A great story on an impressive scale!
346223
I enjoyed this book very much after having it recommended to me by a colleague.  It is fast paced and written in a storytelling style that makes it easy to read or listen to.  I listened with the audible audio companion feature that provided professional narration -- terrific!  Hugh develops his characters making them very easy to like, or hate.  The plot twists and moves in directions you don't see coming, and that keeps you turning pages or looking forward to the inbound or outbound commutes so you can see what happens next.
2097013
I read Son of Perdition in two days. I would've finished it in one, but I've been feeling tired lately and going to bed early. What a great story! I liked this one even more than Hannah Rose. Louise has a knack for describing horrific war injuries. Sheesh, I could picture those shredded limbs and blood splattering everywhere. I'm truly impressed. Also, this story has real depth to it. No pussyfooting around the issues in those days. Reality was men had temptations everywhere, and Louise includes that in her novel. I appreciate how that added to her story. The most impressive thing about Son of Perdition was the topics of blame and forgiveness, and how Louise works through that within the context of this story is truly amazing. Oh, and how often have we said to ourselves, "I'll never be like that person." We try hard to be just the opposite and sometimes despite all this we look in the mirror and see the very person we never wanted to emulate staring back at us. What a sobering truth. Only God can fix that. So if you want an emotionally deep and touching story about an era not often written about, which includes Navy battle scenes from the civil war, you'll want to read this book. The author has unique insight rarely observed in historical fiction. Oh, and her passion for the abolitionist movement and issues regarding slavery are truly inspirational. Great debates between Northern and Southern Navy brothers at the Naval Academy. I loved it!!!
375769
Oh MAN! What a great story! And no, I don't personally know the author. I downloaded this because it was free and it looked interesting. There are occasional little mistakes with English, such as interest that is "peaked" as opposed to "piqued", but these are drowned in the wonderful story-telling, riveting concept and masterful pacing of this must-read book. Clearly inspired by the story of Faust, this is nonetheless an original creation which I venture to suggest is superior to both Goethe's and Marlowe's work. Whether orthodox Christian theologians would find Neeley's premise tenable I doubt - but then, I don't care: the story is just too good. Do not miss this book!
85198
This book was recommended to me by two people.  I am so glad I read it!  I will be thinking about it for a long time.  It's a true story which makes it all the more interesting.  While telling the main story, the author divulges world events that will place the main story in a historical setting.  Background on the main persons adds much to interest and involvement.  I highly recommend this story to anyone who wants to read about persons overcoming hard times and obstacles in their lives.  Even though I knew the basic outcome, as I read toward the end, I wondered if it really would happen!  It's an amazing story!  Read it!
2172441
Exciting!  Here's where reality makes a very good story!
4924195
Keeps a reader on their toes!  This story is grand in its scope and deep in its characters.  The journey from cover to cover takes centuries with a few lurching twists and turns, but the anchor is solid in Alex de Leon!  I won't spoil anything, but this story really kept me guessing as to where it would end up.  Just when you think you know where it might lead, a plot twist of astronomical proportions blindsides the reader and leaves then reeling, just the way it does for the characters.  Overall, I really liked this story and can't wait to finish it up in the next book.
3041729
Having followed Aymaran Shadow's teasers across Facebook, I was really looking forward to getting a chance to read it. Hemanth Gorur did not disappoint.

I was immediately blown away by the author's sophisticated use of the language to truly build a narrative around the story. And what a story to tell. The story gets much of his historical roots from the Spanish Conquest, and the rape and murder of a Aymaran woman in 1781. The story uses that history to embellish the narrative. Readers should be aware that some of the overriding themes in the story are rape and loss of dignity, and these are visited rather frequently.

The characters are deeply embellished, making them feel real; very well thought out. The author's effortless use of multiple languages makes the world feel real and the reader can gain a sense of actually being in many different locations around the world. The settings were masterfully described. I loved almost all of the dialog and the use of social media and texts to drive the suspense of the plot along.

One of the hardest tests a book goes through when I am a reader is during the climax and conclusion. I am usually mildly to severely disappointed by the way books end, but for Aymaran Shadow, I have no complaints, at all. It was an impactful, gripping conclusion to a story that never lost a moment of suspense. I was left with a feeling like the story really had ended, but the satisfaction of the ending lingered pleasantly. An excellent read!
231948
Reading this story is like peeling an onion, layer by layer.  The author manages to hint at the resolution of a character's thread while keeping the reader guessing, as no character's story is as straightforward as it seems to be. I did not give it 5 stars simply because it, at times, lacked momentum. In fact, the best part of the story was the last 30% or so where all of the action came to the forefront, and the character's secrets were revealed, one by one. I enjoyed the mysticism woven throughout the tale, and found the plotline engaging. In all, a great read and a great value for .99 cents!
1481874
This story had every element a good story should have. An interesting plot, attention to detail, but best of all fleshed out, well-written and well-rounded character development. Theres an abundance of well illustrated scenes that really make you feel like you are right there in the story, and that's something I really look for in a good book.

This absorbing and attention-grabbing work had me engaged from the beginning. The story flows from scene to scene effortlessly, and the author shows exceptional ability when it comes to storytelling.

Its one of those stories that comes along once in a while that makes you want to read it non-stop until you get to the end. Im giving nothing away here. And this, I hope, will only add to the mystery!

Ill certainly be looking forward to reading more from Kemka Ezinwo in the future! I would highly recommend this work and it get's a five stars from me.  I received a copy of the book for my unbiased review.
1308332
I have never had the desire to read a story about some World's Fair that occured in the 19th century, nor have I ever cared about any historical acpects of Chicago, and I am not an avid reader of serial killers (I don't care for gruesome subjects).

But when Erik Larson is telling the story, it's hard not to be captivated and immersed in the storyline. The author is a truly talented original writer, and I am his new fan.

What starts out in the first chapters about a few details about architecture and construction adversity in Chicago turns into an incredible story of serendipity that kept me hanging on every word.

There are some reviews here that were negative in terms of how the story was layed out, constantly adding snippets of new information and characters and plot, but that is what I found truly artful. The story built upon itself - and as a work of non-fiction, it is difficult to present a story without being one-dimensional and linear. The author manages to give the reader a multi-dimensional view from all aspects thereby allowing the reader to develop his/her own judgement - which for me was a constant state of awe and shock about the story that unfolded.
4630340
This is an amazing story that many can easily identify with.  In a nutshell the book is about the main character Angst, who could be described as a middle-age reluctant hero that not only battles nightmarish creatures, but also with himself.

Pedersen does a brilliant job of capturing the internal struggles; dreams and discontent clashing against the pressure of fate and sacrifice. Angst is compelled by his internal drive for adventure and having something different in life.  Almost to the point that he is somewhat blinded to the schemes of those in power who are trying to improve their tenuous grip on control.  As the story unfolds, and more richly described characters are added, you find that what is happening is the result of an imbalance that has happened as a result of that control.

The creatures are both fantastical, and horrifying, and I loved the descriptions of scenes and characters. Many of the characters, and awkward moments made me chuckle.  A lot of the writing reminds me of a David Eddings, or R.A. Salvatore. I loved the author's choice of words, and how the period speech is so different than many other fantasy novels.  The feelings of pressure, fear, sacrifice, and self-doubt are so palpable; the reader will easy sympathize with one of the characters.

The reader will also realize that there is a larger battle happening, and understand that the story is much larger in scope and history. Without giving the surprises away, I just wanted to share how much I enjoyed the book.  I hope that there will be more books to follow, making this the first book of an epic series.
4039852
Song of Simon is a story of intense bloody action and superb character growth (through simon, atleast). When the book shines, it shines bright, but on the downside, there are some spots of the book that do tend to drag. The narrative itself splits between multiple characters, so in truth, the title is a little misleading, as this tale is truly not Simons Song. The author uses a handful of other character perspectives that come together weaving this narrative away from a central character study towards more of a story about the world and its people.

This is one of my main concerns of the narrative, the authors choice of adding so many secondary characters and subplots that it did little for me other than watering down Simons story. By the end of the book, it was no longer a story about Simon, instead its a story about high fantasy political warfare. The issue I had is fairly simple, as the secondary characters meant nothing to me, maybe because there were too many perspective shifts and the author stretched himself too thin, but if I am being honest, the only character I enjoyed reading was Simon and those centrally connected to his plight. The rest pulled away from what I wanted to read, and so the momentum and pacing of the narrative was so up and down that it made it hard to read at times.

So enough of concerns, lets talk about what excelled. If you enjoy high fantasy, political wars, magic, bloody battles, and an unforgiving tale where no ones walked away without their fair share of physical or mental wounds, then I MUST advise you to give this book a chance. The battle scenes (although potentially a little drawn out at times, and numerous) where always a gory treat to behold. Sanders ability to write action sequences were always impressive and never short of a skull caving good time. His ability to create Simon from a young kid to a hardened warrior was impressive and fluid, and is why I found his story so pleasantly well written.

Truth be told, even during the parts of the story I found to be bland or boring, I found myself mesmerized by Sanders prose. Simply put, the man is a talented wordsmith, and I found his style strong enough to pull me through those parts I would have normally choked a little harder on. This is a rare thing for me as a reader to find. Sanders is a crisp and clean writer, fluid with every choice of word used.

Song of Simon was close to a five star, with some elimination of secondary characters and fine tuning the story more towards Simon, I think I would easily give it a 5 star rating. Again, if you like high fantasy, give Song of Simon a chance!
4376199
Wow, what a great book!  The character development was crystal clear and I felt like I new each person early in the book.  This helps later as you realize that there more intrigue in story than is eluded to on the cover.  Knowing the basic behavior of each character is important as their particular motivations in the story are revealed. Many subtle hints are dropped by the author on the journey.  I recognized them, but I did not fully understand them; I was delighted as each was fleshed out through the story until a broad and unexpected picture started to appear. There were some background characters that were defined by the author that were key to the story, but were not directly in the "scenes" of the book.  These characters were key to the motivations of the players and were interesting on their own.  Maybe the author should plan on a prequel?  I will certainly read it.  Bravo!
4478256
I found this story entertaining and fast-paced from the beginning to the end. There are lots of surprises and unexpected story twists. It's very visual, and while you're reading it, you can see it in your mind. It would make an awesome movie!

There is science, astronomy, history, love, mysticism, drugs, power, and the fight for the survival of mankind in this book. It's got it all, and it's a great read!

This is an impressive first novel and I am looking forward to the second book of the trilogy.
1707439
A work of art ... the story is told at a very good pace
4333721
Amazing world-building? Check! Intricate religions and mythologies? Check! Political intrigue, assassinations, and threat of war? Check check check!

Shiva XIV sets the stage for a very promising fantasy saga. Author Lyra Shanti weaves a complex story, interspersed with close to a dozen major characters, each with their own worries, fears and motivations. This is no small feat! I didn't feel like any of the characters were left 'unfinished,' either.

There is just so much to this story! The history and mythology was introduced in a way so as to not overwhelm the reader. The various cultures and planets were intriguing. And, as I said before, the large number of important characters felt real. I'd be hard pressed to pick a favorite character! But if you're going to force me, I might pick Reese. She's tough, pragmatic, determined, and indispensable to her King.

I appreciated that the ending of book one was not a crazy, nail-biting cliffhanger. There is definitely unfinished business, important wheels left spinning, but the sense of hope I felt reading the final sentences was refreshing.

This is high fantasy mixed with sci-fi and a dash of YA just for good measure and I absolutely loved it!
2688278
I Love This Story

This is a great book that deserves more attention than it gets!

The story unfolds at just the right pace and as with any great story, the truth is more complex than it first appears.  What starts out as a fairly black and white conflict takes on shades of grey as the story unfolds.  I really like that readers aren't treated like village idiots, where everyone knows the truth other than us.  We learn facts as characters learn facts and we are shown not told.  For me, as a reader, there is nothing worse than seeing a character make a really stupid decision and having the author basically say, "well you don't know the background or what that character knows"..... my response, well then shame on you, isn't that your job!?!  That never happens in this book, you can follow characters and their choices and decisions, in context.  That's not to say characters don't make mistakes in the book, they do, and plenty but usually because they have even less knowledge of the other side of the conflict than the reader does.

The story is interesting and unique, the truths dispersed enough throughout the multiple POV's that  each chapter matters enough that I didn't feel that normal nagging itch to skip to the next scene.

I recommend this book without reservation.