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CrossTown
Finalist for the 2018 Endeavor Award! https://locusmag.com/2018/07/2018-end...
Zethus is a sorcerer--a self-described spiritual thug for hire. He makes his living in CrossTown, a place where the manyworld hypothesis of modern physics manifests itself, where possibilities and probabilities overlap. Caught up in a web of intrigue as he investigates the death of his master, Corvinus, and pursued by agents that want to erase all knowledge of Corvinus's work, Zethus discovers that the key to his master's murder lies in the last project he had pursued before his death. Th e roots of this project lie deep in the past, at the origin of CrossTown's fractured reality. Once he understands the stakes, Zethus must make the dangerous journey to the cradle of history. The price he must pay to find the answers he seeks will threaten everything he holds dear--including his own humanity.
Zethus is a sorcerer--a self-described spiritual thug for hire. He makes his living in CrossTown, a place where the manyworld hypothesis of modern physics manifests itself, where possibilities and probabilities overlap. Caught up in a web of intrigue as he investigates the death of his master, Corvinus, and pursued by agents that want to erase all knowledge of Corvinus's work, Zethus discovers that the key to his master's murder lies in the last project he had pursued before his death. Th e roots of this project lie deep in the past, at the origin of CrossTown's fractured reality. Once he understands the stakes, Zethus must make the dangerous journey to the cradle of history. The price he must pay to find the answers he seeks will threaten everything he holds dear--including his own humanity.
- GenresFantasy
340 pages, Paperback
First published November 14, 2017
5 people are currently reading
214 people want to read
About the author
Loren W. Cooper
9 books8 followersLoren Cooper lives in Cedar Rapids with his wife and daughters. He's been publishing books since about 2000. He has an MFA with a teaching emphasis. He loves reading, writing, brewing, martial arts, technology, and his family. CrossTown is his sixth published book. Other books include A Separate Power, The Lives of Ghosts, Chain of Ghosts, The Gates of Sleep, and A Slow and Silent Stream. CrossTown just selected as a Finalist for the 2018 Endeavor Award!
https://locusmag.com/2018/07/2018-end...
https://locusmag.com/2018/07/2018-end...
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
November 14, 2017
If you are looking for an excellent, smart, thought provoking, well written book... look no further. This is an amazing read. As an avid urban fantasy fan, CrossTown is at the top. Even if you aren’t into fantasy, this is worth picking up. Mr. Cooper’s novel touches on philosophy, science, mystery with a dry sense of humor thrown into the mix. It’s hard to put down and hard to find anything to follow up on. It also invites conversations - so if you belong to a book club, this is a novel you will definitely want on your to read list. It is definitely a must read of the year.
May 16, 2024
Crosstown is a magical, sci fi story about a mercenary sorcerer who finds himself involved in more then he expected. Something about the cover made me imagine this book as a western the entire time I read it - in my minds eye there was always dust floating around
I really liked this book. The ways are a really cool way to travel between time and space. I thought the magic and tech combo was really unique.
Zethus's character arc was really interesting - his journey really changes the way he sees things, and how he addresses conflict. He was smart, and he had really unique ways to deal with the situations he found himself in.
The writing of this book is very descriptive. Like the way places and locations are described are very intense, and detailed. It could be a bit overwhelming, as it didn't leave much to the readers interpretation, but it was good writing.
I recommend this book!
I was sent Crosstown by Red Hen press. This does not impact my review.
I really liked this book. The ways are a really cool way to travel between time and space. I thought the magic and tech combo was really unique.
Zethus's character arc was really interesting - his journey really changes the way he sees things, and how he addresses conflict. He was smart, and he had really unique ways to deal with the situations he found himself in.
The writing of this book is very descriptive. Like the way places and locations are described are very intense, and detailed. It could be a bit overwhelming, as it didn't leave much to the readers interpretation, but it was good writing.
I recommend this book!
I was sent Crosstown by Red Hen press. This does not impact my review.
November 27, 2020
The idea of this book was worthwhile, but the protagonist didn't seem to have any introspection, so the kitchen-sink nature of the story (as in "everything but the kitchen sink") felt sort of willy-nilly, and didn't hold together in the way that I'd like. I enjoyed the film noir-esque tone that the writing evoked in my inner hearing, but it was rather lacking in character development- it felt like I was being told about a wide variety of secondary characters, but not really getting to know them, and they were all quite interesting- but we never came back to them once we met them. It wasn't quite a journey novel, but it did move sort of relentlessly forward on its winding path, without giving a real sense of where it was going or where it would end up. I enjoyed it well enough, but didn't love it, and doubt I'd pick it up again without some particular reason.
December 15, 2017
Received from Bewitching Book Tours in exchange for honest review
First half of the book was really hard to get into, there was a lot of going on, with little explaining, so I wasn't sure at times, was was happening. However after that, the story get really interesting. You just HAVE to know what happens. It reminded in a way on classic sci-fi books (like Philip K. Dick or Issac Asimov books).
The book has really interesting magical system, that is mixture of sci-fi, futuristic technology and supernatural creatures. CrossTown is a place where multiple universes meet and if you can chose where to go, what to see, if you know how to pick a way there.
Somehow it works brilliantly. :)
First half of the book was really hard to get into, there was a lot of going on, with little explaining, so I wasn't sure at times, was was happening. However after that, the story get really interesting. You just HAVE to know what happens. It reminded in a way on classic sci-fi books (like Philip K. Dick or Issac Asimov books).
The book has really interesting magical system, that is mixture of sci-fi, futuristic technology and supernatural creatures. CrossTown is a place where multiple universes meet and if you can chose where to go, what to see, if you know how to pick a way there.
Somehow it works brilliantly. :)
December 8, 2017
Sometimes, a reader comes across a book that does not so much take them from their troubles for a brief time but invites them in to shelter by the fire of its words. The story requires savoring as it cannot be appreciated fully by flying through the text. CrossTown by Loren W. Cooper is a story meant to savor. It borrows from many of the elements held dear by readers of speculative fiction from the myths of faerie, sorcery, nanotechnology, and more on the cross-currents of science and fantasy that combine into the story of a man forced on to the path of redemption by opposing forces.
Zethus, a self-described “spiritual thug for hire,” is a sorcerer who must find the truth of who worked to harm his master and why they sought to harm him in the first place. The setting is a fascinating backdrop of faeries, vampires, ghost, spirits, the technologically enhanced and the things that go bump in both darkness and light.
Personally, stories that can take old themes or myths and reframe them in an inspired way to tell their tale will always find a receptive audience in this reader. The author does an excellent job weaving the old with the new to tell an inspired, original story. If this sounds like the kind of story that would call to you as a reader, I highly recommend you seek it out. One can only hope there will be future volumes that tell of Zethus’ later adventures.
Zethus, a self-described “spiritual thug for hire,” is a sorcerer who must find the truth of who worked to harm his master and why they sought to harm him in the first place. The setting is a fascinating backdrop of faeries, vampires, ghost, spirits, the technologically enhanced and the things that go bump in both darkness and light.
Personally, stories that can take old themes or myths and reframe them in an inspired way to tell their tale will always find a receptive audience in this reader. The author does an excellent job weaving the old with the new to tell an inspired, original story. If this sounds like the kind of story that would call to you as a reader, I highly recommend you seek it out. One can only hope there will be future volumes that tell of Zethus’ later adventures.
November 15, 2017
This is such a good book, and I urge you to check it out! CrossTown catches you right at the beginning, holding you within it's grasp all the way to the very last word, leaving you wanting to read more. Cooper has a unique writing style, creating a tale of urban fantasy mixed with science fiction, action and adventure. It is a thought provoking story with humor throughout. The characters are well formulated, lending you the feeling that you know them, allowing you to sink into each personality. The story itself twists and turns, keeping you guessing, and surprising the reader with the final outcome. I couldn't out the book down. I'm a hard core reader, and enjoy books in the fantasy/urban fantasy, mystery genres. If you are a fan of writers like Richard Kadrey, Jim Butcher, Simon Green, etc. you will definitely want to pick this book up and read it. It'll leave you begging for more. I'm looking forward to seeing what else Cooper will produce in the future.
January 4, 2018
Wow. Crosstown is a Hero's Journey Romp through mythical and contemporary and futuristic locales that most everyone will recognize and most everyone will be happy to trapse through. Care for a ride with Charon over the River Styx, anyone? I suspect there is a gaming trope here that, if I were a gamer, I would've sailed right along with the more subtle aspects of the book. But here's the rub: Cooper is so adept at keeping his audience engaged, with or without knowing the gaming, mythic, or Hero's jouney tropes, it's just a fun read. Though it's not essential to know these things, it adds all the more pleasure when you do; likewise, it adds pleasure to run across these characters.
The true gem of the story is Zethas the Sorcerer's voice. He is witty, fun, flawed, sarcastic, self-effacing, confident, egotistical, thoughtful, honest, loyal, and a friend you want to root for. I laughed out-loud, and yes - it even got misty outside while reading some of the adventures. In otherwords, he is the most human sorcerer I've ever met.
Crosstown can be chewed up a chapter at a time (usually) in its eposodic nature, but I took it down in two or three gulps. I can see how one reader felt the first half dragged because the first chapter set the tone. For me, the first chapter was pure adventure (a difficult strategy) with only a hint at the Zethas humore to come. For me, the second chapter was all light and adventure and settling in. I rate it Five because it deserves it, but a chip to 4.9 for the first chapter would be understandable.
This is a brilliant read from a clearly brilliant mind. I highly recommend the book. I haven't had this much fun reading in a long time. Great job.
The true gem of the story is Zethas the Sorcerer's voice. He is witty, fun, flawed, sarcastic, self-effacing, confident, egotistical, thoughtful, honest, loyal, and a friend you want to root for. I laughed out-loud, and yes - it even got misty outside while reading some of the adventures. In otherwords, he is the most human sorcerer I've ever met.
Crosstown can be chewed up a chapter at a time (usually) in its eposodic nature, but I took it down in two or three gulps. I can see how one reader felt the first half dragged because the first chapter set the tone. For me, the first chapter was pure adventure (a difficult strategy) with only a hint at the Zethas humore to come. For me, the second chapter was all light and adventure and settling in. I rate it Five because it deserves it, but a chip to 4.9 for the first chapter would be understandable.
This is a brilliant read from a clearly brilliant mind. I highly recommend the book. I haven't had this much fun reading in a long time. Great job.
November 16, 2018
this mix of genres came together wonderfully. A sorcerer has to solve a murder in a town where "possibilities and probabilities overlap". Myths & Legends poke their nose in where its not wanted, back stabbing best mates, bitchy fae & modern weapons. I started this book at 7am in the morning of whatever day it was last week & i couldnt put it down until i finished it at 2pm that afternoon.
March 12, 2019
Rollicking good fun in a truly unique and interesting and genre-bending fantasy and science fiction world. The protagonist, a sorcerer forced to solve a mystery, is put into morally complex situations, and his conclusions, flawed though they are, are fascinating to read. I would gladly read more in this world by this author.
February 7, 2018
Glorious descriptions, a non-obvious mystery, and I can't imagine why anybody had trouble following the plot. I've just ordered the first of Cooper's books from interlibrary loan.
And if that's not enough of a review, check out other people's!
And if that's not enough of a review, check out other people's!
Did Not Finish
March 8, 2018This was different, and different in the UF world is usually a good thing, but here I'm not so sure. There was too much explaining of the rules of the universe, which is a bit strange for a UF. Usually we experience through dialogue and characters, not being told through long descriptions. It was losing me occasionally but I continued on. Eventually I realized I was feeling bored. I don't think I even made it to the plight the jacket talked about because we were too busy talking about how to visualize what home looks like and how to gain more time, then there was another side mystery and a half introduced character I didn't like. If I could sum it up I would say it lacked direction and cohesion, just couldn't get into it.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews