Reviews

BRID: Fight or Flight hooked me from the first page and didn’t let go. David Alan Woods drops you straight into a future Earth where gigantic, genetically engineered insects dominate the food chain and humanity is fighting just to stay alive. The opening scene alone, featuring a two-meter Mosquito hunting a young boy in his bedroom, is one of the most intense and vividly written sequences I’ve read in sci-fi.

The worldbuilding is excellent: fortified skyscraper colonies, quantum-dot solar tech, transparent aluminum structures, and a society built around “Hybrid Soldiers,” humans fused with animal DNA to fight the insect threat. It all feels fully imagined and believable. The military newsfeeds and global war reports add a great sense of scale.

Xavier, the young protagonist, is easy to root for. His emerging abilities, complicated family history, and tight bond with his sister give the story heart. The constant tension between survival, responsibility, and identity kept me invested the whole way through.

If there is one thing to note, it is that the book packs in a lot of detail. Readers who like deep worldbuilding will love it, while those who prefer a lighter touch may find a few sections a bit heavy on explanation. But the payoff, especially the action scenes, is absolutely worth it.

Overall, this is a fast, imaginative, and cinematic sci-fi adventure that feels tailor-made for fans of creature combat, high-stakes futuristic warfare, and young heroes stepping into their power. I’m already looking forward to the next installment in the BRID series.

"BRID: Fight or Flight" delivers exactly what it promises: a fast-paced, intelligent sci-fi thriller with heart. Woods's dystopian vision of 2417 London—where giant genetically-engineered insects rule and humanity's survival depends on human-animal hybrid soldiers—is both terrifying and brilliantly conceived.

The prose is functional yet dynamic, employing intentional parataxis, controlled metaphors, and vivid action sequences that kept me breathless. While the POV occasionally shifts between Xavier's limited third-person perspective and omniscient narration of the Sectz, this technique works perfectly for MG/YA, enhancing tension and providing crucial biological insight without slowing momentum.

Xavier Wish is a compelling protagonist whose emerging abilities, family bonds, and moral courage anchor the relentless action. The world-building is exceptional - fortified colonies, vertical agriculture, quantum-dot technology - all seamlessly integrated without info-dumping.

The syntax shows confident variety with effective sentence modulation, and the vocabulary strikes that rare balance: elevated but accessible, challenging without obscuring. Grammar is technically sound throughout.

For readers craving original, absorbing sci-fi with visceral combat, genuine emotion, and a protagonist who feels authentically human facing impossible odds—this is unmissable. Highly recommended.

BRID: Fight or Flight wastes no time pulling you into its world. The opening alone is tense, vivid, and unsettling in the best way, and it immediately sets the tone for what follows, a fast-moving, imaginative sci-fi story with real stakes. What I enjoyed most was how clearly the world is built without slowing the story down. The future setting, the hybrid soldiers, and the constant threat of the Sectz all feel thought-out and believable, but the focus stays on the characters, especially Xavier.

There’s a strong emotional core beneath the action, particularly around family, fear, and responsibility, which gives the story more weight than a standard action-driven sci-fi novel. The pacing is quick, the concepts are creative, and the danger always feels close. It’s the kind of book that’s easy to keep reading “just one more chapter.” If you enjoy sci-fi with strong world building, high tension, and a younger protagonist who feels genuinely human, this is a great start to a series.

If you like dystopian novels with an interesting sci-fi twist, then I think you will like this book. I loved how the story balances high-stakes action with real emotion, especially through Xavier Wish’s journey from ordinary schoolboy to something far greater. The world-building feels vivid and cinematic, and the pace never lets up. It’s smart, thrilling, and surprisingly heartfelt—a sci-fi adventure that sticks with you long after the last page.

BRID: Fight or Flight is a wildly imaginative, high‑energy sci‑fi adventure that grabs you from page one and never lets go. David Alan Woods builds a vivid, unsettling future where giant Sectz insects dominate the planet and humanity’s survival hinges on the creation of the fierce hybrid Bridz. At the center of it all is Xavier Wish, a relatable young protagonist whose awakening powers add heart and urgency to the story. The world‑building is sharp, the pacing relentless, and the blend of dystopian tension with coming‑of‑age discovery makes this a standout read for both teens and adults. A thrilling, clever eco‑survival tale that feels fresh and cinematic.

I picked this up expecting a sci-fi adventure, but BRID: Fight or Flight grabbed me by the throat from page one. The opening scene with the giant mosquito is tense in a way that feels personal and immediate, like a nightmare you can’t wake up from. Xavier feels real: scared, sharp-thinking, and just brave enough to survive. The world is strange but easy to sink into, with small details that make it feel lived-in rather than explained. I found myself reading faster and faster, caught between panic and excitement. This is the kind of book that makes you forget to check the time.

It pulls you into a story that captivates you completely and makes you lose track of time. The characters are complex, each driven by a genuine search for purpose. It’s clear the author has a deep understanding of biology, and the world he have built feels real somehow, and wonderfully futuristic. The setting is fascinating, and the storytelling is masterfully done. A true work of art.

BRID: Fight or Flight" delivers exactly what it promises: a fast-paced, intelligent sci-fi thriller with heart. Woods's dystopian vision of 2417 London—where giant genetically-engineered insects rule and humanity's survival depends on human-animal hybrid soldiers—is both terrifying and brilliantly conceived.

The prose is functional yet dynamic, employing intentional parataxis, controlled metaphors, and vivid action sequences that kept me breathless. While the POV occasionally shifts between Xavier's limited third-person perspective and omniscient narration of the Sectz, this technique works perfectly for MG/YA, enhancing tension and providing crucial biological insight without slowing momentum.

Xavier Wish is a compelling protagonist whose emerging abilities, family bonds, and moral courage anchor the relentless action. The world-building is exceptional—fortified colonies, vertical agriculture, quantum-dot technology—all seamlessly integrated without info-dumping.

The syntax shows confident variety with effective sentence modulation, and the vocabulary strikes that rare balance: elevated but accessible, challenging without obscuring. Grammar is technically sound throughout.

For readers craving original, absorbing sci-fi with visceral combat, genuine emotion, and a protagonist who feels authentically human facing impossible odds—this is unmissable. Highly recommended.

What really hooked me wasn't just the action, though - it was Xavier. Watching him struggle with fear, expectations and his uncertain future made the story feel personal and emotional, not just epic. I found myself genuinely invested in whether he'd live up to his own hopes, not just the world's demands. The science felt believable, the creatures were vividly unsettling, and the pacing made it hard to stop reading. I kept telling myself "one more chapter" and actually meant it. By the end, I felt like I'd grown alongside Xavier.

The world is vivid, the characters feel real, and the action never lets up. It's smart sci-fi with heart and edge. I flew through it and can't wait to read more.

BRID: Fight or Flight wastes no time pulling you into its world. The opening alone is tense, vivid, and unsettling in the best way, and it immediately sets the tone for what follows, a fast-moving, imaginative sci-fi story with real stakes. What I enjoyed most was how clearly the world is built without slowing the story down. The future setting, the hybrid soldiers, and the constant threat of the Sectz all feel thought-out and believable, but the focus stays on the characters, especially Xavier. There’s a strong emotional core beneath the action, particularly around family, fear, and responsibility, which gives the story more weight than a standard action-driven sci-fi novel. The pacing is quick, the concepts are creative, and the danger always feels close. It’s the kind of book that’s easy to keep reading “just one more chapter.” If you enjoy sci-fi with strong worldbuilding, high tension, and a younger protagonist who feels genuinely human, this is a great start to a series.

I picked this up expecting a sci-fi adventure, but BRID: Fight or Flight grabbed me by the throat from page one. The opening scene with the giant mosquito is tense in a way that feels personal and immediate, like a nightmare you can’t wake up from. Xavier feels real: scared, sharp-thinking, and just brave enough to survive. The world is strange but easy to sink into, with small details that make it feel lived-in rather than explained. I found myself reading faster and faster, caught between panic and excitement. This is the kind of book that makes you forget to check the time.

David Alan Woods’ “BRID: FIGHT OR FLIGHT” is a sci-fi thriller. Set in the year 2417, the book takes place in post-apocalyptic London, where giant insects, called the Sectz, rule the roost, just as giant insects of varying species do everywhere else in the world.

The giant insects were originally docile creatures, created for use as amusement park rides. Somewhere along the way, however, the insects stole the show.

To combat the Sectz, the military began creating a breed of hybrid soldiers, called Brids, years earlier. The new warriors were created by splicing human genomes with the DNA of such beasts as lions, tigers, and bears – oh, my!

The result was hybrid soldiers that shared the characteristics of the animals whose DNA they acquired. This created a diverse army with the size and strength of the fiercest animals on Earth – an army that would be able to hopefully combat the global infestation of the Sectz.

As the Brids and Sectz wage war, 12-year-old Xavier Wish enters the picture. He wants to be just like his 19-year-old brother who is a White Tiger Brid, and his track record against a giant mosquito and colossal centipede indicate he may have the same genetic makeup to become as fierce a warrior as his older bro.

Unfortunately, the process which splices animal DNA and human genomes is randomized, and it is not until a pre-hybrid like Xavier approaches puberty that the type of Brid he will become can be estimated through testing. Wanting to be a White Tiger Brid but being told he will most likely become a Goat Brid, is not what Xavier wants to hear.

Still, Xavier perseveres and show a remarkable understanding of the enemy and their military strategies. He also show uncommon courage, leadership abilities, and the willingness to adapt or die.

“Brid” is a well-written dystopian thriller that is imaginative, entertaining, and engaging. At times, the book reads like a screenplay from the Batman television series. Yoiks!

BRID: Fight or Flight hooked me from the first page and didn’t let go. David Alan Woods drops you straight into a future Earth where gigantic, genetically engineered insects dominate the food chain and humanity is fighting just to stay alive. The opening scene alone, featuring a two-meter Mosquito hunting a young boy in his bedroom, is one of the most intense and vividly written sequences I’ve read in sci-fi.

The worldbuilding is excellent: fortified skyscraper colonies, quantum-dot solar tech, transparent aluminum structures, and a society built around “Hybrid Soldiers,” humans fused with animal DNA to fight the insect threat. It all feels fully imagined and believable. The military newsfeeds and global war reports add a great sense of scale.

Xavier, the young protagonist, is easy to root for. His emerging abilities, complicated family history, and tight bond with his sister give the story heart. The constant tension between survival, responsibility, and identity kept me invested the whole way through.

If there is one thing to note, it is that the book packs in a lot of detail. Readers who like deep worldbuilding will love it, while those who prefer a lighter touch may find a few sections a bit heavy on explanation. But the payoff, especially the action scenes, is absolutely worth it.

Overall, this is a fast, imaginative, and cinematic sci-fi adventure that feels tailor-made for fans of creature combat, high-stakes futuristic warfare, and young heroes stepping into their power. I’m already looking forward to the next installment in the BRID series.

Highly recommended!

Brid opens in the year 2417 with 12-year-old Xavier battling a giant mosquito, its belly already swollen with human blood. He prevails eventually, only to face a centipede as long as a commuter train the next morning on his way to school. He uses his wits and rapidly developing strength to outsmart and dispatch the huge creature. All middle-school protagonists need a bully to keep them on their toes, and Xavier has Blokker, the most fearsome bully of the school. Fortunately, Xavier has great friends, Yasmine, a girl who is quickly showing the characteristics of a big cat hybrid, and their male friend, Zac, who has discovered that he has DNA of a giant pangolin. The three are inseparable—good friends to have in an unfriendly world.

I read this book quickly because the story captured my interest. I even found myself trying to carve out breaks throughout the day to have time for one more chapter, or at least a few more pages. That fits my definition of a good book.

The Sectz—giant insects—were originally created by geneticists as an amusement park attraction. Children were able to ride on docile giant ants or even fly on a friendly overgrown dragonfly. But the insects were released into the wild by protesters, where they bred and reverted to their natural temperaments, no longer friendly to humans—who then became their prey.

“Adapt or die” is now the motto of the remaining humans who still live in the ruins of cities like London. The most important adaptation is hybridization, in which human embryos are crossed with the DNA of the biggest, most dangerous mammals that ever roamed the Earth. Each child born has been exposed to a DNA mix of water buffalo, lion, tiger, polar bear, hyena, and other mammal DNA. By early puberty, each human child shows obvious signs of which mammal DNA formed their hybrid. These human-mammal hybrids are known as Brids.

Xavier’s older brother, a white tiger Brid, is already a military hero at the age of 19. When the military school leaders test the incoming freshman high school class, Xavier is hoping to hear that he will also grow into a white tiger Brid. Imagine his disappointment when the military examiners announce that he will most likely develop into a human-goat Brid.

Xavier is the first to theorize that the Sectz are now working together in a new and uncharacteristically sophisticated manner to overthrow the human military bases. He and his friends leave their military high school without official permission to attempt a daring rescue at one of the nearby bases that has been overrun by mantis and stick insect Sectz in a coordinated attack over several weeks. Drama and suspense ensue.

High level military officers begin to hint at secrets about Xavier—that he knows nothing about. A tantalizing plot-twist-teaser ends the novel…setting the stage for book 2 of this series.

I have one criticism that I’m throwing in here because I found it distracting. David Alan Woods often uses incomplete sentences to emphasize action. One example is, “He let his vision drop again to ground level. To river level.” However, sometimes strings of incomplete sentences go on and on, for example, “Mandibles bludgeoned up into his face. Jerking his head back. With extreme violence. Unconscious. Before he hit the ground. Landing heavily. An ungainly Hippo heap.” In my opinion, this technique was overused in many places.

Back to the story itself. The well-constructed dystopian world is built on a fascinating premise. The author skillfully weaves much of the backstory information into conversations between characters. Human interaction between Xavier and his family, friends, and instructors feels natural. The protagonist and other young characters are well-drawn. The lighthearted banter among all the pre-Brid students keeps some of the dystopian darkness at bay and offers some moments of comedy. The school setting is a good choice because it draws the young readers of today into a place that they are familiar with, even in this strange future world. This is a book that will fascinate middle grade and high school student fans of science fiction. The unending war between Sectz and Brids promises to provide material for an entire series of books. I am looking forward to watching Xavier, Yasmine, and Zac grow up and meet their destiny as heroes. I will certainly keep an eye on David Alan Woods and his writing in the future.

The action is strong, the tension stays high, and the story doesn't slow down. I really liked how the characters felt gritty and real, not over-polished, which made the stakes feel higher. If you're into thrillers that lean hard into survival, instinct and nonstop momentum, this one is definitely worth the read.

In 400 years’ time your great-great-great-grandkids are going to have to live to a world where ants are the size of cars and centipedes are as long as train carriages. Science has messed things up for mankind by fiddling with insect genes and now the insects are crushing humans. Literally. And science has got to fix it. Cue: hybrid humans. Half beast, half person. Kids only discover at puberty which animal their genes have been blended with, a bit like a student-do at Hogwarts when the Sorting Hat puts them into houses. If you’re a big lad you might develop into a buffalo hybrid (Buffalo-Brid), if you’re nimble you could be destined to become a Leopard-Brid. But the scientists aren’t finished with you yet. They also kit you out in the latest battle gear, beast you like SAS recruits, then send you out to battle the Sectz. Despite all this, humankind is clinging on, hiding under 25th Century ‘rocks’ made of reinforced steel and glass. The Sectz are winning. But the world has a secret weapon. A boy called Xavier Wish. The only thing is he doesn’t know it yet.

Fight or Flight is book one of BRID. My elevator pitch for it would be it’s like Percy Jackson meets Starship Troopers with an extra helping of science. It’s a rollicking read. The science is all based on real science, not crazy unrealistic inventions. The main characters are all teenagers, each with their quirks and personal issues. There’s loads of action and white-knuckle rides along the way but also plenty of time to immerse yourself in the world these kids find themselves in. And like all great sci-fi books, the science isn’t the star of the show, it’s there to enrich the story and take you on a wild old ride.

I really enjoyed it. And I’m 54! If I was 14, I’d be hunting David Alan Woods down like a two-ton assassin bug to get writing book two. Or else!

This novel is a gripping, imaginative read with a cast of engaging characters you can’t help but root for. Each one is written with such clarity and depth that they leap off the page, drawing you deeper into the story with every chapter.

The tech elements are genuinely enthralling… detailed enough to feel immersive, but never overwhelming. You find yourself marvelling at the wizarding-world-size world the author has built, where science and fiction are super intertwined.

What really sticks with you though is the horror factor. The oversized insects are the stuff of nightmares, made all the more terrifying through vivid, visceral writing. It's the kind of imagery that sticks with you long after you’ve put the pages away. Adding a layer of charm to the tension are the fun, almost whimsical names of the characters. Reminiscent of Martin Amis… quirky, memorable, and just enough of a hint at each character’s character.

And just when you think you're safe, the book ends on a killer cliffhanger that leaves you desperate for the next. A really entertaining and cleverly crafted read that left me with laughs, terror and a large knowledge of all the ways an insect could kill you.

Brid is a highly entertaining and fast-paced science fiction novel. If you enjoy post-apocalyptic worlds (of which I’m a big fan) then this novel will certainly resonate with you. The images of a giant dragonfly flying over the destroyed London skyline or the wasp packing unconscious bodies into the London Eye carriages are particularly haunting.

The characters are endearing and sympathetically drawn. I always enjoy more complicated relationships between characters. The epilogue left an excellent hanger at the end and leaves the story wide open for development and expansion. Even though it’s over 500 pages, it feels like the story has only just got started!