Brad About Books: The Rule of Three by Eric Walters

Read from November 24 to 26, 2013

THE RULE OF THREE
Expected Publication Date: January 21, 2014
Publisher: FSG (Macmillan)
Format: ARC
Page Count: 405 pages
Source: Publisher in exchange for an honest review

One shocking afternoon, computers around the globe shut down in a viral catastrophe. At sixteen-year-old Adam Daley’s high school, the problem first seems to be a typical electrical outage, until students discover that cell phones are down, municipal utilities are failing, and a few computer-free cars like Adam’s are the only vehicles that function. Driving home, Adam encounters a storm tide of anger and fear as the region becomes paralyzed. Soon—as resources dwindle, crises mount, and chaos descends—he will see his suburban neighborhood band together for protection. And Adam will understand that having a police captain for a mother and a retired government spy living next door are not just the facts of his life but the keys to his survival, in The Rule of Three by Eric Walters.

The Rule of Three is unlike any other disaster story you will ever read! Unlike many in its genre, The Rule of Three bends the circumstances and focuses more on the regrowth of the world (with the rebels and trouble here and there) than putting its point of view more on the downfall of the world. I loved how unique this book was.

I've read many disaster stories but none quite like this one. The Rule of Three starts off casually, but Eric Walters doesn't leave the reader in the slow build up for long. Within at least fifteen pages of The Rule of Three, action is flying off the page, and it's impossible not to be absorbed into this world. Darkness is ruling over everything, and Adam is having to fight and struggle to live in this world. Our world is now entirely built on technology (and I admit that I am very addicted and hooked on technology), but it was such a cool spin to see the downfall of technology and how our generation has to rebuild the world by using methods that our generation doesn't practice that much anymore (planting crops, creating a fort for survival, etc.), and it really makes for a great, engaging story. The Rule of Three is unlike anything you will ever read!

Catastrophe lurks everywhere in The Rule of Three, and Walters did a stunning job with it. Most disaster stories have a climatic, foreshadowing feeling to them, but I have to say, I didn't feel that with the writing of The Rule of Three - and I really appreciated that it was different! I couldn't ever predict what was going to happen next, because if I would predict, Walters would throw something huge and unexpected into the story. Traveling with Adam and his mom through this perilous strike was so interesting and enthralling, and I loved how The Rule of Three was able to create a story that is both equally epic and dark. 

Adam is such a cool protagonist. What I liked most about his character was how he didn't always have the answers. He had to rely on others to manage during this shutdown, and to rebuild something, I believe that's what you to do. The relationship between all the characters felt authentic, and they proved to be a strong team together. If I had only one complaint about The Rule of Three, it would have to be the somewhat lacking middle. I felt that not a lot pushed the story along in the middle except for the characters, but by the end, the action was intense.

Overall, The Rule of Three is a marvelous, original story that will shock you, stun you, and hold you in its clutches until the awesome, mind-blowing finale. Irresistible!

M Y    R A T I N G