I continue to be baffled why a major publisher has not picked up this book. It has so many ingredients that teen boys will relate to and enjoy.
The main character, Cooper, is a typical teenager with typical problems – the most pressing being a bully who is making his life a misery. In the opening chapter, a run-in with the bully goes hilariously haywire and the boys become instant YouTube sensations – and it’s here that Pike’s twisted and colourful imagination straps us in and blasts off on a wild intergalactic ride. Each exotic alien we encounter is more intriguing than the last – in fact, the oddballs from the Star Wars bar scene seem like a pretty beige bunch in comparison.
The humour is sharp and witty and the story is peppered with clever pop culture references, particularly from the world of gaming. From the AC/DC cameo to unexpected teenage fatherhood, the plot twists are utterly unpredictable.
The boys find themselves thrust into a position of power in the intergalactic power structure, and, with the fate of the world hanging in the balance, they are forced to make difficult choices.
The climactic scene is simply breath-taking and has Hollywood written all over it. I’ve heard that the author is hard at work on a sequel to Kings, which is fantastic news, because Cooper’s world – and beyond – is one hell of a fun place to visit.
Derek Pedley
(on smashwords)
—-
As a voracious reader, and former children’s editor, I’ve long been a fan of great YA fiction, and devour the best authors, books and series I can get my hands on. I can honestly say KOTW is up there with the best. Neatly offering enough to interest adults and kids, it’s very well characterised and plotted with great action pieces obviously written with a view to a big-screen adaptation 🙂 Best of all, it’s obviously written from someone who KNOWS what teenagers think, rather than just guessing from an adult perspective. All of which makes it easy to hold the interest of an age group that might not necessarily be keen to sit down with a book. But big words aside, here’s the truth – it’s clever, funny, kick-ass and it has monsters and dinosaurs. What more could you want?
Lisa Chant
(on smashwords)
—-
For a first novel, I couldn’t ask for more, congratulations Matt!
KOTW blends modern gaming into a flawless read, a perfect segue for people to move from playing games to reading novels (about gaming :).
The Characters never falter, and there’s even room for a redhead (read it and you’ll understand ;).
The story line and humour within it run at a perfect pace with no time to slow down.
And for an author breaking into the industry, the donations to the Rett Foundation are truly admirable.
Wayne Bosch
(on smashwords)
—-
Kings of the World is easy to follow and not confusing with all the different planets, species and names etc. Everything is described in a way that you can visualise it all and it made me feel like I was actually there! (which is exactly what is supposed to happen when reading a great story.)
Definitely a great and original storyline and extremely well written.
SharniezÂ
(on smashwords)
—-
Kings of the World is a hilarious and thrilling read with characters that are both relatable and entertaining. Humour carries through the plot as action and excitement prevail. A great read for young adults and adults alike. You won’t be able to put this book down!
Lisa Smith
(on smashwords)
