Fascinating Premise, Good Story
342967
The underlying premise to the novel is really fascinating. I liked the characters. The main characters and some of the secondary ones are fully fleshed. A couple of the supporting characters are a little one-dimensional, but it is not a real problem, because there are so many characters and the vast majority of them are really fun. The main villain is a little stereotypical, but he is put into interesting situations. There are many surprises. I really liked the book, except the very end. After the denouement, the story basically falls flat. There is one surprise, but it is revealed in conversation when there would have been a greater impact had it just been revealed in action. I guess one of my complaints shows that it is a good book - I think it would have been nice if the story had shown a bit of what came next. That would have been a good epilogue.
1000715
I really liked the premise of this book; the author did a good job of setting up the characters and storyline. I would love to this this turned into a full-length novel- I would have liked to have seen more of these characters and their story, I believe there is plenty to work with to tell a longer, more involved story.  Even with the shorter story length, I still found myself drawn to Marlena and Jonathan, and even Dalton (his character is definitely a way to explore more of this story).

There were a few minor grammar-type errors, but nothing major to detract from the reading. 4 stars for a great overall read.
2909694
The premise of this book, a little dabbling in time travel leads to distopia, is more unique that most I've seen in awhile. The story itself is engaging, though hardly blockbuster material. Still, considering what the major publishers pick up and turn out, this is a very worthwhile self-published effort.
2912388
It's not often a unique idea turns out well in a novel, particularly when it's in the hands of a first time novelist - this one really makes the grade.  Genetics, paleo-archaeology, modern history, science fiction, science fact and time warping all knit together to form a story that is fascinating and fun to consider.  I would have given this 5 stars, but I was (only slightly) disappointed with the ending... it's almost as if the author wanted to keep writing the story, but didn't want to provide the richness of the earlier chapter to the end.  Perhaps this is to protect and lay the groundwork for the sequel, but the last few chapters were just - thinner.

That said, I will definitely look for the next book - if the quality of the next one improves only marginally, it's sure to be well received.
1457859
This book has an intriguing premise, great ideas and even creatures that are named with an eye to how they look and behave: a wild boar-like creature called a Hogznort. With twelve elves, all possessing special powers to manipulate the natural world, a fantastical world, and jumping right into the action - this is not a book for the faint of heart. BUT, if you are patient, you will be rewarded with an engaging adventure: where elves feel more like the children in your class, full of their own personalities but still `developing'.

There are some issues with the writing: an overuse of the comma is distracting to the flow of the reading, and is particularly frustrating when one would hope a children's book would be grammatically polished and correct. I'm no grammar nazi, and often miss the infrequent mistakes: when it reaches the level that it distracts me repeatedly - that is disturbing and could have been sorted by a good editor. Delving right into the adventure with only a short introduction can be difficult to follow. The quick introduction to the elves, twelve in all that form this little band, is overwhelming at first, but their names and their personalities start to become evident and it does get less muddled in your head. That being said - kids (I've started to read it to a little group of kiddos here in the complex) LOVE the story...once they understand it's an adventure with magic.

So - what we have here is a really clever book with wonderful ideas and imagery - with a few issues. I will say that NONE of the kids I showed the cover art to were in the least interested - and that is something to consider. But, since cover art is also, like a book, wholly subjective I cannot and did not allow the lack of interest generated by the cover influence my review. Will this keep your kids engaged? Most definitely. It will stretch their comprehension and memory as well with the 12 important characters. It is well worth the time invested to read and has some very unique and clever characters.

I received an eBook from the author for purpose of honest review and inclusion in the Children Read week at I am, Indeed. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
3794338
Great idea, great premise, well realized. My reasons for 4 stars instead of 5: a couple of places read like the author was a bit of a beginner, with two many secondary characters that were too much alike and could be combined and the book would be much stronger. Also the main character seemed to change a touch sometimes, without reason, especially in the romances.

Still, overall I enjoyed this fantasy and will read more by the author.
3544951
Mary G. Thompson's "Flicker and Mist" works mostly due to the main character of Myra. The premise is interesting. A society in which there are individuals ('flickering') who can become invisible. I liked that premise because to a large degree, it is understandable that invisibility would cause suspicion. Myra's mother has the ability as does Myra . When it is announced that "Lefties" have to be tested for the Ability, the trouble begins.

There are plot cliches in the story: People put in categories (Lefties vs Plats), a trait that will ostracize one of the people categories, there are games to be participated in, and of course, a corrupt government. I don't mind cliches that much but the author also comes up a bit short on the world that she builds. Yet with that said, I felt the characters made the story work and I felt like Myra was a well rounded character who sounded her age with believable problems both within herself and her family (especially her mother) and to the society that she lives in. Her voice is relate-able and engaging. She's not perfect but her interactions with other characters give the story a good grounding and makes it worth the read.
3798999
The concept behind The Quest of the Thirteen is fascinating. Ive always loved mythical kingdoms and worlds, especially because those worlds tend to be so different than our own. In the case of this book, the emphasis is on the thirteen men but the author does a fantastic job at introducing the background to the world and the situation. I found the story engaging from start to finish and I was fascinated to see what would happen next and whether the quest would be successful.

With this story, the author does make use of a large number of characters, most of whom have fairly medieval names. This is an ambitious task, especially as the reader needs to keep track of the characters and how they fit in with the overall plot. I always find it difficult to follow a story that has a large number of characters, so I did find elements of this story challenging. However, the author did a great job at introducing and following the characters, which certainly made the story flow easier than it would have otherwise. In many ways, the large number of characters was what made the story so interesting and unique and I imagine that most readers probably wouldnt have an issue with the amount of characters.
3587683
This is an intriguing fictional story which is set in a projected future. The story is based on historical records and global cultural trends with fictional characters of course.

As a former materialistic-atheist, who became a Christian due to the un-shaken awareness of non-materialistic reality that is a part of the human experience, it was particularly fascinating for me. Part of what makes this book a gem is not just the engaging story, but also its polemics from different types of characters found in the story. While the book is written from a Christian persuasion, the arguments and discussions among the characters reminded me of the various discussions within our culture, and various thought patterns that Ive heard and had in different periods of my life.

Here are a couple of samples.

Dmitri (a materialistic atheist) arguing with Viktor (Russian psychic researcher), Call it scientific, if you want  its still religion. And I don't think scientific religion makes any better sense than any other religion. If your gods were created by evolution, they're no better than the gods of the most primitive and superstitious peoples. They certainly couldn't have created the universe!

Ken (christian) speaking to Carla (journalist and skeptic) about the Archons (non-materialistic beings), ... pride  [is the] besetting sin of the entire human race. The Archons know that. So they bait the hook with the idea that psychic phenomena represent power that we have, a power of our minds 

The book is an interesting read but is for adults as it has some mature subject matter like death, espionage, and spiritual subject matter and a few instances that some may find heavy like early on when Ken becomes apparently demon-possessed and almost dies.

It is not dark novel, but is more of a story that contains some elements of the current New-Age, New World Order and other undercurrents that have and are transpiring today.
1825032
Many stories start with a false premise that can't tolerate repeated telling and gradually collapse under the weight of further premises to justify the first.  The premise of this story is quite innovative and held up well.  In this world, an infection, presumably viral, kills adults but young people survive with magical abilities.  Adelina doesn't know what her abilities were but lost an eye to the infection.  Her sister Violeta, however, seemed to have escaped as beautiful as ever and without magical abilities.  Their father is vicious and abusive after his wife died but at least he was not abusing them sexually.  But Adelina hated him because he belittled her in every way possible.  The final straw came when he sells her to somebody who wanted to purchase her not for a wife but for some mysterious purpose. Adelina runs away and comes across others with magical abilities, shunned and persecuted for their magic,  The rest is a journey of discovery, uncovering unexpected truths that lead to her joining the Daggers.  The author is a natural story teller and keeps the reader in suspense.
2919688
I enjoyed the book very much, even though the ending is a bit forced.  The concept of a scientific investigation of the Shroud is a fascinating premise.  I also liked the characters in the story and the religious connections.  I am looking forward to the sequel.
4418692
Most of the fiction I end up reviewing has a more neopagan slant to it. However, when the author of this particular gem told me that it was a story that wove in Western occultism, I jumped at the chance for something new. And I was duly rewarded, as it was a good read all around.

The premise showed a lot of potential. Two perfectly mundane, ordinary people in modern-day London have their lives entirely turned inside out by the intrusion of an occult plot that could have universe-shattering consequences. Their experiences become increasingly disorienting as they're dragged deeper into intrigue and conspiracy in an elaborate plot to manipulate them into just the right place at the right time. This may sound a bit like a bad Satanic Panic novel; however, it's of much higher quality than that. The author is well-versed in ceremonial magic, and weaves a lot of Thelemic and Qabalistic material into the story-and I do mean a lot.

The execution is pretty good. I will say that the first half of the book was a bit on the slow side, though I stuck it out and thoroughly enjoyed the second half, which got a lot more interesting. Rowley has a good grasp of his characters and describes their feelings, thoughts and reactions well; I had clear images in my mind of what was happening, which helped with the entertainment value.

The occult material in the book is a mixed bag. Everything revolves around a destined plot to bring about the Aeon of Horus, and there's a ton of Thelemic material throughout the book. Rowley also draws heavily on Qabalah, particularly gematria. It's rudimentary enough that someone with casual understanding (like me) will understand what's going on, though it may go over the heads of those who are not magicians of any flavor. I think my main complaint with the inclusion of occult material is the same complaint I've had with neopagan novels that also attempt to teach basic Wiccan principles amid the story-it doesn't blend very well. Sometimes the novel reads more like a treatise on basic ceremonial magic than a story; I understand when authors want to make their audiences clear on what's going on, but it's very hard to throw lessons into a plot without it coming off rather clumsily.

Still, it was a fun read, and it kept me entertained on my commute for a few days. I'm not 100% sure how more orthodox Thelemites may feel about the depiction of Aleister Crowley in this book (yes, he's brought in as an actual character) or the rather violent interpretation of the Book of the Law, and a few readers may find the occasional sexual content (including that which essentially opens the book) to be a bit much. But if you're looking for a decent occult-themed novel that wasn't written by someone who thinks we all eat babies and has a good yarn to spin, this is a good choice.
2374690
I found this book very fascinating and really enjoyed the idea behind the book. It's a very interesting idea and the moral dilemma that arises gave me something to think about throughout the day.
I enjoyed the sites and descriptions that Brown provides but the reason that I didn't give it the glorious five star rating is because of the in-depth descriptions at the wrong times.  I do enjoy a description of where the characters are and all of the fascinating architecture but some descriptions were provided in areas of the book where something really exciting was happening and then there's a page about the architecture/history that almost had me skimming just to find out what happened!

Overall a very good book and interesting premise. I am/would recommend it.
2395096
I'll be honest.  I'm rather particular about what I spend my time and have been for some time.  Like others, it was an interesting premise from the blurb- enough to catch my attention.  The start's a bit slow-ish going.  Almost Space Opera- but in order to tell the story Richard clearly sought to tell, you had to go from each of the shifts in each of the chapters of the book.  Without them, this wouldn't have tied together as nicely as it did.  I'm quite satisfied with my use of the time reading this story.  I'd definitely do it again, it very much wasn't wasted- which can't be said of a lot of the stories out there.
3746259
The Gender Game is a gripping read with an interesting premise--speculative fiction that takes the "gender war" as a starting place and runs with it.

It kept me reading, and I found the main character, Violet, likable, though she makes some pretty stupid choices I found hard to believe.

My biggest beef with the book was that the world the author created felt rather cardboard and two-dimensional. Too complex and technologically advanced in some ways, given the post-apocalyptic setting and supposed size of the civilization, while at the same time being more simplistic than would be expected from such a complex society.

Aside from the challenge of suspending my disbelief about the stage-set world, the story was compelling, with a whopper of a twist.

I look forward to seeing where this series goes next!
1282821
Warning: This review might contain what some people consider SPOILERS.

Rating: 9/10

PROS:
- The premise is intriguing, which is quite a compliment from someone who reads almost nothing but m/m romances.
- Crane is an unusual aristocrat: he possesses all of the breeding of his class, but suffers few of the hangups typical of his contemporaries. And he doesn't give a hoot about propriety, which lends him a devilish quality. His behavior toward his manservant, Merrick, is particularly fun: they constantly toe the line of propriety regarding how members of the aristocracy and the working class should interact.
- I love reading about characters who aren't physically perfect. Stephen's plainness only highlights his other fine qualities...and those are the ones Crane is attracted to.
- The brief mentions of Shanghai made me want to see more of the city at that time--its culture, its inhabitants, etc.
- The sexual angle was spot-on for me. It's not the focus of the story, nor is it at all detailed. But it complements the story well: the blossoming of plain little Stephen mirrors his simultaneous proving of his worth as a practitioner of magic.

CON:
- Parts of the story could afford to be more fleshed out. Some important scenes are seen only in pieces in brief flashbacks, and others are skipped over almost entirely.

Overall comments: I liked the story very early on, and my interest only grew as the story progressed. The writing is smooth, the characters are likeable, and the fantasy/historical world is well formed. A lovely book throughout.
2508787
I like science fiction and fantasy, and I'd never read anything by Terry Goodkind until this month. How's that for a confession? I think his books must have started coming out when I was avoiding series (due to kids, lack of finances... who knows). But Phantom sounded really intriguing, with a female protagonist who can't remember who she is, and a husband who's the only person left who knows she exists. Throw in a little magic and global annihilation and I'm bound to be hooked. I decided, with a series this long, it had to be possible to pick the story up halfway through so of course I bought the book.

Terry Goodkind has certainly created a fascinating world, and I learned a lot about it as I read--its history, its mythology, the way its magic works. I particularly loved a scene where the protagonist looks at a magic spell and tries to explain how symbolically there must be something wrong. I guess because I'm a mathematician, and mathematicians work with symbols, the concept intrigued me. It felt like when I've tried to explain that a proof is false without being able straight away to put my finger on the reason.

The author fills in gaps in the backstory quite cleverly, bringing this new reader at least partly up to date. But I found the adventure much slower than I expected, with lots of paragraphs devoted to explaining and re-explaining the same feelings--thoughts that go round in circles repeated on the page. It was a fun story, and if the next really is the concluding tale in the series I will probably plan on reading it. But it was a surprisingly heavy read, so I may not go back to catch up on the earlier books.