Whispering Peak

by Alyssa Cooper

Martha and her brother were born in the Outlands. They have only heard stories of Invictus, the grand capital city; they have never seen it for themselves. But when their general is taken hostage, Martha and Asher have no choice but to make their way through the monumental steel gates that enclose the city, and bring him home.

In their valiant and misguided rescue attempt, the pair will come to learn that the darkest of Invictus City's secrets - underground prisons, mutated monsters, psychotropic brainwashing - have been kept hidden behind the wall.

There, they will face the horrors that they never knew existed.

Unknown Binding

First published April 30, 2014

About the author

Alyssa Cooper is a Canadian author and poet currently living in Kingston, Ontario. First published in 2008, she is the author of four novels, a short story collection, and two poetry collections. An active spoken word performer, she currently holds an executive position in the Kingston Poetry Collective and the Queen’s Poetry Slam planning committee.

Reviews

[Ken Finlay · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Whispering Peak” reads like the start of a novel, maybe a chunk from the middle, or possibly the end.
However, it doesn't really stand on its own – it's interesting but incomplete.
Martha and her younger brother Asher, 8, are travelling through the forest to search for General Forrest. He left Whispering Peak camp a week ago and was heading for Invictus City.
It's set in a post-apocalyptic world where only Invictus City has advanced technology.
It's nicely written but does little more than scratch the surface of what could have been a fascinating tale.
3 Stars.

[Mara Valderran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! This book follows the journey of Martha and her younger brother Asher as they make their way out of Whispering Peak and to the ominous town of Invictus. Their journey is full of suspense and danger as they are constantly under watch and have to fend off threats from outside the city gates. The relationship between the two siblings is endearing and only adds to the intrigue of their situation. Martha is obviously very protective of Asher, and he is very much so a six year old child scared of things going bump in the night--let alone finding out what those things are. So for Martha to take him from Whispering Peak to Invictus even knowing the dangers along the way and once we get there really makes you wonder what it is they have left behind, and why it is so important that they get there. Their journey is a page turner, beautifully written, and is heartbreaking in its own right as we see the two forced to grow up in the blink of an eye. As they take their last steps toward the Invictus gates, we know they will never be the same.

[Kirstin Pulioff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whispering peak is a short story that follows Marsha & her brother Asher on a journey away from the barracks to rescue the General. You get the feeling early on that something has gone wrong in the world... the doubts and uncertainties that come after upheaval were portrayed quite well. The dangers of each other equally matched the inherent dangers of the world... Guard dogs, bar codes, restricted goods, chemical augmentation, indefinite detention...

This story portrays the future (or this world's future) with a sense of dread... Dreadful future of restrictions... Where order, clones, and fear preside over truth. Interesting idea of a society where they choose chemical dependence to become stronger... It's strange to think about the things society and government can talk you into... Or force upon you.

The ending surprised me but reminded me, sometimes the things you think you're looking for are different than what you find.

I am always amazed when an author can seamlessly blend in concerns from the modern day into a dystopian or science fiction story.

[Erin Pemberton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whispering Peaks is an interesting story featuring two kids, Martha and Asher, on their way to a city that forbids emotions and prevents it through chemical means. Follow these two through a forest full of danger and a city that opposes their very nature on their way to find a man, by the name of General, and bring him back to their broken village. This book is a real page-turner, in the fact that it is well written and leaves the reader wondering what’s going on until the very end.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Martha and her brother set out to Invictus City. Asher her brother is unsure of why they are going. Martha is adamant about getting there, completing their mission and keeping her sibling safe. This is a short open-ended story. It leaves you to make your own determination of what will continue after the story ends. It, however, does not leave you hanging as far as the plot. If you like this you'll love "The Motel Room" another short story by this author!

[Jenni · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great short story set in a harsh, unforgiving world and featuring two children, Martha and her younger brother, Asher, who are traveling to the city. The trip is full of danger and the suspense steadily builds. My only complaint is that I would have liked more!