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The Burdens Trilogy #1
The Sixteen Burdens
A secret society. An indestructible madman. And an odd young man cursed with powers to end the world.
When Gray Studebaker discovers a pattern on the movie-star maps he sells on the street corner, he thinks he's solved Hollywood's biggest crime mystery of 1939. Instead, he stumbles into a secret world where society's greatest figures share a fiercely guarded secret: They're supernaturally talented. As a half-crazed circus strongman hunts them down, Gray realizes he's the only one who has the clues to find a mystical talisman that can stop the maniac. Gray embarks upon a wild, dangerous hunt through the gritty streets of Los Angeles, dodging cutthroat mafia bosses, Zoot-suited gangsters, and knife-wielding circus clowns. But the end of the search may force Gray to reveal his own secret, a mysterious power that will either save the society or destroy them all.
The Sixteen Burdens is the first book in David Khalaf's historical fantasy series. If you like The Night Circus, The Paper Magician, or Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, then you'll love Khalaf's page-turning period-piece adventure with a fantastical twist. Named 2016 Editor's Choice (Historical Novel Society) and a Favorite Indie Book of 2015 (Self-Publishing Review).
Buy The Sixteen Burdens to start the first in Khalaf's award-winning series today!
When Gray Studebaker discovers a pattern on the movie-star maps he sells on the street corner, he thinks he's solved Hollywood's biggest crime mystery of 1939. Instead, he stumbles into a secret world where society's greatest figures share a fiercely guarded secret: They're supernaturally talented. As a half-crazed circus strongman hunts them down, Gray realizes he's the only one who has the clues to find a mystical talisman that can stop the maniac. Gray embarks upon a wild, dangerous hunt through the gritty streets of Los Angeles, dodging cutthroat mafia bosses, Zoot-suited gangsters, and knife-wielding circus clowns. But the end of the search may force Gray to reveal his own secret, a mysterious power that will either save the society or destroy them all.
The Sixteen Burdens is the first book in David Khalaf's historical fantasy series. If you like The Night Circus, The Paper Magician, or Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, then you'll love Khalaf's page-turning period-piece adventure with a fantastical twist. Named 2016 Editor's Choice (Historical Novel Society) and a Favorite Indie Book of 2015 (Self-Publishing Review).
Buy The Sixteen Burdens to start the first in Khalaf's award-winning series today!
367 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 30, 2015
31 people are currently reading
369 people want to read
About the author
David Khalaf
7 books36 followersWant to read Houdini's Last Trick, the first book in David's historical adventure series for free? Get it here!
________________________________________
David Khalaf was born in Orange County, California. He studied journalism and creative writing at the University of Southern California, and wrote his first full novel, a futuristic social satire, right out of college. It's still sitting on a shelf somewhere. Don't go looking for it.
David's award-winning historical fantasy adventure series, The Burdens Adventure Series, grew out of David's interest in Los Angeles history and Hollywood during the Golden Age of film.
After nearly twenty years in Los Angeles, he came to know the city well, mostly after getting lost. He still gets lost sometimes. David currently lives in Portland, Oregon, with his husband Constantino. They blog and wrote a book together on same-sex marriage called Modern Kinship .
________________________________________
David Khalaf was born in Orange County, California. He studied journalism and creative writing at the University of Southern California, and wrote his first full novel, a futuristic social satire, right out of college. It's still sitting on a shelf somewhere. Don't go looking for it.
David's award-winning historical fantasy adventure series, The Burdens Adventure Series, grew out of David's interest in Los Angeles history and Hollywood during the Golden Age of film.
After nearly twenty years in Los Angeles, he came to know the city well, mostly after getting lost. He still gets lost sometimes. David currently lives in Portland, Oregon, with his husband Constantino. They blog and wrote a book together on same-sex marriage called Modern Kinship .
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
January 19, 2016
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to author David Khalaf.)
This wasn’t a bad book, but I did struggle with it a bit. The characters were well developed, and the plot was also well thought out, but I struggled to keep track of what was going on. I think this was probably more me than the book, and the book was also well-written, but every time I put it down, and I seemed to forget what was happening, and was then lost when I picked it back up.
The ideas in this were good though, and I did understand the basic concept – that there was 16 people in the world with exceptional talents, and that these talents are as much a blessing as a burden. One woman was the most beautiful, another man was physically the strongest, and another man the most lucky, and other people wanted these talents? And there was something about something called ‘the eye’? I got a bit lost otherwise.
5 out of 10
This wasn’t a bad book, but I did struggle with it a bit. The characters were well developed, and the plot was also well thought out, but I struggled to keep track of what was going on. I think this was probably more me than the book, and the book was also well-written, but every time I put it down, and I seemed to forget what was happening, and was then lost when I picked it back up.
The ideas in this were good though, and I did understand the basic concept – that there was 16 people in the world with exceptional talents, and that these talents are as much a blessing as a burden. One woman was the most beautiful, another man was physically the strongest, and another man the most lucky, and other people wanted these talents? And there was something about something called ‘the eye’? I got a bit lost otherwise.
5 out of 10
January 21, 2016
In the mood for something light, this was a pretty random choice for me. As always, unknown author, eBook...one sort of takes a chance. This was definitely a win. Surprisingly good, almost great read. Khalaf's writing is so competent, engaging and entertaining that it's easy to forget this is a debut. The book draws you in from the start and maintains your attention throughout. I read this in more or less one sitting. It's that good. Halfway through it occurred to me that this might be considered a YA novel (genre I'd normally shy away from) and yet it didn't really even matter, it certainly didn't read like one. Yes, a significant number of the characters were young, but they had a sort of gutsy self sufficient maturity of the bygone era (1939 to be specific) and there were enough adults present to even out the score. Then it occurred to me that this might be considered a fantasy, but happily no whimsical creatures put in appearances. So how to describe this book then...well, it's a thoroughly original, wildly imaginative love letter to the Golden Age of Hollywood and classic adolescent adventure novels featured a slew of real life celebrities and a terrific cast of imagined characters. With special powers...or, more aptly in this case, burdens. There is a quest for ancient artifact. There are dwarfs. Parade floats. Fights. Pursuits. Secrets. Secret identities. Secret passages. Grand love affairs. Grand gestures. Grand cars. Khalaf has managed to pack so much awesomeness into this novel, it's an incredibly impressive feat. I'm usually vehemently against any sort of series, must this might be a trilogy worth attention, if the first book is an example to go by. Oodles of fun. Highly recommended.
October 30, 2015
I was one of the lucky ones who received an advanced copy of The Sixteen Burdens a few months ago. I was immediately whisked away to a visually stunning world that was both magical and familiar all at the same time. David Khalaf wrote a truly epic story filled with adventure, suspense, old Hollywood history, and well-developed, intriguing characters that kept me glued to the page. Khalaf paints bold, picturesque environments ready for the cinema; you can practically smell the old streets of Hollywood as protagonist Gray Studebaker makes his way from one adventure to the next. The story has a multitude of characters and lots of twists and turns, but Khalaf skillfully manages the complexities of the storyline with deft precision. If you love old Hollywood and intriguing mysteries - with just a dash of the supernatural, The Sixteen Burdens should move to the top of your "must read" list! Kahalf has penned a very strong and engaging introduction to The Burdens Trilogy.
December 27, 2015
A very bright new light on the literary scene
Oregon transplant from Southern California author David Khalaf studied print journalism at the University of Southern California, serving as editor of the Daily Trojan newspaper, and progressed to graduate school at USC for a degree in creative writing. He has been a waiter longer than he cares to remember. His novels ring of the Los Angeles atmosphere and David has obviously absorbed the culture of the city – the history, the Hollywood influence that paints most every aspect of LA, and the tongue in cheek humor that is necessary to survive life in the sunny mecca.
Reading David Khalaf is an experience all lovers of fine contemporary writing should absorb. His style is addictive, and he has found that fine line that traces senseless incidents with both the macabre and the comic. An example: ‘The fifth woman was abducted late on a Thursday night. Police had discovered no evidence at the scene other than her gold lipstick cap, which officers found gleaming in a dirty gutter like a used bullet casing. Aside from that, she had vanished like the others. Like magic. A headline in the Los Angeles Examiner stretched across all six columns: “STAR STALKER STRIKES AGAIN!” The only thing larger than the headline was the photo, a recent headshot of the victim, so sultry and seductive that men had picked clean the newsstands by mid-morning. The rest of the day’s news— the boring stuff— was squashed together at the bottom: Winston Churchill pushing for pre-emptive action against the German Reich; Mahatma Gandhi enacting a hunger strike against the British; Adolf Hitler narrowly escaping an assassination attempt in a Munich beer hall. Europe was slipping into another great war, but that was half a world away and not nearly as interesting as kidnapped movie stars. Gray Studebaker chewed on the tip of a bent cigarette as he read the story. He had filched the paper from the newsboy on the corner, the one his age whose face was always filthy with newsprint. He scratched at his peach fuzz and read on. The story itself was brief; the actress had been plucked from the sidewalk late last night as she waited for her driver outside the Cocoanut Grove. There was a scream, and the witnesses who had seen her only moments before saw thin air in her stead. Her name was Nina Beauregard.‘ The case rests.
David supplies an apt comment for his evocative novel: ‘What if humanity's greatest talents were concentrated into the hands of a lucky few? That's the question I set out to explore in The Sixteen Burdens. Surely those talents would have belonged to some of some history's greatest figures: Sampson with his strength. King Solomon with his wisdom. Joan of Arc with her courage. This story could have been set in any place and time, but I chose my personal favorite: 1930s Hollywood. At the time, Los Angeles was an epicenter for talent and a magnet for some of the world's greatest figures of the day. It seemed a natural fit. With the world on the brink of another great war, what would happen when these Great Talents start to meet and vie for power? That's what you'll find out’
Or for the storyline, ‘What if humanity’s great historical figures weren’t just talented—they were supernaturally talented? In this fresh spin on urban fantasy, history’s illustrious leaders, thinkers, warriors, and entertainers all share a secret…and a perilous destiny. The year is 1939, and everyone who’s anyone has descended upon the glamorous streets of Hollywood. It’s a great place to be if you’re an actor, singer, politician, or businessman. Not so much if you’re Gray Studebaker, a young guttersnipe stuck selling movie-star maps on the street corner. But then Gray never wanted to be rich or famous—he’d be happy just being left alone by his tyrannical caretaker. During a rash of celebrity kidnappings, Gray discovers the stars on his map are hiding unusual talents for which they are being abducted. When Gray tries to solve the crimes on his own, he finds himself caught up in a battle for power that stretches back to the beginnings of humanity. The hunt begins for an ancient tool that can rescue celebrities the likes of Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, and Douglas Fairbanks from an indestructible maniac who wants to steal their talents to create an invincible army. But Gray has a secret of his own, a mysterious disease that will either save the others or destroy them all.’
David Khalaf is a bright and shining new talent, one who most assuredly in on his way up. Highly Recommended. Grady Harp, December 15
Oregon transplant from Southern California author David Khalaf studied print journalism at the University of Southern California, serving as editor of the Daily Trojan newspaper, and progressed to graduate school at USC for a degree in creative writing. He has been a waiter longer than he cares to remember. His novels ring of the Los Angeles atmosphere and David has obviously absorbed the culture of the city – the history, the Hollywood influence that paints most every aspect of LA, and the tongue in cheek humor that is necessary to survive life in the sunny mecca.
Reading David Khalaf is an experience all lovers of fine contemporary writing should absorb. His style is addictive, and he has found that fine line that traces senseless incidents with both the macabre and the comic. An example: ‘The fifth woman was abducted late on a Thursday night. Police had discovered no evidence at the scene other than her gold lipstick cap, which officers found gleaming in a dirty gutter like a used bullet casing. Aside from that, she had vanished like the others. Like magic. A headline in the Los Angeles Examiner stretched across all six columns: “STAR STALKER STRIKES AGAIN!” The only thing larger than the headline was the photo, a recent headshot of the victim, so sultry and seductive that men had picked clean the newsstands by mid-morning. The rest of the day’s news— the boring stuff— was squashed together at the bottom: Winston Churchill pushing for pre-emptive action against the German Reich; Mahatma Gandhi enacting a hunger strike against the British; Adolf Hitler narrowly escaping an assassination attempt in a Munich beer hall. Europe was slipping into another great war, but that was half a world away and not nearly as interesting as kidnapped movie stars. Gray Studebaker chewed on the tip of a bent cigarette as he read the story. He had filched the paper from the newsboy on the corner, the one his age whose face was always filthy with newsprint. He scratched at his peach fuzz and read on. The story itself was brief; the actress had been plucked from the sidewalk late last night as she waited for her driver outside the Cocoanut Grove. There was a scream, and the witnesses who had seen her only moments before saw thin air in her stead. Her name was Nina Beauregard.‘ The case rests.
David supplies an apt comment for his evocative novel: ‘What if humanity's greatest talents were concentrated into the hands of a lucky few? That's the question I set out to explore in The Sixteen Burdens. Surely those talents would have belonged to some of some history's greatest figures: Sampson with his strength. King Solomon with his wisdom. Joan of Arc with her courage. This story could have been set in any place and time, but I chose my personal favorite: 1930s Hollywood. At the time, Los Angeles was an epicenter for talent and a magnet for some of the world's greatest figures of the day. It seemed a natural fit. With the world on the brink of another great war, what would happen when these Great Talents start to meet and vie for power? That's what you'll find out’
Or for the storyline, ‘What if humanity’s great historical figures weren’t just talented—they were supernaturally talented? In this fresh spin on urban fantasy, history’s illustrious leaders, thinkers, warriors, and entertainers all share a secret…and a perilous destiny. The year is 1939, and everyone who’s anyone has descended upon the glamorous streets of Hollywood. It’s a great place to be if you’re an actor, singer, politician, or businessman. Not so much if you’re Gray Studebaker, a young guttersnipe stuck selling movie-star maps on the street corner. But then Gray never wanted to be rich or famous—he’d be happy just being left alone by his tyrannical caretaker. During a rash of celebrity kidnappings, Gray discovers the stars on his map are hiding unusual talents for which they are being abducted. When Gray tries to solve the crimes on his own, he finds himself caught up in a battle for power that stretches back to the beginnings of humanity. The hunt begins for an ancient tool that can rescue celebrities the likes of Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, and Douglas Fairbanks from an indestructible maniac who wants to steal their talents to create an invincible army. But Gray has a secret of his own, a mysterious disease that will either save the others or destroy them all.’
David Khalaf is a bright and shining new talent, one who most assuredly in on his way up. Highly Recommended. Grady Harp, December 15
February 3, 2016
ARC was provided by the author via YA Buddy Readers' Corner group in exchange for honest review.
3.5 stars
I do think Sixteen Burdens has an interesting idea, about a society of sixteen people who have power over their feature. One woman is the most beautiful woman in the earth, thus she can attract and command people from her beautiful figure; one man is the strongest man alive; another is the luckiest and so on. Those people use their power for the good while others are for themselves and want to control the others. Sound really interesting, right?
Not to mention the setting is in 1930s where I can meet Mary Pickford, Charlie Chaplin, Douglas Fairbanks as the characters with other characters talking about Gone With The Wind. I always like a story which has real people in it as its characters. For me it’s easier to be in the story as I know them before I read the book. And I like the feeling when those real people interacted with characters whose are made-up by the author. It usually feels more real for me, if it’s make sense for you :)
I also really like the way it’s written. The author surely knows how to deliver his story and writing it well.
However, it isn’t as engaging as I wanted it to be. And in some part it felt dragging while another part I didn’t buy it. To be honest, I didn’t spend my whole time by reading, have to do something else. So when I read I want my reading will be a page-turner. So that I feel like I have to go back to it whenever I have to put it down for a while. With this book, whenever I picked it up again to continue to read it, I often forgot what I just read about hours before I put it down. And when I tried to continue, I wasn’t as excited as I was before I put it down to do something else. It was kinda frustrating as I wanted to like it badly as I know it has potential with well-written story. Hence I cannot give it more than 3.5 star and cannot raise it into 4 star rating. I have high expectation that the sequels are better, though. Finger-crossed.
3.5 stars
I do think Sixteen Burdens has an interesting idea, about a society of sixteen people who have power over their feature. One woman is the most beautiful woman in the earth, thus she can attract and command people from her beautiful figure; one man is the strongest man alive; another is the luckiest and so on. Those people use their power for the good while others are for themselves and want to control the others. Sound really interesting, right?
Not to mention the setting is in 1930s where I can meet Mary Pickford, Charlie Chaplin, Douglas Fairbanks as the characters with other characters talking about Gone With The Wind. I always like a story which has real people in it as its characters. For me it’s easier to be in the story as I know them before I read the book. And I like the feeling when those real people interacted with characters whose are made-up by the author. It usually feels more real for me, if it’s make sense for you :)
I also really like the way it’s written. The author surely knows how to deliver his story and writing it well.
However, it isn’t as engaging as I wanted it to be. And in some part it felt dragging while another part I didn’t buy it. To be honest, I didn’t spend my whole time by reading, have to do something else. So when I read I want my reading will be a page-turner. So that I feel like I have to go back to it whenever I have to put it down for a while. With this book, whenever I picked it up again to continue to read it, I often forgot what I just read about hours before I put it down. And when I tried to continue, I wasn’t as excited as I was before I put it down to do something else. It was kinda frustrating as I wanted to like it badly as I know it has potential with well-written story. Hence I cannot give it more than 3.5 star and cannot raise it into 4 star rating. I have high expectation that the sequels are better, though. Finger-crossed.
January 26, 2016
( I received a digital copy of this book for free for an honest review.)
I honestly don't believe this was a bad book,it just wasn't the book for me .....and i know this because it took me close to 3 days to finish and a book this size if i like would have take me less than a day.
It didn't grab my attention,it was a little slow i found myself putting it down quite often and since i wasn't connecting with the characters or story i just felt lost most of the time.
The basic point of the book revolves around a bunch of famous people with these incredible talents and how being talented is a huge burden and some other stuff happens, these talented people are being kidnapped or missing and this one guy is trying to solve whats happening but mostly i was confused which led me to being bored, and once again it isn't the books fault the story itself is well written and the characters well developed.I just personally was not interested.
Every once in awhile you come across a great book with a seemingly great story but it just turns out to not be a story for you, and this was just one of those books.
This however doesn't diminish the books quality and the author who is clearly talented!
I honestly don't believe this was a bad book,it just wasn't the book for me .....and i know this because it took me close to 3 days to finish and a book this size if i like would have take me less than a day.
It didn't grab my attention,it was a little slow i found myself putting it down quite often and since i wasn't connecting with the characters or story i just felt lost most of the time.
The basic point of the book revolves around a bunch of famous people with these incredible talents and how being talented is a huge burden and some other stuff happens, these talented people are being kidnapped or missing and this one guy is trying to solve whats happening but mostly i was confused which led me to being bored, and once again it isn't the books fault the story itself is well written and the characters well developed.I just personally was not interested.
Every once in awhile you come across a great book with a seemingly great story but it just turns out to not be a story for you, and this was just one of those books.
This however doesn't diminish the books quality and the author who is clearly talented!
October 28, 2015
I don't read a lot of Fantasy, so I wasn't sure what to expect when I received an advance copy of David Khalaf's The Sixteen Burdens. I was surprised to find myself invested in the characters' lives, and drawn in by the plot. The idea that certain human traits can become so concentrated in a person as to grant them superpowers is exciting, and the notion that our best attribute can become our biggest burden is intriguing. I hope this theory gets fleshed out more as the series progresses. This book feels like an introduction, and it left me with many questions. That's not to say the plot isn't tight—it is, and the ending does provide some closure—I was just left wanting to read more. I suppose that means I'm hooked, which is probably what you'd want from Book 1 of a trilogy.
January 19, 2016
(I received a copy from the author, In exchange for an honest review.)
Actual rating - 2.5
This wasn't an awful read, but I can't say I enjoyed it all that much unfortunately. I felt confused quite a lot, and at times I felt completely lost. The story dragged a bit because of it for me.
Overall, Not bad, but not a book for me.
Actual rating - 2.5
This wasn't an awful read, but I can't say I enjoyed it all that much unfortunately. I felt confused quite a lot, and at times I felt completely lost. The story dragged a bit because of it for me.
Overall, Not bad, but not a book for me.
January 24, 2016
I received a copy from the author, in exchange for an honest review.
Actual Rating: 3.15
This was a good book. It just was not the book for me. Also, I feel like the characters and plot were well developed. The story just made me confused and it made me put the book down a couple of times. Overall, an okay book.
Actual Rating: 3.15
This was a good book. It just was not the book for me. Also, I feel like the characters and plot were well developed. The story just made me confused and it made me put the book down a couple of times. Overall, an okay book.
February 20, 2016
Light hearted romp!
June 3, 2016
"The Sixteen Burdens" by David Khalaf
David Khalaf, my personal friend, former USC classmate (FIGHT ON, TROJANS!!), and former colleague on the Daily Trojan student newspaper staff has written a fine first (published, that is) novel, a highly entertaining and engaging story that keeps the pages turning. Equal parts hard-boiled detective noir, 1930s Hollywood murder mystery, fantasy, and a wee bit of macabre Gothic horror rolled into one; not a perfect analogy here, but it's kinda like "L.A. Confidential" meets the Hardy Boys & Nancy Drew meets "Silence of the Lambs" meets "(this last movie/character analogy omitted to avoid a spoiler)." Anybody who's personally familiar with the City of Angels will appreciate the various references to famous street names and historical landmarks, and the book is full of wickedly funny dialogue and creative metaphors (noted in further detail below).
RANDOM STREAM OF CONSCIOUSNESS NOTES:
--Is the Nina Beauregard character directly descended from Civil War General PGT Beauregard (CSA)?
--p. 71: "he suspected something was suspicious." Bit redundant there?
--p. 72: a martini with "'two olives *and* an onion;'" I may have to try that sometime.
--Random Casting Call comment: I picture Glenn Close portraying Mary Pickford, Johnny Depp as Charlie Chaplin, Josh Brolin as Douglas Fairbanks, and WWE's Paul "The Big Show" Wight as Darko Atlas, and WWE's Rey Mysterio Jr. as Panchito. Not sure whom I'd cast as Gray Studebaker; I'd have gone with Max Casella or Giovanni Ribisi if they were 10-15 years younger. Maybe Hailee Steinfeld of "True Grit" fame as Elsie?
--p. 77: "Apparently Frankenstein and the Wolf Man had a love child, and he was working as a doorman at the Bali Ballroom." LOL!
--pp. 77-79: Aahh, the politically incorrect language one could use with fairer sex and get away with it back then....
--p. 82: Technical gaffe/anachronism; true paramedics didn't come into being until circa 1970. Prior to this, ambulance attendees were employees of the police department and were only trained in First Aid, not the more advanced medical training that true modern-day paramedics (and EMTs) receive.
--p. 114: Louis B. Mayer, my real-life maternal side granduncle!
--pp. 114-115: "It was a massive beast, the kind whose image would be cast in bronze for the bronze for the public square of Soviet city." Karasho, tovarish!
--p. 131: "'Nobody ever achieved greatness on the quest to be liked.'"
--p. 187: Superman "as if he were about to engage in a monumental pillow fight with Hitler." Ha!
--p. 201: "popped open the chamber" should be "popped open the cylinder." On a revolver, the cylinder contains the chambers.
--p. 272: "enough crucifixes to slay a vampire army." Haha!
--p. 311: "The smell of the crisp ocean air was refreshing, and there was a magic to being completely surrounded by the water." So true; reminds me why I loved working at L.A./Long Beach Seaport and living in San Pedro.
--p. 325: "Muchos gracias" should be "Muchas gracias."
--p. 365: LAPD cops are referred to as "officers," not "deputies." The latter term is for the sworn members of the Sheriff's Department.
David Khalaf, my personal friend, former USC classmate (FIGHT ON, TROJANS!!), and former colleague on the Daily Trojan student newspaper staff has written a fine first (published, that is) novel, a highly entertaining and engaging story that keeps the pages turning. Equal parts hard-boiled detective noir, 1930s Hollywood murder mystery, fantasy, and a wee bit of macabre Gothic horror rolled into one; not a perfect analogy here, but it's kinda like "L.A. Confidential" meets the Hardy Boys & Nancy Drew meets "Silence of the Lambs" meets "(this last movie/character analogy omitted to avoid a spoiler)." Anybody who's personally familiar with the City of Angels will appreciate the various references to famous street names and historical landmarks, and the book is full of wickedly funny dialogue and creative metaphors (noted in further detail below).
RANDOM STREAM OF CONSCIOUSNESS NOTES:
--Is the Nina Beauregard character directly descended from Civil War General PGT Beauregard (CSA)?
--p. 71: "he suspected something was suspicious." Bit redundant there?
--p. 72: a martini with "'two olives *and* an onion;'" I may have to try that sometime.
--Random Casting Call comment: I picture Glenn Close portraying Mary Pickford, Johnny Depp as Charlie Chaplin, Josh Brolin as Douglas Fairbanks, and WWE's Paul "The Big Show" Wight as Darko Atlas, and WWE's Rey Mysterio Jr. as Panchito. Not sure whom I'd cast as Gray Studebaker; I'd have gone with Max Casella or Giovanni Ribisi if they were 10-15 years younger. Maybe Hailee Steinfeld of "True Grit" fame as Elsie?
--p. 77: "Apparently Frankenstein and the Wolf Man had a love child, and he was working as a doorman at the Bali Ballroom." LOL!
--pp. 77-79: Aahh, the politically incorrect language one could use with fairer sex and get away with it back then....
--p. 82: Technical gaffe/anachronism; true paramedics didn't come into being until circa 1970. Prior to this, ambulance attendees were employees of the police department and were only trained in First Aid, not the more advanced medical training that true modern-day paramedics (and EMTs) receive.
--p. 114: Louis B. Mayer, my real-life maternal side granduncle!
--pp. 114-115: "It was a massive beast, the kind whose image would be cast in bronze for the bronze for the public square of Soviet city." Karasho, tovarish!
--p. 131: "'Nobody ever achieved greatness on the quest to be liked.'"
--p. 187: Superman "as if he were about to engage in a monumental pillow fight with Hitler." Ha!
--p. 201: "popped open the chamber" should be "popped open the cylinder." On a revolver, the cylinder contains the chambers.
--p. 272: "enough crucifixes to slay a vampire army." Haha!
--p. 311: "The smell of the crisp ocean air was refreshing, and there was a magic to being completely surrounded by the water." So true; reminds me why I loved working at L.A./Long Beach Seaport and living in San Pedro.
--p. 325: "Muchos gracias" should be "Muchas gracias."
--p. 365: LAPD cops are referred to as "officers," not "deputies." The latter term is for the sworn members of the Sheriff's Department.
June 19, 2016
Before I get into this, you should know I was provided a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
The Sixteen Burdens
By David Khalaf
4 ½ stars but rated 4 on Goodreads because I can't rate something with a half star.
The ONLY reason this is a 4 ½ star book is due to some minor inconsistencies and the need for a little clarification.
In 1939, 15-year-old orphan Gray Studebaker (yes, like the color and the car) is selling maps to stars homes, in order to “earn his keep” at the orphanage. During this time, Hollywood actresses are being kidnapped. Gray finds a pattern to the kidnappings and realizes that all the women who were kidnapped live in close proximity to America’s Sweetheart, silent film star, Mary Pickford. What he learns sets him on a journey to find out who he is, rescue the actresses and involves him in a very dangerous quest.
What makes this a great book? First and foremost, the story. It’s different than all the other YA stories that are currently popular. It’s definitely not a dystopian story, a “teenagers in love and one of them dies” story, a vampire story, or any of the other YA types out there. It has quite an interesting premise and hooks the reader from the start… at least it hooked me.
The story flowed smoothly and the writing was simple, but not too simple. Khalaf did not write down to the reader, he just told the story. I enjoyed how the story moved and how there were no awkward transitions. The characters were written smartly and interestingly but stayed true to who their inspirations were.
Questions I’d ask the author:
1) Why the 1930s?
2) Why Hollywood?
3) Of all the actors, actresses, and famous people of the time period, why these?
4) How did you think of this premise?
I dinged the book a half a star, not because of the story, but because it was a little difficult for me to figure out what the 16 burdens were, and I’m still not sure I got them all right. Also, there were a couple of times, where the police chief was called “captain” and I’m not certain that was intentional… maybe a typo that got overlooked. That’s all just me being picky. The Sixteen Burdens was a wonderful book and I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the trilogy.
Definitely a must own, so I’ll for sure be purchasing the book to add to my bookshelf and will absolutely read again!
The Sixteen Burdens
By David Khalaf
4 ½ stars but rated 4 on Goodreads because I can't rate something with a half star.
The ONLY reason this is a 4 ½ star book is due to some minor inconsistencies and the need for a little clarification.
In 1939, 15-year-old orphan Gray Studebaker (yes, like the color and the car) is selling maps to stars homes, in order to “earn his keep” at the orphanage. During this time, Hollywood actresses are being kidnapped. Gray finds a pattern to the kidnappings and realizes that all the women who were kidnapped live in close proximity to America’s Sweetheart, silent film star, Mary Pickford. What he learns sets him on a journey to find out who he is, rescue the actresses and involves him in a very dangerous quest.
What makes this a great book? First and foremost, the story. It’s different than all the other YA stories that are currently popular. It’s definitely not a dystopian story, a “teenagers in love and one of them dies” story, a vampire story, or any of the other YA types out there. It has quite an interesting premise and hooks the reader from the start… at least it hooked me.
The story flowed smoothly and the writing was simple, but not too simple. Khalaf did not write down to the reader, he just told the story. I enjoyed how the story moved and how there were no awkward transitions. The characters were written smartly and interestingly but stayed true to who their inspirations were.
Questions I’d ask the author:
1) Why the 1930s?
2) Why Hollywood?
3) Of all the actors, actresses, and famous people of the time period, why these?
4) How did you think of this premise?
I dinged the book a half a star, not because of the story, but because it was a little difficult for me to figure out what the 16 burdens were, and I’m still not sure I got them all right. Also, there were a couple of times, where the police chief was called “captain” and I’m not certain that was intentional… maybe a typo that got overlooked. That’s all just me being picky. The Sixteen Burdens was a wonderful book and I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the trilogy.
Definitely a must own, so I’ll for sure be purchasing the book to add to my bookshelf and will absolutely read again!
January 26, 2016
A really interesting read, advertised as young adult and probably working in that wheelhouse (with minor reservations). Basically the 16 Burdens of the title are effectively the most beautiful, the bravest, the strongest,the most charismatic, the luckiest, etc human, which as these paragons (in some cases) endows powers to those people. As you can imagine, as for instance, the luckiest person alive you don't need or appear to get more than that, whilst the bravest, for some reason, can manifest telekinesis.
As you might expect a lot of the holders of the burdens gravitate towards Holloywood, which gives lots of opportunities for name dropping and using the famous characters of the day as bearers of the burdens.
This is quite a difficult book to rate. Parts of the story are pure five stars all the way, and I loved the 40's setting, although I do wonder whether that would work quite as well for the target audience. At the same time some of the burdens and associated powers seemed a bit contrived, or didn't really make massive sense (the aforementioned telekinesis/bravery, for instance).
Nevertheless an entertaining enough diversion which is worth a read. Four stars for me.
As you might expect a lot of the holders of the burdens gravitate towards Holloywood, which gives lots of opportunities for name dropping and using the famous characters of the day as bearers of the burdens.
This is quite a difficult book to rate. Parts of the story are pure five stars all the way, and I loved the 40's setting, although I do wonder whether that would work quite as well for the target audience. At the same time some of the burdens and associated powers seemed a bit contrived, or didn't really make massive sense (the aforementioned telekinesis/bravery, for instance).
Nevertheless an entertaining enough diversion which is worth a read. Four stars for me.
October 16, 2016
Link to my video review
This book was so much more than I was expecting. First of all the story itself is very unique in my opinion. The book is set in Hollywood 1939, and there are celebrities that just happen to have Burdens, and one thing that I adored is the fact that the celebrities in this book were best friends in real life.
There are 16 different types of Burdens and I love all of the characters with or without Burdens. Gray, the main characters, is the best main character for this story, and his sidekicks are just as fantastic as he is.
The only thing that bothered me a little was how the characters talked, I really don't know how someone would talk around that time for other than what I've seen in movies and sometimes read about, but I still felt sometimes like the dialogue was a bit modern.
This book was so much more than I was expecting. First of all the story itself is very unique in my opinion. The book is set in Hollywood 1939, and there are celebrities that just happen to have Burdens, and one thing that I adored is the fact that the celebrities in this book were best friends in real life.
There are 16 different types of Burdens and I love all of the characters with or without Burdens. Gray, the main characters, is the best main character for this story, and his sidekicks are just as fantastic as he is.
The only thing that bothered me a little was how the characters talked, I really don't know how someone would talk around that time for other than what I've seen in movies and sometimes read about, but I still felt sometimes like the dialogue was a bit modern.
June 27, 2016
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
It's not quite a pure 5-star--more 4.5 stars--but I still really enjoyed this! I will preface this to say that I am not terribly familiar with the time period (Hollywood in the late 1930s) or the real people in question, so I can't say whether things are historically accurate or not. But the story seems well-set and nothing rubs wrong, setting-wise.
The characters are great--each one is individual, and their personalities are based off their burdens, which is cool bit of worldbuilding. And they work well within the setting and the historical context. The whole Burden concept is cool and well-executed. And the story is resolved satisfactorily while still setting up further books.
I'd recommend this one. A great mix of fantasy and history.
It's not quite a pure 5-star--more 4.5 stars--but I still really enjoyed this! I will preface this to say that I am not terribly familiar with the time period (Hollywood in the late 1930s) or the real people in question, so I can't say whether things are historically accurate or not. But the story seems well-set and nothing rubs wrong, setting-wise.
The characters are great--each one is individual, and their personalities are based off their burdens, which is cool bit of worldbuilding. And they work well within the setting and the historical context. The whole Burden concept is cool and well-executed. And the story is resolved satisfactorily while still setting up further books.
I'd recommend this one. A great mix of fantasy and history.
December 26, 2015
An excellent debut novel from Khalaf. An exciting start to a trilogy in the genres of urban fantasy and YA fiction.
Only a native Angelino could have written a book like this; the history of Hollywood is fascinating to begin with, but Khalaf adds an intriguing "what-if" element to it. Filled with famous historical figures like Mary Pickford and Charlie Chaplin, this book gives a glimpse into the lives of Hollywood legends, and it turns out they're hiding a big secret.
Loved the climactic sequence near the end (especially the setting), and looking forward to the next entry in the series.
Only a native Angelino could have written a book like this; the history of Hollywood is fascinating to begin with, but Khalaf adds an intriguing "what-if" element to it. Filled with famous historical figures like Mary Pickford and Charlie Chaplin, this book gives a glimpse into the lives of Hollywood legends, and it turns out they're hiding a big secret.
Loved the climactic sequence near the end (especially the setting), and looking forward to the next entry in the series.
Read
January 6, 2016This was a great sci-fi/fantasy book! Many of the characters were real people at one time, but in the book they became super people. The world contained people with powers that could affect others in good or bad ways and the story zeroed in on how corrupt one can become when trying to get power from others to use for your own good. Well written, exciting, suspenseful and full of plot twists. I enjoyed reading this book ans would recommend it to everyone. I received this book from Goodreads for free.
January 26, 2016
I got a free ebook of this for an honest review.
This book wasn't a bad book. It was fine but it wasn't the book for me. It was basically a book about these people with super powers and how big of a burden it is to have powers. I was personally bored, but this review should not stop you from trying it. David Kahlaf is obviously a talented author and his story and characters were well developed, I just couldn't really get into this book. Read this book and try it for yourself. This book depends on what you personally enjoy, not just on what genre you love to read.
This book wasn't a bad book. It was fine but it wasn't the book for me. It was basically a book about these people with super powers and how big of a burden it is to have powers. I was personally bored, but this review should not stop you from trying it. David Kahlaf is obviously a talented author and his story and characters were well developed, I just couldn't really get into this book. Read this book and try it for yourself. This book depends on what you personally enjoy, not just on what genre you love to read.
November 8, 2015
Definitely an enjoyable read. The book left me curious as to what happens next to the characters and that's always a good sign! On top of that, the book is in the young adult category so is a quick read yet still raises some great ideas to explore such as when do strengths become weaknesses. I also appreciated the historical setting of the story; definitely felt the writer portrayed that era well. Looking forward to the next installment!
May 20, 2016
I won this in a Goodreads giveaway. My opinion is just that...mine...and completely unbiased.
I was hooked from the get go! What's not to love about characters from the Golden Age of Hollywood with supernatural abilities, and a twisted plot that can definitely follow through in future novels. It's all here....the good, the bad, the mysterious, the yearning to know where the next one will take us. Mr. Khalaf really knows how to tell a story and I can't wait for number 2!
June 15, 2016
(I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to author David Khalaf.)
The Sixteen Burdens wasn't a bad book, it just isn't entirely the book for me.
It didn't grab my attention, as it was a little slow, I found I lost interest in it and put it down quite often.
Apart from that the story was very well written and had a few interesting ideas.
OVERALL THE SIXTEEN BURDENS IS A GOOD BOOK, just not entirely for me.
The Sixteen Burdens wasn't a bad book, it just isn't entirely the book for me.
It didn't grab my attention, as it was a little slow, I found I lost interest in it and put it down quite often.
Apart from that the story was very well written and had a few interesting ideas.
OVERALL THE SIXTEEN BURDENS IS A GOOD BOOK, just not entirely for me.
October 18, 2018
An interesting idea meshing historical figures and fantasy into a very intriguing story. There is quite a bit of World Building in the beginning, and a unique twist near the end, so I’ll be interested to see where the sequel goes since much of the plot of this book was discovering the mystery of the burdens and earning the audience trust in suspense of disbelief in how the real people are turned into fantasy characters.
Read
December 4, 2015Graded By: Brian
Cover Story: Art Deco
Drinking Buddy: Aces
Testosterone Level: A Little Chin Music
Talky Talk: The Shadow Knows
Bonus Factor: One of Those Weird Cabals That Last for Centuries
Bromance Status: Friendship Born of Chaos
Read the full book report here.
Cover Story: Art Deco
Drinking Buddy: Aces
Testosterone Level: A Little Chin Music
Talky Talk: The Shadow Knows
Bonus Factor: One of Those Weird Cabals That Last for Centuries
Bromance Status: Friendship Born of Chaos
Read the full book report here.
April 29, 2020
Clever Fun
This has an intriguing premise, and the author has a lot of fun with it. Think of a younger, looser, more rollicking version of Gaiman's "American Gods".
Gray Studebaker is a fine hero and it's a pleasure to careen around 1939 Hollywood while he chases after a Macguffin, pals with godlike celebrities, figures out who and what he is, and deals with a charming bit of puppy love. There are chases, gunfights, fisticuffs, lurking, hiding, and loads of urban fantasy-lite magical realism.
The book is remarkably well written, so you don't get a flat or lifeless narrative that's just been hung onto an imaginative frame. Some of the banter and 40's wise guy talk is amusing, the mood and atmosphere is authentic enough, and the celebrity characters, (especially Chaplin, who was a grumpy lech in real life but a real charmer here), actually have some high octane sparkle and snap.
The plot is colorful and twisty and the reader has to forgive some gaps and bumps. But that's not the point. This isn't a tightly plotted noir. This is a big canvas, big cast, spectacular that's anchored by a hero with gumption, common sense, and movie style street smarts. That turned out to be a winning combination, and this Kindleunlimited, Kindlefreebie book turned out to be exactly the kind of happy find you hope for as you cruise the Kindle pickings. A real treat.
(BTW, this is sometimes listed as Book #2 in the "Burdens" series, but Book #1 is a novella pre-quel. So you can start here without having missed anything. )
This has an intriguing premise, and the author has a lot of fun with it. Think of a younger, looser, more rollicking version of Gaiman's "American Gods".
Gray Studebaker is a fine hero and it's a pleasure to careen around 1939 Hollywood while he chases after a Macguffin, pals with godlike celebrities, figures out who and what he is, and deals with a charming bit of puppy love. There are chases, gunfights, fisticuffs, lurking, hiding, and loads of urban fantasy-lite magical realism.
The book is remarkably well written, so you don't get a flat or lifeless narrative that's just been hung onto an imaginative frame. Some of the banter and 40's wise guy talk is amusing, the mood and atmosphere is authentic enough, and the celebrity characters, (especially Chaplin, who was a grumpy lech in real life but a real charmer here), actually have some high octane sparkle and snap.
The plot is colorful and twisty and the reader has to forgive some gaps and bumps. But that's not the point. This isn't a tightly plotted noir. This is a big canvas, big cast, spectacular that's anchored by a hero with gumption, common sense, and movie style street smarts. That turned out to be a winning combination, and this Kindleunlimited, Kindlefreebie book turned out to be exactly the kind of happy find you hope for as you cruise the Kindle pickings. A real treat.
(BTW, this is sometimes listed as Book #2 in the "Burdens" series, but Book #1 is a novella pre-quel. So you can start here without having missed anything. )
July 21, 2018
kindle unlimited, overlooked had this one until one came up on freebie day, so that make all 3, though on ku just slipped thru
A secret society. An indestructible madman. And a strange young man cursed with powers to end the world.
When Gray Studebaker discovers a pattern on the movie-star maps he sells on the street corner, he thinks he's solved Hollywood's biggest crime mystery of 1939. Instead, he stumbles into a secret world where society's greatest figures share a fiercely guarded secret: They're supernaturally talented. As a half-crazed circus strongman hunts them down, Gray realizes he's the only one who has the clues to find a mystical talisman that can stop the maniac. Gray embarks upon a wild, dangerous hunt through the gritty streets of Los Angeles, dodging cutthroat mafia bosses, Zoot-suited gangsters, and knife-wielding circus clowns. But the end of the search may force Gray to reveal his own secret, a mysterious power that will either save the society or destroy them all.
got this back in feburary 2017, caught that when one came up for freebie day though have ku so just overlooked series
Houdini's Last Trick (The Burdens Trilogy #0)
The Sixteen Burdens (The Burdens Trilogy #1)
The Unknown Burden (The Burdens Trilogy Book 2)
A secret society. An indestructible madman. And a strange young man cursed with powers to end the world.
When Gray Studebaker discovers a pattern on the movie-star maps he sells on the street corner, he thinks he's solved Hollywood's biggest crime mystery of 1939. Instead, he stumbles into a secret world where society's greatest figures share a fiercely guarded secret: They're supernaturally talented. As a half-crazed circus strongman hunts them down, Gray realizes he's the only one who has the clues to find a mystical talisman that can stop the maniac. Gray embarks upon a wild, dangerous hunt through the gritty streets of Los Angeles, dodging cutthroat mafia bosses, Zoot-suited gangsters, and knife-wielding circus clowns. But the end of the search may force Gray to reveal his own secret, a mysterious power that will either save the society or destroy them all.
got this back in feburary 2017, caught that when one came up for freebie day though have ku so just overlooked series
Houdini's Last Trick (The Burdens Trilogy #0)
The Sixteen Burdens (The Burdens Trilogy #1)
The Unknown Burden (The Burdens Trilogy Book 2)
January 28, 2024
Imagine that for many generations, sixteen people in the world are blessed but burdened with a unique and far-reaching talent in one thing. For one it is foresight, another is blessed with strength, another insight, perhaps one has all-reaching empathy. The first book of this series is Houdini's Last Trick, and his burden is supernatural introspection. You can see where that will be going.
In this prequel of the series, Sixteen Burdens, we are in LA and Hollywood in the golden years, 1939, so most of the characters in this tale we know much about - and some of their gifted burdens could be considered pretty obvious even after all this time. Orange County, CA native David Khalaf does a great job of bringing this place, this time, these folks back into our minds and hearts. Mary Pickford plays a pivotal role in this, it is not hard to see her in this position of circumstance, as does Douglas Fairbanks and you are gonna love Grey Studebaker. So if you love historical fiction, old movies, or a little woo-woo with your afternoon tea, you need to read this series by David Khalaf. It's a winner.
Reviewed on January 27, 2024, at Goodreads, AmazonSmile, Barnes&Noble, and BookBub. Not available for review at Kobo.
In this prequel of the series, Sixteen Burdens, we are in LA and Hollywood in the golden years, 1939, so most of the characters in this tale we know much about - and some of their gifted burdens could be considered pretty obvious even after all this time. Orange County, CA native David Khalaf does a great job of bringing this place, this time, these folks back into our minds and hearts. Mary Pickford plays a pivotal role in this, it is not hard to see her in this position of circumstance, as does Douglas Fairbanks and you are gonna love Grey Studebaker. So if you love historical fiction, old movies, or a little woo-woo with your afternoon tea, you need to read this series by David Khalaf. It's a winner.
Reviewed on January 27, 2024, at Goodreads, AmazonSmile, Barnes&Noble, and BookBub. Not available for review at Kobo.
February 26, 2019
Great premise, great writing, great story and great historical characters make for a great (5 stars) novel. This refreshing take on what I can only call historical fiction was the most interesting and fun I had reading a book in a while. The fact that most of the historical characters in the book are well known Hollywood stars from early 1920-1940's, make visualising and connecting with them easier. Also the very idea of Burdens enables us to foresee all the possibilities open to the author for introducing new historical characters from all over the timeline. I can't say enough good stuff about this wonderful book. One of the easiest 5 star rating for me.
March 1, 2018
Weird
I give this book high marks because I think it is well written, but it really isn’t my taste. I guess I’d classify it as fantasy although it is not what I’d typically think of that genre. Still, it is full of action and adventure, so if you like books that are a bit different you might like this series.
I give this book high marks because I think it is well written, but it really isn’t my taste. I guess I’d classify it as fantasy although it is not what I’d typically think of that genre. Still, it is full of action and adventure, so if you like books that are a bit different you might like this series.
June 15, 2018
Sixteen Burdens is not heavy
Fun story with a blast from the past cast. This was a fast moving adventure well worth the read. "Burdens" was no burden to read.
Fun story with a blast from the past cast. This was a fast moving adventure well worth the read. "Burdens" was no burden to read.
March 15, 2017
Probably more like 2.5 stars. I'm not sure the whole premise was outlined as clearly as it should have been, and the story was rather uneven. But it was interesting enough, and as this is billed as a trilogy on Amazon, I might read the next one.
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