What do you think?
Rate this book
NeverEnd
Inexplicably, huge locust swarms of Biblical proportions plague Austin, a sinister portent of terrifying things to come?
Dr. Jon Edom, hero surgeon, loving father, finds himself unwittingly drawn into the dark conspiracies surrounding the sinister Church of the Resurrected, which has uncomfortably close family ties to his wife, Rochelle.
Rochelle Edom, daughter of the Church’s founder, genius creator of the worldwide hit video game, NeverEnd, has left her coding days behind to focus on family life. She laments that the repetitive, highly-addictive game she designed shows an alarming increase in ill effects among its they emulate the characters’ violent actions with increasingly brutal consequences – which her husband witnesses first hand.
When Rochelle unexpectedly goes missing, along with her and Jon’s two young children, the doctor all too quickly becomes a suspect once old infidelities are exposed.
As Jon fights to clear his name under seemingly impossible, tragic circumstances, aided by his close friend, Rabbi Max, he becomes inexorably embroiled in the evil undercurrent of the Church of the Resurrected’s association with the enigmatic Coppersmith, who has a nefarious agenda all of his own…
Dr. Jon Edom, hero surgeon, loving father, finds himself unwittingly drawn into the dark conspiracies surrounding the sinister Church of the Resurrected, which has uncomfortably close family ties to his wife, Rochelle.
Rochelle Edom, daughter of the Church’s founder, genius creator of the worldwide hit video game, NeverEnd, has left her coding days behind to focus on family life. She laments that the repetitive, highly-addictive game she designed shows an alarming increase in ill effects among its they emulate the characters’ violent actions with increasingly brutal consequences – which her husband witnesses first hand.
When Rochelle unexpectedly goes missing, along with her and Jon’s two young children, the doctor all too quickly becomes a suspect once old infidelities are exposed.
As Jon fights to clear his name under seemingly impossible, tragic circumstances, aided by his close friend, Rabbi Max, he becomes inexorably embroiled in the evil undercurrent of the Church of the Resurrected’s association with the enigmatic Coppersmith, who has a nefarious agenda all of his own…
408 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 22, 2025
1 person is currently reading
4 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
August 6, 2025
Check out all my reviews at: https://www.avonnalovesgenres.com
NEVEREND by Blake Rudman is an intense dark noir thriller with philosophical and religious elements as well as a criminal investigation and trial. The unsettling atmosphere, fully developed characters, and multitude of questions with every plot twist kept me turning the pages in a race to the end…which ended in a cliffhanger! UGH!!
Rochelle Edom is a brilliant software engineer and creator of the highly addictive video game, NeverEnd. She is also the oldest daughter of the founder of The Church of the Resurrected. Having worked through the childhood of her twins, she decided to retire and focus on her and Jon’s two younger sons. She has had problems in her marriage with Jon working long hours and her bipolar disease, so when Jon goes away to a conference, she gathers her two sons and disappears.
Dr. Jon Edom is a dedicated surgeon, but evidence begins to point to Jon as having hurt his wife and sons, he finds himself accused of the murder. Yes, they were having problems, but he loved them and cannot understand why the detective investigating his case is so sure of his guilt.
Besides Jon’s trial with startling revelations, there are swarms of locust plaguing Texas, a video game that has people killing each other, a hurricane bearing down, and questionable religious leaders and sects out to destroy each other all intertwined into a world that is completely unstable and psychologically disturbing.
This is the second book I have read by this author and once again I read it completely in one sitting. The world-building and psychological tension kept me off balance and questioning my assumptions throughout. It is a dark thriller with the criminal investigation and trial, but there are also moments of what some may call karma, or others will say divine intervention. The pacing is intense throughout. My one pet peeve as always, although it did not change my rating, is that the book ends in a cliffhanger. I hate them and will usually not pick up the next book for that reason, but I will definitely be waiting for this follow-up. Mr. Rudman has hooked me again!
I highly recommend this powerful dark noir thriller!
NEVEREND by Blake Rudman is an intense dark noir thriller with philosophical and religious elements as well as a criminal investigation and trial. The unsettling atmosphere, fully developed characters, and multitude of questions with every plot twist kept me turning the pages in a race to the end…which ended in a cliffhanger! UGH!!
Rochelle Edom is a brilliant software engineer and creator of the highly addictive video game, NeverEnd. She is also the oldest daughter of the founder of The Church of the Resurrected. Having worked through the childhood of her twins, she decided to retire and focus on her and Jon’s two younger sons. She has had problems in her marriage with Jon working long hours and her bipolar disease, so when Jon goes away to a conference, she gathers her two sons and disappears.
Dr. Jon Edom is a dedicated surgeon, but evidence begins to point to Jon as having hurt his wife and sons, he finds himself accused of the murder. Yes, they were having problems, but he loved them and cannot understand why the detective investigating his case is so sure of his guilt.
Besides Jon’s trial with startling revelations, there are swarms of locust plaguing Texas, a video game that has people killing each other, a hurricane bearing down, and questionable religious leaders and sects out to destroy each other all intertwined into a world that is completely unstable and psychologically disturbing.
This is the second book I have read by this author and once again I read it completely in one sitting. The world-building and psychological tension kept me off balance and questioning my assumptions throughout. It is a dark thriller with the criminal investigation and trial, but there are also moments of what some may call karma, or others will say divine intervention. The pacing is intense throughout. My one pet peeve as always, although it did not change my rating, is that the book ends in a cliffhanger. I hate them and will usually not pick up the next book for that reason, but I will definitely be waiting for this follow-up. Mr. Rudman has hooked me again!
I highly recommend this powerful dark noir thriller!
August 1, 2025
I don’t know if I read a book or lived a nightmare… and I mean that in the best way.
NeverEnd is one of those rare thrillers that doesn’t just twist, it unravels you. From the second the locusts hit Austin, I knew I wasn’t in for a normal ride. What I didn’t expect was to be dragged into a terrifying mix of cult manipulation, tech obsession, and emotional chaos so intense I nearly forgot to breathe.
Dr. Jon Edom is the kind of protagonist who keeps you guessing: part victim, part suspect, always one misstep from complete collapse. The way his world spirals, from his wife’s haunting past to his children’s disappearance, is written with such disorienting realism that I kept having to remind myself this was fiction.
The Church of the Resurrected? Disturbingly believable.
The game NeverEnd? Honestly, I’m afraid to touch my console now.
The Coppersmith? I don’t even have words. Just shivers.
Blake Rudman doesn’t just write noir thrillers. He builds dark, unsettling labyrinths, then dares you to find your way out. NeverEnd is tense, smart, and unapologetically disturbing, in all the right ways. Highly recommend if you like your fiction psychological, unpredictable, and a little too close to home.
NeverEnd is one of those rare thrillers that doesn’t just twist, it unravels you. From the second the locusts hit Austin, I knew I wasn’t in for a normal ride. What I didn’t expect was to be dragged into a terrifying mix of cult manipulation, tech obsession, and emotional chaos so intense I nearly forgot to breathe.
Dr. Jon Edom is the kind of protagonist who keeps you guessing: part victim, part suspect, always one misstep from complete collapse. The way his world spirals, from his wife’s haunting past to his children’s disappearance, is written with such disorienting realism that I kept having to remind myself this was fiction.
The Church of the Resurrected? Disturbingly believable.
The game NeverEnd? Honestly, I’m afraid to touch my console now.
The Coppersmith? I don’t even have words. Just shivers.
Blake Rudman doesn’t just write noir thrillers. He builds dark, unsettling labyrinths, then dares you to find your way out. NeverEnd is tense, smart, and unapologetically disturbing, in all the right ways. Highly recommend if you like your fiction psychological, unpredictable, and a little too close to home.
August 8, 2025
This book gives you a touch of horror before delving deep (and we mean deep) into the drama that is Doctor Jon Edom's life. It all starts with a video game, NeverEnd, that his wife was a part of creating. It's impact on people's lives is nothing to be sniffed at. The behavior of players is shifting from gaming world to real life and having deadly consequences. But things take a darker turn of Jon when his wife and two young children go missing. Someone is out to frame him, and the detective investigating the case has her sights set on him as the perp.
When I first picked up this book I had one idea in which it would go and it took me in a completely different direction. This book grabbed me and kept me page-turning to learn what happened next. We're getting religious groups, secrets, drama, and a cliffhanger that we had no idea was even coming. This book was completely wild and we are going to be on the edge of our seat waiting for book two.
When I first picked up this book I had one idea in which it would go and it took me in a completely different direction. This book grabbed me and kept me page-turning to learn what happened next. We're getting religious groups, secrets, drama, and a cliffhanger that we had no idea was even coming. This book was completely wild and we are going to be on the edge of our seat waiting for book two.
July 24, 2025
Twisted, Tense, and Totally Unpredictable
The cliffhanger at the end… someone get me book 2 immediately! NeverEnd by Blake Rudman is one of those books that grabs you early and refuses to let go. I went in expecting a story centered around the video game “NeverEnd” — but what I got was so much more: a layered and haunting blend of psychological suspense, religious conspiracy, murder mystery, and family drama.
The video game element, while not the focus, adds a chilling backdrop to the already sinister world. The real story lies in the unraveling of Dr. Jon Edom’s seemingly perfect life: swarms of locusts plague the city, his wife Rochelle disappears with their children, and he becomes the prime suspect in a tangled web of lies, betrayal, and dark secrets tied to a powerful cult-like church. The pacing is intense, the stakes are high, and I honestly had no idea how things were going to unfold.
There are so many unanswered questions that left me both frustrated and excited — in the best possible way. If you're a fan of thrillers, religious conspiracy fiction, psychological suspense, or speculative mystery, this needs to go to the top of your TBR. It’s a wild ride full of second-guessing, twists, and characters you don’t know whether to trust or fear.
Highly recommend
The cliffhanger at the end… someone get me book 2 immediately! NeverEnd by Blake Rudman is one of those books that grabs you early and refuses to let go. I went in expecting a story centered around the video game “NeverEnd” — but what I got was so much more: a layered and haunting blend of psychological suspense, religious conspiracy, murder mystery, and family drama.
The video game element, while not the focus, adds a chilling backdrop to the already sinister world. The real story lies in the unraveling of Dr. Jon Edom’s seemingly perfect life: swarms of locusts plague the city, his wife Rochelle disappears with their children, and he becomes the prime suspect in a tangled web of lies, betrayal, and dark secrets tied to a powerful cult-like church. The pacing is intense, the stakes are high, and I honestly had no idea how things were going to unfold.
There are so many unanswered questions that left me both frustrated and excited — in the best possible way. If you're a fan of thrillers, religious conspiracy fiction, psychological suspense, or speculative mystery, this needs to go to the top of your TBR. It’s a wild ride full of second-guessing, twists, and characters you don’t know whether to trust or fear.
Highly recommend
June 14, 2025
YOU HAVE DIED. IS THIS THE END?
NO!
NEVER!
NeverEnd was an experience, an alternate life, a passion.
5 stars. Honestly, that… that was just friggin' awesome! For having done absolutely no "due diligence" prior to reading Blake Rudman's "NeverEnd", I have to say this is one of the most exciting and best reads I've come across this year. No, unlike my usual tendency to research a book (and its author) almost like I'm buying about to invest in a new car, this time things basically transpired with the author asking if I wanted to read and review the book, and I basically said "yeah okay, put it in my greedy hands and I'll try it." Which to be honest is how I approached most things in my first 30 years of life. Luckily, this time my wistfulness posed no danger and wound up being a lot less taxing on my body, if not my mind, than those days so long ago (thank the gods we had no internet then). Because things got kind of weird in my life … just like they get kind of weird in this book! Damn, I'm really nailing the segues this week!
This story has more layers than a wedding cake.
I'm not entirely sure how to start here either, because I did eventually go back and read the author's blurb on goodreads. And while it's not IN-accurate per se, I did find myself, well, not entirely agreeing with what this book is about. Yes, there's locusts that appear in passing, but I found things like the tornado touching down outside the restaurant where several of our protagonists were having a quick brunch (or was that the lunch?) or the Category 12 hurricane (just play along) that blew through to be much more troubling. Not being a big bible reader though, I'm not sure what else is supposed to pop up but I'm just glad no one was tossing babies into the gator-invested bodies of water in the greater Austin area. So, it's not untrue, but there's a lot more "holy shinola, what the heck?" going on than is expressed. Probably in large part because the word limit is a lot less than what we're allowed for reviews!
When night falls by day shall God’s wrath come upon His bitterest enemies.
To me the story is a truly fascinating amalgam of some just genius parts. In no particular order - not that I could arrange these if I tried - there are warring "super churches", one - the Church of the Resurrected - being the kind of cult-like mega-money affront to the gods/God that we all know and really despise (the churches, I mean, not the g/Gods). The remaining members of not the founding family, no, but the folks that took over once their money started talking of course play a huge role throughout. There's the smarmy brother, Phillip; the somewhat battle-weary and cynical sister, Pamela aka P.J. (just don't call her Peej!); and the deeply troubled, bipolar yet genius Rochelle aka Chelle, who becomes the literal eye of the storm as we progress (this is in addition to the massive hurricane that strikes mind you).
Nothing would be the same after today.
For Chelle is responsible - in large part along with her dementia-suffering mother (where I have my doubts about the actual medical reason for Mom's fading in and out! Yeah, I want to analyze her medicine a little more closely, too!) - for creating the game that the book gets its title from, namely, NeverEnd. And as we find out, it seems that this "game has caused more domestic violence in this country than all the unrest of the past hundred years." But the money they're making from that as well as from their "holier" activities (you know, the tithes rolling in that could feed Africa for a decade)? Well, besides the obvious buildings, cars, and more excessive displays of wealth that would offend any true Son or Daughter of God, all evidence points to the "Church" amassing enough weaponry to carry out a small- to medium-sized war. Good thing such a crazy, lying bitch like Tasmin is in charge of their security, huh? Yeah, nice body or not, I didn't like her much…
Here you are, wanting me to start a war.
Alongside this group then is yet another "religious" grouping, the Cross Guard, this time comprised of a lot of folks that have done some pretty nasty things in their past but steadfastly believe in their own holiness, saying things like "We’re real. We’re authentic. We’re Christian." at every opportunity. Let's just say though that when a compound is not legally allowed to let children inside because of the number of convicted pedophiles present, well, it's not the cream of the crop of society we're talking about being gathered together. But these folks have more than just a bone to pick with the so-called COTR, in no small part because they still bear the pain of being abandoned by their outreach program while they (these 2nd group of folks) were all still incarcerated. And if the COTR is all bling and what not, well, the Guard is just the opposite. Clean and well-groomed … or even bathed … they're not. But they do have a rather devilish (hint: foreshadowing methinks!) presence that is helping them with their nefarious plans, namely, the bizarre entity known as Coppersmith, a man that not only has "the plan" but also seems to be able to read minds and even transport himself into the gaming environment with no technological support. And a wicked smile that seems to have far too many teeth to be normal. Yeah, I told you it gets weird!
Lying ain’t your style, ’cept when you don’t like the truth.
Getting back though to NeverEnd, it may not sound all that bad - after all, "experts" have been screaming about immersive, often violent video games since the first day the technology became available. But Chelle's game is not only addictive, it makes those that play become truly, well, converted, even dressing - and scarring themselves - like their favorite characters as the game was bleeding into the real world. This leads in at least one case to a truly horrific attack against the charity hospital where Chelle's heroic husband - Dr. Jon Edom - is plying his trade like the best of the best from "Grey's Anatomy". Sadly, Dr. Jon's life is about to take a very bad turn for the worse, as he'll be accused of not only kidnapping his aforementioned wife and two youngest children, but of planning and carrying out their gruesome murders. It all becomes a very intense mystery unlike any I've come across in a long time. But seeing Jon deal with all this - which seemingly saps him even of his health (very bizarre those symptoms are, too) - alongside his true friends is a moving part of this tale. Especially when we see just how divided his wife's family is about him having left their church, returning to his original Jewish roots (oh and you'll love Rabbi Max!), and quite possibly having participated in their sister's demise.
Someone is rewarding our efforts, our planting is bearing fruit, and the soil is restless.
It is absolutely,insanely wild to say the least. There are more than enough elements of horror included along the way, not the least of which is again what seems to be some different kinds (yes, plural) of non-human interference with the entire crew. It is easily the best mystery I've read so far this year and I can't wait to see what comes next. Yes, that screaming sound you heard last night around 10 pm local time was me realizing this is only the first chapter in this adventure! But if the idea of potential Biblical disaster, warring mega-churches, human controlling video games that are causing society to descend into murderous chaos, and even the questionable activities of Longevity Therapeutics - oh did I forget to mention the family's strange and mysterious biomedical venture? - sound like fun to you, then this is the book for you!
Time is short, and the job’s not done. There. Message delivered.
In terms of execution, I though Burden did an excellent job. Sure there are some minor editing hiccups spread throughout but the amount and/or severity is not enormously high (and yes, I keep track). And I mean no offense (this is naturally the part of my review where I say something totally offensive) but this book deserves a better-rendered cover than it has right now. But again, sign me up for however many instalments are left because this was really really exciting and I loved each and every one of these characters, including even the ones that I hated because, you know, there's a lot of snakes in the grass! The war IS coming and methinks it'll be nothing like we've ever seen before. Y'all come back now, ya hear?
NO!
NEVER!
NeverEnd was an experience, an alternate life, a passion.
5 stars. Honestly, that… that was just friggin' awesome! For having done absolutely no "due diligence" prior to reading Blake Rudman's "NeverEnd", I have to say this is one of the most exciting and best reads I've come across this year. No, unlike my usual tendency to research a book (and its author) almost like I'm buying about to invest in a new car, this time things basically transpired with the author asking if I wanted to read and review the book, and I basically said "yeah okay, put it in my greedy hands and I'll try it." Which to be honest is how I approached most things in my first 30 years of life. Luckily, this time my wistfulness posed no danger and wound up being a lot less taxing on my body, if not my mind, than those days so long ago (thank the gods we had no internet then). Because things got kind of weird in my life … just like they get kind of weird in this book! Damn, I'm really nailing the segues this week!
This story has more layers than a wedding cake.
I'm not entirely sure how to start here either, because I did eventually go back and read the author's blurb on goodreads. And while it's not IN-accurate per se, I did find myself, well, not entirely agreeing with what this book is about. Yes, there's locusts that appear in passing, but I found things like the tornado touching down outside the restaurant where several of our protagonists were having a quick brunch (or was that the lunch?) or the Category 12 hurricane (just play along) that blew through to be much more troubling. Not being a big bible reader though, I'm not sure what else is supposed to pop up but I'm just glad no one was tossing babies into the gator-invested bodies of water in the greater Austin area. So, it's not untrue, but there's a lot more "holy shinola, what the heck?" going on than is expressed. Probably in large part because the word limit is a lot less than what we're allowed for reviews!
When night falls by day shall God’s wrath come upon His bitterest enemies.
To me the story is a truly fascinating amalgam of some just genius parts. In no particular order - not that I could arrange these if I tried - there are warring "super churches", one - the Church of the Resurrected - being the kind of cult-like mega-money affront to the gods/God that we all know and really despise (the churches, I mean, not the g/Gods). The remaining members of not the founding family, no, but the folks that took over once their money started talking of course play a huge role throughout. There's the smarmy brother, Phillip; the somewhat battle-weary and cynical sister, Pamela aka P.J. (just don't call her Peej!); and the deeply troubled, bipolar yet genius Rochelle aka Chelle, who becomes the literal eye of the storm as we progress (this is in addition to the massive hurricane that strikes mind you).
Nothing would be the same after today.
For Chelle is responsible - in large part along with her dementia-suffering mother (where I have my doubts about the actual medical reason for Mom's fading in and out! Yeah, I want to analyze her medicine a little more closely, too!) - for creating the game that the book gets its title from, namely, NeverEnd. And as we find out, it seems that this "game has caused more domestic violence in this country than all the unrest of the past hundred years." But the money they're making from that as well as from their "holier" activities (you know, the tithes rolling in that could feed Africa for a decade)? Well, besides the obvious buildings, cars, and more excessive displays of wealth that would offend any true Son or Daughter of God, all evidence points to the "Church" amassing enough weaponry to carry out a small- to medium-sized war. Good thing such a crazy, lying bitch like Tasmin is in charge of their security, huh? Yeah, nice body or not, I didn't like her much…
Here you are, wanting me to start a war.
Alongside this group then is yet another "religious" grouping, the Cross Guard, this time comprised of a lot of folks that have done some pretty nasty things in their past but steadfastly believe in their own holiness, saying things like "We’re real. We’re authentic. We’re Christian." at every opportunity. Let's just say though that when a compound is not legally allowed to let children inside because of the number of convicted pedophiles present, well, it's not the cream of the crop of society we're talking about being gathered together. But these folks have more than just a bone to pick with the so-called COTR, in no small part because they still bear the pain of being abandoned by their outreach program while they (these 2nd group of folks) were all still incarcerated. And if the COTR is all bling and what not, well, the Guard is just the opposite. Clean and well-groomed … or even bathed … they're not. But they do have a rather devilish (hint: foreshadowing methinks!) presence that is helping them with their nefarious plans, namely, the bizarre entity known as Coppersmith, a man that not only has "the plan" but also seems to be able to read minds and even transport himself into the gaming environment with no technological support. And a wicked smile that seems to have far too many teeth to be normal. Yeah, I told you it gets weird!
Lying ain’t your style, ’cept when you don’t like the truth.
Getting back though to NeverEnd, it may not sound all that bad - after all, "experts" have been screaming about immersive, often violent video games since the first day the technology became available. But Chelle's game is not only addictive, it makes those that play become truly, well, converted, even dressing - and scarring themselves - like their favorite characters as the game was bleeding into the real world. This leads in at least one case to a truly horrific attack against the charity hospital where Chelle's heroic husband - Dr. Jon Edom - is plying his trade like the best of the best from "Grey's Anatomy". Sadly, Dr. Jon's life is about to take a very bad turn for the worse, as he'll be accused of not only kidnapping his aforementioned wife and two youngest children, but of planning and carrying out their gruesome murders. It all becomes a very intense mystery unlike any I've come across in a long time. But seeing Jon deal with all this - which seemingly saps him even of his health (very bizarre those symptoms are, too) - alongside his true friends is a moving part of this tale. Especially when we see just how divided his wife's family is about him having left their church, returning to his original Jewish roots (oh and you'll love Rabbi Max!), and quite possibly having participated in their sister's demise.
Someone is rewarding our efforts, our planting is bearing fruit, and the soil is restless.
It is absolutely,insanely wild to say the least. There are more than enough elements of horror included along the way, not the least of which is again what seems to be some different kinds (yes, plural) of non-human interference with the entire crew. It is easily the best mystery I've read so far this year and I can't wait to see what comes next. Yes, that screaming sound you heard last night around 10 pm local time was me realizing this is only the first chapter in this adventure! But if the idea of potential Biblical disaster, warring mega-churches, human controlling video games that are causing society to descend into murderous chaos, and even the questionable activities of Longevity Therapeutics - oh did I forget to mention the family's strange and mysterious biomedical venture? - sound like fun to you, then this is the book for you!
Time is short, and the job’s not done. There. Message delivered.
In terms of execution, I though Burden did an excellent job. Sure there are some minor editing hiccups spread throughout but the amount and/or severity is not enormously high (and yes, I keep track). And I mean no offense (this is naturally the part of my review where I say something totally offensive) but this book deserves a better-rendered cover than it has right now. But again, sign me up for however many instalments are left because this was really really exciting and I loved each and every one of these characters, including even the ones that I hated because, you know, there's a lot of snakes in the grass! The war IS coming and methinks it'll be nothing like we've ever seen before. Y'all come back now, ya hear?
July 7, 2025
Rudman is back with another gripping atmospheric noir thriller. Set in Texas, in what seems like a world similar to ours, it’s been overrun with plague of locusts and a video game NeverEnd is dominating lives and headlines. Blake’s writing sets up such a dark undertone for the novel. The main characters, husband and wife Jon and Chelle were both well developed, interesting and flawed. The novel then picks up speed when Chelle, goes missing and Jon needs to clear his name. The role of the Church and the its founds was fascinating. I couldn’t put it down as I guessed who was reliable and watched events fall out. The twists come right up to the end with a big cliffhanger finish. I hope there will be more to this story soon!
May 1, 2025
Rudman knows how to keep you on the edge of your seat!
I am not a big reader of horror novels but there is something about a Blake Rudman novel that just draws me in. Neverend is richly detailed, immersing you into the psychological turmoil of the story. It starts with subtle uneasiness before escalating into full blown terror. This dark, gripping, and thought-provoking novel delivers a chilling blend of psychological suspense and horror that will haunt you long after the final page. Highly recommend for anyone who loves a great story and a good scare!
I am not a big reader of horror novels but there is something about a Blake Rudman novel that just draws me in. Neverend is richly detailed, immersing you into the psychological turmoil of the story. It starts with subtle uneasiness before escalating into full blown terror. This dark, gripping, and thought-provoking novel delivers a chilling blend of psychological suspense and horror that will haunt you long after the final page. Highly recommend for anyone who loves a great story and a good scare!
May 1, 2025
A Fascinating Read
With nuanced characters, and a driven plot, this one is a real page turner.
The author knows how to grab a reader and hold on.
The mystery behind Jon and Rochelle is deep and complex. The religious undertones work.
Highly recommended.
With nuanced characters, and a driven plot, this one is a real page turner.
The author knows how to grab a reader and hold on.
The mystery behind Jon and Rochelle is deep and complex. The religious undertones work.
Highly recommended.
August 7, 2025
Having previously read Dark Beauty, The Gentleman's Choice, and Red Line by Rudman, I knew I was in for a good time with this thriller. Although I've read a few of his works so far, I'm always surprised and never ready for what awaits me within the pages.
In NeverEnd, Rudman turns his talents to the video game industry and cult churches. Our main character, Jon, finds himself with adrenaline pumping through his veins every day at his job as a surgeon, and we find him in the moments prior to a mass shooting in the hospital he works at. Miraculously, he not only survives the shooting but saves lives as well - and then returns home to an arguably more chaotic scene. His wife, Rochelle, suffers from bipolar disorder and fears (rightly) for her husband's safety in the hospital. The conflict in their marriage stems from this, and it feels very realistic. Often when it comes to thrillers, there isn't much conflict in relationships other than infidelity, and while that does have a role to play in NeverEnd, it was refreshing to see something other than infidelity used as a jumping-off point.
After Rochelle and their two youngest sons go missing, Jon finds himself the prime suspect in a missing person investigation. Writing it out now, the plot seems incredibly simple, but it's paced well and the tension is well-balanced throughout. The characters were interesting and, as always with Rudman's work, felt diverse and tangible. Our focal point changes from Jon to the detectives investigating him, to the private investigator hired by Jon's lawyer, to a religious faction and their opposition, and so on. The story comes together in a way that is both satisfying and not, as you strive to get to the bottom of the mystery.
Alongside the investigation into Rochelle's disappearance, there is the lurking threat of her family's all-powerful church and their sworn enemies. This is a fascinating angle but not one we get much clear information about - I'm assuming it will be explained in a sequel. At the same time, Rochelle's history with game development and the hit game she designed begins to leak into the real world, with people mimicking the characters and violence. Again, there wasn't much said on this aspect and it ended up being a thread left unexplored, but I would love to know more in the next book.
The only true issue I had with this book was that I felt it ended too early - and on a cliffhanger, to boot. The last paragraph or two completely changes the trajectory of the novel and reveals the story has hidden layers, which I am desperate to find out about. I'll have to keep my eye out for book two.
I was gifted a copy of this book and asked to post my honest thoughts.
In NeverEnd, Rudman turns his talents to the video game industry and cult churches. Our main character, Jon, finds himself with adrenaline pumping through his veins every day at his job as a surgeon, and we find him in the moments prior to a mass shooting in the hospital he works at. Miraculously, he not only survives the shooting but saves lives as well - and then returns home to an arguably more chaotic scene. His wife, Rochelle, suffers from bipolar disorder and fears (rightly) for her husband's safety in the hospital. The conflict in their marriage stems from this, and it feels very realistic. Often when it comes to thrillers, there isn't much conflict in relationships other than infidelity, and while that does have a role to play in NeverEnd, it was refreshing to see something other than infidelity used as a jumping-off point.
After Rochelle and their two youngest sons go missing, Jon finds himself the prime suspect in a missing person investigation. Writing it out now, the plot seems incredibly simple, but it's paced well and the tension is well-balanced throughout. The characters were interesting and, as always with Rudman's work, felt diverse and tangible. Our focal point changes from Jon to the detectives investigating him, to the private investigator hired by Jon's lawyer, to a religious faction and their opposition, and so on. The story comes together in a way that is both satisfying and not, as you strive to get to the bottom of the mystery.
Alongside the investigation into Rochelle's disappearance, there is the lurking threat of her family's all-powerful church and their sworn enemies. This is a fascinating angle but not one we get much clear information about - I'm assuming it will be explained in a sequel. At the same time, Rochelle's history with game development and the hit game she designed begins to leak into the real world, with people mimicking the characters and violence. Again, there wasn't much said on this aspect and it ended up being a thread left unexplored, but I would love to know more in the next book.
The only true issue I had with this book was that I felt it ended too early - and on a cliffhanger, to boot. The last paragraph or two completely changes the trajectory of the novel and reveals the story has hidden layers, which I am desperate to find out about. I'll have to keep my eye out for book two.
I was gifted a copy of this book and asked to post my honest thoughts.
August 8, 2025
Here is my review for NeverEnd by Blake Rudman
I absolutely loved this intriguing religious story that had swarms of locusts plaguing Austin. A hero doctor whose wife coded NeverEnd, a brilliant video game but with serious consequences when its players start acting it out for real with weapons and hurting their opponents. When Rochelle with their young children goes missing on her way to the lake house and Jon is away at a doctors conference in Houston, he soon becomes a suspect and has to fight to clear his name with the help of his close friend, Rabbi Max. I got so invested in this story that I found I couldn’t put the book down as I needed to know what happened next. I got into this story straight away right from the start. I thought the story was superbly written and the plot was brilliantly thought out. I really liked Dr. Jon Edom who proved himself to be a good surgeon who was dedicated to his work, would get embroiled in a shoot out proving to be a hero and trying to keep an eye on his wife taking her bipolar pills. The story was very descriptive and everything was described in detail. I really liked this synopsis as it drew me to read this story and I most certainly wasn’t disappointed. I really liked this author’s writing style and I found it really easy to read. I would like to read more books by this author in the future.
Blurb :
Inexplicably, huge locust swarms of Biblical proportions plague Austin, Texas: a sinister portent of terrifying things to come?
Dr. Jon Edom, hero surgeon, loving father, finds himself unwittingly drawn into the dark conspiracies surrounding the sinister Church of the Resurrected, which has uncomfortably close family ties to his wife, Rochelle.
Rochelle Edom, daughter of the Church’s founder, genius creator of the worldwide hit video game, NeverEnd, has left her coding days behind to focus on family life. She laments that the repetitive, highly-addictive game she designed shows an alarming increase in ill effects among its players: they emulate the characters’ violent actions with increasingly brutal consequences – which her husband witnesses first hand.
When Rochelle unexpectedly goes missing, along with her and Jon’s two young children, the doctor all too quickly becomes a suspect once old infidelities are exposed.
As Jon fights to clear his name under seemingly impossible, tragic circumstances, aided by his close friend, Rabbi Max, he becomes inexorably embroiled in the evil undercurrent of the Church of the Resurrected’s association with the enigmatic Coppersmith, who has a nefarious agenda all of his own…
I absolutely loved this intriguing religious story that had swarms of locusts plaguing Austin. A hero doctor whose wife coded NeverEnd, a brilliant video game but with serious consequences when its players start acting it out for real with weapons and hurting their opponents. When Rochelle with their young children goes missing on her way to the lake house and Jon is away at a doctors conference in Houston, he soon becomes a suspect and has to fight to clear his name with the help of his close friend, Rabbi Max. I got so invested in this story that I found I couldn’t put the book down as I needed to know what happened next. I got into this story straight away right from the start. I thought the story was superbly written and the plot was brilliantly thought out. I really liked Dr. Jon Edom who proved himself to be a good surgeon who was dedicated to his work, would get embroiled in a shoot out proving to be a hero and trying to keep an eye on his wife taking her bipolar pills. The story was very descriptive and everything was described in detail. I really liked this synopsis as it drew me to read this story and I most certainly wasn’t disappointed. I really liked this author’s writing style and I found it really easy to read. I would like to read more books by this author in the future.
Blurb :
Inexplicably, huge locust swarms of Biblical proportions plague Austin, Texas: a sinister portent of terrifying things to come?
Dr. Jon Edom, hero surgeon, loving father, finds himself unwittingly drawn into the dark conspiracies surrounding the sinister Church of the Resurrected, which has uncomfortably close family ties to his wife, Rochelle.
Rochelle Edom, daughter of the Church’s founder, genius creator of the worldwide hit video game, NeverEnd, has left her coding days behind to focus on family life. She laments that the repetitive, highly-addictive game she designed shows an alarming increase in ill effects among its players: they emulate the characters’ violent actions with increasingly brutal consequences – which her husband witnesses first hand.
When Rochelle unexpectedly goes missing, along with her and Jon’s two young children, the doctor all too quickly becomes a suspect once old infidelities are exposed.
As Jon fights to clear his name under seemingly impossible, tragic circumstances, aided by his close friend, Rabbi Max, he becomes inexorably embroiled in the evil undercurrent of the Church of the Resurrected’s association with the enigmatic Coppersmith, who has a nefarious agenda all of his own…
August 6, 2025
Thank you @booktoktours and @hellboundbooks for the ebook for review.
Sometimes with thrillers you get an idea of which direction the story is going even if you get caught out with twists and turns but with NeverEnd I really didn't know where the plot was going which was very refreshing.
The story is told from various viewpoints with the main one being Dr Jon Edom, loving father and a surgeon in a Texan hospital in a dangerous community.
Jon's wife Rochelle is something of a genius, having created the world's biggest video game hit, NeverEnd.
Rochelle's father had created the family company and founded the Church of the Resurrected, an organisation that Jon has always kept away from due to its cult-like & sinister methods.
Rochelle has not been working for a while since the release of NeverEnd due to having two young children and suffering from bipolar condition which has put a huge strain on the marriage, not helped by an increasing amount of violence in society which some are putting down to the influence of the game she created, including a mass shooting at the hospital where Jon works.
While Jon's away at a conference, his wife and children go missing and suddenly he's the main person of interest in the police investigation. The main detective duo are great characters.
The plot zips along with many surprises making the reader question everything.
There is an uneasy darkness throughout with elements of what could be supernatural horror or just strange coincidences with plagues of locusts and devastating hurricanes.
And that's before any shady dealings with the Church of the Resurrected are involved or the plans of a rival cult and the mysterious individual known as Coppersmith who is truly scary and feels like he's stepped out of the pages of a Stephen King novel.
Conspiracies, mysteries, action, suspense and intrigue are in abundance and then there's a highly unexpected cliffhanger ending. There will be a book two! A gripping page turner.
Sometimes with thrillers you get an idea of which direction the story is going even if you get caught out with twists and turns but with NeverEnd I really didn't know where the plot was going which was very refreshing.
The story is told from various viewpoints with the main one being Dr Jon Edom, loving father and a surgeon in a Texan hospital in a dangerous community.
Jon's wife Rochelle is something of a genius, having created the world's biggest video game hit, NeverEnd.
Rochelle's father had created the family company and founded the Church of the Resurrected, an organisation that Jon has always kept away from due to its cult-like & sinister methods.
Rochelle has not been working for a while since the release of NeverEnd due to having two young children and suffering from bipolar condition which has put a huge strain on the marriage, not helped by an increasing amount of violence in society which some are putting down to the influence of the game she created, including a mass shooting at the hospital where Jon works.
While Jon's away at a conference, his wife and children go missing and suddenly he's the main person of interest in the police investigation. The main detective duo are great characters.
The plot zips along with many surprises making the reader question everything.
There is an uneasy darkness throughout with elements of what could be supernatural horror or just strange coincidences with plagues of locusts and devastating hurricanes.
And that's before any shady dealings with the Church of the Resurrected are involved or the plans of a rival cult and the mysterious individual known as Coppersmith who is truly scary and feels like he's stepped out of the pages of a Stephen King novel.
Conspiracies, mysteries, action, suspense and intrigue are in abundance and then there's a highly unexpected cliffhanger ending. There will be a book two! A gripping page turner.
August 8, 2025
I have read many novels, but the prologue of this one was so shocking that it pulls the reader in and keeps them reading the book. Nothing is predictable as all of it comes as a surprise.
Dr. Jon Edom leaves a medical conference on the relation between violence in society and addictive online gaming only to reach home to find his wife Rochelle and his two young sons, Luke and Paul have disappeared into thin air. When he files the complaint, the police suspect Jon though he was miles away during the disappearance. That there are no corpses is puzzling. Step in Rochelle's family who run a cult thanks to Rochelle programming a violent addictive game which brings them loads of money. Then there are the enemies of the cult, and with biblical references, you are in for a ride.
An addictive role-playing game. This book reminded me of "Blue Whale" game which made adults do crazy things in real life until it was banned by multiple governments. It also shows the danger of priming in the police department that destroys objective investigation. Priming is a social psychological term which means focusing on something/someone because that is what has been made prominent. But is the story just about that? Absolutely not.
Rudman gives a masterclass in writing - how to create tension and terror with simple characterization. He creates chaos without usual terror tricks like spirits and gore as the reader is pulled into the story with its ever-increasing tension. Very helpful for would be novelists.
As a reader, you know something is off from the beginning, but you are given time to ponder what it could be as the next piece of chaos is thrown in. You watch characters unravel at a speed that leaves you dazed, and the end is a zinger, though it is not the end! The writing is so crisp and visual that you feel you are seated next to Dr. Jon Edom.
If you are in the mood for a dark thriller page turner, this book would be it.
Dr. Jon Edom leaves a medical conference on the relation between violence in society and addictive online gaming only to reach home to find his wife Rochelle and his two young sons, Luke and Paul have disappeared into thin air. When he files the complaint, the police suspect Jon though he was miles away during the disappearance. That there are no corpses is puzzling. Step in Rochelle's family who run a cult thanks to Rochelle programming a violent addictive game which brings them loads of money. Then there are the enemies of the cult, and with biblical references, you are in for a ride.
An addictive role-playing game. This book reminded me of "Blue Whale" game which made adults do crazy things in real life until it was banned by multiple governments. It also shows the danger of priming in the police department that destroys objective investigation. Priming is a social psychological term which means focusing on something/someone because that is what has been made prominent. But is the story just about that? Absolutely not.
Rudman gives a masterclass in writing - how to create tension and terror with simple characterization. He creates chaos without usual terror tricks like spirits and gore as the reader is pulled into the story with its ever-increasing tension. Very helpful for would be novelists.
As a reader, you know something is off from the beginning, but you are given time to ponder what it could be as the next piece of chaos is thrown in. You watch characters unravel at a speed that leaves you dazed, and the end is a zinger, though it is not the end! The writing is so crisp and visual that you feel you are seated next to Dr. Jon Edom.
If you are in the mood for a dark thriller page turner, this book would be it.
August 7, 2025
Potential Spoilers: I went into Never End without knowing too much, and honestly, I prefer it that way; I like to be surprised by where a story takes me. The premise was definitely intriguing: a missing wife, a suspicious cult, a disturbing video game, and a father fighting to clear his name. There were moments where I could really see the potential of what the story wanted to be.
Dr. Jon Edom as a main character was the strongest part for me … I was rooting for him throughout, even when things got confusing. His emotional turmoil and desperation felt genuine. But unfortunately, the story as a whole felt chaotic. There were too many narrative threads, in my opinion, from the Church of the Resurrected, to the NeverEnd game, to mysterious illnesses and conspiracies … and not all of them were followed through. Some plotlines were introduced and then dropped with no resolution, while others seemed to fade into the background without much impact.
The cult and tech aspects, which could have been deeply chilling and thought-provoking, never quite connected in a way that made sense. I also struggled with the pacing as the story jumped around a lot, and by the time I reached the ending (which was a very random cliffhanger), I felt more confused than satisfied.
There were definitely glimpses of potential in the concept and themes; I could see that Blake Rudman has a vivid imagination and a unique perspective. But in this case, the execution didn’t land for me. That said, I’m grateful for the opportunity to read this ARC and I appreciate the effort that went into creating this story. It’s always an honour to support indie authors and debut releases, even when the book doesn’t end up being a personal favourite.
Dr. Jon Edom as a main character was the strongest part for me … I was rooting for him throughout, even when things got confusing. His emotional turmoil and desperation felt genuine. But unfortunately, the story as a whole felt chaotic. There were too many narrative threads, in my opinion, from the Church of the Resurrected, to the NeverEnd game, to mysterious illnesses and conspiracies … and not all of them were followed through. Some plotlines were introduced and then dropped with no resolution, while others seemed to fade into the background without much impact.
The cult and tech aspects, which could have been deeply chilling and thought-provoking, never quite connected in a way that made sense. I also struggled with the pacing as the story jumped around a lot, and by the time I reached the ending (which was a very random cliffhanger), I felt more confused than satisfied.
There were definitely glimpses of potential in the concept and themes; I could see that Blake Rudman has a vivid imagination and a unique perspective. But in this case, the execution didn’t land for me. That said, I’m grateful for the opportunity to read this ARC and I appreciate the effort that went into creating this story. It’s always an honour to support indie authors and debut releases, even when the book doesn’t end up being a personal favourite.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 8, 2025
📖 Title: NeverEnd
✍️ Author: Blake Ronan
⭐️ Rating: (3 out of 5)
📅 Date Finished: August 6th, 2025
———————————————————���—————
🧵 Quick Summary:
When biblical-scale locust swarms descend on Austin, Texas, Dr. Jon Edom is pulled into the dark world of the Church of the Resurrected, an organization tied to his wife, Rochelle, creator of the addictive video game NeverEnd. When Rochelle vanishes with their two young children, Jon becomes the prime suspect, forcing him to clear his name while uncovering the Church’s disturbing alliances. What he finds is a web of violence, fanaticism, and a mysterious figure known only as the Coppersmith.
💭 What I Loved:
- The suspense
- The chaos
😬 What Didn’t Work for Me:
- It just didn't seem to be my kind of book.
- The subtle judgments that maybe I'm just taking too personally.
🗣️ Final Thoughts:
I really enjoyed this book. I don't think I'd read it again, but I don't regret reading it either. It made me think about many different points in regards to the topic at hand. For me, it just missed something. I can't quite put my finger on it. I would still recommend the book though.
✍️ Author: Blake Ronan
⭐️ Rating: (3 out of 5)
📅 Date Finished: August 6th, 2025
———————————————————���—————
🧵 Quick Summary:
When biblical-scale locust swarms descend on Austin, Texas, Dr. Jon Edom is pulled into the dark world of the Church of the Resurrected, an organization tied to his wife, Rochelle, creator of the addictive video game NeverEnd. When Rochelle vanishes with their two young children, Jon becomes the prime suspect, forcing him to clear his name while uncovering the Church’s disturbing alliances. What he finds is a web of violence, fanaticism, and a mysterious figure known only as the Coppersmith.
💭 What I Loved:
- The suspense
- The chaos
😬 What Didn’t Work for Me:
- It just didn't seem to be my kind of book.
- The subtle judgments that maybe I'm just taking too personally.
🗣️ Final Thoughts:
I really enjoyed this book. I don't think I'd read it again, but I don't regret reading it either. It made me think about many different points in regards to the topic at hand. For me, it just missed something. I can't quite put my finger on it. I would still recommend the book though.
August 8, 2025
Dark , twisted and chilling. This book grabs you from the very beginning, and then takes you for a twisted and chilling ride.
There are so many elements to this book, being religious conspiracy, gaming and tech obsession, emotional chaos, psychological suspense and of course murder!
The story is centred around Dr Jon Edom and his seemingly perfect life, who becomes part victim and part suspect. His life starts to slowly unravel, with secrets, lies and betrayal. His wife disappears with the children. He becomes prime suspect, and the secrets are tied to a cult.
It really is a roller coaster of a ride, with stacks of twists and turns that keep you guessing right to the very end. If you like suspense, conspiracy, mystery and murder, then this book is for you.
The perfect book to add to my thriller collection and can’t wait for more!
There are so many elements to this book, being religious conspiracy, gaming and tech obsession, emotional chaos, psychological suspense and of course murder!
The story is centred around Dr Jon Edom and his seemingly perfect life, who becomes part victim and part suspect. His life starts to slowly unravel, with secrets, lies and betrayal. His wife disappears with the children. He becomes prime suspect, and the secrets are tied to a cult.
It really is a roller coaster of a ride, with stacks of twists and turns that keep you guessing right to the very end. If you like suspense, conspiracy, mystery and murder, then this book is for you.
The perfect book to add to my thriller collection and can’t wait for more!
May 2, 2025
There’s something about this book that gets under your skin—in the best way. NeverEnd surprised me with its bold chaos, yet it never feels over the top. Blake Rudman doesn't go for cheap thrills. Instead, he builds this creeping sense that something is terribly off, and you feel it long before the characters do.
The locusts alone... It’s not just a spectacle; it’s a signal, a warning, and you can almost hear them buzzing between the lines. The way Austin becomes this backdrop for something so unsettling had me reading with a slight chill, even on a sunny day.
There’s real tension here, but also thoughtfulness. It’s sharp, a little weird in all the right ways, and left me thinking long after the final page. Definitely one I’ll be recommending.
Five stars from me.
The locusts alone... It’s not just a spectacle; it’s a signal, a warning, and you can almost hear them buzzing between the lines. The way Austin becomes this backdrop for something so unsettling had me reading with a slight chill, even on a sunny day.
There’s real tension here, but also thoughtfulness. It’s sharp, a little weird in all the right ways, and left me thinking long after the final page. Definitely one I’ll be recommending.
Five stars from me.
August 5, 2025
Blake Rudman quickly became one of my "auto-read" authors and this certainly cemented his position!
This is a really complex thriller, with so many nuances which made this a real stand out. Very much plot driven but there was still enough depth to the characters to become emotionally invested.
I will say this isn't quite as dark as some of his previous works, but don't be fooled, this is still an incredible read. There were also some elements in this story which I was a little surprised about but this just goes to show what a sheer talent Blake Rudman is.
I am half tempted to remove all 5 stars from my review, purely based on the fact that the cliffhanger ending was so cruel! 🤣
This is a really complex thriller, with so many nuances which made this a real stand out. Very much plot driven but there was still enough depth to the characters to become emotionally invested.
I will say this isn't quite as dark as some of his previous works, but don't be fooled, this is still an incredible read. There were also some elements in this story which I was a little surprised about but this just goes to show what a sheer talent Blake Rudman is.
I am half tempted to remove all 5 stars from my review, purely based on the fact that the cliffhanger ending was so cruel! 🤣
August 8, 2025
This book reached out and dragged me in from the very start and didn’t let go! There were so many elements and layers to this story: psychological, murder, mystery, suspense, drama and religious conspiracy. The main character of the story, Dr John Edom’s life begins to unravel in major ways, all tied to a powerful cult like church. The video game element from ‘Neverend’ just adds to the deeply dark and sinister vibes of this fast paced, thrill ride of a book. My heart was pounding excitedly through the whole book! And then came the end! Cliffhanger! Bring on book 2.
August 8, 2025
This is a book which is very hard to categorise. It's part action thriller, domestic suspense, courtroom drama, and something else which isn't entirely clear. An intriguing mix!
I thought the story was very engaging, although I expected the effects of the video game on the public to feature more prominently in the storyline. There are still a lot of unanswered questions at the end, but it seems there is more to come in another book!
Blake Rudman has some imagination - I wonder where it will take us next?
I thought the story was very engaging, although I expected the effects of the video game on the public to feature more prominently in the storyline. There are still a lot of unanswered questions at the end, but it seems there is more to come in another book!
Blake Rudman has some imagination - I wonder where it will take us next?
August 7, 2025
This was my second read from Rudman and whoa — totally different vibe from the first! Think sci-fi thriller meets cultish religious drama with a side of apocalyptic chaos. 🦗 It all kicks off with a swarm of locusts descending on Austin, Texas, and spirals into missing family members, violent video game copycats, and rival churches with sinister secrets. What a wild ride! Also loved that this all took place in my home state! Our main guy is a devoted surgeon and family man… who suddenly becomes suspect #1 when his wife and two kids disappear. Oh, and did I mention his wife is the genius behind a video game that might be inciting real-life murders? 😳 I wasn’t totally sold on her character, but I loved the surgeon — and that ending?? Definitely a setup for book two. 👀
Read
November 28, 2025"There's nothing for you to worry about."
.
Oh, but there was actually plenty to worry about.
.
Jon is a surgeon in Texas. Rochelle, his wife, is the creator of NeverEnd, an extremely successful videogame. After it's creation Rochelle decides to retire and focus on their twin sons and her family. The increasingly violent behaviour of random players is being blamed directly on the game, and the world is pointing fingers. But a game can't be blamed if its players are doing everything they can to become the characters, can it?
.
When Jon returns from a work trip to discover his wife and two children missing, however, his real problems start.
.
He's suspect number one with two detectives hot on his trail. The lil ol' highly wealthy and highly powerful cultish, Church of the Resurrected that Rochelles father founded is becoming a key player. As is their rival, Cross Guard, and the oddly mysterious Coppersmith. And all around them plagues seem to be decending upon the masses.
With swarms of locusts, severe weather, livestock falling ill, and mounting events that may or may not have a supernatural backer to them.
.
Meanwhile, the family drama and finger pointing becomes ever more of an issue, the religious trauma is real, and everyone involved, for the most part, is either a mess, suspicious, or sometimes both.
.
Jon could really just use a break.
.
Unfortunately, in a dark noir thriller with this much going on, that isn't likely to happen. The story keeps you on your toes the entire time, and that ending? Absolute beast of a Cliffhanger.
.
.
🎮 Family Drama
⛪️ Rival Religious Cults
🕴 Money And Power
🌬 Biblical Level Plagues
🦗 Open Investigation
👨👩👦👦 Videogames Bleeding Into Reality
🌪 Thriller
👣 Mental Health Rep
🎮 Layers Upon Layers
⛪️ Texas Setting
🕴 Too Many People With Dirty Hands
🌬 Dark Noir
🦗 Human Or Non Human Influences
👨👩👦👦 Multi POV
🌪 Mystery
👣 Cliffhanger - Book One
.
"Once again, Silas was struck by the urge to count the man's teeth." The whole thing with how many teeth this guy has is one of my favorite bits lol.
.
All in all I will directly admit this wasn't a book I likely would have picked up on my own. Not because the blurb was bad or anything, it simply isn't my usual anything. But this year I made it a point to try more thrillers and more mysteries and so far it has only been a good experience. This was a fantastically twisty turny read and I will be snagging book two when it comes out.
.
Oh, but there was actually plenty to worry about.
.
Jon is a surgeon in Texas. Rochelle, his wife, is the creator of NeverEnd, an extremely successful videogame. After it's creation Rochelle decides to retire and focus on their twin sons and her family. The increasingly violent behaviour of random players is being blamed directly on the game, and the world is pointing fingers. But a game can't be blamed if its players are doing everything they can to become the characters, can it?
.
When Jon returns from a work trip to discover his wife and two children missing, however, his real problems start.
.
He's suspect number one with two detectives hot on his trail. The lil ol' highly wealthy and highly powerful cultish, Church of the Resurrected that Rochelles father founded is becoming a key player. As is their rival, Cross Guard, and the oddly mysterious Coppersmith. And all around them plagues seem to be decending upon the masses.
With swarms of locusts, severe weather, livestock falling ill, and mounting events that may or may not have a supernatural backer to them.
.
Meanwhile, the family drama and finger pointing becomes ever more of an issue, the religious trauma is real, and everyone involved, for the most part, is either a mess, suspicious, or sometimes both.
.
Jon could really just use a break.
.
Unfortunately, in a dark noir thriller with this much going on, that isn't likely to happen. The story keeps you on your toes the entire time, and that ending? Absolute beast of a Cliffhanger.
.
.
🎮 Family Drama
⛪️ Rival Religious Cults
🕴 Money And Power
🌬 Biblical Level Plagues
🦗 Open Investigation
👨👩👦👦 Videogames Bleeding Into Reality
🌪 Thriller
👣 Mental Health Rep
🎮 Layers Upon Layers
⛪️ Texas Setting
🕴 Too Many People With Dirty Hands
🌬 Dark Noir
🦗 Human Or Non Human Influences
👨👩👦👦 Multi POV
🌪 Mystery
👣 Cliffhanger - Book One
.
"Once again, Silas was struck by the urge to count the man's teeth." The whole thing with how many teeth this guy has is one of my favorite bits lol.
.
All in all I will directly admit this wasn't a book I likely would have picked up on my own. Not because the blurb was bad or anything, it simply isn't my usual anything. But this year I made it a point to try more thrillers and more mysteries and so far it has only been a good experience. This was a fantastically twisty turny read and I will be snagging book two when it comes out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews