-driven novel focuses on Luka, a 16 year old who has been incarcerated in a high-tech, maximum security prison and who perpetually resides on death row.While the story is published/geared for an upper teens audience, the prescient themes explored throughout the story are relevant to all readers. Some important questions worth considering as you read (or read the story with a teenager): What does a society that incarcerates (with a life sentence / death penalty) teenagers look like? How far away are our current prisons / justice system from the world portrayed in this novel? What technology do we currently use that resembles that in the novel? Does technology liberate/enhance the fictional society? Why/why not?The story ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, but most plot threads are generally resolved and the second installment is given a starting point in the final pages. It will be interesting to see where we go from here. I predict the second novel will explore more of the political motives and technological back-story.I have seen several comparisons to Maze Runner, which I think is fair but over simplistic. This is not a zombie chase story and the world (and its technological and political "innovations") are much more developed and realized. I think a fairer comparison would be the Hunger Games trilogy.

This was a very different theme than I was expecting. It was interesting and kept me hooked till the end. The ending was a bit confusing though as I did not know if it was real or imagined. Did not realize it was part of a series.

What a rollercoaster! It's been a minute since I gasped more than once while reading a book and I think Ben Oliver got me like four times. It's a fast, action packed dystopian that delivers on fun tropes in a new way. Luka Kane is a highly likeable protagonist and the extending cast of characters is well done. Do be warned, there is quite a bit of violence and the author does not shy away from injuring or unaliving characters. That being said, it is contextually appropriate and likely given the situation these kids find themselves in. The author delivers several roundhouse kick plot twists, some of which you see coming but they still knock you back a little. I thoroughly enjoyed this and will be quickly picking up the second in the trilogy.

Minor spoiler: partway through the first part of the book, a main character's arm is violently ripped off. The amount of time that passed after this happened while an effort was made to save that character was so unrealistically long that it kind of spoiled the rest of the book for me. From that point, it became increasingly difficult to enjoy it, and the last quarter of the book was a mess. But - good premise!

I already wrote a review for this book, but it got deleted and I'm too lazy to write it again. To put it simply, this book is awesome! I encourage sci-fi fans of all ages to give this book a chance. I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

This is the birth child of Stephen King's The Institute and Rick Yancey's The 5th Wave series.Similar to those, this was a tough pill to swallow involving torture, prison and war for young adults and children. But damn if it isn't a rocket fueled ride. I couldn't stop reading even when I was hating what was happening. This is a love hate read in my opinion. The characters are absolutely wonderful. Dynamic and engaging. Dialogue was fantastic! Just enough that you get past the horrible things they endure. If they can, why can't you! And then we're left with the ending...I'm still debating: copout or good? Let the readers decide. I hear there may be another book in the making. If that is true, I'd be very happy.

One of my friends recommended this book to me so I decided to give it a chance & ordered it. I was pleasantly surprised! It was fast paced and so well written. I couldn’t put it down! I can’t wait to see what the author releases next

A great read for a school book report

Did not pay close enough attention and thought this was a stand alone...as you can imagine...not too happy that it's A TRILOGY. But its so great I NEED to go through with the next books....NEXT BOOK ISNT EVEN OUT YET!! 😦 WHYYYY?

The Loop is the perfect escapist read, with a gripping plot that never lets up and an inventive, absorbing world.The plot of this book is so intriguing. It begins with a realistic portrayal of Luka's life in the Loop, gradually introducing readers to the world. I really loved the book references and it seems very appropriate for 2020 that Luka uses books for escapism.This is one of those books where the writing feels effortless. Each character has distinctive dialogue and characteristics, and the voice is immediately arresting.I also liked the science-fiction elements of the book. They're super creative and yet easily understandable for a science novice like me.This is a brilliant start to a series and I can see why it's been optioned for TV. It has a cinematic quality that will transfer really easily to the screen, and I can't wait to see where this series goes.

... but stick with it. It gets much more dynamic and exciting. The characters develop well and I became engaged with them and their trials and tribulations. All in all a good read and now for book 2.Recommended.

Story was very good with compelling characters and was making you think the whole way throughout. Picked this up on Prime day and was very happy with my purchase. Will be looking at the authors other works.

Why are books today so shallow yet hyped?I bought it because I was curious about the publisher and what they think kids today like to read, but I'm disappointed.There were some scenes with medical terror that felt real, but there were also situations that made no sense as the protagonist ran here and there trying to save a crazed cyborg who had just lost an arm after murdering all of his friends and strangling him. What?And then he gets attacked by dozens of dog-sized rats and survives. That didn't make sense.There was also a character who threatened to kill the protagonist over and over without ever saying why. It was absurd, like a storyline randomly woven in from an unrelated book that culminates in him pressing a cucumber, yes a cucumber against his throat.From there on out, it just gets more and more unfocused and buggy. We are always focused on something happening in the moment, but the core threads of the story have been largely dropped. He literally falls asleep and wakes up in another story at the 79% mark. It makes no sense.Then there is the tone: unrelentingly grim. This whole book is just an endless series of low points with no meaning or purpose given to it all. What a dumb book. It seems buggy and machine written in many places.What did I learn from it emotionally or intellectually? Not a damn thing I haven't already seen in any sci fi film in the past 20 years. It was an unenjoyable waste of time -- written by an English teacher? I don't believe it.There was one interesting paragraph in the book near the end - if it is a comment about today's online security operations. It explained that certain security systems are only allowed to suck your energy or terrify you but not kill you, but is it worth reading 250 pages of nonsense to find it?