The Beholder

The Beholder #1

by Ivan Amberlake

Around the world, people die under mysterious circumstances. Each has a sign. Each is a piece of a jigsaw puzzle. A NYC interior designer Jason Walker receives a message saying he is the final piece.

Emily Ethan, a startling beauty with supernatural powers, appears and tells Jason that powers dormant within him are about to wake. He is the only person who can prevent darkness from enslaving the world. He is the Beholder whose advent has been awaited for many years.

Setting out on a journey with Emily, Jason discovers the world he could have never imagined, but the greatest surprise arrives the moment he realizes he has fallen in love with Emily.

Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy, Science Fiction, Fiction, Adult Fiction, Romance

320 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 26, 2013

About the author

I write stories because they touch and excite me, and I need to put them down to share with my readers.

Reviews

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read. Our world in The Beholder is described as having Light and Darkness expressed through individuals, and there's 'a chosen one' as titled, nothing unexpected there. What entertained me the most was the writing itself, it was fabulous. The words rolled and I didn't know when I'd reached the end. I liked Jason and Emily and would be interested to see where the author takes it in the next installment.

[Amy Lou · Rating 5 out of 5]

So after a long time I've finally finished this novel and I'm glad I finally read it all. It was so worth the wait.

There are many things I liked about this book: it's originality, the description, the unwavering loyalty of friendship, the mind blowing world and the fight scenes. I even liked the cheesey romance because of the fact that this was written by a male author; if I hadn't known that when reading it and had been told afterwards I'd have been stunned. The romantic element is so gentle, intense and sometimes overwhelming on the point of cheesiness I found it so surprising coming from a male author. It was lovely to see, and refreshing too.

Ivan is definitely reliant on his kick ass description to create a scene and he does it so well. His vocabulary and descriptive skills are so far above anything I could create it makes me feel a bit dense, especially when knowing English is not his first language. I had to check the dictionary several times! There are so many beautiful pieces of writing it was such a pleasure to read. I wish I could mention them all but there was just too many! I found myself so engrossed at times I forgot the world around me. It was like I was really there in New York on top of a skyscraper gazing at the destroyed sky and carnage that had been left in the wake of the Dark Ones' attacks. So breathtakingly vivid.

The downside to this for me was the need to concentrate all the time, which can be a little difficult with a toddler around! Maybe if I read it a second time I would understand it better but because of the huge amount of knowledge about this fascinating world that is fed to you page after page, it was sometimes difficult for me to work out. I tend to be good at understanding literary concepts and imaginary worlds pretty well. I think the great amount of information on top of my spacing out my reading and my constant distractions whilst reading made it harder to absorb.

I'm still trying to work out what happened to Emily and whether she did betray Jason and the others or not. There is obviously much more that needs to be explained and i think Ivan will make room for that in book 2, which I will be anxiously waiting to read.

Another few points I'd like to mention is that along with the uncertainty about Emily's outcome and her role in the novel, there are many things left unanswered. About Tyler for one (will he become a little or a lot evil? Did the death of Emily -that is IF she really died- and the guilt of William's death bring out a bit of the bad boy in him and we just don't know it yet?), about Pariah and his history and what he actually is (my bet's on Ivan's interpretation of the devil, or at least the devil's right-hand man/demon) and about some of the other characters and their back story. Some of my questions I would say are important, most of them not but that's just me being curious. I want to know what the initials are. Who else might be EE, at least that's what I thought Jason was leading towards. There was so much to know and so many questions to ask I forgot to mention them earlier in my review.

Apart from all the questions it unleashes in our overwhelmed, awestruck brains, this novel really pulls at the heart strings. You feel what Jason feels so easily and at times, unwillingly. The description with out a shadow of a doubt is what really grips you and it doesn't let go. Whether creating a canvas for a scenery, for expressing an emotion or describing an action, feelings of pain, infliction, torture, Ivan's description captures it all.

I don't know whether to feel saddened by the outcome or hopeful. I'm on the fence at the moment. The ending was poignant but with the image of Emily it made me hopeful that things were looking up. It was nice to feel like I cared enough for the characters to wish them happiness and health.


So to sum up, because of the muddling of my brain trying to work out what was going on, and the swiftness of Jason's affections for Emily which I didn't connect with (the romantic emotions not the people) except for perhaps until the last third of the book where I found their relationship flowed much more nicely, I couldn't give it the full five stars.

My overall rating is four and a half, but I've rounded up as I usually do unless I feel it really doesn't deserve it. Because I like the author and admire his skill, I don't think his work should be rounded down because of my incompetence!

4.5 out of 5 stars. Thank you very much!

[Ken Mooney · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a while to read The Beholder: real life got in the way about three chapters in and I read nothing for a few weeks. I was grateful for a lengthy train journey then, which gave me the opportunity to give The Beholder the attention that it rightly deserves.

Amberlake crafts a classic tale of good versus evil, of light and dark, that takes parts of magical fantasy, parts of scientific fiction and parts of good old-fashioned action/adventure. The story follow Jason Walker as he is inducted into a new world that he can barely comprehend. There are dark forces out to claim him and his friends, and if he can resist them, he can maybe prove the saviour of us all.

Stories like this are all somewhat similar, though I don't mean that in a negative way: we know our hero will face insurmountable odds with death and betrayal along the way. But Amberlake crafts this mix of magic and science that feels truly revolutionary. The tale put me in mind of a cross between The Matrix, Harry Potter and the Night Watch series, mostly because of the highly visual nature of Amberlake's descriptions, creating high concept action scenes and mind-blowing visuals that I would love to see on the screen, either big or small.

The Beholder is the first book in a series, and thankfully Amberlake is already working on a fabulously titled sequel that I look forward to reading. There are some small elements that I desperately wanted to see more of, from the relationship between the core the characters to the villainous Pariah, and I hope we'll get to see a lot more of these in the sequel.

[Lynxie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Beholder is a tightly packed and well written fantasy story. It's quite youthful in its tone, but its content is too adult for the Young Adult genre.

I liked the male protagonist, Jason. Especially his mental battle and emotional and personal growth. Though the Insta-love bothered me a bit.

Emily is an interesting character, but I am not sure what to think of her. She seemed a little too good to be true to start, the at the end... Well I just don't know what to think.

The puzzles that still plague Jason at the end of the book were, rather annoyingly, what I wanted to know about, so I felt a little miffed about that too.

I can overlook it though, because the second Beholder book is available already.

I liked Ivan's writing, I found that with his other book too, but I don't know if I'd call this a thriller.

I noticed a couple of things:

5% - consistency issue: Jason arrived at the office in the morning for the meeting as he walked in, then worries about recounting the afternoon's events with his boss.

60% - ...saw himself as (a) character with a...

**Note: I was provided an electronic copy of this book in return for an honest review**

[Eli Constant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amberlake’s The Beholder

Many times, I find meticulous buildup of imagery and plot forced and unnatural. I feel it takes a special author, a word-weaver if you will, to carry fifty cent words through a twenty dollar plot. Amberlake is such a special person. Although The Beholder did not instantly grab me, eventually it did and once it had me in its hold – it had me. I beheld it as vividly as it beheld me. I became.

The prologue would likely grab other readers right off the bat. The only reason I can give for being a slow starter with The Beholder is that the writing and story felt like Burtenshaw’s Shadowcry. Not an identical plot, but it was the same feeling off the bat. Unfortunately, I found myself skim reading Shadowcry and I worried that The Beholder would repeat history. Ultimately, I rank Burtenshaw's work a 3.5/5 purely based on originality; The Beholder ranks a 5-star. Amberlake takes Burtenshaw’s Shadowcry-type world and inserts it into the realm of modern reality, allowing readers to relate and fuse with main characters Jason and Emily. Even secondary characters – Jason’s close work friends, Matt & Debbie – are written realistically and add to the plot rather than detract. It’s a pitfall I find in some written works – where secondary characters are underdeveloped and ultimately make a keen reader feel like the author isn’t detail-oriented. I think it’s brilliant that Matt and Debbie join Jason as part of a chosen trio; although, Jason is the most ‘touched.’ He is the beholder. *see The Beholder excerpt below*

I want to point out a smart choice Amberlake made in reference to teaching the reader concepts and terminology that are otherworldly. Another reviewer mentioned, but I don’t feel like the skill was highlighted as it should have been. We, the readers, learn WITH Jason. As things are explained to Amberlake’s MC, we are afforded the details of the supernatural world and struggle between the light and dark. I find it especially tedious when the readers are overloaded with information from an obscure narrator or singular source with a streamline consciousness – it leaves readers feeling weighted-down with little retention for the avalanche of info. Amberlake makes the onslaught palatable.
Epic struggles are often balanced with epic love. Amberlake does not disappoint in this respect – upping the stakes with the relationship between Jason and Emily, giving us one more reason to root for the sighted and the light.

I enjoyed the story immensely. Had life not interfered, I’m sure I would have flown through a full-read.

*“Through visions of torture and horror he will walk, Drenched in the pain of those unknowingly defending him. Pillars of Light first released then destroyed by the raging Energy of the Dark, Until but one remains. The one with the Energy of Light, the last of the twelve, the Beholder.”
Amberlake, Ivan (2013-01-29). The Beholder (p. 87). Breakwater Harbor Books. Kindle Edition.*

[Dyane Forde · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jumping into the world of The Beholder began with a refreshing jolt. No easing the reader into the back story, no time taken to explain the current context. Right from the opening scene, we are thrust into the midst of action. And what action! I was also happy to note that the writing itself was smooth and easy to follow, and the pacing of events unfolded at a good rate.

What I enjoyed the most about the novel were the following: 1) Amberlake describes some very difficult, abstract events quite well. Things like, experiencing the stopping of time, what energy bursts look like at night, how to ‘cut through’ space and time, as well as his general use of metaphors and similes, are all very well done. For most of the book, the imagery is quite strong; 2) as mentioned above, the pacing was good. There was rarely a dull moment, as the reader is taken to various local and international locations, meets new characters on both sides of the Good vs. Evil coin, and is plunged deeper into the mythology and the back story connecting the characters. There is no room for boredom in this book; 3) I also enjoyed Amberlake’s spin on magic/special powers being rooted in Energy, which the way it is described in The Beholder, is a refreshing change from a lot of books out there.

I did struggle with some things in the book. 1) In contrast to point number one above, sometimes I felt certain details could have been elaborated on. Lack of information left me feeling disoriented in time and place, and which ultimately impacted general comprehension. For example, at times it wasn’t clear where a character was, or when or how they got there, requiring me to scroll back to situate myself. Another example is, towards the end of the story, when I had difficulty differentiating dream from reality. 2) The basic rules of Energy were not always clear, so it was difficult to measure one Sighted against another. When Emily does something amazing, how does that measure up with what Pariah can do? With what Jason can do? What are the limits to Energy? Are there any weaknesses or an Achilles heel to using this power? Some of the explanations were not detailed enough for me to get a good basic grasp, which left me feeling as though some of its uses were random or convenient. 3) I would have liked to have seen more character development, as we don’t know that much about more about Jason or his friends by the end of the novel than we did when we first met them.

My over all feeling is that The Beholder is an exciting, swiftly-moving novel that brings something new to urban fantasy. The characters are young, fun, and dynamic, and Amberlake’s usage of language, imagery, and pure unbridled imagination all connect to create a good, solid, enjoyable read. This book is recommended, and I expect the sequels will be equally entertaining.

[Chloe (Girl In The Woods Reviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

<< Ebook copy provided by the author himself >>

I found The Beholder to be a very interesting and Ivan Amberlake's narrative writing is quite fascinating including his character descriptions as he creates them into an actual being. The story itself was a wonderful read and unpredictable (in a good way!) as Light and Dark clash against each other. And, here we have the middle man, Jason Walker who meets Emily for the first time.

I really liked the characters and how Amberlake wrote in the way he did. It left me wanting for more and I thought it was original in it's own way. Authentic though with the concept of Dark and Light fighting against either - the plot is really enjoyable and I find it in Jason's perspective of the book as he goes through this 'dilemma' of being The Beholder. The plot left an impressive impression on me where the author's writing skills came in.

Amberlake's writing has such a qualified and competent style of writing though it left me hanging at some parts, but aside from that; this book is definitely recommended for people who are interested in the genre Urban Fantasy.

The story grabbed me and tossed me left and right as I read through the book. Ivan Amberlake's descriptive writing has got me interested for his second book! Hopefully with new characters and new enemies and a fresh plot, I really liked this story.

[Boundless Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I first started reading, I was a little confused as to what was going on. I guess I felt just like Jason Walker, learning everything about this world and who he was going to be. As I got further into it, it left me intrigued and wanted to know more.

The cast of Characters were very well done. I had a lot of questions throughout but they were answered in the end and it totally made sense.

I did love the relationship of Emily and Jason. I was saddened by what happened but I'm hoping the sequel will change that.

If you are looking for a lot of action, there is plenty. There is love, there is evil and you'll want to finish. This is a good paranormal read....Lissa

http://www.boundlessbookreviews.com

https://www.facebook.com/BBReviews

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

What is good and what is evil? What is right and what is wrong? What is the fine line that separates light from dark? Are their paths never meant to cross?

In Ivan Amberlake’s The Beholder you find so many answers to questions you were not aware you even had. And it leaves you wondering about the world we live in. This book grabs your attention from the moment you read the very first word in the very first line on the very first page.

AN ENTIRELY NEW WORLD!!
I was so sure that all the supernatural worlds were already exhausted. Vampires, werewolves, aliens, ghosts… Then Mr. Amberlake’s novel arrived, took me by surprise and left me totally speechless. A world that no one has ever thought existed suddenly appeared. A world so perfectly built you wonder where it has been hiding before.

LANGUAGE
The language is strong. No, more than strong, it’s sophisticated. Now not all sophisticated means the same. There is a kind that sounds robotic, and a second one that sounds downright lame. Then there is sophisticated with every word in its right place. In The Beholder you find the third kind. Anyone can sift through a dictionary and grab a handful of sophisticated words to sprinkle on his prose. But not everyone can find just the right time and place in the book to put them. Mr. Amberlake is one of the few. His strong command of words pushes his book so high up the list I wonder why it isn’t battling its place on the top tens in the book world.



DESCRIPTIONS + FEELINGS
The descriptions are so vivid and beautiful you wouldn’t believe it. It’s as if you can reach with your hand inside the pages and touch the images. And I really liked how the author leads you inside the characters’ minds so you start to think the way they think, and feel the way they feel –without even being aware of it. Check this quote:

“When he turned the key and shut down the engine, the silence around him was terrifying. A pressure all on its own. Jason climbed out of the car and looked around, confused. The slam of his car door was sharp as a gunshot.”

I felt as if it were me getting out of that car, standing in the deserted place, my eyes seeing not a single soul no matter how far I looked, facing the horror I knew deep within my soul was coming but not knowing what it was… And this is just one example of plenty.

MISTAKES, NEGATIVE SIDES…
None that I could find.. Except maybe a few (very few) expressions –not grammatical, only colloquial. And that, in my opinion, is perfectly fine for the author is not a native English speaker. So that in itself speaks volumes!! So great an achievement. It is worth mentioning that I was reading a book by an American author besides Mr. Amberlake's book. I would snap the American one shut every few minutes, frustrated, and go back to The Beholder to keep my sanity. For the other book was so full of obvious grammatical, semantic and stylistic errors you wouldn’t believe it!

THE END
The end of the book was something different. In the last quarter of the book I was able to anticipate the events to follow. But not the ending. At the end he did it. Mr Amberlake blew all my expectations out of the water. And now I have to know what will happen next.

**Rating: Big twinkling much-deserved five-star review.

[Sandy S · Rating 4 out of 5]

REVIEW: THE BEHOLDER is the first storyline in Ivan Amberlake’s Urban Fantasy series The Beholder. If you are a fan of storylines similar to The Matrix, a film based on the Sci-Fi novel Neuromancer by William Gibson, then The Beholder could be its literary counterpart in the UF genre.

The storyline focuses on Jason, a man who suffers from inexplicable painfully tactile dreams and nightmares that speak to him of danger, death and the battle between good and evil but his dreams are based in reality and most of what he ‘sees’ has or will come true. What Jason will soon discover is he is ‘The Beholder’-the savior of the Lightsighted-those with the power to use and see energy. The prophecies have foretold of The Beholder and the Lightsighted have been searching for The One who will save them all. But like every UF storyline there is the evil, the Darksighted who have been ordered by the Pariah to find and destroy The Beholder before he comes into his powers.

The storyline follows Jason and his friends Matt and Debbie ( A Trinity ), as they endeavor to learn about the world of the Light and Dark. The trio is a power unto themselves but there is never a thorough explanation as to the power of the three. There is an enormous amount of background information by way of interpretation regarding the use of energy, power and sight. The Beholder (Jason) is the key, the one with the power to save the world-but it is a world in an alternate reality. Time and space are different for the sighted and the battle is looming.

Like all UF storylines there is a battle between good and evil; light and dark; sighted and unsighted; love and loss. This is a storyline of romance, love, betrayal and hatred all mired in a contemporary fantasy world where good triumphs over evil-if only for a short time.

Ivan’s world building is fluid and tangible and, his characters are real. There is never any doubt about the direction of the story. But I want to add, that the premise appeared to be shrouded in theologian beliefs-whereby the people are waiting for their savior-the one to free them from an eternity of evil at the hands of the Pariah-and Jason-The Beholder-is literally the savior of the world. Will we eventually see Jason sacrifice himself to save the world from the Dark? There was nothing ‘preachy’ about the novel, only an overwhelming sense of faith and Christian belief.

The Beholder is a well-written novel that will pull you into the storyline as though you were experiencing the reality yourself. Congratulations to Ivan on an amazing piece of literary fiction. I am looking forward to the next instalment.

Copy supplied by the author.

see all of my reviews at : thereadingcafe.com

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Complex, with intensely vivid scenes, The Beholder by Ivan Amberlake takes the reader down a dark and twisted journey into a world beyond our reality. We are invited to follow Jason on a path he reluctantly must follow as the world as he knew it will never be the same. Jason has fallen victim to inexplicable nightmares that end in death for those he dreams about. As he begins to question why he can’t rid himself of these horrific dreams, he discovers that somewhere in the world, real people are dying just as he dreamed it and they are all connected to Jason on an otherworldly level. Is he to be the next victim of Pariah, an evil supernatural being with an agenda of darkness and death?

When one of the characters in his dreams comes into his life in person, he has no choice but to believe and trust in this beautiful, supernatural woman, Emily, who tells him he plays a pivotal role in the future of “both” worlds, along with his two closest friends. He has powers that are awakening and his destiny is about to change. How does a New York designer go from the normal day to day grind to being supernaturally gifted and remain sane? Jason is not a superhero, how can he be the one called The Beholder, the only one powerful enough to stop Pariah and his minions of death? Not only has Emily rocked Jason’s world with her revelations, but Jason finds his heart has awoken, too, but is Emily really who she claims to be or is she hiding an important secret?

Suspend your hold on reality and let Ivan Amberlake take over the controls as he leads the way through this truly complex and uniquely different fantasy tale. Pay close attention as Mr. Amberlake stitches together this fast-paced adventure with unlikely heroes, otherworldly battles and a fight for survival against evil. Like nothing I have ever read before, I find myself wanting to know more about these characters, the chaotic world they have entered into and where Ivan Amberlake will take them next!

I received a copy from the author in exchange for my honest review.

Publication Date: December 4, 2013
Publisher: Breakwater Harbor Books
ISBN: 1481931024
Genre: Paranormal Fantasy
Number of Pages: 264
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

[OpenBookSociety.com · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://openbooksociety.com/article/th...

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Scott

The Beholder is a distinctive “urban paranormal pulp;” bringing me back to my old Doc Savage adventure novels iced with movies like The Matrix and comics like Starman, of which it bears a striking similarity, both in pace and action. The writing was frenetic, a real page turner. If Robert Ludlum wrote urban fantasy this would surely be in his repertoire.

The book follows one Jason Walker’s journey into becoming a paranormal super-powered being called the Beholder, who shall tip the scales from darkness back into the light.

The writing is terse, minimally descriptive and keeps the momentum going through action alone – there is no messing around in this heroic tale, a book definitively set up for a sequel. This is something I would probably pick up, if for nothing but to see the different characters expanded upon.

Backing characters could have been fleshed out more in this novel, though. I never really got a full look at Debbie, Matt, Taylor, etc., nor any hard description of the environs; but I believe this two-dimensional dramatization was necessary to tell Jason Walker’s story. .Also, the locations in which events occur could have taken place anywhere – even in your own city or town – which was a very nice touch.

The background is just as much a blank tableau slowly unfolding around Jason and as I was reading the novel, I found it as ephemeral as I delved into Jason’s perceptions of the paranormal world around him. As he loses hold of “reality” on his journey to become the Beholder with “the Sight” (an altered “reality” co-existing with the real world where the laws of physics are violate), the reader is pulled into his world as if watching an action movie

There was only one mild author intrusion in which Jason sees himself as the lead character in the book not knowing the ending – the same state the reader is in at that point, and reader response is : “Hey! That’s what is happening to me!” It’s the only jolt in the book that pulls the reader’s suspension of belief away. (well, that is, if you’ve bought into paranormal shadow beings attacking NYC).

For those fans of tight-paced, mind numbing action like The Matrix, I am Number Four, fast paced urban fantasy fans, or those interested in a quick moving supernatural read, this book is for you. Overall, The Beholder left me feeling satisfied that I had finished a good book, or action movie. It’s a light read but a good one nevertheless.

*OBS would like to thank the author for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*

[Melissa Simonson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't read a lot of fantasy (a long way from it, normally) so I don't know whether I'm qualified to judge a book that falls within that genre, but I do know good writing when I see it. The author wove fantasy elements into a real-world setting in the beginning, and it helped a non-fantasy reader like me slip into the story quite easily, which is good--slowly sliding into a hot bath instead of submerging yourself immediately.

Some might say the book takes awhile to get going, but I didn't see it as a problem, because the author takes the time to paint the scene. It might put some the more flighty readers off, but it's worth the wait -- when the action ramps up, it's always crisp, clear, and convincing. Never bogged down with irrelevancies, and I didn't feel as though I was in the hands of an amateur writer.

The Beholder is full of descriptive passages that make the scenes explode behind your eyeballs--not always an easy thing for an author to accomplish. I never had to wonder what a certain scene looked like, because the description was so well-done.

Jason was a great character, possibly my favorite of the bunch. His internal dialogue was often amusing--a line from the beginning that made me instantly warm to him was:

Jason called it an anthill of psychos and maniacs. And though it could be fast-paced, after working there for three years, Jason happily admitted that being a maniac wasn't so bad.

He's a sympathetic character from the start, what with the nightmares and horrific images he keeps seeing, and his friends have strong character showings as well. When Pariah and Emily are introduced more in depth (outside the prologue) I could feel the stark contrast of his evilness to her utter goodness.

There's some romance in the book, but not of the nauseating variety, and the love that blossoms is sweet and endearing as opposed to sappy and annoying.

I would recommend this book to adults, because the writing seems too mature for a middle-grade young adult to really grasp.

[Tanja (Tanychy) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review also posted at Ja čitam, a ti?

I have some sort of rule - like whenever some of my girls from Goodreads recommends a book to me I'll read it. No questions asked. Same is with this book. So thanks Becca for recommending it to me.

The Beholder might me a strange and interesting read to most of you. It deals with sort of different type of power. I got used to most of paranormal things so when I see something new I'm always happy to read it. The story here is that there are two worlds - Light and Darkness and we're in the middle of events here. Sooner or later the two worlds will clash and that can cause a lot of damage. Everything started with a dreams - weird dreams and then Jason found out some things he couldn't dream of. People went missing more than usual and Emily is there to try to stop or end things. They need to go through some serious battles.

Like I said I really liked to see something original in this book. Maybe the idea of darkness and light is not so unique but the author created a good story out of it. Another thing I like is many things here are unpredictable. The story changes course suddenly and I liked the dynamics. For the things I didn't like - there should be some sort of background. I still miss a big part of Jason's and everybody else's life. It's hard to connect with the character when you don't really know who he/she is. Also the whole idea of this story should have some background. I know that some things will be explained in the sequel but I miss them here.

All in all I enjoyed reading this.
Rating: 3.5 stars.

[Ted Cross · Rating 3 out of 5]

I normally don't explain my star rankings, since they are for myself and no one else, but since I know the author of this book I feel it necessary to explain. I've seen how most people on Goodreads and Amazon overrate almost everything--five stars for this and five stars for that, and that's just not the way I do things. I give three stars for books that I like, so that means even classics like War and Peace or Moby Dick will get three stars. Three stars is not meant be an insult--it means I LIKED it!

To get four stars a book has to really grab me in some way that makes me think I will want to reread it again sometime in the future, and for five stars I have to love it much the way I love Tolkien or Martin or Rothfuss, knowing that I will reread those books again and again throughout my life. So again, three stars is good by my way of judging.

Ivan has written a fine thriller here. He amazes me, actually, since Russian is his native language and he writes in English fluidly and fluently, and I can't ever imagine me being able to do that in a language that wasn't my mother tongue. I do think that his fine story could have been even better if it had had the benefit of a publisher's pro editor, but I would think that about any book--even my own--that was self-published. I think that the average thriller reader will enjoy this book and look forward to the sequels. I know I've already seen some scenes from other books Ivan has in the works, and I am looking forward to seeing how they turn out.

[Jonel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is intensely vivid. Amberlake plays with colour and tones in his descriptions to evoke and create emotion in the reader. The trippy storyline captured all of my attention. The story was intensely probing while also being completely entertaining. You learn about the world that Amberlake has created around our own along the way, right alongside one of the characters. The historical and mythologically significant aspects of this tale are provided to the reader without ever breaking the flow of the story. As an author he really makes you feel like a participant in the story rather than simply someone reading words on a page. And what an unexpected twist on this brilliant ending! It definitely leaves you wanting more.

The characters in this novel are quite uniquely developed. Although most of them are your stereotypical fantasy characters, they are also normal everyday New Yorkers. It’s a brilliant twist on the everyday. The whole cast is also remarkably well developed. You may not get to know the supporting cast as well as the main character, but I feel like I’ve met each and every one of them personally.

Overall, this is an extremely imaginative tale that kept me captivated throughout. Amberlake has taken the battle of dark vs. light and ramps it up a few notches to create something beyond my wildest imagination. I’d definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys some fantasy based in modern-day reality.

Please note that I received this novel free of charge from the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Tammie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for a review.

The beholder was an interesting mix of sci-fi and urban fantasy that reminded me of The Matrix, which I found exciting because I haven't read any other books like that. The slowing down of time, the manipulation of objects, and the whole seeing past the illusion of what was reality on the surface was really cool. I would have loved to have read even more scenes like those in the book. However, while I liked the idea behind the book, I felt the characters needed to be more fleshed out. I had a hard time connecting to them and couldn't really feel the connection they had with each other. We are told of it but not really shown. One character dies, but I didn't really mourn the loss because I never really got to know him. Another character chooses one person to love over another, but it didn't really faze me because I never got to know them that well in the first place. This resulted in me having a hard time staying in the book at times. There was also some insta-love thrown in and it would have been nicer to see the relationships develop more slowly. They would have made more sense that way. In the end we are left with quite a few unanswered questions, this didn't bother me too much because there will be a sequel. I really hope we we learn more about the characters there.

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Beholder by Ivan Amberlake

Jason is an average New Yorker, but soon his world is about to turn upside down. People are going missing, all of them with a strange brand on their body. He meets a beautiful woman named Emily, she tells him an unbelievable story. Jason has powers deep inside of him that will be surfacing. He is special, not ordinary.

He soon finds out the world is filled with Light and Darksighted people. He must learn to use his powers, with Emily's help to prevent the Darkness from taking over. He is told he is the Beholder, and it is his job to do this, after all they have been waiting for him for many years.

Well written with likable characters (and those who are not). Jason is just awesome, someone who I would want as a friend, and on my side in tough times. Emily is a strong female, lead. I love that in a story.

A great blend of fantasy, action and a splash of romance. Each pages pulls you into the story, gripping tight and not letting go until the last page. I highly recommend The Beholder by Ivan Amberlake to book lovers of all genres. Yes it was that good, fantastic!

[Kyra Halland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Urban fantasy about a regular guy, Jason, who discovers that the terrible nightmares he's been having are real. He discovers that he's linked to a group, existing undetected in our society, of people with supernatural powers, and that he is a key weapon in the fight against evil.

The magic is complex, and the story is suspenseful. At times it reads a little like a video game, with explanations from one knowledgable source or another of things Jason needs to know alternated with challenges that he has to get through. But the action is thrilling and the battles kept me glued to the book.

I especially appreciated the romantic subplot written from the guy's point of view, seeing Jason's feelings for Emily, his guide through the magical world he's been pulled into, as they develop. I found it geniunely moving and well-done.

Highly recommended for fans of urban fantasy, or readers of epic/high fantasy who are open to trying something set in the real, modern world.

[Sharon Van Orman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a good paranormal thriller. In a world where most paranormal falls into the romance category finding something new and interesting is difficult. Ivan has done a fantastic job of creating something entirely original and spellbinding. I enjoyed every minute of it and cannot wait to see what happens in the next book.

[Bit'N Book Tours · Rating 4 out of 5]

So after a long time I've finally finished this novel and I'm glad I finally read it all. It was so worth the wait.

There are many things I liked about this book: it's originality, the description, the unwavering loyalty of friendship, the mind blowing world and the fight scenes. I even liked the cheesy romance because of the fact that this was written by a male author; if I hadn't known that when reading it and had been told afterwards I'd have been stunned. The romantic element is so gentle, intense and sometimes overwhelming on the point of cheesiness I found it so surprising coming from a male author. It was lovely to see, and refreshing too.

Ivan is definitely reliant on his kick ass description to create a scene and he does it so well. His vocabulary and descriptive skills are so far above anything I could create it makes me feel a bit dense, especially when knowing English is not his first language. I had to check the dictionary several times! There are so many beautiful pieces of writing it was such a pleasure to read. I wish I could mention them all but there was just too many! I found myself so engrossed at times I forgot the world around me. It was like I was really there in New York on top of a skyscraper gazing at the destroyed sky and carnage that had been left in the wake of the Dark Ones' attacks. So breathtakingly vivid.

The downside to this for me was the need to concentrate all the time, which can be a little difficult with a toddler around! Maybe if I read it a second time I would understand it better but because of the huge amount of knowledge about this fascinating world that is fed to you page after page, it was sometimes difficult for me to work out. I tend to be good at understanding literary concepts and imaginary worlds pretty well. I think the great amount of information on top of my spacing out my reading and my constant distractions whilst reading made it harder to absorb.

I'm still trying to work out what happened to Emily and whether she did betray Jason and the others or not. There is obviously much more that needs to be explained and i think Ivan will make room for that in book 2, which I will be anxiously waiting to read.

Another few points I'd like to mention is that along with the uncertainty about Emily's outcome and her role in the novel, there are many things left unanswered. About Tyler for one (will he become a little or a lot evil? Did the death of Emily -that is IF she really died- and the guilt of William's death bring out a bit of the bad boy in him and we just don't know it yet?), about Pariah and his history and what he actually is (my bet's on Ivan's interpretation of the devil, or at least the devil's right-hand man/demon) and about some of the other characters and their back story. Some of my questions I would say are important, most of them not but that's just me being curious. I want to know what the initials are. Who else might be EE, at least that's what I thought Jason was leading towards. There was so much to know and so many questions to ask I forgot to mention them earlier in my review.

Apart from all the questions it unleashes in our overwhelmed, awestruck brains, this novel really pulls at the heart strings. You feel what Jason feels so easily and at times, unwillingly. The description with out a shadow of a doubt is what really grips you and it doesn't let go. Whether creating a canvas for a scenery, for expressing an emotion or describing an action, feelings of pain, infliction, torture, Ivan's description captures it all.

I don't know whether to feel saddened by the outcome or hopeful. I'm on the fence at the moment. The ending was poignant but with the image of Emily it made me hopeful that things were looking up. It was nice to feel like I cared enough for the characters to wish them happiness and health.


So to sum up, because of the muddling of my brain trying to work out what was going on, and the swiftness of Jason's affections for Emily which I didn't connect with (the romantic emotions not the people) except for perhaps until the last third of the book where I found their relationship flowed much more nicely, I couldn't give it the full five stars.

My overall rating is four and a half, but I've rounded up as I usually do unless I feel it really doesn't deserve it. Because I like the author and admire his skill, I don't think his work should be rounded down because of my incompetence!

4.5 out of 5. Thank you very much!

Reviewed for Bit'N Book Promoters
web | facebook | twitter | book tours

[chucklesthescot · Rating 3 out of 5]

*I was given a free copy of this book by the author via Goodreads in exchange for an honest review*

This book was unlike anything I have read before. It has subtle elements of urban fantasy, fantasy, paranormal, science fiction and thriller. It is impossible to decide where it fits and for that reason I think it should have a wide appeal. You don't have to be a big fan of any of these genres to enjoy the ride and that is pretty unique..I think I'd go 3.5 stars on this one if I could.

Jason's violent nightmares are causing him physical and mental pain and his world is turned upside when he discovers that they are visions of people being murdered for real, people who are dying to protect him. He is gifted with paranormal powers that lie dormant and uncontrolled, and holds the key to winning a coming war. Being the key to survival against the dark shadows that seek to destroy him and humanity is scary when he doesn't even know his own powers. Trying to protect his best friends and learn from the girl he is falling for complicates his life even further as he tries to help his allies fight their deadly enemy.

So what was good about it? Firstly, the language use is excellent-I cannot believe that the author does not have English as his first language! That is quite a gift to have and I was seriously impressed by it. The use of words is perfect for the plot and each situation. There are flowing descriptions that aren't too complicated, world building without huge info dumps, simple storytelling that carries you along and a plot that is always moving forward. The story is totally different featuring battles between gifted individuals using light and dark energy as weapons, which was a clever concept and worked well. The characters are all interesting but there is no attempt to tell you everything about them. I'm guessing that will happen over the course of the series. The love story part never detracts from the main plot and there are no sex scenes. Nice to see a lack of swearing as well which is pretty refreshing and shows that authors who are clever with language and conversation do not need twenty f bombs per page!

I found it a little difficult to follow a couple of bits where energy was being described but I don't think that was down to the author, more down to my brain going blank when I'm presented with the science stuff! I never was a science nerd and it's a reason I struggle with science fiction. I think most readers will follow it much better than I did, to be honest. For me, there could perhaps have been a bit less about his feelings for Emily (and her frequently mentioned amber eyes), though to be fair, their relationship is mentioned in the book description and it is a minor niggle. I don't mind romance when it is well written and in this case it was.

The action scenes are like something from an X-Men film. I can imagine all the light flashing and people flying around, fighting and putting on a scary show. Very cool! Yet it is more than just sci-fi. There is a real human emotion running through the story as well which is as impoertant as the action. Jason's love for Emily has an almost innocent quality about it. It is about love and affection, and not wanting to be away from her. I liked that because it was different from most books that have romance in it, where the characters are bedhopping ten seconds after they meet. This feels like a real relationship developing slowly, with emotions dominating anything sexual.

It also explores the bonds of human friendship and how strong those bonds can make us, helping us to face our fears and challenges. OK most of us aren't going to be worried about mad shadow men trying to blow them up but a lot of us can relate to having those fierce kinds of friendships that are so important. And of course there is the eternal struggle of good v evil and all the shades of grey that are in between. There is also the struggle within Jason to embrace his destiny when he isn't sure that he is up to the job.

Overall I did enjoy the book and I recommend it to fans of pretty much every genre! I first read this book in June 2013, and getting the chance to re-read it and add some more thoughts to my review before reading book two was a helpful thing for me.

[Bethanie Armstrong · Rating 5 out of 5]

GENRE: Urban Fantasy

AUTHOR: Ivan Amberlake

TITLE: The Beholder (can be found on Amazon in Kindle and paperback)

Wow, I don’t know where to start. Mr. Amberlake, in my opinion, has created a literary masterpiece. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fantasy novels. This book is deemed Urban Fantasy, which is perfect, because it takes place in New York and the many characters he has weaved through its pages are fascinating, but not any type of wizard or witch, demon or angel. They are unique in presence.

Jason, Matt, and Debbie are the main characters in the book. They seem like normal everyday people if you were to walk up to them in a crowd. However, as we soon find out, The Trinity, as they are known, have more than a good team spirit, much more in fact. I don’t want to give it completely away, but let’s just say that they really stand out in the dark.

Most books based in Fantasy are your typical Good vs. Evil. This is not your typical Good vs. Evil fantasy book. It goes so much deeper than that. Many elements are woven into its rich text, fantasy, paranormal, romance, but not anything like what one might find in those genres. It was a breath of fresh air. It is the difference between light and dark.

STORYLINE:

This book takes us into the mind of The Beholder, an individual whose very existence just screams power, although at first he doesn’t realize it. It begins with horrible dreams that he lives each night and all of those dreams become reality. In the world of The Beholder, there is sighted and unsighted, Light Energy and Dark Energy, love and loss, and a battle looming. The Beholder holds the key to it all. There is a battle between energies, those that live in the Light and those that live in the Dark. Light chooses to restore human life, and Dark chooses to take it away. Light lives off triumph and the positive and Dark lives off tragedy and negativity. The world tries to tear down the essence of humanity and the Beholder tries to pull it back together, even though he is coping with tragedy too. It shows just how deep his power goes. However, The Trinity, remains together and the end of the book was a beautiful sight. It proves that true friends never leave and true loves never perish. It left me with enough mystery to want to dive into the next book in the series and make me wonder if true love actually survived the battle and will it one day return to the ones who possessed it.

PRAISES:

I have no warnings for this book, only praises. The writer took great pride in his work and it showed throughout the book. His descriptions made me feel as if I was there in the middle of everything, watching it take place. It created one of the best movies my mind ever saw. The battle scene was immaculate. The characters were superbly written. The pain of losing someone so dear was evident. The relief of finding some of those dearest to him, still alive, could be felt. The emotions of the characters touched me. The story was outstanding. Needless to say–I loved the book.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

I would recommend this book to anyone with a taste for amazingly written literature. There is more than just a story here. I would not consider this an any age novel, my recommendation for that would be from college age and up, but recommend I will and anyone who asks, “Read any good books lately?” I will answer, “Yes, The Beholder, by Ivan Amberlake. Pick it up. You will not be able to put it down.”

NOTE: I bought this book with my own funds.

[Patricia Reding · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book as a free download from Amazon during the author’s promotion of the work. I thank the author for this opportunity.

At the outset, I note that there were few editing/grammar errors and thus, they are not accounted for in this review.

I suppose I would categorize The Beholder as urban fantasy. It is set in New York and its surrounds. The main character, Jason, is the “Beholder,” a magic figure of some sort. At the very end, we read that Jason “finally understood that there was no one stronger or quicker in the whole world” (than himself). Yet, this reader would like to have known why Jason was so different from others and how that came to be the case. Having said that, the magic elements, to the best of my knowledge, have not been done before, and I give Amberlake a great deal of credit for having created something new.

Perhaps the biggest downside for me was that I was not convinced of the relationships between people. I was told that Jason was so close to his friends Matt and Debbie, that his connection to them caused “Soulfusion,” a bond stronger than the bond of twins. However, I never really “felt” the connection, nor did I find any particular reason for why the three were deemed so close to one another. Yes, they were friends, but that seemed to be it. Likewise, Jason notes that Matt has a thing for Debbie, but at the end of the story, when Debbie is upset because she thinks Tyler has died, pleads as she sobs for Tyler not to leave her, then falls into a deep depression when Tyler goes away for a time, Matt doesn’t seem the least bit bothered. Indeed, upon Tyler’s return and Debbie’s clear choice of Tyler over Matt, Matt merely “exchanged a laughing glance with Jason.” Similarly, I thought Jason’s sudden and strong attraction to Emily was believable, but then, just days later, when “it dawned on him how empty and meaningless his life would become if she wasn’t in it,” or when Emily thought, “[i]f I lose him there will be no reason for me to live,” the attractions and bonds of one to the other seemed forced on me. I simply didn’t believe them.

Occasionally, some things seemed odd and inconsistent to me, like why Jason and Emily flew somewhere by plane, given that Emily had the power to take Jason from place to place instantly. In this regard, at times, it seemed that the magic power or ability that was needed was introduced and used just as and when it was needed.

Amberlake drew some engaging word pictures, such as for example: “The army of buildings in downtown Manhattan stood like a line of jagged teeth, piercing the inky heavens, with bright lights reflected in the puddles at their feet, the only vestiges of the morning’s rain.” (Buildings looking like “teeth” is a new one for me.) Another example: “The old man’s face was distorted into a queer mix of rage and smug satisfaction. . . .” (I think I’ve seen that look before!) Finally, consider: “He lay in a dark room thick with the smell of neglect.” (I think I know that smell.)

Amberlake created an interesting world in which “energy is the fifth element, the quintessence pervading all the other elements,” (namely, earth, air, water and fire), the enemy has a great name (Pariah), people are either Sighted or Unsighted, and the reader travels to a number of places with the principal characters. All in all, fans of urban fantasy are sure to enjoy The Beholder.

[Mary Fan · Rating 5 out of 5]

In present day New York, Jason, an ordinary man with an office job at an interior design firm, learns that his nightmares are more than just bad dreams. In them, he sees a man of great evil, Pariah, pursuing a young woman with amber eyes. Both disturbed and intrigued, he soon finds out that the dreams are in fact supernatural visions, a glimpse into a supernatural world of light and dark energies.

Meanwhile, Jason hears reports of people around the world dying under mysterious circumstances. Each body is left branded with an arcane symbol. After realizing the bodies are a riddle addressed to him, Jason encounters the amber-eyed woman, Emily, who tells him that he possesses dormant abilities of great power. In addition, he may be the only person who can keep darkness from enslaving the world.

The Beholder is an imaginative urban fantasy that takes a reader into a captivating world of magic and mystery. Amberlake weaves his world in vibrant images, wrapping each scene in colorful descriptions that make the story easy to visualize. The reader follows Jason as this world is slowly revealed to him. The supernatural elements, such as Sight and Soulfusion, are well explained, as the reader learns what Jason learns.

There’s an ebb and flow to the pace of The Beholder, which works well for its story line. It draws you in by setting up the mystery at the very beginning, then slows down to let you look around. The action scenes, each a vividly portrayed fight between good and evil, are exciting and thrilling, and it’s easy to get lost in the language. Jason is a likable protagonist who’s easy to sympathize with, especially since Amberlake lays out his internal thoughts, allowing the reader to see what he sees, feel what he feels. Some chapters are written from the perspectives of other characters, giving the reader a 360 degree view of the story.

While the plot of The Beholder focuses on the supernatural battle between good and evil, Amberlake highlights the human element of the struggle through his characterizations and relationships. As Jason follows Emily into the realm of the Sighted, he also finds himself falling for her, which adds an element of romance to the story. It also ups the personal stakes for Jason as he heads toward the book’s climatic battle. In addition, Jason’s close friends, Matt and Debbie, end up getting involved, and so by the end, Jason is fighting not only for humanity, but for those he cares about most.

Amberlake writes with a poetic lilt, bringing his story to life through intricate language. For instance, here’s a description from early in the book:

“[Jason] burst through the revolving doors and into the outdoors, and ran into a nearly solid wall of heat. Even in the shade of the skyscrapers, he found it difficult to breathe. He paced, restless. Needing to walk off some of his anger, he thrust his hands in his pockets, then started roaming the streets, weaving through the rush hour crowd.”

Well written and wonderfully inventive, The Beholder is a highly entertaining book and a relatively fast read. The supernatural concept at the center of the story is unique, intriguing, and leaves you wanting more.

[Scott Toney · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Beholder by Ivan Amberlake is such an exquisitely written urban fantasy novel, with well thought out description and a plot that easily transports the novel’s fan base into Amberlake’s realm.

The author takes his time introducing us to concepts created for his story, concepts that at times reflect concepts in The Matrix movies, and at times are something much more and extremely enjoyable. Amberlake takes his time, and yet we are instantly thrust into action, kept rapt as we read.

In the beginning of this book I encountered the main character, Jason, and as he was consumed by his nightmares and the horrors beginning to force their essence into his life, I found that I couldn’t turn away. I sat for hours on my couch as the night drew on, and when I’d finally force myself to put down The Beholder I’d see that it was in the wee hours of the morning. I actually put down Tad Williams’ Shadowmarch to read The Beholder, and I haven’t returned to Tad yet, though I will soon. :)

Amberlake does an excellent job of melding plot, fantastical concepts, darkness and light with a love story between Jason and his very real feeling counterpart, Emily.

I was rapt til the end, and as I came to those final pages I found the concepts and design of the final two chapters to be my favorite of the book.

My suggestion is to pick up The Beholder now and take some time tonight to sit in your library, kick back, and enjoy. I look forward to reading the continuation of this story in the future. It is a great stand alone book, but I also can’t wait to read more

Have a wonderful day!

Enjoy!

[Claire Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to be honest. Ivan is a BHB member and as such I felt obliged to read his book. everyone had been telling me what a great writer he was, and I wanted to see for myself.

So, to begin.
When I started The Beholder, I quickly realised that this wasn't the usual book that I read. Now I pride myself on reading pretty much anything and giving all genres and styles of writing a read so on I read.
It all seemed so simple to me. Good V's evil. Dark V's Light etc etc then Bam! I was thrown a curve bal or several and I realised that I was so sucked in to the book and its characters that I had to put everything down and finish it.

I won't go into the plot, you can read the synopsis for yourself, but what I will say is that this isn't as standard as it makes out. It isn't 'what it says on the tin.' It's romance, it's fantasy, it's a thriller, it's a heart pounding adrenalin fueled ride, with such a bitteer sweet ending that I wanted to throw my kindle!


So, yeah, go read it if you fancy something easy and don't be put off by thinking you know what will happen.

[Amber Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started this story not knowing what to expect. I was very surprised it drew me in at the beginning till the end.

This has a old school feel about good vs evil. The characters are very well written. I like the aspect of a different paranormal feel I got, I never read anything like it before.

I think the writing was brilliant. Ivan explains things so that way you don't get lost and make the connection around you.

If you like paranormal then this is a book for you!



Great Job!!!

I received a copy from the Author exchange for a honest review.

[Yannis Karatsioris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here's to good writing!

In this flowing narrative that turns darker chapter by chapter, we follow Jason Walker, an interior designer living in New York. He's tormented by visions that come to him slashing his soul and, while he's unaware of their meaning, he's pulled in a maze of light vs darkness by someone he loves...

Author Ivan Amberlake has 'a way with words' and has put a great story together, which, fortunately for his fans, is only the first installment.
Watch out for the ending of THE BEHOLDER, it's... unexpected ;)

Recommended to lovers of Urban Fantasy with a knack for different settings and only a touch of romance. I'd suggest you try it, especially if you're fond of the Daywatch/Nightwatch movies, as they share the same atmosphere and fantasy concepts with THE BEHOLDER.

[Michelle Curphey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have had the pleasure of reading this fast-paced fantasy novel.
Jason, unaware of his own powers, is drawn into a supernatural Kaleidoscope.
The descriptions throughout the book are so vivid, you feel as though you are in that scene, transposed inside the pages.
This book is different from most Sci-Fi's and I would reccommend it anyone out there.
All the best to the author and his great novel.