Thursday 12 June 2014

PROMOTION - OUTLAW CHRONICLES SERIES & REVIEW - HACKER BY TED DEKKER

Title: Hacker
Series: The Outlaw Chronicles (can be read as standalone too)
Author: Ted Dekker
Publisher: Worthy Publishing
Release Date: 10th June 2014

BLURB from Goodreads
"My name is Nyah and I'm a hacker. I know things most people would never believe. Things that shouldn't exist, but do." 

Seventeen year old Nyah Parks is a genius hacker who makes a living by cracking the firewalls of the world's largest corporations. But when the biggest job of her life goes wrong she's plunged into a desperate situation with only one way out: one last hack that will either save her or kill her. So begins Hacker, a modern day parable that examines the staggering world around us, the seen and unseen, and reminds us that there's far more to who we are than meets the eye.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR





Ted Dekker is known for novels that combine adrenaline-laced stories with unexpected plot twists, unforgettable characters, and incredible confrontations between good and evil. Ted lives in Austin with his wife LeeAnn and their four children.  











OTHER OUTLAW CHRONICLES 

SERIES BOOKS

Though these books can all be read as standalones, together the titles make up the Outlaw Chronicles so I decided to show you the other two books in the series below.


Title: Eyes Wide Open
Author: Ted Dekker
Series: Outlaw Chronicles (can be read as a standalone)
Release Date:4th February 2013

BLURB from Goodreads
Who am I?

My name is Christy Snow. I’m seventeen and I’m about to die. I’m buried in a coffin under tons of concrete. No one knows where I am. My heart sounds like a monster with clobber feet, running straight toward me. I’m lying on my back, soaked with sweat from the hair on my head to the soles of my feet. My hands and feet won’t stop shaking.

Some will say that I’m not really here. Some will say I’m delusional. Some will say that I don’t even exist. But who are they? I’m the one buried in a grave.

My name is Christy Snow. I’m seventeen. I’m about to die.

So who are you?

In a return to the kind of storytelling that made Showdown and Three unforgettable, Ted Dekker drags that question into the light with this modern day parable about how we see ourselves.

Humming with intensity and blindsided twists, Eyes Wide Open is raw adrenaline from the first page to the last pure escapism packed with inescapable truth. Not all is as it seems. Or is it? Strap yourself in for the ride of your life. Literally.

Title: Water Walker
Author: Ted Dekker
Series: Outlaw Chronicles (can be read as a standalone)
Release Date: 18th March 2014

BLURB from Goodreads
My name is Alice Ringwald, but the man who kidnapped me says that's a lie.

Thirteen-year old orphan Alice Ringwald has no memory beyond six months ago. The only life she knows is the new one she's creating one day at a time with the loving couple that recently adopted her and gave her new hope.

That hope, however, is shattered one night when she is abducted by a strange man. In a frantic FBI manhunt, he vanishes.

So begins Water Walker, a modern day parable that examines the staggering power of forgiveness, and reminds us that it's possible to live free of the hurt that keeps our souls in chains.



MY REVIEW

Title: Hacker
Series: The Outlaw Chronicles (can be read as standalone too)
Author: Ted Dekker
Publisher: Worthy Publishing
Release Date: 10th June 2014

BLURB from Goodreads
"My name is Nyah and I'm a hacker. I know things most people would never believe. Things that shouldn't exist, but do." 

Seventeen year old Nyah Parks is a genius hacker who makes a living by cracking the firewalls of the world's largest corporations. But when the biggest job of her life goes wrong she's plunged into a desperate situation with only one way out: one last hack that will either save her or kill her. So begins Hacker, a modern day parable that examines the staggering world around us, the seen and unseen, and reminds us that there's far more to who we are than meets the eye.


INITIAL THOUGHTS
Looking forward to this book, I've heard good things about Ted Dekker books. Although this is listed and No3 in The Outlaw Series I am assured by the publishers that I can read it as a standalone book. Not totally sure what to expect . . .

MY REVIEW
So I was given a free e-copy of this one to read in exchange for my honest review.
The cover is certainly eye catching, and draws your attention making you want to learn more about the book. After reading the blurb I decided I wanted to read this book. 
The main character we meet is Nyah, she's a computer hacker, a hacker with a heart. The reason for her hacking is a sad one as she need money to pay her mothers medical bills. Her mother is terminally ill but Nyah has found a clinical trial. A trial that will take her mother but the sticking point is Nyah has to find the money to finance those medical costs. Nyah's mum was injured in the car accident that also claimed the lives of Nyah's dad and brother.
So Nyah and a trusted friend decide to hack a large corporation, then show the corporation their security breaches and fix them (for a charge of course). However Nyah happens to see some lists of names that the corporation doesn't want to get out. In fact the corporation are deep into some sort of dodgy dealings and seem quite mafia like. Poor Nyah and her friend have certainly bitten off more than they can cope with. When Nyah's friend turns up dead she knows she is in danger. The only person she can turn to is an old hacker friend whom she hasn't seen for some time as he is ill himself with an inoperable brain tumour. 
When Nyah catches up with the rather evasive Austin, she seems to arrive at just the right time to help him with his scientific experiments. My first thoughts about them were "Wow are Austin & Nyah some kind of wacky scientists or what?" Nyah soon realises that Austin needs her help and that his scientific experimenting may lead to something that could help her mother. Nyah takes some pretty drastic measures in her quest to help Austin and maybe discover a cure for her mother.
And that's all I am going to say about the plot. This book has lots of suspense, mystery, sci-fi, drama, as well as family love and relationships thrown in. 
I liked the main character of Nyah, who jumps at Austin's offer to let her be part of his scientific research. In fact she actually suggests he use her to try the "hacking" out on too. This is very important to both Austin with his brain tumour and there's a strong possibility that it would help Nyah's mum. So will Austin & Nyah's experimenting find the "cure" they both need? Will the corporation get hold of Nyah and silence her like they have her friend. Can Nyah's FBI contact help keep her safe? 
I have to say there was sadness towards the end of the book but overall I feel the ending was a fairly happy one. 
So did I enjoy the book? Yes, I really did. When I read that the book was about computer hacking I thought that the book content was going to just sail over my head and that I wouldn't understand what was going on. I was really happily surprised there was no overly technical language that I couldn't follow within the story. Would I recommend the book? Yes, I think the younger more computer savvy would probably enjoy it even more than I did! Having said that there's enough story and plot to enjoy as well as the "hacking" part's, so much so I think my mum may even enjoy reading it. Would I read more books featured in the Outlaw Chronicles? I would like to read the other two books that fall under the Outlaw Chronicles Series. Will I be reading more books by Ted Dekker? I will definitely be taking a look at his other titles more closely now.

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