Everyone who knows end-times Christian fiction understands the setting of this book. The world is setting up for a global government, already has a global religion, and an implanted Mark is required for buying, selling, basically for living. With this backdrop, we are introduced to Logan Langly, who has been terrified of receiving his Mark (which happens when a child turns 13) ever since his sister died when receiving hers. Around this time, a new girl, Erin, moves to town. Her father works for the government, specifically the branch that deals with trouble related to the Mark. When Erin learns that her father is basically a spy, she gets caught up in the case he came to town to work on. And that case happens to involve Logan as well.


This book was not bad, though also could have been better. From the very beginning (the prologue, even), there was a mystery set up that drove me through the story. It was a short, easy read, so that helped too. The plots set up for both of the main characters were interesting as well, but it all kind of fell apart at the end. It took far too long to really get the answers I was looking for, and in the meantime, I was reading characters that just fell flat for me.

The two main characters are annoying and bland. There is little to no character development. My favorite was a boy who is part of a rebel group. He's not the leader, but he's the leader's right-hand man. But the rest of that rebel group is so crazy that the whole rebel group aspect is just bizarre. (Two of them play a card game like War, but whoever has the highest card gets to punch the other player in the face. And it's written like it's completely normal. It was really weird.)

The world building is hit-or-miss. The background of how the country (and really the world) gets to where it is was well thought-out, pretty logical. The explanation of some of the current world is also interesting (though I don't know how realistic it would be). But some of it almost comes across lazy. Many things have a prefix of "nano-", which apparently just means it's enhanced in some way?

It is revealed part way through the book that the rebel group has a mole at the school that the main characters go to. It comes off like it's supposed to be a secret to the reader, but it was pretty obvious. Around the time the mole is identified, we're also finally given some answers to why the rebel group does what it does, but the answers are unimpressive. Noble, but not nearly as interesting as I'd hoped for. And in my opinion, not presented with nearly enough evidence for at least one character to fall in line with them as easily as he does.

The ending felt a bit rushed to me, and I didn't fully buy the way the characters acted at the end. I was also left with the question about whether or not there were meant to be romantic feelings between the main characters, and even more than that, if we were supposed to care if there were. The characters are 12 & 13, so...not really a romance I'm looking to read.

Final thoughts: the book is a set up to a 4-book series, and given the ending of this one, I'm hoping book #2 will take off quite a bit, comparatively. As I mentioned in the first paragraph, the series is said to be Christian end-times fiction, but you really wouldn't guess it to read the first book. The only thing that hints at it is the Mark, and to a lesser degree, the possible antichrist set-up, but it's so lightly touched on, if I couldn't see from Goodreads that it was Christian, I would never classify it as that. Again, presumably that will come into play in the rest of the series (my son says it does--we bought these for him when they were newer, and he's read them all). For now, it's difficult to come up with someone to recommend this book/series to. ( )

I enjoyed this dystopian book about a 12 year old boy who is about to be marked. His sister went to be marked 5 years ago and never came back. I liked that you didn't know who was good and who was bad. It kept me guessing. It was quite fast paced and at times I had a hard time putting it down. I thought the characters were very believable.
There were some interesting themes that this book explored and I found that it was very relevant to what's happening in the world today.
This book was reviewed on the Literary Club Podcast https://www.buzzsprout.com/1984185/episodes/12732054 ( )

I just couldn't get into this one. ( )

I just couldn't get into this one. ( )

I was really, really excited to read Swipe. But, I think the book I had just finished prior to starting Swipe was just SO good that I can only describe Swipe as tepid. It just seemed to lack something for me. I didn't really engage with the characters of Logan and Erin as much as I was hoping I would and that was disappointing. But, this is a Middle Grade book, not Young Adult. These kids are like 13 and right now they are limited.

I actually did enjoy Swipe. It is a quick read at only 275 pages, too. I would recommend this book to someone in the mood for an easy, interesting read. This book is extremely well written. I hope I don't discourage anyone from reading Swipe. In fact, I have been approved at Netgalley for the sequels, Sneak and Storm. And to be honest, I am about 38% into Sneak and it is already better than Swipe as far as more action. I'm looking forward to finishing the trilogy!

4 stars to Swipe.

Originally posted at Thinks Books: http://thinksbooks.blogspot.com ( )