Book Review: When The Children Fight Back by Barry Kirwan

I am so pleased to welcome Barry Kirwan back to Novel Kicks. He’s here with the blog tour for his book, When the Children Fight Back.

In the near future, Artificial Intelligences will be smarter than us. Is that a good thing?

“Really entertaining, a brilliant balance between action and emotion.”

“A wonderful story. So much imagination!”

A mega-AI known as the Eye is intent on purifying the galaxy, by annihilating all ‘organics’. Humanity, itself already decimated after an attack by the Eye, must join eleven other species in the final battle at Orion’s Gate to stop their nemesis. Led by Sally, humans have a secret weapon: Ares, the last AI from a dead alien race. But can they really trust Ares? And as the battle rages in the heart of a star nursery nebula, Sally realises that one of the other species is about to betray them all…

The thrilling climax to the Children of the Eye series…

*****

The eye is intent on wiping out all ‘organics’ from the galaxy. What is left of humanity must join other species in the final battle against their nemesis.

Sally must lead them into battle. Plus, they still have Ares but can they trust him? Is someone about to betray them all?

I had enjoyed the first two books in this series so I was excited to be invited onto the blog tour for When the Children Fight Back.

As I have said in previous reviews of this series, I’m not always the one to immediately gravitate to novels in this genre but there is something about this series that draws me in. These novels are not just sci-fi, they have a high thriller theme and this book packs quite an emotional punch.

As with its predecessors, I was completely drawn in from page one.

I like that it’s told from the point of view of multiple characters. It gives you a real, well-rounded idea of what everyone is feeling and thinking.

The people in this series are very multi-layered. They’ve all been through so much and as a result, have been broken. As they reach the final battle, the stakes are really high.

There are many twists and turns and lots of surprises. There was one point near the beginning where I actually cheered. Haha.

Suspense and tension builds from chapter one into an unpredictable, incredible finale.

There’s really not much else I can say without giving it away and this is a series I really hope you’ll add to your TBR pile.

One thing I will say is that this book can’t be read as a standalone. You have to have read When The Children Come and When the Children Return to know what is going on in this third instalment.

Even if Sci-fi isn’t your thing, give this book a go. There’s lots of action, a range of human emotion and some physiological thrills too.

I found this series compelling, fast-paced and a real lesson in capability and survival. I loved it.

About Barry Kirwan: 

I was born in Farnborough and grew up watching the Red Arrow jet fighters paint the sky at airshows. I didn’t get into writing until years later when I arrived in Paris, where I penned The Eden Paradox series (four books) over a period of ten years.

My SF influences were Isaac Asimov, Arthur C. Clarke, Frank Herbert, and Orson Scott Card, but also David Brin who writes about smart aliens. Iain Banks and Alistair Reynolds remain major influences, as well as Neal Asher, Peter F Hamilton and Jack McDevitt.

My main SF premise is that if we do ever meet aliens, they’ll probably be far more intelligent than we are, and with very different values and ideas of how the galaxy works.

As a psychologist by training, that interests me in terms of how to think outside our own (human) frame of reference.

This current series is exploring Artificial Intelligences (AIs), and how they could either be our nemesis or saviour.

Say hello to Barry via Facebook, Twitter or via his website. 

When the Children Fight Back is the third book in the Children of the Eye series. Click to buy on Amazon UK, and Amazon US. 

by

Laura

I'm Laura. I started Novel Kicks back in 2009 as I wanted a place to discuss books and writing - two loves of my life. As someone who has anxiety, these two things give me, and I am sure countless others, a much needed escape.
There is a monthly book club, writing exercises, prompts, reviews, author interviews, competitions and guest posts. I cover many genres and I hope there is something for everyone.
I grew up by the sea in Dorset and currently live in Poole with my husband, Chris and three cats. I love writing and have a BA (Hons) in Creative Writing from Falmouth University. I am writing my first book. If only I could stop pressing delete. Chris has threatened to stop it from working. Haha.
I have always loved creative writing since I was in first school and would very much like to meet my teacher, Miss Sayers, to say thank you for all the encouragement she gave me then.
When not writing, I love reading, cats, Disney, singing (I can't sing but this doesn't stop me,) and falling into a good TV show or film. If I could step into any fictional world, it would be amongst the characters in ABC's Once Upon a Time.
I love reading many genres and discovering new authors.