Variant

By: Robison Wells

Narrated by: Michael Goldstrom

Length: 8 hrs

Publisher's summary

Benson Fisher thought that a scholarship to Maxfield Academy would be the ticket out of his dead-end life.

He was wrong.

Now he’s trapped in a school that’s surrounded by a razor-wire fence. A school where video cameras monitor his every move. Where there are no adults. Where the kids have split into groups in order to survive.

Where breaking the rules equals death.

But when Benson stumbles upon the school’s real secret, he realizes that playing by the rules could spell a fate worse than death, and that escape - his only real hope for survival - may be impossible.

©2011 Robison Wells (P)2011 HarperCollinsPublishers

Didn't see it coming!

I have to admit I didn't see the twist coming. Yeah, maybe it was a little silly but it was interesting enough to make me want know more.

That is why I am *really* annoyed with the cliff-hanger ending. It is such a cheap crutch for writers to use that on principle I usually give the book very low marks for it and don't bother with the rest of a series, knowing I'll get more of the same.

However, I might give the next book a go when it comes out because I am genuinely curious!

Had to keep listening!

If you could sum up Variant in three words, what would they be?

Suspenseful
Intriguing
Well-written

What did you like best about this story?

Interesting and innovative storyline... if you get past the "this could never happen" thoughts ;-) OH but it ends in a cliffhanger so be prepared to buy book 2: Feedback (which I am doing when I finish writing this review).

Which character – as performed by Michael Goldstrom – was your favorite?

Ice Man. We still don't know much about him by the end of the book but I am crazy intrigued and hope that storyline plays out well :)

Any additional comments?

Listened to it really quickly... it was a great and easy read.

This should be a movie

Would you consider the audio edition of Variant to be better than the print version?

I haven't read the print version so i cant say which is better. But i favor audio over print unless the narration is bad.

What other book might you compare Variant to and why?

Im not sure if i could compare it to anything out there today. maybe " lord of the flies" mixed with the Matrix.

Have you listened to any of Michael Goldstrom’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

this was my 1st Michael Goldstrom book.

Any additional comments?

Buy this while it's on sale

Unexpected Twist

Unexpected twist with an ending that leaves you hanging till the next book. I did not know this was to be a trilogy or series when purchased. After reading the first book I will definitely read the next... got to find out what happens.

Great twist!

Would you listen to Variant again? Why?

Yes, because the story is interesting, entertaining and the narrator was good.

What did you like best about this story?

I like the ending! It was a superise and not what I expected!

What about Michael Goldstrom’s performance did you like?

He made each character voice believable.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

No

Good action story

What did you like best about Variant? What did you like least?

Story begins straight away. Good pace. Wasn't wrapped in the ending, and the main character seems only motivated by self-preservation. Premise is good though.

Would you recommend Variant to your friends? Why or why not?

I'd recommend it to reluctant readers, has a Percy Jackson feel to it (without the gods).

Wow

This book was incredible. I mean, there have been storylines where people ended up where they didn't want to be, but this was written so well. The main character realized right away that something was wrong with the school he was sent to. When he asked the other students, they agreed but they had plausible reasons for sticking around. A lot of books have one character who has some common sense and all the other characters who appear clueless. Some stories have main characters who make really stupid decisions. In Variant, Benson's actions and reactions were believable. I can't say I saw the "explanation" coming. Once it was revealed many things made sense, but there were still many curiosities. Apparantly, there will be sequels to explain them. I look forward to them.

I only have two complaints:

1. The last few lines were very important, yet I had no idea who was speaking.
2. Why do I have to wait so long for the next book?

Great job Robison Wells.

Read it till the end

I really enjoyed this book almost as much as I enjoyed The Maze Runner series. It starts off kind of slow but really takes a great turn. I recommend it to everyone who enjoys the MR series.

Best book everrrr

Best book ever, it has so many plot twists and it grabs your attention. I never read a book before this and ever since I can’t stop reading.

Entertaining Thrilling Adventure

I enjoyed this audiobook a lot. I liked Benson and loved some of the supporting characters such as Becky and Jane. It's a very action packed story with lots of cool twists. Although, I do have to admit that at times it felt a lot like The Maze Runner. And there's the obvious comparisons to Lord of the Flies. Wells does a good job of telling a story and what was with that ending! This is the first time I remember coming across this narrator and I really liked him. Overall, it wasn't a fantastic, wonderful and amazing book but it is well worth the read. I will definitely be reading the second book in the series.

On a side note, I listen to the author and his brother, Dan Wells' podcast, Do I Dare to Eat a Peach? It's a great podcast and so much fun. I love listening to the make their lists and talk. It's one of my favorite podcasts. I highly recommend it. You can find it on iTunes.