What do you think?
Rate this book
New Reality #7
This Sin Called Hope
Hundreds of years ago, Earth as we know it was laid to waste by the war to end all wars. Hunger and plague followed, and in the gaping wounds of a society thick with terror, greed and corruption took strong root. It split the human race apart. Those clinging to civilization fell to ruin, those who turned from it were left little more than cannibalistic monsters. From the darkness, Enoch has watched as the worst traits of humanity have destroyed the world he once knew. Denied even the mercy of a quick demise, the immortal “Angel” fills his days maintaining the Network, if only to bring some form of connection and order to a broken world, even as he has grown to despise the very beings left upon it.
From the unlocked backdoors and open windows of the Network, Jacobi has watched the world with love and delight, relishing in the little human moments that remind him of why life is worth living. The offers of kindness when there is none to be found, the small acts of charity when there is so little to give, and the good deeds performed when all appears lost is the hope that keeps him going—this and his unfailing belief that, perhaps, tomorrow will be a better day. The optimistic “Hacker” does not remember Earth before the destruction, but he spends his days and nights searching the remote recesses of a data-banked past, looking for the hope people seem to have misplaced along the way.
When Enoch captures Jacobi’s attention, the hacker can’t help but want to learn more about the rough-tempered Angel who has given up on humanity. Can Jacobi, with all the love he has to give, teach Enoch to care again? Will Jacobi be able to reach Enoch in time? Can these two solitary watchers come together to help save a world where hope is considered a sin?
**Warning** This title contains a graphic rape scene that may be upsetting to some readers.
From the unlocked backdoors and open windows of the Network, Jacobi has watched the world with love and delight, relishing in the little human moments that remind him of why life is worth living. The offers of kindness when there is none to be found, the small acts of charity when there is so little to give, and the good deeds performed when all appears lost is the hope that keeps him going—this and his unfailing belief that, perhaps, tomorrow will be a better day. The optimistic “Hacker” does not remember Earth before the destruction, but he spends his days and nights searching the remote recesses of a data-banked past, looking for the hope people seem to have misplaced along the way.
When Enoch captures Jacobi’s attention, the hacker can’t help but want to learn more about the rough-tempered Angel who has given up on humanity. Can Jacobi, with all the love he has to give, teach Enoch to care again? Will Jacobi be able to reach Enoch in time? Can these two solitary watchers come together to help save a world where hope is considered a sin?
**Warning** This title contains a graphic rape scene that may be upsetting to some readers.
- GenresM M Romance
185 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 5, 2013
1 person is currently reading
29 people want to read
About the author
Anna Mayle
9 books26 followersI grew up in the woods and wild, in a place almost forgotten by time, I learned that the best moments in our existence are the ones filled with the spirit of the earth when you are surrounded by family. Even now, thirty years into my life, I find there is nothing more important than family and nothing more soothing than a quiet forest and softly flowing water.
Currently I make my home in Lansing in a place surrounded by trees and gardens and affectionately called The Nest. While work, writing and family take up much of my days, I also enjoy a variety of pastimes. Some are as mundane as reading, video games, working in the gardens, singing, dancing, sketching and swimming. Others such as medieval reenactments and various other forms of live role play might seem more exciting.
All in all, I’m a geek with a love of words surrounded by the comfort and affection of a close family and a tight knit group of friends. Life hasn’t always been easy, it never will be, but it is the adversity, as well as the caring in our days, that shapes who we are and will be.
In the end…no worries.
My name is Anna Mayle.
Currently I make my home in Lansing in a place surrounded by trees and gardens and affectionately called The Nest. While work, writing and family take up much of my days, I also enjoy a variety of pastimes. Some are as mundane as reading, video games, working in the gardens, singing, dancing, sketching and swimming. Others such as medieval reenactments and various other forms of live role play might seem more exciting.
All in all, I’m a geek with a love of words surrounded by the comfort and affection of a close family and a tight knit group of friends. Life hasn’t always been easy, it never will be, but it is the adversity, as well as the caring in our days, that shapes who we are and will be.
In the end…no worries.
My name is Anna Mayle.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
September 9, 2013
I think Anna Mayle has a lot of potential as a writer. She proved in her Stolen Child books as well as In the Shadow of a Hero that she could write evocative prose, build worlds full of atmosphere and portent, and create characters with gripping emotional lives.
In this book, we start out with a large dose of Mad Max-ish post-apocalypticness. Hot sun, dry sand, futuristic motorcycles, radioactive Nomans lands, and isolated fortress-like city remnants called Walls. Add in Wall inhabitants, "Wastrels" scratching out their livings in scattered struggling settlements, and "Angels" -- mutated humanish packs (think the Mad Max roving gangs) preying on anyone caught outside of the Walls.
For the relatively short length of the book, I think Mayle did a pretty good job of worldbuilding. We could feel the dirt, grime, grit, and blood. Unfortunately, I didn't think the quality of the prose was nearly as good here as in her previous books -- and if anyone claims to have either edited or proofread this book, they should be taken out and shot. And then shot some more. The editing/proofing errors were amazingly frequent, often stupid, and very distracting. (Anna, if you ever want to re-issue this book, I'll be happy to re-proof it for you!)
But I digress.
Into this setup we throw one extremely discouraged, solitary, and cynical character -- Enoch. He could almost have been Riddick, complete with muscles, bald head, shiny eyes, and goggles(!), but with paler skin, more techie skills, and slightly softer edges. Add in a much cheerier, friendlier, and more optimistic character -- Jacobi -- and let the fun begin.
I liked the characters. The book wasn't long enough to really give them time to develop in as much detail as I would have liked, but I enjoyed the interplay of their disparate worldviews and how they changed each other. I spent a large part of the book speculating ; I wasn't terribly surprised by the revelation, but it did raise interesting questions like , and it fit the story.
I would also liked to have seen more development in some specific areas:
1. I wanted more reaction to and consequences of Enoch's;
2. Jacobi's reaction to finding out ;
3. more explanation about Enoch's ;
4. more exploration of the virtual reality within the Networks. Yes, we had many scenes within the virtual reality, but I wanted more development of the contrast between virtual and real, and the limits of virtual vs. real, and how all of that would affect Enoch and Jacobi's relationship;
5. Oh, and the denouement -- that needed at least 20 more pages, preferably more, to develop properly. Another good idea, but sketched in much too quickly.
I thought all of those issues deserved more page time -- which would have required a substantially longer book.
It's becoming common to publish second or third editions of ebooks these days. I guess what I really want is for Anna to rewrite and re-issue this. IMHO the bones of the story are good, but it was held back by the limited number of pages and the non-existent editing.
I'm giving this 3.5 stars, rounding up to 4. I'm also hoping that some day I see a revamped version of it.
In this book, we start out with a large dose of Mad Max-ish post-apocalypticness. Hot sun, dry sand, futuristic motorcycles, radioactive Nomans lands, and isolated fortress-like city remnants called Walls. Add in Wall inhabitants, "Wastrels" scratching out their livings in scattered struggling settlements, and "Angels" -- mutated humanish packs (think the Mad Max roving gangs) preying on anyone caught outside of the Walls.
For the relatively short length of the book, I think Mayle did a pretty good job of worldbuilding. We could feel the dirt, grime, grit, and blood. Unfortunately, I didn't think the quality of the prose was nearly as good here as in her previous books -- and if anyone claims to have either edited or proofread this book, they should be taken out and shot. And then shot some more. The editing/proofing errors were amazingly frequent, often stupid, and very distracting. (Anna, if you ever want to re-issue this book, I'll be happy to re-proof it for you!)
But I digress.
Into this setup we throw one extremely discouraged, solitary, and cynical character -- Enoch. He could almost have been Riddick, complete with muscles, bald head, shiny eyes, and goggles(!), but with paler skin, more techie skills, and slightly softer edges. Add in a much cheerier, friendlier, and more optimistic character -- Jacobi -- and let the fun begin.
I liked the characters. The book wasn't long enough to really give them time to develop in as much detail as I would have liked, but I enjoyed the interplay of their disparate worldviews and how they changed each other. I spent a large part of the book speculating ; I wasn't terribly surprised by the revelation, but it did raise interesting questions like , and it fit the story.
I would also liked to have seen more development in some specific areas:
1. I wanted more reaction to and consequences of Enoch's;
2. Jacobi's reaction to finding out ;
3. more explanation about Enoch's ;
4. more exploration of the virtual reality within the Networks. Yes, we had many scenes within the virtual reality, but I wanted more development of the contrast between virtual and real, and the limits of virtual vs. real, and how all of that would affect Enoch and Jacobi's relationship;
5. Oh, and the denouement -- that needed at least 20 more pages, preferably more, to develop properly. Another good idea, but sketched in much too quickly.
I thought all of those issues deserved more page time -- which would have required a substantially longer book.
It's becoming common to publish second or third editions of ebooks these days. I guess what I really want is for Anna to rewrite and re-issue this. IMHO the bones of the story are good, but it was held back by the limited number of pages and the non-existent editing.
I'm giving this 3.5 stars, rounding up to 4. I'm also hoping that some day I see a revamped version of it.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews