Review & Blog Tour: The Rule of Three by Eric Waters - Apocalypses & Survival

Title: The Rule of Three 
Author: Eric Walters
Publisher: Penguin Canada
Publication date: January 21, 2014

Genre(s): Young Adult (Post-Apocalyptic)

Source: Publisher

Format: ARC

Pages: 405

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One shocking afternoon, computers around the globe shut down in a viral catastrophe. At sixteen-year-old Adam Daley’s high school, the problem first seems to be a typical electrical outage, until students discover that cell phones are down, municipal utilities are failing, and a few computer-free cars like Adam’s are the only vehicles that function. Driving home, Adam encounters a storm tide of anger and fear as the region becomes paralyzed. Soon—as resources dwindle, crises mount, and chaos descends—he will see his suburban neighborhood band together for protection. And Adam will understand that having a police captain for a mother and a retired government spy living next door are not just the facts of his life but the keys to his survival, in The Rule of Three by Eric Walters

The Rule of Three was such a surprise. I got into it thinking it is something along with lines of The 5th Wave, but I have to say that I actually enjoyed it even more than The 5th Wave. The Rule of Three starts off with the world ceasing to exist as it is and that reason is the computers around the world shut off. Computers, motors, internet, pumps, turbines, factories, cars, planes.. everything. Everything that is a crucial part of our survival has disappeared. This book made me take a step back and really see how we've become so dependent to technology, It was seriously scary. 

The Rule of Three is more about survival and learning to survive without technology. How to get clean water to drink, growing food and plowing and creating land to be able to farm on, building contraptions to make their everyday life easier but without the use of technology, and lastly working as a team to protect themselves and from any foreign and dangerous outsiders. The book is narrated through Adam, a 16 year old boy with an ex-spy neighbor. As soon as all hell broke loose, I loved seeing how his neighbor was able to think fast, and 3 steps ahead of everyone else. It doesn't hurt that he was an ex-CIA (or similar) agent back in the days. They were all fighting against time and against the gangs formed as well as threats that will come their way from outside their community. The way the neighbor made their community self-sustainable was just so fascinating to me. 

I loved reading every minute of it. I know people would automatically compare this novel to the tv. show Revolution, but Revolution is more killing, moving from one place to another, and more killing. The Rule of Three is more about learning to survive with what you have. I definitely picked up a few tricks and useful points if I ever needed them (haha). There is romance here but I blocked it from my mind. It was very underdeveloped and too immature-ish for my taste. Overall The Rule of Three was a very different and interesting read. The way it ended hints at a sequel but I am still not sure if there is one. However, if there is I am definitely picking it up.