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Indelible
ONE CHOICE CAN CHANGE EVERYTHING...
AND SOME CHOICES CAN NEVER BE ERASED.
Most people would say that Cameron McConnell has a pretty sweet life - living in sunny California, designing fantasy weapons for big-name clients, and enjoying his bachelorhood with his loyal dog Conan.
But it's not enough. Cameron knows that deep inside him is a barbarian that wants to break free. The only problem is that no one else knows it.
So he makes a drastic choice: a savage tattoo on the left side of his face.
From that moment on, everything changes. His family is horrified. Women are intrigued. Friends are in awe. And the fantasy weapons world goes nuts. Cameron becomes an instantly-recognizable celebrity, and he thinks that this could be what he was missing all along.
But what happens when the mask we show the world becomes a permanent part of us? And what happens when we start to believe the myth we have created?
AND SOME CHOICES CAN NEVER BE ERASED.
Most people would say that Cameron McConnell has a pretty sweet life - living in sunny California, designing fantasy weapons for big-name clients, and enjoying his bachelorhood with his loyal dog Conan.
But it's not enough. Cameron knows that deep inside him is a barbarian that wants to break free. The only problem is that no one else knows it.
So he makes a drastic choice: a savage tattoo on the left side of his face.
From that moment on, everything changes. His family is horrified. Women are intrigued. Friends are in awe. And the fantasy weapons world goes nuts. Cameron becomes an instantly-recognizable celebrity, and he thinks that this could be what he was missing all along.
But what happens when the mask we show the world becomes a permanent part of us? And what happens when we start to believe the myth we have created?
245 pages
First published March 13, 2014
About the author
Mark Carver
26 books74 followersMARK CARVER writes edgy, intense Christian fiction that illuminates the truth of the Gospel while not shying away from dark and challenging topics. He also writers lighter, more inspirational stories under a pen name to avoid confusing his readers. Mark lives with his family in north Georgia, where he enjoys art, literature, nature, and gardening.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 27, 2014
I really loved this book! The story of an artist, struggling with his darker sides, wanting to be noticed, but also looking for love and acceptance and connection.
You can have them both, right?
Well, when trouble falls upon the dog early on in this story, you know things aren't going to go as planned. This was a very cool book, an interesting character study, and I read it with eagerness during each sitting. It is the kind of read that both writers and readers alike would connect to. The prose is inviting, easily digested in large morsels and never gets in the way of the story. It largely is told from the POV of one character, and the author expertly has the reader stuck in the middle of this character's dillemas. On one side is the allure of recognition of his art, status with the fans, facebook likes and retweets and adoration at conventions. On the other side is something that seems deeper: an opportunity at a relationship that can provide a more meaningful happiness but without all the artistic recognition.
You can have both, right?
Well, characters we like acting against their own best interest makes for some great fiction. I found myself wanting the main character to speak up more, to express his feelings, to offer a kiss, to stop taking that pill, to do this and that and otherwise, but that's not what us humans always do. The author seemed to enjoy having the character participate in mini self-sabatoge while the reader thinks... "no, don't do it.. don't do it." I love how the author did the ending, although I am sure some will want something different. Either way, the character here is someone you will invest in, and the book is an excellent achievement.
You can have them both, right?
Well, when trouble falls upon the dog early on in this story, you know things aren't going to go as planned. This was a very cool book, an interesting character study, and I read it with eagerness during each sitting. It is the kind of read that both writers and readers alike would connect to. The prose is inviting, easily digested in large morsels and never gets in the way of the story. It largely is told from the POV of one character, and the author expertly has the reader stuck in the middle of this character's dillemas. On one side is the allure of recognition of his art, status with the fans, facebook likes and retweets and adoration at conventions. On the other side is something that seems deeper: an opportunity at a relationship that can provide a more meaningful happiness but without all the artistic recognition.
You can have both, right?
Well, characters we like acting against their own best interest makes for some great fiction. I found myself wanting the main character to speak up more, to express his feelings, to offer a kiss, to stop taking that pill, to do this and that and otherwise, but that's not what us humans always do. The author seemed to enjoy having the character participate in mini self-sabatoge while the reader thinks... "no, don't do it.. don't do it." I love how the author did the ending, although I am sure some will want something different. Either way, the character here is someone you will invest in, and the book is an excellent achievement.
August 27, 2014
I would recommend this to anyone thinking of getting a tattoo as it is definitely a cautionary tale. I thought it was well written. I would never consider getting a facial tattoo anyway but for anyone that is, this book goes into the pros and cons surrounding such a massive decision and the consequences faced by Cameron after he makes the life-changing addition to his tattoo collection. I found parts poignant and I felt very sad about the ending. I thought Mindy was a lovely girl and I felt the way she was ultimately treated as a result of Cameron’s stupidity was wrong and it left me feeling disappointed. The hangers-on and leeches in this book made me feel so grateful I’m not in the ‘fame game’ at all, as it seems like a very empty existence. It just goes to show that once you make a decision, sometimes there is no going back and some things you just have to life with. A thought provoking read.
May 17, 2017
WHAT WORKED
Uniqueness and simplicity.
I have never read a book about a metalsmith or anything in that world. It’s a fun new character role, and even led to a sword fight between two blacksmiths at a con after watching a death metal video. I wish I could add a guitar riff to that sentence.
But the true joy is simplicity. It’s just a guy getting a tattoo, but that single decision leads him down the road to money, fame, and crazy parties. Even Cameron sits back and wonders how this is happening sometimes, but he’s not sure whether or not he wants to stop it.
I liked Cameron and his neighbor Mindy, who in a way represents goodness in simplicity while Cameron itches for the extreme. They have a good relationship, even as they’re exploring just what that relationship is.
The story doesn’t quite follow the rise-fall-rise pattern of these Hollywood-gone-wrong stories, in fact it could even be called a cautionary tale. It’s more of a musing on how a little change can go a long way, but it also depends on the man behind the change.
Plus, it’s an easy read. Only took me a couple hours to finish the whole book, and I honestly couldn’t stop reading at some points.
WHAT NEEDED WORK:
Mostly technical stuff. Some of the writing was a little weaker than it could have been, but that’s the editor in me speaking. Plus, there was a bit of head-hopping, where you see too many people’s thoughts in a single scene or even paragraph.
Other than that, the epilogue seemed unnecessary. It doesn’t add anything and it’s only about a page long. In fact, the ending itself is a bit of a head-scratcher. Left to itself, it could be seen as a cautionary tale, but the epilogue almost negates that in a bad way.
Still, that’s about it. Nothing really repelled me from this book.
FINAL VERDICT: 8/10–Very Good; worth buying.
The simplicity and the fun premise won me over from page one. Cameron’s journey is a fun one to follow and it’s a great musing on how some changes are far more than skin-deep.
While there are a few technical problems with the writing, there are also some awesome details and clever descriptions.
Uniqueness and simplicity.
I have never read a book about a metalsmith or anything in that world. It’s a fun new character role, and even led to a sword fight between two blacksmiths at a con after watching a death metal video. I wish I could add a guitar riff to that sentence.
But the true joy is simplicity. It’s just a guy getting a tattoo, but that single decision leads him down the road to money, fame, and crazy parties. Even Cameron sits back and wonders how this is happening sometimes, but he’s not sure whether or not he wants to stop it.
I liked Cameron and his neighbor Mindy, who in a way represents goodness in simplicity while Cameron itches for the extreme. They have a good relationship, even as they’re exploring just what that relationship is.
The story doesn’t quite follow the rise-fall-rise pattern of these Hollywood-gone-wrong stories, in fact it could even be called a cautionary tale. It’s more of a musing on how a little change can go a long way, but it also depends on the man behind the change.
Plus, it’s an easy read. Only took me a couple hours to finish the whole book, and I honestly couldn’t stop reading at some points.
WHAT NEEDED WORK:
Mostly technical stuff. Some of the writing was a little weaker than it could have been, but that’s the editor in me speaking. Plus, there was a bit of head-hopping, where you see too many people’s thoughts in a single scene or even paragraph.
Other than that, the epilogue seemed unnecessary. It doesn’t add anything and it’s only about a page long. In fact, the ending itself is a bit of a head-scratcher. Left to itself, it could be seen as a cautionary tale, but the epilogue almost negates that in a bad way.
Still, that’s about it. Nothing really repelled me from this book.
FINAL VERDICT: 8/10–Very Good; worth buying.
The simplicity and the fun premise won me over from page one. Cameron’s journey is a fun one to follow and it’s a great musing on how some changes are far more than skin-deep.
While there are a few technical problems with the writing, there are also some awesome details and clever descriptions.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews