Horizon Alpha: Predators of Eden

This short novel has an interesting premise and was fun to read. HOWEVER be careful if you want to read any more by this same author. I bought another "novel" by this author from the store for $2.99 (High Wire) and found it was just a very short story. A total ripoff in my opinion. I will NOT be buying any more from this author and advise you to save your money too. Disgusted.

I bought this book based upon the ratings. OMG! It must have been written for 10 year olds. No science at all, just scary monsters. What a waste. I stopped reading after reading 8 of the short predictable chapters.

***CONTAINS SOME SPOILERS***

I don't usually read MG/YA, or even Scifi for that matter, but I found this story to be quite fun! Here's the thing: I LOVE dinosaurs. I mean, these aren't actual Earth dinos, but those are details, and I loved them anyway.

Alright, so onto the story itself! I enjoyed the main character's (Caleb) growth throughout the story. It's done so naturally and with such great flow that by the end, I could look back on how Caleb was at the beginning, and realize just how much he's matured. Not only physically, but emotionally as well.

I got attached to a lot of characters, which was a mistake. These dinos are hungry, and humans are easy prey (a moment of silence for all those poor characters who died horribly). Yet, none of the scenes were described in gory details - instead, it was left up to the readers' imaginations, which for some of us, is so much worse.

The pacing of the story is great - I always felt on edge while reading, wondering what would pop up next, and who would survive. The author does a fantastic job at keeping this pace throughout the whole story, and I found myself holding my breath along with the characters whenever a T-Rex appeared (I love those dinos!). All five senses are used so well that it's easy to picture yourself there with the group, trying desperately to get back to their base to survive. Not only that but the survival of their entire base, of the human race, hangs on them making it back. That burden really upped the stakes, and you can't help but hope they make it, even if it seems hopeless at times.

The whole world is developed in such a real way that every time Caleb heard a crunch, I always wondered what it was this time. From the fauna to the temperature, traveling by night versus by day, and even the different terrains they crossed were very well described without it ever being too much description.

***AGAIN, SPOILERS AHEAD!***

I actually really loved the epilogue as well - it had a 'Land Before Time' feel to it, in a way. Finding the Great Valley where they can live without fear of being eaten constantly. Made me smile, and wrapped up the story nicely!

All in all, a great adventure story that kept me turning the pages while holding my breath a few times!

I received a copy of Horizon Alpha: Predators of Eden from Future House Publishing in exchange for an unbiased review.

I received a copy of Horizon Alpha: Predators of Eden from Future House Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

It took me a little while to get into this. The writing was a bit simple for me, but the second half of the book definitely picked up. I still hold my opinion that certain aspects of the book could have been a bit more original for it being in the science fiction genre, but all in all it was fairly decent. I tend to like YA books that don't really feel like YA books, they could transcend age and have lessons that apply to anyone. This book didn't really have that for me. The concept of a post apocalyptic world with some of Earth's aspects, but not exactly, just didn't really make sense to me. I think the plot could have picked up in some areas, especially the first half of the book. The flow of writing felt a bit lagged in some areas, but too quick in others. Caleb as a character was pretty good, he had a nice arch from the beginning of the story to the end, but it still seemed a bit flat to me. I didn't feel a connection whatsoever to any of the characters which was weird. Like I said it was hard to find any lessons or metaphors that could apply to anyone at any point in life, which is what most great YA novels do.

Overall it was a good book, new kind of plot, interesting characters, but if it was a series I'm not sure I'd be invested enough to keep going.

Horizon Alpha : Predators Of Eden

Longer ago so than I care to admit, I read a novel called Tunnel Through Time by Lester Del Ray. In those days, there was no YA category. It was regarded then as a children's book. I cared not for categories in my youth, though, and truth be told, I care little for them now. I simply thrilled to the adventure of a teenage boy skipping through time and encountering all manner of strange and wondrous prehistoric beasties in his search for a missing scientist. I recently found my old, dog eared copy of that book and it was like finding a treasure from my youth. All I had to do was supply a little imagination and off I went to worlds unknown.

Wendy Vogel's Horizon Alpha : Predators Of Eden channels that same spirit. There's plenty of jet fuel for the imagination of many a young reader here (and for older ones, as well, who can still remember that rush of wild fancy we so easily embraced before life began to get in the way.). Unlike Tunnel Through Time, though, young Caleb Wilde's journey takes him from an Earth he never knew to another planet, where he and all that remains of the human race will attempt to start anew. Once there, though, they find their new Eden a mirror of Earth's prehistoric past and the struggle to survive turns dire just as the weight of the world's fate settles squarely on Caleb's fifteen-year old shoulders. It's easy to imagine a kid as eager as I was to journey with Del Ray into the past all those years ago jumping into this coming of age adventure with both feet. The pace is fast, the stakes are high, and the safety of no one is guaranteed.

While this certainly isn't a hard science adventure, it doesn't need to be. And while as a paleontology buff, I could certainly quibble over the presentation of dinosaurs here, that would be entirely beside the point. This is the author's world and she spins her yarn here with gusto and enthusiasm. Of particular note are the creatures native to Tau Ceti, such as the pack hunting "wolves" and malicious "crabs." I wanted more of those beasts and that is the mark of vivid creation. There are secrets in this book as well, ones I would be a spoil sport to reveal.They are there for the reader to discover and, at the risk of saying too much, they hint at an adventure of even broader scope.

So, now that I have finished Predators of Eden, I think I'll get out that old copy of Tunnel Of Through Time and strike while the iron is still hot and the imagination is fully engaged.

#futurehousepub Okay so I started this ebook, Horizon Alpha: Predators of Eden, last night and once I picked it up I could not put it down. I had never read a book by Vogul before but now I'm going to make sure to put her on my list of great authors.

Horizon Alpha is about where human civilization went after the planet Earth was destroyed. After spending 12 years in space, their ship, Horizon Alpha, crashes onto a planet called Tau Ceti. At first everyone is filled with great joy over finally being able to live on the ground with fresh air. But what ends up living on this planet with them? Dinosaurs.

The story follows Caleb Wilde who is part of the army group with the little human civilization that is left trying to make Ceti their home. On his first mission out to find a power supply, things end up going very wrong when dinosaurs attack their tank. Now Caleb and the other survivors of the attack on the tank must find their way back home without being eaten by the dinosaurs.

I've never read a story quite like this before. I had never even heard of stories about dinosaurs in space so that's what intrigued me the most about this book when I was offered the chance to read it for free in exchange for my honest review.

This story is full of suspense. I couldn't help but read it as fast as I could, dying to know if Caleb and the others would survive. It's truly a dinosaur thriller that those who love the Jurassic Park/World series will definitely enjoy.

It's definitely my most favorite thriller story that I've read thus far.

I received a copy of Horizon Alpha: Predators of Eden from Future House Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

Jurassic Park meets the TV series The 100. Alpha Horizon was one of four arc ships carrying the fate of humanity in search of a new hospitable planet after Earth was sentenced to a catastrophic astrological event. However, starting anew on an unknown world proves to be more difficult than originally projected when Alpha Horizon is met with one distaster after another only to be faced with creatures that rival some of Earth's fiercest prehistoric predators.

With Earth gone humanity must find a way to persevere.

Right from the prolog I was drawn in and could not put the book down. Get ready for nonstop action and suspense in this futuristic scifi adventure.

I have received this title at a discount in exchange for sharing my opinion.

I read an advance reader copy of "Horizon Alpha," and I've got to say I was impressed. For starters, ever since "Jurassic Park" I've been a sucker for a good dinosaur story, and even though the creatures of Tau Ceti e aren't dinosaurs, per se, but reptilian aliens, they're plenty terrifying.

This book reminded me a lot of "The Long Rain" by Ray Bradbury. Caleb Wilde is a boy born and raised in space on the spaceship Horizon Alpha, an ark of sorts bearing the remainder of humanity to a new planet after Earth became uninhabitable. Several years later, he and a small group of fellow soldier/explorers crash land in their shuttlecraft in the midst of their new home's inhospitable jungle, full of monstrous threats and perilous terrain, and must try to find their way home.

Over the course of the story we learn more about Caleb--how his brother was lost in a mission some time prior, how his father sacrificed himself to ensure his family's survival, how the General in charge of the mission is the father figure Caleb never wanted and refuses to acknowledge he needs. Vogel does a wonderful job helping the reader get to know Caleb and his companions, and it hurts every time someone falls victim to the unforgiving jungle and its denizens.

