I started this at around 10 last night and an hour after I’d got up this morning (I’m off work today) I finished it. While I am generally quite a fast reader I do think that is a testament to just how good this book is. I haven’t read a book that quickly in quite a while.
I’ve been a fan of Michelle Maddox’s alter ego Michelle Rowen since I read Bitten and Smitten, which I devoured in an evening, but it’s with this book that she has made the leap onto my MUST buy list – where she’s in the very good company of Kresley Cole, Karen Chance and Kelley Armstrong to name but a few*.
The book is non-stop action from start to finish, I simply couldn’t tear myself away. I really wanted to get some writing done last night but when I put the book down to try, I only managed 12 words before I had to turn the laptop off and go back to reading. The pacing and storytelling just drags you in, and any time when you’re not with Rogan and Kira is time wasted.
Michelle’s voice excellently gets across the urgency and tension of the situation her characters are in but she still manages to inject some of her trademark humour. And speaking of her characters; I’m totally in love with Rogan. He’s a deliciously tortured, sexy mixed up hero.
Oh I suppose I should have said a little bit about what the book is actually about really shouldn’t I? Give me a break, this is the first time I’ve tried to do one of these (hence the “sort of” in the post title). The Countdown is about a terrifying game that orphaned street thief Kira is thrust into against her will, where to lose level is to die. She’s been teamed with the mysterious, convicted murder Rogan and they must work together – there’s the small matter of separating more that 90 feet killing them – to get through the game.
There’s evil robots, computer geekery, a couple of rather steamy bits and fights to the death. What more could you want in a book? How about messed up characters with depth who are just perfect for each other? Check! Tight writing that sweeps you into the story? Check. This is a superb book that I’d recommend to anyone, no matter what genre they normally prefer.
*I didn’t intentionally pick only authors who’s names begin with K, they were just the first ones that sprang to mind – spooky…
