Book Review: The Point by John Dixon
Media Type: ebook
Title: The Point
Author: John Dixon
Publisher: Del Rey
Pages: paperback, 320
Release Date: August 7, 2018
Source: Netgalley
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Genre: Sci-fi Fantasy
HDB Rating: 4 Keys to My Heart
Recommended to: Readers who enjoy science fiction stories similar to X-Men.
Scarlett Winter has always been an outsider, and not only because she’s a hardcore daredevil and born troublemaker–she has been hiding superhuman powers she doesn’t yet understand. Now she’s been recruited by a secret West Point unit for cadets with extraordinary abilities. Scarlett and her fellow students are learning to hone their skills, from telekinetic combat to running recon missions through strangers’ dreamscapes. At The Point, Scarlett discovers that she may be the most powerful cadet of all. With the power to control pure energy, she’s a human nuclear bomb–and she’s not sure she can control her powers much longer.
Even in this army of outsiders, Scarlett feels like a misfit all over again, but when a threat that endangers her fellow students arises from the school’s dark past, duty calls and Scarlett must make a choice between being herself and becoming something even greater: a hero.
This story started off strong. We meet Scarlett as she’s blowing off her own high school graduation, much to her mother’s dismay. She is a rebellious, angry, angsty teen who is struggling with her future plans. When she gets into trouble, her only option to avoid jail is to join the military program at West Point.
Of course this isn’t just a regular program at West Point, Scarlett has special abilities that the military is interested in. Posthumans are in their own program where they are learning to control and focus their powers. As is standard for Scarlett, she isn’t that interested in doing what she’s told. I liked her rebelliousness and bending of the rules despite her angst ridden feelings.
I really enjoyed the first 3/4 of the book, where we learn all about Scarlett and her experience with other posthumans. My frustration with the ending is mostly that is feels so different from the rest of the story. We are quickly introduced to the enemy and there’s a showdown of sorts. Very movie-esque in its hastiness.
If you’re looking for an interesting science fiction story that feels a lot like X-Men or the show Heroes, I think you would enjoy this book a lot. It definitely leans more towards Young Adult genre, but not in a bad way.
FTC Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. I was not monetarily compensated for my opinion.
