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Fallen Masters
An internationally renowned psychic, John Edward has helped millions of people to connect with loved ones on the Other Side. Now Edward has written a riveting novel of metaphysical suspense. Fallen Masters shows a world on edge, a cataclysmic event of epic proportions as mankind is faced with global destruction. Lives are interwoven in mysterious the President of the United States, an international pop star, a fanatical TV cable talking head, a psychic from Barbados, a surgeon, and many more―and the culmination of every personal decision they make will determine if we prevail or fold to the mass of dark energy that is threatening to abolish mankind.
528 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
September 12, 2012
I really wanted to like this book. The plot had potential, and yeah, I got a kick out of the fact that it was by John Edward. So when I won it through GoodReads, I was pretty excited.
That excitement lasted for maybe the first 50 pages. Then it was a slog, getting through a bunch of personal narratives that didn't interest me, to see how the plot resolved. And by the time the plot resolved, I just didn't care.
There were too many "main" characters. I couldn't develop a personal relationship with anyone throughout the book, because as soon as they did something intriguing, we didn't see them again for a few chapters. And it didn't help that Edward seemed to intentionally distance us from some of his more interesting characters, for instance by referring to the President as POTUS rather than, say, just his last name. I found that to be off-putting, and it forcibly took me out of the book on a number of occasions.
It seemed clear to me that Edward understood where he was starting, and where he wanted to end, and forced his characters to walk straight along that path, even if it resulted in some really unnatural actions and choices. The book didn't flow easily or realistically, character "development" was jerky and sudden, and I ended with the impression of characters as puppets, not as people to whom I could, or could want to, relate.
There is, I think, a difference between storytelling and writing. The storytelling could have gone somewhere But the writing absolutely held it back.
That excitement lasted for maybe the first 50 pages. Then it was a slog, getting through a bunch of personal narratives that didn't interest me, to see how the plot resolved. And by the time the plot resolved, I just didn't care.
There were too many "main" characters. I couldn't develop a personal relationship with anyone throughout the book, because as soon as they did something intriguing, we didn't see them again for a few chapters. And it didn't help that Edward seemed to intentionally distance us from some of his more interesting characters, for instance by referring to the President as POTUS rather than, say, just his last name. I found that to be off-putting, and it forcibly took me out of the book on a number of occasions.
It seemed clear to me that Edward understood where he was starting, and where he wanted to end, and forced his characters to walk straight along that path, even if it resulted in some really unnatural actions and choices. The book didn't flow easily or realistically, character "development" was jerky and sudden, and I ended with the impression of characters as puppets, not as people to whom I could, or could want to, relate.
There is, I think, a difference between storytelling and writing. The storytelling could have gone somewhere But the writing absolutely held it back.
January 15, 2013
I had such high hopes for this book!!! The premise sounded good and I had enjoyed other books with multiple characters in an apocalyptic battle for supremacy on earth between Good and Evil. ("The Stand" springing immediately to mind)
Sadly Mr Edward has a weak narrative style which starts out focusing on a character per chapter, but then starts losing its way until one character gets a good many in a row and cohesiveness in the plot becomes pretty non existant.
There were some nice "cameos" but Mr Edward could have benefited from doing more research rather than shoe horning in locations just to make the story feel global. As usual the big showdown happens on US soil which seemed a wasted opportunity considering the "world at peril" theme and where was the "everyman" character that gives tales like this it's integrity and heart?? It was chock full of high flyers!!!
I expected heavy emphasis on the "other Side" considering Mr Edward's Day job, but the message was clunky and became tedious
The Bad Guys had no substance, no real motivation and did not seem truly evil enough to be true demonic forces. I feel cheated when I invested Christmas money on this mediocre fodder!!
Sadly Mr Edward has a weak narrative style which starts out focusing on a character per chapter, but then starts losing its way until one character gets a good many in a row and cohesiveness in the plot becomes pretty non existant.
There were some nice "cameos" but Mr Edward could have benefited from doing more research rather than shoe horning in locations just to make the story feel global. As usual the big showdown happens on US soil which seemed a wasted opportunity considering the "world at peril" theme and where was the "everyman" character that gives tales like this it's integrity and heart?? It was chock full of high flyers!!!
I expected heavy emphasis on the "other Side" considering Mr Edward's Day job, but the message was clunky and became tedious
The Bad Guys had no substance, no real motivation and did not seem truly evil enough to be true demonic forces. I feel cheated when I invested Christmas money on this mediocre fodder!!
February 26, 2019
The first half of the book absolutely dragged and took me months to get through, only reading snippets at a time. Once I hit the half way mark the story gained momentum and I was finally able to immerse myself into the storyline.
October 30, 2012
Very interesting. In deed, where do you think he get's his information, since no one else seems to be able to see past that date. Too many other authors have noted the battle we may face to just not pay attention. Are we ready for the next age?
July 12, 2018
Words could not express how beautiful this book was to read.
January 13, 2020
Fallen Masters was a bit of a mixed bag. There were some aspects I liked about it, and some that really didn’t work for me at all. The basic premise of the story is that the forces of evil are trying to destroy the universe, and a select group of people who have the souls of certain individuals who have died most oppose them. I liked the concept of the story, but the execution was really weak at times.
The positives were that I thought for the most part the characters were well done. They were plausible and well developed, although there was a fair bit of repetition since most of the main characters on the good side had lost a spouse. Now to the problem areas. The whole dead people are positive or negative energies just didn’t work for me. It was fairly incoherent and not well explained. At times, the writing was so over the top flowery that I could barely read it at times. It wasn’t plausible based on the rules of the story that the forces of good could even prevail given that they had all of these rules like they couldn’t directly interfere with people but could only guide them, yet the forces of bad could do whatever they wanted. It would be like fighting someone with both hands tied behind your back. The ending of the story made no sense to me at all, and by the end I got so tired of the story that I just wanted to be done with it. All in all, there was just too much here that I didn’t like for the story to be enjoyable and I would not recommend it.
Carl Alves - author of The Invocation
The positives were that I thought for the most part the characters were well done. They were plausible and well developed, although there was a fair bit of repetition since most of the main characters on the good side had lost a spouse. Now to the problem areas. The whole dead people are positive or negative energies just didn’t work for me. It was fairly incoherent and not well explained. At times, the writing was so over the top flowery that I could barely read it at times. It wasn’t plausible based on the rules of the story that the forces of good could even prevail given that they had all of these rules like they couldn’t directly interfere with people but could only guide them, yet the forces of bad could do whatever they wanted. It would be like fighting someone with both hands tied behind your back. The ending of the story made no sense to me at all, and by the end I got so tired of the story that I just wanted to be done with it. All in all, there was just too much here that I didn’t like for the story to be enjoyable and I would not recommend it.
Carl Alves - author of The Invocation
September 16, 2012
Rating Clarification: 2.5
I really, really wanted to love this book - but I left it feeling rather "meh" - that is too say, it was very long, very spiritually based (which in my opinion late in the book devolved into preaching about the power of the Creator - which detracted from the creative plot), and a bit cliche. I understood and related to the spiritual message that was related throughout the novel, but it was a bit heavy-handed and repetitive in passing along this message.
Pandora's Cluster, a dark mass that is scientifically inexplicable, is approaching Earth, threatening to cause a "terminal event" that will destroy life as we know it. Unbeknownst to many human, a battle is being waged by the forces of good and evil that threaten to devastate humanity. A group of individuals, guided by the Fallen Masters in the book's title, attempt to thwart the dark powers and spread the message of the Source's love and free will before humanity is destroyed.
Like I said before in my status updates to this novel, the beginning of the book's plot drew a strong comparison to Stephen King's The Stand. I liked the details of the dark side making attempts to sway mankind's energies; however, towards the middle of the novel, the book became too preachy and philosophical - and as a result, the plot suffered.
I would not steer others away from this novel, but it will not be on my list of books to recommend to the average reader. Those interested in spirituality, apocalyptic scenarios and popular fiction will appreciate this book, but it is not something that I believe will appeal to all readers. It was a good read but a long read, and I struggled to wade through the heavy-handed religious philosophy that comprised the ending of the novel. Of course, I believe in the message of good and light that the author tried to impart on his readers, and I would like to believe in the spiritual guides and afterlife that Edward proposed (I kept in mind the author's own experiences in speaking to the dead - which seems to have influenced the novel's message in a profound way). The end of the novel felt a bit too forced (no spoilers here - but really, the Academy Awards?) and I was officially turned off by the climax of the book. I'm not saying that it was a bad read, but it just wasn't one of my favorites.
Thank you to author John Edward and Tor Book publisher for this GoodRead First Reads opportunity. I sincerely appreciated being given the chance to read Fallen Masters, and I wish the book success for its upcoming release in September 2012.
August 21, 2012
A dark mass heads toward Earth. Astronomers are at a loss. They believe it is a form of dark matter, yet the gut reaction is that this 'cloud' is more than it seems. The Vatican calls for a counsel of religions where all major churches send representatives. No one knows what to do or how to stop the mass from coming.
Charlene St John, newly widowed, is a world famous singer that as a child experienced the supernatural. She is a good person and uses her voice to inspire the people of Earth. Once she discovers she has terminal cancer, she heads to Mexico to perform her last concert. While there, she seeks out the Lady of Guadalupe, said to be the Virgin Mary.
Mama G, world famous seer and psychic, is aware that something heads toward Earth carrying with it the possible destruction of humankind. She senses and 'sees' the oncoming evil attack, doing everything in her power to thwart the malevolence headed her way.
Dave Hampton, anchor of a television program, is picking up strange vibes from the dark cloud. He feels the oncoming shadow heralds the end though he does not know why he feels that way. He presents his opinion in an ongoing television series about the mass and what it means for humanity.
Tyler Michaels, a first-class surgeon, loses his wife and their unborn child while he operates on an accident victim. Filled with loss, in friendship he turns to Rae, a sympathetic nurse who has had her share of hardship. She feels the effects of the dark cloud and assists Tyler in opening up to the 'good' forces that surround them both.
Each person brings their own unique abilities (and guides) to fight the evil that is overpowering Earth. On the 'other side', dark forces gather. Their minions on Earth assassinate the President of the United States. POTUS dies and is taken to the 'other side' where he must choose his path for either good or evil. Shortly thereafter, the dark forces kidnap his son and take him to Los Angeles.
Good and evil combine in influencing the people of Earth. The Fallen Masters are those spirits that have done exceptional good during their lives on Earth. Each Fallen Master, paired with one human being, directs their human counterpart toward the good. Only a unique set of circumstances will gather them together to take down the evil forces that threaten humanity.
Kudos to Edward's for creating an epic novel that reminds us of the evil in the world today. While the writing was sometimes clunky, it was everything you might expect from a pre-apocalyptic book. I wondered, after-all, how could one not, seeing as to whom Edward's is, where he got his information. Times being what they are, it will make you look at the world a little differently. That I can promise you.
Disclaimer: Uncorrected Advanced Reading Copy
Charlene St John, newly widowed, is a world famous singer that as a child experienced the supernatural. She is a good person and uses her voice to inspire the people of Earth. Once she discovers she has terminal cancer, she heads to Mexico to perform her last concert. While there, she seeks out the Lady of Guadalupe, said to be the Virgin Mary.
Mama G, world famous seer and psychic, is aware that something heads toward Earth carrying with it the possible destruction of humankind. She senses and 'sees' the oncoming evil attack, doing everything in her power to thwart the malevolence headed her way.
Dave Hampton, anchor of a television program, is picking up strange vibes from the dark cloud. He feels the oncoming shadow heralds the end though he does not know why he feels that way. He presents his opinion in an ongoing television series about the mass and what it means for humanity.
Tyler Michaels, a first-class surgeon, loses his wife and their unborn child while he operates on an accident victim. Filled with loss, in friendship he turns to Rae, a sympathetic nurse who has had her share of hardship. She feels the effects of the dark cloud and assists Tyler in opening up to the 'good' forces that surround them both.
Each person brings their own unique abilities (and guides) to fight the evil that is overpowering Earth. On the 'other side', dark forces gather. Their minions on Earth assassinate the President of the United States. POTUS dies and is taken to the 'other side' where he must choose his path for either good or evil. Shortly thereafter, the dark forces kidnap his son and take him to Los Angeles.
Good and evil combine in influencing the people of Earth. The Fallen Masters are those spirits that have done exceptional good during their lives on Earth. Each Fallen Master, paired with one human being, directs their human counterpart toward the good. Only a unique set of circumstances will gather them together to take down the evil forces that threaten humanity.
Kudos to Edward's for creating an epic novel that reminds us of the evil in the world today. While the writing was sometimes clunky, it was everything you might expect from a pre-apocalyptic book. I wondered, after-all, how could one not, seeing as to whom Edward's is, where he got his information. Times being what they are, it will make you look at the world a little differently. That I can promise you.
Disclaimer: Uncorrected Advanced Reading Copy
April 12, 2013
Firstly, it should be noted that I received this book as part of the 'First Reads' program so it was delivered speedily to my door for free last week. Because of this I felt rather obligated to not only review it but also read this monolithic tome all the way through. At 500 pages this was a sense of obligation that I honestly could have lived very happily without.
From an editorial and stylistic standpoint this book is a travesty. The dialog is woefully in need of revision and tends to be distractingly inane. Characters are drawn out in some descriptive detail but when they speak all that was built is quickly eroded. Veteran cops, singers, psychics, doctors, all speak with sadly generic voices while teenagers address those around like they're seven years old. Where the dialog does not fail reality does as the author makes obvious blunders in simple fact checking. Since this is a pre-release copy perhaps some fact-checking will resolve some of the more obvious issues.
As story lines go, this is a fairly generic good versus evil scenario. The plot is simple but the people involved are all very complexly intertwined. I give the author good credit for keeping all this straight but ultimately it ends up feeling rather like bubble gum that has been chewed for too long. Half way through one almost cares about the characters and what is transpiring but by the end the gum has lost its flavor and one just wishes desperately to be finished with it. Edward's offering, sadly, for all the effort that obviously went into it has all the crescendo and drama of the phone book.
From an editorial and stylistic standpoint this book is a travesty. The dialog is woefully in need of revision and tends to be distractingly inane. Characters are drawn out in some descriptive detail but when they speak all that was built is quickly eroded. Veteran cops, singers, psychics, doctors, all speak with sadly generic voices while teenagers address those around like they're seven years old. Where the dialog does not fail reality does as the author makes obvious blunders in simple fact checking. Since this is a pre-release copy perhaps some fact-checking will resolve some of the more obvious issues.
As story lines go, this is a fairly generic good versus evil scenario. The plot is simple but the people involved are all very complexly intertwined. I give the author good credit for keeping all this straight but ultimately it ends up feeling rather like bubble gum that has been chewed for too long. Half way through one almost cares about the characters and what is transpiring but by the end the gum has lost its flavor and one just wishes desperately to be finished with it. Edward's offering, sadly, for all the effort that obviously went into it has all the crescendo and drama of the phone book.
October 26, 2012
A myriad of characters, interwoven together yet individual, all come together in this earth-shattering saga of good versus evil.
Edward takes us to the other side where evil battles with good and where good hopes to reign supreme by using the ‘godness’ of the human race. Souls partner with humans in a race to save Earth as we know it. Characters from around the world are thrown together in a confusing and tumultuous showdown.
The President of the United States is slain and his son is kidnapped. IRA, the President’s guide on the other side, tries to help him understand why he’s there, while the counsel have their own struggle to bring the President to their side, knowing he and his son are key to the ultimate death of or the stay of execution of Earth’s existence. Will evil win out? Will the human race have enough faith and good in them to help the other side?
Edward does a fantastic job of not only bringing the characters together but also of making sense of and bridging each character’s individualized calamities, making known the reason they are brought together in the first place.
This is a good read, but be sure you have a lot of time. It’s definitely not a one-dayer.
Reviewed by Starr Gardinier Reina, author of “One Major Mistake”
Edward takes us to the other side where evil battles with good and where good hopes to reign supreme by using the ‘godness’ of the human race. Souls partner with humans in a race to save Earth as we know it. Characters from around the world are thrown together in a confusing and tumultuous showdown.
The President of the United States is slain and his son is kidnapped. IRA, the President’s guide on the other side, tries to help him understand why he’s there, while the counsel have their own struggle to bring the President to their side, knowing he and his son are key to the ultimate death of or the stay of execution of Earth’s existence. Will evil win out? Will the human race have enough faith and good in them to help the other side?
Edward does a fantastic job of not only bringing the characters together but also of making sense of and bridging each character’s individualized calamities, making known the reason they are brought together in the first place.
This is a good read, but be sure you have a lot of time. It’s definitely not a one-dayer.
Reviewed by Starr Gardinier Reina, author of “One Major Mistake”
August 19, 2013
Oh, I really wanted to like this book. It had a great premise and was meant to wake up anyone reading it to the real and ongoing struggle between good and evil and each person's responsibility to choose sides and consequences thereof. BUT there were too many characters in the book. Also, one entire storyline (the zodiac murders in Belfast) was left completely hanging. We know the murders were committed, save one but we don't know what happened then. Was anyone arrested? How were the bodies recovered and what impact did that have on the small and grand scale. I liked the spirituality aspect with most religions being represented in a respectful and cooperating way but noticed no mention of Aboriginal and/or Pagan Spirituality from any country. They are often even more ancient than the "major" religions of the world and have much wisdom to contribute. It would have been nice to see them included in the conclave. In a perfect world, I would have loved to see Madeleine L'Engle either ghost write or edit this book. She was no stranger to spiritual warfare and personal responsibility in her own works.
My overall rating would be a C+. So much potential but sadly not realized.
My overall rating would be a C+. So much potential but sadly not realized.
December 3, 2012
I respect John Edwards and truly believe he has a gift. That gift does not extend to fiction writing. I could see how some could compare it to The Shack but that was a fairly compact quick read that gave one something to think about. This book drones on for 479 pages. I took it along when visiting my daughter and left behind my Kindle. If I had had my Kindle for a backup I would never have finished reading Fallen Masters. I read the entire Left Behind series finding it interesting but nothing captured my interest here--not the characters or the plot line nor the odd struggle between good and evil. I even found the view of "the afterlife" to be rather frightening. I would not read another "novel" by John Edwards.
September 30, 2016
I couldn't get through this one and gave up.
I bought it because of comparisons to Dan Brown's Angels and Demons but found it a lot like the left behind series. Perhaps it would have gotten better but I ultimately couldn't deal with the black and white good versus evil stereotypes.
If I were a fundamental christian who likes Donald Trump and talkback radio I think I'd have done better with this book.
I bought it because of comparisons to Dan Brown's Angels and Demons but found it a lot like the left behind series. Perhaps it would have gotten better but I ultimately couldn't deal with the black and white good versus evil stereotypes.
If I were a fundamental christian who likes Donald Trump and talkback radio I think I'd have done better with this book.
November 9, 2012
Definitely a different book than I normally read but I actually didn't mind The Council of Light vs. The Dark Forces etc..because I liked the overall message of good overcoming evil. Some of the dialog in the book felt amatuer-ish to me...but it was easy to get past that and it was truly an interesting book to read. It gets you thinking.....
November 13, 2012
It is epic in scale with the battle between good and evil waging both in the heavens and on the earthly plane. Novel is told from the viewpoint of a number of diverse characters, some famous, some not as they gradulaly learn what must be done.
Author is well know psychic John Edwards and I enjoyed his take on what happens to people who pass on.
Author is well know psychic John Edwards and I enjoyed his take on what happens to people who pass on.
December 12, 2016
Epic!
I loved this book. Such a gripping story of good vs evil. Highly recommended novel. I think John Edward is awesome and had read some of his books before, but this was the first of his fictional stories I've read. I'm so glad I did. Themes are very relevant at the moment too xxx
I loved this book. Such a gripping story of good vs evil. Highly recommended novel. I think John Edward is awesome and had read some of his books before, but this was the first of his fictional stories I've read. I'm so glad I did. Themes are very relevant at the moment too xxx
October 4, 2012
This book was very interesting. It took me to the end to decide if I liked it or not, yet I found that each time I picked it up, I couldn't put it down. It is hard to explain the fascination with the story. I loved the message the book sent and I would recommend it.
November 11, 2013
Good vs Evil. This book involved a lot of characters from all over the world and from different walks of life all woven together to tell a story of good vs evil. It reminded me that there is an abundance of good in all of us and collectively we have much influence and power over our existence.
October 2, 2012
I liked the concept, and enjoyed it for the most part, but i kept thinking it was a bit too complicated. I felt it could have had fewer characters and been just as good.
May 24, 2013
I am surprised by some of the low reviews and comments. I found this book very interesting and enjoyed all the different elements to the plot.
September 23, 2013
I didn't really have high expectations in a book written by a medium, but it was actually rather good. I liked the characters.
September 24, 2020
Loved it, and it is so what's happening at the moment regarding good and evil happening all over the world. Amazing!
October 4, 2018
Ultimate battle between good and evil, huh? Funny how I have so much more time for that premise if it's just dressed in scifi-fantasy garb. Having been raised on a diet of evangelical (apocalyptic, rapturous) biblical prophecy, and having decided as an adult that I don't actually believe in evil, well - the best thing about this book, imho, was illustrating how small choices that we all make add up to the reality we create for ourselves on this planet. And everyday we make choices, rooted in fear or love, and our choices have consequences.
June 13, 2017
I could see a correlation between many characters in the book and people in real life. Also could see what's currently occurring in the world today. Though the book bounced around a lot between characters - and there were many - ultimately I enjoyed the plot of good vs. evil. There were many life messages in the book and I'm sure Mr. Edward would like his readers to take them to heart. Sometimes the story tended to over explain things, but all in all a good read.
September 19, 2017
While this is categorized as a religious fiction novel, I didn't feel like I was being lectured to about hellfire and damnation in a direct or indirect way - I'd call this a typical good vs. evil novel that will have you on edge (and get your pulse racing) a little bit as you read the novel: it was good, but not outstanding to me.
March 27, 2018
I chose this book not realizing the strong emphasis on faith. I know I should have, but I didn't. Anyway, I actually found it uplifting and not preachy. It was a pleasant departure from my typical reading selections. It was lengthy, perhaps too lengthy. There is a lot of character development which I appreciate, but I personally think it could have been more concise.
January 10, 2025
The only reason I managed to finish this was because it was an audiobook. While an interesting concept it just was not developed enough by any measure. Instead it was a series of somewhat dull personal stories all leading to an awfully uninspiring conclusion.
February 4, 2017
Very good read. It is keeping me on the edge of my seat because I can't figure out what will happen next. I like the characters and find them approachable and believable.
October 4, 2018
Poor writing and predictable script. Couldn’t even finish it
Want to read
March 21, 2019I thought it was very thought provoking.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews