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Foreverland #3
Ashes of Foreverland
Tyler Ballard was in prison when his son created a dreamworld called Foreverland, a place so boundless and spellbinding that no one ever wanted to leave. Or did. Now his son is dead, his wife is comatose and Tyler is still imprisoned.
But he planned it that way.
The final piece of his vision falls into place when Alessandra Diosa investigates the crimes of Foreverland. Tyler will use her to create a new dimension of reality beyond anything his son ever imagined—a Foreverland for the entire world.
Danny, living outside of Spain since escaping the very first Foreverland, begins receiving mysterious clues that lead him to Cyn. They are both Foreverland survivors, but they have more in common than survival. They become pieces of another grand plan, one designed to stop Tyler Ballard. No one knows who is sending the clues, but some suspect Reed, another Foreverland survivor. Reed, however, is dead.
Everyone will make one last trip back to Foreverland to find out who sent them. And why.
But he planned it that way.
The final piece of his vision falls into place when Alessandra Diosa investigates the crimes of Foreverland. Tyler will use her to create a new dimension of reality beyond anything his son ever imagined—a Foreverland for the entire world.
Danny, living outside of Spain since escaping the very first Foreverland, begins receiving mysterious clues that lead him to Cyn. They are both Foreverland survivors, but they have more in common than survival. They become pieces of another grand plan, one designed to stop Tyler Ballard. No one knows who is sending the clues, but some suspect Reed, another Foreverland survivor. Reed, however, is dead.
Everyone will make one last trip back to Foreverland to find out who sent them. And why.
344 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 10, 2015
6 people are currently reading
222 people want to read
About the author
Tony Bertauski
72 books764 followersGet my books FREE. Tell me where to send them at http://bertauski.com
He grew up in the Midwest where the land is flat and the corn is tall. The winters are bleak and cold. He hated winters.
He always wanted to write. But writing was hard. And he wasn’t very disciplined. The cold had nothing to do with that, but it didn’t help. That changed in grad school.
After several attempts at a proposal, his major advisor was losing money on red ink and advised him to figure it out. Somehow, he did.
After grad school, he and his wife and two very little children moved to the South in Charleston, South Carolina where the winters are spring and the summers are a sauna (cliche but dead on accurate). That’s when he started teaching and writing articles for trade magazines. He eventually published two textbooks on landscape design. He then transitioned to writing a column for the Post and Courier. They were all great gigs, but they weren’t fiction.
That was a few years later.
His daughter started reading before she could read, pretending she knew the words in books she propped on her lap. His son was a different story. In an attempt to change that, he began writing a story with him. They made up a character, gave him a name, and something to do. As with much of parenting, it did not go as planned. But the character got stuck in his head.
He wanted out.
A few years later, Socket Greeny was born. It was a science fiction trilogy that was gritty and thoughtful. That was 2005.
He has been practicing Zen since he was 23 years old. A daily meditator, he wants to instill something meaningful in his stories that appeals to a young adult crowd as well as adult. Think Hunger Games. He hadn’t planned to write fiction, didn’t even know if he had anymore stories in him after Socket Greeny.
Turns out he did.
He grew up in the Midwest where the land is flat and the corn is tall. The winters are bleak and cold. He hated winters.
He always wanted to write. But writing was hard. And he wasn’t very disciplined. The cold had nothing to do with that, but it didn’t help. That changed in grad school.
After several attempts at a proposal, his major advisor was losing money on red ink and advised him to figure it out. Somehow, he did.
After grad school, he and his wife and two very little children moved to the South in Charleston, South Carolina where the winters are spring and the summers are a sauna (cliche but dead on accurate). That’s when he started teaching and writing articles for trade magazines. He eventually published two textbooks on landscape design. He then transitioned to writing a column for the Post and Courier. They were all great gigs, but they weren’t fiction.
That was a few years later.
His daughter started reading before she could read, pretending she knew the words in books she propped on her lap. His son was a different story. In an attempt to change that, he began writing a story with him. They made up a character, gave him a name, and something to do. As with much of parenting, it did not go as planned. But the character got stuck in his head.
He wanted out.
A few years later, Socket Greeny was born. It was a science fiction trilogy that was gritty and thoughtful. That was 2005.
He has been practicing Zen since he was 23 years old. A daily meditator, he wants to instill something meaningful in his stories that appeals to a young adult crowd as well as adult. Think Hunger Games. He hadn’t planned to write fiction, didn’t even know if he had anymore stories in him after Socket Greeny.
Turns out he did.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
April 3, 2015
*This review also appears on my blog Genie In A Book*
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review
What I've loved from the very beginning of this series is the overall concept - it's so fascinating. The virtual reality which seems so much like the real world, and how it affects those involved in it is something that definitely reminds me of Inception (so if you loved that movie, you're sure to love this book). However, despite that similarity, Ashes of Foreverland, and the previous installments - all take that idea even deeper. There are multiple POV's, though all written in third person which allows for such poignant prose to shine.
This book asks the question - at what point does science take things too far? When is the reality of humanity more important? Where is that line and what happens if you were to cross it? There's a definite existentialist vibe coming through here, and it almost feels philosophical, if you want to take it that way. How Danny Boy, Alessandra and Cyn were impacted upon by the works of Tyler Ballard and his wife Patricia is multifaceted and endlessly intricate. When you're dealing with such topics as the mind and how perceptions of reality combined with that 'nothingness' which you could fall into is so captivating. I also really liked how this picked up on Tony Bertauski's other Halfskin series (and the fourth 'Foreverland' novel will combine these two series together fully.)
There's also, as always, some fantastic mystery/thriller elements here to keep those pages turning. From hidden messages in endless parcels written with signature green ink, to characters who turn out not to be who you thought they were - it's all here and left me going WOW. One thing to remember with these novels is expect the unexpected and trust no one. That being said, there were a few surprises where some of the people who you perhaps thought were bad weren't after all.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The characters in this books have their minds messed with, and just reading this will probably do the same to you (in the best possible way of course). If you're a sci-fi or Inception fan who and looking to be mindblown, then I'd definitely recommend this!
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review
The scar on their foreheads would always be there to remind them, but the real scar was the question they asked themselves every day for the rest of their lives. How do you know this isn't a dream?
What I've loved from the very beginning of this series is the overall concept - it's so fascinating. The virtual reality which seems so much like the real world, and how it affects those involved in it is something that definitely reminds me of Inception (so if you loved that movie, you're sure to love this book). However, despite that similarity, Ashes of Foreverland, and the previous installments - all take that idea even deeper. There are multiple POV's, though all written in third person which allows for such poignant prose to shine.
Is the physical world any more legitimate than Foreverland? Under what pretense is physicality the gold standard? That was the question he begged all of humankind to answer.
This book asks the question - at what point does science take things too far? When is the reality of humanity more important? Where is that line and what happens if you were to cross it? There's a definite existentialist vibe coming through here, and it almost feels philosophical, if you want to take it that way. How Danny Boy, Alessandra and Cyn were impacted upon by the works of Tyler Ballard and his wife Patricia is multifaceted and endlessly intricate. When you're dealing with such topics as the mind and how perceptions of reality combined with that 'nothingness' which you could fall into is so captivating. I also really liked how this picked up on Tony Bertauski's other Halfskin series (and the fourth 'Foreverland' novel will combine these two series together fully.)
Time was the god that meted out each grain with methodic timing and refused to sell more. Time was a cruel god that promised eternity. But delivered only the past.
There's also, as always, some fantastic mystery/thriller elements here to keep those pages turning. From hidden messages in endless parcels written with signature green ink, to characters who turn out not to be who you thought they were - it's all here and left me going WOW. One thing to remember with these novels is expect the unexpected and trust no one. That being said, there were a few surprises where some of the people who you perhaps thought were bad weren't after all.
The ceiling swirled into the sky, the walls fell apart. There was no sensation of travel, no illusion of space. The needle's kiss.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The characters in this books have their minds messed with, and just reading this will probably do the same to you (in the best possible way of course). If you're a sci-fi or Inception fan who and looking to be mindblown, then I'd definitely recommend this!
June 1, 2015
This was a big disappointment for me. I really loved the first two in the series and had my fingers crossed that this would be as good.
Aside from not being quite as fun to read as the other two:
I really hate it when an author either forgets something about a character or chooses to change it to make a story work (hoping we're too stupid to notice). Harold Ballard was "the Director" in book one. The whole reason for this virtual reality was his mother Patricia. She was bi-polar. But then she had Alzheimers. And then she was schizophrenic. OK, maybe she is the unluckiest person on the planet and had all three, but I seriously doubt it. She is the main reason for the entire trilogy so what is wrong with her should have remained consistent
In addition...Harold's father Tyler had been sent to prison for creating this virtual reality and trapping Patricia in it. He was actually sent to a supermax. Somehow he managed to exert control over the warden and prison guards in order to set up his connection to Foreverland. How does a senior in a supermax take over mental control of these people without being connected first?? Made no sense to me when reading it and after pondering it for a while, it still makes no sense.
My final word on this - if you absolutely have to know what happens after the first two, by all means read it but my advise would be to stop at that point. They can both be read as stand-alone so you won't feel unsatisfied when you're done them.
Aside from not being quite as fun to read as the other two:
I really hate it when an author either forgets something about a character or chooses to change it to make a story work (hoping we're too stupid to notice). Harold Ballard was "the Director" in book one. The whole reason for this virtual reality was his mother Patricia. She was bi-polar. But then she had Alzheimers. And then she was schizophrenic. OK, maybe she is the unluckiest person on the planet and had all three, but I seriously doubt it. She is the main reason for the entire trilogy so what is wrong with her should have remained consistent
In addition...Harold's father Tyler had been sent to prison for creating this virtual reality and trapping Patricia in it. He was actually sent to a supermax. Somehow he managed to exert control over the warden and prison guards in order to set up his connection to Foreverland. How does a senior in a supermax take over mental control of these people without being connected first?? Made no sense to me when reading it and after pondering it for a while, it still makes no sense.
My final word on this - if you absolutely have to know what happens after the first two, by all means read it but my advise would be to stop at that point. They can both be read as stand-alone so you won't feel unsatisfied when you're done them.
April 9, 2015
The Foreverland series is like no other books I have read. They are definitely in my top 5 of favorite books. I enjoyed not being able to predict what would happen next. If you like reading futuristic stories where this go awry, this book is for you!
March 31, 2015
This is definitely the last book in a trilogy - I'd strongly encourage you to read "Annihiliation of Foreverland" and "Foreverland Is Dead" before beginning this book. But if you have read the first two, then I think this is the book you have been waiting for.
"Ashes of Foreverland" is a page-turner that I found impossible to put down, and the roller coaster of emotions throughout is intense. There are so many narratives masterfully woven together, and the book answers pretty much every question that the first two books put forth. It's deep, it's poignant, and it directly and indirectly poses some relevant questions about technology and morality.
I do not want to divulge much of substance about the plot, since this is a spoiler-heavy book, but I think fans of the first two books will really enjoy the conclusion. I will say that allusions to another series that Bertauski has written have piqued my interest and I'll be delving into more of his novels even sooner than anticipated.
Bravo, Mr. Bertauski - can't wait to read whatever's coming next!
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
x-posted to Amazon
"Ashes of Foreverland" is a page-turner that I found impossible to put down, and the roller coaster of emotions throughout is intense. There are so many narratives masterfully woven together, and the book answers pretty much every question that the first two books put forth. It's deep, it's poignant, and it directly and indirectly poses some relevant questions about technology and morality.
I do not want to divulge much of substance about the plot, since this is a spoiler-heavy book, but I think fans of the first two books will really enjoy the conclusion. I will say that allusions to another series that Bertauski has written have piqued my interest and I'll be delving into more of his novels even sooner than anticipated.
Bravo, Mr. Bertauski - can't wait to read whatever's coming next!
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
x-posted to Amazon
April 18, 2015
More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/
The first book in Tony Bertauski's Foreverland series intrigued; the foundation was effectively laid for an expansive story with engaging characters and nuanced worldbuilding. The second book, Foreverland is Dead, achieved the rare feat of being as good as (if not better) than the first book. And now this third and final installment brings the series to a very satisfying conclusion. For once, we have a story with YA-aged characters that doesn't deteriorate with every book and instead builds upon the story and deepens the plot. Very smart choices have been made throughout and each book, once started, was very hard to put down.Story: Introducing a new character, Alessandra, but bringing back the leads from book one and two (Danny and Cyn, respectively), our characters find there is an even bigger game at stake. Reality and the VR begin to bleed as everyone from the Ballard parents to those trapped in Foreverland begin to realize that Reed was much more than any one realized. And despite evidence to the contrary, may not actually be dead. Danny and Cyn will be led on a race against time to save Alessandra from the Ballards; she is their key to a permanent Foreverland.
I really respect the decision to use a different character in each book - it brought a fresh perspective to the story but the main plot and mystery built with each POV. Cyn and Danny each had very different problems to tackle - as did Alessandra in this third book. Because so many plot points converged, we were given more than just those three POVs; if I had to nitpick, I didn't feel all were necessary. But at the same time, the book is so well written that it is a breeze to read and the time goes very fast. Bertauski does an amazing job creating realistic characters.
We clearly have a writer who truly loves to write; that is evident in the care and precision that has gone into the entire series. What we don't have is a case of kids distractedly (and without emotional consequences) fighting a system and then having a soppy romance throughout(thankfully, no romance here though there is a beautiful love story to punctuate so many of the ideas presented). Instead, Bertauski gives us pathos and philosophy but tempers that heaviness with likeable characters readers want to follow. And for once, a somewhat dystopian, near future feels very grounded in a way so few authors in the YA genre are able to achieve. It feels limiting to place this in the YA genre since it is so well written and has such a universal appeal. Stories based around VR-gone-wrong are a dime a dozen (pick an anime out of Japan and that's the plot lately) but Bertauski truly gets it right here in the Foreverland series.
I don't know if the author had the overall series arc plotted in advance or built upon the first novel cleverly afterwards; but the result is a great read, hard to put down, and seamlessly consistent throughout. Expect as good a plot in the third book as the first (and second, too - no sophomore slump here). I have greatly enjoyed all three books and appreciated the intelligent ending that explained so much of the mystery but avoided an anticlimatic happily ever after. Highly recommended. Reviewed from an ecopy provided by the author.
April 18, 2015
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Have you ever gotten done with a book and just sort of sat there letting it sink in for a while? That's what happened with this final book of the Foreverland Trilogy. If you've read the first two books, then you'll be happy to know this book gives you answers that were raised. However, it also asks more questions that will lead you to Tony's other books (namely the Halfskin ones). Nice tie in! :)
Don't let the YA label keep you away from this series. It raises some rather mature ideas involving morality, mortality and ethics. Perhaps I'm not nearly as jaded as I thought but the twists really kept me engrossed and wondering what was going on.
There are a few concepts that I'd have like to seen explored more but really, it might have dragged the story down so I'll let my own brain explore them. It really is a great book for a rainy afternoon read!! I look forward to reading more from Mr. Bertauski in the future.
Have you ever gotten done with a book and just sort of sat there letting it sink in for a while? That's what happened with this final book of the Foreverland Trilogy. If you've read the first two books, then you'll be happy to know this book gives you answers that were raised. However, it also asks more questions that will lead you to Tony's other books (namely the Halfskin ones). Nice tie in! :)
Don't let the YA label keep you away from this series. It raises some rather mature ideas involving morality, mortality and ethics. Perhaps I'm not nearly as jaded as I thought but the twists really kept me engrossed and wondering what was going on.
There are a few concepts that I'd have like to seen explored more but really, it might have dragged the story down so I'll let my own brain explore them. It really is a great book for a rainy afternoon read!! I look forward to reading more from Mr. Bertauski in the future.
May 21, 2015
I expected that this final book in the series would tie up some of the loose ends left from the first two books. Tony did that, plus much more. I’m happy to admit that I wasn't a hundred percent sure of what was real in the story until halfway through the book. Even then, I guessed wrong about some of it. This is such a wonderfully devious and twisted plot, even more so than the other Foreverland stories. The ending is not at all what I expected, but it’s a satisfying conclusion to a great series.
I was a bit surprised to realize that this series took place in the same universe as Halfskin. That made a lot of sense, so now I have to wonder if I missed previous hints in the first books. Devious writer, I tell you. If you haven’t read Halfskin yet, you should.
While I’m sorry to see this series end, I very much enjoyed the way it concluded with this book. Excellent reading is to be found here.
I was a bit surprised to realize that this series took place in the same universe as Halfskin. That made a lot of sense, so now I have to wonder if I missed previous hints in the first books. Devious writer, I tell you. If you haven’t read Halfskin yet, you should.
While I’m sorry to see this series end, I very much enjoyed the way it concluded with this book. Excellent reading is to be found here.
July 4, 2018
What a mind melter!
This book continues from the first two in the series, becoming more and more involved - and more and more confusing. If you have seen the film 'Total Recall', you will know exactly what I mean by this. Imagine lucid dreaming - waking up, only to then wake up and find that when you first awoke and started to move around, you were actually still asleep!
This book will challenge you. Not just in the sense that you are uncertain of reality, but also question your views on morals, and how far that you will go to have the perfect life. This book is unlike anything that you have ever read.
I look forward to reading the Halfskin series now. If you like Science Fiction with an edge, you will love this.
This book continues from the first two in the series, becoming more and more involved - and more and more confusing. If you have seen the film 'Total Recall', you will know exactly what I mean by this. Imagine lucid dreaming - waking up, only to then wake up and find that when you first awoke and started to move around, you were actually still asleep!
This book will challenge you. Not just in the sense that you are uncertain of reality, but also question your views on morals, and how far that you will go to have the perfect life. This book is unlike anything that you have ever read.
I look forward to reading the Halfskin series now. If you like Science Fiction with an edge, you will love this.
March 25, 2015
It's not often I feel compelled to write a review, but this happened with the first two books of this trilogy! A rare occurrence indeed, added to the fact that they both scored a five star rating as well means big things were expected from this, the final installment.
I was not disappointed, I was once again swept up into that amazing, quirky, disturbing world of Neverland.
I am a reader not a writer and so I will not waffle on about character development or storyline analysis.
I merely wish to say that it's a brilliant book, a most excellent read and a fitting finale (?) for this gripping trilogy.
I was not disappointed, I was once again swept up into that amazing, quirky, disturbing world of Neverland.
I am a reader not a writer and so I will not waffle on about character development or storyline analysis.
I merely wish to say that it's a brilliant book, a most excellent read and a fitting finale (?) for this gripping trilogy.
March 25, 2015
This book finishes up the foreverland series. I loved these. Sometimes when I am reading a series I tend to skim through the last books just wanting to find out what happens, getting bored with the story line. This wasn't one of them. The plot has twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat. I love the ending! No cliff hangers here. The story is a little creepy for me, the whole bodysnatching thing has always been a "scary" storyline for me. I give it five stars. No sexual content. Due to the nature of the content I can recommend for ages 14 and up. Will be looking for more from this author. I think I need a light hearted romance after this intense series!
May 25, 2015
i received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
boy! arent i glad i read this. i can NOT stress how great this book was. it was mind blowing and heart breakingly (not a word i know) beautiful. if you are a fan of this series you HAVE to read this book and read it right NOW. it took me a few weeks to read it but it could have been finished with in days if i didnt have prior engagements. this book gets a 5 from me and i will end up reading it again in the near feature. i just loved it. and i cried a bit too. (im an uber cry baby). thank you Tony Bertauski for the great opportunity and the great read that tugged on my heart strings. PLEASE keep it up!
boy! arent i glad i read this. i can NOT stress how great this book was. it was mind blowing and heart breakingly (not a word i know) beautiful. if you are a fan of this series you HAVE to read this book and read it right NOW. it took me a few weeks to read it but it could have been finished with in days if i didnt have prior engagements. this book gets a 5 from me and i will end up reading it again in the near feature. i just loved it. and i cried a bit too. (im an uber cry baby). thank you Tony Bertauski for the great opportunity and the great read that tugged on my heart strings. PLEASE keep it up!
May 4, 2015
I received this book from the author for an honest review.
Sometimes you get tired of reading a book and finding out it is part of a series. It ties you to keep reading the same characters and stories. You will not get tired of this series. The author has woven the story throughout and keeps you on the edge of your seat, up way too late, a just can't put it down. This series is one of my absolute faves! Loved it!
Sometimes you get tired of reading a book and finding out it is part of a series. It ties you to keep reading the same characters and stories. You will not get tired of this series. The author has woven the story throughout and keeps you on the edge of your seat, up way too late, a just can't put it down. This series is one of my absolute faves! Loved it!
March 23, 2015
Once again I couldn't read another book for days after finishing this one. That's been the pattern for all of the Foreverland series for me.
I can't even say much beyond, they blow my mind every time.
I can't even say much beyond, they blow my mind every time.
June 15, 2015
The entire Foreverland series is wonderful, and the last book ties them all together with a satisfying ending. There are occasional proofreading errors, but they don't occur often enough to detract from the quality of the story.
June 5, 2015
Ashes of Foreverland is the third instalment of the mind-blowing Foreverland series. If you are reading this book, it's likely you are already familiar with the previous parts of the series, but it's not necessary that you be.
The book starts approximately a year after the ending of the previous events. The protagonists have scattered and are busy trying to re-acclimate into society. While some have succeed, others try and try again only to be met with despair. They all assume their past is done with. But little do they know, the worst may be yet to come. As Danny starts receiving mysterious messages from an unknown benefactor, things start to gradually make less and less sense till he is forced to accept, his reality may be again taking a complete turn.
The Good
It’s always such a treat to read Bertauski’s works. As a primarily classics enthusiast, I would often read stories that make me want to emulate their writing style. There is something about the easy flow, rich in detail that speaks to me. Modern literature however enchanting, rarely comes close. Except of course when Tony is writing it.
Once again, I am blown away with the premise and imagination of the story. The secretive, dream-like escape, the two different approaches to what could only be termed as 'body-snatching' and the moment all the different routes converged, to give a phenomenal tie-in, this is why I love Tony's stories. When it comes to the intricacies of the plot, no stone is left unturned, all have a hidden envelope underneath.
The Bad
But since this is a completely honest review, how I have to also speak about the parts that didn't speak to me as eloquently. For a final instalment, Ashes of Foreverland, seemed, at times, remarkably devoid of the gripping terror of what's going to happen. In the island or the wilderness, previously, there was an undercurrent of danger. That was just lacking. The plot twists were also something that weren't really revelatory, or maybe that was just me.
Also, there was so much to the story that I feel I missed out on. Lucinda, for example. She was such a huge part of all three books, yet I never got to meet her, never got to know this amazing woman who did what no one thought was possible.
Or maybe I was just way too engrossed in the lives of these people. I just can't help but feel a bit sad I won't get to explore the lives of the rest of the people. Somehow, they didn't feel like secondary characters.
Conclusion
To sum up, it's quite clear my emotions are all over the place when it comes to this novel, a fact alone that tells you how amazing it is. After all, the truly amazing stories are the ones that keep you up at night and refuse to go back to reality. In a way, this is our foreverland...
The book starts approximately a year after the ending of the previous events. The protagonists have scattered and are busy trying to re-acclimate into society. While some have succeed, others try and try again only to be met with despair. They all assume their past is done with. But little do they know, the worst may be yet to come. As Danny starts receiving mysterious messages from an unknown benefactor, things start to gradually make less and less sense till he is forced to accept, his reality may be again taking a complete turn.
The Good
It’s always such a treat to read Bertauski’s works. As a primarily classics enthusiast, I would often read stories that make me want to emulate their writing style. There is something about the easy flow, rich in detail that speaks to me. Modern literature however enchanting, rarely comes close. Except of course when Tony is writing it.
Once again, I am blown away with the premise and imagination of the story. The secretive, dream-like escape, the two different approaches to what could only be termed as 'body-snatching' and the moment all the different routes converged, to give a phenomenal tie-in, this is why I love Tony's stories. When it comes to the intricacies of the plot, no stone is left unturned, all have a hidden envelope underneath.
The Bad
But since this is a completely honest review, how I have to also speak about the parts that didn't speak to me as eloquently. For a final instalment, Ashes of Foreverland, seemed, at times, remarkably devoid of the gripping terror of what's going to happen. In the island or the wilderness, previously, there was an undercurrent of danger. That was just lacking. The plot twists were also something that weren't really revelatory, or maybe that was just me.
Also, there was so much to the story that I feel I missed out on. Lucinda, for example. She was such a huge part of all three books, yet I never got to meet her, never got to know this amazing woman who did what no one thought was possible.
Or maybe I was just way too engrossed in the lives of these people. I just can't help but feel a bit sad I won't get to explore the lives of the rest of the people. Somehow, they didn't feel like secondary characters.
Conclusion
To sum up, it's quite clear my emotions are all over the place when it comes to this novel, a fact alone that tells you how amazing it is. After all, the truly amazing stories are the ones that keep you up at night and refuse to go back to reality. In a way, this is our foreverland...
May 6, 2015
(I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a review).
(This review may contain spoilers).
I find the concept of Foreverland quite an intriguing one. The previous two books I read were different to each other... and even though this one involved recognisable characters from the previous two books, I felt this was a different slant again.
The idea of living forever is one that a lot of people seem to find really appealing. But in this series, it's a much more complicated process than that.
I did find myself somewhat confused about how everything was fitting together at first, I have to say. There were four separate storylines and each of them was really intriguing and drew me in quite easily... but I found I kept having to switch focus. It was much better when the storylines started converging and Cyn and Danny met up.
The situation with Barb was a particularly creepy one; more so because it was something that Cyn couldn't explain because no one else would be able to understand it.
I found Alessandra a character I could easily empathise with. Although I kept seeing into the heads of other characters, I found it particularly interesting to see things from her perspective.
I was a bit confused about how everything worked with Coco being linked into a Foreverland. That part was an intriguing concept... but I wasn't completely clear about how they knew Coco had formed a Foreverland.
I liked seeing both the cabin and the island and the effects that both had on Cyn and Danny. I wasn't sure about the relationship between Cyn and Danny, though. I wasn't sure what their exact connection was and I felt things moved quite quickly between them.
It was good to see that Cyn in particular still showed the effects of what had happened to her. I felt it made her more interesting to read about.
It was also good to see things from the perspectives of the villains, though I didn't really hold much sympathy for them. Some parts of the ending did confuse me a little, though.
The ending piqued my interest a lot and it would be good to see what happens next in a future book. I do think you have to have read the previous two books to follow this one... but if you have, I definitely feel this is worth reading.
(This review may contain spoilers).
I find the concept of Foreverland quite an intriguing one. The previous two books I read were different to each other... and even though this one involved recognisable characters from the previous two books, I felt this was a different slant again.
The idea of living forever is one that a lot of people seem to find really appealing. But in this series, it's a much more complicated process than that.
I did find myself somewhat confused about how everything was fitting together at first, I have to say. There were four separate storylines and each of them was really intriguing and drew me in quite easily... but I found I kept having to switch focus. It was much better when the storylines started converging and Cyn and Danny met up.
The situation with Barb was a particularly creepy one; more so because it was something that Cyn couldn't explain because no one else would be able to understand it.
I found Alessandra a character I could easily empathise with. Although I kept seeing into the heads of other characters, I found it particularly interesting to see things from her perspective.
I was a bit confused about how everything worked with Coco being linked into a Foreverland. That part was an intriguing concept... but I wasn't completely clear about how they knew Coco had formed a Foreverland.
I liked seeing both the cabin and the island and the effects that both had on Cyn and Danny. I wasn't sure about the relationship between Cyn and Danny, though. I wasn't sure what their exact connection was and I felt things moved quite quickly between them.
It was good to see that Cyn in particular still showed the effects of what had happened to her. I felt it made her more interesting to read about.
It was also good to see things from the perspectives of the villains, though I didn't really hold much sympathy for them. Some parts of the ending did confuse me a little, though.
The ending piqued my interest a lot and it would be good to see what happens next in a future book. I do think you have to have read the previous two books to follow this one... but if you have, I definitely feel this is worth reading.
April 24, 2015
I received this book for free in exchange for a fair review.
My review will instead be fangirling, sorry.
I don't know how Tony does it, what drugs he is on, or what deity it is that he sold his soul to, but his books are each better than the last.
He mentioned before this his Foreverland and Halfskin books were going to combine at some point, and while I trusted him to know what he is doing, I never imagined that the results would blow my poor little mind. Loyal fans of each series will be more than overjoyed at the developments, and I am sure it will cause new readers to want to go back and gobble up its predecessors.
I don't want to reveal spoilers if I can help it, but in AoF we get back both Dannyboy and Cyn, as well as some familiar old faces we didn't have a hope of ever seeing again.
Foolishly, I once accused a part of one of Tony's plots of being a tad predictable. Now I see he was just setting a trap up for people like me. As if to say "You only think you know what is going on, heh, you know what I let you know."
Plots twist, collapse, and rebuild, and you are never quit sure 'where' you are for part of the book, which I found thrillingly disorienting. Like getting a small piece of the confusion and disorientation that the characters are experiencing. Followed by some much needed vindication and by the end I was grinning from ear to ear. (It is so hard without providing spoilers!)
I can't wait to see what Tony pulls out of his hat next. Definitely recommended for old and new fans, and lovers of the sci-fi genre.
My review will instead be fangirling, sorry.
I don't know how Tony does it, what drugs he is on, or what deity it is that he sold his soul to, but his books are each better than the last.
He mentioned before this his Foreverland and Halfskin books were going to combine at some point, and while I trusted him to know what he is doing, I never imagined that the results would blow my poor little mind. Loyal fans of each series will be more than overjoyed at the developments, and I am sure it will cause new readers to want to go back and gobble up its predecessors.
I don't want to reveal spoilers if I can help it, but in AoF we get back both Dannyboy and Cyn, as well as some familiar old faces we didn't have a hope of ever seeing again.
Foolishly, I once accused a part of one of Tony's plots of being a tad predictable. Now I see he was just setting a trap up for people like me. As if to say "You only think you know what is going on, heh, you know what I let you know."
Plots twist, collapse, and rebuild, and you are never quit sure 'where' you are for part of the book, which I found thrillingly disorienting. Like getting a small piece of the confusion and disorientation that the characters are experiencing. Followed by some much needed vindication and by the end I was grinning from ear to ear. (It is so hard without providing spoilers!)
I can't wait to see what Tony pulls out of his hat next. Definitely recommended for old and new fans, and lovers of the sci-fi genre.
June 8, 2015
I loved this book; as a "final" installment, it serves it purpose, it answered my questions from the previous two books and gave me closure with the characters. While the book addressed all of my major questions, it also kept me guessing. I was intrigued and really interested in where the story was heading.
I liked the inclusion of Alessandra and wish I got to know her a little better, especially when I got to the end of the book. I loved learning about how Danny Boy and Cyn are surviving. The inclusion of Reed felt cruel, like a tease, but Tony has his reasons and if you trust him as the author, you will understand.
While I enjoyed reading this book, I felt like it didn't quite live up to the first two. I guess it wasn't as disturbing as the first two, but don't let that discourage you from reading this book because it is thought provoking in a new way.
Initially, I wasn't sure if I was interested in the Halfskin books, but with the tie in to the Foreverland series, my interest is piqued.
Overall, I'd suggest you read this book, and if you haven't started the series give the first two a shot.
*I received a copy of this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review
I liked the inclusion of Alessandra and wish I got to know her a little better, especially when I got to the end of the book. I loved learning about how Danny Boy and Cyn are surviving. The inclusion of Reed felt cruel, like a tease, but Tony has his reasons and if you trust him as the author, you will understand.
While I enjoyed reading this book, I felt like it didn't quite live up to the first two. I guess it wasn't as disturbing as the first two, but don't let that discourage you from reading this book because it is thought provoking in a new way.
Initially, I wasn't sure if I was interested in the Halfskin books, but with the tie in to the Foreverland series, my interest is piqued.
Overall, I'd suggest you read this book, and if you haven't started the series give the first two a shot.
*I received a copy of this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review
August 10, 2015
WOW, I did not see that coming. There comes a point in a story when, if you are lucky, the author has managed to spin you around and turn the whole thing upside down and sideways. Tony Bertauski does this well, I am sure that each book can stand on it's own unless of course you are a hungry reader. I happen to be just that, a hungry reader. The Foreverland series not once but three times will cause you to wonder what is real for the characters and what is not. Just when you may think you have it figured out you get to the last piece of the puzzle and realize that no you do not.
I enjoyed how he ended this, and at the same time left you open and curious about the next round in this reality of "biomites" for he tells us there is with his next series Halfskin.
Take a moment of your time and step into the wonderful imagination of Tony Bertauski's Foreverland.
I enjoyed how he ended this, and at the same time left you open and curious about the next round in this reality of "biomites" for he tells us there is with his next series Halfskin.
Take a moment of your time and step into the wonderful imagination of Tony Bertauski's Foreverland.
July 25, 2016
Another breathtaking series from an an amazing author. I just had to take time to review it before it is no longer fresh in my mind. I have been binge reading all this authors work for the last two weeks, along with other authors. I simply put his first as some of the other books were re-reads, not first time reads. I will be re-reading this whole series again soon, it was a world, or rather a dimension, I felt right at home in!!! If you read my reviews you know that I am not hear to read a dust jacket to you, give away the plot, analyze the characters or give you MY opinion about each and everything I liked, or did not like, about the book. I let the book jacket or Goodreads description stand on its own. i am here to tell you if this book, in my humble opinion, is worth your valuable time and hard earned money. This book is a SPEND YOUR MONEY book!!!!!
April 28, 2015
This is Book 3 in the Foreverland series. The whole series is a great read! I love the author's concept of "Foreverland" and was excited to read what happens in this book! The characters are well thought out and the plot is amazing. I really like Cyn -she is so strong with everything she has to deal with. Cyn is back from book 2 Foreverland is Dead and Danny from book 1 The Annihilation of Foreverland and then we are introduced to Alessandra Diosa - they are all intertwined into a page turning story to see how it all ends. Danny & Cyn make a great team. Can they stop The Ballards from creating a Foreverland for the world?? If you like sci-fi and thrillers, this is a must read! Start with Book 1 - super series!
October 18, 2015
After escaping from Foreverland, Johnny Boy and Cyn try to live a normal life. Johnny has a decent life in Spain, but Cyn has issues. She discovers that Barb, her investor, had at least partially transferred into Cyn's body before Foreverland crashed. As strange messages begin arriving in the mail, both Johnny and Cyn's world start to unravel. Johnny is sure it is Reed sending the messages, trying to get him and Cyn on to a path of discovery that the messages claim will set them free. What they find in rocks their world to the core.
The Foreverland series is a must read.
The Foreverland series is a must read.
July 22, 2019
•audiobook•
Boxed set
I had to knock off some stars for the final book in the boxed set when I listened to this. The narrator was fine, but the story just didn’t seem to be written in the same mindset. The tone, pacing, and characters weren’t as fleshed out and tangible as the first book.
I liked it, but I didn’t love it.
There was still more to uncover, discover, and learn, but I didn’t finish it with WOW; more like, yeah, okay, it fits.
Enjoy the first and second books. You won’t enjoy it less if you skip this - all books are mostly stand alone.
Boxed set
I had to knock off some stars for the final book in the boxed set when I listened to this. The narrator was fine, but the story just didn’t seem to be written in the same mindset. The tone, pacing, and characters weren’t as fleshed out and tangible as the first book.
I liked it, but I didn’t love it.
There was still more to uncover, discover, and learn, but I didn’t finish it with WOW; more like, yeah, okay, it fits.
Enjoy the first and second books. You won’t enjoy it less if you skip this - all books are mostly stand alone.
August 21, 2016
A thrilling end to this trilogy. Everything from the first two books unites together in "Ashes" and it's a chilling, exciting ride. Never knowing what is reality or the dreamworld kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. I also just loved the ending! Now I have the short prequel to read next, then I'm off to explore Bertauski's other worlds (I mean books) but I'm pretty sure I know which series I'll read next. Tony is a new favourite author! Yeah!
September 11, 2017
This third book answered some of the questions I had re: Barb and Cyn and how they both got to be in the same body. I could not come down on whether Johnathan Deer, Barb, and "the good dactor" were good or bad. And sometimes I could not sort out what was reality and what was Foreverland. That confusion added to the tension in the story (a good thing, not a bad thing.) Also - the ending kicked A**. I sort of suspected what Alex went through, but the denouement was very satisfying.
February 14, 2018
Loved the series, and the 3rd installment explained all the lingering questions I had from the first 2 books.
December 7, 2018
Mind bending
September 25, 2019
Ashes of Foreverland - a review by Rosemary Kenny
*slight spoilers*
The third and final book in this trilogy by Tony Bertauski answers many questions - and poses quite a few more, in Ashes of Foreverland, Book 3 in the Foreverland series, that just cries out to be a film or tv series
As the Foreverland reality created by his son Harold crumbles upon his death, so Ballard Senior uses his 'Professor Xavier'-like mental powers to escape his jail cell and persuade investigator Alessandra Diosa to take over the role of his comatose wife Patricia, who was the focus for Foreverland's 'body-snatching' operations, swiftly moving on to bigger and better things - and more profit!
What happens to the survivors and escapees of the Foreverland prison?
Who gets mysterious parcels and clues to Cyn's whereabouts?
When do some of the refugees form a rebel faction? Who is their leader? Where does the story end?
Is the truth really that it was all just the result of a drug-induced dream?
Was it a scientific research experiment gone wrong - or something far more sinister?
Were some actually victims of a body-snatching, sci-fi-like plot? Did anyone really die?
With a nod to Total Recall, what is real life and what's just fantasy becomes blurred, leaving a slightly unsatisfactory taste, (of ashes!), in one's mouth. Why not get the whole set and after reading the three books by Tony Bertauski in succession, decide for yourself? It's so worth it!
*slight spoilers*
The third and final book in this trilogy by Tony Bertauski answers many questions - and poses quite a few more, in Ashes of Foreverland, Book 3 in the Foreverland series, that just cries out to be a film or tv series
As the Foreverland reality created by his son Harold crumbles upon his death, so Ballard Senior uses his 'Professor Xavier'-like mental powers to escape his jail cell and persuade investigator Alessandra Diosa to take over the role of his comatose wife Patricia, who was the focus for Foreverland's 'body-snatching' operations, swiftly moving on to bigger and better things - and more profit!
What happens to the survivors and escapees of the Foreverland prison?
Who gets mysterious parcels and clues to Cyn's whereabouts?
When do some of the refugees form a rebel faction? Who is their leader? Where does the story end?
Is the truth really that it was all just the result of a drug-induced dream?
Was it a scientific research experiment gone wrong - or something far more sinister?
Were some actually victims of a body-snatching, sci-fi-like plot? Did anyone really die?
With a nod to Total Recall, what is real life and what's just fantasy becomes blurred, leaving a slightly unsatisfactory taste, (of ashes!), in one's mouth. Why not get the whole set and after reading the three books by Tony Bertauski in succession, decide for yourself? It's so worth it!
October 11, 2023
When I reviewed Foreverland Is Dead, book two of this series, I called it ‘an atmospheric follow-up that’s even better than the first’. I was then left wondering if the author could follow that up with a satisfying conclusion with this book. Well, rest assured because yes he most definitely can. He gives his readers another engrossing novel full of great characters and a plot-line worthy of the best Hollywood blockbuster. It’s crammed full of tension and fast paced just as a great thriller should be but there’s more to it than that with an imaginative and clever story. To say I enjoyed this book is an understatement. It not only acts and a hugely successful conclusion to the series but also an addictive story in its own right. There are many threads from the previous books that are neatly tied together here whilst also adding some equally interesting new elements. Tony Bertauski never fails to deliver with his imaginative and entertaining books and this is the perfect example of that.
May 20, 2018
This was rather confusing and dreamlike but it all comes together and makes sense with a great ending
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