What do you think?
Rate this book
Venerable: The Price of Paradise
The city of Venerable is a shining example of peace and prosperity in the year 2456, It's citizens enjoy an idyllic way of life as part of a peaceful and prosperous society without crime, disease, or war. Venerable is home to Rachel Moon, a successful business owner and wife, who is joyfully awaiting the arrival of her first child. But unknown to her, a veil of secrecy will soon be lifted, revealing the truth behind her utopian existence. As the curtain hiding the truth is pulled back, the shocking revelation threatens to shatter the serenity of this paradise, revealing a reality that will change not only Rachel’s life, but the life of every Venerable citizen, and perhaps the entire society, forever.. The Price of Paradise is the first of a four-part series introducing a world free of poverty, violence, and conflict.
239 pages, ebook
Published October 31, 2020
About the author
Samuel Freedman
7 books7 followersSamuel Freedman is a writer of astonishing science fiction. His highly original stories examine mankind and the universe from a philosophical perspective, raising genuine questions about humanity’s existence: our purpose, our place in the universe, and our destiny.
His latest novel, the hard science fiction techno-thriller "Revision: The Dawn of Awareness," released in July 2025, explores questions about our origins and what actually makes us human, focusing on new discoveries in the fields of genetics and astrophysics, and based on impeccably researched true science.
His four-book series, “Venerable," a work of social science fiction, explores a future utopian civilization whose very structure is questioned when a dark secret is exposed. Can a remarkable young woman help it survive this revelation and heal itself, or will it ultimately be destroyed? This thought-provoking tale is a fast-paced action adventure that not only entertains but challenges readers both intellectually and emotionally.
Freedman's work explores cutting-edge science, philosophy, sociology, spirituality, and the continuing evolution of mankind.
His first book, a work of non-fiction, "See It My Way," tells the story of his blind daughter's childhood from her perspective and contains a forward by adventurer and inspirational speaker Erik Weihenmayer, the first blind person to summit Mt. Everest in 2001.
When he is not writing his next novel, Samuel also enjoys painting, spending time with his family, traveling the world, and riding rollercoasters.
His latest novel, the hard science fiction techno-thriller "Revision: The Dawn of Awareness," released in July 2025, explores questions about our origins and what actually makes us human, focusing on new discoveries in the fields of genetics and astrophysics, and based on impeccably researched true science.
His four-book series, “Venerable," a work of social science fiction, explores a future utopian civilization whose very structure is questioned when a dark secret is exposed. Can a remarkable young woman help it survive this revelation and heal itself, or will it ultimately be destroyed? This thought-provoking tale is a fast-paced action adventure that not only entertains but challenges readers both intellectually and emotionally.
Freedman's work explores cutting-edge science, philosophy, sociology, spirituality, and the continuing evolution of mankind.
His first book, a work of non-fiction, "See It My Way," tells the story of his blind daughter's childhood from her perspective and contains a forward by adventurer and inspirational speaker Erik Weihenmayer, the first blind person to summit Mt. Everest in 2001.
When he is not writing his next novel, Samuel also enjoys painting, spending time with his family, traveling the world, and riding rollercoasters.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 17, 2026
I really enjoyed Venerable: The Price of Paradise. At first, it feels like a perfect world—no crime, no sickness, everything just… works. But as the story goes on, you start to realize something isn’t right, and that’s where it really pulled me in.
Rachel is easy to connect with, especially with everything she’s going through, and I liked how the truth slowly unfolds instead of being rushed. It made the story feel more real and intense.
Overall, it’s a great mix of calm and suspense, and it definitely makes you think about what “perfect” really means. I’m curious to see what happens next in the series.
Rachel is easy to connect with, especially with everything she’s going through, and I liked how the truth slowly unfolds instead of being rushed. It made the story feel more real and intense.
Overall, it’s a great mix of calm and suspense, and it definitely makes you think about what “perfect” really means. I’m curious to see what happens next in the series.
May 17, 2022
Venerable: The Price of Paradise: Venerable series book one by Samuel Freedman
✨My rating:-9.9/10
📚My review:- Hello dear readers, I hope so you all are doing absolutely fine and healthy. The book " Venerable: The Price of Paradise " written by the author Samuel Freedman is a fictional read and basically the first book in the Venerable book series. The story starts with Rachel, who is a successful business owner and wife, waiting for the arrival of her daughter, Eva, who was about to be born. She planned to select a small sapling to plant in their private yard to welcome and honor Eva. A symbol of new life and promise, the tree would be nourished and flourish along with Eva. Human bonds were important, and the popularity of small towns like Venerable had been a cultural trend across the globe for generations. The city of Venerable where Rachel lived is a shining example of peace and prosperity in the year 2456, It's citizens enjoy an idyllic way of life as part of a peaceful and prosperous society without crime, disease, or war. Something big is waiting to get revealed which will not only change the life of Rachel but also everyone living there. Turn the pages to know what happens next in the story. It took me only few hours to complete this entire read containing 239 pages. The writing style of the author was commendable. It was so smooth, so fluent that it was a delight to me while reading. The character's development, the narrative part, the language used, the cover page of novel, its suitable title, like every minute thing was taken care off and detailed ingeniously well. Highly recommended to each and everyone reading this review. Can't wait to read more of the author's work.
✨My rating:-9.9/10
📚My review:- Hello dear readers, I hope so you all are doing absolutely fine and healthy. The book " Venerable: The Price of Paradise " written by the author Samuel Freedman is a fictional read and basically the first book in the Venerable book series. The story starts with Rachel, who is a successful business owner and wife, waiting for the arrival of her daughter, Eva, who was about to be born. She planned to select a small sapling to plant in their private yard to welcome and honor Eva. A symbol of new life and promise, the tree would be nourished and flourish along with Eva. Human bonds were important, and the popularity of small towns like Venerable had been a cultural trend across the globe for generations. The city of Venerable where Rachel lived is a shining example of peace and prosperity in the year 2456, It's citizens enjoy an idyllic way of life as part of a peaceful and prosperous society without crime, disease, or war. Something big is waiting to get revealed which will not only change the life of Rachel but also everyone living there. Turn the pages to know what happens next in the story. It took me only few hours to complete this entire read containing 239 pages. The writing style of the author was commendable. It was so smooth, so fluent that it was a delight to me while reading. The character's development, the narrative part, the language used, the cover page of novel, its suitable title, like every minute thing was taken care off and detailed ingeniously well. Highly recommended to each and everyone reading this review. Can't wait to read more of the author's work.
May 27, 2026
The year is 2456. The city of Venerable has no crime, no disease, no war. Rachel Moon — successful businesswoman, devoted wife, soon-to-be mother — plants a sapling to welcome her daughter Eva into what appears to be a perfect world. Then the cracks begin to show.
Freedman understands something essential about dystopian fiction: the most unsettling societies aren't the ones that look broken — they're the ones that look flawless. The slow unravelling of Venerable's gleaming surface is handled with patience and restraint, letting unease accumulate rather than detonating it all at once. Rachel is a grounded, relatable protagonist, and her journey from comfortable certainty to devastating awareness carries genuine emotional weight.
The prose flows smoothly and the short chapters create a momentum that belies the story's philosophical ambitions. Freedman is asking a timeless question — what are we willing to surrender for safety and comfort? — and he frames it through character rather than polemic. The writing could benefit from occasional trimming, and a lighter hand with adjectives would sharpen the impact, but these are minor concerns in a debut that gets the important things right.
Overall: compelling dystopian opener with a strong central character and a premise that lingers. Makes you deeply suspicious of paradise, which is exactly the point.
Freedman understands something essential about dystopian fiction: the most unsettling societies aren't the ones that look broken — they're the ones that look flawless. The slow unravelling of Venerable's gleaming surface is handled with patience and restraint, letting unease accumulate rather than detonating it all at once. Rachel is a grounded, relatable protagonist, and her journey from comfortable certainty to devastating awareness carries genuine emotional weight.
The prose flows smoothly and the short chapters create a momentum that belies the story's philosophical ambitions. Freedman is asking a timeless question — what are we willing to surrender for safety and comfort? — and he frames it through character rather than polemic. The writing could benefit from occasional trimming, and a lighter hand with adjectives would sharpen the impact, but these are minor concerns in a debut that gets the important things right.
Overall: compelling dystopian opener with a strong central character and a premise that lingers. Makes you deeply suspicious of paradise, which is exactly the point.
July 9, 2022
The Price of Paradise by author Samuel Freedman is an interesting and engaging read. This is my first book from the author, and the experience was amazing.
The protagonist Rachel , a mother to be, waiting for the arrival of her daughter Eva. With the happiness of her daughter's arrival, she wants to make a beautiful plant grow as her daughter grows, so she plants a sapling and leaves an example of growth and flourishing life.
Venerable, a small town which is an example of peace and prosperity in the year 2456. Rachel lives here and works as a successful business person and is a wonderful wife.
But who knows what plans destiny has for us. The twist in the story is amazing, it will change the life of the people who live in Venerable. What is it? What change people will observe?
To know more about the story and the questions in your mind, you need to grab this read and know what happens next. The book will keep you glued with it till the end. Once you pick it up, you will not regret reading this.
The protagonist Rachel , a mother to be, waiting for the arrival of her daughter Eva. With the happiness of her daughter's arrival, she wants to make a beautiful plant grow as her daughter grows, so she plants a sapling and leaves an example of growth and flourishing life.
Venerable, a small town which is an example of peace and prosperity in the year 2456. Rachel lives here and works as a successful business person and is a wonderful wife.
But who knows what plans destiny has for us. The twist in the story is amazing, it will change the life of the people who live in Venerable. What is it? What change people will observe?
To know more about the story and the questions in your mind, you need to grab this read and know what happens next. The book will keep you glued with it till the end. Once you pick it up, you will not regret reading this.
July 14, 2025
At first, the city of Venerable feels almost too perfect, with everyone living happy, safe lives, no crime, no disease, basically paradise. Rachel, who’s about to become a mom, honestly feels so real, and you really get pulled into her world as she tries to make sense of everything around her. The story takes a wild turn when you find out there’s a lot more going on beneath the surface and suddenly everything flips upside down. The writing made it super easy to keep turning the pages. I loved how the author gives all these little details about Rachel’s life and the city, and then slowly peels back the layers until the big secrets come out. The big twist got me and really made me think about what paradise really means and what people might be giving up for it. Rachel’s journey was powerful, watching her deal with the truth and summon all this inner strength.
June 8, 2022
Book: Venerable: The Price of Paradise
Author: Samuel Freedman
Review: City Venerable is the home to wife and a successful business woman Rachel Moon. The city is like heaven, a place without crime, disease or war. The picture perfect society. Some might even say a little too perfect. Truth come to light when Rachel discovers the shocking reality behind the apparent utopian society, and it turns Rachel's world upside down.
This is tremendous story. The ingenuity of the plot is commendable. The theme is very unique and I liked how the protagonist's character develops throughout the story.
This is an interesting and intriguing story with a very engaging plot line that will keep the readers will love and enjoy.
Author: Samuel Freedman
Review: City Venerable is the home to wife and a successful business woman Rachel Moon. The city is like heaven, a place without crime, disease or war. The picture perfect society. Some might even say a little too perfect. Truth come to light when Rachel discovers the shocking reality behind the apparent utopian society, and it turns Rachel's world upside down.
This is tremendous story. The ingenuity of the plot is commendable. The theme is very unique and I liked how the protagonist's character develops throughout the story.
This is an interesting and intriguing story with a very engaging plot line that will keep the readers will love and enjoy.
July 31, 2025
It was an interesting book, he first in a series-and I look forward to reading the others to see what shape things take. I had a sense of being able to read it quite quickly as it was in four parts and each part consisting of quite short chapters/scenes. It did make me think of the saying "All that glitters is not gold." It was also interesting how in that society, like in many societies, people can become conditioned to all kinds of things as normal and that questioning what is normal can be a challenge.
December 17, 2025
The Price of Paradise is a gripping start to what promises to be an ambitious series. I was immediately drawn in by the idea of a society that appears completely free of crime, disease, and conflict. Rachel Moon is a compelling central character, and watching her perfect world slowly unravel kept me turning pages. The story raises interesting questions about what a “perfect” society really costs, and the ending made me eager to see where the next book goes.
January 17, 2023
what is Paradise?
In the debut novel, the issue lies in what is Paradise and what is an allowable cost for those who live in Paradise?
This is a page turner with an excellently crafted world. The well-thought out plausibility leaves the reader wondering if it his variety of Paradise could one day happen.
In the debut novel, the issue lies in what is Paradise and what is an allowable cost for those who live in Paradise?
This is a page turner with an excellently crafted world. The well-thought out plausibility leaves the reader wondering if it his variety of Paradise could one day happen.
July 16, 2025
The writing here is decent, I would say. Maybe a bit too much use of adjectives at times. That said, the characters are pretty well-developed and the setting itself is the star of the show. I love sci-fi that depicts a eutopia which is dark underneath. I think the author could benefit from just a little more trimming on the prose. Nevertheless, it is worth a read!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews