A Review of "Control Freakz"

Introduction

Let me begin by saying that part of the beauty of books is that they are completely subjective. Just because a novel is not particularly my cup of tea doesn't mean that somebody else is obligated to dislike it.

With that being said, I have to say that I was extremely disappointed with Control Freakz. The concept of teens on the run from the government is tired and played out, and a novel would have to be extremely well-written with a heart-racing plot in order for me to even consider being interested in reading it. Unfortunately, this novel didn't do it for me.

My Rating: ★★

Synopsis: "Alone. Abandoned. Threatened. Natalie has lost all hope for a better future. Everything she's known and everything she's ever loved is gone, and it's up to her to get her old life back. In Michael Evans's first novel, Control Freakz, Natalie's journey toward a better life begins.
When Protocol 00 is enacted, Natalie's family is taken by the government, along with the families of her two best friends, Ethan and Hunter. With nothing to lose, and the threat of government hitmen kidnapping them at any moment, the three must battle to survive in a horrid, post-apocalyptic world run by President Ash and his invasive government. They want answers. And they're willing to jeopardize everything in desperate pursuit.
Risking ruthless leaders, attempted mind control, and her very existence on the planet, Natalie, along with Hunter and Ethan, will stop at nothing in their quest to regain everything they've ever known. Her spirits crushed and her will to live destroyed, Natalie knows everything is dead and gone, and soon she will be, too.
Memories connect us to the past, and can often cause us to long for a better future, but they can drive our minds into a state of hell if a better future is unattainable. Nevertheless, Natalie's hope for a better future remains." (via Goodreads)

Thoughts and Comments

Pros

• Throughout the novel, there is an excellent use of vocabulary and descriptive sentences. Mr. Evans certainly knows how to string sentences together in order to make them sound beautiful, especially when it comes to landscapes.
• In many instances, the novel features creative technological devices that illustrate the advancement of the near future, as the novel takes place around 2040--an exciting concept, indeed, and one that makes the reader contemplate how far we have developed as a species.

Cons

• There are quite a few cliches that I noticed (for example, at the beginning of the novel, the main character Natalie describes herself by looking in the mirror). I truly believe that cliches should always be avoided, no matter how creatively they may be used.
• The entire book read like a first draft. Incorrect comma placement made the novel a clunky read; there were several misspelled words and typos that could have easily been found during just one round of editing; and there was an abundance of blatant exposition.
• The novel began very quickly, and only escalated from there. I was left thinking, "Wait, what? What's going on?" There is no explanation as to why tempers are so high, or why the setting starts off so stressfully. It was like starting a book right in the middle without having a beginning to flip back to.
• There were way, way too many physical descriptions of the characters. A writer should pretty much only have to mention hair color, eye color, or skin color once to get their point across.
• The novel had too many recycled phrases that were used too soon after one another (such as "exchanged panicked glances" or "my legs bounded").
• There were many times where Natalie's feelings overpowered what was actually happening in the scene--I found myself skimming through her emotions just to find out what was really going on.
• Natalie herself was very much a Mary Sue character with an incredible victim complex. It seemed like her only flaw was feeling too much. On that note, I couldn't relate to the secondary characters, Ethan and Hunter, either, no matter how much I wanted to.
• Pretty much every instance of mentioning Hunter is talking about how "gorgeous" he is--whether it be his creamy blue eyes, his tan skin, or his washboard abs. It seems as though his physical features are his only redeeming qualities as a character.
• Natalie is utterly useless throughout Control Freakz and only slows the group down. I don't believe there is a single moment where she isn't crying or screaming instead of contributing to the group and helping the situation.
• The word "literally" is used an overwhelming amount of times in inappropriate places. (No, bellowing cannot "literally" pierce through ears. No, a glare cannot "literally" suck the life out of a chest. No, a body cannot "literally" fume with the fire of emotions burning inside it. And how does one figuratively shiver with fear?)
• There are very obvious political undertones that appear to be in the novel simply to make a statement rather than to contribute to the story--and, in my opinion, things like that do nothing to help a novel. It's all about progressing the story!
• The ending was, in the best possible word, nonsensical. It felt like the story leading up to it was plotting for something entirely different, and when I finished the novel, I sat momentarily in stunned silence, thinking "That's it? That was what all this ended with?" It made the rest of the book seem pointless.

Conclusion

Michael Evans' Control Freakz could have been a very intriguing novel indeed with some extensive editing and revision, but unfortunately, I simply didn't see it while I was reading. While this book didn't necessarily impress me, Mr. Evans shows promise as an author, and I would be honored to review any of his future novels. Mr. Evans, please keep up the hard work!

Goodreads Link: See here

Amazon Link: See here

Riffle Link: See here

This fulfills my "Mind Control Horror" subgenre of the Horror genre!


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