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Vale
Vale Darrow likes routine. He likes knowing what will happen on each of his days, and isn’t fond of surprises or upheaval of any kind. He lives alone in a house he loves. He expects to always be alone because he isn’t an easy person to know. He never expects that to change, until it does. After serving for many years the Companion to the Oracle dies. The Oracle reaches out, in his grief, touching on an unsuspecting Vale. With that touch, everything changes. Vale swears he will not give in to the Oracle if chosen as Companion. Will the Oracle force him to accept a life cut off from everything and everyone he loves? Or will Vale choose death rather than submit to the Oracle’s whims?
- GenresScience Fiction
244 pages, Paperback
Published March 16, 2023
6 people are currently reading
16 people want to read
About the author
C.J. Dragon
22 books22 followersCJ has always been an avid reader of everything, having started her reading career on cereal boxes at a tender age. Deciding to finally share some of the stories in her head, CJ took the plunge into publishing in 2022.
She lives in North Carolina, is happily married to her soulmate who is also a writer, and is the Bringer of Food for two cats; Frankie, who is a delight; and Angel, who has earned her new name, Lucifer's Handmaiden.
For all things Dragon, make sure you visit her website!
www.cjdragon.com
She lives in North Carolina, is happily married to her soulmate who is also a writer, and is the Bringer of Food for two cats; Frankie, who is a delight; and Angel, who has earned her new name, Lucifer's Handmaiden.
For all things Dragon, make sure you visit her website!
www.cjdragon.com
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 15, 2023
Let me start by saying that I had never read anything by this author before so I really had no idea what to expect. It was definitely an interesting premise, with both some positive and negative points.
On the positive side: This was an interesting story. Man has flown to the stars and made a new home on highly suitable planet they named Finhom. What they didn't realize was that the planet was already home to an ethereal entity that maintained the planets biosphere. When this entity made contact it demanded that a human act as a conduit for itself to the people and thus the roles of Oracle and Companion are born. I thought that the storyline was sufficiently unique and engaging and, ignoring the negative points, I rather liked it. However ...
Negatively, the wording, the language - in fact, the entire execution of the storyline was abysmal! Oh my aching head! There is absolutely no way that people, outside of Shakespeare maybe, would ever use such appalling language. It went beyond stilted into just plain painful. The interactions between Vale and his bf were ludicrous to read. I can suspend my disbelief of the whole instalove - which was painful enough - but their professions of love were like nails on a chalkboard. I did really like that Vale had sarcasm and a prickly manner. It made him relatable. But the rest of the characters drowned in the uncomfortable verbal wordage that was used.
I should probably give this 2* but I'm being generous in that I really did think there was potential in the basic idea, even though it was penned so badly! My advice to the author would be to get a really good editor or a coauthor with a little more experience to help them hammer out the good points while overhauling the bad. IMHO
On the positive side: This was an interesting story. Man has flown to the stars and made a new home on highly suitable planet they named Finhom. What they didn't realize was that the planet was already home to an ethereal entity that maintained the planets biosphere. When this entity made contact it demanded that a human act as a conduit for itself to the people and thus the roles of Oracle and Companion are born. I thought that the storyline was sufficiently unique and engaging and, ignoring the negative points, I rather liked it. However ...
Negatively, the wording, the language - in fact, the entire execution of the storyline was abysmal! Oh my aching head! There is absolutely no way that people, outside of Shakespeare maybe, would ever use such appalling language. It went beyond stilted into just plain painful. The interactions between Vale and his bf were ludicrous to read. I can suspend my disbelief of the whole instalove - which was painful enough - but their professions of love were like nails on a chalkboard. I did really like that Vale had sarcasm and a prickly manner. It made him relatable. But the rest of the characters drowned in the uncomfortable verbal wordage that was used.
I should probably give this 2* but I'm being generous in that I really did think there was potential in the basic idea, even though it was penned so badly! My advice to the author would be to get a really good editor or a coauthor with a little more experience to help them hammer out the good points while overhauling the bad. IMHO
April 14, 2023
Best Yet!
This book is wonderful. The characters are engaging and believable. Vale is an every man put into an unusual situation. He grows steadily throughout the story but still remains true to himself. He finds his soulmate in Walther and his purpose in becoming the Companion. Even the Oracle grows, learning compassion, compromise and love. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an uplifting story. And the set up for a possible second book makes me look forward to what happens next. Definitely 5-stars.
This book is wonderful. The characters are engaging and believable. Vale is an every man put into an unusual situation. He grows steadily throughout the story but still remains true to himself. He finds his soulmate in Walther and his purpose in becoming the Companion. Even the Oracle grows, learning compassion, compromise and love. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an uplifting story. And the set up for a possible second book makes me look forward to what happens next. Definitely 5-stars.
March 15, 2025
DNF’d at 47%. Queer sci-fi fantasy. I thought the premise of this book was really interesting so pushed on longer than I otherwise would have in order to see how the interactions between Vale and the Oracle played out. I never hit a good reading rhythm - I found the stilted dialogue and quick relationship development jarring.
April 18, 2024
A surprisingly but thoroughly enjoyable read. I loved the setting, the characters (some with flaws) and the storyline.
The author weaves a lovely narrative that keeps you wanting to continue reading and I found it difficult to put the story down.
The author definitely has another fan!
The author weaves a lovely narrative that keeps you wanting to continue reading and I found it difficult to put the story down.
The author definitely has another fan!
January 15, 2024
You'll find a full review of “Vale” at my web site.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews