Rule of Three by Eric Walters is a dystopian YA novel. This book was recommended to me by my youngest! I purchased this book for him a year or so ago from a school book sale. While, I don’t think, he has ever finished the novel, he has always said it is a book I would look. So, this one is for you, kiddo!
“One shocking afternoon, computers around the globe shut down in a viral catastrophe. At sixteen-year-old Adam Daley’s high school, the problem first seems to be a typical electrical outage, until students discover that cell phones are down, municipal utilities are failing, and a few computer-free cars like Adam’s are the only vehicles that function. Driving home, Adam encounters a storm tide of anger and fear as the region becomes paralyzed. Soon—as resources dwindle, crises mount, and chaos descends—he will see his suburban neighborhood band together for protection. And Adam will understand that having a police captain for a mother and a retired government spy living next door are not just the facts of his life but the keys to his survival, in The Rule of Three by Eric Walters.”
synopsis by goodread
What I did like:
I enjoyed this book for sure! For some reason, when I started reading, I was expecting aliens, or some foreign country, to be behind the computer failure. Thinking this was going to be some cheesy read that I could blow through. So, I was fortunately intrigued when neither turned up.
Keeping in mind that this is a YA read, there wasn’t a lot of graphic violence and there wasn’t an over sexualisation either. That being said, the intensity of the “start of the end of the world” wasn’t dulled. This novel still had drama, and realistic characters. Just happened to be from the point of view of a teen, rather than an adult. The action in this book was always moving. There was always a new hurdle, or challenge to over come. Adam and his community are constantly up against one thing or another that causes them to take both offensive and defensive action and with no power.
I rather enjoyed the pre-apocalyptic atmosphere. We get to see things unravel, to follow our protagonist as he figures out what happened, and what to do next. It was really quite jarring to see just how reliant we have become on all thing technological, and how totally devastating something like that would be!
What I did not like:
Being a YA novel, there is naturally going to be a bit of romance. Lori is Adam’s high school crush, and while their romance doesn’t distract from the story at all, its all to convenient. Things kind of just falls into place to encourage their relationship, or because of their relationship.
Before very long, it becomes clear that, Adams neighbour, Herb, is a very important character. At first I really liked him, and was incredibly intrigued by his past, but alas… His novelty wore off after a while. Herb was the who knew it all, and very quickly became someone EVERYONE relied on. My issue isnt that he took charge, someone had too. My problem is that he had ALL the answers, with the only explanation being some top secret past.
Unfortunately, The Rule of Three ending leaves more than a few loose ends. But I am hoping that in the rest of the series will fix that.
Overall rating:
I give this book 3.5 out 5
Worth the read, and I am looking forward to the second book.
What did you think of this months review? Have any ideas for future reads? Leave a comment below!
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