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Alone: The Girl in the Box, Book 1 Paperback – April 16, 2012
Purchase options and add-ons
- Print length180 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- Publication dateApril 16, 2012
- Reading age13 - 17 years
- Dimensions5 x 0.41 x 8 inches
- ISBN-101475184980
- ISBN-13978-1475184983
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Product details
- Publisher : CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (April 16, 2012)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 180 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1475184980
- ISBN-13 : 978-1475184983
- Reading age : 13 - 17 years
- Item Weight : 8 ounces
- Dimensions : 5 x 0.41 x 8 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #653,413 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #2,315 in Superhero Science Fiction
- #5,408 in Contemporary Fantasy (Books)
- #13,088 in Science Fiction Adventures
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
Robert J. Crane is a million-selling author of over ninety books in the fantasy genre. His stories include fantasy epics, thrillers with a fantasy twist, paranormal tales, and even horror. He enjoys videogames, travel and the occasional nap.
Customer reviews
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To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the book an enjoyable read with an interesting premise and action-packed story. They praise the writing quality as excellent, with no glaring grammar or syntax errors. The characters are described as strong, believable, and likable. Readers appreciate the fast-paced and unpredictable plot twists that keep them hooked until the end.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers enjoyed the story's engaging premise and action scenes. They found the story different from other paranormal fiction, with a well-written fight sequence that flowed naturally. The book was described as fast-paced and gritty, with a balanced proportion of science fiction and supernatural elements.
"...it really is an enjoyable series with plenty of good characters, plenty of action and, once invested, you will be totally gripped...." Read more
"...The action sequences and fight scenes were well written and flowed very naturally, which is something many authors struggle with...." Read more
"...go through the book you can see that, similarities aside, the plot is really good (not something completely new) and that the author did an amazing..." Read more
"*****Spoilers***** I really liked this one, it's engaging and I couldn't put it down...." Read more
Customers enjoy the book's writing style and find it engaging. They say it's a good first book in a series with an interesting premise. The fight scenes are what make the novel worth reading, and the author grabs their attention from the first few paragraphs. Readers appreciate that there are many books to read in the series, so they don't have to wait.
"...They’re free, but they’re awesome. If you dig smart, emotional superhero fantasy, you *won’t* put this down." Read more
"...The nice thing for anyone about to start is that you have all 10 books ready to read and do not have to suffer the tense cliffhangers of longer term..." Read more
"...It wasn't a bad read, and when the snark wasn't overpowering, it was fun...." Read more
"...Again great book, genius author (as soon as I finished reading I went online to see anything else he might have written) and the coolest and..." Read more
Customers appreciate the writing quality of the book. They find it easy to read with no glaring grammar or syntax errors. The story is well-thought-out and the main character is believable. The opening novel is different and interesting, though some readers are not sure if it's their cup of tea.
"...But it is such an easy read and a real 'page-turner' to relax in to...." Read more
"...The author, I felt, had really strong writing. His descriptions were vivid, and the mental images he created in some scenes were quite powerful...." Read more
"...viral yet, all the elements of the story combined with the superb writing skills of this author (Is Robert J. Crane a Meta Human?)..." Read more
"...usage, a concise story that covers all the bases, extremely few grammatical errors, sarcastic humor and supernatural powers with limits (finally)...." Read more
Customers find the characters riveting and believable. They describe Sienna as an amazing, strong main character who is intelligent, smart-mouthed, and realistic.
"...Crane makes her a much deeper, more engaging character than the usual X-Men fare, in part because he keeps her in the spotlight rather than..." Read more
"...for 25 years and created her based on everything I'd like to be; She is so real, it feels that you can just turn the corner and hear one of her..." Read more
"Strong YA female protagonist, and great plot. A real page turner...." Read more
"...You never know. It could happen. 1. Strong Main Character/ Female Heroine: Sienna is an interesting main character...." Read more
Customers enjoy the book's fast pace. They find it thrilling and able to read it within a day or two. The action starts immediately, keeping them on edge with unpredictable plot twists. Many readers are eager for the next book in the series.