There are some surprises along the way, and the ending sets up plenty of intrigue to come in future installments. I'm excited to see the next chapter of what will surely be an exciting saga!

Well written novel, the author keeps the adventure moving. She gives the reader a feeling of apprehension concerning the characters, will they survive or will they become some dino's happy meal. That is what you want from a novel, to be invested enough in the story to care about the characters outcome. In a nutshell, the story takes place in the not so distant future, were Earth is about to experience a cataclysmic event that will extinguish all life on the planet. Knowing that the end is near, mankind builds a four "ark" type space ships and sends them across the galaxy to distant star systems in the hopes of continuing mankind. Unfortunately, our characters shuttle lands on a planet with hostile, dino-type life forms.
I found the characters actions and interactions plausible, and an interesting take on dinos and their similarities and relationship to birds. If you have ever owned a chicken or a bird you are aware of the "torpor state" that they go into at night, once they roost they don't rouse until sunrise. It is an important plot point to help move the story along. (I'm guessing this angle was due to her vet experience) As an aside, It is also an interesting theory about possible dino behavior. In summary, the book is good fun and a real page turner, if you enjoy good fictional stories about dinos and humans thrown together you will enjoy this book.

Interesting sci-fi book. Futuristic but ancient at the same time. Interesting combination of spaceships and dinosaurs. This book kept my attention, and I found myself wanting to carve out time to keep reading. It was easy to lose track of time while reading and is a good paced story. All good things. Descendants of Earth are trying to survive on a "habitable" planet that contains dangerous dinosaurs and you go on a journey with a group of people who crash while on a recovery mission.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

I enjoyed reading this book from beginning to end.. I couldn't put it down, wanting to know what will happen next.
I loved the story, the reason why the humans had to leave Earth and how etc. All the science in that. Also when they finally reach Ceti.
The characters are interesting, and the Dinosaurs were the best! So scary but I enjoyed it.
I don't have anything negative to say about this book it was so good. Even the ending was happy and it was right for the story.
I'm happy it was just this one book unless there will be other books about the other Horizon ships , beta and delta?

This is an outstanding piece of storytelling - some of the best (and cleanest) reading I've come across in a long time, and I read lot of books - usually two or three at a time. This one was a book I savored. And while there was violence and peril at the hands of the monstrous critters, Horizon Alpha is written with great originality. The story moves well and kept my interest the way few books do. I'd recommend this as a great summer read.

Fascination with human migration to alien planets has soared with the recent discovery of a multitude of possibly suitable worlds. Add to that the ever-fascinating notion of humans interacting with dinosaurs. Add to that the imaginative alien 'saurs author Wendy Vogel has fashioned, and you have the basic ingredients of a blockbuster sci-fi adventure tale. SPOILER ALERT: Even this early in our search for planets suitable to sustain human habitation, it has become evident they are exceedingly rare. So it is logical that such planets would be visited by aliens other than ourselves. This kind of consistent logic runs throughout the story. Another example of this logic is the notion that if a world's environment is similar to ours, it will have a similar evolutionary path, so encountering dinosaur-like creatures on an alien earth-like planet makes perfect sense. If you enjoy well-paced white-knuckle action on an alien world, structured upon such strong logic, you will enjoy Predators of Eden.

And I thought Transport 17 was good. Guess I will just have to get the third book that has just been released. A very entertaining read with believable characters a lots of excitement. I was attracted to the book cover, which fits the action to a T. What's next?

I honestly enjoyed reading this book alot. I went in with low expectations but the author's wrighting style pulled me into the story so much I want to know more about what happened, I need more lol.. hope she decides to write about other survivors that landed in other areas & makes this a series

Well written with a minimum of high tech ramblings, and a courageous group of characters. The storyline struggled a bit, but did a great job pulling everything together at the end. Hope to read more, Danny Scott.

I read this book thinking it was about dinosaurs and it was so much more. I certainly enjoyed the storyline. I for one would CERTAINLY love to see another one or two books following and expanding this particular storyline!

Horizon Alpha is a story of adventure, discovery, and exploration. It was easy and fun to read, but still full of depth and imagery. Vogel proved herself once again in the world of fantasy! Go out and read this book as soon as you can!