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Another Kind #1
Child of Another Kind
A little girl can look at someone and know their past. How? Why?
Single mom Cynthia Pace has her hands full with her uniquely gifted child. She has no idea how or why Maddie does the things she does, and neither does her daughter. But there is an answer, discovered by mother and child only after tragedy strikes.
Then all becomes clear, except now they are millions of miles apart.
From the bestselling author of Time Chain comes a novel rooted in the intricacies of human emotion and our enduring fascination with the universe in which we live.
Single mom Cynthia Pace has her hands full with her uniquely gifted child. She has no idea how or why Maddie does the things she does, and neither does her daughter. But there is an answer, discovered by mother and child only after tragedy strikes.
Then all becomes clear, except now they are millions of miles apart.
From the bestselling author of Time Chain comes a novel rooted in the intricacies of human emotion and our enduring fascination with the universe in which we live.
392 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 18, 2023
886 people are currently reading
15364 people want to read
About the author
Steven Decker
25 books3,610 followersSteven Decker is the author of many novels, including the bestselling Time Chain series and Child of Another Kind. His love of writing was born on the day he threw a spitball at one of his 5th-grade classmates. Rather than punish him, his wise old teacher, Mrs. Brewer, called Steven to the front of the class and handed him a book of poetry. She quietly instructed him to memorize “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening,” by Robert Frost and informed him that he would be reciting the poem in front of the class the following day. Mrs. Brewer hit a home run.
Inspired by Frost’s ability to paint a picture and generate deep emotion with the written word, Steven fell in love with reading, writing, and storytelling. As an 8th grader, he read the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy, for fun. It wasn’t a homework assignment. As a student at the University of Virginia, he was thrilled at the prospect of writing a thesis as the culmination of his undergraduate studies. While traveling the world for work, Steven kept writing, and his experiences around the globe have influenced his novels in many ways.
When living in Appalachia while writing his first novel, Steven studied and practiced the art of storytelling. Since that time, he always edits his books by reading them aloud to himself. Novels are a story and need to sound like one. Fiction readers want to escape from their everyday lives when they read a novel. Thus the true job of a novelist is to imagine special things, sometimes even spectacular things, then write about them in a way that inspires the reader to go there, too, leaving the ordinary behind.
Steven lives and writes in both Arizona and Connecticut and travels throughout the world looking for new ideas and settings for his books. He enjoys spending time with Karen and Mr. Wilson, the beagle, walking in the countryside, and being with his family.
Inspired by Frost’s ability to paint a picture and generate deep emotion with the written word, Steven fell in love with reading, writing, and storytelling. As an 8th grader, he read the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy, for fun. It wasn’t a homework assignment. As a student at the University of Virginia, he was thrilled at the prospect of writing a thesis as the culmination of his undergraduate studies. While traveling the world for work, Steven kept writing, and his experiences around the globe have influenced his novels in many ways.
When living in Appalachia while writing his first novel, Steven studied and practiced the art of storytelling. Since that time, he always edits his books by reading them aloud to himself. Novels are a story and need to sound like one. Fiction readers want to escape from their everyday lives when they read a novel. Thus the true job of a novelist is to imagine special things, sometimes even spectacular things, then write about them in a way that inspires the reader to go there, too, leaving the ordinary behind.
Steven lives and writes in both Arizona and Connecticut and travels throughout the world looking for new ideas and settings for his books. He enjoys spending time with Karen and Mr. Wilson, the beagle, walking in the countryside, and being with his family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
March 1, 2023
As I began reading, my first impression was that the two main characters intrigued me and I wanted to know more about them. I was interested in both Cynthia and Maddie, for different reasons.
I felt the author created a unique universe for the reader, and brought the characters within it to life. When something like this happens, it feels like a world for the reader to escape into.
I would also be interested to know if there is any possibility of a sequel to this book, to find out what happened next to Maddie and Cynthia.
I felt the author created a unique universe for the reader, and brought the characters within it to life. When something like this happens, it feels like a world for the reader to escape into.
I would also be interested to know if there is any possibility of a sequel to this book, to find out what happened next to Maddie and Cynthia.
February 25, 2023
Book Review - Child Of Another Kind by Steven Decker
Are you interested in a story about rekindling relationships, second chances, science fiction, and eternal life? Well, all of these aspects, as far across the book spectrum as they can string, is being brought to you in this one fantastic read.
Author of Time Chain, another novel in which I have a review for and will link down below, Steven Decker has a hand and head for metaphysical science fiction, as well as time. He grabs time by the fist and grapples with its boundaries, proving through these stories all that can come about when time is either too much of the essence or not at all.
In this establishment, Child Of Another Kind, we are seeing just that. A mother and daughter bond, but here’s the twist.
The mother dies and comes back to life. The daughter is somewhere beyond Earth… not by choice.
So where do we go from here?
From the jump, we get action and plot events thrown our way. Hold tight, it is worth it. Cynthia Pace is out not only to help her daughter, but to bring truth to words spoken and rekindle past errors. With obstacles, both physical and mentally stooping their way, this journey is not for the weak. Author Decker proves that, puts his characters through it, all while also taking the readers for a whirl wind of a ride.
Cynthia’s daughter, Maddie, is dealing with internal issues aside from the world around her and her relationship with her mother. As a child, this is hard to process from the outside that a child may have mind games and negativity surrounding them like a halo, but the author here proves that everyone fights their own battles.
An interesting set of characters in this story are the Makers, beings that are supposed to help Cynthia, you would think, but have intent for quite the opposite. The Makers are walking obstacles basically, always trailing in the back corner of our minds as we read the story.
As noted before, Maddie is beyond Earth not by choice, but in a rather blunt way, she is held prisoner in a place where she knows nothing about anyone in her surroundings… yet they all know her.
Without spoiling the rest of the story, or the intricate details in between, trust me on this one, you will want to read this book. Steven Decker writes with the intent to help readers escape reality and capture the mind. A storyteller since a young age, has now four writings completed, with what I am hoping many more to come. To leave the ordinary behind is all this author wants to do for both himself while writing, and for the reader whilst reading.
March 16, 2023
Bestselling Author Steven Decker has a knack of transporting the reader from the here and now into new worlds that capture the imagination and let it soar. In this science fiction novel, Child of Another Kind, Decker has created a unique realm that I felt completely absorbed in. Cynthia (the mother) has her hands full as Maddie (the daughter) is not like other children, she has the ability to do things like projecting her voice into people’s minds and sees their memories, which causes issues for Maddie as she tries to deal with these differences.
Although the book is a sci-fi novel I personally think there’s a coming of age/relationships kind of vibe to it, as there is a great deal of mother/daughter love going on and self discovery along the way. This gave the book a much bigger appeal for me, and this is what I loved most about this book. The writing was good, and not cold like some sci-fi novels can come across as. Another great read from Decker, and I look forward to the next.
Although the book is a sci-fi novel I personally think there’s a coming of age/relationships kind of vibe to it, as there is a great deal of mother/daughter love going on and self discovery along the way. This gave the book a much bigger appeal for me, and this is what I loved most about this book. The writing was good, and not cold like some sci-fi novels can come across as. Another great read from Decker, and I look forward to the next.
March 18, 2023
Quite a good story
I found this book to be much different than I thought it would be. It was well written and well thought out and very enjoyable to read.
I found this book to be much different than I thought it would be. It was well written and well thought out and very enjoyable to read.
March 18, 2023
Great read
This book was a new twist on how sy fi books.Loved the way it carried you from one world to another the ending was wonderful.
This book was a new twist on how sy fi books.Loved the way it carried you from one world to another the ending was wonderful.
October 4, 2023
Cynthia adopted her daughter Madison after she was left at a nearby fire station and has loved her from the moment she saw her big humongous eyes. She could tell from the beginning that Madison was special but just how special wouldn’t become clearer until she started talking. At the age of three a man knocked on their door saying he was there to talk to Cynthia about his church and because Cynthia was such a staunch Christian and love God with all her heart she invited the man and this is when Madison telepathically told her this man was evil and wanted to kill them. This would be the first of many times Cynthia was amazed at her daughter special abilities she was even called into school because she kept telling on other children about the devious things they done. It’s soon became apparent to Cynthia that she needed to home school when she started sending young Madison to see the psychiatrist they called Amy Madison had someone else who cared about her and what happened to her but when she in the medical doctors that also saw young Madison Had their office is broken into and her files stolen Cynthia didn’t know what to make of it. This would be the beginning of the end of their life together at least for the foreseeable future and how they come back together is the amazing tale that makes up a Child Of a Another Kind by Steven Decker this is the first book in the trilogy and if this is the beginning definitely signed me up for the other two because OMG I have loved Steven deckers last series but I’m always scared to start a new one that the same old magic will not be there and although this one is slightly a different type genre it’s still has his flair and what I have come to Love about unputdownable Steven Decker books. I can honestly say I wasn’t at all disappointed. Please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.
September 13, 2023
So let's talk about Steven Decker's Child of Another Kind. Now, I've been around the block a few times with sci-fi novels, so when I say this one is like that weird aunt you never knew you needed until she shows up at Thanksgiving with a pet raccoon, I mean it in the best possible way.
So, diving right into the meat and potatoes, the plot of this book is like a rollercoaster that's mostly safe but has a couple of loose screws. Decker touches on some seriously strange stuff but with the kind of finesse you'd expect from someone who's been to a few rodeos. And just when you think you know what's coming, he swerves, and you're left wondering if your book has been drinking.
Now, the characters? Let me tell you about Maddie. It's like watching a caterpillar turn into a butterfly, but if the caterpillar had some serious baggage and the butterfly was into goth music. It's a journey. Some of the side characters, though? Eh, they're like the parsley on your dish - kinda there, kinda decorative, kinda...forgettable.
Decker's way with words is like if Picasso decided to paint with alphabets. He creates these mental pictures that are vivid enough to hang in your brain gallery. But then sometimes, it feels like he just got lost in the paint aisle of his own mind, if you catch my drift.
Child of Another Kind is that quirky book you didn't think you needed, but now can't imagine living without. It's like a weird dream that you want to go back to sleep for. Flawed? Absolutely. Worth it? Absolutely.
So, diving right into the meat and potatoes, the plot of this book is like a rollercoaster that's mostly safe but has a couple of loose screws. Decker touches on some seriously strange stuff but with the kind of finesse you'd expect from someone who's been to a few rodeos. And just when you think you know what's coming, he swerves, and you're left wondering if your book has been drinking.
Now, the characters? Let me tell you about Maddie. It's like watching a caterpillar turn into a butterfly, but if the caterpillar had some serious baggage and the butterfly was into goth music. It's a journey. Some of the side characters, though? Eh, they're like the parsley on your dish - kinda there, kinda decorative, kinda...forgettable.
Decker's way with words is like if Picasso decided to paint with alphabets. He creates these mental pictures that are vivid enough to hang in your brain gallery. But then sometimes, it feels like he just got lost in the paint aisle of his own mind, if you catch my drift.
Child of Another Kind is that quirky book you didn't think you needed, but now can't imagine living without. It's like a weird dream that you want to go back to sleep for. Flawed? Absolutely. Worth it? Absolutely.
July 3, 2023
Great Character Development
The two main characters really come alive as real people. Even supporting characters are well drawn. I just wish there had been more background on the mysterious Watchers.
The two main characters really come alive as real people. Even supporting characters are well drawn. I just wish there had been more background on the mysterious Watchers.
April 26, 2023
Interesting concept
I liked this book very different. Not quite science fiction and not quite supernatural. You need to keep an open mind. If you can you will enjoy this story.
I liked this book very different. Not quite science fiction and not quite supernatural. You need to keep an open mind. If you can you will enjoy this story.
March 31, 2024
Very interesting concept but the writing style and dialogue are very simplistic, almost reading like a children’s novel. It is also speaks a lot about faith in God and reaching the Kingdom of Heaven which I found an interesting choice for a sci-fi novel. Not sure how others feel, but after I while I found it took away from the main story and I starting wondering if the author had a religious agenda.
June 27, 2025
For a science fiction book about an alien race interfering with our world, the most alien part of this book is the author's relationship with emotions, religion, and women.
This book tries to do a lot of things at once - reflect on religion, explore a mother-daughter bond, speculate about alien life, and deliver a stirring action tale.
It fails
To be fair, it almost succeeds in the speculation about alien life. I'm firmly convinced that's only because the author is some kind of alien in writer's suit, and he loves to talk about his fellow aliens.
Beyond that, he never once connects us to the characters, the story, or the point. Most of the action is told in summary, and what little is shared with us, is bland, unconvincing and over in minutes. The writing is sparse in tone and completely devoid of kind of connection to character or emotional beats, but natters on for days about ideas. The author can't seem to make up his mind if he's writing for young people, grown adults, or his fellow aliens. I never could quite figure out if this is a boring book for young adults or a pointless one for grown people.
Let's talk about the emotions in the book, because that's what the author did, talk about them while never actually showing any evidence of them on the page. We're told the mother and daughter adore each other and yet we never see any actions to back it up. No mother's hand on the daughter's shoulder during a crisis or any rush to comfort each other when things go wrong.
The emotional remove in the writing is so clinical that it could be a scholarly paper titled, "The familial bond as demonstrated by a fictional mother/daughter relationship." Honestly, I'd rather read that.
Leaving the emotions out of it (much like the author did) the discussion about religion is dry, pointless, and ultimately doesn't go anywhere. The mother's religion is talked about at gerat length, but it feels like it was written by someone who neither believes nor understands the religious experience, and nothing ever comes of it, so it just felt like another dead end.
Speaking of dead-ends, there are several deaths in the book, including a rather important one, and it's all glossed over within a paragraph or two. No one really mourns, if they even notice. People are disposable in this book, and that makes it hard to care about the next character slotted into the next section or scene.
This isn't a terrible book - if you're an alien trying to understand humans. If you're a human who wants to see what an alien thinks about us, I guess it's worth a try. Just don't expect much. Even so, you might still be disappointed. This is an idea book, but the ideas are not interesting to make up for the lack of literally anything else.
2 could-have-been-an-email stars
This book tries to do a lot of things at once - reflect on religion, explore a mother-daughter bond, speculate about alien life, and deliver a stirring action tale.
It fails
To be fair, it almost succeeds in the speculation about alien life. I'm firmly convinced that's only because the author is some kind of alien in writer's suit, and he loves to talk about his fellow aliens.
Beyond that, he never once connects us to the characters, the story, or the point. Most of the action is told in summary, and what little is shared with us, is bland, unconvincing and over in minutes. The writing is sparse in tone and completely devoid of kind of connection to character or emotional beats, but natters on for days about ideas. The author can't seem to make up his mind if he's writing for young people, grown adults, or his fellow aliens. I never could quite figure out if this is a boring book for young adults or a pointless one for grown people.
Let's talk about the emotions in the book, because that's what the author did, talk about them while never actually showing any evidence of them on the page. We're told the mother and daughter adore each other and yet we never see any actions to back it up. No mother's hand on the daughter's shoulder during a crisis or any rush to comfort each other when things go wrong.
The emotional remove in the writing is so clinical that it could be a scholarly paper titled, "The familial bond as demonstrated by a fictional mother/daughter relationship." Honestly, I'd rather read that.
Leaving the emotions out of it (much like the author did) the discussion about religion is dry, pointless, and ultimately doesn't go anywhere. The mother's religion is talked about at gerat length, but it feels like it was written by someone who neither believes nor understands the religious experience, and nothing ever comes of it, so it just felt like another dead end.
Speaking of dead-ends, there are several deaths in the book, including a rather important one, and it's all glossed over within a paragraph or two. No one really mourns, if they even notice. People are disposable in this book, and that makes it hard to care about the next character slotted into the next section or scene.
This isn't a terrible book - if you're an alien trying to understand humans. If you're a human who wants to see what an alien thinks about us, I guess it's worth a try. Just don't expect much. Even so, you might still be disappointed. This is an idea book, but the ideas are not interesting to make up for the lack of literally anything else.
2 could-have-been-an-email stars
August 2, 2023
Brought up as a human child with unusual abilities, Maddie is really an alien. While Maddie is being studied by government agents, her foster mother gets the opportunity to study Maddie's home world. Some readers seem to like the way the mother defends Christianity and humanity to Maddie's people. It didn't work well for me. Sorry, I received the book in exchange for a brutally honest review, and that's it. You may find either the characterizations or the apologetics in this book worthy of four or five stars. Many people do. I think other writers' defenses of either our faith or us as a species have been more compelling.
June 18, 2024
The premise was interesting but the writing style and the underlying religious pounding were not my cup of tea.
On the style, there’s very little descriptions and the prose feels childish. It almost reads like a police report; stick to the facts, no flourish. Characters are very 2-dimensional and simplistic. No depth, no grey area.
On the religion aspect, it feels like I’m reading 2 stories. One of the story line on character 1 is fine but the story line in character 2 is laying it sooooo thick! It made me wonder about the author’s background.
On the style, there’s very little descriptions and the prose feels childish. It almost reads like a police report; stick to the facts, no flourish. Characters are very 2-dimensional and simplistic. No depth, no grey area.
On the religion aspect, it feels like I’m reading 2 stories. One of the story line on character 1 is fine but the story line in character 2 is laying it sooooo thick! It made me wonder about the author’s background.
February 21, 2023
Storytelling at its finest!
Connecticut author Steven Decker is a world explorer - for business, for sport (he has been a traveling triathlete), and for the pleasure of examining and appreciating other cultures. He has published four novels to date - DISTANT FINISH, PROJECTOR FOR SALE, TIME CHAIN, and now CHILD OF ANOTHER KIND. He ventures quite comfortably into the paranormal and science fiction arenas, always in his own way - and always quite successfully tackling subject matter few authors can acquiesce. He opens his examination of a ‘different child’ in 1990 with a mother (Cynthia)/daughter (Maddie) moment; - ‘The whole thing was my fault; I should have never let that man into our home…As we sat at the kitchen table together, Maddie in her booster chair beside me and the “bad man” (Maddie’s words, not mine) across from us, I could tell she was agitated. Even as an infant, she’d cry when certain people held her yet coo and smile when others did the same. I suspected something was different about her even then, but not everything, until my life on Earth was ended.’ Further hints of the theme follow: ‘I didn’t find out until some years later how Maddie could do things such as projecting her voice into people’s minds and knowing their memoires, but the one thing I was certain of, on that glorious and frightful morning, was that my daughter was always right about people. All it took for her was a long look into their eyes, and she’d been doing that since the man sat down, By now she knew the truth of who he really was.’
Beautifully written with a fine core theme well developed, this is a novel of significance. Few authors can traverse the spectrum of paranormal with the finesse Steven Decker imbues this novel. The manner in which he escorts his characters through the different dimensions signals a position in the top tier of contemporary writers. Very highly recommended.
Connecticut author Steven Decker is a world explorer - for business, for sport (he has been a traveling triathlete), and for the pleasure of examining and appreciating other cultures. He has published four novels to date - DISTANT FINISH, PROJECTOR FOR SALE, TIME CHAIN, and now CHILD OF ANOTHER KIND. He ventures quite comfortably into the paranormal and science fiction arenas, always in his own way - and always quite successfully tackling subject matter few authors can acquiesce. He opens his examination of a ‘different child’ in 1990 with a mother (Cynthia)/daughter (Maddie) moment; - ‘The whole thing was my fault; I should have never let that man into our home…As we sat at the kitchen table together, Maddie in her booster chair beside me and the “bad man” (Maddie’s words, not mine) across from us, I could tell she was agitated. Even as an infant, she’d cry when certain people held her yet coo and smile when others did the same. I suspected something was different about her even then, but not everything, until my life on Earth was ended.’ Further hints of the theme follow: ‘I didn’t find out until some years later how Maddie could do things such as projecting her voice into people’s minds and knowing their memoires, but the one thing I was certain of, on that glorious and frightful morning, was that my daughter was always right about people. All it took for her was a long look into their eyes, and she’d been doing that since the man sat down, By now she knew the truth of who he really was.’
Beautifully written with a fine core theme well developed, this is a novel of significance. Few authors can traverse the spectrum of paranormal with the finesse Steven Decker imbues this novel. The manner in which he escorts his characters through the different dimensions signals a position in the top tier of contemporary writers. Very highly recommended.
December 20, 2025
Many yikes on several levels!
Christians are assumed to be well-meaning idiots, and it is apparently mostly atheists who have empathy. Cynthia is mocked repeatedly for her beliefs, which, despite her claims of being Christian, are not even Christian beliefs. Some things Cynthia espouses go directly against Christian theology.
Aya is immediately assumed to not be a Christian because of the color of her skin. Did the author forget where Jesus was born?
Asians are described as “mongoloids” and I won’t even tell you what black people are called. Adding to that is the implication that there is only one type of Asian.
Maddie grows up into a twenty year old blonde with a generous chest and a thin waist somehow. A 29-year-old has a crush on her. Male author moment.
This one’s more of a pet peeve: Maddie says that during her time in captivity she picked up a few of the Romance languages, but her pronunciation was poor, as she had never heard them spoken aloud before. How does she know her pronunciation is poor, then?
This was a major disappointment.
Christians are assumed to be well-meaning idiots, and it is apparently mostly atheists who have empathy. Cynthia is mocked repeatedly for her beliefs, which, despite her claims of being Christian, are not even Christian beliefs. Some things Cynthia espouses go directly against Christian theology.
Aya is immediately assumed to not be a Christian because of the color of her skin. Did the author forget where Jesus was born?
Asians are described as “mongoloids” and I won’t even tell you what black people are called. Adding to that is the implication that there is only one type of Asian.
Maddie grows up into a twenty year old blonde with a generous chest and a thin waist somehow. A 29-year-old has a crush on her. Male author moment.
This one’s more of a pet peeve: Maddie says that during her time in captivity she picked up a few of the Romance languages, but her pronunciation was poor, as she had never heard them spoken aloud before. How does she know her pronunciation is poor, then?
This was a major disappointment.
October 31, 2023
I waffled between three and four stars on this one. The story is interesting and engaging...the dialog is a bit sterile and transactional, however. But, overall, I enjoyed the book and am looking forward to the next installment.
June 22, 2023
This book stretched my credulity beyond what is reasonably believable. I have no problem with the premises which underpinned the story - I just couldn't get into it as there appeared to be huge gaps (which the reader is expected to fill in) and it jumps around from one scenario to another too quickly, leaving out what I would call essential background. I can see the point of the tale, and am open-minded about what the author posits as an explanation for people who are 'different' (like in The Matrix or X-Men), and others' treatment of such people by those who are afraid of what they represent.
November 25, 2024
I really love science fiction and the premise of this book had me really excited. However, this book went in a religious direction which is strange considering it’s SCIENCE fiction. The religious themes were overpowering and really took away from what could have been a great book.
November 29, 2023
Unusual
I am not used to this type of fiction. Other worldly events mixed with religious overtones were hard to reconcile.
I am not used to this type of fiction. Other worldly events mixed with religious overtones were hard to reconcile.
February 24, 2023
Cynthia and Maddie. Mother and daughter. Love and devotion. An urge to protect and a wish to be equal to the expectations. A familiar pattern for a happy family.
“All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way,” a timeless concept Leo Tolstoy introduced almost two centuries ago in his “Anna Karenina” can be applied to this small family. The family that is more unique than others but at the same time quintessential, its members having proved that family ties are stronger than the most formidable powers on Earth and beyond.
“Child of Another Kind” by Steven Decker is a gripping, unputdownable read. In the first chapters, it lulls you into believing you are about to read a different kind of story only to change direction with a bang.
When Cynthia’s dream to become a mother came true and she adopted baby Maddie, she couldn’t imagine where this beautiful journey of being a parent would lead her. We often say that children are a whole new universe, meaning it metaphorically. But in Cynthia’s case, it happens literally. Becoming Maddie’s mother has brought her to places she couldn’t imagine she’d ever visit. And although it shattered her hopes to find herself in a different kind of place, she didn’t succumb to disappointment as others before her.
“Child of Another Kind” is an action-packed story that will take the reader to fascinating destinations, both real and imaginary. And what a vivid imagination the author has! But it’s also a book about a self-discovery journey, both for Cynthia and Maddie.
Cynthia’s faith is what helps her to accept what has happened to her. Her beliefs sustain her while she adapts to the new circumstances despite they, in a way, prove that those beliefs are wrong or not fully compliant with her religion’s teachings. Following her inner transformation, I asked myself the same questions Cynthia was forced to face.
Maddie’s adult life didn’t even start when she had to reassess who she truly is. She always knew she was different; the abilities she had that other people didn’t possess made it absolutely clear. But she found out the whole truth only after it didn’t matter. Learning that she was someone different from who she believed she was, made Maddie realise that her nature didn’t depend on her origins but rather on the experiences and emotions she’d developed along the way.
“Child of Another Kind” makes the reader turn the pages to satiate the curiosity to find out what happens next and how the story ends. Still, it is also the kind of book that leaves you musing about existential issues.
“All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way,” a timeless concept Leo Tolstoy introduced almost two centuries ago in his “Anna Karenina” can be applied to this small family. The family that is more unique than others but at the same time quintessential, its members having proved that family ties are stronger than the most formidable powers on Earth and beyond.
“Child of Another Kind” by Steven Decker is a gripping, unputdownable read. In the first chapters, it lulls you into believing you are about to read a different kind of story only to change direction with a bang.
When Cynthia’s dream to become a mother came true and she adopted baby Maddie, she couldn’t imagine where this beautiful journey of being a parent would lead her. We often say that children are a whole new universe, meaning it metaphorically. But in Cynthia’s case, it happens literally. Becoming Maddie’s mother has brought her to places she couldn’t imagine she’d ever visit. And although it shattered her hopes to find herself in a different kind of place, she didn’t succumb to disappointment as others before her.
“Child of Another Kind” is an action-packed story that will take the reader to fascinating destinations, both real and imaginary. And what a vivid imagination the author has! But it’s also a book about a self-discovery journey, both for Cynthia and Maddie.
Cynthia’s faith is what helps her to accept what has happened to her. Her beliefs sustain her while she adapts to the new circumstances despite they, in a way, prove that those beliefs are wrong or not fully compliant with her religion’s teachings. Following her inner transformation, I asked myself the same questions Cynthia was forced to face.
Maddie’s adult life didn’t even start when she had to reassess who she truly is. She always knew she was different; the abilities she had that other people didn’t possess made it absolutely clear. But she found out the whole truth only after it didn’t matter. Learning that she was someone different from who she believed she was, made Maddie realise that her nature didn’t depend on her origins but rather on the experiences and emotions she’d developed along the way.
“Child of Another Kind” makes the reader turn the pages to satiate the curiosity to find out what happens next and how the story ends. Still, it is also the kind of book that leaves you musing about existential issues.
March 10, 2023
Decker hits another home run with this great book. His world-building skills are impressive, and, as with his other books, he manages to paint pictures rather than set scenes. This doesn't just carry on in the setting, as his characters are rich and full of life. He brings a snapshot of realism to everything he shares.
This story starts and hits the ground running, keeping a high pace from the start of the book that persists (mostly) throughout. In this book, Decker balances a dire emotional circumstance--Cynthia's death and journey to find and rescue her daughter from where she is kept prisoner, along with the consequences and dire stakes in the world around them. I found the concept of both worlds/planes of existence pretty interesting, especially the twist about Maddie, who she is, and her capabilities.
If you're just in it for the story, this is an excellent read…but there are many bigger questions that make you think about existence and even a bit about spirituality. I highly recommend this book; it's fantastic!
This story starts and hits the ground running, keeping a high pace from the start of the book that persists (mostly) throughout. In this book, Decker balances a dire emotional circumstance--Cynthia's death and journey to find and rescue her daughter from where she is kept prisoner, along with the consequences and dire stakes in the world around them. I found the concept of both worlds/planes of existence pretty interesting, especially the twist about Maddie, who she is, and her capabilities.
If you're just in it for the story, this is an excellent read…but there are many bigger questions that make you think about existence and even a bit about spirituality. I highly recommend this book; it's fantastic!
April 2, 2023
Great story BUT…
I loved the story. Loved it! Until the climax of the story… Spoilers (and much frustration) ahead:
.
.
.
So, Maddie is working with the FBI. While abroad, she discovers all about a bad guy, but then her partner, who she admitted was basically a golden boy, is shot and killed. What does she do? She runs and never looks back.
This infuriated me. I don’t blame Maddie, I blame the author. LOL Maddie’s character would have at LEAST sent a letter to the FBI, giving them the information needed to put this guy away. Her partner trusted her, so her complete disregard for finishing the job dishonored him completely.
Sloppy, inconsiderate writing. Very disappointing, considering how wonderful the story was.
There were other loose ends I didn’t care for, but those are very minor and forgivable. Not worth more spoilers.
I loved the story. Loved it! Until the climax of the story… Spoilers (and much frustration) ahead:
.
.
.
So, Maddie is working with the FBI. While abroad, she discovers all about a bad guy, but then her partner, who she admitted was basically a golden boy, is shot and killed. What does she do? She runs and never looks back.
This infuriated me. I don’t blame Maddie, I blame the author. LOL Maddie’s character would have at LEAST sent a letter to the FBI, giving them the information needed to put this guy away. Her partner trusted her, so her complete disregard for finishing the job dishonored him completely.
Sloppy, inconsiderate writing. Very disappointing, considering how wonderful the story was.
There were other loose ends I didn’t care for, but those are very minor and forgivable. Not worth more spoilers.
August 25, 2023
"Child of Another Kind" by Steven Decker is one of those books that kind of sneaks up on you. At first glance, it might seem like just another story, but as you delve deeper and the layers unfold, I couldn’t help but get totally immersed in the narrative.
Decker's writing style is straightforward and expressive, a combination that's hard to come by these days. The characters are well rounded and fleshed out , each with their own personality traits, which made them feel real and relatable. The plot was engaging and definitely kept me turning the pages. For me the dialogue and characters are what made “Child of Another Kind” a most enjoyable read, the fact that I forgot I was reading a book and was so absorbed in it all.
I look forward to reading a lot more by this author. Decker is a great storyteller, and he crafts a story that is believable and unforgettable. It is a story that will linger with me. Highly recommended.
Decker's writing style is straightforward and expressive, a combination that's hard to come by these days. The characters are well rounded and fleshed out , each with their own personality traits, which made them feel real and relatable. The plot was engaging and definitely kept me turning the pages. For me the dialogue and characters are what made “Child of Another Kind” a most enjoyable read, the fact that I forgot I was reading a book and was so absorbed in it all.
I look forward to reading a lot more by this author. Decker is a great storyteller, and he crafts a story that is believable and unforgettable. It is a story that will linger with me. Highly recommended.
September 28, 2023
Another delightful, thought provoking read from talented author, Steven Decker, Child Of Another Kind, will take you to places beyond your imagination and draw you into worlds that defy description. The pictures Decker paints will capture your imagination in more ways than one, leaving you questioning our existence and the meaning of life and beyond.
Single Mother, Cynthia Pace has an unbreakable bond with her adopted daughter Maddie which ultimately transcends Cynthia's untimely death and Maddie's capture. Decker, in his inimitable style, manages to portray his genius for metaphysical science fiction in this gripping and captivating read.
The essence of this riveting story, delivers plot events which encompass love and devotion/tragedy and just about everything else in between in a narrative that is simply out of this world.
Single Mother, Cynthia Pace has an unbreakable bond with her adopted daughter Maddie which ultimately transcends Cynthia's untimely death and Maddie's capture. Decker, in his inimitable style, manages to portray his genius for metaphysical science fiction in this gripping and captivating read.
The essence of this riveting story, delivers plot events which encompass love and devotion/tragedy and just about everything else in between in a narrative that is simply out of this world.
February 14, 2024
WARNING: Slight spoilers
VERDICT: A fun and fascinating sci-fi jaunt through-and-through, with well-rounded characters. Suspension of disbelief may be necessary to swallow the reasoning for some parts and character decisions in the second half of the book. Still, against the backdrop of a remarkably imaginative universe and characters worth rooting for, both detractors hardly poisons Child of Another Kind to the DNF pile. Fun read!
PROS
+ Fantastic and tense introduction chapter setting up Cynthia and Maddie both to be interesting, thoughtful characters.
+ Great world building, with a loving mother from a seemingly simple southern town. It feels like every protagonist is super smart, or cunning, or strong. So it’s refreshing to have a protagonist whose main super power is loving her daughter. It works well with the "other place" she encounters, and her faith being juxtaposed against it's strangeness made me really come to love her insights.
+ The close focus on Maddie and cynthia, their feelings and struggles, works to the novels advantage. The author understood why we’re here: these two characters.
+ The world building is fascinating and well thought-out. Hard to go into much detail here without big spoilers, but the reason Maddie has her powers wasn't at all what I expected.
CONS
- Maddie’s and Cynthia's seemingly mute emotional reactions to certain events did frustrate a little. Although there’s reason for Maddie's somewhat cold manner stated in the book, I would’ve enjoyed to see her words and actions reflect what she’s just gone through.
- The teacher's explanations went on a bit long. They were universally interesting, though the vagaries of many initial explanations to the “other place” (to again avoid spoilers) often came with “that’ll be explained later” or "that's not my place to tell you." It killed the pacing just a little for me.
NEUTRAL
= The country club in the OTHER "other place" made me laugh out loud. It's so true.
VERDICT: A fun and fascinating sci-fi jaunt through-and-through, with well-rounded characters. Suspension of disbelief may be necessary to swallow the reasoning for some parts and character decisions in the second half of the book. Still, against the backdrop of a remarkably imaginative universe and characters worth rooting for, both detractors hardly poisons Child of Another Kind to the DNF pile. Fun read!
PROS
+ Fantastic and tense introduction chapter setting up Cynthia and Maddie both to be interesting, thoughtful characters.
+ Great world building, with a loving mother from a seemingly simple southern town. It feels like every protagonist is super smart, or cunning, or strong. So it’s refreshing to have a protagonist whose main super power is loving her daughter. It works well with the "other place" she encounters, and her faith being juxtaposed against it's strangeness made me really come to love her insights.
+ The close focus on Maddie and cynthia, their feelings and struggles, works to the novels advantage. The author understood why we’re here: these two characters.
+ The world building is fascinating and well thought-out. Hard to go into much detail here without big spoilers, but the reason Maddie has her powers wasn't at all what I expected.
CONS
- Maddie’s and Cynthia's seemingly mute emotional reactions to certain events did frustrate a little. Although there’s reason for Maddie's somewhat cold manner stated in the book, I would’ve enjoyed to see her words and actions reflect what she’s just gone through.
- The teacher's explanations went on a bit long. They were universally interesting, though the vagaries of many initial explanations to the “other place” (to again avoid spoilers) often came with “that’ll be explained later” or "that's not my place to tell you." It killed the pacing just a little for me.
NEUTRAL
= The country club in the OTHER "other place" made me laugh out loud. It's so true.
March 6, 2023
I am not really a science fiction / spirituality / fantasy book fan, but I found myself drawn into the world of Cynthia Pace and her adopted daughter, Maddie. Maddie is a special child, she has abilities to see into another person and access their short and long-term memory. From that, she can tell if they are good or bad. When Cynthia is killed during an abduction of Maddie, Cynthia learns that Maddie is not a human at all, but an Imprint. Cynthia longs to be reunited with her daughter, but she is now living in World 2A, where Maddie was created. While there, Cynthia learns about her faith, empathy, and the desires of others, while Maddie is being studied on earth.
For a sci-fi book, it was interesting.
For a sci-fi book, it was interesting.
June 29, 2023
Steven Decker has already proven his talent with fast-paced sci-fi, but with he brings heart and pathos to his formula with "Child." His newest standalone explores the love between a daughter and a mother thrust into a situation that is (quite literally) out of this world. If you've read his earlier work, you'll note his growth as a storyteller in "Child," looking at deeper aspects of the human condition - grief, loss, loneliness, crises of faith, the dark night of the soul. His two protagonists display awesome character arcs that reach a satisfying conclusion in the quest to answer one central question - what does it really mean to be human?
Another excellent read from this talented storyteller.
Another excellent read from this talented storyteller.
July 1, 2023
The title of the story would definitely give you a clue about the story but trust me it won't make justice to the flow of seamless emotions involved in this read.
I picked this after going through positive review of the authors work "Time Chain" and I wasnt disappointed.
I was amazed, hooked and to be honest deeply touched by the sentimental gravity. The struggle of a single mother, Cynthia Pace and her uniquely gifted child Maddie is very well depicted. But it is not about that. She knew her kid is unique but realizing what exactly is different in her case makes it an intresting read. I enjoyed the read. It has been a satisfying and engrossing read which would keep you turning the pages witha curiosity of what would happen next.
I picked this after going through positive review of the authors work "Time Chain" and I wasnt disappointed.
I was amazed, hooked and to be honest deeply touched by the sentimental gravity. The struggle of a single mother, Cynthia Pace and her uniquely gifted child Maddie is very well depicted. But it is not about that. She knew her kid is unique but realizing what exactly is different in her case makes it an intresting read. I enjoyed the read. It has been a satisfying and engrossing read which would keep you turning the pages witha curiosity of what would happen next.
March 24, 2023
Child of Another Kind by Steven Decker is a well-written science fiction book that is surprisingly human and relatable. It's really more about the relationship between a mother and child, that relationship is quite different. For science fiction fans, there's plenty of that element, but otherwise, for those not so much into sci-fi, the book has a very human story with feeling, deep thought, and emotions. Those things along with a well-designed plot truly pull you into the story. The writing is seamless and the characters resonate throughout the book. You won't want to stop reading this one. Recommended.
April 7, 2023
Child of Another Kind by Steven Decker is steady read all the way to the last page. Immediately he jumps in with the story taking off. Cynthia has her adopted daughter Maddie, when a man comes to the house claiming good intention. Maddie has a special gift when looking at someone she is able to read them and their past. Steven Decker has written the chapters going back and forth from Maddie's and Cynthia's point of view. A tragic event happens where mother and daughter are separated. If you want a mix of sci fci and spirituality jump in as it was fairly heavy in that area. Nonetheless it was a good interesting aspect and I enjoyed the book.
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