For the majority of this book I could not help but be reminded of the Karate Kid movies. A new kid attending a new school, gets into some rough times with another gang of boys. They call themselves the TOPPERS and the FLATLINERS. They fight each other with martial art skills that can become deadly and serious very fast.
The twist to this story that takes it away from being too similar to Karate Kid is the combination that we get to have half of the story from a Aimee, and that was nice to get some alternative perspectives into the story.
There is also some supernatural twists to this one, as well as some incredibly creepy Train Tracks in which the town refers to as the "Dark Territory" some magic, kidnappings full of ransom notes and danger.
I have read other books by J Gabriel Gates and appreciate the flow of the stories he tells. Just like sitting back and watching a good film. A great ensemble of characters and dialogue that really keeps the reader interested with the plot. This for instance is a 504 page book, but once you get into the story you'd never realize it was.
I think that the amazing this is that this book at the time I am writing this review is only $1.30 on Amazon, both the ebopy and the physical paperback copy! Now this amazes me, it's a steal at this price and a great story with great characters. I don't know why'd you ever want to pass up this offer.
Happy Reading ( )

I received this from HCI Teens for a honest and fair review, and oh my god this was totally different then anything I have read lately. This story had me on the edge of my seat, seeing aspects of the story of Romeo and Juliet. You have the flatliners who are a misfit group doing the best they can in a society where the Toppers succeed and the flatliners just try to get by. Nass is new to Middleburg and the last thing he needs is to join a gang but what he sees in the flatliners is more than a gang, he sees friends helping each other trying to get by. He also meets Dalton who he is smitten with. The toppers are the typical spoiled rich kids, minus Aimee who has returned to town after being in an institute after the death of her boyfriend Tyler. She meets Raph and is instantly falling for him. He treats Aimee like a person and doesn't shun her since her return. Master Chin teaches the kids martial arts and warns them that bigger things are happening.

I enjoyed this the action was incredible, the humor was just as great and a refreshing read for the supernatural aspects. You really feel like your with the gang in their various situations. Definitely a great series can't wait to read the next one called Ghost Crown. ( )

Wow! I can’t say that I’m exactly speechless over this book, but the words are not coming quickly to me. It’s been over a week since I finished this book and I can still see the action that permeated the pages, the forbidden love that was blooming amongst two of the characters and the supernatural turmoil that lay no-longer-dormant under the city of Middleburgh. This book is 504 pages and there was not a page that bored me or made me want to put this book down. Action begins immediately when the new guy, Ignacio, gets into a fight on the first day of school. He immediately walks into a dividing battle without even meaning to. Action settles the story, bringing it to a satisfying end resolving the unspoken issues and alluding to more. Nothing is ever what it seems in this story, but you are never bored with where it’s going.
What can I say about the characters? I wish there was one that stood out to me and called to me. But there wasn’t, not because something was lacking. In fact it was the opposite, which is a rare find in books. But the story of each character seemed to be complete that I could completely envision them. The story was, successfully, written from different perspectives that added a whole new dimension to the story. They all have such depth and pull to them that, honestly, I am not sure if it is possible to have a favorite. There we quite a few that I didn’t think I would like, but by the end of the book I found myself thinking “oh well. . .she’s alright after all”. The bad guys were awesomely creepy and the good guys were astoundingly flawed. That combination makes the story that much more realistic. The story itself? Wow! It’s not just a story about the battle of good and evil. Or just a story about a lost friendship that holds the key to uniting the town. It’s not even just a story about a forbidden love, a girl trying to find herself or a boy turning into a man. It was all of these things and so very much more. It’s gripping, and real. I could feel the emotions when I needed to, and I definitely got lost in the story.
What would you have to do if you had to go on a supernatural quest to rescue the life of someone you loved? If you had the power to defeat a deeply hidden evil that you knew nothing about? I could seriously go on and on about this book for a long time and there are still things that I am sure I would have missed. There were a whole lot of things going on, but nothing felt like it was just a filler to add pages or to hold time until something happened. It seemed like everything mattered in some way, but it was done in such a way that it wasn’t overwhelming to the reader. Yes, I still had some questions at the end of the story. But, there has to be something hanging to continue the series. And, yes, I definitely want this series to continue! And If you’re still debating if you really want to read this 504 page book, I say don’t be intimidated by the size of the book. It is an awesome story, and you will reach the end quicker than you expect and you will definitely finish wanting more.

This book was given to me, free, from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. ( )

When I first looked at the description and started to read the book I thought that it would be similar to "West Side Story". You have two gangs. One is the wealthy kids who live on the hill and the other is the poor kids who live on the wrong side of the tracks. There is a romance that builds between a girl from the hill and a boy from the poor section. They live in a small town that has lost its luster since the railroad was rerouted.

I was wrong. Yes, there are those elements present, but this story has quite a bit more to offer. When I would think that the story was winding down and coming to a conclusion, J. Gabriel Gates would take off in a whole new direction and breathe life into the story.

There is a whole paranormal element that at times leaving you scratching you head and thinking, where did that come from? He adds pieces layer upon layer to build up to the story. At the end there are still things that you don't know and lead to interest in a future story. There is a promise of more action and battles in the war between good and evil. It's also a story of friendship and loyalty.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. It is clean as far as the romance goes. Depictions of war, violence, and gang activity are my only content warnings. ( )

J. GABRIEL GATES "DARK TERRITORY"

The story of Ignacio Torrez is one that young adults will enjoy. When he moves from his rough and tumble, Los Angeles neighborhood to a small town in nowhere land he learns a valuable lesson about honor and magic. He soon finds himself in the midst of an adventure, a quest to bring peace between the Toppers and the Flatliners, two rival gangs on the verge of war over forbidden love.
This book is one I would highly recommend.

-Kitty Bullard / Great Minds Think Aloud Book Club ( )