"...That, my friends, is a hell of a deal. Crane’s books are fast-paced but not superficial...." Read more
"...Sienna learns that she is a meta-human, a person born with exceptional speed, quickness, agility, and healing capabilities - the last of these being..." Read more
"...The story is fast paced and gritty with a balanced proportion of Sci-Fi and supernatural, without the usual suspects one tends to finds in books of..." Read more
"...The pacing was good and most of the supporting characters were well-formed and believable in the context of the novel...." Read more
Customers find the book engaging and suspenseful. They find the journey exciting and gripping, with enough twists and turns to keep them reading until the end. The opening draws them in and keeps them hooked.
"...But it is such an easy read and a real 'page-turner' to relax in to...." Read more
"Strong YA female protagonist, and great plot. A real page turner...." Read more
"...She is feisty, loving, and refreshing, especially compared to the weak female leads that are out there in plenty of books...." Read more
"...The story is fast paced and gritty with a balanced proportion of Sci-Fi and supernatural, without the usual suspects one tends to finds in books of..." Read more
Customers enjoy the book's engaging storyline and intriguing questions that keep them hooked. They find the concept interesting and the characters likable. The book starts off quickly and leaves readers wanting more.
"...Crane makes her a much deeper, more engaging character than the usual X-Men fare, in part because he keeps her in the spotlight rather than..." Read more
"...were easy to remember, quickly caught my interest, the heroin is super smart and sassy even when she makes teenage mistakes and the action begins on..." Read more
"...Unusually strong, fast, and well trained, Sienna is able to defend herself. But the men are just the first invaders...." Read more
"...world of highly developed meta-humans with believable, super-natural skills...." Read more
Customers have different views on the book's emotional and gripping content. Some find it emotionally engaging with a great storyline, heartache, and fantasy elements. Others describe it as unsettling, plain horror, and giving nightmares.
"...They’re free, but they’re awesome. If you dig smart, emotional superhero fantasy, you *won’t* put this down." Read more
"...It seems to focus on murder, anger,torture, mutilation, without any useful moments of salvation or redemption. I will look elsewhere for my next book." Read more
"...This series is wonderful. Power, arsekicking, angst, etc. No regrets, enjoy." Read more
"...a very strange and cruel background yet still has the capability to embrace human emotions...." Read more
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on May 6, 2014The following review aired in the May 6, 2014, Sci-Guys podcast, episode #155:
I’ve never really enjoyed comic books. I don’t know why. In fact, it wasn’t until a friend recommended “Y: The Last Man” to me that I found the graphic form really compelling. So maybe this bias was why I never got into the whole superhero thing when I was young. It really wasn’t until the X-Men films and most recent Batman reboot that I took an interest in comic characters at all. But I did – in my 30s...better late than never – and just in time to admire Robert Crane’s indie-published fantasy series, “The Girl in the Box.”
Right up front, I’ll say this: If you like the X-Men, you’ll like this series. It’s about a 17-year-old girl named Sienna, and it begins with her waking up, having been alone in her house for a week. Two men have broken in. In a wicked display of innocent, almost detached efficiency, Sienna dispatches them, thanks to a lifetime of intense physical training from her missing mother. Hardly a moment after she sets foot outside of her house for the first time in many years, Sienna meets two more men. One of them she feels very drawn toward. The other is a massive, ancient, immensely powerful monster who soon becomes bent on her destruction.
I don’t want to give away too much, other than to say that Sienna has some very special powers, and she ends up at a sort of school for gifted people such as herself. If this sounds suspiciously like X-Men, well...I asked Robert Crane for an explanation.
“I'm a huge fan of comic books and even the X-Men,” he said. “The fact is that any story dealing with superpowered humans that aren't of the traditional urban fantasy myth types (vampires, werewolves, that kind of fun stuff) are bound to get some comparisons to X-Men. I can't say I was playing to that audience, exactly, because what I had in mind when I started the story was a much, much more aloof mentor than Professor X ever was, and a harsher, more damaged protagonist in Sienna. I wanted to write a Buffy the Vampire Slayer-esque story. I think you'll find if you stick with the books that there's a widening gulf between where we start and where we end up in terms of the tone.”
This was true. By the end of the 182-page first book, titled “Alone,” you were very much inside of Sienna’s head, exploring her past and the foundations of her fears. Crane makes her a much deeper, more engaging character than the usual X-Men fare, in part because he keeps her in the spotlight rather than spreading his attention around a large group. By the end of this brief novel, you’re completely caught up in Sienna’s struggle and racing for the end, and this feels much more like an original work than an X-Men knock-off.
The end of “Alone,” of course, is only the beginning. The ninth book in the Girl in the Box series arrived just over a month ago (March 2014). Crane gives away the first three ebook volumes as a boxed set for free, and the subsequent titles run $4.99 each. That, my friends, is a hell of a deal. Crane’s books are fast-paced but not superficial. And if you hate cliffhangers at the end of your books, well...get over it. The Girl in the Box may be indie-published, but it feels completely professional. If you’re one of these people who still sneers at indie titles, ask yourself what matters more: whether the book was published in New York or whether you enjoyed it and the author keeps on delivering more of what you love.
I asked Crane about why people should read indie, and he said, “I'm pretty picky about my reading. I remember being a kid – and an adult – with limited funds and buying a book because the cover and description seemed really cool. Then I started reading it and put it down after a chapter, never to pick it up again because it was blah. Well, if I'm reading a new traditionally published book, that's somewhere between $10 and $16 I'm never going to get back. With a lot of indie-pubbed books, you can pick up the first book free or for 99 cents, and if it doesn't hold you, well, you can put down at least nine more like it before you start getting close to what you wasted on one $10 book.”
That said, I doubt you’ll be putting down the first three installments of The Girl in the Box. They’re free, but they’re awesome. If you dig smart, emotional superhero fantasy, you *won’t* put this down.
- Reviewed in the United States on October 8, 2014I have read the entire series and wanted to review Part 1.
If anyone is thinking of starting this...get going.
I confess to "sticking with it" early days as the main character was a little annoying but it really is an enjoyable series with plenty of good characters, plenty of action and, once invested, you will be totally gripped.
The nice thing for anyone about to start is that you have all 10 books ready to read and do not have to suffer the tense cliffhangers of longer term readers.
The premise is not a new idea - a teenager discovering super powers and finding herself immersed in a secret world that smacks of X-Men and many others. But it is such an easy read and a real 'page-turner' to relax in to.
There are a lot of indie authors who will give you a free sample to get you hooked. Don't wade through too many without trying this guy. You will be hooked.
- Reviewed in the United States on August 18, 2014Sienna had some great zingers during the course of the book but the constant, over the top snark started to grate after a while. Sienna has one channel--all snark, all the time. If the author wanted her to be likeable, he needed to dial the sarcasm down occasionally. I also, at times, found it hard to believe that she could be that cocky and could have honed her wit that much...locked in the house with only her very strict mother for company. Considering her mother didn't seem the sort to take well to snark, I'm not sure how Sienna got that good at it.
Though victim blaming is a real thing, I feel like it was taken to unrealistic levels during the course of the book. At the compound where Sienna is being protected, it's true that everyone was somewhat justified in being angry with her for insisting on returning to her house and endangering so many lives--but it's truly unbelievable that no one is angry at their leader for allowing her to do so when he didn't have to. No one blames him. They all blame Sienna to the point of hating her without ever calling into question their own leader's decision.
When the murders start, again, everyone blames her entirely. No one really even seems to blame the person actually committing the murders as much as they blame Sienna, which strikes me as a little weird to be honest. While I could certainly understand a few people being willing to throw her under the bus, it really defies belief that absolutely no one pointed out that Sienna was not at fault or a known killer, uh, killing people.
I seriously question the point of having Reed in the story at all. He honestly serves very little purpose beyond being her ride in the initial fight scene. If he becomes a critical character in subsequent books, he needed a far better set up than the one he got.
The author, I felt, had really strong writing. His descriptions were vivid, and the mental images he created in some scenes were quite powerful. The action sequences and fight scenes were well written and flowed very naturally, which is something many authors struggle with. I wish he'd found a voice for Sienna besides the unending stream of snark, broken only by the moments of self pity. I wish other characters hadn't been resolutely determined to hate her for less her bad attitude than because a psycho took his obsession for her out on innocent people. And I wish we'd gotten to know some other Metas rather than just seeing them be pissy at Sienna from afar.
It wasn't a bad read, and when the snark wasn't overpowering, it was fun. The action sequences were a delight and the antagonist's end was more than satisfying.
Top reviews from other countries
- WierdbrewReviewed in Germany on October 11, 2018
5.0 out of 5 stars Crane's Masterpiece
Despite the fact that the plot is unsettling, the book is very gripping, fascinating, and spellbinding. Anyone who enjoys paranormal adventures will be captivated by it.
- LindylouReviewed in Spain on February 23, 2014
5.0 out of 5 stars Something out of the ordinary
Brilliant, enthralling mind blowing read; could not put the books down; have read books 1 - 8 and cannot wait for books 9 and 10.
Can not recommend this series highly enough - you have to read for yourself to appreciate Robert's genius at writing.
Bring on the next one - please x
- Happy readerReviewed in the United Kingdom on September 7, 2013
5.0 out of 5 stars Bursts out like a Jack-in-the-box
Pros - exciting, very readable, intriguing, free
Cons - plot not particularly detailed, although it sets up questions for the next book
I was really pleasantly surprised by this novel. An interesting blend of sci-fi and urban fantasy thriller i think this book will appeal to a wide audience. It is well written and has a great sense of pace. Initially I wasn't sure, but after the first chapter i was hooked and good barely put the book down. The main character, Sienna, is well rounded and well written, especially as it is a first person perspective. The setting and descriptions are detailed without being laboured, a common trait of newer authors. The action is visceral and intense, with some shocking explosions of violence, creating a genuine sense of fear.
Throughout the novel it is clear Crane is setting up for a series, but for once this didn't annoy me, instead I became aware that I wanted to explore this world in more depth. Although you could argue that the narrative is a little bit thin and not a great deal happens, girl chased by seemingly invincible foe, but i would point such detractors towards Benchley's Jaws. As such I will get on a download the follow up right now, I hope it is as good as this.
2 people found this helpfulReport - booksnwhateverReviewed in Australia on October 23, 2014
5.0 out of 5 stars The adrenaline rush right at the beginning of the book was awesome!! Throughout the series
Alone features a young girl, named Sienna Nealon, who has been deprived of whatever life exists outside of her home for as long as she can remember. Though she has never fully understood why, her mother has kept her blanketed from the outside world entirely, to such an extreme that she has not laid foot outside of her home EVER before. The only life she knows is home studies, intense martial arts, and strict guidelines all ultimately forced on her, conducted and implemented by her mother. That is until her home is invaded in the middle of the night, and suddenly the only life and world she knows comes to an abrupt end and she finds herself having to grow up real fast and discover a whole new life she never even knew existed.
To begin with, it took some time to stay motivated to read this. Once I devoted my undivided attention to the book, it was definitely worth it. The adrenaline rush right at the beginning of the book was awesome!! Throughout the series, I'm finding (only on book 5 at the moment) all the information that Crane stacks in about who this is and what they're doing can be a little overwhelming. However, you learn to balance your thoughts as you continue reading. Sienna is an absolute fireball of anger, and acts like such a typical teenager that it's so hard not to relate to and like her! This book is really quite slow, but the build up is great and I read the first 3 books within a couple days because I just could not put it down.
Definitely a great read, and easily becoming one of my favorite series! I certainly think you will enjoy this book if you enjoy adventurous characters and full-on action. This is full of it! I will loosely compare it to Divergent, as they are both completely different, but the adrenaline rush is phenomenal! Crane does a fantastic job of really accentuating each part of every little fight so you feel like you're right there watching it all unfold.
- GeorgesReviewed in Germany on April 18, 2017
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read
It's one of this Booms that you won't put down. It grips you and you keep going "just a few moments" more.