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Dream of the Serpent
Cody Miller is on the brink of having it all: an MBA, a high-powered job in corporate finance, and the girl of his dreams. And then one mistake, one unfortunate accident, takes it all away in the blink of an eye. His future, his health and his hope—gone—up in flames, leaving him the victim of an unimaginably horrific injury.
Upon emerging from a coma, Cody discovers his life and plans have been shattered. As he struggles to find the strength to go on and a reason to live, he slowly begins to realize things may not be as they seem. His life has changed more than he could've ever imagined, but someone…or something…may be working beneath the surface…changing the world around him, altering lives and procuring victims…an ancient evil that hides in plain sight and destroys as it consumes.
To uncover the truth, Cody will have to forget everything he thought he knew about reality in order to salvage his sanity and save the life of the woman he loves.
How much would you give, how far would you go, what would you sacrifice, to save the person you love more than life itself? From deep within the flames, Cody Miller is about to find out.
Upon emerging from a coma, Cody discovers his life and plans have been shattered. As he struggles to find the strength to go on and a reason to live, he slowly begins to realize things may not be as they seem. His life has changed more than he could've ever imagined, but someone…or something…may be working beneath the surface…changing the world around him, altering lives and procuring victims…an ancient evil that hides in plain sight and destroys as it consumes.
To uncover the truth, Cody will have to forget everything he thought he knew about reality in order to salvage his sanity and save the life of the woman he loves.
How much would you give, how far would you go, what would you sacrifice, to save the person you love more than life itself? From deep within the flames, Cody Miller is about to find out.
272 pages, Paperback
First published January 5, 2014
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March 24, 2019
alan ryker just destroyed me.
this is the fifth book of his i have read. three have been pretty straight-ahead horror novellas, and the fourth was a blend of horror and psychology with a little bit of metaphysics.
this one runs circles around all of them, even Burden Kansas, which is one of the best vampire books i have ever read, second only to The Stress of Her Regard.
it's not really horror, even though it does describe some horrible things. i have never before been so squeamish reading about the things fire can do to a human body. those scenes are written with a devastating immediacy and they are powerful and affecting. as are the horrifying aftermath scenes describing the prolonged physical, emotional, and psychological agony of the burn victim. it is incredibly uncomfortable.
and then the fun begins. and by "fun," i mean intensely smart dark fantasy that begins to peel away our understanding of reality and causality and then transitions into a very moving story of selflessness and sacrifice and utter hopelessness. but a hopelessness into which a last-ditch selfless effort is still possible.
and it elevates what i was expecting to be an enjoyable horror piece into something that almost made me cry. me! and that alone is worth the price of admission, since i am always trying to find a book that will scare me or make me cry, with very little success. but i felt it stirring in me, even though it never resulted in actual tears.
this book isn't even 200 pages, but it manages to tell such a complex story about love and possibilities and that painful process of reliving memories and the hell of hindsight and that wonderful thomas hardy theme of how one regrettable moment of distraction can determine our whole life's course. it is gorgeous and violent and heart-shattering. and that whole o. henry scene was quiet perfection.
i know i am really dancing around plot here, but i don't want to ruin the journey. i just want people to read this guy, and i'm pretty sure this particular one will appeal to people who don't see themselves as horror fans, because there is such a potent real-world message in here that isn't dependent on its horror trappings.
plus, one million points for the millennium reference!
love. just love.
come to my blog!
June 30, 2017
This is where I admit to being a twit. I got this book back awhile (we won't say how long ago) from Netgalley. I must have been intrigued because I want to read the Hoard by this author and thought I would give him a try any way that I could. Then I read the blurb and pushed it back. Several times.
I'm smacking myself because this is really good!
It starts off with Cody about to go from work to his rich girlfriend Madison's parent's party. He is trying to hurry and is on the phone with her with the worst thing happens. (not a spoiler) He is horribly burned by a fryer. I mean bad stuff here for you queasy munchkins.
When he wakes up in the hospital he realizes that he has lost everything, not just his body. No job prospects now, No marriage to Madison. Cody is in a bad place.
Then he starts texting with Madison and she tells him she has found the answer.
Next thing, Cody is waking up with a different girl. He has a high powered job and is living his dream life with no burns.
Then we find out that Madison went missing that night of her parents party and no one has seen her since.
Cody realizes that in order to find Madison he is going to have to go to a dark place.
Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review.
I'm smacking myself because this is really good!
It starts off with Cody about to go from work to his rich girlfriend Madison's parent's party. He is trying to hurry and is on the phone with her with the worst thing happens. (not a spoiler) He is horribly burned by a fryer. I mean bad stuff here for you queasy munchkins.
When he wakes up in the hospital he realizes that he has lost everything, not just his body. No job prospects now, No marriage to Madison. Cody is in a bad place.
Then he starts texting with Madison and she tells him she has found the answer.
Next thing, Cody is waking up with a different girl. He has a high powered job and is living his dream life with no burns.
Then we find out that Madison went missing that night of her parents party and no one has seen her since.
Cody realizes that in order to find Madison he is going to have to go to a dark place.
Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review.
January 16, 2014
Burning Burning Burning Burning
. 
. 
... I knew for certain that wherever
I went, the flames would follow.
That was a little bit creepy, a whole lot disturbing and just so... mind blowing, it was a race to turn the pages faster.
Cody Miller has hit the jackpot in life. He's on his way to getting an MBA, a job most would have to work years for and the girl everyone wants. Cody has it all until one accident takes everything away from him.
When he emerges from his coma, Cody struggles to get back on track and he knows that it all won't be the same, he will never be the same.
And as he trudges on, he discovers there's more going on than he first thought.
We're all pieces on this board, but I seem to be the only one who notices that we're going in circles, that the world is not the logical place we think it is.
Dream of the Serpent is one of the most horrifyingly descriptive stories I've ever had the pleasure of reading. Part of me wanted to turn away but my eyes wouldn't cooperate. They weren't going to look anywhere but at the book. Very detailed descriptions usually tend to bore me but I was riveted. There was not a single word that I missed.
It's terrifying but spellbinding at the same time.
Cody Miller
There was an all out war being fought inside my body, except that the enemy was my body.
I would never ever want to trade places with Cody. The way his accident was described left me traumatized.
I can't say that I liked Cody but I certainly didn't hate him. It was difficult to see how drastically he changed. How one mistake remolded him. It's scary to think how far people will go to find the truth.
The Story
I would have liked the beginning to be a tad bit shorter. I wasn't bored but I knew that there was some action waiting in the wings and I wanted it to start! However, once you hit around the 40% mark it was all out fuckery. I didn't even want to blink just in case I would miss something.
All in all, this was an awesome read that I definitely recommend reading. Especially those who love horror & fantasy.
Rating clarification: 4.5 stars
*A copy of this book was generously provided in exchange for an honest review*
January 23, 2014
Alan Ryker! Alan Ryker! Alan Ryker!
I'm shouting his name from the rooftops, are you paying attention? This gentleman has got some serious skill people, writing chops to make you quiver and shake.
Dream of the Serpent is only my second Ryker book (the first being The Hoard) but with it he has clinched a spot on my author to watch radar. Color me a smitten kitten.
Burning is the sort of thing that changes you forever. It makes you realize that you're an animal, that all the rest is pretense.The prose and pacing is exquisitely rendered here reflecting a maturity and mastery of the craft that is a pleasure to read even when what you are reading is fraught with pain and despair. When I picked up this book I was wholly unprepared to read such a graphic, explicit depiction of a young man's savage burns and the life he must confront post-fire. It is tragedy at its most gripping and devastating, so poignant and raw and in your face. It's impossible not to become positively engrossed in Cody's story and his ultimate fate.
This is not a "horror" story per se, but there is plenty here that is shocking and horrific. It is in its way a love story as well, or at least just what and how much we are willing to sacrifice for those we love. Amongst the punishing bleak detail of excruciating hopelessness, there emerges a twisty, mindfuck tale of second chances that's mysterious and oh so satisfyingly constructed in its parts.
Bravo Mr. Ryker. Bravo.
A free copy was provided by the publisher through Netgalley for an honest review.
May 23, 2017
A great writer, I loved his Burden, Kansas vampire story, but alas this story fell short for me. It started out strong as hell with some of the more difficult passages about burning and suffering you will ever read, but by the middle I was getting bored and the ending, for me, was so much meh. Interesting premise, exceptionally good writing, but lacking as a cohesive whole, three stars from me.
February 6, 2014
Quite a few years ago, I and my wife were in a major car accident. My car was totaled but miraculously everyone in the accident had no more than a few minor cuts and bruises. I remember having to squeeze myself out of the car wondering how so much twisted metal managed to miss hitting both of us. But since then I have been very alert to the fact that our lives can change instantly in a few seconds or be forever altered by a split second decision. It is something I knew intellectually before. But now it has a deeper more intuitive meaning and the knowledge has forever heighten my appreciation of what I have and for the fragility of life.
Dream of the Serpent by Alan Ryker is about that. Cody Miller is a successful young man who is in a horrible fire brought on by a second of forgetfulness as he texts his girl friend. For the next third of the novel and in first person narrative, we are witnesses to the devastating consequences of a burn victim. Each moment and action is described in torturous detail. It is not something that everyone will be able to read. Just as devastating are the descriptions of Cody's thoughts and emotions as he endlessly relive that one moment and thinks about what could have been "if". He is immersed in his own pain but also privy to the emotional pain of others around him. Cody's girlfriend lives with the thought that she may have been at least partly responsible and those feelings reignite her past drug addiction.
As you can see, this is pretty heavy stuff. If this was all, Dream of the Serpent would still be a very powerful book especially with Ryker's ability to bring alive the emotions and feelings of the characters. Yet this is a novel of the supernatural even though the story proceeds halfway through without any trace of the other-worldly. Cory is having dreams of what his life would be like if the accident did not happen. Soon he gets a phone call from his girl friend. "I think I found a way to fix everything."
At this point, things change. I won't say how but I sure it is the sort of the thing accident victims..no..all of us at some point in life have dreamed about. The author examines, in the unpredictable style of horror fantasy, the consequences of altering our life and the devastation our actions have on others. While the first half of the novel is steeped in the physical horrors of the natural world, the second half explores, in a just as horrific but more psychological way, the horror of our actions and the effect of them on the ones we love.
This is a superior horror novel; one that should be remembered for its power and relevance. I found myself looking back on my own experience while reading it and thinking about how different things could have been if I reacted a second later or that chunk of metal moved only one foot closer to me. I also wondered that if we could change something terrible in the past, would the sacrifice be worth it. There is always a sacrifice, in real life as well as fiction. It's that type of novel. The kind that makes you a little uncomfortable. The kind that makes you look at your own choices. And the kind that makes you glad you read it despite the horrific descriptions and uncomfortable feelings it evokes.
My highest recommendation.
Dream of the Serpent by Alan Ryker is about that. Cody Miller is a successful young man who is in a horrible fire brought on by a second of forgetfulness as he texts his girl friend. For the next third of the novel and in first person narrative, we are witnesses to the devastating consequences of a burn victim. Each moment and action is described in torturous detail. It is not something that everyone will be able to read. Just as devastating are the descriptions of Cody's thoughts and emotions as he endlessly relive that one moment and thinks about what could have been "if". He is immersed in his own pain but also privy to the emotional pain of others around him. Cody's girlfriend lives with the thought that she may have been at least partly responsible and those feelings reignite her past drug addiction.
As you can see, this is pretty heavy stuff. If this was all, Dream of the Serpent would still be a very powerful book especially with Ryker's ability to bring alive the emotions and feelings of the characters. Yet this is a novel of the supernatural even though the story proceeds halfway through without any trace of the other-worldly. Cory is having dreams of what his life would be like if the accident did not happen. Soon he gets a phone call from his girl friend. "I think I found a way to fix everything."
At this point, things change. I won't say how but I sure it is the sort of the thing accident victims..no..all of us at some point in life have dreamed about. The author examines, in the unpredictable style of horror fantasy, the consequences of altering our life and the devastation our actions have on others. While the first half of the novel is steeped in the physical horrors of the natural world, the second half explores, in a just as horrific but more psychological way, the horror of our actions and the effect of them on the ones we love.
This is a superior horror novel; one that should be remembered for its power and relevance. I found myself looking back on my own experience while reading it and thinking about how different things could have been if I reacted a second later or that chunk of metal moved only one foot closer to me. I also wondered that if we could change something terrible in the past, would the sacrifice be worth it. There is always a sacrifice, in real life as well as fiction. It's that type of novel. The kind that makes you a little uncomfortable. The kind that makes you look at your own choices. And the kind that makes you glad you read it despite the horrific descriptions and uncomfortable feelings it evokes.
My highest recommendation.
January 11, 2014
3.5 stars
First of all, Ryker is an author that really does his research! His images and descriptions are so real, that you can vividly see (and almost feel) them all! I love his writing style, in general.
This particular story just didn't grab me as much, personally, as some of his others did. It seemed to me that the beginning encompassed so much of the novel that by the time we reached the "other action", it almost felt as if it were two separate novels. I would have liked to have seen more of a continuity throughout--focusing less on the beginning aspects, and bringing the "main theme" into play earlier on.
Overall though, a very well-written novel by a top notch author.
Recommended.
First of all, Ryker is an author that really does his research! His images and descriptions are so real, that you can vividly see (and almost feel) them all! I love his writing style, in general.
This particular story just didn't grab me as much, personally, as some of his others did. It seemed to me that the beginning encompassed so much of the novel that by the time we reached the "other action", it almost felt as if it were two separate novels. I would have liked to have seen more of a continuity throughout--focusing less on the beginning aspects, and bringing the "main theme" into play earlier on.
Overall though, a very well-written novel by a top notch author.
Recommended.
November 7, 2014
Dream of the Serpent is one of the most gut-wrenching stories I've ever read. This says a lot to the writing powers Alan Ryker has developed in a short amount of time. If you're familiar at all with his work, then you know that Ryker is a very talented story teller with a literary spin on the way he chooses to present his story to his readers.
The book starts off with our introduction to Cody and Maddy and the type of relationship they have along with where they both are in life at this moment before disaster strikes. While talking to his girlfriend, Maddy, over his cell phone while cleaning out the deep frier at work, Cody suffers serious burns. The first part of the novel is about these burns and how it destroys Cody's professional aspirations and his relationship with Maddy.
Let me tell you, tons of research went into this part of the story that made it feel more than authentic. The things that Cody goes through just to heal is like something from a torture movie. You feel as though you’ve experienced, in some small way, what burn victims have gone through. And, personally, I don't think I'd come out the other end with flying colors.
About half-way through, the story changes from this hardcore suffering to something strange and, I think, brilliant on the author's part. The change is drastic, but works so well within this world. It does so because Ryker took the time to prepare us for the change and even wonder, as Cody investigates, at its details.
Throughout the story, themes of guilt, of fire and burning, the Greek mythology of the phoenix gone horribly wrong, of death, and most importantly, love-devotion-and sacrifice play throughout. What we get is a story that is just as heart-wrenching as anything by Joe Hill or Greg F. Gifune.
Don’t read this book if you don’t want to be changed or and effected deeply. If this story doesn’t haunt you and effect you in some way, then you’re probably a different kind of person than I am.
The book starts off with our introduction to Cody and Maddy and the type of relationship they have along with where they both are in life at this moment before disaster strikes. While talking to his girlfriend, Maddy, over his cell phone while cleaning out the deep frier at work, Cody suffers serious burns. The first part of the novel is about these burns and how it destroys Cody's professional aspirations and his relationship with Maddy.
Let me tell you, tons of research went into this part of the story that made it feel more than authentic. The things that Cody goes through just to heal is like something from a torture movie. You feel as though you’ve experienced, in some small way, what burn victims have gone through. And, personally, I don't think I'd come out the other end with flying colors.
About half-way through, the story changes from this hardcore suffering to something strange and, I think, brilliant on the author's part. The change is drastic, but works so well within this world. It does so because Ryker took the time to prepare us for the change and even wonder, as Cody investigates, at its details.
Throughout the story, themes of guilt, of fire and burning, the Greek mythology of the phoenix gone horribly wrong, of death, and most importantly, love-devotion-and sacrifice play throughout. What we get is a story that is just as heart-wrenching as anything by Joe Hill or Greg F. Gifune.
Don’t read this book if you don’t want to be changed or and effected deeply. If this story doesn’t haunt you and effect you in some way, then you’re probably a different kind of person than I am.
January 12, 2014
Dream of the Serpent is my third Alan Ryker read and I’ve been impressed with all of them, Cody Miller has it all, it seems, destined for success, beautiful girlfriend and a host of potential employers courting him. Until fate deals him the cruellest blow, an accident at work, a fire that burns all his hopes into despair and the seemingly irrevocable tragedy of a burns victim changed beyond all recognition.
The first section is harrowing and traumatic, as we live the accident and the aftermath with the victim, this is intensely written as we see the effects from both Cody’s side and those close to him. All but his girlfriend Madison who blames herself for the accident, spiralling out of control, she comes across the path to redemption and a chance to change everything. A magic that can’t be of this world, an ancient evil that exists, bleeding life from the forlorn to feed itself.
Cody starts on the long path to recovery, a life that will never be the same, until out of the blue he wakes up, recovered, with a different girl but with jaded memories of a horrific accident and its Madison whose missing, not seen since the day the accident took place in another reality.
In a clever tale it’s Cody who must search for the love of his life and it will take the ultimate sacrifice to get her back.
The first section is harrowing and traumatic, as we live the accident and the aftermath with the victim, this is intensely written as we see the effects from both Cody’s side and those close to him. All but his girlfriend Madison who blames herself for the accident, spiralling out of control, she comes across the path to redemption and a chance to change everything. A magic that can’t be of this world, an ancient evil that exists, bleeding life from the forlorn to feed itself.
Cody starts on the long path to recovery, a life that will never be the same, until out of the blue he wakes up, recovered, with a different girl but with jaded memories of a horrific accident and its Madison whose missing, not seen since the day the accident took place in another reality.
In a clever tale it’s Cody who must search for the love of his life and it will take the ultimate sacrifice to get her back.
July 13, 2014
4.5*
Alan Ryker should be much better known by horror readers. His writing is smooth, his work is well paced and his characters are flawed but somehow likeable even when they're acting in an unlikeable way.
Dream of the Serpent is no exception, it tells the story of Cody who sustains extensive burns caused by an accident at work and the first part of the novel mainly deals with the aftermath of the accident and his recovery. The second part sees Cody get a second chance, as though the accident hadn't happened, however his fiancé, Madison, has disappeared and so Cody sets out to find her.
This read was hard hitting, the descriptions of Cody's rehab were eye watering at times, I swear I felt every dressing change. Ultimately this read asks the question of how much would you sacrifice for the person you loved. A slightly different read from what the author has put out before but I would readily recommend it.
Alan Ryker should be much better known by horror readers. His writing is smooth, his work is well paced and his characters are flawed but somehow likeable even when they're acting in an unlikeable way.
Dream of the Serpent is no exception, it tells the story of Cody who sustains extensive burns caused by an accident at work and the first part of the novel mainly deals with the aftermath of the accident and his recovery. The second part sees Cody get a second chance, as though the accident hadn't happened, however his fiancé, Madison, has disappeared and so Cody sets out to find her.
This read was hard hitting, the descriptions of Cody's rehab were eye watering at times, I swear I felt every dressing change. Ultimately this read asks the question of how much would you sacrifice for the person you loved. A slightly different read from what the author has put out before but I would readily recommend it.
February 6, 2014
★★★★ 4 stars!
Review to come when I'm back from vacation xx
**Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
February 12, 2014
5 Stars
"Everyone gets burned, but almost no burns."
I will not do this book justice except to say go get it and read it!
Dream of the Serpent by Alan Ryker is now a favorite of mine. I loved this book. The first half is so intense, it is impossible to put down. This book has some of the most powerful and gut wrenching scenes that I have read in a very long time. This is one of my favorite reads of the last year. Sure, I have read books of higher literary value such as Andrew's Brain by E.L.Doctorow(a new favorite of mine). But, this book will sit with me for a long time.
I loved the story, the graphic details, and even the major plot twist. This book has many similarities to one of my favorite books from 4 years ago, The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson. These novels will leave you looking at burns and burn victims with a very different eye.
Ryker has created a story that is an exercise in experiencing emotions. The story and the burning of our protagonist Cody is the center plot but it is the themes and emotion that make it something special. I do not want to give away anything about this book because the journey with Cody will help you experience the powerful emotions the Ryker portrays. There is a major plot twist that with some creative story telling Ryker makes shine.
Ouroboros: The Serpent that eats it's own tail.
"And so here I lay, searching for the limits of the limitless serpent with its tail in its mouth, losing my mind with a tale in my mouth. Choking on it. Consuming it and consuming it and finding that I'm consuming myself and creating myself endlessly.
If there was a way to end this cycle, it's to be found in taking the tale from my mouth and telling it in the only way I know how…the only way it can be told."
"This was my first lesson in the malleability of time. I think back to the first time I learned that suffering is the path to immortality, how Hell can be contained entirely in one moment. They'll say later that I couldn't have seen this, but I imagined it, dreamed it in my coma."
Ryker does an amazing job at intertwining fire and burning with everything in this story. So much of this tale parallels the serpent with its tail in its mouth. All consuming, self consuming, yet also creating...
This is a moving story that will definitely be worth a second read. It is my favorite for 2014 thus far. I will tell all my reader friends that this is a must read as it will appeal to a wide audience. Go get it..
"Everyone gets burned, but almost no burns."
I will not do this book justice except to say go get it and read it!
Dream of the Serpent by Alan Ryker is now a favorite of mine. I loved this book. The first half is so intense, it is impossible to put down. This book has some of the most powerful and gut wrenching scenes that I have read in a very long time. This is one of my favorite reads of the last year. Sure, I have read books of higher literary value such as Andrew's Brain by E.L.Doctorow(a new favorite of mine). But, this book will sit with me for a long time.
I loved the story, the graphic details, and even the major plot twist. This book has many similarities to one of my favorite books from 4 years ago, The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson. These novels will leave you looking at burns and burn victims with a very different eye.
Ryker has created a story that is an exercise in experiencing emotions. The story and the burning of our protagonist Cody is the center plot but it is the themes and emotion that make it something special. I do not want to give away anything about this book because the journey with Cody will help you experience the powerful emotions the Ryker portrays. There is a major plot twist that with some creative story telling Ryker makes shine.
Ouroboros: The Serpent that eats it's own tail.
"And so here I lay, searching for the limits of the limitless serpent with its tail in its mouth, losing my mind with a tale in my mouth. Choking on it. Consuming it and consuming it and finding that I'm consuming myself and creating myself endlessly.
If there was a way to end this cycle, it's to be found in taking the tale from my mouth and telling it in the only way I know how…the only way it can be told."
"This was my first lesson in the malleability of time. I think back to the first time I learned that suffering is the path to immortality, how Hell can be contained entirely in one moment. They'll say later that I couldn't have seen this, but I imagined it, dreamed it in my coma."
Ryker does an amazing job at intertwining fire and burning with everything in this story. So much of this tale parallels the serpent with its tail in its mouth. All consuming, self consuming, yet also creating...
This is a moving story that will definitely be worth a second read. It is my favorite for 2014 thus far. I will tell all my reader friends that this is a must read as it will appeal to a wide audience. Go get it..
August 13, 2016
Cody was on the way up. Engaged to a socialite, top of his class in business school and then his dreams (and his flesh) went up in flames. Madison, his fiancée, overcome with an insurmountable guilt, gave it all up to alter the past and create a new future for him - One without her in it. Cody must figure out what is real as he is struggles thru colliding and overlapping memories. The secret lies with the serpent and Cody will need to make the biggest decision of his life…and death.
This read a bit differently than the Rykers I have read in the past. A bit more surreal…maybe? At any rate, it almost read like two different tales - One pre tragic event and one post. I am a big fan of Alan Ryker and although this may be a bit different it is still a very engaging tale of resentment, self pity, anger and ultimately love. Butterfly Effect-esque-ish. (Yep, made that word up.) 3.5+ Stars for sure and maybe even more. I may need to let this one to gel for a little bit.
This read a bit differently than the Rykers I have read in the past. A bit more surreal…maybe? At any rate, it almost read like two different tales - One pre tragic event and one post. I am a big fan of Alan Ryker and although this may be a bit different it is still a very engaging tale of resentment, self pity, anger and ultimately love. Butterfly Effect-esque-ish. (Yep, made that word up.) 3.5+ Stars for sure and maybe even more. I may need to let this one to gel for a little bit.
February 2, 2014
The first thing I have to say about the book is unexpected. This being the sixth book of Alan's I have read and enjoyed, but completely different then anything I have read of his. At first when I started reading the story I didn't think I would like It. I kept putting it down and started reading other books. That's why it took me so long to finish. But I went back to it and the more I read the better it got. And I have to say I'm glad I stuck with it and finished the book. The story is centered around Cody Miller. A man with a great future in corporate finance and a girlfriend named Madison. Then this accident happens and his future and girlfriend seem to disappear. Like the cover of the book, the Ouroboros concept comes to play in the story. It's hard to say much more without ruining the story for you. Dream of the Serpent was a well written, very good read. I gave it 4 stars.
August 3, 2015
Alan Ryker has some serious writing chops.
The first half of this short novel is the most intense descriptiveness of coping with severe burn injuries that I've ever read. Also, he has a firm grip on the human condition and there were many instances where I had to stop and think about what a shame it is that he is a "horror" writer and it's likely that discerning readers will never ever hear of him. Or perhaps not...the great thing about Goodreads is that this guy will be widely read, as there have been a few very highly followed reviewers who are shouting his name from the roof tops.
I really was set on giving this five stars after the first half.
I'm unsure now what I want to give it. This novel branches off into a genre that always makes my brain hurt: .
Ryker, for the most part, made this fairly easy to digest, up until the end. At that point, I wasn't all that accepting of what/where Cody was at and I starting to get mentally fatigued and that lessened the enjoyment for me.
For that reason I'm hedging towards 3.5 stars.
The first half of this short novel is the most intense descriptiveness of coping with severe burn injuries that I've ever read. Also, he has a firm grip on the human condition and there were many instances where I had to stop and think about what a shame it is that he is a "horror" writer and it's likely that discerning readers will never ever hear of him. Or perhaps not...the great thing about Goodreads is that this guy will be widely read, as there have been a few very highly followed reviewers who are shouting his name from the roof tops.
I really was set on giving this five stars after the first half.
I'm unsure now what I want to give it. This novel branches off into a genre that always makes my brain hurt: .
Ryker, for the most part, made this fairly easy to digest, up until the end. At that point, I wasn't all that accepting of what/where Cody was at and I starting to get mentally fatigued and that lessened the enjoyment for me.
For that reason I'm hedging towards 3.5 stars.
February 6, 2016
I loved the way this story was being written until about mid way through...and then it all fell apart....there are stories we like and stories that just don't gel...and this falls into the latter category for me...ah well onto the next one :)
January 10, 2014
Whoa! What a crazy ride! I’m going 4.5 on a very Dark and twisted story that I really struggled with the rating. I’m also really going to struggle with this review because my reviews are always spoiler free and this is a book that is very tough to get into the likes and dislikes without giving away the WTH moments.
Cody Miller is on the fast track to the good life. He’s working on his MBA but is already set up with his hot girlfriend’s dad’s company once he gets his degree. When an accident happens and not only detours his life but those around him. Cody finds himself having to choose between a “happy” life and saving the girl he loves. I wish I could say more about the plot but if you are intrigued you will have to pick up the book and find out the hard way like I did…haha
I know you aren’t supposed to mention editing issues when getting ARCs but they do affect my enjoyment and when the writing and editing is good like in this book it makes me want to look into other works of the author. I mentioned that I struggled with which way to swing the stars while rating this one. That’s because it was so Dark but I picked this up because I wanted a Dark read?!?! I really think it came down to the beginning for me. It really beat me down and I think if his accident and recover process was 10% shorter or so I might have swung it up. And here’s where my conflict comes in. I told myself that I really need a great second half to make a 4 for me. Well what came was WTH happened to the book I was reading! The second half had me turning pages to the point that it became pretty much a one day read even with me trying to hold back because I was SUPPOSED to be BR’ing it! We’re talking eye-straining have to finish the second half of this book! If you want a Dark, at times Gory, at times super emotional(in a sad way) book, this would be the book for that mood!
The writing was great! If you are in the mood for an emotional claw your way back into life and then have your head spun around on your shoulders read take a peek at this one!
I want to thank Netgalley and Darkfuse for providing me with this ARC
Cody Miller is on the fast track to the good life. He’s working on his MBA but is already set up with his hot girlfriend’s dad’s company once he gets his degree. When an accident happens and not only detours his life but those around him. Cody finds himself having to choose between a “happy” life and saving the girl he loves. I wish I could say more about the plot but if you are intrigued you will have to pick up the book and find out the hard way like I did…haha
I know you aren’t supposed to mention editing issues when getting ARCs but they do affect my enjoyment and when the writing and editing is good like in this book it makes me want to look into other works of the author. I mentioned that I struggled with which way to swing the stars while rating this one. That’s because it was so Dark but I picked this up because I wanted a Dark read?!?! I really think it came down to the beginning for me. It really beat me down and I think if his accident and recover process was 10% shorter or so I might have swung it up. And here’s where my conflict comes in. I told myself that I really need a great second half to make a 4 for me. Well what came was WTH happened to the book I was reading! The second half had me turning pages to the point that it became pretty much a one day read even with me trying to hold back because I was SUPPOSED to be BR’ing it! We’re talking eye-straining have to finish the second half of this book! If you want a Dark, at times Gory, at times super emotional(in a sad way) book, this would be the book for that mood!
The writing was great! If you are in the mood for an emotional claw your way back into life and then have your head spun around on your shoulders read take a peek at this one!
I want to thank Netgalley and Darkfuse for providing me with this ARC
Want to read
November 23, 2015This is copy 28 of 100 signed and numbered copies signed by Alan Ryker.
April 27, 2014
Cody Miller is on the brink of living his dream, marrying the love of his life soon, and joining his fiancee's father's lucrative business...until an accident at his restaurant job leaves him horribly burned and clinging to life. While going through months of recovery and rehab, Cody has bizarre, drug-fogged dreams of a crumbling and burned inner-city, enclosed by a massive serpent...and his reality warps and twists as he both experiences the life he could have lived and his terrible accident that forever changed it. Then he discovers a way he might able to change things, to actually live that life he so narrowly missed, and to solve the mystery of what befell his beloved Madison.
Cleverly written and engaging through most of the book, although it does slow down somewhat in the middle as Cody goes through post-op recovery and rehab and tries to deal with the bleakness of his new life. Big themes are dealt with, the ultimate What If, and Ryker handles it with deft skill. The Serpent cult and who and what Ouroboros was ended up very satisfying and unexpected, with a nicely done conclusion. This was my first Ryker novel, and certainly not the last. I received a digital review copy for an honest review.
Cleverly written and engaging through most of the book, although it does slow down somewhat in the middle as Cody goes through post-op recovery and rehab and tries to deal with the bleakness of his new life. Big themes are dealt with, the ultimate What If, and Ryker handles it with deft skill. The Serpent cult and who and what Ouroboros was ended up very satisfying and unexpected, with a nicely done conclusion. This was my first Ryker novel, and certainly not the last. I received a digital review copy for an honest review.
August 3, 2014
This was a very unique book. It starts out with the protagonist suffering extremely bad burns and follows him as he tries to get his life back together. Ryker excelled at writing this part and made me feel like I was really watching the struggles of recovery. Then the book takes a turn that will throw the reader for a loop. At first, I wasn't caring for the turn of events but it all came together and made sense as it neared the conclusion. This is a book that will stay with you for a long time and the more that I think about it, the more that I like it. Recommended!
January 7, 2014
Strap yourself in for the ride of your life! Starting out dark, intense and horrifically graphic, just when you aren’t quite sure if you can take too much more physical, mental and emotional human suffering, Dream of the Serpent by Alan Ryker jumps the tracks and heads off into the world of what ifs, a world where “do overs” are possible, where the ripple effect can change reality. For Cole, life couldn’t have been better, his future was bright, filled with all the promises that dreams are made of, he was a blessed man, until that one instant where he is literally consumed by the flames of hell and witnesses the destruction caused by one tiny mistake, one fleeting second in time. But is this reality real? Was his torment a dream? Where has his fiancé disappeared to? Has she fallen back into a life of drugs and darkness out of guilt? Has she made a deal with darkness and evil? Can Cole find her and put things right, give her what he selfishly denied her before?
Alan Ryker did his homework. His gruesome details of the necessary medical torture a burn victim goes through hits its mark, dead on. Gut wrenching, and vividly described, these scenes are not for those who lack intestinal fortitude or the ability to compartmentalize. Adding the mental dialogue of the victim, trapped in a charred body pushes every emotional button available. But beyond that, the key plot twist is brilliant! Is there duality in existence? Can the events in life’s timeline be altered to provide a more favorable result? Would you risk everything to save another from a possible living hell? Could you make the ultimate sacrifice for love, knowing that all you have dreamed of, planned for and worked to achieve will never come to fruition?
Far from a typical tale of horror, there is mystery and a mental web of intrigue that will suck the reader into the vortex that is Alan Ryker’s bold style. How soon you can forget the effects of his powerful writing, well, I’m still replaying it as I write this.
I received an ARC edition from DarkFuse in exchange for my honest review.
Publication Date: January 5, 2014
Publisher: DarkFuse
ISBN: 9781937771942
Genre: Adult Mystery/Thriller/Dark Fantasy
Number of Pages: 190
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Alan Ryker did his homework. His gruesome details of the necessary medical torture a burn victim goes through hits its mark, dead on. Gut wrenching, and vividly described, these scenes are not for those who lack intestinal fortitude or the ability to compartmentalize. Adding the mental dialogue of the victim, trapped in a charred body pushes every emotional button available. But beyond that, the key plot twist is brilliant! Is there duality in existence? Can the events in life’s timeline be altered to provide a more favorable result? Would you risk everything to save another from a possible living hell? Could you make the ultimate sacrifice for love, knowing that all you have dreamed of, planned for and worked to achieve will never come to fruition?
Far from a typical tale of horror, there is mystery and a mental web of intrigue that will suck the reader into the vortex that is Alan Ryker’s bold style. How soon you can forget the effects of his powerful writing, well, I’m still replaying it as I write this.
I received an ARC edition from DarkFuse in exchange for my honest review.
Publication Date: January 5, 2014
Publisher: DarkFuse
ISBN: 9781937771942
Genre: Adult Mystery/Thriller/Dark Fantasy
Number of Pages: 190
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
June 3, 2020
The story I find it little bit off. I don't know where's the problem that make me not enjoying the tale but as for Alan Ryker fan which is me; it was just an ok enough read, that's what I can say...
The beginning of the story was really good and it seems to me a promising start. I immediately glued to the story at that time. Then the story faltered and things became complicated. I tried my heart to get along with the story but couldn't. At the end of the results I just didn't get the vibe of it and was happy to finished it anyway. Hopefully better read waiting for me next time...
Cody about to meet his rich girlfriend Madison after doing his work but an unfortunate accident spoil everything and almost cost his life. He was horribly burned by a fryer and because if that action he been hospitalised. He was in coma most of the time while he was in there. When finally he wakes up he knew immediately that there's no option left foe him, no job, no marriage to Madison. But he just can't give up everything, he needs to get moving. So he tried and when his girlfriend Madison missing from her parents party he knew what he needs to do. He gonna search his girlfriend and bring her back. But for doing this he realised soon there's place and fact that nobody could ever gone. There's a dark place waiting for him and beyond that there's more things that he had to deal with in according to save his love. He better hurry or think any alternatives...
The beginning of the story was really good and it seems to me a promising start. I immediately glued to the story at that time. Then the story faltered and things became complicated. I tried my heart to get along with the story but couldn't. At the end of the results I just didn't get the vibe of it and was happy to finished it anyway. Hopefully better read waiting for me next time...
Cody about to meet his rich girlfriend Madison after doing his work but an unfortunate accident spoil everything and almost cost his life. He was horribly burned by a fryer and because if that action he been hospitalised. He was in coma most of the time while he was in there. When finally he wakes up he knew immediately that there's no option left foe him, no job, no marriage to Madison. But he just can't give up everything, he needs to get moving. So he tried and when his girlfriend Madison missing from her parents party he knew what he needs to do. He gonna search his girlfriend and bring her back. But for doing this he realised soon there's place and fact that nobody could ever gone. There's a dark place waiting for him and beyond that there's more things that he had to deal with in according to save his love. He better hurry or think any alternatives...
January 13, 2014
4.5 stars
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley. In exchange, I am offering an honest review.
The skinny:
Cody seems to have it all; perfect fiancée, a lucrative job lined up, and his whole life mapped out. One mistake, one tiny, seemingly inconsequential mistake changes it all for him. Cody is then thrust into a world of agony, and broken dreams. But, as Cody soon realizes, not everything is as it seems. One word, Ourboros, changes his life forever.
The review:
Mindfuck. That is the first thing I think of when looking back on this book. When I was reading, I really had no idea where the author was going to take the story next. An event would occur, and I had the fleeting idea that I had everything “all figured out.” Wrong. Oh, so wrong. Past, present, and future all played a role in this story, and you couldn’t consider one without the other. The addition of the Ouroboros and its symbolic meaning added the “mindfuckery” to the story.
I loved this story because I didn’t have any idea how the book was going to end until the last few pages. I feel that this is a mark of a good book. If I can figure out the story and how it’s going to end within the first half, then the author is doing something wrong.
Cody himself also added an integral part to this story. Cody went through a transformation as a character. At the beginning of the book, I almost felt that he was a tad selfish, and thought primarily of himself and his life. When his accident occurred, he naturally found it hard to forgive at first, but he took this further when he refused to forgive when it was time to. As he progresses through the book, Cody begins to think of his life and the world differently. Suddenly, someone else’s life seemed equally important as his own. This change in Cody really made the book for me.
Overall:
This story made me feel. I had times where I was angry, sad, sympathetic, confused, etc. I loved the more fantastical elements of the book, and feel that they gave the story an almost dreamlike quality. I will definitely be looking for more books by this author!
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley. In exchange, I am offering an honest review.
The skinny:
Cody seems to have it all; perfect fiancée, a lucrative job lined up, and his whole life mapped out. One mistake, one tiny, seemingly inconsequential mistake changes it all for him. Cody is then thrust into a world of agony, and broken dreams. But, as Cody soon realizes, not everything is as it seems. One word, Ourboros, changes his life forever.
The review:
Mindfuck. That is the first thing I think of when looking back on this book. When I was reading, I really had no idea where the author was going to take the story next. An event would occur, and I had the fleeting idea that I had everything “all figured out.” Wrong. Oh, so wrong. Past, present, and future all played a role in this story, and you couldn’t consider one without the other. The addition of the Ouroboros and its symbolic meaning added the “mindfuckery” to the story.
I loved this story because I didn’t have any idea how the book was going to end until the last few pages. I feel that this is a mark of a good book. If I can figure out the story and how it’s going to end within the first half, then the author is doing something wrong.
Cody himself also added an integral part to this story. Cody went through a transformation as a character. At the beginning of the book, I almost felt that he was a tad selfish, and thought primarily of himself and his life. When his accident occurred, he naturally found it hard to forgive at first, but he took this further when he refused to forgive when it was time to. As he progresses through the book, Cody begins to think of his life and the world differently. Suddenly, someone else’s life seemed equally important as his own. This change in Cody really made the book for me.
Overall:
This story made me feel. I had times where I was angry, sad, sympathetic, confused, etc. I loved the more fantastical elements of the book, and feel that they gave the story an almost dreamlike quality. I will definitely be looking for more books by this author!
May 10, 2014
Did you ever think back to the moments leading up to a terrible event in your life and wonder what it would have been like if you had changed one small detail in those seconds and how much the subsequent details would change? Cody Miller does. A young man in the prime of his life who just completed his MBA and is engaged to be married has one moment of careless inattention. The result is disastrous and terrifying. Cody suffers massive third degree burns over the upper portion of his body. The pain is unbelievable and is followed by months of hospitalization with infections, skin grafts, and rehabilitation. Then there are his dreams – involving a phantom Cody wandering through a burned out city populated with the ash-like remains of inhabitants – and the coiled presence of a monstrous serpent. Cody fights his boundaries and somehow breaks through – and ends up waking up healed… with a great job, and a new woman. The only problem is that Cody has two sets of parallel memories… the one that leads to his perfect life and the other depicting the fire and his brutal injuries. Both seem real, but how can that be? In addition, the love of his life – his fiancée has disappeared. Cody senses that she is alive, but there is some other presence, something haunting, something unworldly…
Alan Ryker is a superb writer. I am a huge fan of his earlier works (especially Nightmare Man), so I approached this novel with enthusiasm. I was not disappointed. This is an astounding story. The first part of the novel, involving Cody’s accident and recovery are graphic and mesmerizing. I am not sure if the description of recovery process is accurate, but it is gripping and detailed. The psychological impact on Cody is deftly illustrated. When the supernatural components of the story take hold roughly midway through, the action shifts into overdrive and I had no clue as to how the plot would be resolved. Mr. Ryker is a master of suspense – and his imagination produces some outstanding and unique plotlines. Open Dream of a Serpent – you won’t sleep till it’s over.
Alan Ryker is a superb writer. I am a huge fan of his earlier works (especially Nightmare Man), so I approached this novel with enthusiasm. I was not disappointed. This is an astounding story. The first part of the novel, involving Cody’s accident and recovery are graphic and mesmerizing. I am not sure if the description of recovery process is accurate, but it is gripping and detailed. The psychological impact on Cody is deftly illustrated. When the supernatural components of the story take hold roughly midway through, the action shifts into overdrive and I had no clue as to how the plot would be resolved. Mr. Ryker is a master of suspense – and his imagination produces some outstanding and unique plotlines. Open Dream of a Serpent – you won’t sleep till it’s over.
April 10, 2014
Excellent read! Like two novels in one. Very highly recommended!
January 7, 2014
Book Review originally published here: http://www.iheartreading.net/reviews/...
Dream of the Serpent is more dark fantasy than horror, descending into the darkest breaches of the human mind, and giving us a choice. What if you could make things right? What if all the guilt you ever felt could be set straight? No matter what you did. Clean slate. Would you do it? All it costs is your soul.
Cody Miller is seconds away from having it all: the job of his dreams, the girl he’s always wanted, the life he imagined. But then said girlfriend calls him while he’s working in the kitchen of the restaurant he works at, and everything goes wrong. The fryer lights up, and seconds later, Cody is engulfed in flames. He survives, but what is left of him is a burned shell, continuously in pain, his body destroying him. His girlfriend won’t look at him anymore, overwhelmed by guilt for bothering him at the wrong moment.
She descends into madness and drugs, hanging out with the wrong crowd. She texts him, and send him emails that give him hope, but still he can’t really forgive her for what happened, or tell her it wasn’t her fault. But then, she vanishes, after mentioning something about a serpent.
Next thing Cody knows, he wakes up next to another woman with a whole new set of memories overlapping the ones he had about being burnt. These memories involve his girlfriend disappearing at the night of the party – the night he got burnt, in the other set of memories – and apart from missing her, he’s fine. His life is somewhat on track.
But as the memories struggle in his mind, he knows this isn’t his real life. And if ever wants to see the love of his life again, he’ll have to find out who or what the serpent is, and how she got involved with them. But what awaits him as he starts his search, is darker than anything he could’ve ever imagined.
Cody is a great character. He’s very human. When he has the accident, he’s angry with the world, and shoots his anger at everyone coming near, which seems like a very human reaction to me. I felt a lot of sympathy for him as he tumbles into a depression. But then, once he has the two sets of memories and notices something is wrong, he finds an immense amount of courage within himself, which I admired. His personality developed a lot throughout the book, and in a good way.
The plot was a mix of horror (although not a lot) and dark fantasy. The author has great imaginative skills, and manages to give vivid descriptions. When he described Cody’s burn wounds, I felt like throwing up. The words really make the picture come to life.
What I lacked a little though, was the sense of urgency. It seems like Cody dragged himself from spot to spot, and even when he wakes up with a new set of memories, and later on discovers his girlfriend is in terrible danger, there’s no real urgency. As if he has all the time in the world.
Apart from that, I really enjoyed this book, and look forward to reading more books by this author.
Dream of the Serpent is more dark fantasy than horror, descending into the darkest breaches of the human mind, and giving us a choice. What if you could make things right? What if all the guilt you ever felt could be set straight? No matter what you did. Clean slate. Would you do it? All it costs is your soul.
Cody Miller is seconds away from having it all: the job of his dreams, the girl he’s always wanted, the life he imagined. But then said girlfriend calls him while he’s working in the kitchen of the restaurant he works at, and everything goes wrong. The fryer lights up, and seconds later, Cody is engulfed in flames. He survives, but what is left of him is a burned shell, continuously in pain, his body destroying him. His girlfriend won’t look at him anymore, overwhelmed by guilt for bothering him at the wrong moment.
She descends into madness and drugs, hanging out with the wrong crowd. She texts him, and send him emails that give him hope, but still he can’t really forgive her for what happened, or tell her it wasn’t her fault. But then, she vanishes, after mentioning something about a serpent.
Next thing Cody knows, he wakes up next to another woman with a whole new set of memories overlapping the ones he had about being burnt. These memories involve his girlfriend disappearing at the night of the party – the night he got burnt, in the other set of memories – and apart from missing her, he’s fine. His life is somewhat on track.
But as the memories struggle in his mind, he knows this isn’t his real life. And if ever wants to see the love of his life again, he’ll have to find out who or what the serpent is, and how she got involved with them. But what awaits him as he starts his search, is darker than anything he could’ve ever imagined.
Cody is a great character. He’s very human. When he has the accident, he’s angry with the world, and shoots his anger at everyone coming near, which seems like a very human reaction to me. I felt a lot of sympathy for him as he tumbles into a depression. But then, once he has the two sets of memories and notices something is wrong, he finds an immense amount of courage within himself, which I admired. His personality developed a lot throughout the book, and in a good way.
The plot was a mix of horror (although not a lot) and dark fantasy. The author has great imaginative skills, and manages to give vivid descriptions. When he described Cody’s burn wounds, I felt like throwing up. The words really make the picture come to life.
What I lacked a little though, was the sense of urgency. It seems like Cody dragged himself from spot to spot, and even when he wakes up with a new set of memories, and later on discovers his girlfriend is in terrible danger, there’s no real urgency. As if he has all the time in the world.
Apart from that, I really enjoyed this book, and look forward to reading more books by this author.
May 12, 2014
The last thing I expected when I picked this up was a love story, yet that's just what it is. Haunting, tragic, and terrible, yes, but a love story nonetheless.
Cody Miller is on the verge of having it all. One he finishes school, his beautiful fiance's father has promised him a lucrative job that will form the foundation of lifelong success. All of that is taken away in an instant, though, thanks to a careless mistake. But whose fault was that mistake? And can Cody change the past?
The first third of this book is a brutal look at what a severe burn victim has to go through. It's obvious Ryker really did his homework here because, honestly, the passages here describing the pain, both physical and emotional, and the long (and sometimes impossible) road to recovery are some of the most harrowing I've ever read. No punches are pulled. The fire breaks Cody down in every way possible, and he doesn't consider what's left a person anymore. His toxic attitude soon infects everyone he cares about and things start to spiral out of control.
Then...everything changes. Literally. Cody wakes up hale and hearty. The accident never happened and his life is very much like he dreamed it would be, but there are some very important differences. He has distinct memories of the recent past, both as a burn victim and as a successful businessman. The turning focal point seems to be the night of the accident. In one memory, he was burned. In another, he was not, but his fiance disappeared, altering the course of his life. To find answers to all of his questions, Cody must venture into the darkest parts of both his city and his soul.
When we meet him, Cody is largely a selfish person. He cares about other people, but typically only insofar as they can help him further his goals. However, over the course of the story, he changes. Through memories of both lives he comes to understand himself and just how much pain he's put those closest to him through. This journey of self-discovery prompts a real journey through the darkest aspects of society.
Cody's journey is beautiful. Ryker is able to perfectly capture so many emotions and put them on the page. When Cody is at his lowest, you can feel his pain as if it were your own. When he receives a nebulous series of clues that offer the barest hints of what's going on, his hope is your hope. It's not surprise that a DarkFuse author can impart a sense of dread and horror in the reader, but Ryker is able to impart feelings of hope and love just as ably. I just was not expecting that, but I'm glad it happened. I can't recommend this book highly enough.
Cody Miller is on the verge of having it all. One he finishes school, his beautiful fiance's father has promised him a lucrative job that will form the foundation of lifelong success. All of that is taken away in an instant, though, thanks to a careless mistake. But whose fault was that mistake? And can Cody change the past?
The first third of this book is a brutal look at what a severe burn victim has to go through. It's obvious Ryker really did his homework here because, honestly, the passages here describing the pain, both physical and emotional, and the long (and sometimes impossible) road to recovery are some of the most harrowing I've ever read. No punches are pulled. The fire breaks Cody down in every way possible, and he doesn't consider what's left a person anymore. His toxic attitude soon infects everyone he cares about and things start to spiral out of control.
Then...everything changes. Literally. Cody wakes up hale and hearty. The accident never happened and his life is very much like he dreamed it would be, but there are some very important differences. He has distinct memories of the recent past, both as a burn victim and as a successful businessman. The turning focal point seems to be the night of the accident. In one memory, he was burned. In another, he was not, but his fiance disappeared, altering the course of his life. To find answers to all of his questions, Cody must venture into the darkest parts of both his city and his soul.
When we meet him, Cody is largely a selfish person. He cares about other people, but typically only insofar as they can help him further his goals. However, over the course of the story, he changes. Through memories of both lives he comes to understand himself and just how much pain he's put those closest to him through. This journey of self-discovery prompts a real journey through the darkest aspects of society.
Cody's journey is beautiful. Ryker is able to perfectly capture so many emotions and put them on the page. When Cody is at his lowest, you can feel his pain as if it were your own. When he receives a nebulous series of clues that offer the barest hints of what's going on, his hope is your hope. It's not surprise that a DarkFuse author can impart a sense of dread and horror in the reader, but Ryker is able to impart feelings of hope and love just as ably. I just was not expecting that, but I'm glad it happened. I can't recommend this book highly enough.
December 21, 2016
I wish I could tell you that I like a certain genre, then if someone was crazy enough to follow me they would know that they will always 'see' reviews of, foor example, gritty whodunits. But I don't.
One of the wonderful things about GR are the folks who spend the time and effort, with some skill and love, be they Reader Advisers (a librarian career field I didn't know existed) or just folks who want to help you find good books.
I'm not sure I can do this book justice, without babbling about what you will find if you should read the book. Perhaps the review by Karen, one of those wonderful people I found on GR who have gotten me to read stuff I never would have found, will entice you.
I wasn't as thrilled as Karen on Mr Ryker's "Burden Kansas" but she was on target with this one for me.
A good one.
One of the wonderful things about GR are the folks who spend the time and effort, with some skill and love, be they Reader Advisers (a librarian career field I didn't know existed) or just folks who want to help you find good books.
I'm not sure I can do this book justice, without babbling about what you will find if you should read the book. Perhaps the review by Karen, one of those wonderful people I found on GR who have gotten me to read stuff I never would have found, will entice you.
I wasn't as thrilled as Karen on Mr Ryker's "Burden Kansas" but she was on target with this one for me.
A good one.
April 18, 2014
This is the story of Cody Miller. He has his whole life ahead of him - engaged to the girl of his dreams, a dream job lined up and everything is going his way. Then it falls apart when he is burned in a horrific accident at work. Suddenly his whole life changes and things are not what they seem. What is the significance of the serpent he keeps seeing in his dreams?
This is one of those stories that makes you think. It starts off going one way and then goes in a completely different direction and you are left thinking 'Wait, what?', but not in a bad way as everything soon becomes clear. Cody wasn't a particularly likeable character, but I was still interested to see what happened to him. The pace went along at a fair clip and kept me page turning, and the ending was good but ultimately quite sad. I think this one will stay with me for a while to come.
This is one of those stories that makes you think. It starts off going one way and then goes in a completely different direction and you are left thinking 'Wait, what?', but not in a bad way as everything soon becomes clear. Cody wasn't a particularly likeable character, but I was still interested to see what happened to him. The pace went along at a fair clip and kept me page turning, and the ending was good but ultimately quite sad. I think this one will stay with me for a while to come.
April 19, 2014
This is my second Alan Ryker novel and it has sent me seeking out more of his works.
This one is setup as two different halves of the story. The first half is a riveting account of the main characters accident and subsequent recovery. This is told with such emotion and vivid imagery of the devastating affects of such an accident that the abrupt segue to the second half is a bit jarring. However, the originality of the second half and emotional investment built for the characters in the first half worked for me as our protagonist journeys into a secret underworld to try and decipher the memories and dreams he has that don’t reflect his reality.
Highly recommended read.
This one is setup as two different halves of the story. The first half is a riveting account of the main characters accident and subsequent recovery. This is told with such emotion and vivid imagery of the devastating affects of such an accident that the abrupt segue to the second half is a bit jarring. However, the originality of the second half and emotional investment built for the characters in the first half worked for me as our protagonist journeys into a secret underworld to try and decipher the memories and dreams he has that don’t reflect his reality.
Highly recommended read.
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