One truth…. You kneel, or you die… This is Straybeck… The Premier demands loyalty and controls his people through terror and violence. Thirty-three years ago, Robb Calloway almost died when he stood against the Government. He was captured, tortured and forced to live out his days a broken man. Now he watches helplessly as his eldest son – Ryan – follows the same path. Ryan slips deeper into … Ryan slips deeper into Straybeck’s underworld where revolutionaries and criminals fight against the gunnermen. A place where truth and lies are beyond separation and even the giants can’t keep blood off the streets.
Straybeck Rising is the heart-breaking story of one family’s struggle to survive. It shows a boy growing up too fast and a father and brother who can’t keep him safe. A must-read story that rocks the dystopian genre with its compelling blend of sci-fi and fantasy.
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This book was entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought:
Title: Straybeck Rising
Author: Michael Lynch
Star Rating: 5 Stars
Number of Readers: 19
Stats
Editing: 8/10
Writing Style: 9/10
Content: 9/10
Cover: 9/10
Of the 19 readers:
18 would read another book by this author.
17 thought the cover was good or excellent.
18 felt it was easy to follow.
19 would recommend this story to another reader to try.
12 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
7 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
15 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
18 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
‘Outstanding read. The family dynamics work well and the plot was full of twists I did not see coming.’ Male reader, aged 45
‘This author is pretty good. He works well with setting and character, but his strength is in designing a clever plot to keep the reader gripped. I enjoyed this very much.’ Female reader, aged 52
‘Good backstory, but not too much which helps with pacing. A slow start, allowing the reader time to get to know the characters, then a very pacey ending. Well-constructed and highly entertaining. Dark in parts which works well in the dystopian genre.’ Male reader, aged 49
‘Vividly described setting and a cleverly designed plot. I was rooting for the characters until the very end. This author has potential.’ Male reader (publisher), aged 54
‘Interesting read. I even liked the cover!’ Female reader, aged 21
‘This author should write another book. I’ll read it.’ Male reader, aged 69
To Sum It Up:
‘A gripping dystopian thriller packed full of twists and turns. A FINALIST and highly recommended,’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
This book captured my attention and held it from the first page until the very last. Set in a society that has lost its way as far as the treatment of human beings goes, it is an outstanding story about the strength of friendships and family. The author’s ability to describe settings, people and events so vividly resulted in my seeing the story in my mind, and I really do believe it would be a remarkable story to watch in big screen format. There are aspects of humanity in this book that demonstrate how easy it is to be pulled under influence by others, no matter their intention. I wouldn’t describe it as a happy ever after story, but it is one that reads as being very possibly real, and that in itself prompts thoughts about how each of us treat others in the here and now of reality.
I did love this author’s writing style so much that I scoured the e-book stores in the hope of finding more by him. I was surprised that this seems to be his very first novel. I will definitely be looking forward to reading more, whether a continuation of this particular story, or anything else. It’s a great first release by a very talented writer, and well worth the time to put in to read this substantial story. Absolutely no hesitation from me in giving this five out of five stars. Awesome!