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Mondragoran Chronicles #1
Dreams of Darkness
Jordan Hanson was having a bad day. His girlfriend was acting distant, his cat had run off, his car was leaking oil, there was something screwy with the electrical system in his new house, and to top it all off he got caught in a storm. By the end of the day, though, Jordan would have given anything to get his old life back. Or any life at all, for that matter. Even an undead existence in which he was not about to be used as a tool to end the world would have been better than nothing....
430 pages, Paperback
First published February 10, 2012
1 person is currently reading
551 people want to read
About the author
Barry James
2 books19 followersBarry wrote "Dreams of Darkness" while staying awake nights to watch over his baby daughter, as an alternative to the pediatrician's plan to hook her up to a monitor 24 hours a day. Barry currently teaches World History to 6th graders in Tempe, Arizona, and recently completed the sequel to "Dreams of Darkness," entitled "Realms of Shadow."
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
June 19, 2012
To say that Jordan is having a bad day is a bit of an understatement, I think. Jordan is having an epically bad day to top all others. Without going into detail and giving anything exciting away, he loses his girlfriend, his cat, his house, oh yeah, and his life, all in one evening. Jordan is about to discover that his life (or death as the case may be) has much more purpose than he ever imagined.
I have been a fan of the horror genre for many years, and this book did not disappoint. The writing style was amazing with such attention to detail that it was easy to picture in your head what was going on. The descriptive language used by the author was equally amazing, describing in detail the creatures, surroundings, etc, and the dialogue was wonderfully written and not forced as can so often be the case.
The characters in the story were very well developed, from Jordan, who is the underdog but stronger than he ever realized, and an overall likeable guy, to Lord Ackerman who is the kind of guy you love to hate. Of course throughout the whole story you're rooting for Jordan not only because of the unimaginable that would happen if he lost, but also because he's exactly the kind of hero everyone wants in a story.
There was so much going on in this book with the plot, which, by the way, was different from anything I've read lately, and the author did a great job leaving you wondering what was going to happen next. I kept imaging I knew what was going to happen as I read, but it turned out I was always wrong, and the author's version was way better than anything I had come up with!
I would recommend this book for anyone who loves horror, and would even go so far as to recommend this book to any fans of Stephen King. I will be eagerly watching for more from this author.
Interview with author Barry James!
http://shutupandreadgroup.blogspot.co...
I have been a fan of the horror genre for many years, and this book did not disappoint. The writing style was amazing with such attention to detail that it was easy to picture in your head what was going on. The descriptive language used by the author was equally amazing, describing in detail the creatures, surroundings, etc, and the dialogue was wonderfully written and not forced as can so often be the case.
The characters in the story were very well developed, from Jordan, who is the underdog but stronger than he ever realized, and an overall likeable guy, to Lord Ackerman who is the kind of guy you love to hate. Of course throughout the whole story you're rooting for Jordan not only because of the unimaginable that would happen if he lost, but also because he's exactly the kind of hero everyone wants in a story.
There was so much going on in this book with the plot, which, by the way, was different from anything I've read lately, and the author did a great job leaving you wondering what was going to happen next. I kept imaging I knew what was going to happen as I read, but it turned out I was always wrong, and the author's version was way better than anything I had come up with!
I would recommend this book for anyone who loves horror, and would even go so far as to recommend this book to any fans of Stephen King. I will be eagerly watching for more from this author.
Interview with author Barry James!
http://shutupandreadgroup.blogspot.co...
Read
July 8, 2012Here's a quick synopsis, for those of you who want more than the teaser above (the "spoilers" are all revealed within the first 10% or so of the book, so they won't spoil much!):
The sequel, Realms of Shadow, is in progress!
Barry
The sequel, Realms of Shadow, is in progress!
Barry
March 19, 2012
My hat's off to Mr. James. The imagination and creativity that went into this book is absolutely amazing. From character development and plot, to setting and dialogue, it is sheer perfection. The descriptive language used detailed every monster with crystal clarity and at some points I found myself cringing at the mental picture created.
Jordan is a well written character that you can't help but respect. Strong, gritty, flawed, conflicted, but most importantly, self-aware, he's a very believable good guy. He isn't the "perfect" hero and that's what makes him great.
This is not the kind of book that rapidly sucked me in. It was a much more gradual thing, so subtle that I didn't realize how caught up in it I actually was until my kindle app crapped out on me about two chapters short of the end and left me in a panic to solve the problem and finish the book.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys urban fantasy, horror, or just good old fashioned blood and guts. Hands down, a five star read!
Jordan is a well written character that you can't help but respect. Strong, gritty, flawed, conflicted, but most importantly, self-aware, he's a very believable good guy. He isn't the "perfect" hero and that's what makes him great.
This is not the kind of book that rapidly sucked me in. It was a much more gradual thing, so subtle that I didn't realize how caught up in it I actually was until my kindle app crapped out on me about two chapters short of the end and left me in a panic to solve the problem and finish the book.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys urban fantasy, horror, or just good old fashioned blood and guts. Hands down, a five star read!
March 30, 2014
A hauntingly beautiful paranormal tale that sends shivers down the spine
Captivated by the dark cover of this delicious debut, I willingly plunged into a chilling tale of seductive Vampirism and mystical ambiance.
Any fan of authors such as Stephen King will note the eclectic mix of horror and supernatural, which creates such an intoxicatingly rich concoction of sinister narrative. Superstitious mindsets intertwine amid a spooky backdrop, presenting a sense of foreboding as to keep you on edge throughout. Descriptive language and details paint a strikingly clear picture of the setting, so as to bring Barry James’ world {including creatures and Demons etc.} to life on the page. Incorporating well-developed characters that are strong and likeable, the engaging plot was deftly woven and wonderfully realised.
The first instalment within the Moondragoran chronicles takes you on a thrilling journey, which is designed to keep you sat in suspense throughout constantly wondering… From appealing Jordan to Lord Ackerman whom you love but equally hate, the story contains distinctly memorable characters whom I cannot wait to see develop more within the sequel. To say that Jordan was having a bad day was a great understatement! The opening of the story grabbed my attention instantly; pulling me into the most extraordinary, richly imagined world of wonder and outlandishness.
I highly recommend this addictive, darkly fascinating novel to readers of horror fiction and paranormal. I would like to thank the author for providing me with an e-copy to read and write an honest, non-biased review.
Captivated by the dark cover of this delicious debut, I willingly plunged into a chilling tale of seductive Vampirism and mystical ambiance.
Any fan of authors such as Stephen King will note the eclectic mix of horror and supernatural, which creates such an intoxicatingly rich concoction of sinister narrative. Superstitious mindsets intertwine amid a spooky backdrop, presenting a sense of foreboding as to keep you on edge throughout. Descriptive language and details paint a strikingly clear picture of the setting, so as to bring Barry James’ world {including creatures and Demons etc.} to life on the page. Incorporating well-developed characters that are strong and likeable, the engaging plot was deftly woven and wonderfully realised.
The first instalment within the Moondragoran chronicles takes you on a thrilling journey, which is designed to keep you sat in suspense throughout constantly wondering… From appealing Jordan to Lord Ackerman whom you love but equally hate, the story contains distinctly memorable characters whom I cannot wait to see develop more within the sequel. To say that Jordan was having a bad day was a great understatement! The opening of the story grabbed my attention instantly; pulling me into the most extraordinary, richly imagined world of wonder and outlandishness.
I highly recommend this addictive, darkly fascinating novel to readers of horror fiction and paranormal. I would like to thank the author for providing me with an e-copy to read and write an honest, non-biased review.
September 28, 2012
Read it. Wasn't all that impressed. The author doesn't have that 'magic' that makes you care about the characters.
The ad for this book reads,
''Looking for a Sparkle-Free Undead Hero? Jordan Hanson is your man! No sparkles, no porn, just 100% supernatural action!''
I also hate when paranormal authors make fun of Twilight. Twilight is the main reason the paranormal genre has gotten so popular. It introduced me to the paranormal world and I ended up reading & discovering other authors bec of it. Whether you liked the book or not, you have benefited from Twilight's popularity so pls stop making fun of it.
The ad for this book reads,
''Looking for a Sparkle-Free Undead Hero? Jordan Hanson is your man! No sparkles, no porn, just 100% supernatural action!''
I also hate when paranormal authors make fun of Twilight. Twilight is the main reason the paranormal genre has gotten so popular. It introduced me to the paranormal world and I ended up reading & discovering other authors bec of it. Whether you liked the book or not, you have benefited from Twilight's popularity so pls stop making fun of it.
August 2, 2012
I had a hard time deciding on what to write in this review. I've been editing my stars from 3 to 2, from 2 to 3... I really have no idea. It's not a bad book. It contains a lot of things that I liked, yet at the same time, it still didn't cut it for me in the end. I would've given it a 2.5/5, but for want of such flexibility in the marks here, I will leave it at 2. Although what "didn't cut it for me" is way more subjective than through any fault of the novel itself, I feel it also plays a part in one's enjoyment of a book, and as such, I can't really leave it out of my review.
There's quite an amount of pros in favour of "Dreams of Darkness". The author created a believable mythos for his world, one that is detailed and well-explained, and that flows together believably. The descriptions are very vivid, making it extremely easy to picture what's happening; same goes for the action scenes. In fact, I'm positive this novel would make a great movie or mini-TV series. It is quite a 'visual' story—and a graphic one, too, in its depiction of the horrors that are the demons, their actions, and the people that command them! (This is not a negative point, by the way. I thought it was clear from the start that there would be gory aspects to it, and they didn't shock me; on the contrary, given the themes tackled in it, they were logical and expected.) The story deals with interesting questions, namely Jordan's humanity (can he remain sane and human enough, in spite of what he is?), whether one's nature will necessarily determine one's destiny, or the influence of power on one's psyche. Also, the plot is complex, yet not confusing, and the characters appropriate to its development.
So why did I write that the book didn't do it for me in the end? That's the tricky part: I still have no precise idea why. I think it had to do with the writing, that I felt was a little 'dry', but not in terms of description of details—it was more a feeling than anything else. My rational mind was satisfied, but not my emotional one, if I may say so. I couldn't really root for the characters, for instance, as if there was a very thin, invisible wall between them and me. It took me too much time to finish this book, too, when I actually had plenty of time to do so; I kept on putting it down, thinking it wasn't for me; the parts between the action scenes dragged a little, too (the background information regularly given by some of the characters sometimes felt too much like info-dumping, which didn't help). However, at the same time, I kept going back to it, because, let's be honest, I still wanted to know how the story would go on. The last quarter or so of the book got me in for good; unfortunately, this came too late in my reading.
There's quite an amount of pros in favour of "Dreams of Darkness". The author created a believable mythos for his world, one that is detailed and well-explained, and that flows together believably. The descriptions are very vivid, making it extremely easy to picture what's happening; same goes for the action scenes. In fact, I'm positive this novel would make a great movie or mini-TV series. It is quite a 'visual' story—and a graphic one, too, in its depiction of the horrors that are the demons, their actions, and the people that command them! (This is not a negative point, by the way. I thought it was clear from the start that there would be gory aspects to it, and they didn't shock me; on the contrary, given the themes tackled in it, they were logical and expected.) The story deals with interesting questions, namely Jordan's humanity (can he remain sane and human enough, in spite of what he is?), whether one's nature will necessarily determine one's destiny, or the influence of power on one's psyche. Also, the plot is complex, yet not confusing, and the characters appropriate to its development.
So why did I write that the book didn't do it for me in the end? That's the tricky part: I still have no precise idea why. I think it had to do with the writing, that I felt was a little 'dry', but not in terms of description of details—it was more a feeling than anything else. My rational mind was satisfied, but not my emotional one, if I may say so. I couldn't really root for the characters, for instance, as if there was a very thin, invisible wall between them and me. It took me too much time to finish this book, too, when I actually had plenty of time to do so; I kept on putting it down, thinking it wasn't for me; the parts between the action scenes dragged a little, too (the background information regularly given by some of the characters sometimes felt too much like info-dumping, which didn't help). However, at the same time, I kept going back to it, because, let's be honest, I still wanted to know how the story would go on. The last quarter or so of the book got me in for good; unfortunately, this came too late in my reading.
May 20, 2012
Jordan is not having a run of the mill shitty day. He is having a Ronald McDonald felt you up on your 12th birthday party kind of day. He somehow manages to lose the cat, his car is acting up and his girlfriend is giving off icy vibes. Just when he thinks things can't possibly get worse, Jordan dies in an accident and finds that he is instrumental in a plot to end the world. I mean, fuck.
An engrossing blend of horror and urban fantasy, I really enjoyed Barry James' easy writing style. Too often, authors tend to be overly verbose and seem to enjoy right-clicking on the thesaurus function to find the most "intellectual" word to use. James' writing is natural. It flows and his descriptions are fun and effective. Jordan is not simply a vessel for the story, he is a rich, detailed character whom I enjoyed getting to know.
I admit that I was pleasantly surprised by Dreams of Darkness. The book overall is polished and accomplished, especially for a first novel. At times it is reminiscent of Revenge by Gabrielle Faust, a book I also thoroughly enjoyed. It should certainly attract more attention and positive reviews as word gets out. Interestingly, James wrote this while watching over his baby girl at night. It is inspiring that one can come up with such an epic novel! The author is currently working on the sequel, Realms of Shadow.
This is the ideal read for fans of dark apocalyptic horror and fantasy. It makes movies like End of Days seem somewhat weak in comparison. Pure escapism ideal for a long weekend! A big thank you to the author for providing us with a review copy.
I give Dreams of Darkness 8 out of 10 and am holding thumbs more people discover it and we get to see a film version.
May 31, 2012
A Totally Spooky Read!, May 30, 2012
By
Linell Jeppsen (The mountains of Northeast Washington State) - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Dreams of Darkness (Kindle Edition)
Jordan Hanson, a nice guy, and modest book store clerk is slated to be much more than he could imagine. His own parents have sacrificed his soul to the Mondragoran, an alien species, to act as the key to Earth's destruction!
After dying in a bank hold-up, Jordan's soul is overcome by the essence of the Child of Shadows, that entity with the power to implement the Mondragoran's plans, but something has gone wrong! There is a spark of goodness, a certain strength and nobility of spirit within Jordan's soul the Mondragorans never counted on-
This is a powerful, beautifully written and edited novel. It's imagery, and descriptions are staggering and not for the faint of heart. Most importantly, for me, the characters were well drawn. You can feel this young man's courage, fear and hope.
Fine job, and an auspicious beginning for a strong new voice in horror fiction!
By
Linell Jeppsen (The mountains of Northeast Washington State) - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Dreams of Darkness (Kindle Edition)
Jordan Hanson, a nice guy, and modest book store clerk is slated to be much more than he could imagine. His own parents have sacrificed his soul to the Mondragoran, an alien species, to act as the key to Earth's destruction!
After dying in a bank hold-up, Jordan's soul is overcome by the essence of the Child of Shadows, that entity with the power to implement the Mondragoran's plans, but something has gone wrong! There is a spark of goodness, a certain strength and nobility of spirit within Jordan's soul the Mondragorans never counted on-
This is a powerful, beautifully written and edited novel. It's imagery, and descriptions are staggering and not for the faint of heart. Most importantly, for me, the characters were well drawn. You can feel this young man's courage, fear and hope.
Fine job, and an auspicious beginning for a strong new voice in horror fiction!
July 28, 2012
Here is a novel of huge scope. A bit Lovecraftian (not in language, but in conceptualizations -- the Mondragoran, a Cthulhu-esque conglomeration of evil essences! In another sense, the book reminds me of Sturgeon's MORE THAN HUMAN, as it brings in characters with multiple telepathic/kinetic talents. I like the way James manages to keep the story going at a brisk pace; there are no "bog spots". The last three chapters kept me on the edge of my seat! And there is a symbolic gray dog in the first chapter that reappears at the end and howls...a sign of portent, perhaps -- could there be a sequel?
Some very nasty scenes of torture in this --but good wins out over evil--at least, for the time being! -Marge Simon
Some very nasty scenes of torture in this --but good wins out over evil--at least, for the time being! -Marge Simon
June 20, 2015
Urban fantasy books are still fairly popular. So popular that they tend to be a genre super prone to formula. Fortunately the genre is wide enough to avoid the most obvious formulas if the author wants to avoid them. I admit I am not always "with it" when it comes to urban fantasy. Back in the "golden age of science fiction", which A. E. Van Vogt famously quipped was "14", fantasy meant sword and sorcery. The first fantasy/horror novel I ever read that seemed to be modern and urban in style was Fritz Leiber's Conjure Wife. I consider that novel to be the grandfather of urban fantasy. Decades later urban fantasy have merged into a plethora of ideas including Leiber's modern horror tale of witches but also sorcery, usually sans swords, Lovecraftian elements, urban contemporary environments, a heavy emphasis on the supernatural and psychic powers, and an obsession with anti-heroes rather than heroes.
With all this in mind, Dreams of Darkness is typical urban fantasy yet it isn't. The first thing that is obvious is that Dreams of Darkness is much darker than what usually passes for urban fantasy with the mainstream audiences. James' novel centers around 20-something Jordan Hanson. He seems a typical young man with a girl friend and everyday problems until he is shot and killed in a bank robbery. He discovers abruptly that he was born to be the "anti-christ" for an ancient and powerful group of evil thingies called the Mondragorans. He escapes from them and find himself alive, or rather undead, still with the powers that the Mondragorans gave him to destroy the world and usher in their rule. Without knowing the full extent of his power or the consequences, he vows to fight the Mondragorans and save the world.
Which of course, ain't going to be easy. The first thing I like is that Jordan is a reluctant hero, something not that unusual in the genre. He struggles with his powers and eventually discovers using them may be more dangerous than not using them. James writes about this struggle well, making it deeper and darker than a Bruce Banner vs. Hulk dilemma. Jordan has a lot to learn and we learn it with him. A huge combination of occultist and mythological knowledge is thrown in. I do not know how much is borrowed from others and how much is of the author's creation, which is a strength of the work. Jordan makes some powerful allies and equally powerful enemies, including Lord William Ackerman, Jordan's chief boogeyman who is in cahoots with the Mondragorans. What ensued is a tense and long struggle with Ackerman and his henchmen culminating in a lengthy climatic battle in a demon infested Seattle. As if Seattle wasn't gloomy and dark enough to begin with!
When all is taken into account, Dreams of Darkness is an entertaining and welcome entry in the Urban fantasy genre. It has a likable and sufficiently brooding anti-hero paired with a love-to-hate villain. The creatures are quite imaginative and owes a bit to Lovecraftian horror. While the book is clearly labeled "Book one of the Mondragoran Chronicles" it is stand alone and doesn't end in a cliffhanger even though there is a nice hint of troubles to come on the last page. Unlike a lot of urban fantasies today, it doesn't overlap into paranormal romance, although there is an obvious candidate and a surprise for Jordan at the end of the book that makes me wonder about what is in store in book two. This is not to say it doesn't have its issues. This is a first,independently published, novel and has flaws typical of both. I know it is a bit of a cliche in this situation to say the author needs a good editor but it fits here. Many of the scenes seem drawn out and overall I felt the book was too long at close to 500 pages. While the many action scenes are excellently written they are also burdened with too much explanation and dialog in the midst of it. One of my pet peeves is folks fighting to the death with demons and trying to hold an conversation with them at the same time. It never felt like a good idea.
But overall it works quite well,. As mentioned, James' action segment are creative and fun. The characters are all interesting and involving. While the tale has more than its share of darkness, the author always manages to keep a little light seeping in so we remain hopeful for our heroes. I am not sure this will appeal to the mainstream reader that is not already seeped in the intricacies and nuances of urban fantasy but the avid reader of the genre should enjoy this.
Three and a half stars.
With all this in mind, Dreams of Darkness is typical urban fantasy yet it isn't. The first thing that is obvious is that Dreams of Darkness is much darker than what usually passes for urban fantasy with the mainstream audiences. James' novel centers around 20-something Jordan Hanson. He seems a typical young man with a girl friend and everyday problems until he is shot and killed in a bank robbery. He discovers abruptly that he was born to be the "anti-christ" for an ancient and powerful group of evil thingies called the Mondragorans. He escapes from them and find himself alive, or rather undead, still with the powers that the Mondragorans gave him to destroy the world and usher in their rule. Without knowing the full extent of his power or the consequences, he vows to fight the Mondragorans and save the world.
Which of course, ain't going to be easy. The first thing I like is that Jordan is a reluctant hero, something not that unusual in the genre. He struggles with his powers and eventually discovers using them may be more dangerous than not using them. James writes about this struggle well, making it deeper and darker than a Bruce Banner vs. Hulk dilemma. Jordan has a lot to learn and we learn it with him. A huge combination of occultist and mythological knowledge is thrown in. I do not know how much is borrowed from others and how much is of the author's creation, which is a strength of the work. Jordan makes some powerful allies and equally powerful enemies, including Lord William Ackerman, Jordan's chief boogeyman who is in cahoots with the Mondragorans. What ensued is a tense and long struggle with Ackerman and his henchmen culminating in a lengthy climatic battle in a demon infested Seattle. As if Seattle wasn't gloomy and dark enough to begin with!
When all is taken into account, Dreams of Darkness is an entertaining and welcome entry in the Urban fantasy genre. It has a likable and sufficiently brooding anti-hero paired with a love-to-hate villain. The creatures are quite imaginative and owes a bit to Lovecraftian horror. While the book is clearly labeled "Book one of the Mondragoran Chronicles" it is stand alone and doesn't end in a cliffhanger even though there is a nice hint of troubles to come on the last page. Unlike a lot of urban fantasies today, it doesn't overlap into paranormal romance, although there is an obvious candidate and a surprise for Jordan at the end of the book that makes me wonder about what is in store in book two. This is not to say it doesn't have its issues. This is a first,independently published, novel and has flaws typical of both. I know it is a bit of a cliche in this situation to say the author needs a good editor but it fits here. Many of the scenes seem drawn out and overall I felt the book was too long at close to 500 pages. While the many action scenes are excellently written they are also burdened with too much explanation and dialog in the midst of it. One of my pet peeves is folks fighting to the death with demons and trying to hold an conversation with them at the same time. It never felt like a good idea.
But overall it works quite well,. As mentioned, James' action segment are creative and fun. The characters are all interesting and involving. While the tale has more than its share of darkness, the author always manages to keep a little light seeping in so we remain hopeful for our heroes. I am not sure this will appeal to the mainstream reader that is not already seeped in the intricacies and nuances of urban fantasy but the avid reader of the genre should enjoy this.
Three and a half stars.
July 12, 2012
I liked the plot and the characters good story idea. Barry James is very talented with a great imagination. I could actually see the different demons as I read. I loved the cover and really wanted to love the story and some parts I really enjoyed. The action scenes where good, when the characters where on the move those parts of the book were great, but when the action stopped and the characters hung out that is when it started to drag. And because to me it seemed that there where more part’s that dragged, those parts are the ones that I remember and it always has an impact on my focus. I can not say that this book lacks description on scenes nor does it lack background and research information and that was the problem for me. It had way too much info but I understand that this is the first book and weather he liked it or not he had to include all that info so that I as the reader understood the why’s the second book. If you like to be fully aware of the situation and how things came to be and everything else that has to do with the characters and all the magic involve this is the book for you. I can say that there were no questions I had at the end of the story and that is always good.
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September 7, 2012
Jordan Hanson is having a bad day,ok the worst bad day in the history of the world, he just doesn't know it yet.
I was pleasantly surprised with dreams of darkness, from the Synopsis & the genre I thought it was just going to be a run of the mill horror novel but it turned out to be so much more. I also really enjoyed a male point of view, from both the character & author for a change. Barry has done a wonderful job at bring this story to life , with such a complex plot & characters you would think you'd be weighted down or be utterly confused but I never was! I really can't put into words how much I enjoyed it with out blabbering like a fool, so I'll simply say the plot, the Characters, the writing where all superb, if your into horror, urban fantasy or paranormal its a must read! Hopefully there's a second but at the same time hopefully not because this book stands strong on its own.
to see this reviews & many others visit my blog:
http://lacevintagebookbloggeraddict.b...
I was pleasantly surprised with dreams of darkness, from the Synopsis & the genre I thought it was just going to be a run of the mill horror novel but it turned out to be so much more. I also really enjoyed a male point of view, from both the character & author for a change. Barry has done a wonderful job at bring this story to life , with such a complex plot & characters you would think you'd be weighted down or be utterly confused but I never was! I really can't put into words how much I enjoyed it with out blabbering like a fool, so I'll simply say the plot, the Characters, the writing where all superb, if your into horror, urban fantasy or paranormal its a must read! Hopefully there's a second but at the same time hopefully not because this book stands strong on its own.
to see this reviews & many others visit my blog:
http://lacevintagebookbloggeraddict.b...
September 26, 2012
I liked the plot and the characters. Barry James is a talented writer with a great imagination. I did not love the book it had a lot of detail that made you lose focus on the main story. The characters in the story were very well illustrated which I liked. Jordan is a little whinny in the beginning, but proves himself latter in the book. Lord Ackerman is an evil character who is heartless. You keep hoping Jordan will beat him and good will win over evil.
There was so much going on in this book and it made it a little confusing at times, but it was different from the other books out right now. The action scenes when the characters where on the move were great, but when the characters weren’t doing much it started to drag. If you like to know everything about the situation, the background info and all the magic involved then this is the book for you. Overall it was a good book with a lot of detail, but worth a read if you like horror books.
There was so much going on in this book and it made it a little confusing at times, but it was different from the other books out right now. The action scenes when the characters where on the move were great, but when the characters weren’t doing much it started to drag. If you like to know everything about the situation, the background info and all the magic involved then this is the book for you. Overall it was a good book with a lot of detail, but worth a read if you like horror books.
October 28, 2012
First I want to say that Barry James is very talented with a great imagination. I have never read a book like this before, so I was a little skeptical at first. It is an original concept involving the battle between good and evil. I could actually see the different demons as I was reading. The characters in the story were very well developed from Jordan all the way to Lord Ackerman. He is wrking on the next book The sequel, Realms of Shadow.
January 10, 2015
I’m really perplexed when it comes to this book. It started off with so much promise. It had really interesting mythical concepts, a creative and imaginative storyline and very vivid scenes. Unfortunately, that only lasted for a little while before the details bogged down the book and it became a chore to trudge through all the myth.
There’s a fine line between enough detailed myth to keep the reader invested and create an atmospheric environment and bogging down the reader with uninteresting and irrelevant information. It’s upsetting to me that this book couldn’t maintain that balance since it really does have a lot of potential otherwise.
I wanted to like this book, but if I hadn’t promised a review, I wouldn’t have finished reading it. No disrespect to Mr. James – he has a lot of talent and I appreciate how much thought went into plotting out this novel. I think he would benefit from an editor of some sort helping to keep the pace of the book appropriate. Perhaps the sequel will live up to expectations, but I don’t think I’ll be checking it out.
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
There’s a fine line between enough detailed myth to keep the reader invested and create an atmospheric environment and bogging down the reader with uninteresting and irrelevant information. It’s upsetting to me that this book couldn’t maintain that balance since it really does have a lot of potential otherwise.
I wanted to like this book, but if I hadn’t promised a review, I wouldn’t have finished reading it. No disrespect to Mr. James – he has a lot of talent and I appreciate how much thought went into plotting out this novel. I think he would benefit from an editor of some sort helping to keep the pace of the book appropriate. Perhaps the sequel will live up to expectations, but I don’t think I’ll be checking it out.
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
February 3, 2019
I got this book to review from the Read It & Reap project.
First I have to say that I liked the story. There was so much potential with the .
The bad thing though was that the writing style seriously blocked my enjoyment to the story. There was too much unneeded detail in some scenes, like for example
First I have to say that I liked the story. There was so much potential with the .
The bad thing though was that the writing style seriously blocked my enjoyment to the story. There was too much unneeded detail in some scenes, like for example
October 1, 2012
This book was a mixed bag for me. It's your basic good versus evil story, centering around one man's fight against a fate he doesn't want and never asked for, while at the same time, saving the world from the dark power known as the Mondragoran. And to a point, it works. The villains are repulsive and morbidly fascinating, by turns, and the action scenes are detailed and well-described. Unfortunately, the story is handicapped by excessive info-dumping on the author's part. I understand wanting to build the world and enlighten the reader, but overdo it and you end up burying your audience in too many details. Which is, sadly, how I felt for most of the book. I wanted less telling and more showing. I also had trouble with the characters. They came across as flat and two-dimensional, and that made it very difficult for me to care what happened to them.
2.5 stars
2.5 stars
October 4, 2012
So far...I find it hard to even want to continue. Author uses a large variety of descriptive words for EVERY scenario. Also everything starts with Jordan is now doing this. Jordan grabs the towel. Jordan is adding another task to his mundane daily list "of things to do". Jordan hummed to the radio, Jordan is now going to here. eeeeek!!!!! Jordan,Jordan,Jordan.....
I am enjoying the idea of the base story line. Having difficulty ignoring the ever present "Jordan" 59 times in one chapter. Having read a large amount of books, I do not recall this problem before. This book has a really great idea behind it! But the end result was hard to follow and confusing.
I am enjoying the idea of the base story line. Having difficulty ignoring the ever present "Jordan" 59 times in one chapter. Having read a large amount of books, I do not recall this problem before. This book has a really great idea behind it! But the end result was hard to follow and confusing.
October 31, 2022
The potential is there, but this books could have been 300 pages fewer. There are too many unnecessary descriptions, and the amount of repeated information is staggering. This reaffirmed my resolution never to read self-published books again: an editor could have helped create a really good, interesting, original book, where the lore is well-thought out and the horror/urban fantasy mix creates a wholly new type of book. Now it was just a tedious read, which I only finished because I was curious to see how everything would fit together (because, as I said, the lore was all there and very interesting).
October 6, 2012
Barry James has created a great story with some great characters. It is an original concept involving the battle between good and evil.
I did get a little confused while reading this book. I think it was because of the tremendous detail that was in the book. I like the explicit descriptions. It really gave me a great picture of what was going on. It just interfered with the flow of the story.
I give this book a solid 3.5. It's a great read for fellow horror lovers.
April 26, 2013
Not sure why, but I could never get into this. Today got as far as page 76 and decided to pass this one on to someone who might enjoy it more.
May 2, 2012
I'll have to think about this one.
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