Deadlock Rebels is a fast-paced adventure set in the world of the popular Overwatch video game. The setting is many years in the future, where sentient robots live alongside humans, but the style of the novel is influenced heavily by tales of the “Old West”. This book feels very much like a Western full of lawless gangs, shootouts, and a heist that are reminiscent of stagecoach or train robberies in the old days. The characters in this book are instantly recognizable to players of the video game, but the author does an excellent job of conveying their personalities in a vibrant and endearing way to readers who are unfamiliar with them. The heroes of this story could be more accurately described as protagonists than actual heroes, since they are thieves at heart, but they embody the old adage of “honor among thieves” and are good people at heart in spite of their profession. Young readers will find their free spirits entertaining and will admire their loyalty and camaraderie. This book is a light-hearted and fun read for anyone who enjoys sci-fi or Westerns, whether they have any previous knowledge of the game that inspired the book or not.
Content Analysis:
Profanity/Language: 1 religious exclamation; 22 mild obscenities.
Note: One use of “hell” to refer to a location in the afterlife, which is not counted in the tally. The word “ass” is used to refer to an unintelligent person, and is not counted in the tally.
Violence/Gore: A few verbal threats; characters threaten each other with guns; a few reports of fights with minor injury; report of deaths in a past war; a few fights with minor injury;a few gunfights with property damage and minor injury; a vehicle race with deadly obstacles in which a driver is wounded; minor property damage; property is damaged in an explosion; a vehicle wreck with no injuries described; a building is partially burned by arson.
Sex/Nudity: Characters flirt verbally a few times.
Mature Subject Matter:
Strife between parents and a child is a major theme of this book; bullying; illegal weapons trade; gambling; computer hacking; robbery; arson; kidnapping; war (in the past, reported); one character is an orphan; same-sex marriage (mentioned).
Alcohol / Drug Use:
Teens use liquor and wine bottles for target practice. (They do not drink the contents.)
