What do you think?
Rate this book
Potomac University #3
Epiphany
Isaiah's unwavering love for his boyfriend threatens to damage his future as a professional basketball player. Though he is being forced to choose between the love of his life and his career, it appears that he could be making a decision which could irrevocably affect his future.
Meanwhile, Adrian has unfinished fraternity business. As a Big Brother for the first time, he has an obligation to uphold the chapter's sacred traditions, yet he feels a responsibility to end the cycle of violence.
Friendships will dissolve. Rivals will return. Secrets buried in Lazarus and maintained in Covenant will finally explode.
Meanwhile, Adrian has unfinished fraternity business. As a Big Brother for the first time, he has an obligation to uphold the chapter's sacred traditions, yet he feels a responsibility to end the cycle of violence.
Friendships will dissolve. Rivals will return. Secrets buried in Lazarus and maintained in Covenant will finally explode.
- GenresM M RomanceLGBT
310 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
9 people are currently reading
325 people want to read
About the author
Rashid Darden
14 books96 followersRashid Darden is an award-winning novelist of the urban LGBT experience, a seasoned leader of black fraternal movements, and a professional educator in alternative schools. He is local to the District of Columbia and Conway, North Carolina.
His books include the Potomac University Series: Lazarus, Covenant, and Epiphany; Yours in the Bond (Men of Beta, Volume I); the Dark Nation Series: Birth of a Dark Nation and Children of Fury; the anthology Time; and The Life and Death of Savion Cortez, a volume of poetry. His short story “Smith & Jones: Young Americans” was first published in 47 – 16 : Short Fiction and Poetry Inspired by David Bowie (Volume I). In 2017, Rashid’s play “Message from ‘The Legba’” was selected as a winner of the OutWrite DC and Theatre Prometheus One Page Play Competition. It was staged in 2018. Rashid won the Elite 25 Award in Literature from Clik Magazine in 2006.
Rashid believes wholeheartedly in living an authentic, intersectional life at all times. He is an out, black gay man who has experienced chaos and order, wealth and poverty, urban bustle, and rural peace. He brings to his novels as well as his own life a sense of thoughtful disruption. Ultimately, he believes in the principles of everyday brotherhood—that is, the parts of ourselves which keep us connected to one another in meaningful ways.
His books include the Potomac University Series: Lazarus, Covenant, and Epiphany; Yours in the Bond (Men of Beta, Volume I); the Dark Nation Series: Birth of a Dark Nation and Children of Fury; the anthology Time; and The Life and Death of Savion Cortez, a volume of poetry. His short story “Smith & Jones: Young Americans” was first published in 47 – 16 : Short Fiction and Poetry Inspired by David Bowie (Volume I). In 2017, Rashid’s play “Message from ‘The Legba’” was selected as a winner of the OutWrite DC and Theatre Prometheus One Page Play Competition. It was staged in 2018. Rashid won the Elite 25 Award in Literature from Clik Magazine in 2006.
Rashid believes wholeheartedly in living an authentic, intersectional life at all times. He is an out, black gay man who has experienced chaos and order, wealth and poverty, urban bustle, and rural peace. He brings to his novels as well as his own life a sense of thoughtful disruption. Ultimately, he believes in the principles of everyday brotherhood—that is, the parts of ourselves which keep us connected to one another in meaningful ways.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 26, 2012
I thought that the 3 books Lazarus , Covenant and Epiphany were quite different from the usual AAGR (African American Gay Romance books which seem to always talk about DL stories.
The story centered around a college student named Adrian who takes a journey on self discovery and what makes a man and how to grow as an individual with the help of blood family and Ith the help of family you construct with your friends.
All in all the books were verry good reads and I enjoyed all the characters, but at times I thought that the main character was a selfish drama queen.
And was glad when someone told him the same in the 3rd book, albeit jokingly .
I highly recommend all the books from Darden and was so verry glad when I stumbled upon the first one on the Kindle store and discovered that the followup stories had already been written and available on Amazon.
The story centered around a college student named Adrian who takes a journey on self discovery and what makes a man and how to grow as an individual with the help of blood family and Ith the help of family you construct with your friends.
All in all the books were verry good reads and I enjoyed all the characters, but at times I thought that the main character was a selfish drama queen.
And was glad when someone told him the same in the 3rd book, albeit jokingly .
I highly recommend all the books from Darden and was so verry glad when I stumbled upon the first one on the Kindle store and discovered that the followup stories had already been written and available on Amazon.
February 16, 2013
Let’s get down to it – read Epiphany.
But before you do that, read Lazarus and read Covenant. Yes, read the whole damn trilogy. When you’re done, read The Life and Death of Savion Cortez. Go buy them, take the weekend and curl yourself up around these tales of a young gay man, Adrian Collins, and his stresses and pains and triumphs and, yes, epiphanies. On Monday, you can thank me.
Rashid Darden’s voice is one of the most important that I’ve read in the last handful of years. He is a true teller of tales, a confident and clear voice in a fog-filled universe. In this trilogy he spins stories of young men as they live, love and learn, and Rashid does it with such authorial deftness and vibrant spirit that one has no choice but to fall into them. He weaves characters that demand our attention – you’re positive you’ve them known before or you hope you’ll them meet in real life. He takes the familiar reality of college life and gives it new focus through the eyes of his main character.
For those whose world has never included the east coast, university Greek life, or the struggles of coming out as a queer person of color, Adrian acts as a begrudging ambassador. He’ll introduce you to these worlds, but he’ll be damned if you’re not going to take an emotional journey to earn your visitor’s pass.
Summaries abound, so if you need one, go find one. From me, you’ll only get barely restrained praise. Five stars.
But before you do that, read Lazarus and read Covenant. Yes, read the whole damn trilogy. When you’re done, read The Life and Death of Savion Cortez. Go buy them, take the weekend and curl yourself up around these tales of a young gay man, Adrian Collins, and his stresses and pains and triumphs and, yes, epiphanies. On Monday, you can thank me.
Rashid Darden’s voice is one of the most important that I’ve read in the last handful of years. He is a true teller of tales, a confident and clear voice in a fog-filled universe. In this trilogy he spins stories of young men as they live, love and learn, and Rashid does it with such authorial deftness and vibrant spirit that one has no choice but to fall into them. He weaves characters that demand our attention – you’re positive you’ve them known before or you hope you’ll them meet in real life. He takes the familiar reality of college life and gives it new focus through the eyes of his main character.
For those whose world has never included the east coast, university Greek life, or the struggles of coming out as a queer person of color, Adrian acts as a begrudging ambassador. He’ll introduce you to these worlds, but he’ll be damned if you’re not going to take an emotional journey to earn your visitor’s pass.
Summaries abound, so if you need one, go find one. From me, you’ll only get barely restrained praise. Five stars.
May 15, 2024
the book had my blood pressure up
If you want a good read and a chance to take a trip on the roller coaster of a loving relationship. This is your book. No, this series is. Read all 3. Thank you, Rashid Darden for this work….book 4?
If you want a good read and a chance to take a trip on the roller coaster of a loving relationship. This is your book. No, this series is. Read all 3. Thank you, Rashid Darden for this work….book 4?
May 2, 2017
Epiphany is the final chapter of Adrian Collins' journey through college. The majority of the book focuses on both his relationship with Isaiah and what it means to Isaiah's basketball career, and his fraternity and their method of pledging and what it means for their chapter and group as a whole.
Darden brings in a really enjoyable character in this final book - Rebecca Templeton, a lawyer/image consultant for the basketball team. at first look, I was concerned she would turn out to be a huge roadblock for Adrian and Isaiah, but that is nicely averted, and Rebecca Templeton became one of my favourite characters. She brought a really solid logic to all of the scenes involving Isaiah and basketball - it's nice to see Isaiah finally understand that he is on the precipice of what could be an amazing career, but the risks of being open with his sexuality could damage that.
Darden manages to weave the Beta Chi Phi story into the narrative really well (I was surprised and happy he involved Rebecca in this storyline as well, especially in a way that didn't feel shoehorned in). It was eye opening to see the men of Beta Chi Phi struggle with the fact their pledging has gotten them in trouble, but also the attitudes of everyone - some want change, some want some change, some want everything to stay the same. How it's dealt with is realistic and still gives the sense this may be an issue to come for the chapter.
The biggest bombshell in the book regards Taina. Darden does a great job in reminding the reader she is out there and dropping her name. You feel that she must have some kind of importance, and when she arrives, it's worth the wait. Her news undoes Adrian (as it would anyone) and I found his personal struggle to accept the situation really poignant.
I think the most real and human moment was Adrian's rejection of Nina and her inability to leave him alone when asked. It's a moment readers won't enjoy - these two characters have a great relationship and friendship, and to see it strained and almost broken is heartbreaking itself in light of everything else Adrian is struggling with. The realism of how good relationships can sour is really true, and even though there's a patching up by the end, you're still left with an element of sadness regarding the two characters. A big growing pain of college and life, and I think everyone reading can identify with it.
Overall, Darden has crafted an entertaining, emotional and engrossing read. The entire series has managed to highlight both external, social issues of being gay at a predominantly white school to pressures on gay athletes to fraternal issues, but also touching on those very same things in a very personal way through Adrian. We never feel as if we're reading social commentary or being told of An Issue. It always feels like Adrian's personal journey, which keeps everything active and engaging for the reader.
I think anyone will be able to identify with this series - from those familiar with Greek life to those without a clue, those who are struggling with their sexuality, those that aren't. The beauty of the series is that it transcends orientation, a tough thing to do when that's a big part of Adrian's struggle, but in the end, it becomes about the simple things in life - love, friendship, loyalty.
I highly recommend Epiphany, along with Lazarus and Covenant.
Darden brings in a really enjoyable character in this final book - Rebecca Templeton, a lawyer/image consultant for the basketball team. at first look, I was concerned she would turn out to be a huge roadblock for Adrian and Isaiah, but that is nicely averted, and Rebecca Templeton became one of my favourite characters. She brought a really solid logic to all of the scenes involving Isaiah and basketball - it's nice to see Isaiah finally understand that he is on the precipice of what could be an amazing career, but the risks of being open with his sexuality could damage that.
Darden manages to weave the Beta Chi Phi story into the narrative really well (I was surprised and happy he involved Rebecca in this storyline as well, especially in a way that didn't feel shoehorned in). It was eye opening to see the men of Beta Chi Phi struggle with the fact their pledging has gotten them in trouble, but also the attitudes of everyone - some want change, some want some change, some want everything to stay the same. How it's dealt with is realistic and still gives the sense this may be an issue to come for the chapter.
The biggest bombshell in the book regards Taina. Darden does a great job in reminding the reader she is out there and dropping her name. You feel that she must have some kind of importance, and when she arrives, it's worth the wait. Her news undoes Adrian (as it would anyone) and I found his personal struggle to accept the situation really poignant.
I think the most real and human moment was Adrian's rejection of Nina and her inability to leave him alone when asked. It's a moment readers won't enjoy - these two characters have a great relationship and friendship, and to see it strained and almost broken is heartbreaking itself in light of everything else Adrian is struggling with. The realism of how good relationships can sour is really true, and even though there's a patching up by the end, you're still left with an element of sadness regarding the two characters. A big growing pain of college and life, and I think everyone reading can identify with it.
Overall, Darden has crafted an entertaining, emotional and engrossing read. The entire series has managed to highlight both external, social issues of being gay at a predominantly white school to pressures on gay athletes to fraternal issues, but also touching on those very same things in a very personal way through Adrian. We never feel as if we're reading social commentary or being told of An Issue. It always feels like Adrian's personal journey, which keeps everything active and engaging for the reader.
I think anyone will be able to identify with this series - from those familiar with Greek life to those without a clue, those who are struggling with their sexuality, those that aren't. The beauty of the series is that it transcends orientation, a tough thing to do when that's a big part of Adrian's struggle, but in the end, it becomes about the simple things in life - love, friendship, loyalty.
I highly recommend Epiphany, along with Lazarus and Covenant.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 4, 2012
Not too many authors can combine hazing allegations, the business of college basketball, father and son bounding, and an unexpected pregnancy into one neat package with an happily ever after but Darden did. And, after closing the book on the Adrian Collins trilogy, I think he did it well. The books covers a year in the life of the Potomac University junior known as Lazarus to his frat. brothers and the love of his life by his NBA rising star boyfriend. I really enjoyed how Darden weaved the struggles of Collins as he faces truths about himself as a fraternity brothers, lover, son, and friend so that the reader felt like he/she was in the same room. After reading all three books , I felt happiness at Collins realizing turning 21 doesn’t make you a man. Making hard choices and right decision does and I think Darden did an excellent job as presenting how standing up for your life and love can brings such sweet rewards.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews