Fascinating turn on possibilities
922912
I love Russian history and this slim but content heavy novel fit right in. Reading along, thinking I knew where it was going, surprised by the turns and outcome, I have to say this was as entertaining and enlightening as I could ever hope on the events that lead up to fate of the last Russian czar and family.  I'd recommend to anyone who has ever wondered... what really happened?
320094
I thought that this was a really interesting and thought-provoking book.  It really plays with the idea of how easy it is to start a new religion and has plays with some interesting aspect of religion.  Keep in mind that this is not a book about religion; rather, it is an intriguing coming-of-age story with a religious twist.  The characters are interesting and fun, there are some funny pop culture references, and the plot moves forward well.  Hautman also delves into the mythology of the religion the boys created, and that is very interesting.  Overall, a thoughtful and fun read.
4708793
Fascinating reading shredding beliefs about how our brains work and opening up the world of new possibilities for anything that hinders brain function. A positive book for anyone looking for opportunities in this area.
2116530
Surprisingly good. Astounding attention to detail and grounded in reality with very detailed descriptions. At first I wasn't sold on the idea of the talents but the concept grows on you, and imagine the possibilities!!!!!looking forward to Wondering Sight.
3804470
I found that this fascinating mix of curious historical data and mystical experiences with modern day espionage, synchronicities and journalistic curiosity, kept me on the edge of my chair, anticipating what the next chapter would unveil.  Its fast pace and incursions into many aspects of historical secrets and modern research and technology makes for a great read and I enjoyed every page. I appreciated the notes at the end where the author confesses to being the protagonist of the incredible events narrated as part of this amazing story, that actually got him in touch with the Lady in Blue, giving the adventure almost supernatural tones.

Javier Sierra has painstakingly researched many details of history, both 17th century and present day and brings to light in a novelized format, some underlying truths that both shock and surprise, but also add new perspectives to how the world might really work.  His slant on how bi-location might be used to promote religious ideas is definitely intriguing.

A book to be enjoyed and then its implications, thought about.
1579841
I was not sure whether I would like this book or not but I have to admit it caught my attention and really drew me in. I've emailed the authors to see if a sequel is in the works and I'm glad to say two more books are in the future. The thing that stands out most is the edginess. Most Christian fiction is fluff with writers afraid to offend anybody's senses. The Ahriman Gate reads like a Dean Koontz novel, and that makes it different, in my opinion better than some of the Christian novels. I also truly appreciated the obvious detail to ufo folklore and sciences that are under development at this time. How prophecy could be fulfilled by a mixture of genetic engineering is one of the most interesting parts of this book. I also think the hidden codes are a fun touch. I found the first couple of easy ones and went to the site, then had to decode the code there. Definitely a great book that I can highly recommend.
4626745
Great ideas that open up a brave new world, which is not so much new as it is a change in viewpoint with exciting options. With no loss of taste or variety.
3465977
The title itself grabbed my attention from the get-go. Once I began reading, I could barely stop. The story is such an interesting idea. I liked how they explained the different ways marriage has changed in their current generation. There were different aspects of the whole government control on marriage. I loved that it kept building until the last chapter. Some of the story I could easily figure out as I was reading... in a sense too much foreshadowing at times. But then the author threw in some interesting story twists I wasn't expecting. Overall I loved the way it was written, its characters, and the plot. Nicely done. It makes me want to check out more of her work.
1121822
I picked this book up for a quick read; I soon realized that it has its own flow. You must allow time to absorb the amazing food for thought in each page. It has made me think about my choice of words. Fun and fascinating.
4871440
What was most exciting about reading a chick lit novel like Waking Virginia, as a male, was the insight I seemingly had into the fantasy world of the women I seek out. It made me think of whether my partner would enjoy reading this and which parts specifically she found most enticing. I saw it as a window to opening a conversation about how sex is perceived by my partner, and what her sexual fantasies are currently. It was the #Girl. Power version of 50 Shades of Gray, which, as a feminist, I found much more helpful in leading to discussions with my partner. Rather than get inspiration from half-baked corny sex scenes taken to their BDSM-y extreme, Id rather see the need for discussing fantasies satisfied with the nuance, the thought and the values I incorporate into my life that Waking Virginia embraces.
But what made this book particularly wonderful was that these implications were a mere afterthought. While reading the book, I was simply enjoying Ginnis journeys, her ponderings and her sexual escapades. The book is, simply put, delicious, fun and sexy. While at times I felt the characters were a bit flat, particularly the two men, and as a future academic I was a little discomforted by Ginnis obliging to the professors sexual advances, but that may be too much to ask for in a perfect beach-read. The writing style is whimsical and easy-going, switching easily between the architectural details of Geneva, the history of political thought and delightful female-centered sex scenes. I honestly just sat down one evening and read it in one go.
I genuinely hope that Waking Virginia will be the next 50 Shades of Gray.
The women of the world deserve it to be.
3384344
A fascinating premise: what if everyone could read your mind? What if they could enter anyone's mind, even in the past and re experience both what they thought but also what they felt? No more secrets. But could you become addicted to experiencing other people's thrills? Could someone use this mind-reading like a drug to enslave people. This is a well written exploration of this possibility. Enjoy!
3985451
Warning: This review might contain what some people consider SPOILERS.

Rating: 5/10

PROS:
- Really interesting idea. It's been a while since I last read a book in which the premise or sci-fi/fantasy setting was quite so fascinating to me.
- The bonds between male mates, even those without fem members to complete their Triads, are romantic and sexually charged. I really enjoyed the scenes between just Tonas and Jonal as well as the scenes between the human Mark and his BondMate--even though there's no sex shown between the latter two. The male characters are also extremely tender toward their female mates.
- The sex scenes are hot, though not as pervasive as I expected after reading another review that claimed the story was secondary to the sex. I'm not questioning or belittling that person's opinion, but I wonder what kinds of books s/he is reading that s/he finds 4 sex scenes in a book of 200 pages extreme; I've read some with a LOT more than this book has.
- Some funny little one-liners here and there: Anya, for example, comes up with several amusing descriptors for her giant Sarran mates, my favorite of which is "two refugees from Wrestling Mania."

CONS:
- There's a huge battle/confrontation scene toward the end of the book and everyone's in danger at one point or another. Yet when it's all over and everybody's safe and our two heroes are reunited with their woman, we never get to see anything remotely romantic happen between them. I REALLY wanted another sex scene at the end that was either slow and savoring or fast and wild and "must have NOW."
- Large chunks of "telling" instead of showing, especially at the beginning of the novel when Katt describes the initial alien attack on Earth and toward the end when she explores the psychology of one of the Sarran characters.
- Lots of confusing passages. Some of the exposition and especially some of the dialog is jumpy and almost entirely lacks transitions from one thought or one description to the next.
- Inconsistent vocabulary usage. Here's a line from Jonal that I found particularly odd: "The sewer sucker below negotiates duplicity while sentient life lies in misery." There's also some antiquated dialog, even from the modern, feminist Anya: " `Tis such a good dream." And there are numerous instances in which the author uses the wrong word: "a look of incredibility" (incredulity), "non-pulsed" (non-plussed), "prenatural sense of danger" (preternatural), etc.
- Poor editing (not just copy editing, though that is an element of it). Some lines of dialog are written as though they're in a play: "Lunas: `Confirm, sir.' Saxon: `Attention all fleet personnel...'" Also, quite a few inconsistencies occur throughout the book, the most notable one being that at the beginning of each chapter, the date is reported in both Sarran and Earth time, and although the initial action of the story occurs on July 4, the dates of several chapters in the middle of the book are reported as occurring toward the end of June.

Overall comments: This is a very good story idea that was just begging for an editor who wasn't afraid to be heavy-handed with a red pen. The bare bones of the book are strong, but the execution falls flat. It could have been so much better.
1731613
Very interesting in terms of alternate universes; it really helped me appreciate the actual possibility of this concept as relevant to our lives. Who knows? Maybe so...
3244634
I was given an ARC to review and am very appreciative of this opportunity. Two very unique and fascinating stories. Two authors with different POV on the life love encounters.
Both are a little different and delve in the realm of fantastic but well worth the read.
Follow along and enjoy!
3154899
I enjoyed seeing things from a new perspective which brings to light new details. The characters in this story are intriguing and keep you wanting to know more and more.
779563
I have never read a novel like this one before, so it took me a moment to get a feel of the different style of life and time period this was set.  Once I had an understanding, everything flowed fairly well. If this were a series, I would definitely want to read more of it.

This was such a remarkable read, with such imagination and innovation in its presentation of gender. Yes, it can get confusing, but I think that is the point. In trying to decipher and keep track of the genders and roles here, we see how foolish and short-sighted a binary system really is. Compared to a contemporary romance the plot is a bit slow, but it actually fits the Regency style, and I enjoyed the leisurely pace. I loved the twist on the m-preg kink, and thought it really brought the characters together, and as uncomfortable as it made me, I understood why the rape scene was there.
2165747
I started out skeptical, almost dismissive, of a plot direction which seemed headed for the unbelievable.  But the onslaught of realistic detail convinced me.  I remain intrigued by the underlying premise: pure fantasy?  quirky science?  ingenious speculation?  Whatever, the discovery process was great fun, and I wound up a believer.