What do you think?
Rate this book
Paxton Locke #1
Fade
Son of a Witch Family drama is bad enough without adding magic and human sacrifice. Ten years ago, Paxton Locke’s mother killed his father in a mysterious ritual that – thankfully – went incomplete. Now, Paxton makes his living as a roving paranormal investigator, banishing spirits while Mother languishes in jail.
When a terrified ghost warns him of a dangerous, newly-freed entity, Paxton faces a fight far beyond simple exorcism. In a battle for his very soul, will he be able to endure – or simply fade away?
When a terrified ghost warns him of a dangerous, newly-freed entity, Paxton faces a fight far beyond simple exorcism. In a battle for his very soul, will he be able to endure – or simply fade away?
298 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2017
271 people are currently reading
326 people want to read
About the author
Daniel Humphreys
11 books512 followersDaniel Humphreys is the author of the Z-Day series of post-apocalyptic sci-fi thrillers and the Paxton Locke urban fantasy series. His first novel, "A Place Outside the Wild", was a 2017 Dragon Award finalist for Best Apocalyptic novel.
Dan loves sci-fi movies, target shooting, and tinkering with computers. He has spent his entire career in corporate IT and suffers from elevated blood pressure due to a lifelong love of the Arizona Cardinals. Daniel lives in Indiana with his wife and family.
He Tweets @NerdKing52 and blogs @ www.daniel-humphreys.net.
Dan loves sci-fi movies, target shooting, and tinkering with computers. He has spent his entire career in corporate IT and suffers from elevated blood pressure due to a lifelong love of the Arizona Cardinals. Daniel lives in Indiana with his wife and family.
He Tweets @NerdKing52 and blogs @ www.daniel-humphreys.net.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
January 14, 2018
I obtained this book through the Kindle Unlimited program.
Until I read the book, I thought the cover represented a man standing, armed, in front of a loading ramp. HOWEVER, after reading and discovering that he drives a camper, I can see clearly that he's standing in front of his camper, illuminated in the headlights. Good text use, with the title 'fading' without fading into an illegible blur. The cover credit is to Damonza Dot Com; I'm not permitted to put the actual link into the review. I don't know that I've run across their work before, but I like this cover.
NOTE: This book gets very close to the edge of my 'too creepy, can't read' category. In fact, if my gift-from-God, happily-ever-after trophy wife Vanessa, the elegant, foxy, praying black grandmother of Woodstock, GA knew what I was reading, she probably would make me stop. If you have a sensitivity in this area, you may not want to pick this one up. It didn't QUITE cross the line for me, but it might for you.
Paxton Locke is a Ghost Remover. He rides a Kawasaki Vulcan 750, which would be one of my top choices if I couldn't ride a Honda. It's got ALL the (then) high-tech features that make it virtually maintenance free, such as liquid-cooled, shaft drive, automatic cam-chain tensioner; these things run forever and give you 50 mpg and a top end MUCH higher than you ever want to go. He needs the economy, because he also drives a camper, and I'm guessing those things get about 7 mpg. However, they have the benefit of being a home you can drive away from trouble.
A Ghost Remover is different from a Ghost Buster; they don't use nuclear devices to suck spooks into magnetic containment. Paxton works with the uneasy dead, people who were killed unpleasantly, often by murder. His job is accomplished by persuading them that they really ARE dead, and that they don't belong on earth anymore. That part is pretty easy, actually.
What MADE them dead in the first place is a different story. He has found himself on the home of serial killers, who attempt to add him to their collection. That part is hard.
Another part that's hard is how he came to be in this line of work in the first place. It's revealed during the story, and I'm not gonna spoil it. I'll just point out that his mom is incarcerated for doing a nasty thing, and that she learned things from a book.
From time to time, Paxton has found it necessary to defend himself against physical threats. Unlike almost every other adventure story protagonist, he's not a black belt in seven martial arts, lethal with a knife, and a Gold Medal winner on pistol and rifle competitions. Frankly, I think he needs to spend a bit more time on the range, but until he does that, he has given himself the best alternative, in the form of a Taser and two shotguns. His primary shotgun is a 12 gauge Mossberg, which he has retrofitted with a high-capacity barrel and tube magazine, with 7 rounds in the gun and a stock-holder with reloads. That's a pretty good solution, and one I've used myself in the past (although I stuck with the standard 5-round magazine tube, to give me the ability to have a shorter barrel). As for his secondary shotgun...I'd like to congratulate Humphreys for finding a use for one of the most USELESS gimmicks available at great cost, a Serbu Super Shorty. That's a 12 gauge shotgun with a pistol grip that is only 16.5 inches long; the standard model hold a total of three rounds, although Paxton evidently got a discontinued model, because he claims to be able to load five. Maybe with the Aguila mini-shells, but, hey, this is fiction, and all of the other elements are correct. So, no foul. (Umm...the Serbu DOES fall into the Any Other Weapon category, and requires a $5 tax stamp to transfer. It's a stupid regulation, a holdover from the 1934 Gun Control Act.)
Paxton's current case takes him back to his home territory, which he escaped at the time of his mom's incarceration, and has avoided because of unpleasant memories. Duty calls, however, and although he is certain that Bad Things await, he responds. Before doing so, he contacts the people who helped him keep it together after his mother's actions, and provided a home and sponsorship, Arizona Detective Kent Sikora, and Esteban De La Rosa, former cop now running a private investigator firm. The contact is highly significant, as he feels it necessary to make a 'good-bye' call before setting out.
The morality in the story is this: all things serve, in the end, BUT some things are more preferable. It's a good way of dealing with the issue of free will, and of having to choose the lesser of evils. It's essential to Paxton to understand this concept, because he is bearing a load of guilt that is in the process of preventing him from making significant human contact.
And, more of the story will follow, as this is titled 'Paxton Locke Book 1.'
Until I read the book, I thought the cover represented a man standing, armed, in front of a loading ramp. HOWEVER, after reading and discovering that he drives a camper, I can see clearly that he's standing in front of his camper, illuminated in the headlights. Good text use, with the title 'fading' without fading into an illegible blur. The cover credit is to Damonza Dot Com; I'm not permitted to put the actual link into the review. I don't know that I've run across their work before, but I like this cover.
NOTE: This book gets very close to the edge of my 'too creepy, can't read' category. In fact, if my gift-from-God, happily-ever-after trophy wife Vanessa, the elegant, foxy, praying black grandmother of Woodstock, GA knew what I was reading, she probably would make me stop. If you have a sensitivity in this area, you may not want to pick this one up. It didn't QUITE cross the line for me, but it might for you.
Paxton Locke is a Ghost Remover. He rides a Kawasaki Vulcan 750, which would be one of my top choices if I couldn't ride a Honda. It's got ALL the (then) high-tech features that make it virtually maintenance free, such as liquid-cooled, shaft drive, automatic cam-chain tensioner; these things run forever and give you 50 mpg and a top end MUCH higher than you ever want to go. He needs the economy, because he also drives a camper, and I'm guessing those things get about 7 mpg. However, they have the benefit of being a home you can drive away from trouble.
A Ghost Remover is different from a Ghost Buster; they don't use nuclear devices to suck spooks into magnetic containment. Paxton works with the uneasy dead, people who were killed unpleasantly, often by murder. His job is accomplished by persuading them that they really ARE dead, and that they don't belong on earth anymore. That part is pretty easy, actually.
What MADE them dead in the first place is a different story. He has found himself on the home of serial killers, who attempt to add him to their collection. That part is hard.
Another part that's hard is how he came to be in this line of work in the first place. It's revealed during the story, and I'm not gonna spoil it. I'll just point out that his mom is incarcerated for doing a nasty thing, and that she learned things from a book.
From time to time, Paxton has found it necessary to defend himself against physical threats. Unlike almost every other adventure story protagonist, he's not a black belt in seven martial arts, lethal with a knife, and a Gold Medal winner on pistol and rifle competitions. Frankly, I think he needs to spend a bit more time on the range, but until he does that, he has given himself the best alternative, in the form of a Taser and two shotguns. His primary shotgun is a 12 gauge Mossberg, which he has retrofitted with a high-capacity barrel and tube magazine, with 7 rounds in the gun and a stock-holder with reloads. That's a pretty good solution, and one I've used myself in the past (although I stuck with the standard 5-round magazine tube, to give me the ability to have a shorter barrel). As for his secondary shotgun...I'd like to congratulate Humphreys for finding a use for one of the most USELESS gimmicks available at great cost, a Serbu Super Shorty. That's a 12 gauge shotgun with a pistol grip that is only 16.5 inches long; the standard model hold a total of three rounds, although Paxton evidently got a discontinued model, because he claims to be able to load five. Maybe with the Aguila mini-shells, but, hey, this is fiction, and all of the other elements are correct. So, no foul. (Umm...the Serbu DOES fall into the Any Other Weapon category, and requires a $5 tax stamp to transfer. It's a stupid regulation, a holdover from the 1934 Gun Control Act.)
Paxton's current case takes him back to his home territory, which he escaped at the time of his mom's incarceration, and has avoided because of unpleasant memories. Duty calls, however, and although he is certain that Bad Things await, he responds. Before doing so, he contacts the people who helped him keep it together after his mother's actions, and provided a home and sponsorship, Arizona Detective Kent Sikora, and Esteban De La Rosa, former cop now running a private investigator firm. The contact is highly significant, as he feels it necessary to make a 'good-bye' call before setting out.
The morality in the story is this: all things serve, in the end, BUT some things are more preferable. It's a good way of dealing with the issue of free will, and of having to choose the lesser of evils. It's essential to Paxton to understand this concept, because he is bearing a load of guilt that is in the process of preventing him from making significant human contact.
And, more of the story will follow, as this is titled 'Paxton Locke Book 1.'
did-not-finish
June 13, 2023DNF NO RATING
Nothing wrong with this book, fans of The dresden Files will probably like it. It was just the wrong book for me at this time.
Nothing wrong with this book, fans of The dresden Files will probably like it. It was just the wrong book for me at this time.
June 20, 2017
I liked the main character .I'd like more development which hopefully we'll get in future books.I'm a fan of urban fantasy and even though Paxton is no Harry Dresden I am looking forward to more of his adventures.
I received a free copy of the audiobook compliment of AudioBookBoom.
I received a free copy of the audiobook compliment of AudioBookBoom.
September 22, 2017
*I requested and received a code for this audio book via Audiobook Boom!*
Okay so, about halfway through this, I was thinking I was going to give a good, solid, 4 star rating. It flows really well, the story plot is wonderful, and I love the cast of characters. But it just kept getting more and more fleshed out, more of the past being revealed a little at a time, but without seeming like it was just teasing or being done to create tension. It was really well done! I loved Paxton’s little references and snarkisms sprinkled throughout, it really made him more real and likeable to me. The little details put in to help the story along were fabulous, too. What I’m trying to say is that this is a great book lol.
And it gets better, too! I’m so used to books ending right in the middle of a story these days, that every time a chapter ended, I had to hold my breath and hope it wasn’t over. And I was NOT disappointed. You get the whole of this story, while it still ends with a continuation. But, if for some reason you chose not to continue on in the series (not me, I’m totally sticking with it!), you wouldn’t be left wanting.
If you like occult, mystery, paranormal, anything along those lines, I really think you’ll enjoy this. Five Platypires for the story
The narrator was a perfect fit as well. Great tone and pace, he really made the snarky comments sound good! His voice was pleasant while still able to create tension when it was needed, and sounded shocked when that was called for. Great voice casting! Five Platypires here, too.
So, overall, 5 Platypires!!
Okay so, about halfway through this, I was thinking I was going to give a good, solid, 4 star rating. It flows really well, the story plot is wonderful, and I love the cast of characters. But it just kept getting more and more fleshed out, more of the past being revealed a little at a time, but without seeming like it was just teasing or being done to create tension. It was really well done! I loved Paxton’s little references and snarkisms sprinkled throughout, it really made him more real and likeable to me. The little details put in to help the story along were fabulous, too. What I’m trying to say is that this is a great book lol.
And it gets better, too! I’m so used to books ending right in the middle of a story these days, that every time a chapter ended, I had to hold my breath and hope it wasn’t over. And I was NOT disappointed. You get the whole of this story, while it still ends with a continuation. But, if for some reason you chose not to continue on in the series (not me, I’m totally sticking with it!), you wouldn’t be left wanting.
If you like occult, mystery, paranormal, anything along those lines, I really think you’ll enjoy this. Five Platypires for the story
The narrator was a perfect fit as well. Great tone and pace, he really made the snarky comments sound good! His voice was pleasant while still able to create tension when it was needed, and sounded shocked when that was called for. Great voice casting! Five Platypires here, too.
So, overall, 5 Platypires!!
November 27, 2017
Spells and Shotguns
Comparisons to Butcher's Harry Dresden are apt. This is a supernatural action-adventure series with much the same potential as Storm Front had. A likable underdog with wizardry powers solves magical problems, in good-vs-evil thriller-style. The story universe is different, however, as is Paxton's place in it. The main similarity is a worldview I first ran into, and is exemplified by, Dick Francis' novels; Can-do heroes who's flaws and failings never stop them from seeking virtue. They may (and frequently do) get it wrong, but never think that it's not worth shooting for, or wallowing in chapters long bouts of naval-gazing regarding. Used to be dead common in SF&F, now it's truly rare outside of Indy.
Will definitely buy book 2.
Comparisons to Butcher's Harry Dresden are apt. This is a supernatural action-adventure series with much the same potential as Storm Front had. A likable underdog with wizardry powers solves magical problems, in good-vs-evil thriller-style. The story universe is different, however, as is Paxton's place in it. The main similarity is a worldview I first ran into, and is exemplified by, Dick Francis' novels; Can-do heroes who's flaws and failings never stop them from seeking virtue. They may (and frequently do) get it wrong, but never think that it's not worth shooting for, or wallowing in chapters long bouts of naval-gazing regarding. Used to be dead common in SF&F, now it's truly rare outside of Indy.
Will definitely buy book 2.
June 28, 2017
I really enjoyed this entertaining audiobook that tells the story of a ghost hunter with a really evil, psychotic mother. You can not help but become attached to Paxton, he is a flawed, reluctant hero who eliminates ghost from the world and has a past that would leave mental scars the size of the Grand Canyon on anyone. This book has action, ghosts, witches, suspense, magic, interesting twists and evil abound. Scott Bennett did an excellent job of the narration. He gave the characters individual voices, brought the tension and creepiness out and moved the story forward at just the right pace. This book easily draws you in and keeps you entertained right to the end.
May 16, 2018
*Spoilers*
Excellent book. I started reading it and was hooked from page one. I stayed up way past my bedtime reading it.
The transition from the story being told by the main character to the government agents was way abrupt and out of left field. I don't know if I just wasn't paying attention or if there weren't any clues but, a few dropped hints would have made it not so jarring a transition.
Other than that I thought it was great. Good characters, story line and plot.
I'm looking forward to the next book in the series with great anticipation!
Excellent book. I started reading it and was hooked from page one. I stayed up way past my bedtime reading it.
The transition from the story being told by the main character to the government agents was way abrupt and out of left field. I don't know if I just wasn't paying attention or if there weren't any clues but, a few dropped hints would have made it not so jarring a transition.
Other than that I thought it was great. Good characters, story line and plot.
I'm looking forward to the next book in the series with great anticipation!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 31, 2017
Great new series
This is a really fun book and a great way to start a new series. Paxton Locke is a young man with special skills and a scary past. He thought that he was safe from that past, but a series of events brings them all crashing back at him.
Dan Humphrey's has given us a great new supernatural thriller. I really enjoyed this novel and I look forward to reading more in the series.
This is a really fun book and a great way to start a new series. Paxton Locke is a young man with special skills and a scary past. He thought that he was safe from that past, but a series of events brings them all crashing back at him.
Dan Humphrey's has given us a great new supernatural thriller. I really enjoyed this novel and I look forward to reading more in the series.
April 4, 2017
Fun read
I enjoyed this book more than I expected. Really liked the main character though I'd like more development which hopefully we'll get in future books.I'm a big fan of urban fantasy and even though Paxton is no Harry Dresden I am looking forward to more of his adventures. Keep up the good work!
I enjoyed this book more than I expected. Really liked the main character though I'd like more development which hopefully we'll get in future books.I'm a big fan of urban fantasy and even though Paxton is no Harry Dresden I am looking forward to more of his adventures. Keep up the good work!
January 20, 2022
GR average rating is accurate.
Good plot and characters, the fight scenes are a bit confusing for me and there were a few (just a few, in the first half) places where the editing could have been tightened up (pace wise, it got a bit sluggish, but halfway through the issue was gone). Looking forward to book two.
Good plot and characters, the fight scenes are a bit confusing for me and there were a few (just a few, in the first half) places where the editing could have been tightened up (pace wise, it got a bit sluggish, but halfway through the issue was gone). Looking forward to book two.
November 19, 2018
Five stars just for enjoyment and pure-action pacing.
Could have been just another entry in the genre, but was into the story quickly and it did not feel like a genre re-hash. Enough freshness and constant action to keep me enthralled. Was super happy to find the second novel is already out.
Could have been just another entry in the genre, but was into the story quickly and it did not feel like a genre re-hash. Enough freshness and constant action to keep me enthralled. Was super happy to find the second novel is already out.
April 9, 2020
A well written story with a intriguing storyline and characters. Exciting and fascinating with magic and tons of action, a craaaaaazy mother and a likeable hero who can see ghosts!
June 24, 2017
I enjoyed this book, I really did. It felt quite a bit like Constantine, which I enjoy. Young man with mysterious past slowly reveals more and more arcane knowledge in the fight against evil, that type of story. Good stuff. Millennial Constantine, no fidget spinners included.
The hero is genuinely likable and is actually a good person. Moral heroes are getting few and far between these days, so this was a breath of fresh air. He's also quick with a joke and is usually pretty funny; the author doesn't bombard you with real groaners in an attempt to be funny. By the end of the story, I wanted to hear some more of his journey.
The supporting cast is also pretty likable. Everyone is. The villains are a little shallow (to do what they choose would take tremendous psychopathy, but we aren't really told why they do it or see their struggle with the choice), and we specifically don't really learn exactly why the main young female villain does a lot of what she does, but I suspect we just haven't learned much about their inner workings yet. This is book 1, and it was good enough that I'm willing to give the author some time to flesh it out. All of that said, the author never falls into the trap of bludgeoning you over the head with villain monologues about their inner feelings. I'd like more depth here (maybe a vision about the young female villain agonizing over her choice to make the sacrifices she makes? Make her a little more understandable?) but I appreciate the balancing act the author is trying to do.
The action scenes are well done and exciting. Magic is handled in a way that makes sense. The hero never veers into moral relativism or brooding despair. The plot is solid and quite fun. And it leaves much of the world open for exploration in future novels.
My only complaint is that the epilogue takes so long while providing no urgency. The tension wraps up at about the 90% mark, leaving the last 10% of the book with no real tension at all. It would have been nice if we could maintain some of that tension, maybe have some of the epilogue pieces get mixed in earlier? Or at least some enemies still hold over til closer to the end? The ending was definitely satisfying and solid, but it felt about like the extended edition of Return of the King, with six or seven ending scenes without any conflict or tension.
The reason I don't remove a star for this is because this sort of ending hearkens back to older storytelling times, closer to Tolkien's era, where audiences didn't need as much urgency to continue a book. Given the sprinkling of Tolkien references throughout the book, and the way that the ending does create a satisfying conclusion, I have to assume the author made this choice deliberately. So, it's a style choice and not a mistake.
Overall, my only annoyance is that the author didn't begin this series a year earlier. If he had, I'd already have the next volume loaded up and ready to go. I'll definitely pick it up, day one.
Good book. Read it.
The hero is genuinely likable and is actually a good person. Moral heroes are getting few and far between these days, so this was a breath of fresh air. He's also quick with a joke and is usually pretty funny; the author doesn't bombard you with real groaners in an attempt to be funny. By the end of the story, I wanted to hear some more of his journey.
The supporting cast is also pretty likable. Everyone is. The villains are a little shallow (to do what they choose would take tremendous psychopathy, but we aren't really told why they do it or see their struggle with the choice), and we specifically don't really learn exactly why the main young female villain does a lot of what she does, but I suspect we just haven't learned much about their inner workings yet. This is book 1, and it was good enough that I'm willing to give the author some time to flesh it out. All of that said, the author never falls into the trap of bludgeoning you over the head with villain monologues about their inner feelings. I'd like more depth here (maybe a vision about the young female villain agonizing over her choice to make the sacrifices she makes? Make her a little more understandable?) but I appreciate the balancing act the author is trying to do.
The action scenes are well done and exciting. Magic is handled in a way that makes sense. The hero never veers into moral relativism or brooding despair. The plot is solid and quite fun. And it leaves much of the world open for exploration in future novels.
My only complaint is that the epilogue takes so long while providing no urgency. The tension wraps up at about the 90% mark, leaving the last 10% of the book with no real tension at all. It would have been nice if we could maintain some of that tension, maybe have some of the epilogue pieces get mixed in earlier? Or at least some enemies still hold over til closer to the end? The ending was definitely satisfying and solid, but it felt about like the extended edition of Return of the King, with six or seven ending scenes without any conflict or tension.
The reason I don't remove a star for this is because this sort of ending hearkens back to older storytelling times, closer to Tolkien's era, where audiences didn't need as much urgency to continue a book. Given the sprinkling of Tolkien references throughout the book, and the way that the ending does create a satisfying conclusion, I have to assume the author made this choice deliberately. So, it's a style choice and not a mistake.
Overall, my only annoyance is that the author didn't begin this series a year earlier. If he had, I'd already have the next volume loaded up and ready to go. I'll definitely pick it up, day one.
Good book. Read it.
July 20, 2017
A snarky but loveable hero with strange abilities and a tragic past, colourful supporting characters, and terrifying enemies; this book has a lot for the Stephen King or urban-fantasy fan.
The tone is very similar to the TV series Supernatural, which also gets acknowledged by the characters themselves. The main character and primary narrator, Paxton Locke, lives on the road and goes where he's needed to confront ghosts (and more mundane threats) in a world that seems to be largely ignorant of the paranormal.
Fade has gripping action and tastefully-handled violence, with Paxton tactfully avoiding being too descriptive when, for example, a head is introduced to the effects of a shotgun blast. It also has tender moments, such as when Paxton revisits his childhood home and recalls time spent with his dad at the movies, or with a friend playing in the grassland nearby. The author does a good job of tugging your heartstrings with Paxton's past in between instances of raising your pulse over the trouble he's gotten into in the present.
Finally, one spoiler-free note about the ending: without resorting to a frustrating cliffhanger, the author has set up some compelling hooks that will definitely have me coming back for the next book.
The tone is very similar to the TV series Supernatural, which also gets acknowledged by the characters themselves. The main character and primary narrator, Paxton Locke, lives on the road and goes where he's needed to confront ghosts (and more mundane threats) in a world that seems to be largely ignorant of the paranormal.
Fade has gripping action and tastefully-handled violence, with Paxton tactfully avoiding being too descriptive when, for example, a head is introduced to the effects of a shotgun blast. It also has tender moments, such as when Paxton revisits his childhood home and recalls time spent with his dad at the movies, or with a friend playing in the grassland nearby. The author does a good job of tugging your heartstrings with Paxton's past in between instances of raising your pulse over the trouble he's gotten into in the present.
Finally, one spoiler-free note about the ending: without resorting to a frustrating cliffhanger, the author has set up some compelling hooks that will definitely have me coming back for the next book.
September 30, 2019
Paxton Locke, a wizard and a decent person, describes his occupation as banishing the dead who happen to still be hanging around, particularly those who had unpleasant deaths usually involving murder. That job description is very simplistic, though, as the reader is squeamishly nudged along to join him on his assignments. In fact, Paxton’s own past history is a story unto itself involving his murderous, scary mother – now serving time in the prison system – and what she was willing to do to get the power she craved.
The client, Ms. Jackson, met Paxton at the door, and the crawling sensation he felt on his skin, combined with the chill down his spine, let him know this client was the real deal. Feeling compassion for what he knew she was going through, he not only refused the balance of her payment, but told her he would be reversing the charge on her deposit! When prompted, she told him that she could not get warm in the house, and the brightest lights she could find faded away in the dark rooms. The heavy gloom surrounded them. He needed her to do one thing for him – go to the local Starbucks and get him a coffee. That was not what she had expected him to tell her and she was momentarily stunned. He thought he could solve her problem by the time she got back, but he would have a terrible headache. So she grabbed her keys and, still uncertain, left to get his coffee. Now alone, sitting on the couch, he took a deep breath and said, “Come talk to me.”
The young boy who appeared begged for Paxton’s help because “The Edie” – the bad one who had killed “them -- was looking for him. Bobby Gennaro asked if he could keep him safe from her! Paxton gently told him that the person Bobby was, is gone. He promised he would try to find out what killed Bobby, but the ghost is only a memory, like a psychic Xerox, merely energy that thinks it’s a little boy. And with that truth, the boy faded away. Now the bigger concern was facing Paxton as he sat on the porch step waiting for Ms. Jackson. This felt too easy. But it was only easy because it wasn’t over, and it wouldn’t be until whoever—or whatever—Edie was could be identified and dealt with. He didn’t realize that the dangerous, newly-freed entity the boy has warned him about was his Mother!
I really enjoyed this book and will definitely grab the next book! From the light, snarky tone it started with, I was already smiling at the thought of getting to know this hero. Of course, I hadn’t yet bumped into the scary sections but, considering the line of work Paxton is in, I suspected it wouldn’t be full of constant laugh-tracks. The writing is superb, immediately pulling the reader into the world Paxton is investigating and building the setting up to the point you can almost swear you’re standing right there beside him! You may very likely get actual goosebumps as the author describes what Paxton is feeling or observing. In other words, do look around occasionally as you read, to make sure nothing is standing behind your shoulder!
The client, Ms. Jackson, met Paxton at the door, and the crawling sensation he felt on his skin, combined with the chill down his spine, let him know this client was the real deal. Feeling compassion for what he knew she was going through, he not only refused the balance of her payment, but told her he would be reversing the charge on her deposit! When prompted, she told him that she could not get warm in the house, and the brightest lights she could find faded away in the dark rooms. The heavy gloom surrounded them. He needed her to do one thing for him – go to the local Starbucks and get him a coffee. That was not what she had expected him to tell her and she was momentarily stunned. He thought he could solve her problem by the time she got back, but he would have a terrible headache. So she grabbed her keys and, still uncertain, left to get his coffee. Now alone, sitting on the couch, he took a deep breath and said, “Come talk to me.”
The young boy who appeared begged for Paxton’s help because “The Edie” – the bad one who had killed “them -- was looking for him. Bobby Gennaro asked if he could keep him safe from her! Paxton gently told him that the person Bobby was, is gone. He promised he would try to find out what killed Bobby, but the ghost is only a memory, like a psychic Xerox, merely energy that thinks it’s a little boy. And with that truth, the boy faded away. Now the bigger concern was facing Paxton as he sat on the porch step waiting for Ms. Jackson. This felt too easy. But it was only easy because it wasn’t over, and it wouldn’t be until whoever—or whatever—Edie was could be identified and dealt with. He didn’t realize that the dangerous, newly-freed entity the boy has warned him about was his Mother!
I really enjoyed this book and will definitely grab the next book! From the light, snarky tone it started with, I was already smiling at the thought of getting to know this hero. Of course, I hadn’t yet bumped into the scary sections but, considering the line of work Paxton is in, I suspected it wouldn’t be full of constant laugh-tracks. The writing is superb, immediately pulling the reader into the world Paxton is investigating and building the setting up to the point you can almost swear you’re standing right there beside him! You may very likely get actual goosebumps as the author describes what Paxton is feeling or observing. In other words, do look around occasionally as you read, to make sure nothing is standing behind your shoulder!
August 16, 2018
Fade Paxton is a ghost whisperer who travels around the country making house calls. He sets ghosts free to cross to the other side and deals with other paranormal stuff. At first, I thought the story was being a little trite when we initially meet Paxton checking out a spooky situation at Shirley Jackson’s house. Not the Shirley Jackson best known for her horror genre stories but rather a minor character of the same name. Later it’s revealed that this was an inside joke intended by one of the main characters.
The story moves along pretty quickly, the first ghost we meet giving Paxton a spooky warning. His investigations into the matter come up with dead ends so he’s forced to deal with a piece of his past: his witch of a mother. She’s in prison and he’s got her magic under wraps with his own special abilities, something he refers to as the Push. She taunts him even as she gives him a small clue.
While Paxton has this messed up family and past he also has several good people on his side that he met after the whole sordid affair of his father’s death at the hands of his mother. I really liked that Paxton wasn’t completely on his own nor was he a broken reluctant hero (two plot devices that are a little overused in the urban fantasy/paranormal fantasy genres). He’s been traumatized but he’s also recovered mostly and still believes in good people.
Our hero is very much human. He can be hurt, captured, or even killed. In fact, he gets his butt handed to him more than once. It’s great that he wasn’t the most powerful character in the story and could just stroll through the witchy ghosty mess. Later in the story, he ends up with a temporary sidekick – Cassie. They are both in the same boat (captured by evil witches) and form an alliance with the goal of escape first, kick witch butt second. Cassie was a great addition to the storyline. She’s a bit scared at first but she also has skills she brings to the table, like knowing how to handle guns from her years of hunting.
Things wrap up in a very satisfying way. The mystery played out, the witches’ intentions revealed the escape and then kicking evil in the teeth. That was all very good. And then we have a lengthy wind-down. If I recall correctly, it was about 1.5 hours long. I was surprised that so much had to be addressed and it felt like some of it could have been used to start Book 2. That’s my only complaint about this story.
The Narration: J. Scott Bennett was a great pick for this book. He has a voice that fits Paxton quite well. He also had distinct character voices for each one and his female voices were feminine. He carried off Paxton’s emotions with perfection. He had an excellent voice for Paxton’s evil mom. There were no recording errors.
I received a free copy of this book courtesy of The Audio Book Reviewer.
The story moves along pretty quickly, the first ghost we meet giving Paxton a spooky warning. His investigations into the matter come up with dead ends so he’s forced to deal with a piece of his past: his witch of a mother. She’s in prison and he’s got her magic under wraps with his own special abilities, something he refers to as the Push. She taunts him even as she gives him a small clue.
While Paxton has this messed up family and past he also has several good people on his side that he met after the whole sordid affair of his father’s death at the hands of his mother. I really liked that Paxton wasn’t completely on his own nor was he a broken reluctant hero (two plot devices that are a little overused in the urban fantasy/paranormal fantasy genres). He’s been traumatized but he’s also recovered mostly and still believes in good people.
Our hero is very much human. He can be hurt, captured, or even killed. In fact, he gets his butt handed to him more than once. It’s great that he wasn’t the most powerful character in the story and could just stroll through the witchy ghosty mess. Later in the story, he ends up with a temporary sidekick – Cassie. They are both in the same boat (captured by evil witches) and form an alliance with the goal of escape first, kick witch butt second. Cassie was a great addition to the storyline. She’s a bit scared at first but she also has skills she brings to the table, like knowing how to handle guns from her years of hunting.
Things wrap up in a very satisfying way. The mystery played out, the witches’ intentions revealed the escape and then kicking evil in the teeth. That was all very good. And then we have a lengthy wind-down. If I recall correctly, it was about 1.5 hours long. I was surprised that so much had to be addressed and it felt like some of it could have been used to start Book 2. That’s my only complaint about this story.
The Narration: J. Scott Bennett was a great pick for this book. He has a voice that fits Paxton quite well. He also had distinct character voices for each one and his female voices were feminine. He carried off Paxton’s emotions with perfection. He had an excellent voice for Paxton’s evil mom. There were no recording errors.
I received a free copy of this book courtesy of The Audio Book Reviewer.
September 19, 2019
This book scratched an itch I didn’t know I had. It struck me as similar to a Tim Powers book, if Tim wrote adventures with a hint of satire instead of secret histories. Apparently I had been looking for a tale of good and evil in an occult setting. This book is it.
Paxton Locke sees dead people. Fortunately for him, he can also make them go away, using the mental compulsion he calls the push. Which is the basis for his business. For a reasonable fee [50% deposit up front please!] he will cleanse your home of lingering presences. Except for the wrinkle that his only paying customers are nutters. On the rare occasion he finds a real ghost, he does the job for free. Paxton is a grifter, albeit one with an uneasy conscience and some real powers.
He’s got a gig that pays the bills, and one that offers him enough freedom to try to escape his past. Unfortunately for him, his past might not be done with him yet. When his latest real job leads Paxton to a trail of breadcrumbs that points to an obviously occult destination, he knows that he needs help from an expert. Which means dealing with Mother.
Fade has a nice balance of the familiar and the eldritch. Paxton grew up in small town America, and now frequents RV parks and Wal-mart parking lots in a nomadic existence. But he also has magical powers that arise in some fashion from his mother’s ritual killing of his father. This world might be grim without relief, except that Paxton gets the opportunity to blaze away at the forces of evil with his boomstick too.
I have in general avoided anything described as urban fantasy, which to be honest I think I conflated with paranormal romance. However, when I look at the wikipedia article, and the covers of the top sellers on Amazon, and I think that my confusion is understandable. Fade isn’t a sparkly vampire story. While it does have a hint of a relationship to come, first and foremost it is an adventure set in a world almost like our own, if all the monsters of fable of legend were real.
Who or what exactly keeps the world as normal as it is will be an interesting development as the series goes on. I found this book a lot of fun, and I look forward to seeing what kind of trouble Paxton finds himself in next.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout. But I also bought it a few weeks before that. So there.
Paxton Locke sees dead people. Fortunately for him, he can also make them go away, using the mental compulsion he calls the push. Which is the basis for his business. For a reasonable fee [50% deposit up front please!] he will cleanse your home of lingering presences. Except for the wrinkle that his only paying customers are nutters. On the rare occasion he finds a real ghost, he does the job for free. Paxton is a grifter, albeit one with an uneasy conscience and some real powers.
He’s got a gig that pays the bills, and one that offers him enough freedom to try to escape his past. Unfortunately for him, his past might not be done with him yet. When his latest real job leads Paxton to a trail of breadcrumbs that points to an obviously occult destination, he knows that he needs help from an expert. Which means dealing with Mother.
Fade has a nice balance of the familiar and the eldritch. Paxton grew up in small town America, and now frequents RV parks and Wal-mart parking lots in a nomadic existence. But he also has magical powers that arise in some fashion from his mother’s ritual killing of his father. This world might be grim without relief, except that Paxton gets the opportunity to blaze away at the forces of evil with his boomstick too.
I have in general avoided anything described as urban fantasy, which to be honest I think I conflated with paranormal romance. However, when I look at the wikipedia article, and the covers of the top sellers on Amazon, and I think that my confusion is understandable. Fade isn’t a sparkly vampire story. While it does have a hint of a relationship to come, first and foremost it is an adventure set in a world almost like our own, if all the monsters of fable of legend were real.
Who or what exactly keeps the world as normal as it is will be an interesting development as the series goes on. I found this book a lot of fun, and I look forward to seeing what kind of trouble Paxton finds himself in next.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout. But I also bought it a few weeks before that. So there.
July 31, 2018
Contemporary Paranormal Fantasy. That's the term that comes to mind for this book. Yes, there is a mixture of horror, but paranormal captures that, I think. This is not my normal genre (let's face it, I'm a sci-fi junkie), but I have two ulterior motives for picking this one up.
1) I beta read for Daniel Humpreys' Z-Day series.
2) I'm a red-shirt character in book 2 of this series.
The book was not given to me, however. Now that the disclaimers are out of the way, here's the review.
SHIVER! GASP! ZOOM! BANG! POW! HOLY...!
These are the typical onomotopiatic & exclamatory words you will generate in your mind as you read this book. It starts you at the top of the roller-coaster drop, then yanks the track out from under you, then turns on the jet engine on the back car. Now we're not talking about combat or physical action here... we're talking about suspense building. You don't get a break. The reveal for the first bit of tension is done in the middle of the build-up of the next.
Am I exaggerating a bit? Maybe a little, but I'm telling you this book is well written, and a page turner. It has some of the best 'info-dump hidden within the scenes' writing I have seen in quite a while. Even the backstory portions are so tantalizing that when they interrupt the main action, you don't want to stop hearing THAT PART to go back the first.
I guess I should mention what it's about. Paxton Locke, a man in his mid 20s, is a ghost hunter. His ability is an after-effect of some really ghoulish crap foisted upon him by his demented mother some 10 years previous. I won't spoil anything else. Think Paranormal (TV) crossed with Dresden Files, crossed with... well, that other thing that happens in book 2.
If you like paranormal, read this book. If you like 'urban fantasy' in it's current definition (circa 2018), read this book. Mystery, thriller, horror... yep, those too. These are not my typical reading genres, but this book still pulled me in for the ride.
I give this book four stars and call it an engrossing read.
1) I beta read for Daniel Humpreys' Z-Day series.
2) I'm a red-shirt character in book 2 of this series.
The book was not given to me, however. Now that the disclaimers are out of the way, here's the review.
SHIVER! GASP! ZOOM! BANG! POW! HOLY...!
These are the typical onomotopiatic & exclamatory words you will generate in your mind as you read this book. It starts you at the top of the roller-coaster drop, then yanks the track out from under you, then turns on the jet engine on the back car. Now we're not talking about combat or physical action here... we're talking about suspense building. You don't get a break. The reveal for the first bit of tension is done in the middle of the build-up of the next.
Am I exaggerating a bit? Maybe a little, but I'm telling you this book is well written, and a page turner. It has some of the best 'info-dump hidden within the scenes' writing I have seen in quite a while. Even the backstory portions are so tantalizing that when they interrupt the main action, you don't want to stop hearing THAT PART to go back the first.
I guess I should mention what it's about. Paxton Locke, a man in his mid 20s, is a ghost hunter. His ability is an after-effect of some really ghoulish crap foisted upon him by his demented mother some 10 years previous. I won't spoil anything else. Think Paranormal (TV) crossed with Dresden Files, crossed with... well, that other thing that happens in book 2.
If you like paranormal, read this book. If you like 'urban fantasy' in it's current definition (circa 2018), read this book. Mystery, thriller, horror... yep, those too. These are not my typical reading genres, but this book still pulled me in for the ride.
I give this book four stars and call it an engrossing read.
September 21, 2019
Paxton Locke is a white-haired twenty-something-year-old who can see and talk to ghosts. He uses his talent for good. He has other abilities, and I suspect some yet to be discovered. Paxton has a propensity for finding trouble of the supernatural kind, or does it find him? With his background, it is impressive that he does not have severe mental health issues. What the author did well is to allow Paxton to be a young man in his twenties. He is navigating life in a way that keeps him sane while he tries to make up for having a horrible mother while striving to be his father's son.
I found this book to be engaging, easy to read, and quite an enjoyable story. The supernatural elements include witchcraft, magic, and a hint at something else that will reveal itself in future books starring this character and Paxton's newfound sidekick. There is much action, mystery, suspense, tragedy, and some scary stuff too.
Fade is an intriguing tale with relatable characters and an excellent possibility of more to come. The storyline is fluid and leaves you wanting more from these characters and Paxton's story in particular. I hope for resolution for him on many levels so that he can move on and grow his talents. I love Paxton's sense of humor and his ability to read a situation, especially when he knows things will not go well for him. His inner thoughts are, at times, hilarious and often reflect his penchant for movie trivia and a hint of corniness. Paxton's sarcasm and dry wit get him into trouble to the point that you shake your head, as he tells himself to shut up. He cannot help himself, and that is one of his many endearing qualities.
I look forward to reading more of Paxton's adventures.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I found this book to be engaging, easy to read, and quite an enjoyable story. The supernatural elements include witchcraft, magic, and a hint at something else that will reveal itself in future books starring this character and Paxton's newfound sidekick. There is much action, mystery, suspense, tragedy, and some scary stuff too.
Fade is an intriguing tale with relatable characters and an excellent possibility of more to come. The storyline is fluid and leaves you wanting more from these characters and Paxton's story in particular. I hope for resolution for him on many levels so that he can move on and grow his talents. I love Paxton's sense of humor and his ability to read a situation, especially when he knows things will not go well for him. His inner thoughts are, at times, hilarious and often reflect his penchant for movie trivia and a hint of corniness. Paxton's sarcasm and dry wit get him into trouble to the point that you shake your head, as he tells himself to shut up. He cannot help himself, and that is one of his many endearing qualities.
I look forward to reading more of Paxton's adventures.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 21, 2017
( Format :audio book )
What's big and bad enough to scare a ghost?""
Paxton Locke can speak to ghosts. He's not an exorcist; he just talks to them and tells them like it is. And they go away. Not always comfortable but straightforward. Then the ghost of a boy who goes unexpectedly peacefully suddenly my terrifies him.
Paxton is alone in the world, no family unless his murderous mother held in prison counts. Paxton would have prefered that she'd received the death penalty. He does have a handful of good friends he rarely sees but, basically he prefers to stay out of the limelight. He still recalls the vicious killing of his father some years before when he was still a boy and which he had been too late to prevent and he, himself, so nearly died.
Although humour is inherent in the text, Paxton is not the usual slick talking, paranormal detective. Instead he is more introspective. Well written with vibrant visual effect, good characterisation and dialogue, and full of action, the story is told mostly in the first person present so the reader is there with Paxton throughout his experiences. And silken voiced Scott Bennett is the ghost despatching young man perfectly capturing his thoughts and terrors, never over acting and giving voice clearly to all other protagonists.
This is a great listen Despite the weirdness of so much of the action, it still feels real somehow, the impossible made plausible. My thanks to the rights holder for freely gifting me my copy of this excellent book, via Audiobook Boom. It is one I'd recommend to anyone for a light, enjoyable read, even to those who would normally avoid the paranormal so nicely is it written and performed. I greatly look forward to more in this series
What's big and bad enough to scare a ghost?""
Paxton Locke can speak to ghosts. He's not an exorcist; he just talks to them and tells them like it is. And they go away. Not always comfortable but straightforward. Then the ghost of a boy who goes unexpectedly peacefully suddenly my terrifies him.
Paxton is alone in the world, no family unless his murderous mother held in prison counts. Paxton would have prefered that she'd received the death penalty. He does have a handful of good friends he rarely sees but, basically he prefers to stay out of the limelight. He still recalls the vicious killing of his father some years before when he was still a boy and which he had been too late to prevent and he, himself, so nearly died.
Although humour is inherent in the text, Paxton is not the usual slick talking, paranormal detective. Instead he is more introspective. Well written with vibrant visual effect, good characterisation and dialogue, and full of action, the story is told mostly in the first person present so the reader is there with Paxton throughout his experiences. And silken voiced Scott Bennett is the ghost despatching young man perfectly capturing his thoughts and terrors, never over acting and giving voice clearly to all other protagonists.
This is a great listen Despite the weirdness of so much of the action, it still feels real somehow, the impossible made plausible. My thanks to the rights holder for freely gifting me my copy of this excellent book, via Audiobook Boom. It is one I'd recommend to anyone for a light, enjoyable read, even to those who would normally avoid the paranormal so nicely is it written and performed. I greatly look forward to more in this series
April 11, 2018
I was intrigued as soon as I started reading this book. Thought it would have a more ghostly aspect then it moved into the mystical flavor but I was already connected to Paxton so I continued with him on his journey.
To say that he had family issues would be an understatement. His mother killed his father and was trying to do the same to Paxton until he was able to disable her before she finished her two human sacrifices. What she was trying to unleash may still be trying to draw Paxton back.
Paxton is trying to add up all of the pieces to help a terrified ghost while staying one step ahead of some seriously mean bad guys and the keep out of the eyes of the law. Paxton is finding out that his mother may still be pulling hidden strings that he thought he had cut. To unravel what is happening Paxton may have to get himself immersed deeper into the dark arts than he originally planned.
While he visited the home where it all started he has an inadvertent new cohort Cassie to help him on his quest for what is out there. So while Paxton is learning more about his abilities he is also training Cassie to use more of her senses.
The book does a bit of establishing then it gets rolling at a pretty good clip. Through it all you are kept entertained by Paxton’s inner smart alec narrative. The only part that was a bump for me was towards the end when it seemed to be heading into a more magic council type “We have been watching you” scenario. Still willing to follow Paxton on his dark journey to keep himself and others safe.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
To say that he had family issues would be an understatement. His mother killed his father and was trying to do the same to Paxton until he was able to disable her before she finished her two human sacrifices. What she was trying to unleash may still be trying to draw Paxton back.
Paxton is trying to add up all of the pieces to help a terrified ghost while staying one step ahead of some seriously mean bad guys and the keep out of the eyes of the law. Paxton is finding out that his mother may still be pulling hidden strings that he thought he had cut. To unravel what is happening Paxton may have to get himself immersed deeper into the dark arts than he originally planned.
While he visited the home where it all started he has an inadvertent new cohort Cassie to help him on his quest for what is out there. So while Paxton is learning more about his abilities he is also training Cassie to use more of her senses.
The book does a bit of establishing then it gets rolling at a pretty good clip. Through it all you are kept entertained by Paxton’s inner smart alec narrative. The only part that was a bump for me was towards the end when it seemed to be heading into a more magic council type “We have been watching you” scenario. Still willing to follow Paxton on his dark journey to keep himself and others safe.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 19, 2017
Paxton Locke interrupted his witch mother's ritual spell but not before she killed his father. Paxton has never been the same. When his mother went to prison, he took to the road--always on the move. He's developed the ability to see ghosts and to send them beyond; he doesn't have to exorcise them, he merely confronts them with the truth. Paxton has gained some sense of equilibrium in his life, but his mother's schemes may threaten what little peace he has.
Take Odd Thomas' ability to see ghosts, Sam and Dean Winchesters' pursuit of the paranormal, and Harry Dresden's knack for being beaten up, and you'd have a good bead on Paxton Locke. As the first book in the series, it was necessary to introduce the characters, explain the magical system, and provide the background information, but none of the exposition dragged or got in the way of telling the story, which reads quickly and ends too soon. I'm looking forward to the next installment.
My only complaint, and one I can deal with for a good story, is with the editing. Typos and errors throw me out of a story.
October 4, 2019
I received a free copy of this book from the author. I had the opportunity to review or not.
What do you do when your mother is a witch, killed your father and was perfectly willing to blame you for everything? You develop your own extra special powers and become the best ghost buster in the country. You help people get rid of their haunting entities and release ghosts from the in between non-life they are caught in. Paxton Locke was making a good life for himself when on woman’s ghost changed everything.
I enjoy spooky stories, ghost stories, supernatural stories, anything beyond the ordinary. But I loved this story. I loved Paxton and his “new friend,” who was willing to go into extreme danger to help him with a major problem. Together they faced the danger by standing face to face with horror. Not many would have been willing.
This story was well written, the characters were believable and likable. Very likable. I was emotionally involved with them, caught in their fear, and determination. I worried for them. Could they succeed? Grab the book and find out. You will definitely not regret it. I highly recommend it.
What do you do when your mother is a witch, killed your father and was perfectly willing to blame you for everything? You develop your own extra special powers and become the best ghost buster in the country. You help people get rid of their haunting entities and release ghosts from the in between non-life they are caught in. Paxton Locke was making a good life for himself when on woman’s ghost changed everything.
I enjoy spooky stories, ghost stories, supernatural stories, anything beyond the ordinary. But I loved this story. I loved Paxton and his “new friend,” who was willing to go into extreme danger to help him with a major problem. Together they faced the danger by standing face to face with horror. Not many would have been willing.
This story was well written, the characters were believable and likable. Very likable. I was emotionally involved with them, caught in their fear, and determination. I worried for them. Could they succeed? Grab the book and find out. You will definitely not regret it. I highly recommend it.
October 5, 2019
This was certainly a fun read and a different take on magic. For the record, I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book with the request to leave an honest review for other potential readers. I try not to give any spoilers in my reviews so that you can enjoy all of the fun on your own. The plot of this story has a unique take on magic. There are plenty of twists and turns to keep you on your toes. Plus, there are a few surprises and no major ckiffhangers. The characters are well developed and have very complex motivations just like all of us. I found that these everyday people characters easy to get behind and root for. Our principle villain is quite a piece of work and definitely qualifies as someone you love to hate. The world building works well and keeps pace with the characters and the story. The writing style is great. Easy to read and draws you into the story. This works well to support the pacing and flow of the action (a few minor typos and typesetting errors don't interfere with the flow of the story). The big question is, as always, was the book worth the time to read? I say yes to that. It is an entertaining read. So, I give if 5 out of 5 stars.
November 14, 2019
An audible listen, I had high hopes for this series, seeing the excellent reviews and having it tick a lot of my boxes. I did enjoy it, but I struggled a little with the pacing at times, and whilst in this story I see its value, I am not a fan of getting bad guy's (or gal in this case) POV. Paxton is a little broken, mostly because of his evil mother. Whilst staying true to his principles and doing his best to put his abilities to good, he did suffer a little from a hero complex that put himself stupidly in danger. However that being said, so many other things were great, interesting world building with a magic system that was good, good characters and a story that kept my attention and was believable. In fact it picked up a pace when you realise as a reader that the world is bigger than Paxton knows and I have high hopes for future books, with this being a stage setting first book. Am going straight onto the next in the series.
July 8, 2017
The narration is good, the phrasing, pacing and tone are all good. The characters voices are well done, but for me, some of the accents didn't quite come through.
I loved the premise of the story, so interesting. I haven't read anything else like this book. There was nothing predictable about it and there were often new elements being introduced that added a realistic complexity to the story.
The characters are really well developed. The story is quite serious in parts and deals with the corruption that can come with power and also elements of morality but this is balanced with humor.
I want book 2!
This book was supplied free by the author/narrator/publisher and I voluntarily wrote this honest review.
I loved the premise of the story, so interesting. I haven't read anything else like this book. There was nothing predictable about it and there were often new elements being introduced that added a realistic complexity to the story.
The characters are really well developed. The story is quite serious in parts and deals with the corruption that can come with power and also elements of morality but this is balanced with humor.
I want book 2!
This book was supplied free by the author/narrator/publisher and I voluntarily wrote this honest review.
October 3, 2019
Paxton Locke is responsible for his mother being in prison since he witnessed her crime. She is a witch and he also has some powers. Paxton's mother wants something from him that he doesn't want her to get her hands on. I loved this story as we are introduced to the main characters in this series. The characters are believable and I was rooting for Paxton throughout the entire story. This book sucked me in from the beginning of the story and kept me enthralled throughout. The world-building is amazing and the storyline is incredibly believable. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and although I started this series with the second book, I want more of these characters and their adventures. A great read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 7, 2020
Unfortunately, I had to quit reading Daniel Humphreys' 2018 novel "Paxton Locke, Book 1: Fade" at the 37% point. In my case, it was because the book turned out to be a horror novel with various, essentially, cultists doing horrific things without rules or balance (the author even talks about that during one of the protagonist's internal dialogs) instead being a fantasy with a "wizard" where the magic system has rules and balances. It turns out, my quitting point is the same as where the, currently, only other 1 star reviewer quit. In his case, he quit because the protagonist is an idiot for entering this situation (which I agree with). In my case, it was because I don't want to read a horror novel. So, I'm rating the book at a Horrible (literally and figuratively) 1 star out of 5.
July 20, 2017
When you tell someone their mother is a witch, those are usually fighting words. In Paxton Locke’s case, the words are true and she lives up to her moniker. Paxton mother is now in prison and he’s determined to keep her there, but she has an awfully long reach.
Author Daniel Humphreys combines familial angst and paranormal to create an engaging story unique in its telling.
J. Scott Bennett has fully voiced this nearly 7-hour audiobook and does a fantastic job. His narrating style is expressive and a perfect match for this genre.
This audiobook was received in exchange for an unbiased review!
Author Daniel Humphreys combines familial angst and paranormal to create an engaging story unique in its telling.
J. Scott Bennett has fully voiced this nearly 7-hour audiobook and does a fantastic job. His narrating style is expressive and a perfect match for this genre.
This audiobook was received in exchange for an unbiased review!
May 17, 2018
Awesome book Daniel Humphreys.I give you a big 👍.First off poor Paxton losing his dad because his mother killed him. I am not sure if it was due to the black magic or if that came after I didn't quite understand that part I was just to sad for Paxton at that moment.Paxton has a gift to go and have spirits leave homes and move on in peace.Whereas his mother went prison for killing his father and got out and went looking for Paxton to find her spell book only to find out he burnt it.So all hell broke out and poor Paxton got beat up badly.Good thing his best friend Cassie is there to help. Ok no more.JUST READ!!!!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews