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Chaos, Collision of Realms
A missing treasure. Mind-bending clues. Can he expose conspiracies and corruption without triggering deadly consequences?
Tom Umbrar-Ment can’t believe his luck. Attending his best friend’s wedding, the easy-going contractor seizes the chance to approach the groom’s younger sister… and his own secret crush. But all his protective instincts fire up when she’s targeted by robbers and loses a powerful ancient relic.
Determined not to let his love take the fall, Tom fights his way to a spectacular parallel universe the thieves use as a bolthole. But with less than three days before doomsday, he puts aside his awe of the hot air balloons and steam-powered science to confront a twisted criminal cartel.
Will he break all the rules to win his sweetheart’s approval and stop a looming apocalypse?
Chaos is the fast-paced first book in the Collision of Realms steampunk fantasy series. If you like heroes with a dark side, hints of romance, and ominously ticking clocks, then you’ll adore Monica Red’s mechanized adventure.
Buy Chaos to get caught in the cogs today!
Tom Umbrar-Ment can’t believe his luck. Attending his best friend’s wedding, the easy-going contractor seizes the chance to approach the groom’s younger sister… and his own secret crush. But all his protective instincts fire up when she’s targeted by robbers and loses a powerful ancient relic.
Determined not to let his love take the fall, Tom fights his way to a spectacular parallel universe the thieves use as a bolthole. But with less than three days before doomsday, he puts aside his awe of the hot air balloons and steam-powered science to confront a twisted criminal cartel.
Will he break all the rules to win his sweetheart’s approval and stop a looming apocalypse?
Chaos is the fast-paced first book in the Collision of Realms steampunk fantasy series. If you like heroes with a dark side, hints of romance, and ominously ticking clocks, then you’ll adore Monica Red’s mechanized adventure.
Buy Chaos to get caught in the cogs today!
391 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 7, 2023
31 people are currently reading
49 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
November 11, 2023
A mix of lucid, real, and dreamy
This story is unusually narrated with several undertones. It appears current but is set in the future. I liked the author's take on Chaos and how it has been expressed in more than one way. A mind bending read for sure!
This story is unusually narrated with several undertones. It appears current but is set in the future. I liked the author's take on Chaos and how it has been expressed in more than one way. A mind bending read for sure!
August 3, 2023
Heart-Stopping Suspense
Intriguing and sususpeful, this was an exciting book full of tension, betrayals, family toxicity, monsters and corruption. I liked Jess more than Tom, as Tom seemed kind of tough yet a bit impulsive and apt to jump to conclusions. I kind of liked Marshall too, at the end. It was a crazy thrill ride of a book!
Intriguing and sususpeful, this was an exciting book full of tension, betrayals, family toxicity, monsters and corruption. I liked Jess more than Tom, as Tom seemed kind of tough yet a bit impulsive and apt to jump to conclusions. I kind of liked Marshall too, at the end. It was a crazy thrill ride of a book!
September 25, 2023
heck yeah
This is the second book I’ve read from this author and it certainly won’t be the last. I really like the world building and the relatable dialogue between the characters, as well as the research into the steampunk era. Overall, a lot of potential here in the stories
This is the second book I’ve read from this author and it certainly won’t be the last. I really like the world building and the relatable dialogue between the characters, as well as the research into the steampunk era. Overall, a lot of potential here in the stories
May 10, 2023
I have to say, I am thoroughly impressed by Chaos: Collision of Realms! This steampunk adventure is a rollercoaster ride of epic proportions, filled with enough twists and turns to keep even the savviest of readers guessing until the very end.
The author's attention to detail and mastery of the steampunk genre is nothing short of amazing. I love the way the world is built and how it seamlessly blends realistic elements with fantastical and imaginative concepts.
The plot is full of intriguing and puzzling clues that kept me engaged from start to finish. Add to that a ticking clock and the pressure of time running out, and you have a recipe for a truly heart-pounding adventure. I found myself trying to piece together the two timelines and I found the reference, academic style, to be fun and creative.
And that cliffhanger ending! Oh my goodness, I'm already dying to know what happens next. The author truly knows how to leave her readers in suspense, and I can't wait to see what happens in the next installment.
Overall, I highly recommend Chaos: Collision of Realms. It's a thrilling tale that will take you on an unforgettable journey, and one that will leave you begging for more.
The author's attention to detail and mastery of the steampunk genre is nothing short of amazing. I love the way the world is built and how it seamlessly blends realistic elements with fantastical and imaginative concepts.
The plot is full of intriguing and puzzling clues that kept me engaged from start to finish. Add to that a ticking clock and the pressure of time running out, and you have a recipe for a truly heart-pounding adventure. I found myself trying to piece together the two timelines and I found the reference, academic style, to be fun and creative.
And that cliffhanger ending! Oh my goodness, I'm already dying to know what happens next. The author truly knows how to leave her readers in suspense, and I can't wait to see what happens in the next installment.
Overall, I highly recommend Chaos: Collision of Realms. It's a thrilling tale that will take you on an unforgettable journey, and one that will leave you begging for more.
May 7, 2023
I am writing this review for Net Galley.
Chaos and Axiom are twin realms that coexist because of the barrier in between. Without it the world would collapse.
In this story, we follow Jess. She is part of Chaos. Each agent decides which object to go with their key when they finish their training and share decisions with partners. If someone dies their key would be to dangerous to be left for anyone to find. Tom is an Axiom realm. When Jess's partner Karen dies she asks Tom to bring the relic to the right person because she has known Tom long enough to trust him.
If you like tunnels and train systems you will enjoy reading about them in this story. We learn that Chaos has tunnels. Chaos also has train systems that is a hazard to a family business. Fantasy is not my favorite genre but learning about the tunnels and train systems made it an enjoyable read for me that I did not want to put down. I like the friendship between Tom and Jess since they both come from two different worlds. The author does a good job describing the worlds so that you can understand what is going on.
Chaos and Axiom are twin realms that coexist because of the barrier in between. Without it the world would collapse.
In this story, we follow Jess. She is part of Chaos. Each agent decides which object to go with their key when they finish their training and share decisions with partners. If someone dies their key would be to dangerous to be left for anyone to find. Tom is an Axiom realm. When Jess's partner Karen dies she asks Tom to bring the relic to the right person because she has known Tom long enough to trust him.
If you like tunnels and train systems you will enjoy reading about them in this story. We learn that Chaos has tunnels. Chaos also has train systems that is a hazard to a family business. Fantasy is not my favorite genre but learning about the tunnels and train systems made it an enjoyable read for me that I did not want to put down. I like the friendship between Tom and Jess since they both come from two different worlds. The author does a good job describing the worlds so that you can understand what is going on.
November 6, 2023
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.Chaos: Collision of Realms by Monica Red lets us into the realms of Axiom and Chaos.
Will Tom and Jessica stop doomsday from happening?
Tom Umbrar-Ment and Jessica Hiem-Sagac
Tom Umbrar-Ment is one of the main characters, and he has a tough time deciding if what they know about their world is correct. He wants to believe what has happened to Jess and to help her find a way to get back this relic that was stolen from his room at the hotel. Tom is a great guy who has had a lot of bad things happen to him, and overall, he’s done a great job of not allowing it to cloud his judgment.
Jessica Hiem-Sagac is the other main character, and she is working for the Agency. She has worked her butt off as a field agent for an entire year just for things to backfire. Jess is dealing with not allowing her emotions to affect her decisions. I have to say that Jess had a lot on her plate, and she still had Tom’s help while trying to save their realms.
These two characters have a lot going on for them, and I like how we see that.
Axiom
The home realm to both Tom and Jessica is basically a stable paradise compared to Chaos. Axiom is home to the Agency and its mission to protect its citizens from Chaos. This realm has the people thinking that they are safe from the terrible mess that is Chaos. The people in Axiom potentially believe anything that the Agency tells them. It’s like the Agency has a stronghold in this realm.
Chaos
The realm of Chaos is not stable. Chaos has dangerous creatures that attack the citizens if they are walking on the ground. The ruling government in Chaos is the Corrupts. I can’t say much about Chaos without giving plot points away.
Four Stars
I am giving four stars to Chaos: Collision of Realms by Monica Red, and I’m recommending it to anyone who wants to give it a try. It’s a great book and had me entertained. I love the relationship between Tom and Jessica.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Chaos: Collision of Realms by Monica Red.
Until the next time,
Happy Reading!
Baroness’ Book Trove is an Amazon, Books A Million, and Barnes and Noble affiliate, meaning that if you click on a link that takes you to one of those retailers and purchase something, this blog gets a tiny percentage back. Mainly, this helps with the cost of the website and a few giveaways.
This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove
Will Tom and Jessica stop doomsday from happening?
Tom Umbrar-Ment and Jessica Hiem-Sagac
Tom Umbrar-Ment is one of the main characters, and he has a tough time deciding if what they know about their world is correct. He wants to believe what has happened to Jess and to help her find a way to get back this relic that was stolen from his room at the hotel. Tom is a great guy who has had a lot of bad things happen to him, and overall, he’s done a great job of not allowing it to cloud his judgment.
Jessica Hiem-Sagac is the other main character, and she is working for the Agency. She has worked her butt off as a field agent for an entire year just for things to backfire. Jess is dealing with not allowing her emotions to affect her decisions. I have to say that Jess had a lot on her plate, and she still had Tom’s help while trying to save their realms.
These two characters have a lot going on for them, and I like how we see that.
Axiom
The home realm to both Tom and Jessica is basically a stable paradise compared to Chaos. Axiom is home to the Agency and its mission to protect its citizens from Chaos. This realm has the people thinking that they are safe from the terrible mess that is Chaos. The people in Axiom potentially believe anything that the Agency tells them. It’s like the Agency has a stronghold in this realm.
Chaos
The realm of Chaos is not stable. Chaos has dangerous creatures that attack the citizens if they are walking on the ground. The ruling government in Chaos is the Corrupts. I can’t say much about Chaos without giving plot points away.
Four Stars
I am giving four stars to Chaos: Collision of Realms by Monica Red, and I’m recommending it to anyone who wants to give it a try. It’s a great book and had me entertained. I love the relationship between Tom and Jessica.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Chaos: Collision of Realms by Monica Red.
Until the next time,
Happy Reading!
Baroness’ Book Trove is an Amazon, Books A Million, and Barnes and Noble affiliate, meaning that if you click on a link that takes you to one of those retailers and purchase something, this blog gets a tiny percentage back. Mainly, this helps with the cost of the website and a few giveaways.
This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove
November 29, 2023
Great Read Highly Recommended!
"Chaos: Collision of Realms" by Monica Red is an absolute gem in the world of steampunk fiction, deserving a solid 5-star rating! This book is a brilliantly written page-turner that transports readers to a highly imaginative world filled with unexpected twists at every turn.
The story is not only fast-paced and engaging but also intensely emotional and tense, making it a captivating and romantic journey. Tom Umbrar-Ment, with his dark side and unwavering determination to protect his love, is a compelling protagonist who keeps you rooting for him throughout the story.
I particularly loved the inclusion of a strong female protagonist and the setting reminiscent of a gangster era in a steampunk world. The clever use of footnotes to enhance creature descriptions adds an extra layer of depth and intrigue to the narrative.
"Chaos" is an adventurous, mysterious, and clever masterpiece that will leave readers utterly captivated. If you appreciate steampunk, unexpected twists, and a story that keeps you on the edge of your seat, this book is an absolute must-read. Monica Red has truly crafted a 5-star literary masterpiece with this thrilling series opener!
"Chaos: Collision of Realms" by Monica Red is an absolute gem in the world of steampunk fiction, deserving a solid 5-star rating! This book is a brilliantly written page-turner that transports readers to a highly imaginative world filled with unexpected twists at every turn.
The story is not only fast-paced and engaging but also intensely emotional and tense, making it a captivating and romantic journey. Tom Umbrar-Ment, with his dark side and unwavering determination to protect his love, is a compelling protagonist who keeps you rooting for him throughout the story.
I particularly loved the inclusion of a strong female protagonist and the setting reminiscent of a gangster era in a steampunk world. The clever use of footnotes to enhance creature descriptions adds an extra layer of depth and intrigue to the narrative.
"Chaos" is an adventurous, mysterious, and clever masterpiece that will leave readers utterly captivated. If you appreciate steampunk, unexpected twists, and a story that keeps you on the edge of your seat, this book is an absolute must-read. Monica Red has truly crafted a 5-star literary masterpiece with this thrilling series opener!
July 26, 2023
"Chaos" is a thrilling steampunk adventure that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The book follows Tom Umbrar-Ment, a contractor who finds himself in a race against time to save his crush and the world from a sinister plot. The book is full of action, mystery, romance, and humor, as Tom explores a parallel universe where steam technology and ancient magic coexist. The author, Monica Red, creates a vivid and imaginative world that will appeal to fans of fantasy and science fiction. The characters are well-developed and likable, especially Tom, who is brave, loyal, and witty. The book also has some twists and surprises that will keep you guessing until the end. "Chaos" is a book that you won't want to put down once you start reading it. It is the first book in the Collision of Realms series, and I can't wait to read the next one.
June 12, 2023
This book has an excellent blurb, an interesting cover. However, it did not live up to what I hoped it would be. I found some of it complicated to keep straight. But even so the story was interesting enough to make me stay with it, and enjoyable enough that it did not fall into the "did not finish" pile of books. The author's writing style is good, the characters are decent, the political twists are interesting. Over all - decent read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 13, 2023
Gripping fantasy
I've been glued to this book, couldn't put it down.
Jess is trying to get a relic to safety and to save two worlds that are crashing against each other - Chaos and Axiom.
Tom is just trying to save Jess!
Not everything is as it seems and the lines between the goodies and baddies blur like crazy.
I found the flicking to the past and having future chapters inserted kept throwing me out of the story and therefore slowed it down, bit irritating. However, the world building is epic, the plot is sound, and the pace is fast and gripping.
I've been glued to this book, couldn't put it down.
Jess is trying to get a relic to safety and to save two worlds that are crashing against each other - Chaos and Axiom.
Tom is just trying to save Jess!
Not everything is as it seems and the lines between the goodies and baddies blur like crazy.
I found the flicking to the past and having future chapters inserted kept throwing me out of the story and therefore slowed it down, bit irritating. However, the world building is epic, the plot is sound, and the pace is fast and gripping.
June 16, 2025
An excellent steampunk story
This is a very engaging story which features two main characters, Jess and Tom. They were portrayed in a very realistic manner. The steampunk dystopian world was described beautifully.
I really liked the story, and I would have loved to give it five stars, but I found the manuscript peppered with far too many grammatical errors and typos.
With the help of an editor this book would be outstanding and despite the above mentioned issues, I loved the characters and the plot.
This is a very engaging story which features two main characters, Jess and Tom. They were portrayed in a very realistic manner. The steampunk dystopian world was described beautifully.
I really liked the story, and I would have loved to give it five stars, but I found the manuscript peppered with far too many grammatical errors and typos.
With the help of an editor this book would be outstanding and despite the above mentioned issues, I loved the characters and the plot.
May 4, 2023
Great cover and the blurb also caught my attention. However for me the book didn’t have quite the mind bending appeal when I delved between the cover. Too many characters, their names seemed an over complicated idea, and the story had more description than puzzle factor. There was lots of political intrigue, there were twists I didn’t expect and the two main characters are interesting. Thank you to BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.
May 5, 2023
Rating: DNF
Review: I thought the story line was inventive, the lack was in the execution. A confusing plot within a jumbling narrative, overshadowed by the poor disheveled hunky brainiac. Yeah, the cliche's run deep as does the pervasiveness of the hotty freedom fighter.
Not sure much can save this other than a total re-write.
Review: I thought the story line was inventive, the lack was in the execution. A confusing plot within a jumbling narrative, overshadowed by the poor disheveled hunky brainiac. Yeah, the cliche's run deep as does the pervasiveness of the hotty freedom fighter.
Not sure much can save this other than a total re-write.
October 10, 2024
Chaos Indeed!
I just finished Chaos by Monica Red, and it totally pulled me in. The story’s full of unexpected twists, and it really makes you think about how people react when everything falls apart. If you're into psychological drama, you'll love this one—it’s intense but so worth the ride.
I just finished Chaos by Monica Red, and it totally pulled me in. The story’s full of unexpected twists, and it really makes you think about how people react when everything falls apart. If you're into psychological drama, you'll love this one—it’s intense but so worth the ride.
November 20, 2023
Chaos: Collision of Realms is an interesting thriller with a steampunk twist. The author does a good job of world building and the series shows potential with this first book. It will be fun to see what Monica Red comes up with for the next instalment.
January 26, 2024
Fun Steampunk Fiction!
Chaos: Collision of Realms was a super cool book in an interesting genre! The book was a quick read that kept me engaged the whole time. The timeline is a bit trippy, but in an engaging way!
Chaos: Collision of Realms was a super cool book in an interesting genre! The book was a quick read that kept me engaged the whole time. The timeline is a bit trippy, but in an engaging way!
December 7, 2024
Despite awful editing that made this read like a bad translation, I did enjoy this book.
Good plot and action. Loved Tom and Jess, but too many other characters.
Very complex timing and location, made very confusing by the horrible graphics on the Kindle.
I may try book 2
Good plot and action. Loved Tom and Jess, but too many other characters.
Very complex timing and location, made very confusing by the horrible graphics on the Kindle.
I may try book 2
July 22, 2023
A really interesting idea, with good plot and worldbuilding - but the writing style just didn’t work for me. I’m sure others will like, but DNF sadly.
November 14, 2023
Oh for originality
A new genre for me and I am happy that I was drawn to it by the cover. Sometimes it's good to judge a book by its cover. A good read.
A new genre for me and I am happy that I was drawn to it by the cover. Sometimes it's good to judge a book by its cover. A good read.
June 14, 2024
not a 5 star, but it was good liked the characters but was a little bored with the story line
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews