What do you think?
Rate this book
Hearth: Exile
- A man with no memory...
- A woman with strange dreams...
- An orphan girl, all alone in the world...
Three lost souls, brought together by fate, journey across the Christmas landscape of New York City, seeking answers to an unfolding and ever-growing mystery, watched over by Sister Regina, the head of the Convent where they are staying. As they begin to find answers, as they begin to discover more and more clues to Lauren and Brinn’s identities, something stalks them - an ancient and deadly Evil from before the dawn of recorded history. A clock is ticking now, and they must solve the mystery of their origins and who they are soon. For it is not just they and everyone around them who are threatened; the entire fate of humanity and of two worlds is in peril, unless they find answers, and find answers soon.
What you hold in your hands is the beginning of an apocalyptic fantasy. It is also a complete story in 4 Books, or Seasons: Exile, Return, Rebellion and Armageddon.
I invite the Reader to come in, stay awhile and get comfortable. If you like what you see, maybe you’re willing to go a little further. Let the story, and those who struggle against impossible odds, draw you in and carry you away - to Hearth!
- A woman with strange dreams...
- An orphan girl, all alone in the world...
Three lost souls, brought together by fate, journey across the Christmas landscape of New York City, seeking answers to an unfolding and ever-growing mystery, watched over by Sister Regina, the head of the Convent where they are staying. As they begin to find answers, as they begin to discover more and more clues to Lauren and Brinn’s identities, something stalks them - an ancient and deadly Evil from before the dawn of recorded history. A clock is ticking now, and they must solve the mystery of their origins and who they are soon. For it is not just they and everyone around them who are threatened; the entire fate of humanity and of two worlds is in peril, unless they find answers, and find answers soon.
What you hold in your hands is the beginning of an apocalyptic fantasy. It is also a complete story in 4 Books, or Seasons: Exile, Return, Rebellion and Armageddon.
I invite the Reader to come in, stay awhile and get comfortable. If you like what you see, maybe you’re willing to go a little further. Let the story, and those who struggle against impossible odds, draw you in and carry you away - to Hearth!
Kindle Edition
First published April 17, 2012
1 person is currently reading
15 people want to read
About the author
M.R. Jenks
1 book8 followersM. R. Jenks (b. 1962), or Matthew, is a Librarian/Metaphysicist with an unfortunate penchant for apocalyptic story ideas who enjoys creating worlds and stories so vivid they must exist somewhere in quantum reality. He also enjoys writing, hiking, intense music, short walks on the beach, and playing chess. He lives in New England "Somewhere on the Mount, Cloud-Hidden, Whereabouts Unknown".
Please visit my Author blog at http://www.mrjenks.wordpress.com.
Questions or Comments - mjenks1962@gmail.com
Please visit my Author blog at http://www.mrjenks.wordpress.com.
Questions or Comments - mjenks1962@gmail.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 25, 2013
My Review
Brinn wakes up in an alleyway, without his memory, no money in his pocket and nothing but his wits to help him in this strange city. Fighting to stay alive, sane and find his memory, you completely find yourself engrossed with his tale.
On his search I felt his elation at discovering Lauren and his despair at losing her again.
Lauren wakes up in very similar circumstances. Lost, afraid, sans memory in the middle of a Museum exhibit. Her struggles bring her to Sister Regina, Paige and their convent. Taken under their wings she starts discovering herself and some of her memories.
The Good:
The imagery is amazing. Excelent descriptions made it impossible for me not to see everything. I felt like I have now actually made a visit to the big apple myself. And as stodgy and strict as Sister Regina is, she is an amazingly complex colourful character. At times I actually felt chastened by her myself.
The Not so Good:
The only reason I could not give the book the desired 5 stars is because of the dialogue. At times I found it a bit forced and unnaturally. Once again, this is my only complaint. Now for the fun part.
The Great:
The intervals and breaks from the regular story line. I found it fascinating rounded of the story quite nicely.
Paige’s history was enlightening and frightening at the same time. I felt heartbroken that a young girl had to go through all of that and amazed that she made it through so remarkably well. And completely overjoyed when she found herself in a ‘family’ with Brinn and Lauren. No one, in my eyes deserved it more. She was by far my favourite character.
It was an amazing book, and hard to put down from the get go. Once I made it to the last few chapters of the book it became impossible to put down. Next thing I knew it was 2am, my eyes were blood shot and I myself felt a little lost and disorientated. I am super excited for the next one.
Thank you for an amazing read MR Jenks. I look forward to your future works.
Should you be interested please see the following link for an interview with the Author:
http://whyicantstopreading.wordpress....
Brinn wakes up in an alleyway, without his memory, no money in his pocket and nothing but his wits to help him in this strange city. Fighting to stay alive, sane and find his memory, you completely find yourself engrossed with his tale.
On his search I felt his elation at discovering Lauren and his despair at losing her again.
Lauren wakes up in very similar circumstances. Lost, afraid, sans memory in the middle of a Museum exhibit. Her struggles bring her to Sister Regina, Paige and their convent. Taken under their wings she starts discovering herself and some of her memories.
The Good:
The imagery is amazing. Excelent descriptions made it impossible for me not to see everything. I felt like I have now actually made a visit to the big apple myself. And as stodgy and strict as Sister Regina is, she is an amazingly complex colourful character. At times I actually felt chastened by her myself.
The Not so Good:
The only reason I could not give the book the desired 5 stars is because of the dialogue. At times I found it a bit forced and unnaturally. Once again, this is my only complaint. Now for the fun part.
The Great:
The intervals and breaks from the regular story line. I found it fascinating rounded of the story quite nicely.
Paige’s history was enlightening and frightening at the same time. I felt heartbroken that a young girl had to go through all of that and amazed that she made it through so remarkably well. And completely overjoyed when she found herself in a ‘family’ with Brinn and Lauren. No one, in my eyes deserved it more. She was by far my favourite character.
It was an amazing book, and hard to put down from the get go. Once I made it to the last few chapters of the book it became impossible to put down. Next thing I knew it was 2am, my eyes were blood shot and I myself felt a little lost and disorientated. I am super excited for the next one.
Thank you for an amazing read MR Jenks. I look forward to your future works.
Should you be interested please see the following link for an interview with the Author:
http://whyicantstopreading.wordpress....
June 12, 2012
Hearth: Exile is most definitely one of those reads that draws you in gradually. Set in modern day New York, the main character immediately grips you, but it's the quiet unravelling of his story that begins to stir your interest and curiosity. At the outset of this book you don't even know the main characters name, for he himself has amnesia and has no idea who he is. However, for those who worry that this read will take a while to get into, Jenks' beautifully crafted New York cityscape is superbly drawn. It's winter, it's desolate, but the Big Apple continues to shine in all its beauty, and adds as much to the story as a supporting character.
As the story progresses, the main character's identity is revealed and he starts to remember aspects of his past life. This is particularly sparked when he meets Lauren; a stunning woman that he's sure he's met before. She offers support, kindness and shelter by way of a city Convent. There, under the watchful eye of Sister Regina, the pair of them begin to not only develop old feelings for one another, but sense that something rather sinister has happened to them.
One of the reasons that I loved this book was that the fantasy aspect was done in a very subtle way. It is the characters fascination for discovery that drives this story along, and the fantasy is peppered throughout; just enough to cause intrigue and curiosity, but not too much to turn what is a well structured character driven novel into yet another pointless fantasy saga. As more details emerge, so the fantasy thrills increase, offering an exciting end to this first novel in the series. I really liked the mixture of characters, including youngster Page who surprises everyone with her intellect and becomes a vital part of the storyline.
There's no doubt from the end of this novel, that Hearth: Exile is set to have a sequel written. And, such is my need to find out just what has happened, I hope that Jenks' has this sequel planned sooner rather than later. I highly recommend this book, and it'll leave you wanting much, much more.
As the story progresses, the main character's identity is revealed and he starts to remember aspects of his past life. This is particularly sparked when he meets Lauren; a stunning woman that he's sure he's met before. She offers support, kindness and shelter by way of a city Convent. There, under the watchful eye of Sister Regina, the pair of them begin to not only develop old feelings for one another, but sense that something rather sinister has happened to them.
One of the reasons that I loved this book was that the fantasy aspect was done in a very subtle way. It is the characters fascination for discovery that drives this story along, and the fantasy is peppered throughout; just enough to cause intrigue and curiosity, but not too much to turn what is a well structured character driven novel into yet another pointless fantasy saga. As more details emerge, so the fantasy thrills increase, offering an exciting end to this first novel in the series. I really liked the mixture of characters, including youngster Page who surprises everyone with her intellect and becomes a vital part of the storyline.
There's no doubt from the end of this novel, that Hearth: Exile is set to have a sequel written. And, such is my need to find out just what has happened, I hope that Jenks' has this sequel planned sooner rather than later. I highly recommend this book, and it'll leave you wanting much, much more.
September 23, 2013
Review originally posted at: http://digerbop.ca/2013/09/heath-exile/
A fantasy tale about amnesia, but not alcohol induced
Have you ever had too much to drink? Have you ever woken up with an awful headache, maybe wearing less clothes than would be your preference, or in a strange place? How did you get there? Floating in this haze, you reach for the nearest pain-killers or strong cup of coffee. Maybe you have woken up half-in half-out a trash can with no memory of how you got there. This is the case with the man we are introduced to in Health:Exile. From this point on, we are led through the streets of New York by this homeless man with amnesia. Luckily, when we drink too much, and maybe don't remember how got to the bed, floor, or back alley that we wake up in, this is a brief and quickly explained condition. Not so for the protagonist of Hearth:Exile.
The Good:
Hearth:Exile is nothing like I expected it would be. I don't truly know what I was expecting, but when a book is labelled "fantasy" there is a certain understanding of what that book might contain. You will find none of that in Health:Exile. The story plays out more like Indiana Jones as an orphan kid with amnesia minus the action. A strange and refreshing mix to be sure.
The biggest draw for this book is that the protagonist (revealed to be Br... something) had no idea who he is or where he came from. The reader gets to learn about Br as he learns about himself. This gives a wonderfully mysterious feel to the story, the world, and provides a sense of drive to keep reading. Who is this Br guy and how did he end up in a trash can?
Though the reader doesn't know what is going on (because the characters don't) little snippets of brilliant third-person-omniscient use provide the reader with just enough external hints to push on. Reading about a homeless man combing his hair can only hold reader interest to a point. Eventually a strange bird with red eyes has to swoop in and let the reader know that there really is a story here. This heightens the suspense and keeps things rolling, even through the slow beginning.
M. R. Jenks gives the reader a brilliant understanding of the characters in Hearth:Exile. Jenks slides easily between third-person limited and omniscient points of view in a way I have never seen done well... until now. Internal monologue runs rampant never leaving the reader in the dark about character motivation. Specific character back-stories are woven right into the middle of everything, making good use of the "external narrator" role that Jenks implements through his unique writing style.
The Bad:
I wanted to like this book more than I did. The biggest problem I faced was that I just wasn't drawn in by M. R. Jenks' writing style. Long sections of Hearth:Exile are told in a passive voice, which makes it read like an unengaging biography instead of the intriguing and suspenseful fantasy story that it is. The book had a lot of potential, but I had a hard time caring about anything that was happening or the characters because of the hands-off word choice implementation. When reading, I want to be sucked into the pages so intensely that when I come up to breathe, my mind is swimming in a haze of the reality I live in, still invested in the fantasy of ink and paper. There is almost as much passive voice as there is active voice, which is a surprisingly large amount. This was the biggest downfall of Health:Exile, by far.
Along the way, Br meets an orphan girl. She is the most intriguing character in the whole book. I loved her back story, and how she reacted to the world around her because of it. The problem was that she didn't always act this way. Sometimes she was the street-hardened brat, and like flicking a switch, she turned into a happy-go-lucky little girl living life to its fullest. Instead of showing two sides of a complex character, the implementation came across as jarring and unbelievable.
If the best thing about this book is that Br doesn't know who he is or where he comes from, then naturally the book begins to go downhill once he figures out the mystery that is him. The magic I experienced in the first couple chapters was lost as Br learned about himself. It felt like he was lifting up stone in the desert looking for water, but there was nothing but sand. Sadly, as the stones are lifted, Br is perfectly happy with knowing just enough about himself to make him realise he is different, but lacks the motivation to figure out more.
Hearth:Exile has no "antagonist." True, there is some big bad guy that is trying to take over the world, or destroy the world, or something like that, but he barely makes an appearance. Subtle hints are sprinkled throughout, but he never really effects the lives of the characters in any real way, except for in the classic "final encounter." I felt like the book would have been just as strong, or maybe even stronger, without this slapped together antagonist. It was almost like as Br is gallivanting about, figuring out who he is, M. R. Jenks decided "this book needs an antagonist," and thus he was born. I saw the potential for this antagonist to effect the story in the long-run, but there was not enough in this book to make him feel real or relevant in any way. Br and friends have a strange sense of urgency that "something is afoot." Unfortunately, that is a very thin thread to stand on as the driving force for an antagonist.
"I have a feeling that there is an evil force. I think it wants to destroy the world. We had better hurry up and figure out who we are so that we can stop this world-destroying monster."
It almost feels like someone running around yelling, "the sky is falling!" but instead they are yelling, "evil is afoot" without any real evidence of it.
Does Br figure out who he is? In a sense. Is the "evil" dealt with... not really. Is anything dealt with?... not really. The ending of Health:Exile falls flat. There is a lot of build up to the conclusion, and when it comes, the book just ends saying, "thanks for all the fish." It's like a story about some crazy scientist trying to figure out how to make a teleportation device. He gets it working, steps through, evil is on his tail, and then... The End.
Conclusion:
Health:Exile had a lot of potential. A man trying to figure out who he is. A fantasy world, but not like you would expect. The characters are well motivated and engage in the story. Sadly, the ending leaves too many question marks, and rampant use of passive voice makes it read more like a biography than fantasy literature. The story is intriguing, but the story telling is unflavourful.
A fantasy tale about amnesia, but not alcohol induced
Have you ever had too much to drink? Have you ever woken up with an awful headache, maybe wearing less clothes than would be your preference, or in a strange place? How did you get there? Floating in this haze, you reach for the nearest pain-killers or strong cup of coffee. Maybe you have woken up half-in half-out a trash can with no memory of how you got there. This is the case with the man we are introduced to in Health:Exile. From this point on, we are led through the streets of New York by this homeless man with amnesia. Luckily, when we drink too much, and maybe don't remember how got to the bed, floor, or back alley that we wake up in, this is a brief and quickly explained condition. Not so for the protagonist of Hearth:Exile.
The Good:
Hearth:Exile is nothing like I expected it would be. I don't truly know what I was expecting, but when a book is labelled "fantasy" there is a certain understanding of what that book might contain. You will find none of that in Health:Exile. The story plays out more like Indiana Jones as an orphan kid with amnesia minus the action. A strange and refreshing mix to be sure.
The biggest draw for this book is that the protagonist (revealed to be Br... something) had no idea who he is or where he came from. The reader gets to learn about Br as he learns about himself. This gives a wonderfully mysterious feel to the story, the world, and provides a sense of drive to keep reading. Who is this Br guy and how did he end up in a trash can?
Though the reader doesn't know what is going on (because the characters don't) little snippets of brilliant third-person-omniscient use provide the reader with just enough external hints to push on. Reading about a homeless man combing his hair can only hold reader interest to a point. Eventually a strange bird with red eyes has to swoop in and let the reader know that there really is a story here. This heightens the suspense and keeps things rolling, even through the slow beginning.
M. R. Jenks gives the reader a brilliant understanding of the characters in Hearth:Exile. Jenks slides easily between third-person limited and omniscient points of view in a way I have never seen done well... until now. Internal monologue runs rampant never leaving the reader in the dark about character motivation. Specific character back-stories are woven right into the middle of everything, making good use of the "external narrator" role that Jenks implements through his unique writing style.
The Bad:
I wanted to like this book more than I did. The biggest problem I faced was that I just wasn't drawn in by M. R. Jenks' writing style. Long sections of Hearth:Exile are told in a passive voice, which makes it read like an unengaging biography instead of the intriguing and suspenseful fantasy story that it is. The book had a lot of potential, but I had a hard time caring about anything that was happening or the characters because of the hands-off word choice implementation. When reading, I want to be sucked into the pages so intensely that when I come up to breathe, my mind is swimming in a haze of the reality I live in, still invested in the fantasy of ink and paper. There is almost as much passive voice as there is active voice, which is a surprisingly large amount. This was the biggest downfall of Health:Exile, by far.
Along the way, Br meets an orphan girl. She is the most intriguing character in the whole book. I loved her back story, and how she reacted to the world around her because of it. The problem was that she didn't always act this way. Sometimes she was the street-hardened brat, and like flicking a switch, she turned into a happy-go-lucky little girl living life to its fullest. Instead of showing two sides of a complex character, the implementation came across as jarring and unbelievable.
If the best thing about this book is that Br doesn't know who he is or where he comes from, then naturally the book begins to go downhill once he figures out the mystery that is him. The magic I experienced in the first couple chapters was lost as Br learned about himself. It felt like he was lifting up stone in the desert looking for water, but there was nothing but sand. Sadly, as the stones are lifted, Br is perfectly happy with knowing just enough about himself to make him realise he is different, but lacks the motivation to figure out more.
Hearth:Exile has no "antagonist." True, there is some big bad guy that is trying to take over the world, or destroy the world, or something like that, but he barely makes an appearance. Subtle hints are sprinkled throughout, but he never really effects the lives of the characters in any real way, except for in the classic "final encounter." I felt like the book would have been just as strong, or maybe even stronger, without this slapped together antagonist. It was almost like as Br is gallivanting about, figuring out who he is, M. R. Jenks decided "this book needs an antagonist," and thus he was born. I saw the potential for this antagonist to effect the story in the long-run, but there was not enough in this book to make him feel real or relevant in any way. Br and friends have a strange sense of urgency that "something is afoot." Unfortunately, that is a very thin thread to stand on as the driving force for an antagonist.
"I have a feeling that there is an evil force. I think it wants to destroy the world. We had better hurry up and figure out who we are so that we can stop this world-destroying monster."
It almost feels like someone running around yelling, "the sky is falling!" but instead they are yelling, "evil is afoot" without any real evidence of it.
Does Br figure out who he is? In a sense. Is the "evil" dealt with... not really. Is anything dealt with?... not really. The ending of Health:Exile falls flat. There is a lot of build up to the conclusion, and when it comes, the book just ends saying, "thanks for all the fish." It's like a story about some crazy scientist trying to figure out how to make a teleportation device. He gets it working, steps through, evil is on his tail, and then... The End.
Conclusion:
Health:Exile had a lot of potential. A man trying to figure out who he is. A fantasy world, but not like you would expect. The characters are well motivated and engage in the story. Sadly, the ending leaves too many question marks, and rampant use of passive voice makes it read more like a biography than fantasy literature. The story is intriguing, but the story telling is unflavourful.
June 14, 2012
I found Exile to be an intriguing read that flowed nicely in the way the knowledge of the situation was given to the reader. The characters are realistic and you find yourself caring for their well being. You can tell immediately that the main characters are from a different time or location due to their speech, but it's not difficult to read. The author also has a unique voice that works well for him. The novel is thorough and intelligent and is one of the first novels I have read in this genre. I picked the novel up because I read about it on Library Thing and it sounded very interesting--it was! I'm glad that I chose to expand my typical reading pool and can't wait for the next installment! The ending worked very well, as it wrapped up the story nicely, but still left the reader wanting more.
I believe that the star system should allow for .5 stars, and if it did I would give this 4.5 stars, but because it doesn't I am giving it 5 stars because it accomplished its job well--it made me want more!
I believe that the star system should allow for .5 stars, and if it did I would give this 4.5 stars, but because it doesn't I am giving it 5 stars because it accomplished its job well--it made me want more!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews