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Firebird #1
Project Firebird
How do you save the world when it’s already too late?Don’t ask Leo Lloyd-Jones. Ask him how to steal a car, or why he got excluded from every school in Salford, but don’t come to him for help. This whole thing must be a daft mistake – and if anyone finds out, he’s done for.Earth is on a deadly collision course that nothing can prevent. The only real hope is Project Firebird, deep inside a blast-proof bunker that shelters the brightest and bravest young people. Leo has got mixed up with the likes of Rhys Carnarvon, the celebrated teenage polar explorer, and other child prodigies chosen to keep the flame of civilisation.Among them is the streetwise Paige Harris, a girl Leo likes a lot (but not in that way). Paige is desperate to rescue her little sister from London before the catastrophe strikes. But no-one is crazy enough to try that. Almost no-one.Leo is about to find out why he’s here.
- GenresYoung Adult
248 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2014
7 people are currently reading
60 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
October 11, 2014
(I received a copy from the author, in exchange for an honest review.)
Project Firebird was a bit too slow for me unfortunately.
The characters in this were okay, but i didn't love any of them.
I knew that this wouldn't have loads of action in, since the book focused on the events before the world ended, but i expected a little bit. Unfortunately, we didn't really get that. I was hoping that there would be at least some sort of tension/suspense because of what was going to happen, but that didn't happen either. Due to that, i found it all a bit dull.
I didn't expect it to end the way it did, but it still never excited me.
Overall, not an awful read, it just wasn't for me.
Project Firebird was a bit too slow for me unfortunately.
The characters in this were okay, but i didn't love any of them.
I knew that this wouldn't have loads of action in, since the book focused on the events before the world ended, but i expected a little bit. Unfortunately, we didn't really get that. I was hoping that there would be at least some sort of tension/suspense because of what was going to happen, but that didn't happen either. Due to that, i found it all a bit dull.
I didn't expect it to end the way it did, but it still never excited me.
Overall, not an awful read, it just wasn't for me.
October 21, 2014
Book Review originally published here: http://www.iheartreading.net/book-tou...
Project Firebird is that one of a kind novel that mixes it all: a reluctant, unexpected hero, a group of friends, a bad guy who isn’t predictable at all, and the impending apocalypse, of course.
Leo Lloyd-Jones isn’t exactly what you’d call a ‘good kid’. He steals cars (although he refuses to call it stealing) to get into illegal street races with his friends, playing tag with cars. But when he stumbles upon a boy and girl who look suspiciously like his brother Brandon and his girlfriend in the middle of the night, and they’re in trouble, Leo goes out of his way to help him – only to find out they’re not Brandon and his girlfriend at all. But while his parents hope that he’ll get some sort of punishment when they call the police to tell them he’s been stealing cars again, the couple actually steps in to help, and before he very well realizes it, Leo is branded as some kind of hero.
He gets a letter inviting him to a two-week trip, and offering him the chance to get a Firebird medal. But once he arrives there,he finds himself surrounded by kids who all did something important. Like Paige, who practically raised her little sister Skye when her Mom couldn’t take care of her. Or like Rhys, who went to the Northpole with his Dad, and was forced to come back alone, to survive all on his own. The list goes on and on, and Leo feels a little like an outsider, but thankfully Rhys helps him fit in.
But when the kids get their medals, a horrible secret is revealed. A deep space comet is on its way to earth, and when it collided, it could very well destroy everything. The kids have been brought there for a reason – they must hide in an underground shelter and wait out the impending apocalypse. They must survive, no matter what it takes. They can’t contact their families though, can’t even say goodbye, and only get the vague promise that their famlies will be taken to underground shelters all over the world.
Leo struggles to come to terms with what’s happening, but he’s not the only one struggling. As he becomes friends with the other kids in the Nest, he learns more about himself than he thought possible. He learns what he’s capable of, and that turns out to be more than he ever expected.
The book features tons of secondary characters, but manages to give each of them a distinct personality. There’s Paige, always worrying about her sister, but who also has a heart of gold. Then there’s Summer, who wanted to win the Olympics and who wants nothing more than to escape, and so on. Leo shines as a main character, flawed but with his heart in the right place, and brave in the face of danger.
The ending was..shocking. I hadn’t expected it at all. Not giving out any spoilers though, but well, you’ll probably be surprised too.
Solid writing, and although the book is quite long (over 400 pages on my eReader), it doesn’t feel long. The pacing is fast, and the reader gets thrown into the action right away. An exceptional read, very enjoyable.
Project Firebird is that one of a kind novel that mixes it all: a reluctant, unexpected hero, a group of friends, a bad guy who isn’t predictable at all, and the impending apocalypse, of course.
Leo Lloyd-Jones isn’t exactly what you’d call a ‘good kid’. He steals cars (although he refuses to call it stealing) to get into illegal street races with his friends, playing tag with cars. But when he stumbles upon a boy and girl who look suspiciously like his brother Brandon and his girlfriend in the middle of the night, and they’re in trouble, Leo goes out of his way to help him – only to find out they’re not Brandon and his girlfriend at all. But while his parents hope that he’ll get some sort of punishment when they call the police to tell them he’s been stealing cars again, the couple actually steps in to help, and before he very well realizes it, Leo is branded as some kind of hero.
He gets a letter inviting him to a two-week trip, and offering him the chance to get a Firebird medal. But once he arrives there,he finds himself surrounded by kids who all did something important. Like Paige, who practically raised her little sister Skye when her Mom couldn’t take care of her. Or like Rhys, who went to the Northpole with his Dad, and was forced to come back alone, to survive all on his own. The list goes on and on, and Leo feels a little like an outsider, but thankfully Rhys helps him fit in.
But when the kids get their medals, a horrible secret is revealed. A deep space comet is on its way to earth, and when it collided, it could very well destroy everything. The kids have been brought there for a reason – they must hide in an underground shelter and wait out the impending apocalypse. They must survive, no matter what it takes. They can’t contact their families though, can’t even say goodbye, and only get the vague promise that their famlies will be taken to underground shelters all over the world.
Leo struggles to come to terms with what’s happening, but he’s not the only one struggling. As he becomes friends with the other kids in the Nest, he learns more about himself than he thought possible. He learns what he’s capable of, and that turns out to be more than he ever expected.
The book features tons of secondary characters, but manages to give each of them a distinct personality. There’s Paige, always worrying about her sister, but who also has a heart of gold. Then there’s Summer, who wanted to win the Olympics and who wants nothing more than to escape, and so on. Leo shines as a main character, flawed but with his heart in the right place, and brave in the face of danger.
The ending was..shocking. I hadn’t expected it at all. Not giving out any spoilers though, but well, you’ll probably be surprised too.
Solid writing, and although the book is quite long (over 400 pages on my eReader), it doesn’t feel long. The pacing is fast, and the reader gets thrown into the action right away. An exceptional read, very enjoyable.
October 10, 2014
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to author Nick Green.)
This was an okay story, but it wasn’t quite what I expected.
The characters were all okay, and the author did a good job of portraying them as younger teens as they really did come across as only being 14-years-old. I did think that the things these kids had done were ridiculous though, and if the kid who’d robbed my car and wrecked it had been given a medal I’d have been spitting feathers!
The storyline in this wasn’t quite what I expected, and I have to admit that I did lose interest a bit. I wanted action, but I don’t know, I just didn’t get the energy and excitement that I expected. Instead the action fell a bit short for me. I’m wondering whether this book would maybe be received a bit better by younger teens?
The ending to this did surprise me a bit, and I have to say that it was downright harsh what these guys had done to these kids! Just awful! I mean really?!
Overall; okay story, but maybe aimed at younger teens?
6 out of 10.
This was an okay story, but it wasn’t quite what I expected.
The characters were all okay, and the author did a good job of portraying them as younger teens as they really did come across as only being 14-years-old. I did think that the things these kids had done were ridiculous though, and if the kid who’d robbed my car and wrecked it had been given a medal I’d have been spitting feathers!
The storyline in this wasn’t quite what I expected, and I have to admit that I did lose interest a bit. I wanted action, but I don’t know, I just didn’t get the energy and excitement that I expected. Instead the action fell a bit short for me. I’m wondering whether this book would maybe be received a bit better by younger teens?
The ending to this did surprise me a bit, and I have to say that it was downright harsh what these guys had done to these kids! Just awful! I mean really?!
Overall; okay story, but maybe aimed at younger teens?
6 out of 10.
July 22, 2022
Wow, loved every second of this book. Well written, fast paced and full of action. Quite a few twists at the end that I didn't expect, fantastic. Would definitely recommend this book. Looking forward to reading the next one :) Praise for Nick Green
October 2, 2014
Just another end of the world young adult series? Not even close! Project Firebird by Nick Green is the tale of an in-your-face likely scenario, a meteor on a collision course with Earth, no time to save the world, only the best of the best of the world’s youth. So, why is expert troublemaker and car thief, fourteen year old Leo in an underground bunker with kids far superior to him, intellectually, athletically, heck better than him in every way he can think of!? He has a purpose, he is meant to survive, to help rebuild a world devastated by disaster, and he’ll be darned if he knows what it is. Sure when one devoted sister wants to escape to the outside in an eleventh hour rescue mission to retrieve her sister, only Leo is crazy enough to figure a way to do it, but that’s just eh way he rolls, flaunt the words impossible and daring in front of him and it’s like waving a red flag before a charging bull, or so he wants everyone to believe. There is more to Leo than he even knows, just as each of these kids were handpicked, he has a vital role to play...and the quest to survive begins.
Once again, the youth of the world are called to the plate to bat for humanity. Nick Green has nailed this one out of the park with real teens, from every walk of life, each with their own quirks, personalities and talents. It’s up to them to figure out the rest and Nick Green proves to be an amazing guide as he weaves a rapid-fire tale of survival, coming of age and adventure in this sci-fi extravaganza that proves heroes shine in a time of crisis. Wonderful YA reading with crisp writing, an amazing world set-up and better yet, all the dialogue and attitude of youth come through!
I received this copy in exchange for my honest review from the author as part of the Project Firebird Tour.
Trilogy: The Firebird Trilogy - Book 1
Publication Date: August 31, 2014
Publisher: Pashki
Genre: YA Scifi/Fantasy
Print Length: 230 pages
Available from: Amazon
Once again, the youth of the world are called to the plate to bat for humanity. Nick Green has nailed this one out of the park with real teens, from every walk of life, each with their own quirks, personalities and talents. It’s up to them to figure out the rest and Nick Green proves to be an amazing guide as he weaves a rapid-fire tale of survival, coming of age and adventure in this sci-fi extravaganza that proves heroes shine in a time of crisis. Wonderful YA reading with crisp writing, an amazing world set-up and better yet, all the dialogue and attitude of youth come through!
I received this copy in exchange for my honest review from the author as part of the Project Firebird Tour.
Trilogy: The Firebird Trilogy - Book 1
Publication Date: August 31, 2014
Publisher: Pashki
Genre: YA Scifi/Fantasy
Print Length: 230 pages
Available from: Amazon
July 17, 2015
I was given a digital copy of this book from the author in exchange for a honest review.
Leo Llyod-Jones shouldn't be here, his Dad says it's the luck of the Devil, but when bad boy Leo is picked for a prestigious medal, named Project Firebird, after getting arrested, he thinks there's a mistake. But this amazing opportunity turns out to be too good to be true. With a comet heading straight for Earth, the Project Firebird kids are brought into an underground bunker and told they are the future of the Earth, post comet. When a girl from the group, Paige, wants to rescue her little sister, no one is willing to help her. No one except Leo. Can they get Skye before the comet hits? Can they figure out what's going on? You'll have to read the book.
I loved the plot of this book, it was something I've never read before. It was something that would pull you in very easily and keep you hooked for long periods of time. Thankfully I'm off school sick or I wouldn't be doing anything in school, I'd be reading this under the desk. I felt everything the characters were feeling as they tried to unravel what was going on because I had no idea about the plot twist that was coming.
There's a plot twist by the way.
My favourite character in the whole book was of course our bad boy hero, Leo. Being a Salford born girl, I felt drawn to the Salfordian boy. He was just so witty and such a fun character, even in the face of trouble. He was a caring guy, despite how he tried to play it off. The little romance that happens was my favourite. I'm not gonna say who it's with though, because I didn't see it coming at all. I didn't like Rhys though, I used too but boy did he ruin everything.
Overall, this was a really good book and I look forward to continuing this series at some point in the near future.
Leo Llyod-Jones shouldn't be here, his Dad says it's the luck of the Devil, but when bad boy Leo is picked for a prestigious medal, named Project Firebird, after getting arrested, he thinks there's a mistake. But this amazing opportunity turns out to be too good to be true. With a comet heading straight for Earth, the Project Firebird kids are brought into an underground bunker and told they are the future of the Earth, post comet. When a girl from the group, Paige, wants to rescue her little sister, no one is willing to help her. No one except Leo. Can they get Skye before the comet hits? Can they figure out what's going on? You'll have to read the book.
I loved the plot of this book, it was something I've never read before. It was something that would pull you in very easily and keep you hooked for long periods of time. Thankfully I'm off school sick or I wouldn't be doing anything in school, I'd be reading this under the desk. I felt everything the characters were feeling as they tried to unravel what was going on because I had no idea about the plot twist that was coming.
There's a plot twist by the way.
My favourite character in the whole book was of course our bad boy hero, Leo. Being a Salford born girl, I felt drawn to the Salfordian boy. He was just so witty and such a fun character, even in the face of trouble. He was a caring guy, despite how he tried to play it off. The little romance that happens was my favourite. I'm not gonna say who it's with though, because I didn't see it coming at all. I didn't like Rhys though, I used too but boy did he ruin everything.
Overall, this was a really good book and I look forward to continuing this series at some point in the near future.
September 28, 2014
Reviewer for Paranormal Romance and Authors that Rock
5 Fangs
Project Firebird by Nick Green is the first book in the Firebird Trilogy. Leo is a trouble maker kid who does a heroic thing. He saves two lives one night while out gallivanting in a stolen car. Leo ends up winning an award, the Firebird Medal with a group of other teenagers. The teenagers are rewarded with a holiday. At the end of there holiday they find out they were summoned for a reason. They are told that a comet called Bass-Chelik is heading towards earth. The people in charge of Project Firebird want to keep them in an old Nuclear Evac Shelter to protect them.
I really enjoyed this book. The writing is good and fast paced. There are twists and turns in this story that keep you turning pages to try and figure out what is going to happen. This book is full of surprises. The characters are great. I liked Leo's character. He is a young punk who thinks he knows it all.
The writer is obviously from England. So the only problem I had was with some of the slang. You get used to the writing and can follow it along pretty well after awhile.
I am looking forward to the other books coming out. I would recommend this for young adult readers who enjoy fiction.
5 Fangs
Project Firebird by Nick Green is the first book in the Firebird Trilogy. Leo is a trouble maker kid who does a heroic thing. He saves two lives one night while out gallivanting in a stolen car. Leo ends up winning an award, the Firebird Medal with a group of other teenagers. The teenagers are rewarded with a holiday. At the end of there holiday they find out they were summoned for a reason. They are told that a comet called Bass-Chelik is heading towards earth. The people in charge of Project Firebird want to keep them in an old Nuclear Evac Shelter to protect them.
I really enjoyed this book. The writing is good and fast paced. There are twists and turns in this story that keep you turning pages to try and figure out what is going to happen. This book is full of surprises. The characters are great. I liked Leo's character. He is a young punk who thinks he knows it all.
The writer is obviously from England. So the only problem I had was with some of the slang. You get used to the writing and can follow it along pretty well after awhile.
I am looking forward to the other books coming out. I would recommend this for young adult readers who enjoy fiction.
January 6, 2015
It's fairly rare I actually get to read a book that I can somewhat relate to in that I know the basic geography, being a Liverpool lad. We had a family store in Atherton, so I knew the likes of Salford well. I've even spent a fair amount of time in the lake district, where much of this is set.
The basic premise here is to, put it bluntly for people to understand, a cross between Enders game, and Hunger Games - Ender's Hunger as it were. That said, it might be more appropriate to say Ender's Shadow, rather than Game, because Leo reminded me more of Bean, in that he was so different from the others. The themes of 'children are the only way to survive' from OSC's ender books, with the Hunger Games' survivalist and interpersonal competition and conflict appeal to fans of both series.
The book overall was a decent read, paced just right for a teenage audience, and had enough twists and turns to make things interesting. Overall a good book, and a good start to the series.
The basic premise here is to, put it bluntly for people to understand, a cross between Enders game, and Hunger Games - Ender's Hunger as it were. That said, it might be more appropriate to say Ender's Shadow, rather than Game, because Leo reminded me more of Bean, in that he was so different from the others. The themes of 'children are the only way to survive' from OSC's ender books, with the Hunger Games' survivalist and interpersonal competition and conflict appeal to fans of both series.
The book overall was a decent read, paced just right for a teenage audience, and had enough twists and turns to make things interesting. Overall a good book, and a good start to the series.
May 25, 2018
Review copy provided by the author for an honest review.
How many times have we read a dystopian book set in a post-apocalyptic word? The characters are forced into survival mode and struggle against the problems of this "new world". We only hear about what happen to cause all this through them. What about getting to experience the world ending in front of us? How many times have we got to read about apocalypse happening right now? For me that answer is never, which is one of the biggest reason I loved this book so much. I have never read anything like it before and originality is something the genre of dystopian tends to lack.
The characters were also a highlight. I really liked our protagonist, Leo. He was funny, smart and very realistic. Paige and Skye's sisterly bond was so cute and Skye was hilarious. Summer and Rhys were also great characters - as was everyone really. Their were no faults character-wise.
As I have mentioned above, the plot is what made it though. It wasn't as action-packed as I would have thought it would be but there were some great moments. Action wasn't really necessary in the end anyway. What really worked for me is how realistic I found it. The character's reactions were spot on. The right amount of panicking, cool collectedness and confusion.
Overall, I really enjoyed this. It was definitely one of the best dystopians I have read this year and I am eager for the sequel now to see what is going to happen to Joe and his friends.
How many times have we read a dystopian book set in a post-apocalyptic word? The characters are forced into survival mode and struggle against the problems of this "new world". We only hear about what happen to cause all this through them. What about getting to experience the world ending in front of us? How many times have we got to read about apocalypse happening right now? For me that answer is never, which is one of the biggest reason I loved this book so much. I have never read anything like it before and originality is something the genre of dystopian tends to lack.
The characters were also a highlight. I really liked our protagonist, Leo. He was funny, smart and very realistic. Paige and Skye's sisterly bond was so cute and Skye was hilarious. Summer and Rhys were also great characters - as was everyone really. Their were no faults character-wise.
As I have mentioned above, the plot is what made it though. It wasn't as action-packed as I would have thought it would be but there were some great moments. Action wasn't really necessary in the end anyway. What really worked for me is how realistic I found it. The character's reactions were spot on. The right amount of panicking, cool collectedness and confusion.
Overall, I really enjoyed this. It was definitely one of the best dystopians I have read this year and I am eager for the sequel now to see what is going to happen to Joe and his friends.
July 20, 2018
This was a really engaging read. There's a lot of teen dystopian fiction out there, but what really set this one apart for me was how Green somehow brings in a certain humor and lightness-of-touch. Even though, at the same time, it's not like the impending doom aspect of the story isn't given its due. That had to be a really tough balancing act for the author, but he pulls it off quite deftly. I loved Leo and how genuinely teen-boy he is. ("She left the table like a queen of England. Leo browsed her abandoned tray for any food worth scavenging.") Green also has a tendency to spring descriptions and images and specific word choices that are surprising, but really vivid. Reminded me a bit of Markus Zusak at times. For example: "Leo shook him again, like a stubborn sauce bottle." Or this: "Leo stared at a biscuit in his hand, a fig roll, his all-time favourite, now as appetising as a nine-volt battery." Or this, from the epic and hilarious drive to London: "...it was lorries, lorries, almost nose to tail, like driving through streets of migrating buildings." I'm not usually a huge series reader, but will definitely continue on with the next Firebird book.
October 20, 2014
I got the book from the author. So thanks for the book.This review will probably be a really short review. I loved the idea of the book but it didn't catch my attention as I much as I hope for. I got half way through the book and couldn't contiue. I'm not saying for you to not to read the book. I don't know if I'm in a reading slump or what. I feel bad for not finishing the book I really do but I honestly didn't want to contiue I have other things to read. I might try this book again in awhile when I get out of this reading slump then I will hopefully post a better review. So right now I will mark it as DNF, but I will give it another go around because I like giving books chances.
June 1, 2016
Not what I was expecting! Will continue with the series despite almost not reading it after realising it was YA when I selected it from my to read list.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews