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The Immortal Vagabond Healer #1
Out of Nowhere
Healer Sean Danet is immortal—a fact he has cloaked for centuries, behind enemy lines and now a paramedic’s uniform. Having forgotten most of his distant past, he has finally found peace—and love.
But there are some things you cannot escape, however much distance you put behind you.
When Sean heals the wrong man, he uncovers a lethal enemy who holds all the cards. And this time he can’t run. It’s time to stand and fight, for himself, for his friends, for the woman he loves. It’s time, finally, for Sean to face his past—and choose a future.
A story of love, of battle—and of facing your true self when there’s nowhere left to hide.
But there are some things you cannot escape, however much distance you put behind you.
When Sean heals the wrong man, he uncovers a lethal enemy who holds all the cards. And this time he can’t run. It’s time to stand and fight, for himself, for his friends, for the woman he loves. It’s time, finally, for Sean to face his past—and choose a future.
A story of love, of battle—and of facing your true self when there’s nowhere left to hide.
398 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2012
26 people are currently reading
155 people want to read
About the author
Patrick LeClerc
11 books82 followersPatrick LeClerc makes good use of his history degree by working as a paramedic for an ever- changing parade of ambulance companies in the Northern suburbs of Boston. When not writing he enjoys cooking, fencing and making witty, insightful remarks with career-limiting candor.
In the lulls between runs on the ambulance --and sometimes the lulls between employment at various ambulance companies-- he writes fiction.
In the lulls between runs on the ambulance --and sometimes the lulls between employment at various ambulance companies-- he writes fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
February 17, 2019
* This is one of the #SPFBO finalists for 2018 *
I picked this up as a judge for #SPFBO and it's certainly not my 'usual' read as this is very much urban fantasy/sci-fi mixed with a sarcastic main character called Sean who works on an Ambulance.
Sean is our main character of the book and the story follows him as he has a secret ability to be able to heal other people who have injuries. The job as an ambulance medic is clearly a great disguise for him as he is able to use his ability and not get rumbled, but it also means he's a bit of a loner and is only really friends with his work partner Monique aka Nique.
Sean is not only able to heal he's also able to live for a long time. He's loved many lives but it's tough to be alone through all that time and he has only a bleary recollection of his younger past.
In terms of story I certainly felt like it was a fun one, but it wasn't necessarily to my personal taste. I prefer more magic by far than this, but it was good to see the quick wit of the characters.
The pacing was fairly fast throughout and easy to get through.
For criticisms, I think it's personal taste and also verbal content of the characters which is very focused on racism and homophobic comments. There are a lot of points where two characters are stressed and they make a dumb joke (aka say something highly offensive) to 'de-stress' the conversation but I felt this was unnecessary and then uncomfortable.
In the end I think the book was fun but it didn't really stand out from the rest to me. 3*s = 6/10 for #SPFBO purposes.
I picked this up as a judge for #SPFBO and it's certainly not my 'usual' read as this is very much urban fantasy/sci-fi mixed with a sarcastic main character called Sean who works on an Ambulance.
Sean is our main character of the book and the story follows him as he has a secret ability to be able to heal other people who have injuries. The job as an ambulance medic is clearly a great disguise for him as he is able to use his ability and not get rumbled, but it also means he's a bit of a loner and is only really friends with his work partner Monique aka Nique.
Sean is not only able to heal he's also able to live for a long time. He's loved many lives but it's tough to be alone through all that time and he has only a bleary recollection of his younger past.
In terms of story I certainly felt like it was a fun one, but it wasn't necessarily to my personal taste. I prefer more magic by far than this, but it was good to see the quick wit of the characters.
The pacing was fairly fast throughout and easy to get through.
For criticisms, I think it's personal taste and also verbal content of the characters which is very focused on racism and homophobic comments. There are a lot of points where two characters are stressed and they make a dumb joke (aka say something highly offensive) to 'de-stress' the conversation but I felt this was unnecessary and then uncomfortable.
In the end I think the book was fun but it didn't really stand out from the rest to me. 3*s = 6/10 for #SPFBO purposes.
Read
December 31, 2018I haven't read this book yet but it is one of ten finalists chosen from 300 entries to the 4th annual Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off competition, so the chances are that it is pretty good!
Check out this year's finalists:
https://mark---lawrence.blogspot.com/...
Check out this year's finalists:
https://mark---lawrence.blogspot.com/...
February 22, 2019
I’ll come right out and say that Patrick LeClerc’s urban fantasy Out of Nowhere was not a book I enjoyed. Although LeClerc is a skilled writer and there are a few aspects of the book I liked, there were several narrative decisions and character depictions that ranged from questionable to frustrating and offensive.
The story is a first-person account of Sean, a military veteran who now works as a paramedic in an urban Massachusetts town. Sean has the power to telekinetically heal injuries, which also allows him to live for untold centuries without aging past his thirty-year-old appearance. Sean hides his magical ability from the public so as not to be singled out but still secretly heals others in small doses during his work shifts. One of the aspects of the story I enjoyed was the authenticity of the narrator during Sean’s paramedic chapters. The medical terminology and workplace slang felt realistic. This isn’t a surprise, as I learned in the author’s bio that LeClerc shares many of the same traits as Sean. (This also gave me the sense that this book serves as a wish-fulfillment fantasy for the author, which brings with it its own set of problems, but more on that later.)
The story also has an exciting start. It immediately drops you right into a thrilling action scene before rewinding a few days to show how Sean winds up in this predicament. It’s a bit of a narrative trope, but effective. The pacing of the story was also well-written, and it moves by at a good clip. LeClerc shows a good sense of timing when jumping in and out of scenes, and it kept me turning the pages rather quickly. I raced through this story at a much faster rate than usual.
However, as the story progressed, there were quite a few passages that gave me pause. Unfortunately, these passages increased in frequency as the story progressed, and it got to the point where I considered not finishing the story. First, all females in this book are drop-dead gorgeous, and consistently described by their physical attributes and level of sex appeal. Sean’s coworker, Monique, is a constant target of sexist jokes (even from Sean!) but for some reason she giggles at Sean’s remarks while threatening others who make similar quips. Perhaps this is LeClerc’s way conveying his authentic experience as a paramedic, and these jokes are only supposed to be funny through the lens of his characters, but I ask… why even include this? It seems like the casual sexist and racist banter is included to show off the team’s camaraderie, but instead of laughing with them, I came away disgusted. These aren’t the type of people I want to spend time around. Later in the story, Sean mansplains the concept of “men” to Monique. “… it is a mark of maturity when a man realizes that complexity and dimension are good things in a woman and stops chasing bimbos. Much the same when kids grow up and start preferring aged sirloin to a McDonald’s hamburger.” Monique shakes her head at how females were just compared to meat, sighs, and smiles at how amusing he is. Ehhh.
The next female we meet is Sarah, another drop-dead gorgeous bombshell (this time, with glasses) who ends up in bed with Sean mere hours after they meet. This veers hard into “insta-love” territory. At one point, Sarah is beaten and tortured within an inch of her life by people who are trying to find and murder Sean. Does she get the hell away from the dangerous guy she just met? No, of course not. She goes along with whatever plan he comes up with and takes everything in stride. Plausibility is stretched, which is acceptable to a point, but certain lines of dialogue between them made me dislike Sean even more. Early on, after telling Sarah he won’t be going to her lectures, observes that “her smile remained in place, obviously hiding her disappointment that I wouldn’t be attending her class.” Obviously. That’s his take on a smile, huh?
The interactions between Sean and Sarah become even more male-gazey and borderline gross as the book continues. In case it’s not clear that Sean objectifies women, he removes all doubt. “Only slightly distracted by my injuries, I did my best to assure her that she held the prized position of object of my lust.” But the most egregiously offensive passage occurs near the end of the story, when Sean realizes why, after so many centuries without finding someone worthy of his ‘true love,’ he finally found it with Sarah. He soliloquies to the reader,
“Vast improvements had been made in the field of young women recently. For most of western history, they had been considered subservient to men, and while I’d certainly enjoyed the company of a number of them, and my tastes had always run toward the least subservient of the bunch, it certainly colored how they saw themselves. Then, very recently, when women had begun to make strides, there was a tendency to have a bit of a chip on the shoulder. Again, nothing I wasn’t willing to work around. But it was refreshing and exhilarating to meet a generation of women who truly felt that they were equals, who took it as a given that they deserved to be treated as such.”
According to Sean, oppressed women of the past who have a ‘chip on their shoulder’ is just something to be ‘worked around.’ But, now that women finally respect themselves (but only very recently!) as the level that men do, they’re suddenly worth of his love and attention. If only they had known who they were missing out on all these years!
LeClerc published Out of Nowhere as the start of an ongoing series. I strongly believe he has the potential to write something of much higher quality, so I hope there has been some perspective gained over time. Unfortunately, at the present state, I cannot recommend this book in good conscience.
3.5 / 10
I received a copy of this book as part of the SPFBO4 competition, in which Out of Nowhere was selected as a finalist.
The story is a first-person account of Sean, a military veteran who now works as a paramedic in an urban Massachusetts town. Sean has the power to telekinetically heal injuries, which also allows him to live for untold centuries without aging past his thirty-year-old appearance. Sean hides his magical ability from the public so as not to be singled out but still secretly heals others in small doses during his work shifts. One of the aspects of the story I enjoyed was the authenticity of the narrator during Sean’s paramedic chapters. The medical terminology and workplace slang felt realistic. This isn’t a surprise, as I learned in the author’s bio that LeClerc shares many of the same traits as Sean. (This also gave me the sense that this book serves as a wish-fulfillment fantasy for the author, which brings with it its own set of problems, but more on that later.)
The story also has an exciting start. It immediately drops you right into a thrilling action scene before rewinding a few days to show how Sean winds up in this predicament. It’s a bit of a narrative trope, but effective. The pacing of the story was also well-written, and it moves by at a good clip. LeClerc shows a good sense of timing when jumping in and out of scenes, and it kept me turning the pages rather quickly. I raced through this story at a much faster rate than usual.
However, as the story progressed, there were quite a few passages that gave me pause. Unfortunately, these passages increased in frequency as the story progressed, and it got to the point where I considered not finishing the story. First, all females in this book are drop-dead gorgeous, and consistently described by their physical attributes and level of sex appeal. Sean’s coworker, Monique, is a constant target of sexist jokes (even from Sean!) but for some reason she giggles at Sean’s remarks while threatening others who make similar quips. Perhaps this is LeClerc’s way conveying his authentic experience as a paramedic, and these jokes are only supposed to be funny through the lens of his characters, but I ask… why even include this? It seems like the casual sexist and racist banter is included to show off the team’s camaraderie, but instead of laughing with them, I came away disgusted. These aren’t the type of people I want to spend time around. Later in the story, Sean mansplains the concept of “men” to Monique. “… it is a mark of maturity when a man realizes that complexity and dimension are good things in a woman and stops chasing bimbos. Much the same when kids grow up and start preferring aged sirloin to a McDonald’s hamburger.” Monique shakes her head at how females were just compared to meat, sighs, and smiles at how amusing he is. Ehhh.
The next female we meet is Sarah, another drop-dead gorgeous bombshell (this time, with glasses) who ends up in bed with Sean mere hours after they meet. This veers hard into “insta-love” territory. At one point, Sarah is beaten and tortured within an inch of her life by people who are trying to find and murder Sean. Does she get the hell away from the dangerous guy she just met? No, of course not. She goes along with whatever plan he comes up with and takes everything in stride. Plausibility is stretched, which is acceptable to a point, but certain lines of dialogue between them made me dislike Sean even more. Early on, after telling Sarah he won’t be going to her lectures, observes that “her smile remained in place, obviously hiding her disappointment that I wouldn’t be attending her class.” Obviously. That’s his take on a smile, huh?
The interactions between Sean and Sarah become even more male-gazey and borderline gross as the book continues. In case it’s not clear that Sean objectifies women, he removes all doubt. “Only slightly distracted by my injuries, I did my best to assure her that she held the prized position of object of my lust.” But the most egregiously offensive passage occurs near the end of the story, when Sean realizes why, after so many centuries without finding someone worthy of his ‘true love,’ he finally found it with Sarah. He soliloquies to the reader,
“Vast improvements had been made in the field of young women recently. For most of western history, they had been considered subservient to men, and while I’d certainly enjoyed the company of a number of them, and my tastes had always run toward the least subservient of the bunch, it certainly colored how they saw themselves. Then, very recently, when women had begun to make strides, there was a tendency to have a bit of a chip on the shoulder. Again, nothing I wasn’t willing to work around. But it was refreshing and exhilarating to meet a generation of women who truly felt that they were equals, who took it as a given that they deserved to be treated as such.”
According to Sean, oppressed women of the past who have a ‘chip on their shoulder’ is just something to be ‘worked around.’ But, now that women finally respect themselves (but only very recently!) as the level that men do, they’re suddenly worth of his love and attention. If only they had known who they were missing out on all these years!
LeClerc published Out of Nowhere as the start of an ongoing series. I strongly believe he has the potential to write something of much higher quality, so I hope there has been some perspective gained over time. Unfortunately, at the present state, I cannot recommend this book in good conscience.
3.5 / 10
I received a copy of this book as part of the SPFBO4 competition, in which Out of Nowhere was selected as a finalist.
February 23, 2019
This review is part of BookNest.eu’s #SPFBO 2018 finalist round. As such, I received the book for free. Originally published at: http://booknest.eu/reviews/peter/1464...
Out of Nowhere is a good read with solid characters, realistic dialogue, a likeable main character, but also a meandering plot and an antagonist whose name I don’t remember three days after finishing the novel (and that’s the least of my complaints about him). Let’s dig into it!
Sean Danet is an immortal paramedic with the ability to heal the wounds and even some diseases of others. He’s been around for centuries. For many of those, he’s been a soldier, and rather good at it. Not because he enjoys killing, even if he’s as skilled a killer as any you’ll find, but because where there’s a battlefield, there’s plenty of wounded. Wounded who won’t question a miracle, or at least aren’t likely to strap Sean to a pyre and light the match up for it.
Being a paramedic is similar, and as an added bonus, no one is trying to kill Sean – most of the time, anyway. That all changes when Sean heals a man during a routine night out, and the man seems to recognise something is off about the paramedic. People close to Sean start getting attacked soon after, and everything escalates from that point onward. I found the time spent in Sean’s head thoroughly enjoyable. Not only is he damn likeable, but he’s also surprisingly humane for an immortal and he reminds me of the main character in the cancelled TV series Forever (a major bonus, trust you me). He possesses a distinctive enough voice to make him memorable; while far from a Philip Marlowe or a Vlad Taltos, he’s definitely got the sarcastic outlook and quirky personality necessary to earn a spot in the pantheon of tough but likeable assholes.
The supporting cast isn’t one to throw away, either. Sean’s best friends Nique and Pete are both capable paramedics who stick by their friend when the going gets tough, even if there’s a lot of teasing involved. All the dialogue between the paramedics, their problems all feel very real, and small wonder – author Patrick LeClerc is a paramedic himself, and he also cooks, another trait shared by Sean. Sarah is the love interest, a beautiful linguist whose instant chemistry with Sean might irk some readers, though I didn’t mind it one bit. I thought it was rather sweet and cute, in fact! She's also really smart -- putting Sean to shame on a few occasions; and loyal to boot.
Where Out of Nowhere falls short is a villain who simply isn’t memorable enough, whose reason for going after Sean is trite and uninspired. He’s also dealt away with in such a clean, neat way – almost like he’s a problem to be solved. This antagonist doesn’t really reveal much about Sean, nor does he offer an overwhelming enough threat that I felt at any point could in truth threaten the main character.
Another problem I had was the fact that Sean, for all the years he spent in the shadows of men and women of great fame and historical importance, apparently never crossed paths with other gifted individuals such as himself. You'd think he would be far from the only powered individual with the desire to kick it up with the best and brightest of the times!
The first half of the novel takes its time setting up Sean’s life and relationships, and while his voice was enough to personally get me through, I can’t help but feel that a stronger conflict would’ve made those 130 pages that much more memorable. Thankfully, the dialogue, with its witty quips and historical references was good enough to make them enjoyable, even if at times I found myself wondering, “Was something supposed to happen now?”
I’d be happy to read Sean Danet’s further adventures. I only hope the next novels in the series are better served by their respective antagonists, and that the conflict drives the characters I’ve come to like to new and interesting places.
My score for this #SPFBO finalist is a 6.5 out of 10! I thought long and hard about this, and while I at first wanted to give it a 7 out of 10, I decided that some of the problems it has, weigh down on it too much for that score. However, its spot in the ten #SPFBO finalists is well and truly earned!
Out of Nowhere is a good read with solid characters, realistic dialogue, a likeable main character, but also a meandering plot and an antagonist whose name I don’t remember three days after finishing the novel (and that’s the least of my complaints about him). Let’s dig into it!
Sean Danet is an immortal paramedic with the ability to heal the wounds and even some diseases of others. He’s been around for centuries. For many of those, he’s been a soldier, and rather good at it. Not because he enjoys killing, even if he’s as skilled a killer as any you’ll find, but because where there’s a battlefield, there’s plenty of wounded. Wounded who won’t question a miracle, or at least aren’t likely to strap Sean to a pyre and light the match up for it.
Being a paramedic is similar, and as an added bonus, no one is trying to kill Sean – most of the time, anyway. That all changes when Sean heals a man during a routine night out, and the man seems to recognise something is off about the paramedic. People close to Sean start getting attacked soon after, and everything escalates from that point onward. I found the time spent in Sean’s head thoroughly enjoyable. Not only is he damn likeable, but he’s also surprisingly humane for an immortal and he reminds me of the main character in the cancelled TV series Forever (a major bonus, trust you me). He possesses a distinctive enough voice to make him memorable; while far from a Philip Marlowe or a Vlad Taltos, he’s definitely got the sarcastic outlook and quirky personality necessary to earn a spot in the pantheon of tough but likeable assholes.
The supporting cast isn’t one to throw away, either. Sean’s best friends Nique and Pete are both capable paramedics who stick by their friend when the going gets tough, even if there’s a lot of teasing involved. All the dialogue between the paramedics, their problems all feel very real, and small wonder – author Patrick LeClerc is a paramedic himself, and he also cooks, another trait shared by Sean. Sarah is the love interest, a beautiful linguist whose instant chemistry with Sean might irk some readers, though I didn’t mind it one bit. I thought it was rather sweet and cute, in fact! She's also really smart -- putting Sean to shame on a few occasions; and loyal to boot.
Where Out of Nowhere falls short is a villain who simply isn’t memorable enough, whose reason for going after Sean is trite and uninspired. He’s also dealt away with in such a clean, neat way – almost like he’s a problem to be solved. This antagonist doesn’t really reveal much about Sean, nor does he offer an overwhelming enough threat that I felt at any point could in truth threaten the main character.
Another problem I had was the fact that Sean, for all the years he spent in the shadows of men and women of great fame and historical importance, apparently never crossed paths with other gifted individuals such as himself. You'd think he would be far from the only powered individual with the desire to kick it up with the best and brightest of the times!
The first half of the novel takes its time setting up Sean’s life and relationships, and while his voice was enough to personally get me through, I can’t help but feel that a stronger conflict would’ve made those 130 pages that much more memorable. Thankfully, the dialogue, with its witty quips and historical references was good enough to make them enjoyable, even if at times I found myself wondering, “Was something supposed to happen now?”
I’d be happy to read Sean Danet’s further adventures. I only hope the next novels in the series are better served by their respective antagonists, and that the conflict drives the characters I’ve come to like to new and interesting places.
My score for this #SPFBO finalist is a 6.5 out of 10! I thought long and hard about this, and while I at first wanted to give it a 7 out of 10, I decided that some of the problems it has, weigh down on it too much for that score. However, its spot in the ten #SPFBO finalists is well and truly earned!
April 18, 2019
Out of Nowhere is like one of those in between meal snacks. It is fun while it lasts but it is not going to replace your meals anytime soon.
Welp, that analogy sucked but the essence of it is still true. I had a lot of fun while reading the book. It is fast paced, there is enough action to keep you satisfied and it has a good ending.
But, when I look back at it now (after about 3 days of reading it), I feel the same about it as I did when reading the Drood books by Simon Green. There isn't that much substance to the story as such like exploring the main character's back story, character development, some kind of conflict etc. There are hints but it is not enough. I hope that as series progresses, there will be more focus on these items too.
But, that said, Out of Nowhere is still a fun book to read especially if you are looking for a time-filler (on a flight/commute etc.)
Welp, that analogy sucked but the essence of it is still true. I had a lot of fun while reading the book. It is fast paced, there is enough action to keep you satisfied and it has a good ending.
But, when I look back at it now (after about 3 days of reading it), I feel the same about it as I did when reading the Drood books by Simon Green. There isn't that much substance to the story as such like exploring the main character's back story, character development, some kind of conflict etc. There are hints but it is not enough. I hope that as series progresses, there will be more focus on these items too.
But, that said, Out of Nowhere is still a fun book to read especially if you are looking for a time-filler (on a flight/commute etc.)
March 17, 2019
An excellent well written and very enjoyable. Nothing fancy and totally out there just an everyday story about an immortal healer warrior coping with his forgotten past and his complicated present.
Good choice as a finalist in spfbo2018.
Good choice as a finalist in spfbo2018.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 10, 2018
Actual rating: 3.5/5
If you’ve ever watched and loved Forever, chances are you’ll enjoy Out of Nowhere. While not entirely similar, both stories focus on an immortal character working in a medical field. Despite long lives, both characters haven’t turned cynical. They share a dryish sense of humour and need to help others.
Sean Danet works as a paramedic. He’s immortal, and he has a gift - a healing power. As amazing as his powers might be, they don’t make him any money. He has to work, and he’s chosen a profession where his healing power is useful. He uses it discretely and in small doses. Unfortunately, during one intervention he heals the wrong man. Soon, someone starts to ask questions about Sean and attack his beloved ones. That won’t do.
I liked Sean as a character and POV. Despite ages of experience as a soldier, a healer or a witch, he still believes in humans and tries to help them whenever he can. He appreciates good food and good company. While he probably wouldn’t win MasterChef, Sean has strong opinions on cooking:
He doesn’t take direction well, and that’s why he appreciated his job - he can do pretty much whatever he needs to get the patient to a better place, so long as he can justify his actions after the fact. Faced with adversity, he uses his brain rather than muscles. He’s smarter and sneakier than his opponents.
Side-characters and Sean’s love interest feel well rounded, although not really three-dimensional. A sexy friend, an asshole work buddy who throws gay jokes fit well in the story and are fun to follow, but they don’t feel real. That said, I enjoyed paramedics’ banter and stories from the interventions. Not much happened during the first half of the book, but it read well.
The second half is much tighter and brutal in places. A well-crafted combination of humour and drama keeps the reader’s attention, lending moments of honest excitement to the story.
The plot is not without its flaws. When you look at things critically the beginning is slow and focuses on things that don’t move the plot forward (but that doesn’t mean I didn’t like it). I don’t buy the antagonist’s motivations and the way the author resolved the conflict felt a bit anticlimactic. And too tidy.
The overall light tone makes it a quick and entertaining read. It’s not perfect (especially plot and conflict-wise), but I found the experience pleasurable. I’ll definitely read the sequel.
If you’ve ever watched and loved Forever, chances are you’ll enjoy Out of Nowhere. While not entirely similar, both stories focus on an immortal character working in a medical field. Despite long lives, both characters haven’t turned cynical. They share a dryish sense of humour and need to help others.
Sean Danet works as a paramedic. He’s immortal, and he has a gift - a healing power. As amazing as his powers might be, they don’t make him any money. He has to work, and he’s chosen a profession where his healing power is useful. He uses it discretely and in small doses. Unfortunately, during one intervention he heals the wrong man. Soon, someone starts to ask questions about Sean and attack his beloved ones. That won’t do.
I liked Sean as a character and POV. Despite ages of experience as a soldier, a healer or a witch, he still believes in humans and tries to help them whenever he can. He appreciates good food and good company. While he probably wouldn’t win MasterChef, Sean has strong opinions on cooking:
“I have definite views on garlic. The garlic press is a tool of the devil, garlic powder is for the lazy, and the jarred stuff is an abomination. If you can’t be bothered to chop it, you don’t deserve garlic.”
He doesn’t take direction well, and that’s why he appreciated his job - he can do pretty much whatever he needs to get the patient to a better place, so long as he can justify his actions after the fact. Faced with adversity, he uses his brain rather than muscles. He’s smarter and sneakier than his opponents.
Side-characters and Sean’s love interest feel well rounded, although not really three-dimensional. A sexy friend, an asshole work buddy who throws gay jokes fit well in the story and are fun to follow, but they don’t feel real. That said, I enjoyed paramedics’ banter and stories from the interventions. Not much happened during the first half of the book, but it read well.
The second half is much tighter and brutal in places. A well-crafted combination of humour and drama keeps the reader’s attention, lending moments of honest excitement to the story.
The plot is not without its flaws. When you look at things critically the beginning is slow and focuses on things that don’t move the plot forward (but that doesn’t mean I didn’t like it). I don’t buy the antagonist’s motivations and the way the author resolved the conflict felt a bit anticlimactic. And too tidy.
The overall light tone makes it a quick and entertaining read. It’s not perfect (especially plot and conflict-wise), but I found the experience pleasurable. I’ll definitely read the sequel.
February 10, 2019
Probably more of a 3.5 but closer to that 4* than a 3*. I am hoping to get an interview in with the author here shortly for SPFBO.
I really enjoyed this book for the most part but I will say that I would not recommend it to my wife or any of my LGBTQ friends. I understand that dude talk happens, and being in a stressful situation you need that sense of camaraderie. I have several close family members, including my brother, who are cops and I know that the language used is accurate and often used as a way to relieve stress in dangerous situations but that doesn't mean I am comfortable hearing people use anti-gay slurs myself and at this point in my life I have made it known that when they are around me that kind of language will elicit a comment so that did make me feel uncomfortable at times.
So getting that out of the way I thought that the writing was excellent and I enjoyed the MC and after a slow start the book was action packed. While there was a bit of a, "there's a secret government consipracy out there", section it was handled with a nuance and in a way that I appreciated. Most books that have that end taking the road that the government has been controlling us and the only way to fix it is to own the Libs and take back the government for the "real" Americans who want their Guns, God, and unfettered Capitalism.
Quick overview of the story.
The book is a modern urban fantasy novel with a MC who is working for a crappy private ambulance company. This allows him to use his healing powers to make injuries a bit less serious while staying concealed. He also appears to be immortal and as one could imagine he has had some poor reactions to his healing abilities throughout history. He heals someone who then begins to try and find him and kill him. We don't know why for most of the book but once the villain begins harming his friends the MC realizes he can't run this time like he usually would. He also meets a beautiful girl who he falls in love with in about 2 days and doesn't want to leave her.
I think I'll be reading book 2 and can honestly say that the story was a lot of fun. The writing was very good and had good pacing.
One last thing that I want to say is aside from the MC and a few other characters we meet later this is pretty light on fantasy. No other races, not a lot of magic, and for the most part it is more of an action drama than a fantasy novel.
I really enjoyed this book for the most part but I will say that I would not recommend it to my wife or any of my LGBTQ friends. I understand that dude talk happens, and being in a stressful situation you need that sense of camaraderie. I have several close family members, including my brother, who are cops and I know that the language used is accurate and often used as a way to relieve stress in dangerous situations but that doesn't mean I am comfortable hearing people use anti-gay slurs myself and at this point in my life I have made it known that when they are around me that kind of language will elicit a comment so that did make me feel uncomfortable at times.
So getting that out of the way I thought that the writing was excellent and I enjoyed the MC and after a slow start the book was action packed. While there was a bit of a, "there's a secret government consipracy out there", section it was handled with a nuance and in a way that I appreciated. Most books that have that end taking the road that the government has been controlling us and the only way to fix it is to own the Libs and take back the government for the "real" Americans who want their Guns, God, and unfettered Capitalism.
Quick overview of the story.
The book is a modern urban fantasy novel with a MC who is working for a crappy private ambulance company. This allows him to use his healing powers to make injuries a bit less serious while staying concealed. He also appears to be immortal and as one could imagine he has had some poor reactions to his healing abilities throughout history. He heals someone who then begins to try and find him and kill him. We don't know why for most of the book but once the villain begins harming his friends the MC realizes he can't run this time like he usually would. He also meets a beautiful girl who he falls in love with in about 2 days and doesn't want to leave her.
I think I'll be reading book 2 and can honestly say that the story was a lot of fun. The writing was very good and had good pacing.
One last thing that I want to say is aside from the MC and a few other characters we meet later this is pretty light on fantasy. No other races, not a lot of magic, and for the most part it is more of an action drama than a fantasy novel.
September 2, 2019
Out of Nowhere by Patrick LeClerc received quite a bit of attention this past year as it was first selected as one of the ten finalists in SPFBO4 (Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off) from the batch of 300 entries. It then further went on to receive some negative reviews that were mostly concerned with issues of sexism, racism and general bigotry. Finally, LeClerc consistently responded to each criticism for his book with class and respect, along with a willingness to re-work his book to soften or remove some of the more troubling parts. I wasn’t sure how the book would seem to me – as the well-received finalist or as the trigger-filled one – but I went in ready for the worst (or the best).
The first section of the book was overwhelmingly dominated with scenes from an ambulance, chock full of the lingo used by an ambulance crew in the throes of an emergency call. Everything seemed very authentic (based on my next to my non-existent experience in that environment), but it was almost too much at times. I understand that we had to set the foundation that Sean Danet (our MC) was exceptionally qualified in his role on the crew, and it also allowed us to glimpse him using small amounts of his healing powers. Unfortunately, the immersive effect with its use of medical jargon and rapid-fire dialogue left my head spinning.
I want to take a side-bar to address the harshest criticisms that I have heard for the book, namely the type of banter that goes on with Sean and the other emergency workers. I have seen responses from the author that he was trying to depict accurately the type of relationships that are common in this occupation. For my take, I can easily see how this would be a trigger for those who are sensitive to issues of intolerance. Clearly this will not be a book for everyone. With that being said, it felt like nearly all of the “insults” that were thrown were mutually accepted and tolerated (not to mention thrown right back). Honestly, the jibes felt like they were “in good fun”, and we eventually see through some of their later actions that these characters genuinely care for each other (their crass words notwithstanding).
Perhaps the one aspect of the story that kept me from giving it a higher score is the “insta-love” that occurs between Sean and Sarah. I found myself rolling my eyes throughout this whole arc of the story. Sex just hours after you met, especially for an awkward bookish woman? A guy who is perhaps hundreds of years old and she is the best he has ever met? The only one he has told his secrets to? And, while he was painted to be a remarkable guy (with healing hands among other skills), she seemed willing to do anything with and for him, even at great risk to herself. So much of this story line seemed somewhat silly or implausible.
I definitely enjoyed the mystery element to the story: who is after Sean, and what might it reveal about his past? This was a slow reveal and it was done well. In fact, Sean himself is on a path of self-discovery right along with the reader. For me, the best elements of the story are where we experience Sean’s morality and how it keeps him focused. It is also interesting to see how a several hundred-year-old man perceived our modern world.
As mentioned, the book is full of possible triggers, but it is an entertaining read for those who can get past those. I especially recommend this book for anyone who has experience in the emergency services. A final thank you to the author for sending me a copy of the audiobook in return for my fair and honest review.
The first section of the book was overwhelmingly dominated with scenes from an ambulance, chock full of the lingo used by an ambulance crew in the throes of an emergency call. Everything seemed very authentic (based on my next to my non-existent experience in that environment), but it was almost too much at times. I understand that we had to set the foundation that Sean Danet (our MC) was exceptionally qualified in his role on the crew, and it also allowed us to glimpse him using small amounts of his healing powers. Unfortunately, the immersive effect with its use of medical jargon and rapid-fire dialogue left my head spinning.
I want to take a side-bar to address the harshest criticisms that I have heard for the book, namely the type of banter that goes on with Sean and the other emergency workers. I have seen responses from the author that he was trying to depict accurately the type of relationships that are common in this occupation. For my take, I can easily see how this would be a trigger for those who are sensitive to issues of intolerance. Clearly this will not be a book for everyone. With that being said, it felt like nearly all of the “insults” that were thrown were mutually accepted and tolerated (not to mention thrown right back). Honestly, the jibes felt like they were “in good fun”, and we eventually see through some of their later actions that these characters genuinely care for each other (their crass words notwithstanding).
Perhaps the one aspect of the story that kept me from giving it a higher score is the “insta-love” that occurs between Sean and Sarah. I found myself rolling my eyes throughout this whole arc of the story. Sex just hours after you met, especially for an awkward bookish woman? A guy who is perhaps hundreds of years old and she is the best he has ever met? The only one he has told his secrets to? And, while he was painted to be a remarkable guy (with healing hands among other skills), she seemed willing to do anything with and for him, even at great risk to herself. So much of this story line seemed somewhat silly or implausible.
I definitely enjoyed the mystery element to the story: who is after Sean, and what might it reveal about his past? This was a slow reveal and it was done well. In fact, Sean himself is on a path of self-discovery right along with the reader. For me, the best elements of the story are where we experience Sean’s morality and how it keeps him focused. It is also interesting to see how a several hundred-year-old man perceived our modern world.
As mentioned, the book is full of possible triggers, but it is an entertaining read for those who can get past those. I especially recommend this book for anyone who has experience in the emergency services. A final thank you to the author for sending me a copy of the audiobook in return for my fair and honest review.
November 2, 2012
This turned out to be one of my rare 5 star reviews, which are almost totally reserved for books I enjoy enough to know I will want to re-read. I am a character driven reader and found the character development exceptional. The author is himself a paramedic, as is his main character, something very obvious in the realistic depiction of the camaraderie between the ambulance team members. As someone who has worked in the law enforcement and medical fields myself, the dialog was overwhelmingly authentic, including the edge of wry/bitter humor so common in these people. Humor can be very difficult to write, but I am still snickering over the main character's *named* vehicle ... Vlad the Impala.
Category is a bit difficult to pin down, action/adventure but the main action starts about halfway through the book. Urban fantasy without vampires, zombies, demons or werewolves, only a scattering of immortal characters with varied paranormal abilities. The immortal main character has the ability to heal and has gone through centuries as a soldier. Most recently he is a paramedic who ends up discovering he is the object of a centuries-old vendetta by a family of paranormals.
Action readers may find the first half of the book too slow and readers of UF may find the lack of vampires, zombies or demons a fault, but for me, the background detail and extensive character development is what made this book so exceptional.
Category is a bit difficult to pin down, action/adventure but the main action starts about halfway through the book. Urban fantasy without vampires, zombies, demons or werewolves, only a scattering of immortal characters with varied paranormal abilities. The immortal main character has the ability to heal and has gone through centuries as a soldier. Most recently he is a paramedic who ends up discovering he is the object of a centuries-old vendetta by a family of paranormals.
Action readers may find the first half of the book too slow and readers of UF may find the lack of vampires, zombies or demons a fault, but for me, the background detail and extensive character development is what made this book so exceptional.
March 20, 2014
I don't read a lot of urban thriller fiction, but on the occasion that I need some real entertainment, I'll pick one up. Patrick LeClerc has created a roller-coaster ride of pure fun with Out of Nowhere. My own family has always enjoyed the inter-agency trash talk and shift humor coming from our FDNY son-in-law, so if you enjoy a really humorous read, with lots of pure heart to back it up, you will love this book. It's both a page turner and a page hugger as I found myself sharing passages constantly with my wife. The characters are well-drawn, completely recognizable folks, confronting an ancient blood-feud complete with knife-wielding heavies, in between ambulance calls. The main character, with his own very long past to hide, finds unexpected allies from within his own crew and from two women that set a new standard for living fully in the moment with none of the baggage of the past to weight them down. I hope we'll hear more from all these folks and will look forward to Mr. LeClerc's next novel
February 20, 2019
This review first was published on my blog.
I've read this book as Fantasy Book Review's judge for SPFBO. My rating is not our final score as we act as a team. This is only my opinion. I gave 3 stars which would be 6/10 for the competition.
Out of Nowhere is a decent, fast paced urban fantasy which will keep you entertained, but it’s not a book that will stay with you for a long time probably. It’s good but for me it doesn’t really stands out in its genre.
Sean Danet works as a paramedic, where he can use his skills unnoticed, without having to move around more often than necessary. Living for hundreds of years teaches a man how to keep a low profile and recognise the signs when it’s time to burn the bridges – not literally. Mostly. This time around Sean lives a decent life, is being surrounded by friends like Nique (who happens to be gorgeous and sexy and apparently everyone’s wet dream) and Peter who have his back no matter what, and has a job he loves. Things start to go ashtray when one day they are called to attend man who fell and broke his ankle. Sean uses his healing to spare the man some pain and an extra few days of immobility, and although he is not waiting for a thanks, a knife and several attempts on his and his friends’ lives is not exactly what he expects in return.
To figure out who and why wants to get him so bad, he seeks out the help of a linguistics professor. As it happens, Sarah is a beautiful (as every women in this book), clever, blonde woman with whom Sean instantly falls in love with. Now, I have nothing against a little bit of romance, but this one made me roll my eyes hard. Their relationship just happens too fast and has an insta-love kind of feel to it. I like strong, independent, smart female characters, but Sarah’s appearance and critical role in the events made me question how the hell did Sean survive hundreds of years? Apart from having fighting skills – having spent most of his life as a soldier – it’s a small miracle he can still keep himself alive. Sarah manages to solve most of his problems which would require logical thinking or computer usage. He just plays along and makes the plans as they dig deeper in the mystery. Overall, I didn’t really liked how women were treated. At least we learn Sean is a good cook and lover. To be fair, it was the worst possible time for me to read a book where the love affair has an important part in the plot. I also can’t comprehend how is it that he had absolutely no idea about the danger he was in, again, for hundreds of years? Or that he didn’t think there must be others with skills like his? Well, okay, we get an explanation for this, but would have made more sense if he encountered them somewhere during his life to give him an inkling. Would have added a bit more depth to the story in my opinion.
As for the writing, Out of Nowhere is mostly fast paced, and the scenes are rolling nicely after each other. LeClerc attempts to give a sarcastical voice to Sean, but not always succeeds. Still, some of the banter between the paramedics made me smile. I especially loved the way they got back to their manager who tried to set a new rule for them. The camaraderie was strong between them. From the way they interacted with each other and the ease LeClerc used the lingo with, it was quite obvious he feels at home there. The end is a bit rushed and I kind of waited for a climatic point towards the end, which didn’t really come. But I have to give extra points for Hungary being mentioned more than once 😉 Though I’m not sure if this gives us a bad publicity…
Overall, Out of Nowhere is an enjoyable urban fantasy, which brings nothing new to the genre, but has some interesting ideas and a potential to build on as the series continues.
I've read this book as Fantasy Book Review's judge for SPFBO. My rating is not our final score as we act as a team. This is only my opinion. I gave 3 stars which would be 6/10 for the competition.
“The sympathetic nervous system is designed to handle a leopard leaping down on you from a tree, not one sending you a note to meet him at sunrise.”
Out of Nowhere is a decent, fast paced urban fantasy which will keep you entertained, but it’s not a book that will stay with you for a long time probably. It’s good but for me it doesn’t really stands out in its genre.
Sean Danet works as a paramedic, where he can use his skills unnoticed, without having to move around more often than necessary. Living for hundreds of years teaches a man how to keep a low profile and recognise the signs when it’s time to burn the bridges – not literally. Mostly. This time around Sean lives a decent life, is being surrounded by friends like Nique (who happens to be gorgeous and sexy and apparently everyone’s wet dream) and Peter who have his back no matter what, and has a job he loves. Things start to go ashtray when one day they are called to attend man who fell and broke his ankle. Sean uses his healing to spare the man some pain and an extra few days of immobility, and although he is not waiting for a thanks, a knife and several attempts on his and his friends’ lives is not exactly what he expects in return.
To figure out who and why wants to get him so bad, he seeks out the help of a linguistics professor. As it happens, Sarah is a beautiful (as every women in this book), clever, blonde woman with whom Sean instantly falls in love with. Now, I have nothing against a little bit of romance, but this one made me roll my eyes hard. Their relationship just happens too fast and has an insta-love kind of feel to it. I like strong, independent, smart female characters, but Sarah’s appearance and critical role in the events made me question how the hell did Sean survive hundreds of years? Apart from having fighting skills – having spent most of his life as a soldier – it’s a small miracle he can still keep himself alive. Sarah manages to solve most of his problems which would require logical thinking or computer usage. He just plays along and makes the plans as they dig deeper in the mystery. Overall, I didn’t really liked how women were treated. At least we learn Sean is a good cook and lover. To be fair, it was the worst possible time for me to read a book where the love affair has an important part in the plot. I also can’t comprehend how is it that he had absolutely no idea about the danger he was in, again, for hundreds of years? Or that he didn’t think there must be others with skills like his? Well, okay, we get an explanation for this, but would have made more sense if he encountered them somewhere during his life to give him an inkling. Would have added a bit more depth to the story in my opinion.
As for the writing, Out of Nowhere is mostly fast paced, and the scenes are rolling nicely after each other. LeClerc attempts to give a sarcastical voice to Sean, but not always succeeds. Still, some of the banter between the paramedics made me smile. I especially loved the way they got back to their manager who tried to set a new rule for them. The camaraderie was strong between them. From the way they interacted with each other and the ease LeClerc used the lingo with, it was quite obvious he feels at home there. The end is a bit rushed and I kind of waited for a climatic point towards the end, which didn’t really come. But I have to give extra points for Hungary being mentioned more than once 😉 Though I’m not sure if this gives us a bad publicity…
Overall, Out of Nowhere is an enjoyable urban fantasy, which brings nothing new to the genre, but has some interesting ideas and a potential to build on as the series continues.
February 15, 2019
I can’t remember the last book I’ve read that’s left me with so many mixed opinions about it. That in itself is a good thing, I think. There is a lot to commend, so I’ll start with that. First, the writing is clever and the voice is unique. Sean was a mostly like-able, in an annoying yet funny type of way. He reminded me a lot of one of my brothers, actually. Witty, snarky, with enough eye-rolling humor to make me want to slap him in the back of his head while laughing. Second, it’s refreshing to read a story centered around the medical field by someone who actually knows what they are talking about. As a nurse, one of my pet peeves is an author not doing their research about this, and so it was nice that I didn’t have to that with this story. The jargon wasn’t forced, it was natural. So clearly the author was trained in the field. I really enjoyed that aspect of the book. Third, Sean felt like a real person, with conflicting motivations, emotional responses, and varied reactions to situations that were believable. I liked how, since he is supposed to me immortal, he seemed “set in his ways,” at times yet open to change at others. I suppose that’s why the seeming sexist comments and thoughts he had didn’t bother me like it seems to have bothered other readers. While his views on women leaned toward objectification at times, he didn’t go full throttle in that direction. He has this moment at the end of chapter 34 of self-reflection in this regard, and it was incredibly refreshing how the author handled it. Sean was honest with himself without having an unrealistic, total change of heart or mind. It was a step in the right direction, and much more real to life than other books I’ve read touching on this subject.
So why the three stars? Most of the reason is personal preference, I think. There were aspects of the story that drove me a bit crazy. Immortality is a fascinating concept to explore, but I feel like it was brushed over in favor of witty humor. Sean, although seeming like a real person, seemed to just accept certain things about himself that I feel the author could have delved deeper on. While the character was entertaining, he also came across as only skin deep. I enjoy a read that dives deep into issues instead of only brushing on them. Second, the plot itself left me mostly uncaring what happened. I wanted Sean and Sarah to win, of course, but I wasn’t invested in it, more like a half hearted “Oh yay, hope you guys succeed”, give a thumbs up, and then walk away. And honestly, at the climax I skimmed over it because it was leaving me unsatisfied. It seemed unrealistic to the point of boredom. This is all going to end based on a duel? Except it’s supposed to be modern day but this drug dealer is actually bound by family honor going back centuries? The author tried to address it by commenting that Americans tend to not understand this. Meh. Maybe, but it still fell flat. And since the duel itself was so short, I feel like the author threw a in that last bit about Pete almost dying almost as a bone for the reader. Hurried, here I’ll add this to extend the climax a little bit, type of thing.
All this to say, I enjoyed it enough to finish. And I’m sure lots and lots of people will love it. While I can see why this was entered into SPFBO, I also don’t think it quite fit the criteria. It came across as more thriller than fantasy.
3/5 stars, and kudos to the author. Entertaining, for sure.
So why the three stars? Most of the reason is personal preference, I think. There were aspects of the story that drove me a bit crazy. Immortality is a fascinating concept to explore, but I feel like it was brushed over in favor of witty humor. Sean, although seeming like a real person, seemed to just accept certain things about himself that I feel the author could have delved deeper on. While the character was entertaining, he also came across as only skin deep. I enjoy a read that dives deep into issues instead of only brushing on them. Second, the plot itself left me mostly uncaring what happened. I wanted Sean and Sarah to win, of course, but I wasn’t invested in it, more like a half hearted “Oh yay, hope you guys succeed”, give a thumbs up, and then walk away. And honestly, at the climax I skimmed over it because it was leaving me unsatisfied. It seemed unrealistic to the point of boredom. This is all going to end based on a duel? Except it’s supposed to be modern day but this drug dealer is actually bound by family honor going back centuries? The author tried to address it by commenting that Americans tend to not understand this. Meh. Maybe, but it still fell flat. And since the duel itself was so short, I feel like the author threw a in that last bit about Pete almost dying almost as a bone for the reader. Hurried, here I’ll add this to extend the climax a little bit, type of thing.
All this to say, I enjoyed it enough to finish. And I’m sure lots and lots of people will love it. While I can see why this was entered into SPFBO, I also don’t think it quite fit the criteria. It came across as more thriller than fantasy.
3/5 stars, and kudos to the author. Entertaining, for sure.
March 9, 2021
I thought this book was interesting, and liked the premise that the MC doesn't age while those around him did. He decides it's time to let his secret out to a select few of his friends in order to take down a drug lord in the area. I liked the characters but it didn't really grab me like I hoped.
November 23, 2016
This is the first work I have read by quite a promising new author. The blurb describes an immortal with a talent for healing (though not for healing himself!) living secretly among us – until he heals the wrong man, and opens up a centuries-old grudge . . .
There is a prologue that gives a different impression, it reads like a trashy action novel – but that doesn’t last long! Get through it, and the first chapter takes us to much more interesting territory. Our Hero is working as a medic on an ambulance. Well, immortals have got to do something to fill their time, and there are various other factors to consider – the desire to do something decent in the world (if you’ve been on enough battlefields, you will understand how much appreciated the medics are!), the need to reinvent yourself every few decades, the difficulties of reappearing as a new person with high qualifications . . . A mundane ambulance man can do a lot of good without being noticed!
But he is not the only man in the world who has unusual powers, and he runs into one who carries a grudge – a family feud from way back. Resolving those issues leads to some adventures, some interesting relationships, and some interesting characters (as well as a lot of the usual henchmen, whose sad job it is to get in the hero’s way, albeit only briefly)
Patrick LeClerc has used a few stereotypes and undeveloped henchmen, but his main characters are interesting and fairly well developed, his story lines are coherent and worth following, his world-building is skillfully done.
This could be classified as Urban Fantasy, or as a fantasy/thriller. Either way, it deserves at least 4 stars. There is a sequel, but I haven’t read it yet. By the time I have, I might be looking at upgrading the four to five.
There is a prologue that gives a different impression, it reads like a trashy action novel – but that doesn’t last long! Get through it, and the first chapter takes us to much more interesting territory. Our Hero is working as a medic on an ambulance. Well, immortals have got to do something to fill their time, and there are various other factors to consider – the desire to do something decent in the world (if you’ve been on enough battlefields, you will understand how much appreciated the medics are!), the need to reinvent yourself every few decades, the difficulties of reappearing as a new person with high qualifications . . . A mundane ambulance man can do a lot of good without being noticed!
But he is not the only man in the world who has unusual powers, and he runs into one who carries a grudge – a family feud from way back. Resolving those issues leads to some adventures, some interesting relationships, and some interesting characters (as well as a lot of the usual henchmen, whose sad job it is to get in the hero’s way, albeit only briefly)
Patrick LeClerc has used a few stereotypes and undeveloped henchmen, but his main characters are interesting and fairly well developed, his story lines are coherent and worth following, his world-building is skillfully done.
This could be classified as Urban Fantasy, or as a fantasy/thriller. Either way, it deserves at least 4 stars. There is a sequel, but I haven’t read it yet. By the time I have, I might be looking at upgrading the four to five.
December 2, 2014
I received this book in exchange for a review. The book was very well written and edited. Sean is an immortal. He doesn't really know what he is or remember anything about his background. Sean can heal. He heals a man with a blood oath against him. Suddenly his friends are being hurt and he doesn't know why. He enlists the aid of a college professor. She quickly becomes more than a friend. After copying the contents of his enemy's computer, Sarah is able to piece together part of the story. Will it be enough for Sean to stop all the violence?
I enjoyed the book. I would like to know more of Sean's story and what happens between Sarah and him.
I enjoyed the book. I would like to know more of Sean's story and what happens between Sarah and him.
August 17, 2012
Again with a disclaimer: I was asked to assess this book before it went through the editing process, so I'm not entirely unbiased. Having said that, I loved it. I recently looked something up in it and found myself reading all over again, in the middle of a workday. It's one of those - it sucks you in.
Out of Nowhere has a nice, easy narrative voice, urbane, funny, conversational. Sean Danet is a fairly scrumptious hero, the story is compelling and the relationships are fun and believable. One the better urban fantasy thrillers I've read.
Out of Nowhere has a nice, easy narrative voice, urbane, funny, conversational. Sean Danet is a fairly scrumptious hero, the story is compelling and the relationships are fun and believable. One the better urban fantasy thrillers I've read.
December 12, 2015
It seems like so many urban fantasy books are written from the female's point of view and so many of these feature women that, even if not human, just defy logic (seriously how do they run in spike heels or keep a sword blade hilt hidden in their hair, and seriously those back sheathes have to be a bit hard to drive a car in if you can't bend over without worrying that you are going to tear the upholstery in your car)not that they aren't fun to read but it's nice to have a different point of view and Patrick LeClerc gives it up in what I think is his first book.
Sean is a paramedic north of Boston but he's not just saving lives with medicine and a fast ambulance, Sean can heal others, it's something he's always been able to do, and always is a long, long time. He can't remember his childhood or his parents, but he remembers being Napoleons army, and WWI, and WWII, and the French Foreign Legion, it seems like for much of his life he has been a soldier and has kept moving around, because if he doesn't people wonder why he doesn't grow old like them, and that tends to lead to things like being burnt at the stake which could kill him, although most things can't. Being a paramedic suits Sean, he can help and heal a little and it lets him move around, but when he partially heals the ankle of a man who slipped and badly broke it on the ice he sets in motion a chain of events that just might give him some answers, if it doesn't kill him first. And along the way he might just find that it's okay to fall in love, let your friends in on your secret, oh and learn that you don't have to run away when all the chips are down.
You can tell that the author has real life experience in working on an ambulance and knows his emergency medicine and the people that so often need it, the book is well written but gritty and realistic with a touch of fantasy. I'd read more from Patrick LeClerc.
Sean is a paramedic north of Boston but he's not just saving lives with medicine and a fast ambulance, Sean can heal others, it's something he's always been able to do, and always is a long, long time. He can't remember his childhood or his parents, but he remembers being Napoleons army, and WWI, and WWII, and the French Foreign Legion, it seems like for much of his life he has been a soldier and has kept moving around, because if he doesn't people wonder why he doesn't grow old like them, and that tends to lead to things like being burnt at the stake which could kill him, although most things can't. Being a paramedic suits Sean, he can help and heal a little and it lets him move around, but when he partially heals the ankle of a man who slipped and badly broke it on the ice he sets in motion a chain of events that just might give him some answers, if it doesn't kill him first. And along the way he might just find that it's okay to fall in love, let your friends in on your secret, oh and learn that you don't have to run away when all the chips are down.
You can tell that the author has real life experience in working on an ambulance and knows his emergency medicine and the people that so often need it, the book is well written but gritty and realistic with a touch of fantasy. I'd read more from Patrick LeClerc.
December 3, 2014
Wonderful read. This book was worth every moment that I spent getting into the story and the characters. The main character Sean is an immortal that has memory issues. He is an paramedic that has the capability to assist some healing for those needing emergency care. Sean uses this often without others knowing. He assists another immortal and then the violence begins. This act of kindness brings all the adventure and mayhem we love in a thriller.
I loved the banter between Sean and his co-workers. The dialogue blended well with the story which helped in getting involved in the characters. The story fleshes out quickly and this is a book that I would read again. If you like a thriller read this.
I loved the banter between Sean and his co-workers. The dialogue blended well with the story which helped in getting involved in the characters. The story fleshes out quickly and this is a book that I would read again. If you like a thriller read this.
August 22, 2012
Disclaimer: I was on the editorial team for this book. However, in case this makes me seem biased, in our organisation you only work on novels you admire. Cool, huh?! And I admire this book. It's a really good read, fascinating insights into the life of a paramedic, a genuinely likable main character, and a thrilling premise with some interesting historical tidbits. Thoroughly enjoyable.
July 25, 2019
Sean Danet is an immortal healer who works as a paramedic. His job is the perfect cover for the fact that he can heal. However, when he heals the wrong man, his life is changed, and not for the better. Instead, a centuries-old feud is reawakened and Sean is in a fight for his life.
Sean enlists the help of an English professor named Sara in order to try to find out who this mysterious stranger is and what he wants with Sean. Sean starts to have feelings for Sara, which only complicates things for him. Sean also enlists the help of his medic partners, Monique and Pete. All of the characters really come to life as the story progresses.
I enjoyed the first part of the book because I am an EMT. I could really relate to the tales of life on an ambulance crew, with the frequent flyers, blood, guts and pain. Some reviewers have said that Mr. LeClerc is sexist and that his remarks about women are irrelevant to the book. Having worked in this environment, the humor that we employ is probably off-putting to others, but it is a realistic mechanism that is prevalent in the EMS world.
I especially enjoyed the banter and interaction of the medics with the macho guys in the fire service. This is another realistic aspect that those of us who work there will recognize and enjoy. Mr. Leclerc's descriptions of the medical incidents in the book are perfect and I appreciate his attention to those details.
This book provides a great interaction of medieval times with the fencing and dueling, ancient family feuds, urban fantasy elements in Sean's abilities, the growing romance between Sean and Sara and great dialogue. The book moves at a fast pace and the author does a great job in moving the story along.
The narrator, Christopher Harbour, does a great job and really added a lot to my enjoyment of the book. His pacing, inflections, accents and enthusiasm are perfect. I could envision all of the action throughout the book, both because of the writing and the narration. I hope that Mr. LeClerc continues to write books because he is a natural storyteller. I will definitely be looking for more books that he writes.
I was given the chance to listen to this book by the narrator/author/publisher and chose to review it.
Sean enlists the help of an English professor named Sara in order to try to find out who this mysterious stranger is and what he wants with Sean. Sean starts to have feelings for Sara, which only complicates things for him. Sean also enlists the help of his medic partners, Monique and Pete. All of the characters really come to life as the story progresses.
I enjoyed the first part of the book because I am an EMT. I could really relate to the tales of life on an ambulance crew, with the frequent flyers, blood, guts and pain. Some reviewers have said that Mr. LeClerc is sexist and that his remarks about women are irrelevant to the book. Having worked in this environment, the humor that we employ is probably off-putting to others, but it is a realistic mechanism that is prevalent in the EMS world.
I especially enjoyed the banter and interaction of the medics with the macho guys in the fire service. This is another realistic aspect that those of us who work there will recognize and enjoy. Mr. Leclerc's descriptions of the medical incidents in the book are perfect and I appreciate his attention to those details.
This book provides a great interaction of medieval times with the fencing and dueling, ancient family feuds, urban fantasy elements in Sean's abilities, the growing romance between Sean and Sara and great dialogue. The book moves at a fast pace and the author does a great job in moving the story along.
The narrator, Christopher Harbour, does a great job and really added a lot to my enjoyment of the book. His pacing, inflections, accents and enthusiasm are perfect. I could envision all of the action throughout the book, both because of the writing and the narration. I hope that Mr. LeClerc continues to write books because he is a natural storyteller. I will definitely be looking for more books that he writes.
I was given the chance to listen to this book by the narrator/author/publisher and chose to review it.
January 18, 2014
To my book worms: It's far too frequent that we are unimpressed with our reading material. The very real drag that complicates our reading is hiding around the cover of eighty percent of the reading material out there. The cure? Well... we have to find books that don't blow, and I found one for us all, for sure.
Out of Nowhere, an urban fantasy from the mind of Patrick LeClerc, is about a man who is, quite simply, just trying to fit in. The more uneventful his life is, the better off he seems to be. It's all because of some simple differences between him and pretty much the rest of humanity. It seems our hero is endowed with an ability to heal others by touch, and also a body that is quick-healing and unmatched in longevity.
You'd think he would consider it a blessing—and perhaps he does—but when people find out about it, these gifts can be just as much a curse. So instead of flaunting the gift that he should be loved for, he lays low, moving from one paramedic position to the next where he can use his talent a bit more unnoticed. Eventually though, there's always the possibility of running into the wrong person. Patrick Leclerc's Out of Nowhere perfectly illustrates just how such a coincidence can occur.
Such a coincidence in this book leads to some of the best action I've read yet. Guns, knives, swords... you name it. The main character is witty, even more so than Dean Koontz's Odd Thomas, and the best part is that his wit isn't just smart sarcastic narration—the remarks sometimes require a little knowledge of history. I loved his personality, I loved his remarks, and I liked that he wasn't a burly knuckle sandwicher belly-bumping others around like Steven Segal in a bar.
During my writer exposure campaign, I've been blessed with a relatively decent lineup, with nothing too terrible and even a few that stand out. Among the adult urban fantasy I have read, I can honestly and happily say that I have been blessed with the opportunity to review possibly the most entertaining story in my possession, which I received signed from the author. The interesting part is that "The most entertaining story in my possession" sets a fantastically high bar.
My only real rule while reviewing is simple: Make sure you edit to the best of your ability and make sure you have a great piece—really make it count. These are standards that I believe Patrick LeClerc holds high in his heart, and I would stand by that statement based on Out of Nowhere if he suddenly developed a case of dyslexia and wrote with his eyes closed from this point on.
The back story, the god-like gifts, and the quick pace of the reading left me screaming for more. I remember coming to a point about seventy-five percent through and realizing where Mr. LeClerc could take the story, in a later book possibly. The amazing part is that what I hoped would come in a later installment, literally came within the last three chapters of the book. I was practically jumping out of my seat like my father during the Chicago Bulls Threepeat. I stand behind this intelligent, well-written, and difficult to put down read. In fact, I'm going to add the link to the campaigns I support.
A http://www.fanboysanonymous.com/ review.
Out of Nowhere, an urban fantasy from the mind of Patrick LeClerc, is about a man who is, quite simply, just trying to fit in. The more uneventful his life is, the better off he seems to be. It's all because of some simple differences between him and pretty much the rest of humanity. It seems our hero is endowed with an ability to heal others by touch, and also a body that is quick-healing and unmatched in longevity.
You'd think he would consider it a blessing—and perhaps he does—but when people find out about it, these gifts can be just as much a curse. So instead of flaunting the gift that he should be loved for, he lays low, moving from one paramedic position to the next where he can use his talent a bit more unnoticed. Eventually though, there's always the possibility of running into the wrong person. Patrick Leclerc's Out of Nowhere perfectly illustrates just how such a coincidence can occur.
Such a coincidence in this book leads to some of the best action I've read yet. Guns, knives, swords... you name it. The main character is witty, even more so than Dean Koontz's Odd Thomas, and the best part is that his wit isn't just smart sarcastic narration—the remarks sometimes require a little knowledge of history. I loved his personality, I loved his remarks, and I liked that he wasn't a burly knuckle sandwicher belly-bumping others around like Steven Segal in a bar.
During my writer exposure campaign, I've been blessed with a relatively decent lineup, with nothing too terrible and even a few that stand out. Among the adult urban fantasy I have read, I can honestly and happily say that I have been blessed with the opportunity to review possibly the most entertaining story in my possession, which I received signed from the author. The interesting part is that "The most entertaining story in my possession" sets a fantastically high bar.
My only real rule while reviewing is simple: Make sure you edit to the best of your ability and make sure you have a great piece—really make it count. These are standards that I believe Patrick LeClerc holds high in his heart, and I would stand by that statement based on Out of Nowhere if he suddenly developed a case of dyslexia and wrote with his eyes closed from this point on.
The back story, the god-like gifts, and the quick pace of the reading left me screaming for more. I remember coming to a point about seventy-five percent through and realizing where Mr. LeClerc could take the story, in a later book possibly. The amazing part is that what I hoped would come in a later installment, literally came within the last three chapters of the book. I was practically jumping out of my seat like my father during the Chicago Bulls Threepeat. I stand behind this intelligent, well-written, and difficult to put down read. In fact, I'm going to add the link to the campaigns I support.
A http://www.fanboysanonymous.com/ review.
December 11, 2014
I was given an ebook copy of Out of Nowhere by Shut Up and Read on Goodreads in exchange for an honest review.
I decided to give this urban fantasy book a chance because I don't typically read paranormal, sci-fi or urban fantasy books. But this looked interesting to me more like a suspenseful thriller and what will happen to all of the characters by the end of the book. I found it to be a well written book.
Sean is a paramedic with an ambulance company and seems to be very knowledgable in this chosen career. He is also immortal who remains in his 30's as time passes by. He is a healer and he is able to help his patients along the route of getting better quicker with this power he possesses. But he has to be careful with how much of his healing power he decides to use so that he doesn't draw suspicion to his skills. He could end up drawing any enemies he has accumulated over his lifetime.
I suggest you give this book a chance and find out what happens when Sean uses his healing powers on the wrong person. Also enjoy the witty banter amongst the paramedics.
I decided to give this urban fantasy book a chance because I don't typically read paranormal, sci-fi or urban fantasy books. But this looked interesting to me more like a suspenseful thriller and what will happen to all of the characters by the end of the book. I found it to be a well written book.
Sean is a paramedic with an ambulance company and seems to be very knowledgable in this chosen career. He is also immortal who remains in his 30's as time passes by. He is a healer and he is able to help his patients along the route of getting better quicker with this power he possesses. But he has to be careful with how much of his healing power he decides to use so that he doesn't draw suspicion to his skills. He could end up drawing any enemies he has accumulated over his lifetime.
I suggest you give this book a chance and find out what happens when Sean uses his healing powers on the wrong person. Also enjoy the witty banter amongst the paramedics.
September 27, 2021
Ok, so it is not the next literary masterpiece of the century, but it let it be read. Fast! It is attractive and the characters have some life, not like some cartoon. You’ve probably read the other reviews, a paramedic who works on ambulance and has an unusual gift for healing, which he hides lest he be shunned and (in the past centuries) burned as a witch.
Yes, you read it right, he seems to be immortal, although he doesn’t remember how old he is.
As he heals the wrong person he discovers the Old World and the feuds it carried; oh yes and the love of his life, strange as it may seem for an immortal.
It is tremendously easy to read, funny and fast paced. Something you very rarely find.
Off to the second of the series now. Read it, you won’t regret it!
Yes, you read it right, he seems to be immortal, although he doesn’t remember how old he is.
As he heals the wrong person he discovers the Old World and the feuds it carried; oh yes and the love of his life, strange as it may seem for an immortal.
It is tremendously easy to read, funny and fast paced. Something you very rarely find.
Off to the second of the series now. Read it, you won’t regret it!
August 18, 2012
I found this book a little slow at the beginning but once it drew me in it was hard to put down.
The scenes from Danet's past are particularly powerful. For once, I couldn't see the resolution coming. It makes a book so much more satisfying.
Full disclosure; I was part of the final stages editing team on this book. Our policy is, if you don't like a book, don't work on it. If I didn't like it I wouldn't review it.
The scenes from Danet's past are particularly powerful. For once, I couldn't see the resolution coming. It makes a book so much more satisfying.
Full disclosure; I was part of the final stages editing team on this book. Our policy is, if you don't like a book, don't work on it. If I didn't like it I wouldn't review it.
November 6, 2012
So here's what I liked, it is one of those stories where the characters act the way I would expect in the real world and that for me is refreshing. Sean is not rich but he has a stash of cash at the ready just in case he needs to disappear. He has military experience which makes him a badass when it is necessary. And I liked the interactions between Sean and his EMS partners. Their banter was realistic and very funny in a North Eastern US sort of way. I laughed out loud many times.
August 22, 2012
Patrick is a colleague and friend - so in no way can this be an unbiased review. Having said that, it was a delight to work on. He's a dab hand at telling a story and really pulling you into the character's world. I can't wait for his next book.
June 29, 2016
This one took me by surprise. Full of humor and wit - superbly written.
I pretty much already liked it from the first few chapters in, but it completely hooked me when the protagonist revealed that he named his old Chevy Impala "Vlad" hahaha!
I pretty much already liked it from the first few chapters in, but it completely hooked me when the protagonist revealed that he named his old Chevy Impala "Vlad" hahaha!
February 20, 2019
Sean Danet: fencer, paramedic, good cook, immortal healer. Sean is living under the radar, getting on with a regular life, sneaking in uses of his powers when he can. Until he heals the wrong person. As hunters close, Sean must draw on a wider, deadlier skillset accumulated over many lifetimes to keep himself and the ones he loves safe.
It's a great concept and the author, Patrick LeClerc, does an amazing job of bringing you into the hectic life of a paramedic. This was one of the best parts of the book for me. Unfortunately, the main plot itself takes a long time to get going, which in some ways made it feel like the paramedic part of Sean Danet's life overstayed its welcome. The villains themselves, when things finally get underway in the second half of the book, were also a bit underwhelming. I wanted to give this four stars, but these two things take it down to three for me.
It's a great concept and the author, Patrick LeClerc, does an amazing job of bringing you into the hectic life of a paramedic. This was one of the best parts of the book for me. Unfortunately, the main plot itself takes a long time to get going, which in some ways made it feel like the paramedic part of Sean Danet's life overstayed its welcome. The villains themselves, when things finally get underway in the second half of the book, were also a bit underwhelming. I wanted to give this four stars, but these two things take it down to three for me.
December 14, 2018
Excellent book - took me by surprise.
Witty, amusing....a good plot.
Well done buds!
Witty, amusing....a good plot.
Well done buds!
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