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Shifting Isles #1
The Prisoner
What if one simple choice could change everything? Officer Benash dutifully follows orders, even down to the route he walks to the prison each day, striving to earn the promotion that would grant him escape from that crumbling, underground facility.
Yet, as he passes a fork in the road, the desire for even one simple choice tempts him. When he finally succumbs, he crosses paths with Vorena, a woman who forces him to question everything he has ever known.
Vorena's ideas are nothing short of treasonous, and accepting them would spell Benash's death. With time running out, Benash must now choose: cling to the security of obedience and routine, or risk his life for a kind of freedom he never thought possible.
Yet, as he passes a fork in the road, the desire for even one simple choice tempts him. When he finally succumbs, he crosses paths with Vorena, a woman who forces him to question everything he has ever known.
Vorena's ideas are nothing short of treasonous, and accepting them would spell Benash's death. With time running out, Benash must now choose: cling to the security of obedience and routine, or risk his life for a kind of freedom he never thought possible.
330 pages, Paperback
First published March 26, 2015
10 people are currently reading
34 people want to read
About the author
G.R. Lyons
70 books258 followersG.R. Lyons stumbled into writing as a form of trauma recovery when traditional therapy wasn't working.
Then the story ideas just kept on coming.
Pulling from a vivid imagination as well as real-life experience as a trans man, a sexual assault survivor, and a person living with mental illness, Lyons has written multiple, interconnected series set within his fictional world of the Shifting Isles.
When not writing, Lyons can be found belly dancing around the house, studying anarcho-capitalist philosophy, buried in his never-ending TBR pile, or working out at the local CrossFit gym.
Then the story ideas just kept on coming.
Pulling from a vivid imagination as well as real-life experience as a trans man, a sexual assault survivor, and a person living with mental illness, Lyons has written multiple, interconnected series set within his fictional world of the Shifting Isles.
When not writing, Lyons can be found belly dancing around the house, studying anarcho-capitalist philosophy, buried in his never-ending TBR pile, or working out at the local CrossFit gym.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 10, 2015
This is a fantastically written story that I simply could not put down. The characters are intensely relatable and develop fantastically throughout the novel to create a deeply moving tale.
I heartily recommend this book to anyone who loves a good story. Myself, I don't know how I'll wait for the next book in the series.
I heartily recommend this book to anyone who loves a good story. Myself, I don't know how I'll wait for the next book in the series.
July 31, 2017
This is an amazing tale by G.R. Lyons. The things you take for granted until its taking away. A sunrise or sunset. Benash and Verena and others in this book make a great tale. The more I read I was hooked with Benash as he has lots of angst of feelings of the right and wrongs. I loved the telepathic talk between the characters and even the telekinesis used. An incredible story leading to love and fighting for whats right. The ending of this was just beautiful and sad at the same time.
Benash was a guard of the prison with its cells deep underground, a decision on his way to work of the left or the right track. Left is always known but right knew he'd be in trouble if he got caught. He vowed to get away, his two wives and the grey surroundings as he yearned for a different life.
Verena, Jevon and little Asenna ran trying to keep from being discovered while trying to join the rebels. Aiming for Agoran and off the Isle to freedom. Verena sacrifices herself to save her cousin and his child getting caught.
Freedom vs prison but all that maybe be forfeit as their Isle maybe in danger..
Benash was a guard of the prison with its cells deep underground, a decision on his way to work of the left or the right track. Left is always known but right knew he'd be in trouble if he got caught. He vowed to get away, his two wives and the grey surroundings as he yearned for a different life.
Verena, Jevon and little Asenna ran trying to keep from being discovered while trying to join the rebels. Aiming for Agoran and off the Isle to freedom. Verena sacrifices herself to save her cousin and his child getting caught.
Freedom vs prison but all that maybe be forfeit as their Isle maybe in danger..
September 14, 2017
It made me think, laugh, and cry…
Lyons has woven a magnificent tale of oppression and redemption, loss and love, despair and hope.
Benash is a member of the Hawk forces, and second in command of Sonekha prison. Weighed down by the utter sameness of his routine and duties, Benash dreams of more. His ‘sinful’ desires echoed in the words of one of the men he arrests, “Haven't you ever just wanted to have a choice?”
As his unswerving loyalty to the Elder’s commands begins to crumble, he takes a fateful trip down the forbidden right fork of the forest trail he walks to the prison each day. This decision would set him down a path he never dreamed of before when his path crossed that of Vorena, a rebel trying to escape the isle of Tanas for a better life on Agoran.
This chance meeting will change the course of both of their lives.
Lyons weaves a seamless world that one finds easy to feel could truly exist, from realistic climate to a religious system as believable as any existing in our own world.
She made me think, laugh, and cry with this book and I highly recommend you pick this book up immediately.
Lyons has woven a magnificent tale of oppression and redemption, loss and love, despair and hope.
Benash is a member of the Hawk forces, and second in command of Sonekha prison. Weighed down by the utter sameness of his routine and duties, Benash dreams of more. His ‘sinful’ desires echoed in the words of one of the men he arrests, “Haven't you ever just wanted to have a choice?”
As his unswerving loyalty to the Elder’s commands begins to crumble, he takes a fateful trip down the forbidden right fork of the forest trail he walks to the prison each day. This decision would set him down a path he never dreamed of before when his path crossed that of Vorena, a rebel trying to escape the isle of Tanas for a better life on Agoran.
This chance meeting will change the course of both of their lives.
Lyons weaves a seamless world that one finds easy to feel could truly exist, from realistic climate to a religious system as believable as any existing in our own world.
She made me think, laugh, and cry with this book and I highly recommend you pick this book up immediately.
July 2, 2017
An incredible book! Thought provoking and one that should make every reader appreciate the simple fact that they have the ability to read and the freedom to choose what they read.
Everything in life on the isle of Tanas is dictated by the elders -- from where you live, to what you wear, to the food you eat, to your marriage partner and even to the time you pray. Nobody is allowed a choice in life. So what happens to you when you meet somebody that has known freedom and slowly makes you realize you are bound by chains.
Everything in life on the isle of Tanas is dictated by the elders -- from where you live, to what you wear, to the food you eat, to your marriage partner and even to the time you pray. Nobody is allowed a choice in life. So what happens to you when you meet somebody that has known freedom and slowly makes you realize you are bound by chains.
December 25, 2016
A story that deserves to be a Best Seller
The author gave me this book to read in exchange for a review and must I say this book was moving. Everything about this story was riveting, the plot, the characters, the story line... They all had me intrigued. I found myself in this story-wishing that I was in it to be apart of such a tale. Benash and Verona had me in tears, the characters were like robots and when Benash met Verona it was like she gave life to the dull world they lived in where everything was dictated. This was an amazing book and I often found myself not wanting to put it down. I can honestly say if you purchase it, you won't be disappointed.. The characters might move you just like how they moved me.
The author gave me this book to read in exchange for a review and must I say this book was moving. Everything about this story was riveting, the plot, the characters, the story line... They all had me intrigued. I found myself in this story-wishing that I was in it to be apart of such a tale. Benash and Verona had me in tears, the characters were like robots and when Benash met Verona it was like she gave life to the dull world they lived in where everything was dictated. This was an amazing book and I often found myself not wanting to put it down. I can honestly say if you purchase it, you won't be disappointed.. The characters might move you just like how they moved me.
November 2, 2021
This book was a wonderful surprise.
I highly recommend this story to anyone who enjoys post-apocalyptic or futuristic fantasy type fiction. Although this book has a few moments of beating you over the head with the concepts & messages, the story is intensely human, painful, and hopeful.
The best part of this book is its dedication to its world building, which gives the rest of the books set in Mr. Lyons's world immense potential to be just as engaging.
I highly recommend this story to anyone who enjoys post-apocalyptic or futuristic fantasy type fiction. Although this book has a few moments of beating you over the head with the concepts & messages, the story is intensely human, painful, and hopeful.
The best part of this book is its dedication to its world building, which gives the rest of the books set in Mr. Lyons's world immense potential to be just as engaging.
January 28, 2017
The Prisoner—Shifting Isles Series (Book 1) reminded me of George Orwell’s 1984. It’s a thought-provoking, intellectual, and dystopian view of a unique, post-breaking world. It places strong merit on right-wing thinking while assigning not always thoughtful (or correct) defect on left-wing thinking. The story had thoughtful moments for me and, at times, built an emotional connection with me. Lyons has the ability to deliver intelligent, elegant, and beautiful writing such as, “Chains, chains, chains, his dreaming mind chanted, teasing him with the cold bite of iron wrapped around his body while temptation was dangled before him. Naught but chains.” And, there were a great many lines like that where I was reminded of Lyon’s skill as a writer. This story could have resonated with me much more vibrantly if it had included a map, but the glossary is both necessary and helpful and I’m glad he included it. As with many first books in a series, the first part of the book is a little challenging to get through as he’s building the necessary knowledge for you to understand what comes after, but I flew through the second half of the book in nothing flat so it does flow better as you move through it. Overall, I liked it and I’d like to read the next installment. I give it 3.8 of 5 stars. I think he’s just getting started and I think follow-on books will be even better.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews