The Siege (The Six, 2)

The cruelty, sadness, disappointment, and hopelessness was overwhelming. And the brief moment of hope,near the end was an illusion. I don't want to read more of this series.Alpert has writing skills. And authors can be versatile. Maybe a different theme?

The Siege, the second in the series The Six, is a book that surprised me. I don't usually go for (1) YA and (2) science-based (ROBOTS!) stories, but both The Six and now The Siege, was completely readable. Adam Armstrong, the main character, is totally likable. He is smart, loyal, and very human in an un-human body. He comes up with ingenious solutions to high tech problems, and he worries about being liked.Mark Alpert is a science editor, and his background shows. His references to technology are readable and believable. I like that I wasn't lost in the technology details.So if you're looking for a rollicking, fun book with twists you don't see coming, try Mark Alpert's books. Oh, and the only reason I didn't give 5 stars is because I don't give our 5 stars as a general rule. I liked the books so much that I wrote to the author who replied immediately. Yes, the 3rd book of the series is in the works! I can't wait!

A lot of plot holes but unless you analyse it they aren't obviousA decent 2 day readA bit pricey ATM

My daughter loved this book.

Great Book and series

Very good teen sci-fi

This is part of a six part series involving robots v robots. One group is government controlled and it's opponent is a true AI. The story is intense and keeps you on the edge of your seat. There are battle scenes where the outcome are unpredictable and it adds to the story.

If you're looking for true YA sci-fi (not sci-fi light), then this series is for you!What Fed My Addiction:The sci fi.Fans of technology and sci-fi will love the different robots and gadgets in this series. I loved all of the descriptions of the different robots and how each person chose their "main" robot body and face. The physical manifestations of each of the characters were not only entertaining, they gave us insight into the characters' personalities. It was obvious that Alpert put a lot of thought into what each character's robot should look like and how it would represent them. All of the outrageous machines and technologies seemed a little crazy, but just like in the last book, if you read Alpert's notes at the end (which you definitely should!), you'll see that he's based them all on true scientific possibilities - ideas that are actually being implemented now in one form or another. I love that Alpert has the science to back up his fiction!Moral questions.Just like in the first book, my favorite thing about this series is all of the questions it presents about what makes us human. Are we merely a gathering of thoughts, feelings and memories, or is there something more? Is Adam truly Adam or just a copy?What happens if we create and AI that doesn't have human feelings or morals? Is there some point at which the melding of humans and technology can go awry? All great questions that are pondered (but not necessarily definitively answered - which I actually appreciate in a lot of ways!).Bring on the plot twists.There were some twists and turns that I definitely didn't see coming - especially one at the very end! Can't wait to see where they take us in the next book!What Left Me Wanting More:Big battle scenes aren't my favorite.This is completely a personal preference - I just tend to get a little bored with big battle scenes in books (I confess that I sometimes even skim them). I think that all of the sci-fi robot battles in this book were pretty spectacular, but eventually I start to lose interest. If you love those kinds of scenes, you will love this book! (Actually, I think my 14-year-old son would ADORE this series, partially for that reason - he won't read ebooks, though, so I'll have to see if I can my hands on them in paperback.)Romantic spat.Adam and his girlfriend Shannon ended up in a conflict based on some information that Adam withheld from her, but I honestly felt like it was blown out of proportion a bit and I couldn't quite see why she wouldn't forgive him - or at least talk it through. The romantic relationships and conflicts are just a bit shallow in this series. (But, again, probably fine for the younger YA set - especially the boys).This series is full of action and highly enjoyable. I give this second book 4/5 stars.***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***