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Fracture World #1
Song of Edmon: The Fracture Worlds, Book 1
In Adam Burch's thrilling series debut, a young man must choose between violence and peace in a distant world divided between those who thrive in endless sunlight and those who survive in eternal darkness.
The isolated planet of Tao is a house the peaceful Daysiders live in harmony while the pale Nightsiders pursue power and racial purity through the violent ritual of the Combat.
Edmon Leontes, the gentle son of a ruthless warrior noble and a proud Daysider, embodies Tao's split nature. The product of diametrically opposed races, Edmon hopes to live a quiet life pursuing the music of his mother's people, but his Nightsider father cruelly forces him to continue in his bloody footsteps to ensure his legacy.
Edmon's defiance will cost him everything...and spark a revolution that will shake the foundations of Tao. His choice - to embrace the light or surrender to the darkness - will shape his own fate and that of his divided world.
The isolated planet of Tao is a house the peaceful Daysiders live in harmony while the pale Nightsiders pursue power and racial purity through the violent ritual of the Combat.
Edmon Leontes, the gentle son of a ruthless warrior noble and a proud Daysider, embodies Tao's split nature. The product of diametrically opposed races, Edmon hopes to live a quiet life pursuing the music of his mother's people, but his Nightsider father cruelly forces him to continue in his bloody footsteps to ensure his legacy.
Edmon's defiance will cost him everything...and spark a revolution that will shake the foundations of Tao. His choice - to embrace the light or surrender to the darkness - will shape his own fate and that of his divided world.
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First published September 1, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 222 reviews
August 11, 2017
You know how sometimes you read a book and from the very first few pages you fall in love and can't really say why? And every time you pick it up something magical happens? That was this book for me.
It took me almost 300 pages to realise there are parallels to The Count of Monte Cristo and only then did it hit me that Edmon Leontes, the main characters name, is pretty damn close to Edmond Dantès. And you know what? That discovery made me giddy, because damn do I love The Count of Monte Cristo. (And no you don't need to have read Monte Cristo to enjoy this book... it was just a nice tidbit.)
It's a dark book and I know as a writer you're supposed to torture your main character and make things worse for them, but for Edmon it just does not get any better EVER. Throughout the book until the very end I thought, oh my... MORE? Leave the poor boy alone. It does not help that Edmon just can't keep his mouth shut when necessary... he keeps pushing.
The book is told in first person present tense which I often dislike, but I highly enjoyed Burch's prose and writing.
The world is exciting and I loved the idea of a planet that no longer spins and thus has a side on which it's eternally night while on the other side it's always day.
Edmon is a well developed character who loves music, and I really liked that he was so much into art and so opposed to fighting.
I can't really talk about the female characters in this novel without spoiling the plot. Let's just say that's the one bit that bothered me somewhat.
I highly recommend Song of Edmon to Science Fantasy fans.
P.S. Can I just hijack my own review to say: if you're into anime and love The Count of Monte Cristo as much as me and are not opposed to have it set in space and the Count be some sort of space vampire, please please please check out the absolutely underrated Gankutsuou.
It took me almost 300 pages to realise there are parallels to The Count of Monte Cristo and only then did it hit me that Edmon Leontes, the main characters name, is pretty damn close to Edmond Dantès. And you know what? That discovery made me giddy, because damn do I love The Count of Monte Cristo. (And no you don't need to have read Monte Cristo to enjoy this book... it was just a nice tidbit.)
It's a dark book and I know as a writer you're supposed to torture your main character and make things worse for them, but for Edmon it just does not get any better EVER. Throughout the book until the very end I thought, oh my... MORE? Leave the poor boy alone. It does not help that Edmon just can't keep his mouth shut when necessary... he keeps pushing.
The book is told in first person present tense which I often dislike, but I highly enjoyed Burch's prose and writing.
The world is exciting and I loved the idea of a planet that no longer spins and thus has a side on which it's eternally night while on the other side it's always day.
Edmon is a well developed character who loves music, and I really liked that he was so much into art and so opposed to fighting.
I can't really talk about the female characters in this novel without spoiling the plot. Let's just say that's the one bit that bothered me somewhat.
I highly recommend Song of Edmon to Science Fantasy fans.
P.S. Can I just hijack my own review to say: if you're into anime and love The Count of Monte Cristo as much as me and are not opposed to have it set in space and the Count be some sort of space vampire, please please please check out the absolutely underrated Gankutsuou.
August 14, 2017
3.5 stars, but I'm going to round up because it was so engaging and addictive.
Basically this is a mash up of The Count of Monte Cristo (the lead character is even named Edmon Leontes), The Matrix, a music theory class, The Hunger Games, and is set in a weird future on the planet of Tao. Take all that in for a minute.
Okay, got it? It also has extreme violence, rape, graphic murder, eugenics, political oppression, infanticide, and tons of other things that made me want to read it through my fingers with a look of complete disgust on my face.
Yet I couldn't put it down. I am already looking forward to Book #2.
Basically this is a mash up of The Count of Monte Cristo (the lead character is even named Edmon Leontes), The Matrix, a music theory class, The Hunger Games, and is set in a weird future on the planet of Tao. Take all that in for a minute.
Okay, got it? It also has extreme violence, rape, graphic murder, eugenics, political oppression, infanticide, and tons of other things that made me want to read it through my fingers with a look of complete disgust on my face.
Yet I couldn't put it down. I am already looking forward to Book #2.
Read
August 11, 2017Firstly, a WARNING. This book contains:
- graphic descriptions of violence
- rape
- implied sexual activity between a child and an adolescent
- non-consensual surgery
- brainwashing
- the Magical Negro trope
- fridging
- antiziganist stereotypes
- possible Evil Gay(s)
- eugenics
If you can get past all that, though... it's actually pretty good? Sort of a cross between Ender's Game and The Hunger Games, with solid worldbuilding and a compelling story. I just wish it didn't lean so heavily on the same old tropes.
Look, first the sexism: There are very few women in this book, and the ones that do exist are one-dimensional and mostly exist so their suffering and/or death can make Edmon really sad. Or sometimes they pop up to give Edmon advice, then disappear for another fifty pages. Also, there's a scene where Edmon rescues a woman from a gang of would-be rapists, and she rewards him with sex. SO MUCH is wrong with that, where do I even start.
Next, the racism. One character is referred to as a "space gypsy" or "spypsy" (REALLY), and he's described as "slithery," secretive, and sneaky. Also, he has knowledge of technology so advanced it might as well be magic. So... you're making a character a "space gypsy" and then giving him attributes of negative stereotypes about the Romani? Really? You could have just... NOT done that.
Eventually we meet Edmon's Wise Old Master, who is black and has magical healing powers. He's an interesting character, especially when you learn more about his past, but he still fits the Magical Negro stereotype. He's there to impart the secrets of his powers to Edmon so Edmon can become stronger and more knowledgable. And although there are other PoC characters, he's the only black character with actual lines in the book, making the trope especially obvious.
(Edmon is mixed-race, and the book condemns the overt racism of the planet's white people, but you can't just say "racism is bad" and then use racist tropes in your work. I mean, you can, but it kind of undercuts your message.)
I'm also not sure how I feel about the depiction of homosexuality in this book. The one explicitly gay character is described as "a depraved sex addict" by our protagonist, and while Edmon's best friend is definitely attracted to Edmon, he's also an antagonist who believes in the superiority of the blond and blue-eyed master race, so. It's not great? Kind of plays into the Predatory Gay stereotype?
Listen, I WANT this book to be so much better. Because the worldbuilding is superb, and I devoured all the parts about the history of the planet and space travel, and the Fracture Point, and the technology of the future. And the plot twists kept coming, surprising me almost every time. But I couldn't love this book as much as I wanted to, especially after the midpoint when . It was just so transparently a Dude Book About Dudes.
It's not like the author invented these tropes. They're are woven into the fabric of science fiction and fantasy already, so much that you have to make a conscious choice to avoid them. But we deserve better. Again, I liked this book, and its unputdownability score is high, which counts for a lot with me. But it could have been amazing.
I'm glad I chose this for my August Kindle First book. It was certainly interesting.
- graphic descriptions of violence
- rape
- implied sexual activity between a child and an adolescent
- non-consensual surgery
- brainwashing
- the Magical Negro trope
- fridging
- antiziganist stereotypes
- possible Evil Gay(s)
- eugenics
If you can get past all that, though... it's actually pretty good? Sort of a cross between Ender's Game and The Hunger Games, with solid worldbuilding and a compelling story. I just wish it didn't lean so heavily on the same old tropes.
Look, first the sexism: There are very few women in this book, and the ones that do exist are one-dimensional and mostly exist so their suffering and/or death can make Edmon really sad. Or sometimes they pop up to give Edmon advice, then disappear for another fifty pages. Also, there's a scene where Edmon rescues a woman from a gang of would-be rapists, and she rewards him with sex. SO MUCH is wrong with that, where do I even start.
Next, the racism. One character is referred to as a "space gypsy" or "spypsy" (REALLY), and he's described as "slithery," secretive, and sneaky. Also, he has knowledge of technology so advanced it might as well be magic. So... you're making a character a "space gypsy" and then giving him attributes of negative stereotypes about the Romani? Really? You could have just... NOT done that.
Eventually we meet Edmon's Wise Old Master, who is black and has magical healing powers. He's an interesting character, especially when you learn more about his past, but he still fits the Magical Negro stereotype. He's there to impart the secrets of his powers to Edmon so Edmon can become stronger and more knowledgable. And although there are other PoC characters, he's the only black character with actual lines in the book, making the trope especially obvious.
(Edmon is mixed-race, and the book condemns the overt racism of the planet's white people, but you can't just say "racism is bad" and then use racist tropes in your work. I mean, you can, but it kind of undercuts your message.)
I'm also not sure how I feel about the depiction of homosexuality in this book. The one explicitly gay character is described as "a depraved sex addict" by our protagonist, and while Edmon's best friend is definitely attracted to Edmon, he's also an antagonist who believes in the superiority of the blond and blue-eyed master race, so. It's not great? Kind of plays into the Predatory Gay stereotype?
Listen, I WANT this book to be so much better. Because the worldbuilding is superb, and I devoured all the parts about the history of the planet and space travel, and the Fracture Point, and the technology of the future. And the plot twists kept coming, surprising me almost every time. But I couldn't love this book as much as I wanted to, especially after the midpoint when . It was just so transparently a Dude Book About Dudes.
It's not like the author invented these tropes. They're are woven into the fabric of science fiction and fantasy already, so much that you have to make a conscious choice to avoid them. But we deserve better. Again, I liked this book, and its unputdownability score is high, which counts for a lot with me. But it could have been amazing.
I'm glad I chose this for my August Kindle First book. It was certainly interesting.
August 12, 2017
I legitimately read the entire thing, possibly out of a weird need to punish myself. This book is bad. If amazon prime hadn't provided this book to me for free, I'd feel like the author owed me a refund.
I rarely come across books told in 1st person present tense, but this one takes the cake. The narrator's internal monologue is anachronistic and bizarrely consistent considering it spreads across many years of the characters life (starting as a 9 year old child); however, it is not compelling at all. Dialogue is stilted. Many characters are thrown up to interact with him, and I found it very difficult to care about any of them, or believe the narrator cared about them... except that he insists it... repeatedly... so you know he cares, I guess?
As others have said, this book contains egregious examples of the disposable woman trope. You won't find yourself attached to any of them, and anyway, the book is set in an incredibly patriarchal society where women are basically powerless property... except those who aren't... except they are all depicted as powerless and/or incompetent.
The book has a pretty unhealthy relationship with sexuality. It's either coercive, orgiastic, or salacious descriptions of virginal coupling.
I never write reviews, but this one was so bad that I felt the need to vent.
I rarely come across books told in 1st person present tense, but this one takes the cake. The narrator's internal monologue is anachronistic and bizarrely consistent considering it spreads across many years of the characters life (starting as a 9 year old child); however, it is not compelling at all. Dialogue is stilted. Many characters are thrown up to interact with him, and I found it very difficult to care about any of them, or believe the narrator cared about them... except that he insists it... repeatedly... so you know he cares, I guess?
As others have said, this book contains egregious examples of the disposable woman trope. You won't find yourself attached to any of them, and anyway, the book is set in an incredibly patriarchal society where women are basically powerless property... except those who aren't... except they are all depicted as powerless and/or incompetent.
The book has a pretty unhealthy relationship with sexuality. It's either coercive, orgiastic, or salacious descriptions of virginal coupling.
I never write reviews, but this one was so bad that I felt the need to vent.
January 6, 2018
DNF at 23%. Just wasn’t holding me. Best to let it go for now. Perhaps I’ll give it another go at some point. But not now. Maybe it’s not the book, but me! Hard to say.
May 2, 2018
Notes of Interest:
I got this book because it was an Amazon First Read offering with Prime. I used to be an avid science fiction fan and originally wanted to write science fiction. But I got discouraged when I realized not everyone is cut out to be an Isaac Asimov, and turned my attention toward my other literary love: fantasy. I’ve been in a life-long romance with it ever since. But on occasion, I miss sci-fi stories and will reach for one. So, I went into this with no expectations or skepticism … pretty neutral ground for escapism literature.
What could have made it better for me:
There were a number of technical errors that drew me out of the story, especially in the beginning. These were mostly grammar related, missing commas to be exact. But either those faded or the story absorbed me more toward the middle and end. It wasn’t a big distraction the further I went in.
The other thing that kind of lowered my enthusiasm at one point may be debatable in terms of whether it could be done better or not. There is a period of darkness in that transition between Edmon being a peace maker and a killer that stretches on for several chapters. And I noticed that my mood was sinking with his mood. The good thing about this is it means those sections of the story were effective in conveying his spiral down. But the fact that I almost made me lose interest in the story isn’t good. Perhaps it could have been shorter? Or perhaps I just wasn’t enjoying reading such a depressing passage. Either way, I definitely wanted him to get out of the dungeon and be a nice guy again — SOON! But it’s understandable why he became hard and cold the way he did after enduring those kinds of experiences for so long.
What I liked about it:
Looking through my notes on this book, I’ve realized that most of my favourite points were quotes. This is unusual for me because, while I love a good pearl of wisdom, when I read fiction I’m usually more about the adventure … and so is the book. Adventures don’t often drop a lot of pearls of wisdom that make you think deeply while you’re along for the wild ride. But this one had more than average. Here are some examples.
“Humanity’s savageness is what makes it civilized,” he answers. Do all people from Meridian think this way? I wonder, “Technology, trade, computers, space travel,” he goes on. “All are products of competition and conflict.”
“Meditate to master the self,” he says. “You can master nothing until that’s mastered. So that’s the only end worth anything.”
“Without apology or tenderness, he tells me that knowing my limits is more important than pushing them.”
“Wars are petty things. They rob men of dignity, turn them into meat and guts.”
And “Religious fervor often brings out the violence in the human soul.”
There are more, but I appreciate when fictional stories meant for escapism can also give me something deep to roil around in my head on many levels. So, I considered this a big plus for the book’s depth. There is also the fact that the plot itself tackles some pretty tough topics within the human experience, like racism and supremacy, “might is right” philosophies, and what becomes of a civilization that is built on the backs of exploitation of others. Dividing the planet into a day side and night side reminded me a little of H.G. Wells’s Time Machine, in which humanity had divided (devolved over the ages) into two distinctly separate kinds of society — the childlike prey vs. the monstrous predators — since they were incapable of co-existing without the strong taking advantage of the weak. The difference in this book is that it’s not too late and sets the stage for a revolution, which I’m almost certain is coming in a later book.
Another thing I liked about it was the base concept presented so far with the world building in terms of putting humanity into space on other planets. Not much is said about this, but I have a feeling more exploration of the concepts will take place in the other books in the series. It’s off to a good start, at least.
The cast of characters is diverse, which is a plus. And I love the mingling of the various “past” earth cultures into something new. I tend to love stories that explore that kind of thing, guessing at how culture might continue to evolve and blend in the future or in alternate time lines, compared to our past and present. I have trouble deciding whether this is a character-driven story or a plot-driven story because it is told in first person present through Edmon’s eyes and is a dynamic character, but the plot is heavier in terms of who is doing the pushing. This book almost feels like a prequel with something bigger coming.
Finally, I love the way the author pulled the themes together regarding music. Music as a warrior theme doesn’t usually happen. At. All. … So to have a main character who is a music lover and charismatic artist rejecting martial arts, only to be drawn into the area time and time again against his choice to the point where his “freedom song” ends up being a tragedy (which I will say nothing more about because … spoilers), is unique. And then to package such a story with each chapter falling back to the theme of musical terminology that is appropriate to the movement of the plot … I’ve just never seen anything done like that before and thought it was very well executed, binding the whole work together as one whole “concert” of sorts.
Recommendation:
I really enjoyed this book overall. I have not read the rest of the series yet, but would definitely be open to it. It was a nice escape from my fantasy back into sci-fi. And for it to touch on social issues the way it did, is (in my opinion) the best kind of sci-fi, reminiscent of works like Star Trek, which put real social issues under a distant lens to help us step back and take another look from a more objective point of view. If you like speculative fiction with a layer of depth on social issues, or if you enjoy epic science fiction, you might enjoy this book, too.
I got this book because it was an Amazon First Read offering with Prime. I used to be an avid science fiction fan and originally wanted to write science fiction. But I got discouraged when I realized not everyone is cut out to be an Isaac Asimov, and turned my attention toward my other literary love: fantasy. I’ve been in a life-long romance with it ever since. But on occasion, I miss sci-fi stories and will reach for one. So, I went into this with no expectations or skepticism … pretty neutral ground for escapism literature.
What could have made it better for me:
There were a number of technical errors that drew me out of the story, especially in the beginning. These were mostly grammar related, missing commas to be exact. But either those faded or the story absorbed me more toward the middle and end. It wasn’t a big distraction the further I went in.
The other thing that kind of lowered my enthusiasm at one point may be debatable in terms of whether it could be done better or not. There is a period of darkness in that transition between Edmon being a peace maker and a killer that stretches on for several chapters. And I noticed that my mood was sinking with his mood. The good thing about this is it means those sections of the story were effective in conveying his spiral down. But the fact that I almost made me lose interest in the story isn’t good. Perhaps it could have been shorter? Or perhaps I just wasn’t enjoying reading such a depressing passage. Either way, I definitely wanted him to get out of the dungeon and be a nice guy again — SOON! But it’s understandable why he became hard and cold the way he did after enduring those kinds of experiences for so long.
What I liked about it:
Looking through my notes on this book, I’ve realized that most of my favourite points were quotes. This is unusual for me because, while I love a good pearl of wisdom, when I read fiction I’m usually more about the adventure … and so is the book. Adventures don’t often drop a lot of pearls of wisdom that make you think deeply while you’re along for the wild ride. But this one had more than average. Here are some examples.
“Humanity’s savageness is what makes it civilized,” he answers. Do all people from Meridian think this way? I wonder, “Technology, trade, computers, space travel,” he goes on. “All are products of competition and conflict.”
“Meditate to master the self,” he says. “You can master nothing until that’s mastered. So that’s the only end worth anything.”
“Without apology or tenderness, he tells me that knowing my limits is more important than pushing them.”
“Wars are petty things. They rob men of dignity, turn them into meat and guts.”
And “Religious fervor often brings out the violence in the human soul.”
There are more, but I appreciate when fictional stories meant for escapism can also give me something deep to roil around in my head on many levels. So, I considered this a big plus for the book’s depth. There is also the fact that the plot itself tackles some pretty tough topics within the human experience, like racism and supremacy, “might is right” philosophies, and what becomes of a civilization that is built on the backs of exploitation of others. Dividing the planet into a day side and night side reminded me a little of H.G. Wells’s Time Machine, in which humanity had divided (devolved over the ages) into two distinctly separate kinds of society — the childlike prey vs. the monstrous predators — since they were incapable of co-existing without the strong taking advantage of the weak. The difference in this book is that it’s not too late and sets the stage for a revolution, which I’m almost certain is coming in a later book.
Another thing I liked about it was the base concept presented so far with the world building in terms of putting humanity into space on other planets. Not much is said about this, but I have a feeling more exploration of the concepts will take place in the other books in the series. It’s off to a good start, at least.
The cast of characters is diverse, which is a plus. And I love the mingling of the various “past” earth cultures into something new. I tend to love stories that explore that kind of thing, guessing at how culture might continue to evolve and blend in the future or in alternate time lines, compared to our past and present. I have trouble deciding whether this is a character-driven story or a plot-driven story because it is told in first person present through Edmon’s eyes and is a dynamic character, but the plot is heavier in terms of who is doing the pushing. This book almost feels like a prequel with something bigger coming.
Finally, I love the way the author pulled the themes together regarding music. Music as a warrior theme doesn’t usually happen. At. All. … So to have a main character who is a music lover and charismatic artist rejecting martial arts, only to be drawn into the area time and time again against his choice to the point where his “freedom song” ends up being a tragedy (which I will say nothing more about because … spoilers), is unique. And then to package such a story with each chapter falling back to the theme of musical terminology that is appropriate to the movement of the plot … I’ve just never seen anything done like that before and thought it was very well executed, binding the whole work together as one whole “concert” of sorts.
Recommendation:
I really enjoyed this book overall. I have not read the rest of the series yet, but would definitely be open to it. It was a nice escape from my fantasy back into sci-fi. And for it to touch on social issues the way it did, is (in my opinion) the best kind of sci-fi, reminiscent of works like Star Trek, which put real social issues under a distant lens to help us step back and take another look from a more objective point of view. If you like speculative fiction with a layer of depth on social issues, or if you enjoy epic science fiction, you might enjoy this book, too.
January 26, 2018
The perfect combination of sci fi and fantasy, creating a world with the comfort of old ways, the interest of new tech, and a story line with enough uniqueness to keep me interested. Left me wanting more. Can't believe this was included with Prime. Happy to purchase the sequel as soon as it's out.
August 27, 2017
I did not enjoy this book. Let's find one more way to torture, debase and destroy the protagonist. And let's do so with absolutely no character development or little plot progression. I'm also disappointed in how the female characters were sallow, self-serving or throw-away. I'm not even sure how to discuss the sexuality portrayed in the story. I think the author intended it to be an undercurrent of tension, but it didn't work. The sexuality was confused at best, base and violent at worst. I don't intend to read any further in this series.
August 18, 2017
Excellent book.
Very good job. Plot well considered and executed. Characters fairly well developed with some depth. Dialogue sounds natural and nuanced. Well written, not just simple fantasy writing. Consider it a slightly more sophisticated Hunger Games or MazeRunner...coming of age through hard trials. Will look forward to more books from this first time author.
Very good job. Plot well considered and executed. Characters fairly well developed with some depth. Dialogue sounds natural and nuanced. Well written, not just simple fantasy writing. Consider it a slightly more sophisticated Hunger Games or MazeRunner...coming of age through hard trials. Will look forward to more books from this first time author.
August 12, 2017
A thoroughly enjoyable story
I chose this as my kindle first selection and was surprised by how quickly the tale drew me in. I couldn't put it down. Edmon is a rich character both beautiful and flawed, as the best characters are. I highly recommend this book and eagerly await the next!
I chose this as my kindle first selection and was surprised by how quickly the tale drew me in. I couldn't put it down. Edmon is a rich character both beautiful and flawed, as the best characters are. I highly recommend this book and eagerly await the next!
August 11, 2017
Eh. One of those where the (exceedingly few) female characters with die to further the protagonist's story or are bad guys.
August 16, 2017
This book is a sufferfest
If you like depressing books then have at it. I guarantee the rest of the series will be just as depressing as the author continues to tease that something good might actually happen all to get you to buy the next book. The main character is super annoying and the rest of the characters are worse.
If you like depressing books then have at it. I guarantee the rest of the series will be just as depressing as the author continues to tease that something good might actually happen all to get you to buy the next book. The main character is super annoying and the rest of the characters are worse.
September 3, 2017
Song of Edmon is a highly thought-provoking read with a myriad of modern-day issues soaked in a fantastical setting. I feel like there's so much shade in this book. There's just so much parallelism to the real world that I thought this book is just a backdrop to the author's political and ethical views.
Edmon, the main protagonist of the story, is very intriguing. I like the way how the eggshell thing was reversed. Yes, Edmond appears to be hard on the outside but definitely soft on the inside. The process was reversed on the beginning on the book. We get to read just how unsure he is of himself, his fear of the eventuality of facing the emperor. We open the book with his narrative sounding so insecure and yet when he was finally the one on the hot seat pounded with questions by the emperor, he sounded fierce and full of fight. To the audience, he's an impudent strong boy of nine that we readers are caught by surprise.
I can't help but think of Edmon's spirit as like Rhaegar Targaryen of A Song of Ice and Fire series.
In a short amount of time, I found myself having a lot of expectations that I almost put Edmon in a pedestal. When he finally gets to meet with the Nightsiders his age, he easily outmaneuvered them. Basically, I love the depth of characterization in this book. It's not just about Edmon, it's also about his childhood friend, Phaestion Julii. Although Phaestion is a genetically-enhanced individual and his traits are almost programmed, he still has something uniquely humane about him.
Plot-wise, Song of Edmon is a very grand book, with impressive word-building and masterful character development. There's never a dull moment, it grabs the attention and never let go that I had a hard time prying my eyes away from it. If my brain could only wrap solidly with the story, I would have finished the story in one sitting. Alas, I have other things to attend to and this book is quite heavy and complex in its own way, I have to moderate my reading and savor every detail each time I visit. I'm guilty of reading three other books while reading this one. There's just a lot to take in from this book. This is Adam Burch's debut novel and he's already a master storyteller.
The full review is posted on zirev.com.
Edmon, the main protagonist of the story, is very intriguing. I like the way how the eggshell thing was reversed. Yes, Edmond appears to be hard on the outside but definitely soft on the inside. The process was reversed on the beginning on the book. We get to read just how unsure he is of himself, his fear of the eventuality of facing the emperor. We open the book with his narrative sounding so insecure and yet when he was finally the one on the hot seat pounded with questions by the emperor, he sounded fierce and full of fight. To the audience, he's an impudent strong boy of nine that we readers are caught by surprise.
I can't help but think of Edmon's spirit as like Rhaegar Targaryen of A Song of Ice and Fire series.
In a short amount of time, I found myself having a lot of expectations that I almost put Edmon in a pedestal. When he finally gets to meet with the Nightsiders his age, he easily outmaneuvered them. Basically, I love the depth of characterization in this book. It's not just about Edmon, it's also about his childhood friend, Phaestion Julii. Although Phaestion is a genetically-enhanced individual and his traits are almost programmed, he still has something uniquely humane about him.
Plot-wise, Song of Edmon is a very grand book, with impressive word-building and masterful character development. There's never a dull moment, it grabs the attention and never let go that I had a hard time prying my eyes away from it. If my brain could only wrap solidly with the story, I would have finished the story in one sitting. Alas, I have other things to attend to and this book is quite heavy and complex in its own way, I have to moderate my reading and savor every detail each time I visit. I'm guilty of reading three other books while reading this one. There's just a lot to take in from this book. This is Adam Burch's debut novel and he's already a master storyteller.
The full review is posted on zirev.com.
September 11, 2023
This was a good story - although it is very violent and sometimes depressing. In some ways it reminded me of YA novels like The Hunger Games or maybe Ender’s Game, but there is a lot of content that would be questionable for young teens (a partial list would include violent rape, brainwashing, graphic violence...you get the idea.). I really think that the novel that I'm most reminded of is Red Rising.
Tao is a planet that is physically divided into 2 regions - one always in sunlight, the other always in the darkness. Edmon is the mixed-race son of a ruthless warrior / leader (Edric, a Nightsider) and a mother who hopes to empower her people (Cleopatra, a Daysider). Edmon is a pawn in his father's plans to maintain and consolidate power. He is brutally trained as a warrior, is altered genetically to increase his strength and ability to heal (although it does nothing to diminish the pain), but finds his true talent in music. His father manipulates him - sometimes via blatant means, other times subtly. But Edmon resists - his nature is peaceful - and eventually is brutally imprisoned. Edmon tries time and again to go a different path.
The world building is good, but bleak and depressing. Edmon and the supporting characters were well-drawn. But this is probably not for everyone. It is a brutal and violent world.
Quotes to remember:
It is not the circumstance of our births that define us, but how we choose to live!
Don't quiet the maelstrom. Become the storm.
Everything has a cost...Sometimes the cost is too great and where you least expect it.
Tao is a planet that is physically divided into 2 regions - one always in sunlight, the other always in the darkness. Edmon is the mixed-race son of a ruthless warrior / leader (Edric, a Nightsider) and a mother who hopes to empower her people (Cleopatra, a Daysider). Edmon is a pawn in his father's plans to maintain and consolidate power. He is brutally trained as a warrior, is altered genetically to increase his strength and ability to heal (although it does nothing to diminish the pain), but finds his true talent in music. His father manipulates him - sometimes via blatant means, other times subtly. But Edmon resists - his nature is peaceful - and eventually is brutally imprisoned. Edmon tries time and again to go a different path.
The world building is good, but bleak and depressing. Edmon and the supporting characters were well-drawn. But this is probably not for everyone. It is a brutal and violent world.
Quotes to remember:
It is not the circumstance of our births that define us, but how we choose to live!
Don't quiet the maelstrom. Become the storm.
Everything has a cost...Sometimes the cost is too great and where you least expect it.
August 14, 2017
Captivating
I chose Song of Edmon as my Kindle First choice for the month of August. I usually read mystery, suspense and thrillers. Typically detective novels. The options I had to choose from didn't sound very interesting, but I kept coming back to Song of Edmon. After reading some reviews, a thorough one in particular by a reader named Travis, I decided I would give it a try.
Song of Edmon was interesting and captivating. There are a few profanities and some sexual situations. This is not a warm fuzzy, happy, feel good book. It is about endurance, struggle and overcoming pain. But it also really sucks you in.
I look forward to the next book.
I chose Song of Edmon as my Kindle First choice for the month of August. I usually read mystery, suspense and thrillers. Typically detective novels. The options I had to choose from didn't sound very interesting, but I kept coming back to Song of Edmon. After reading some reviews, a thorough one in particular by a reader named Travis, I decided I would give it a try.
Song of Edmon was interesting and captivating. There are a few profanities and some sexual situations. This is not a warm fuzzy, happy, feel good book. It is about endurance, struggle and overcoming pain. But it also really sucks you in.
I look forward to the next book.
September 4, 2017
For my Kindle First book I decided to pick up Song of Edmon by Adam Burch. Song of Edmon* is set in the fictional future on another planet called Tao. After many wars, genocides and destruction, the human race still lives with prejudice, violence and savagery. Then comes Edmon Leontes, a gentle boy of mixed race who resents his cruel father and the ways of the Nightsiders. Edmon must learn to fight to survive against his better judgment and his love of music.
I was in such a book slump and it took me way too long to read Song of Edmon. So I do question whether it was me or the book? But then, if it was a great book maybe it would've pulled me out of the slump. Either way, Song of Edmon isn't terrible, but it's also not fantastic either. It's a mere average kind of book.
One of the best things about the book was how many topics that are within it which can be discussed. There's politics, racism, sexism and many more. The problem was that these topics were not discussed within the book. I thought the Nightsiders Vs Daysiders racism would come into play with the political undertones of the story. But I was disappointed and it was really a underhanded way to make Edmon the underdog.
Another thing I disliked was that Edmon goes from being weak and the underdog to being way too overpowered. Plus, in this time, I don't even think he developed that much as a character. Through childhood to adulthood, as he grows and learns to be a fighter, I never really routed for him. I was much more interested in other characters like Lavinia and Phaestion.
Plotwise I really enjoyed the premise. Although I do think there was too much filler getting to the end of the book. Basically, there's a Combat similar to the Hunger Games, and we spend the whole book training for the Combat. And then when we reach the conclusion, there's not enough book left.
I liked the brief history that we got throughout the book. Song of Edmon is set in a future where humans have left Earth and colonized different areas of the universe. Burch seemed to enjoy using a lot of myth and legends within the history and it worked well to build the worlds up.
Although the ending sets up for the next book, I can honestly say I'm not intrigued enough to get it. Song of Edmon just wasn't a book for me, and I just couldn't get into it as much as some other people have.
I was in such a book slump and it took me way too long to read Song of Edmon. So I do question whether it was me or the book? But then, if it was a great book maybe it would've pulled me out of the slump. Either way, Song of Edmon isn't terrible, but it's also not fantastic either. It's a mere average kind of book.
One of the best things about the book was how many topics that are within it which can be discussed. There's politics, racism, sexism and many more. The problem was that these topics were not discussed within the book. I thought the Nightsiders Vs Daysiders racism would come into play with the political undertones of the story. But I was disappointed and it was really a underhanded way to make Edmon the underdog.
Another thing I disliked was that Edmon goes from being weak and the underdog to being way too overpowered. Plus, in this time, I don't even think he developed that much as a character. Through childhood to adulthood, as he grows and learns to be a fighter, I never really routed for him. I was much more interested in other characters like Lavinia and Phaestion.
Plotwise I really enjoyed the premise. Although I do think there was too much filler getting to the end of the book. Basically, there's a Combat similar to the Hunger Games, and we spend the whole book training for the Combat. And then when we reach the conclusion, there's not enough book left.
I liked the brief history that we got throughout the book. Song of Edmon is set in a future where humans have left Earth and colonized different areas of the universe. Burch seemed to enjoy using a lot of myth and legends within the history and it worked well to build the worlds up.
Although the ending sets up for the next book, I can honestly say I'm not intrigued enough to get it. Song of Edmon just wasn't a book for me, and I just couldn't get into it as much as some other people have.
August 13, 2017
Received this as free Kindle First book (in a month of options that were either bad or worse)
Writing is basic at best, and poor most of the time
For example, why use "...next diurnal cycle" in dialogue, what's wrong with saying 'within the day'?
The story is decent, but somewhat disconnected.
Writing is basic at best, and poor most of the time
For example, why use "...next diurnal cycle" in dialogue, what's wrong with saying 'within the day'?
The story is decent, but somewhat disconnected.
September 17, 2017
Interesting plot, but hamfisted writing
This book held my interest enough to finish it, I'll say that for it. It is, perhaps, the kindest thing about it I can say. The plot and world building were enjoyable, and that's what brought me through to the end (just barely). I'm also a musician so I liked the connections to music, and that's what caught my eye to begin with. The only thing that can ruin a good plot and a creative world are two dimensional characters and clunky prose, and this book has both in spades. It's in the first person, which is challenging enough, but that challenge was rendered insurmountable by he titular character. He has some interesting character traits, but what is supposed to be a fight for his inner morality fell quite flat for me. He states his thoughts in the same straightforward, expository nature of the boring narration, all subtleness thrown out the window. His perspective does not grow as we see the character age from 9 into at least his 20s, and in fact he somehow becomes less mature. At least he is the least predictable character of the series, as not a single other character did anything surprising. Still, there is redemption in this series in the world building. It is different and new; I loved its focus on sustainability and cultural differences. People from different cultures actually had different mind sets which was nice. Nice enough to read the sequel? Still on the fence.
This book held my interest enough to finish it, I'll say that for it. It is, perhaps, the kindest thing about it I can say. The plot and world building were enjoyable, and that's what brought me through to the end (just barely). I'm also a musician so I liked the connections to music, and that's what caught my eye to begin with. The only thing that can ruin a good plot and a creative world are two dimensional characters and clunky prose, and this book has both in spades. It's in the first person, which is challenging enough, but that challenge was rendered insurmountable by he titular character. He has some interesting character traits, but what is supposed to be a fight for his inner morality fell quite flat for me. He states his thoughts in the same straightforward, expository nature of the boring narration, all subtleness thrown out the window. His perspective does not grow as we see the character age from 9 into at least his 20s, and in fact he somehow becomes less mature. At least he is the least predictable character of the series, as not a single other character did anything surprising. Still, there is redemption in this series in the world building. It is different and new; I loved its focus on sustainability and cultural differences. People from different cultures actually had different mind sets which was nice. Nice enough to read the sequel? Still on the fence.
August 5, 2017
I said on Amazon that this book is like Harry being stolen from a nicer version of the Dursleys at age nine and being raised by Voldemort, but that's wrong--Voldemort prefers killing (and only occasional torture) and is therefore far more merciful than Edric (the title character's father).
When Edmon refuses to leave his island home, Edric beats the crap out of his ex (Edmon's mother) and later has her lobotomized when Edmon refuses a second time. Edmon comes back to the island, and conceives a baby with his childhood sweetheart--both of whom are quickly murdered on Edric's orders. At another point, Edmon angers his father and is sent to a prison camp for five years, wherein he's repeatedly sodomized. (One of the years is spent in an unlit prison with a monster for a warder.) When Edmon is released, he discovers that Edric has been poisoned and offers to save him--an offer his father repays by removing his vocal cords.
I don't know how others classify this as a book worthy of five stars. All it does for me is absolve me of the discomfort I feel when sexual assault repeatedly comes up in my books.
When Edmon refuses to leave his island home, Edric beats the crap out of his ex (Edmon's mother) and later has her lobotomized when Edmon refuses a second time. Edmon comes back to the island, and conceives a baby with his childhood sweetheart--both of whom are quickly murdered on Edric's orders. At another point, Edmon angers his father and is sent to a prison camp for five years, wherein he's repeatedly sodomized. (One of the years is spent in an unlit prison with a monster for a warder.) When Edmon is released, he discovers that Edric has been poisoned and offers to save him--an offer his father repays by removing his vocal cords.
I don't know how others classify this as a book worthy of five stars. All it does for me is absolve me of the discomfort I feel when sexual assault repeatedly comes up in my books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 9, 2017
Not quite sure how I feel about this one. It's definitely gripping and somewhat entertaining, but also gruesome, gritty, and graphic with its depictions of violence (which can be good or bad, depending on your tastes). I got some Red Rising vibes, but Song of Edmon is much more personal and focused solely on Edmon. We don't see politics as much as we see Edmon's attempts to avoid politics, and the novel primarily shows the trials and tribulations that Edmon experiences from childhood well into adulthood. Edmon is an easy character to sympathize with and is very much a victim of the much more powerful people around him. At first, I felt very invested in Edmon's personal growth and ability to overcome the hardships thrown at home, but after a while, it started to feel like a convoluted TV series with all the drama that never ended.
August 22, 2017
Abandon all hope
Well written with engaging characters . The plot is a study in suffering for the character as well as the reader as all hope is slowly abandoned that this will end well for anyone. If your purpose in reading is to feel inspired this is not for you. If you want a dark but realistic glimpse of the worst of humanity, these villians will show thatm
Well written with engaging characters . The plot is a study in suffering for the character as well as the reader as all hope is slowly abandoned that this will end well for anyone. If your purpose in reading is to feel inspired this is not for you. If you want a dark but realistic glimpse of the worst of humanity, these villians will show thatm
August 19, 2017
I had such a mixed reaction to this one. This is definitely one of those times when half-stars should be a thing, as it's more of a 3.5. There were some great things about the book... and some not so great things.
I really liked the lore. Any time I was given another glimpse into the history, backstory, culture, and unique tech and phenomenae of this universe, I was pretty much engrossed. It was sometimes almost too tantalising - we spend a lot of time on just one planet, and even then I feel like there's things about Tao that I just don't know. I get the sense of past events that I have a sketch of in my mind but I don't know exactly how or why it has become the place that it is in the present day of the story. Either way, I wanted to know more, and I was itching to get out there and explore other planets. Since this is a series I'm guessing we'll see that in later books.
I also empathised with the protagonist. Edmon flat out rejects the questionable social mores of the society. I've seen a lot of YA where the main character participates in whatever nonsensical ritual the society has set up for them. Probably because they're rigidly following in the model of The Hunger Games. But this book actually averts the trope by avoiding the ritual combat. Early on it looks like it will follow in the same path, but it goes in a completely different direction entirely. That's good. We're reaching saturation point of certain themes in YA and it's about time there was a change.
That said... the book plays into certain other old tropes. Women in Tao society don't seem to do an awful lot, despite the protagonist frequently thinking about how strong his mother and lover are. Now there's nothing wrong with that as such, if the purpose is to make one feel uncomfortable about yet another layer of Tao society brutality. Edmon, our protagonist, doesn't specifically come out against it though, and he's not an anti-hero; for a character who is rejecting this society's evils, it's a little odd. Maybe in later books, as an adult, he'll note that as a child he was too swamped and afraid to question it. Also, Edmon's lover gets fridged as a major motivator in the book, which is so cliche. And, the couple get together right after he rescues her from rape... yes, just a couple of hours later she's offering him sex. Ah... yeah. Yeah that was probably the worst old trope. Not really that realistic or understanding of a female perspective. It did make me wince.
So take from that what you will. There's points under pros and cons. I would say that overall my feeling was positive, but there are flaws as well.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 31, 2017
I really wish we had half stars on this platform, because 3.5 would be about perfect. I'll be generous and round up to a 4, though.
The world-building in this novel is superb. It took me a little while to get into it, but once I did I was hooked. My criticism are similar to those that others have described - the female characters are depicted as strong women, but are ultimately plot devices whose suffering and/or deaths motive the protagonist; the book suffers from racial stereotypes (Romani) and tropes (Magical Negro); and the machinations of the protagonist's father seem unrealistic in their complexity.
Given the pros and cons on this novel, I'm on the fence about reading the sequels, but I'm leaning towards giving them a try.
The world-building in this novel is superb. It took me a little while to get into it, but once I did I was hooked. My criticism are similar to those that others have described - the female characters are depicted as strong women, but are ultimately plot devices whose suffering and/or deaths motive the protagonist; the book suffers from racial stereotypes (Romani) and tropes (Magical Negro); and the machinations of the protagonist's father seem unrealistic in their complexity.
Given the pros and cons on this novel, I'm on the fence about reading the sequels, but I'm leaning towards giving them a try.
August 15, 2017
Forget about good conquering evil
Edmon is telling his story. Nothing I can say will give justice to the brilliance of the writing. It transports you to a world that frightened me from beginning to end. A world of hopelessness. I will read this book again
Edmon is telling his story. Nothing I can say will give justice to the brilliance of the writing. It transports you to a world that frightened me from beginning to end. A world of hopelessness. I will read this book again
August 30, 2017
This one is an epic adventure about a man split between a planet's day side and the night side, which is split between good and bad guys. His father is from the night side, so hijinks ensue as the man wants to hang out in peace with Mom, but Dad has other ideas.
We've all been there.
It's the kickoff of a new series, and the book is crammed with neat details of the world and the cast of characters. I'm anxious to see the next one. Like, right now.
(Review from an advance copy.)
We've all been there.
It's the kickoff of a new series, and the book is crammed with neat details of the world and the cast of characters. I'm anxious to see the next one. Like, right now.
(Review from an advance copy.)
September 15, 2017
I won a copy of this book on my kindle in a goodreads giveaway. I really enjoyed this one. I wasn't sure I would at first as it didn't seem like something I'd normally go out of my way to read but I'm glad I won it because it was surprisingly fantastic.
August 15, 2017
Very good
Kept me entertained during the entire book. Can't wait to find the next one, hope it is as good as this one was.
Kept me entertained during the entire book. Can't wait to find the next one, hope it is as good as this one was.
August 7, 2017
Great Concept and Story!
I came into this book with no expectations as this is a new author, but I thought the premise was interesting. The book delivered. It is not necessarily a happy read but it kept me fully engaged and loving the growth (or backsliding stubbornness) of Edmon throughout. The most comparable book/series I can think of is the Red Rising series. If you loved Red Rising you will definitely love this book!
I came into this book with no expectations as this is a new author, but I thought the premise was interesting. The book delivered. It is not necessarily a happy read but it kept me fully engaged and loving the growth (or backsliding stubbornness) of Edmon throughout. The most comparable book/series I can think of is the Red Rising series. If you loved Red Rising you will definitely love this book!
August 20, 2017
Song of Edmon by Adam Burch could have been entitled Betrayal of Edmon. Aside from his mother and his first love, everyone else in his life ultimately betrayed him. Edmon epitomized the war between good and evil, portrayed in this book as his inner conflict between the genes of each of Edmon's progenitors.
The use of the alternative reality environment with not novel themes such as political strife, poverty vs. royalty, oppression by the aggressive of the docile is interesting only for the special effects an author can use to bend our reality construct just a fews degrees more. In this book, the use of the special effects contributed positively to the plot lines.
It was hard to continuously root for Edmon despite his misfortunes and the cruelty fostered upon him by people he had never harmed or insulted because he never grew up, was impudent and selfish and seemed to choose whatever was the most rebellious course of action, even when he could have chosen a course of action that could have provided great benefit for the most people.
I gave it a 4 star rating because it is well written, uses a fascinating vocabulary, had no factual inconsistencies or conflicts and usd compact suspense traps that kept my interest from scene to scene. The most interesting character for me is Faria. We all could use a Faria in our lives. Well, not exactly.
The use of the alternative reality environment with not novel themes such as political strife, poverty vs. royalty, oppression by the aggressive of the docile is interesting only for the special effects an author can use to bend our reality construct just a fews degrees more. In this book, the use of the special effects contributed positively to the plot lines.
It was hard to continuously root for Edmon despite his misfortunes and the cruelty fostered upon him by people he had never harmed or insulted because he never grew up, was impudent and selfish and seemed to choose whatever was the most rebellious course of action, even when he could have chosen a course of action that could have provided great benefit for the most people.
I gave it a 4 star rating because it is well written, uses a fascinating vocabulary, had no factual inconsistencies or conflicts and usd compact suspense traps that kept my interest from scene to scene. The most interesting character for me is Faria. We all could use a Faria in our lives. Well, not exactly.
August 5, 2017
Honestly I didn't think I was really going to like this book much from the description, but it sucked me in quickly. The world building felt very organic within the political and personal stories. There were shades of the Count of Monte Cristo and I swear it reminded me of Avatar, The Last Airbender at times. I really can't wait to follow Edmon on the rest of his quest for self.
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