Phoenix Island

January 16, 2014 ARC, Book Review 0

Phoenix Island

Author: John Dixon
Publisher: Gallery Books
Publication Date: Jan. 7, 2014
Pages: 320
Source: egalley via Edelweiss

About the Book: The judge told Carl that one day he’d have to decide exactly what kind of person he would become. But on Phoenix Island, the choice will be made for him.

A champion boxer with a sharp hook and a short temper, sixteen-year-old Carl Freeman has been shuffled from foster home to foster home. He can’t seem to stay out of trouble, using his fists to defend weaker classmates from bullies. His latest incident sends his opponent to the emergency room, and now the court is sending Carl to the worst place on earth: Phoenix Island

Classified as a terminal facility, it’s the end of the line for delinquents who have no home, no family, and no future. Located somewhere far off the coast of the United States and immune to its laws, the island is a grueling Spartan-style boot camp run by sadistic drill sergeants who show no mercy to their young, orphan trainees. Sentenced to stay until his eighteenth birthday, Carl plans to play by the rules, so he makes friends with his wisecracking bunkmate, Ross, and a mysterious gray-eyed girl named Octavia. But he makes enemies, too, and after a few rough scrapes, he earns himself the nickname “Hollywood” as well as a string of punishments, including a brutal night in the sweatbox. But that’s nothing compared to what awaits him in the Chop Shop: a secret government lab where Carl is given something he never dreamed of. 

A new life. . . . 

A new body. A new brain. 

Gifts from the fatherly Old Man, who wants to transform Carl into something he’s not sure he wants to become. 

For this is no ordinary government project. Phoenix Island is ground zero for the future of combat intelligence. 

And for Carl, it’s just the beginning. . .


My Thoughts: First things first… this is not a book that I would typically pick up. So, why did I read it? I’d been hearing some great things about it (it inspired the CBS show Intelligence) and I wanted to expand my reading horizons. I’m really glad I did! While Phoenix Island might not be my “typical read” it was one I thoroughly enjoyed.   

This book is not for the faint of heart! It’s brutal and intense. Torture! Blood! Bugs! (Can you tell I’m a little squeamish?!?) These darker elements work together with intrigue, action, and heart to support the plot and develop the characters. I was caught up in the story. Whether it was heart-pounding action or horrifying events, I couldn’t put it down. I was really impressed with the way the more thrilling elements of the story didn’t overpower the quieter, thought-provoking aspects. They complimented each other so well; neither one was overwritten. 

Carl is a surprisingly sympathetic character. From the description of a troubled teen with a “sharp hook and a short temper” I didn’t expect to like him. However, the more I learned about his life and saw the decisions he made the more I understood and felt for him. I was invested in his story. 

Phoenix Island, a gritty survival story, is a thrilling blend of action and heart. I look forward to seeing more from this author. 

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