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The Friar's Lantern
A childhood favorite with a grown-up twist.
You may win $1,000,000.
You will judge a man of murder.
Choose-your-own-adventure makes a comeback in The Friar's Lantern . Readers
An eccentric scientist tells you he can read your mind and offers to prove it in a high-stakes wager. A respected college professor exacts impassioned, heat-of-the-moment revenge on his wife's killer - a week after her death - and you're on the jury.
Take a Turing test with a twist, discover how your future choices might influence the past, and try your luck at Three Card Monte. And while you weigh chance, superstition, destiny, intuition and logic in making your decisions, ask are you responsible for your actions at all?
So choose wisely - if you can.
Pick up this mind-bending novel today!
You may win $1,000,000.
You will judge a man of murder.
Choose-your-own-adventure makes a comeback in The Friar's Lantern . Readers
An eccentric scientist tells you he can read your mind and offers to prove it in a high-stakes wager. A respected college professor exacts impassioned, heat-of-the-moment revenge on his wife's killer - a week after her death - and you're on the jury.
Take a Turing test with a twist, discover how your future choices might influence the past, and try your luck at Three Card Monte. And while you weigh chance, superstition, destiny, intuition and logic in making your decisions, ask are you responsible for your actions at all?
So choose wisely - if you can.
Pick up this mind-bending novel today!
- GenresContemporaryFiction
225 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 19, 2017
32 people are currently reading
148 people want to read
About the author
Greg Hickey
9 books139 followersGreg Hickey is a former international professional baseball player and forensic scientist, and endurance athlete and Amazon-bestselling author. His previous works include the novels Parabellum, The Friar’s Lantern and Our Dried Voices, the latter of which was a finalist for Foreword Reviews' INDIES Science Fiction Book of the Year Award. He lives in Chicago with his wife and daughter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
September 22, 2022
You get the chance to participate in a medical study, and possibly win a whole lot of money. However before you can proceed, you have to provide your signature in lieu of approval. The only problem: the study's many side-effects includes seizures. Do you still want to proceed?
Here's a choose-your-own-adventure story to let you explore all the possibilities.
Things start out intriguing enough, with giving the protagonist (i.e. a proxy for the reader) the opportunity to engage in possibly dangerous, maybe even life threatening, antics. So I was rightly expecting the protagonist to change their mind several times over during the course of any scenario. I was looking forward to them having to fight tooth and nail for their convictions, maybe even a scenario where they throw all their principles out the window. Instead... the worst thing they end up experiencing is a fight with a close friend, that is basically forgotten in the following scenes.
Getting to judge the crime of a grieving husband is definitely an interesting way of trying to shake the confidence of the protagonist. There were so many possibilities to explore, and in the author's defense he certainly goes for a lot of them. I enjoyed the lawyers' exchange, the witness questioning, and the way both parties try to point the jury into agreeing with them. The protagonist however, doesn't really take in much of anything, too busy bandying their judgement around.
The underlying idea is a good one: make the protagonist generic enough (no name, gender or even occupation) and narrate events from their point of view, and thus simulate an immersive experience for the reader. Have them observe the processes, in order to make the reader genuinely care about the outcome and thus the protagonist's contribution. And last but not least, bombard the reader with a host of condescending and misogynist remarks... to establish the protagonist's superiority complex?
I assume, the whole patronizing attitude is meant to be seen as a natural progression from "distrusting the experiment" to "distrusting the system" and eventually "distrusting society as whole". Even so, the judgmental remarks about bad make-up, a 40-year-old woman aging gracefully in contrast to a jovial and youthful 50-year-old man don't really have a place here. First, for their gratuitous rudeness, and second their opinionated nature instantly took away a good bit of reader relatability.
Score: 3/5 stars
Despite the very promising beginning, things never really moved beyond intriguing for me. Worse, the storyline even occasionally skirts the boundaries of boredom, with the many repeating scenarios.
I need some sort of excitement in my reading material, and a healthy dose of unpredictability. As I generally start out willing to be led around the nose by my reading material, it shouldn't be too hard to surprise me. So, in a choose-your-own-adventure book I was rightly expecting at least one scenario to have an unexpected, even if silly, outcome. Sadly, I was left wanting.
========================
I received a digital copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest and fair review
Here's a choose-your-own-adventure story to let you explore all the possibilities.
Things start out intriguing enough, with giving the protagonist (i.e. a proxy for the reader) the opportunity to engage in possibly dangerous, maybe even life threatening, antics. So I was rightly expecting the protagonist to change their mind several times over during the course of any scenario. I was looking forward to them having to fight tooth and nail for their convictions, maybe even a scenario where they throw all their principles out the window. Instead... the worst thing they end up experiencing is a fight with a close friend, that is basically forgotten in the following scenes.
Getting to judge the crime of a grieving husband is definitely an interesting way of trying to shake the confidence of the protagonist. There were so many possibilities to explore, and in the author's defense he certainly goes for a lot of them. I enjoyed the lawyers' exchange, the witness questioning, and the way both parties try to point the jury into agreeing with them. The protagonist however, doesn't really take in much of anything, too busy bandying their judgement around.
The underlying idea is a good one: make the protagonist generic enough (no name, gender or even occupation) and narrate events from their point of view, and thus simulate an immersive experience for the reader. Have them observe the processes, in order to make the reader genuinely care about the outcome and thus the protagonist's contribution. And last but not least, bombard the reader with a host of condescending and misogynist remarks... to establish the protagonist's superiority complex?
I assume, the whole patronizing attitude is meant to be seen as a natural progression from "distrusting the experiment" to "distrusting the system" and eventually "distrusting society as whole". Even so, the judgmental remarks about bad make-up, a 40-year-old woman aging gracefully in contrast to a jovial and youthful 50-year-old man don't really have a place here. First, for their gratuitous rudeness, and second their opinionated nature instantly took away a good bit of reader relatability.
Score: 3/5 stars
Despite the very promising beginning, things never really moved beyond intriguing for me. Worse, the storyline even occasionally skirts the boundaries of boredom, with the many repeating scenarios.
I need some sort of excitement in my reading material, and a healthy dose of unpredictability. As I generally start out willing to be led around the nose by my reading material, it shouldn't be too hard to surprise me. So, in a choose-your-own-adventure book I was rightly expecting at least one scenario to have an unexpected, even if silly, outcome. Sadly, I was left wanting.
========================
I received a digital copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest and fair review
August 24, 2019
This is a very interesting book...
Our main character is producing a study on human decision-making. It starts off with an MRI and then goes forward to telling you that you have to make a decision between three boxes. One of the boxes will have $1,000,000 in it, one of the boxes will have $1,000 in it, and the other box will have nothing. We do not know which box has what. In a week's time the main character must come back and make their decision. During this time the main character has to sit in jury duty in a case involving manslaughter. Throughout the week as they are serving jury duty they sit and ponder on the human decision-making process.
Okay first off, this book is very heavy on the scientific and legal terms and jargon. It also has extremely long-winded descriptions which make it difficult to make your choices when you are choosing your own adventure. I think that shorter descriptions and choices would have been preferable.
I also want to point out that this book is extremely difficult to enjoy the way that it was supposed to be enjoyed, in ebook format. Obviously it's a little more difficult to flip through the pages when there are no pages to flip through. That really kind of killed the experience for me. 😞
However this book is definitely well-researched. The entire book is very much your own study in human decision-making which I think was exactly what the author was trying to convey and, if that is so, he does it very well.
Overall this is a very interesting book. Not quite sure if I liked the choose-your-own-adventure aspect but I didn't hate it either. I most definitely did not enjoy this book as an ebook but would have preferred a paper copy.
And I would recommend this in paper copy form to those who like a little bit of literary fiction.
Our main character is producing a study on human decision-making. It starts off with an MRI and then goes forward to telling you that you have to make a decision between three boxes. One of the boxes will have $1,000,000 in it, one of the boxes will have $1,000 in it, and the other box will have nothing. We do not know which box has what. In a week's time the main character must come back and make their decision. During this time the main character has to sit in jury duty in a case involving manslaughter. Throughout the week as they are serving jury duty they sit and ponder on the human decision-making process.
Okay first off, this book is very heavy on the scientific and legal terms and jargon. It also has extremely long-winded descriptions which make it difficult to make your choices when you are choosing your own adventure. I think that shorter descriptions and choices would have been preferable.
I also want to point out that this book is extremely difficult to enjoy the way that it was supposed to be enjoyed, in ebook format. Obviously it's a little more difficult to flip through the pages when there are no pages to flip through. That really kind of killed the experience for me. 😞
However this book is definitely well-researched. The entire book is very much your own study in human decision-making which I think was exactly what the author was trying to convey and, if that is so, he does it very well.
Overall this is a very interesting book. Not quite sure if I liked the choose-your-own-adventure aspect but I didn't hate it either. I most definitely did not enjoy this book as an ebook but would have preferred a paper copy.
And I would recommend this in paper copy form to those who like a little bit of literary fiction.
June 11, 2021
I really have to think about this... my brain is too muddled right now. Rtc...
Update: Okay, so I’ve thought about this and honestly there are pluses and minuses to this one. There were a few things that caught my attention that kind of drove me nuts at first. I try so hard not to be bothered by grammatical errors, especially when I think they might have been added for a purpose. For example, there are several run-on sentences in this read. I have decided to let it go even though they do bug me. There were other things that are more important.
I love that this is a choose your own fate book. There aren’t nearly enough of these and I think it’s great that this is one of them. Actually, I feel like there could have been even more choices to make that would have made this an even more delightful book.
There was a bit of a lull in the plot as we went through the court room scenes, but things start to pick up near the end. I actually decided long before the time came how I was going to vote. But!!! I want to vote differently the next time I read it. And that’s why this type of book is so great. You didn’t enjoy how it went the first time?! Go a different route the next time!!
That being said, it was hard to rate this. The beginning was much slower than I had anticipated, but it still ended up being a decent read. This is why I chose three stars. Perhaps the next time I get a chance to read this, I’ll change the rating. That’s why a choose your own fate book is so great!!
Thanks so much to the author, Greg Hickey, for the opportunity to read this for my honest and unbiased opinion!!
Check out this review and others on my blog @ https://shannarareads.com/?p=508
Thanks!!
Update: Okay, so I’ve thought about this and honestly there are pluses and minuses to this one. There were a few things that caught my attention that kind of drove me nuts at first. I try so hard not to be bothered by grammatical errors, especially when I think they might have been added for a purpose. For example, there are several run-on sentences in this read. I have decided to let it go even though they do bug me. There were other things that are more important.
I love that this is a choose your own fate book. There aren’t nearly enough of these and I think it’s great that this is one of them. Actually, I feel like there could have been even more choices to make that would have made this an even more delightful book.
There was a bit of a lull in the plot as we went through the court room scenes, but things start to pick up near the end. I actually decided long before the time came how I was going to vote. But!!! I want to vote differently the next time I read it. And that’s why this type of book is so great. You didn’t enjoy how it went the first time?! Go a different route the next time!!
That being said, it was hard to rate this. The beginning was much slower than I had anticipated, but it still ended up being a decent read. This is why I chose three stars. Perhaps the next time I get a chance to read this, I’ll change the rating. That’s why a choose your own fate book is so great!!
Thanks so much to the author, Greg Hickey, for the opportunity to read this for my honest and unbiased opinion!!
Check out this review and others on my blog @ https://shannarareads.com/?p=508
Thanks!!
June 12, 2020
Neck-Breaking Pace. Thriller. Sci-fi.
Translation: I need more of this.
"The straight line, a respectable optical illusion which ruins many a man."
- Victor Hugo, Les Misérables
Here's the thing: You are a subject for a Neuroscience study that's trying to find out how people make decisions. It all seems fun and games, when at first you are asked to choose a box that either contains $1,000,000, $1000 or $0. Next thing you realize is that you are being asked to jury trials and murder cases. Didn't see that coming, ha!
First things first, this book resonated with me pretty well because I could literally imagine the labs and experiments being performed as I have been to a few such labs for internships, working with rodents and trying to understand the human brain a little better. Every day, I'd learn something new and seeing the same situation in a fictional work, I couldn't be more interested. Keeping me on the edge of my seat, the story thrilled me at points, terrified me and kept me guessing what next and what if I had been on another path.
Human decision making process is a complicated thing and still much is there to find out. The book helps you exercise your own brain mussels while making you choose one from another. As the story progresses, the decision making process gets more complex, making you ask and doubt if it is ethical or not.
"Choose Your Own Adventure" books have intrigued me since I was a child and it's actually funny, that you forget about how enjoyable this genre is and take pride in your reading list like not much is missing and then, all of a sudden, a book like this comes and all you could say is 'I've got to read this one!' It becomes non-negotiable.
So was the case with me here.
I admired how quickly the pages jumped and hopped and moved from adventure to thriller to mystery to horror and back to thriller again, not leaving the reader's mind alone for a second, a sense of electrifying thrill attached as soon as the first chapter finishes itself, constantly checking on the moral grounds you stand.
It has been a few days since I felt gripped and nostalgic while reading a book, not only about my childhood but also about my days as a researcher.
I can understand why this book wouldn't work for readers looking for a rigid kind of entertainment, but I'm certain that those familiar with this genre would appreciate it more and see the potential. If you are looking for something out of the box and want to try other than what your comfort zone says, then try this one.
One suggestion I could give to readers would be that no matter how fast you want to read, make sure that you have ample amount of time, because it will help you research the scientific terms and jargons. That way, the adventures become more intense.
I cannot wait to see more of such books and authors coming up, putting forward new, fun and eduvative ideas, making one reflect.
Translation: I need more of this.
"The straight line, a respectable optical illusion which ruins many a man."
- Victor Hugo, Les Misérables
Here's the thing: You are a subject for a Neuroscience study that's trying to find out how people make decisions. It all seems fun and games, when at first you are asked to choose a box that either contains $1,000,000, $1000 or $0. Next thing you realize is that you are being asked to jury trials and murder cases. Didn't see that coming, ha!
First things first, this book resonated with me pretty well because I could literally imagine the labs and experiments being performed as I have been to a few such labs for internships, working with rodents and trying to understand the human brain a little better. Every day, I'd learn something new and seeing the same situation in a fictional work, I couldn't be more interested. Keeping me on the edge of my seat, the story thrilled me at points, terrified me and kept me guessing what next and what if I had been on another path.
Human decision making process is a complicated thing and still much is there to find out. The book helps you exercise your own brain mussels while making you choose one from another. As the story progresses, the decision making process gets more complex, making you ask and doubt if it is ethical or not.
"Choose Your Own Adventure" books have intrigued me since I was a child and it's actually funny, that you forget about how enjoyable this genre is and take pride in your reading list like not much is missing and then, all of a sudden, a book like this comes and all you could say is 'I've got to read this one!' It becomes non-negotiable.
So was the case with me here.
I admired how quickly the pages jumped and hopped and moved from adventure to thriller to mystery to horror and back to thriller again, not leaving the reader's mind alone for a second, a sense of electrifying thrill attached as soon as the first chapter finishes itself, constantly checking on the moral grounds you stand.
It has been a few days since I felt gripped and nostalgic while reading a book, not only about my childhood but also about my days as a researcher.
I can understand why this book wouldn't work for readers looking for a rigid kind of entertainment, but I'm certain that those familiar with this genre would appreciate it more and see the potential. If you are looking for something out of the box and want to try other than what your comfort zone says, then try this one.
One suggestion I could give to readers would be that no matter how fast you want to read, make sure that you have ample amount of time, because it will help you research the scientific terms and jargons. That way, the adventures become more intense.
I cannot wait to see more of such books and authors coming up, putting forward new, fun and eduvative ideas, making one reflect.
September 21, 2018
I received a free ecopy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I loved those choose your own adventure books when I was a kid and that aspect of this book totally drew me to it - it's all I really had to hear from the author about the book to be honest. I hadn't read one in ages, but the nostalgia factor hit me hard. Thinking back on my reading experience now, I think I preferred the concept of the novel a little more than the actual execution of it. A major factor in this is that I was expecting to have the opportunity to make more choices, and for the stakes to be higher overall. There were no life or death, game over choices to be made that I associate with the classics that I read when I was little. I also felt way too removed from the character I was making decisions for and I had a difficult time connecting and relating to them as well as the plot. It isn't a long story, but it was hard to stay motivated to keep going. Overall, after reading The Friar's Lantern by Greg Hickey I wondered how much I would like those choose your own adventure stories now. Either way, if you were a fan of these types of stories like I was you still may want to give this 2017 release a try.
I loved those choose your own adventure books when I was a kid and that aspect of this book totally drew me to it - it's all I really had to hear from the author about the book to be honest. I hadn't read one in ages, but the nostalgia factor hit me hard. Thinking back on my reading experience now, I think I preferred the concept of the novel a little more than the actual execution of it. A major factor in this is that I was expecting to have the opportunity to make more choices, and for the stakes to be higher overall. There were no life or death, game over choices to be made that I associate with the classics that I read when I was little. I also felt way too removed from the character I was making decisions for and I had a difficult time connecting and relating to them as well as the plot. It isn't a long story, but it was hard to stay motivated to keep going. Overall, after reading The Friar's Lantern by Greg Hickey I wondered how much I would like those choose your own adventure stories now. Either way, if you were a fan of these types of stories like I was you still may want to give this 2017 release a try.
September 12, 2019
I received a copy of this book in exchange for a review. Much as I wanted to like it, I just couldn't. It's meant to be a "choose your own adventure," which I think is cool, but then it's painfully low on either choice or adventure. What it isn't low on is description. For example - this description of hookers at a courthouse:
"--women whose rail-thin ankles sway atop six inch heels, tragicomically supporting cellulite-ridden thighs unhidden by Vegas-length miniskirts, slim but flabby midriffs exposed by glittered tube tops too short in both directions and baring more than a little bra and even more saggy breasts, their clownish faces with wide mouths split open in perpetual sneers, blue and green and lavender eye shadow that seeps into the hollows of rouged cheeks to blend like watercolors on a palette, surrounded by wild, stringy hair effortlessly styled by slinking into bed in the wee hours only to rise shortly afterward, already late for their appearances in court."
This crazy run-on not only reveals lack of self-awareness when it comes to editing; it seems to reveals a disturbing hostility toward women. (Maybe the character hates women?) Another woman is described as seeming like something from "cheap porn" because she shows an inch of cleavage. I mean, to me that's harsh.
Aside from this, the scientific study idea is interesting. There's something inherently creepy about participating in one of those, and tossing money into the mix makes it an even bigger mind game. The courthouse storyline though, just didn't grab me at all; there was far too much granular (boring) trial detail. In the end, that's what made me throw up my hands in defeat - the absurdly overdone description. I just couldn't slog through page after page of paragraph-long run-on sentences hoping to make a single meaningful choice. My suggestion to the author is to edit the descriptive passages heavily.
"--women whose rail-thin ankles sway atop six inch heels, tragicomically supporting cellulite-ridden thighs unhidden by Vegas-length miniskirts, slim but flabby midriffs exposed by glittered tube tops too short in both directions and baring more than a little bra and even more saggy breasts, their clownish faces with wide mouths split open in perpetual sneers, blue and green and lavender eye shadow that seeps into the hollows of rouged cheeks to blend like watercolors on a palette, surrounded by wild, stringy hair effortlessly styled by slinking into bed in the wee hours only to rise shortly afterward, already late for their appearances in court."
This crazy run-on not only reveals lack of self-awareness when it comes to editing; it seems to reveals a disturbing hostility toward women. (Maybe the character hates women?) Another woman is described as seeming like something from "cheap porn" because she shows an inch of cleavage. I mean, to me that's harsh.
Aside from this, the scientific study idea is interesting. There's something inherently creepy about participating in one of those, and tossing money into the mix makes it an even bigger mind game. The courthouse storyline though, just didn't grab me at all; there was far too much granular (boring) trial detail. In the end, that's what made me throw up my hands in defeat - the absurdly overdone description. I just couldn't slog through page after page of paragraph-long run-on sentences hoping to make a single meaningful choice. My suggestion to the author is to edit the descriptive passages heavily.
October 10, 2021
What if? Life is a series of choices; what if you chose to drive a different route to work today and got into an accident—or took the usual route and avoided one? The Friar’s Lantern is a book where the reader makes choices, a Choose Your Own Path novel for adults. The story, written in second person narrative, follows you, the main character as you decide the outcome of an experiment, the fate of a man on trial for murder, even which life to save with CPR. One of the characters is Dr. Pavlov, responsible for the functional MRI experiment you are enrolled in, and while his experiments involve humans and not dogs like his famous namesake, his assumptions are similar, arguing our reflexes and unconscious decisions can be imprinted in our brains a week in advance of our actions.
The Friar’s Lantern is an ambitious novel and the author does a masterful job keeping track of all the details. I must admit, being a little older, I was not familiar with the children’s version of the Choose Your Own Path books (and my children were born about the time they were popular), so this was a first of a kind for me. And it was fun! Plus it really makes you think. Me being me, once I chose a path through the novel, I had to go back and see what happened when I chose the other path. Greg Hickey’s writing style is excellent, very descriptive, and it makes you feel like you are actually in the research laboratory and courtroom.
So choose your own path and make a conscious decision to read The Friar’s Lantern. I recommend it and promise you will be entertained!
The Friar’s Lantern is an ambitious novel and the author does a masterful job keeping track of all the details. I must admit, being a little older, I was not familiar with the children’s version of the Choose Your Own Path books (and my children were born about the time they were popular), so this was a first of a kind for me. And it was fun! Plus it really makes you think. Me being me, once I chose a path through the novel, I had to go back and see what happened when I chose the other path. Greg Hickey’s writing style is excellent, very descriptive, and it makes you feel like you are actually in the research laboratory and courtroom.
So choose your own path and make a conscious decision to read The Friar’s Lantern. I recommend it and promise you will be entertained!
March 10, 2021
The author reached out with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
This Choose Your Own Adventure has beautiful writing and an interesting premise. I love reading and teaching these types of books, and I love the story here.
I struggle some with the connections between all the different choices/turns, but I enjoyed his writing style and stepping into his imagination as he takes this story to an almost meta place with his main character participating in a study of choices.
This Choose Your Own Adventure has beautiful writing and an interesting premise. I love reading and teaching these types of books, and I love the story here.
I struggle some with the connections between all the different choices/turns, but I enjoyed his writing style and stepping into his imagination as he takes this story to an almost meta place with his main character participating in a study of choices.
August 26, 2019
When I was young, I had an addiction to ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’ books, to the point where I wrote my own for assignments. It was an addiction that lasted a long time, but a point came where I turned my back on them. With The Friar’s Lantern, I decided to go back and look at an addiction from when I was younger.
From the start, The Friar’s Lantern had me intrigued. From the very first choice, I was curious about how things would play out, curious about how the elements would link together. There were ideas in the back of my mind, and I was desperate to see how they would come together.
Although I was hooked on this one, there were some points where I did feel things moved a bit slowly. I was curious about the information, I continued reading to get all the details, but there were a few points where I found myself wanting a little bit more to be happening. It worked well with the way this story was told, but it wasn’t quite the ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’ of my childhood. I think, in that way, it was a case of nostalgia directing my expectations.
Nevertheless, anyone looking for a fun reminder of childhood should give this one a read. There is more to this one than seen on the surface, ensuring you’ll power through it to get your answers.
From the start, The Friar’s Lantern had me intrigued. From the very first choice, I was curious about how things would play out, curious about how the elements would link together. There were ideas in the back of my mind, and I was desperate to see how they would come together.
Although I was hooked on this one, there were some points where I did feel things moved a bit slowly. I was curious about the information, I continued reading to get all the details, but there were a few points where I found myself wanting a little bit more to be happening. It worked well with the way this story was told, but it wasn’t quite the ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’ of my childhood. I think, in that way, it was a case of nostalgia directing my expectations.
Nevertheless, anyone looking for a fun reminder of childhood should give this one a read. There is more to this one than seen on the surface, ensuring you’ll power through it to get your answers.
August 6, 2018
As a kid, I loved the choose your own adventure series of books. My sister and I both devoured each new story and I'm sorry now that I didn't save those books. So, today, when I am introduced to choose your own adventure-type books, I am quick to grab and read them.
In The Friar's Lantern, I am a voluntary participant in a scientific study that begins by completing an MRI. In the course of the scan, I learn that I could potentially win a million dollars in one week's time. In the intervening days, I am called to serve on a jury for a murder case. The choices put before me are complicated questions of moral conviction. (Not quite the same kind of adventure in the stories from my youth!) The writing is, at times, academic and complex; long descriptions packed with an abundance of adjectives, that was a little distracting. Overall, though, the choices presented to dictate the plot are thought-provoking. An interesting read.
In The Friar's Lantern, I am a voluntary participant in a scientific study that begins by completing an MRI. In the course of the scan, I learn that I could potentially win a million dollars in one week's time. In the intervening days, I am called to serve on a jury for a murder case. The choices put before me are complicated questions of moral conviction. (Not quite the same kind of adventure in the stories from my youth!) The writing is, at times, academic and complex; long descriptions packed with an abundance of adjectives, that was a little distracting. Overall, though, the choices presented to dictate the plot are thought-provoking. An interesting read.
August 17, 2018
Thanks to the author for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
4 stars to my first ever adult Choose Your Own Adventure!
The format brought a bunch of nostalgia for me; I remember ploughing through these things as a kid with such relish. But replace the childlike fantasies of cliff diving and ghosts with being on the jury for a murder trial and participating in a neurological experiment.
While some parts get a little heavy on science and statistics, the book nevertheless moves rapidly and it’s a fun format. Ultimately I’m SO MAD with the last choice I made. Went back and read the alternate ending and ... dang it! You got me, book! You got me!
4 stars to my first ever adult Choose Your Own Adventure!
The format brought a bunch of nostalgia for me; I remember ploughing through these things as a kid with such relish. But replace the childlike fantasies of cliff diving and ghosts with being on the jury for a murder trial and participating in a neurological experiment.
While some parts get a little heavy on science and statistics, the book nevertheless moves rapidly and it’s a fun format. Ultimately I’m SO MAD with the last choice I made. Went back and read the alternate ending and ... dang it! You got me, book! You got me!
May 2, 2018
Gave up wading through desperate adjectives
I have to be honest, after wading through three pages of belabored description without a hint of plot or characters to care about, I realized why Amazon was giving this one away.
I have to be honest, after wading through three pages of belabored description without a hint of plot or characters to care about, I realized why Amazon was giving this one away.
September 26, 2019
The little laboratory remains as a mere afterthought, its wearied face shrouded by the sallow, emaciated branches of a willow tree. (loc 92)
The first Choose-Your-Own-Adventure (CYOA) book I’ve read in well over a decade, The Friar’s Lantern was a fascinating look at the achievements of technology and whether humans have free will (beyond what their brain has already subconsciously decided). A quick page turner, I found this hard to put down in my efforts to “win” the final prize.
As is characteristic of CYOA stories, this is written with you as the MC in present day, but it actually weaves two stories together: (1) You have signed up for a university study where you are presented with two suitcases. In one case is a thousand dollar check, in the other a million; you can choose the one with the million or choose both. However, you undergo an MRI scan that the man in charge of the study declares will predict which decision you will make; if it predicts you will choose both, then the million dollar suitcase will be empty. When you return in a week, you will make your decision. (2) Immediately after joining the study, you find yourself on the jury panel for a murder case. The man on trial shot his wife’s murderer a week after her death when he randomly happened upon the killer in an alley. You must decide if the husband acted as a result of (a) spontaneous passion or (b) a subconscious decision made in his brain at the moment of his wife’s murder a week ago.
I very much enjoyed the fast-paced and addictive qualities of The Friar’s Lantern. This book’s second storyline covering a murder trial is not a typical genre I venture into, but I found myself thoroughly invested in the outcome. While there was a degree of info-dumping when it came to the definitions of voluntary manslaughter vs. murder (repeated a number of times, as will happen in a true trial), the author has clearly done his research on this subject and I found it informative for making my CYOA decisions.
I am a big fan of descriptive settings, so I personally loved this book’s description heavy sections (although some people may balk at their length). I loved the settings for both the university laboratory and the courtroom “pod”, and the detail with which the author described the people and places around my character were very effective in placing me within the scene.
While the story was engaging and fast-paced, I had some difficulty tying the two primary storylines together over the course of the book. I assume overarching theme(s) from both were meant to intertwine and feed each other, but there was a lack of clarity on this front. In particular, specific and seemingly important scenes likely held a deeper meaning than their face value (e.g. the preacher in the park declaring God has predestined us to heaven or hell). These scenes would then end without a clear statement of their importance to the story, primary themes, or internal development of my character.
It was therefore somewhat difficult to place myself in the main character’s shoes (a relatively serious drawback in a CYOA story). My motivations for joining the university study in the first place were never explained, and I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to be “learning” over the course of the book (per the theme). The current tense writing style helped a bit in forcing me into the MC’s head, but I still struggled a bit with this.
That being said, overall I found this to be a fast-paced read where each scene’s fully immersive and descriptive setting made this a difficult book to put down. There were a few things that weren’t tied up as cleanly as I would have liked, but all-in-all an enjoyable quick read for those who like both CYOA books and crime stories a la Law & Order. (Also, I won the $1mil!)
Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from the author (thank you, Mr. Hickey!). This does not affect my opinion or review.
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December 7, 2021
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
In this choose your own adventure novel, you have the chance to join a study about the predictability of human behavior, sit on the jury for a murder trial, and test your luck in more ways than one. Along the way, you will question whether or not every choice you make is predictable or if fate has a huge hand in our lives.
I love choose your own adventure novels, so of course I had to read this book. Compared to other novels in this genre, I thought it was interesting that the basis of this one is a form of nature vs. nurture. However, I do think this book is shorter with a more limited number of endings than other novels in the same genre.
Personally, found this novel lacking in options. After returning to the beginning for the fourth time, I already knew where it was headed due to the lack of choices leading to new areas of an “adventure.” Some of the chapters were information heavy as well and didn’t always impact the next choice. That said, I could follow the author’s train of thought and see what they were trying to do with this, and I think it was a good first time run at doing a choose your own adventure novel.
Some of the chapter titles are a sequence of letters and numbers that appeared to be equations or science notes. Initially, I thought this indicated that at least a few of the paths one could take would gown down a sci-fi path. Paired with the light sci-fi feeling of the novel that reminded me of the indie movie, eXistenZ, I think that a bizarre sci-fi path would not have been outlandish.
While I think the story is lacking in options, I do think it’s a good beginner friendly choose your own adventure novel. I have some friends who are overwhelmed by the sheer number of options with some novels in this genre who would love something with a smaller pool of paths to take. I also think that the author is onto something here and I can see that there’s a lot of potential if they choose to write similar stories in the future.
In this choose your own adventure novel, you have the chance to join a study about the predictability of human behavior, sit on the jury for a murder trial, and test your luck in more ways than one. Along the way, you will question whether or not every choice you make is predictable or if fate has a huge hand in our lives.
I love choose your own adventure novels, so of course I had to read this book. Compared to other novels in this genre, I thought it was interesting that the basis of this one is a form of nature vs. nurture. However, I do think this book is shorter with a more limited number of endings than other novels in the same genre.
Personally, found this novel lacking in options. After returning to the beginning for the fourth time, I already knew where it was headed due to the lack of choices leading to new areas of an “adventure.” Some of the chapters were information heavy as well and didn’t always impact the next choice. That said, I could follow the author’s train of thought and see what they were trying to do with this, and I think it was a good first time run at doing a choose your own adventure novel.
Some of the chapter titles are a sequence of letters and numbers that appeared to be equations or science notes. Initially, I thought this indicated that at least a few of the paths one could take would gown down a sci-fi path. Paired with the light sci-fi feeling of the novel that reminded me of the indie movie, eXistenZ, I think that a bizarre sci-fi path would not have been outlandish.
While I think the story is lacking in options, I do think it’s a good beginner friendly choose your own adventure novel. I have some friends who are overwhelmed by the sheer number of options with some novels in this genre who would love something with a smaller pool of paths to take. I also think that the author is onto something here and I can see that there’s a lot of potential if they choose to write similar stories in the future.
May 2, 2021
I received a free ebook copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I have to say this was quite a refreshment to read. It has been a long time since i read a "choose your own story" book 😊
In the beginning i had a problem understanding the terms and words because they were a bit scientific, but it got better.
If you want to have the responsibility of choosing the fate of a man sentenced for murder and be a part of the experiment, this is your book 👍 you can either win a million dollar check, thousand dolars check or none, you can send a man to jail or free him, you choose 😊
I would gladly like to read the book again, but with different choices, just to see how the story goes both ways.
I have to say this was quite a refreshment to read. It has been a long time since i read a "choose your own story" book 😊
In the beginning i had a problem understanding the terms and words because they were a bit scientific, but it got better.
If you want to have the responsibility of choosing the fate of a man sentenced for murder and be a part of the experiment, this is your book 👍 you can either win a million dollar check, thousand dolars check or none, you can send a man to jail or free him, you choose 😊
I would gladly like to read the book again, but with different choices, just to see how the story goes both ways.
December 13, 2021
This book is fascinating and for me, it was a totally unknown experience. I must admit that it is the first book in which I have been able to choose my own path, and naturally, feel part of the story. I have certainly been very entertained by the second-person role-play challenge, and since English is not my mother tongue, have been delighted with the grammatical structure, and writing of the author because It was very challenging for me, and it reflects a very meticulous and well-done work.
I would very much like a Spanish version to exist to recommend to my friends.
I would very much like a Spanish version to exist to recommend to my friends.
May 17, 2021
I rarely stumble upon a book that makes a story around your personal perspective on the story that you are reading.
It is not only interesting but also thought-provoking.
It is not only interesting but also thought-provoking.
September 13, 2018
The author of this book reached out to me because of me liking Wolf in White Van and asked if I'd like a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
I said yes.
Now, I've played a few ''choose your own adventure'' books in my time. I love playing RPG and MMO's, so I was really looking forward to reading this book. I will be honest and say I did not read the blurb before accepting the book, and so, because of the tittle and the link to Wolf in White Van, i expected this book to be something else. I don't know exactly what. Maybe a dystopian story, or eevn a contemporary story but with a bigger risk to ''your own life''.
See, that is what makes RPGs, LARPS, and these kind of books interesting to me. That my choices may actually lead to my characters death.
It soon became clear, however, that that was not the case in this book.
This book is set in modern day US. There is, as far as I could tell, no danger to your life and no real incentive to keep going. At least it wasn't for me.
I am really sorry to say that this book wasn't for me.
Some of it may be my disappointment in hit being contemporary, but some of it is on the author as well.
My biggest problem was how the author put thoughts into your characters mind. The whole point of a choose your own adventure book is to choose, but in almost every chapter of this book, the author made choices for you and put thoughts into your head.
It may, in itself have been an experiment much like the one in the book. See if the reader noticed the thoughts, and how they acted accordingly.
I did notice, though, because the way the character thought didn't appeal to me at all. I was, at times, disgusted by how they saw the world, which created a distance between me and the story.
Another thing that made some distance was the amount of info dumping going on.
I understand how the author may feel the need to imprint on the reader what is going on, especially with this being a choose your own adventure style story, but it ended up with me just skimming a bunch of text because of all the repetition.
Even when there wasn't repetition, there was so much info I could hardly wrap my mind around it.
So, in the end, this book was not for me at all.
I like the idea of a choose your own adventure set with this story, but it should have offered up way more choices to the reader. As it was, the author made most of the choices, leaving just a few of what seemed important but in reality weren't to the reader.
I said yes.
Now, I've played a few ''choose your own adventure'' books in my time. I love playing RPG and MMO's, so I was really looking forward to reading this book. I will be honest and say I did not read the blurb before accepting the book, and so, because of the tittle and the link to Wolf in White Van, i expected this book to be something else. I don't know exactly what. Maybe a dystopian story, or eevn a contemporary story but with a bigger risk to ''your own life''.
See, that is what makes RPGs, LARPS, and these kind of books interesting to me. That my choices may actually lead to my characters death.
It soon became clear, however, that that was not the case in this book.
This book is set in modern day US. There is, as far as I could tell, no danger to your life and no real incentive to keep going. At least it wasn't for me.
I am really sorry to say that this book wasn't for me.
Some of it may be my disappointment in hit being contemporary, but some of it is on the author as well.
My biggest problem was how the author put thoughts into your characters mind. The whole point of a choose your own adventure book is to choose, but in almost every chapter of this book, the author made choices for you and put thoughts into your head.
It may, in itself have been an experiment much like the one in the book. See if the reader noticed the thoughts, and how they acted accordingly.
I did notice, though, because the way the character thought didn't appeal to me at all. I was, at times, disgusted by how they saw the world, which created a distance between me and the story.
Another thing that made some distance was the amount of info dumping going on.
I understand how the author may feel the need to imprint on the reader what is going on, especially with this being a choose your own adventure style story, but it ended up with me just skimming a bunch of text because of all the repetition.
Even when there wasn't repetition, there was so much info I could hardly wrap my mind around it.
So, in the end, this book was not for me at all.
I like the idea of a choose your own adventure set with this story, but it should have offered up way more choices to the reader. As it was, the author made most of the choices, leaving just a few of what seemed important but in reality weren't to the reader.
Read
May 25, 2021I thought that this was very interesting and Greg Hickey definitely made some choices that I was surprised by which was great. While I enjoyed the story I did find it confusing at times and thought the way that some characters were described was not that great and kind of problematic.
More in-depth RTC.
When I got a request for The Friar's Lantern, I was interested in picking it up as I had only seen choose your own adventure films but not books. I had also wanted to read more science fiction so it seemed like a win-win. I did really enjoy The Frair's Lantern and would recommend it to anyone who wanted to read more of these types of stories.
I think one of the main problems that I had with the book is the way that fat people and people of colour were described. A lot of the descriptions for fat people did seem to me to be a little offensive and linked to stereotypes. Whereas the people of colour were described as links to food and coffee which seeing reviews from BIPOC, there are other ways this could have been phrased.
I did read the book as one unit rather than following the chose your own adventure element but this was so that I could read all of it rather than only one route. It was obvious that there were different decisions based on what you choose. Obviously. But I did really like the fact that subtle changes were made and they did make a difference.
Also although some of the ideas were quite big and often went over my head, I did like the conversation around choices and what can happen if you made the wrong one. This happened with the murder and the money that you has the main protagonist can win. I think this was well done and that Greg Hickey did a good job of this. While I did not find the trial scenes to be the most interesting and was sometimes confused, it did not make the reading experience too hindering.
I also enjoyed reading in the second person as it really does get the conversation of the ideas at the heart of the story. I also do think that your own point of views do come to play but I think that it is understandable.
The Verdict:
The Friar's Lantern is an interesting and intriguing read that takes the choose your own adventure story to an adult audience expertly.
More in-depth RTC.
When I got a request for The Friar's Lantern, I was interested in picking it up as I had only seen choose your own adventure films but not books. I had also wanted to read more science fiction so it seemed like a win-win. I did really enjoy The Frair's Lantern and would recommend it to anyone who wanted to read more of these types of stories.
I think one of the main problems that I had with the book is the way that fat people and people of colour were described. A lot of the descriptions for fat people did seem to me to be a little offensive and linked to stereotypes. Whereas the people of colour were described as links to food and coffee which seeing reviews from BIPOC, there are other ways this could have been phrased.
I did read the book as one unit rather than following the chose your own adventure element but this was so that I could read all of it rather than only one route. It was obvious that there were different decisions based on what you choose. Obviously. But I did really like the fact that subtle changes were made and they did make a difference.
Also although some of the ideas were quite big and often went over my head, I did like the conversation around choices and what can happen if you made the wrong one. This happened with the murder and the money that you has the main protagonist can win. I think this was well done and that Greg Hickey did a good job of this. While I did not find the trial scenes to be the most interesting and was sometimes confused, it did not make the reading experience too hindering.
I also enjoyed reading in the second person as it really does get the conversation of the ideas at the heart of the story. I also do think that your own point of views do come to play but I think that it is understandable.
The Verdict:
The Friar's Lantern is an interesting and intriguing read that takes the choose your own adventure story to an adult audience expertly.
June 19, 2020
If you only read for entertainment and an easy time, forget this book. If you don't mind an occasional brain-teaser, a book that makes you think, one that engages some other areas of your mind, or even better, a book that requests that you interact with it, Hickey's book is for you. It was for me. Deftly written, well developed, so carefully laid out that you can read all of it, or parts of it, and still emerge with a full story and reading experience, The Friar's Lantern gives you all kinds of leeway. Or does it?
It can be read several ways, since every chapter ends with a question, "if a then go to page c" "If b then go to page d" There are several longer time arcs-- gambits -- within the book, the crucial one being called up to be a juror on a murder trial in which nothing but the facts are at all clear cut: certainly not the verdict, since either one is rendered utterly plausible. Except eventually the choices that you, the reader, makes, or has made while reading along. Aside from that ongoing trial, there are several engaging "side-bets", one involving a co-juror, another involving getting to the final day of court. I'll admit I'm not a math or philosopher-whiz, so I may have gotten a bit lost in some of the percentages, and I'd already considered some of the ethical consequences. But others surprised me. And I really like to be surprised and I like to have my mind stimulated by what if then that what if then this what if's. But I was never for a second bored. That's high praise because I've read a great deal and I bore easily.
It can be read several ways, since every chapter ends with a question, "if a then go to page c" "If b then go to page d" There are several longer time arcs-- gambits -- within the book, the crucial one being called up to be a juror on a murder trial in which nothing but the facts are at all clear cut: certainly not the verdict, since either one is rendered utterly plausible. Except eventually the choices that you, the reader, makes, or has made while reading along. Aside from that ongoing trial, there are several engaging "side-bets", one involving a co-juror, another involving getting to the final day of court. I'll admit I'm not a math or philosopher-whiz, so I may have gotten a bit lost in some of the percentages, and I'd already considered some of the ethical consequences. But others surprised me. And I really like to be surprised and I like to have my mind stimulated by what if then that what if then this what if's. But I was never for a second bored. That's high praise because I've read a great deal and I bore easily.
December 6, 2019
I was invited to read this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.
I'm a bit torn on this one. I definitely want to applaud the author's inventiveness he shows in the structure of the book. It's a choose-your-own-adventure book for adults that explores the theme of free will. Since it's a choose-your-own-adventure book the protagonist is you. It involves two related plots. In the first you are a subject in a scientific study and in the second you are a juror in a murder trial.
SPOILERS FOLLOW!
I have big problems with the way the author executed both of these plots. I'll start with the experiment.
The experiment purports to use MRI technology to be able to predict a subject's choice based on brain activity. While recording the subject's brain activity using MRI, he is offered a choice between two boxes, A and B. In box A is $1,000. In Box B is either $1,000,000 or nothing. You can choose box A or box A and box B. If the machine predicts you will choose only box A and you choose box A, you get $1,000. If the machine predicts you will choose only box B, and you choose box B, you get the million. If the machine predicts you will choose box A and box B, and you choose both, you only get the thousand.
Given these choices, why on earth would you ever do anything but choose box B??? I thought about this for a bit. I suppose if you are a college student or someone not particularly well off, you might go with box A because it's a sure thing. But, for the life of me, I couldn't see why anyone would choose to take both boxes and forego any chance at the million dollars. It defies logic.
To make matters worse, the author has a scene, where you have dinner with a friend and discuss probabilities. I am the first to admit that I am not one for higher math, but this discussion also made no sense. In it, you and your friend discuss probabilities based on the experiment's 90% success rate. So they are discussing how you have a probability of getting $900,000 which, again, makes no sense. You have no chance of getting $900,000. It's either zero, $1,000 or $1,000,000. They also discuss how you could game the system to get the $1,000 and the $1,000,000. I went back and re-read this section where the conditions of the choices are presented and I didn't see any scenario in which you could get both. This whole debate made no sense.
The second plot is you as the juror. A medical doctor is accused of murder. One week after a criminal breaks into the doctor's home and murders his wife, the doctor happens upon the same man committing armed robbery on an elderly woman. The doctor foils the robber, takes his gun, recognizes him and then executes him.
During the trial, the doctor conducting the experiment in the other main plot of the book is brought in to testify for the defense as to how the doctor would have already made his choice to kill the criminal the next time he encountered him without even being aware of it. The prosecution contends that it's murder and not manslaughter because a week had elapsed and they contend that is sufficient time for his passions to have cooled and not make it a heat of the moment crime. The doctor's testimony tries to refute that.
Again, many problems with this scenario. During the trial, there is testimony admitted as to the murder of the doctor's wife. Any prosecutor worth his salt would have fought tooth and nail to have any discussion of the predicate crime not admitted into evidence. I suppose we could infer that the prosecution had tried to suppress discussion of this and lost, but just telling the jury that the victim had murdered the defendant's wife would hopelessly prejudice the jury in favor of the defendant.
Also, and maybe a reader or another review can educate me on this point, but when the jury retires to deliberate the case, they are given a choice of convicting on the lesser charge of manslaughter or on second degree murder. I am not sure if this is how the justice system works, but I could be wrong. But given that the jury has been told that the victim murdered the defendant's wife in cold blood, would anyone vote to convict on the more serious charge?
It got even worse for me because during the trial we are told that when the criminal broke into the doctor's home and murdered his wife (middle of the night), the doctor had awoken, gotten his gun and then went downstairs to find the murderer standing over the body of his now dead wife. The doctor fired at the murderer, but missed.
During both the trial and the jury's deliberations, arguments are made that had the doctor shot and killed his wife's murderer he would only be facing a charge of manslaughter. However, because he avenged his wife's murder one week later, he is facing the more serious charge of murder.
WHAT??? If he had shot and killed an intruder IN HIS OWN HOME - an intruder that had just MURDERED HIS WIFE - he would be facing manslaughter charges? I say again. WHAT?
As I write this, a thought occurred to me. Perhaps the author, Mr. Hickey, is British or lives in Europe. I can't imagine there is any state in the Union that would charge a person with manslaughter for shooting an intruder in his own home.
I've gone into a good amount of detail why I couldn't really enjoy this book. In summation, clever idea poorly executed.
I'm a bit torn on this one. I definitely want to applaud the author's inventiveness he shows in the structure of the book. It's a choose-your-own-adventure book for adults that explores the theme of free will. Since it's a choose-your-own-adventure book the protagonist is you. It involves two related plots. In the first you are a subject in a scientific study and in the second you are a juror in a murder trial.
SPOILERS FOLLOW!
I have big problems with the way the author executed both of these plots. I'll start with the experiment.
The experiment purports to use MRI technology to be able to predict a subject's choice based on brain activity. While recording the subject's brain activity using MRI, he is offered a choice between two boxes, A and B. In box A is $1,000. In Box B is either $1,000,000 or nothing. You can choose box A or box A and box B. If the machine predicts you will choose only box A and you choose box A, you get $1,000. If the machine predicts you will choose only box B, and you choose box B, you get the million. If the machine predicts you will choose box A and box B, and you choose both, you only get the thousand.
Given these choices, why on earth would you ever do anything but choose box B??? I thought about this for a bit. I suppose if you are a college student or someone not particularly well off, you might go with box A because it's a sure thing. But, for the life of me, I couldn't see why anyone would choose to take both boxes and forego any chance at the million dollars. It defies logic.
To make matters worse, the author has a scene, where you have dinner with a friend and discuss probabilities. I am the first to admit that I am not one for higher math, but this discussion also made no sense. In it, you and your friend discuss probabilities based on the experiment's 90% success rate. So they are discussing how you have a probability of getting $900,000 which, again, makes no sense. You have no chance of getting $900,000. It's either zero, $1,000 or $1,000,000. They also discuss how you could game the system to get the $1,000 and the $1,000,000. I went back and re-read this section where the conditions of the choices are presented and I didn't see any scenario in which you could get both. This whole debate made no sense.
The second plot is you as the juror. A medical doctor is accused of murder. One week after a criminal breaks into the doctor's home and murders his wife, the doctor happens upon the same man committing armed robbery on an elderly woman. The doctor foils the robber, takes his gun, recognizes him and then executes him.
During the trial, the doctor conducting the experiment in the other main plot of the book is brought in to testify for the defense as to how the doctor would have already made his choice to kill the criminal the next time he encountered him without even being aware of it. The prosecution contends that it's murder and not manslaughter because a week had elapsed and they contend that is sufficient time for his passions to have cooled and not make it a heat of the moment crime. The doctor's testimony tries to refute that.
Again, many problems with this scenario. During the trial, there is testimony admitted as to the murder of the doctor's wife. Any prosecutor worth his salt would have fought tooth and nail to have any discussion of the predicate crime not admitted into evidence. I suppose we could infer that the prosecution had tried to suppress discussion of this and lost, but just telling the jury that the victim had murdered the defendant's wife would hopelessly prejudice the jury in favor of the defendant.
Also, and maybe a reader or another review can educate me on this point, but when the jury retires to deliberate the case, they are given a choice of convicting on the lesser charge of manslaughter or on second degree murder. I am not sure if this is how the justice system works, but I could be wrong. But given that the jury has been told that the victim murdered the defendant's wife in cold blood, would anyone vote to convict on the more serious charge?
It got even worse for me because during the trial we are told that when the criminal broke into the doctor's home and murdered his wife (middle of the night), the doctor had awoken, gotten his gun and then went downstairs to find the murderer standing over the body of his now dead wife. The doctor fired at the murderer, but missed.
During both the trial and the jury's deliberations, arguments are made that had the doctor shot and killed his wife's murderer he would only be facing a charge of manslaughter. However, because he avenged his wife's murder one week later, he is facing the more serious charge of murder.
WHAT??? If he had shot and killed an intruder IN HIS OWN HOME - an intruder that had just MURDERED HIS WIFE - he would be facing manslaughter charges? I say again. WHAT?
As I write this, a thought occurred to me. Perhaps the author, Mr. Hickey, is British or lives in Europe. I can't imagine there is any state in the Union that would charge a person with manslaughter for shooting an intruder in his own home.
I've gone into a good amount of detail why I couldn't really enjoy this book. In summation, clever idea poorly executed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 12, 2019
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
This is a choose-your-own-adventure type of book. This is pretty heavy on the math, science, and legal terminology. As the main character is taking part of a scientific study and sitting as a juror on a murder case, I did find that parts of the story were a bit repetitive especially since it was so heavy on the science and legal aspects. The author did do a good job making sure those parts were accurate and I do appreciate and author that takes the time to do their homework.
As for the choose your own adventure part, I felt that while the writing of the book was good, the chapters were a bit too long for my taste before you got to the point where you made a choice if you even got to choose something at the end of a chapter. Having flipped back and forth between the two choices, several times they ended up with the same outcome regardless of what you chose. That gave me the impression that no matter what I chose, I was going to end up where the author wanted me to go, which is fitting because that is what the book is about. I feel shorter chapters would have allowed for more unique outcomes, which is my preference in these types of books. I like having more choices, but I understand that writing a novel is cumbersome enough and creating a book with multiple outcomes is even more difficult. The author did a good job with this and should be commended for taking on this format. I eventually just read through to one final outcome and I'm happy with the experience. I bookmarked the pages that had choices so I can go back and try again some other time because I did like the plot and I'd like to investigate the other possible outcomes.
Onto the plot, our main character (I don't think the author ever tells us his name and I couldn't find it when I went looking) is taking part in a study involving an MRI and the ability of a model to predict human decision making. The study indicates that after being presented with some information the subject with make a choice between Box A, Box B, or take both boxes. In those boxes is either a million dollars, a thousand dollars, or nothing depending on the choice you make and what the model predicts. Our MC has an MRI and is asked to come back in a week and make his choice. During that week, he must sit as a juror on a murder case and decide if a man is guilty of manslaughter, second degree murder, or both. During his week between his MRI and decision about which box to take and during the trial, he has to think hard about the human decision process, statistics, and moral conviction. The reader is presented with choices at various points in the story to guide the MCs actions when he has to make a decision.
Overall, I thought this was well researched and well written. I do enjoy this format of book, and I look forward to exploring the other outcomes. The choice points where in logical places, and this book gives you something to think about as you are reading and when you are done.
This is a choose-your-own-adventure type of book. This is pretty heavy on the math, science, and legal terminology. As the main character is taking part of a scientific study and sitting as a juror on a murder case, I did find that parts of the story were a bit repetitive especially since it was so heavy on the science and legal aspects. The author did do a good job making sure those parts were accurate and I do appreciate and author that takes the time to do their homework.
As for the choose your own adventure part, I felt that while the writing of the book was good, the chapters were a bit too long for my taste before you got to the point where you made a choice if you even got to choose something at the end of a chapter. Having flipped back and forth between the two choices, several times they ended up with the same outcome regardless of what you chose. That gave me the impression that no matter what I chose, I was going to end up where the author wanted me to go, which is fitting because that is what the book is about. I feel shorter chapters would have allowed for more unique outcomes, which is my preference in these types of books. I like having more choices, but I understand that writing a novel is cumbersome enough and creating a book with multiple outcomes is even more difficult. The author did a good job with this and should be commended for taking on this format. I eventually just read through to one final outcome and I'm happy with the experience. I bookmarked the pages that had choices so I can go back and try again some other time because I did like the plot and I'd like to investigate the other possible outcomes.
Onto the plot, our main character (I don't think the author ever tells us his name and I couldn't find it when I went looking) is taking part in a study involving an MRI and the ability of a model to predict human decision making. The study indicates that after being presented with some information the subject with make a choice between Box A, Box B, or take both boxes. In those boxes is either a million dollars, a thousand dollars, or nothing depending on the choice you make and what the model predicts. Our MC has an MRI and is asked to come back in a week and make his choice. During that week, he must sit as a juror on a murder case and decide if a man is guilty of manslaughter, second degree murder, or both. During his week between his MRI and decision about which box to take and during the trial, he has to think hard about the human decision process, statistics, and moral conviction. The reader is presented with choices at various points in the story to guide the MCs actions when he has to make a decision.
Overall, I thought this was well researched and well written. I do enjoy this format of book, and I look forward to exploring the other outcomes. The choice points where in logical places, and this book gives you something to think about as you are reading and when you are done.
July 20, 2020
When I first realized the Friar’s Lantern was a Choose-Your-Own-Adventure, I thought it was a gimmick. And I tried to think of how an author could interact with such a medium to say something. As I read the book, I realized that it pretty much is how I would do exactly that. What I think is the most important is that the ability to choose is part of the message. It reminded me of Isaac Asimov’s I, Robot, which is a pretty large compliment from me.
The story begins with an applied version of Newcomb’s Paradox (which the author thankfully mentions at the end of the book), which is about how someone makes the choices they do. The format works very well because it calls on the reader to go through the process of realizing that the decisions they make aren’t as freely made or impactful as they each. This effect is at the base of the philosophical discussion posed by the book. But it goes even beyond that, and almost every event in the story is a meditation on predestination and free choice.
The main sub-plot that reinforces is the case of Dr. Solon. I won’t spoil anything, but the case is entirely dependent on whether he was responsible for his action or whether the action is a result of subconscious efforts and brain chemicals. Reinforcing this is also the time that the protagonist plays Three-card Monty, talking to an artificial intelligence (or maybe not), and others.
Now, I’ll talk about what I didn’t like as much in the book. I guess I’d talk about characters. It’s true that they aren’t entirely interesting, but I don’t know how much you can do in this type of format. The book is necessarily written in 2nd-person, and that makes it impossible to give too much flavor to the protagonist (you) because he or she is intentionally blank so the reader can fill in the shoes.
My biggest problem actually stems from this (somewhat). In the first few chapters, the book has a lot of male gaze-type observations about women’s bodies and also what felt somewhat judgmental when it came to describing people in the courthouse. Besides me not liking it personally and finding it frankly off-putting, I think it’s an impediment to the readers of a CYOA book because they have to put themselves in the protagonist’s shoes.
My last complaint is that there were some formatting issues, but they weren’t a big deal. I think some of them were specific to the e-book I read, as in blank pages mostly. The bigger thing is the chapter names, which were all the page numbers on the print book. If you are reading the book and just following one path, then it isn’t hard. Thankfully, at the end of each chapter you just click on where the book sends you, and you don’t have to pay attention to any such thing. However, if you’re like me and curious about everything, I had to write out a chart of all the possible branching paths. I think the easiest solution would be having a chart like this in the front of the book.
The story begins with an applied version of Newcomb’s Paradox (which the author thankfully mentions at the end of the book), which is about how someone makes the choices they do. The format works very well because it calls on the reader to go through the process of realizing that the decisions they make aren’t as freely made or impactful as they each. This effect is at the base of the philosophical discussion posed by the book. But it goes even beyond that, and almost every event in the story is a meditation on predestination and free choice.
The main sub-plot that reinforces is the case of Dr. Solon. I won’t spoil anything, but the case is entirely dependent on whether he was responsible for his action or whether the action is a result of subconscious efforts and brain chemicals. Reinforcing this is also the time that the protagonist plays Three-card Monty, talking to an artificial intelligence (or maybe not), and others.
Now, I’ll talk about what I didn’t like as much in the book. I guess I’d talk about characters. It’s true that they aren’t entirely interesting, but I don’t know how much you can do in this type of format. The book is necessarily written in 2nd-person, and that makes it impossible to give too much flavor to the protagonist (you) because he or she is intentionally blank so the reader can fill in the shoes.
My biggest problem actually stems from this (somewhat). In the first few chapters, the book has a lot of male gaze-type observations about women’s bodies and also what felt somewhat judgmental when it came to describing people in the courthouse. Besides me not liking it personally and finding it frankly off-putting, I think it’s an impediment to the readers of a CYOA book because they have to put themselves in the protagonist’s shoes.
My last complaint is that there were some formatting issues, but they weren’t a big deal. I think some of them were specific to the e-book I read, as in blank pages mostly. The bigger thing is the chapter names, which were all the page numbers on the print book. If you are reading the book and just following one path, then it isn’t hard. Thankfully, at the end of each chapter you just click on where the book sends you, and you don’t have to pay attention to any such thing. However, if you’re like me and curious about everything, I had to write out a chart of all the possible branching paths. I think the easiest solution would be having a chart like this in the front of the book.
February 6, 2020
[ Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the book from the author in exchange for an honest review ]
Rating: 3.5 stars
I found the idea of The Friar's Lantern very exciting, especially since I hadn't found an intriguing enough choose-your-own-adventure book for adults before. Here, the reader becomes the protagonist, and the book, an experience. It turned out to be an extremely clever, fast-paced book, involving its readers in a truly interactive manner that makes them realise (and not just read), through the experience of actively choosing, the points this book is trying to make: about the judicial system, about probability, about technology, and about choice itself (amongst other things).
There were some things in this book that impeded my experience considerably. I found the writing a little dry in places — a bit too technical in its descriptiveness — in a way that I could often not immerse myself in the scene. However, that's a highly subjective opinion, considering the niche this book is written for would be better versed with a certain manner of writing. What I found far more bothersome was the way women have been written in this book. You know, that old issue with the way men write female characters? The most I struggled with suspending my disbelief was every time the author brought in a woman character, because I know I, or any woman reading this, would likely never assess or describe them the same way.
Nevertheless, I found this book quite refreshing on a whole. It was subtly philosophical, and followed the rule of show-not-tell, which I really liked. I would definitely recommend it — and that I did end up winning $ 1,000,000 has nothing to do with it!
Rating: 3.5 stars
I found the idea of The Friar's Lantern very exciting, especially since I hadn't found an intriguing enough choose-your-own-adventure book for adults before. Here, the reader becomes the protagonist, and the book, an experience. It turned out to be an extremely clever, fast-paced book, involving its readers in a truly interactive manner that makes them realise (and not just read), through the experience of actively choosing, the points this book is trying to make: about the judicial system, about probability, about technology, and about choice itself (amongst other things).
There were some things in this book that impeded my experience considerably. I found the writing a little dry in places — a bit too technical in its descriptiveness — in a way that I could often not immerse myself in the scene. However, that's a highly subjective opinion, considering the niche this book is written for would be better versed with a certain manner of writing. What I found far more bothersome was the way women have been written in this book. You know, that old issue with the way men write female characters? The most I struggled with suspending my disbelief was every time the author brought in a woman character, because I know I, or any woman reading this, would likely never assess or describe them the same way.
Nevertheless, I found this book quite refreshing on a whole. It was subtly philosophical, and followed the rule of show-not-tell, which I really liked. I would definitely recommend it — and that I did end up winning $ 1,000,000 has nothing to do with it!
March 12, 2021
The author of this book recently reached out to me to get a review of the book, and I really did not know what to expect. I had never read that kind of book in which you have to make decisions for the character and the only books I knew of were children’s books.
I did know how Iong it would take me to read it, and then I have started, out of curiosity, reading the first page, and so on and so on: I ended up reading the whole of it!
I must say that the story is super well-researched and very interesting, studying the way human beings work. It is quite a heavy read, because of the topic of course, but also because of the terms used (legal and medical terms especially). It may be easier for you but as I am not a native English speaker, it was sometimes quite hard. However, I find the story to be very interesting and obviously, the author is very well-documented.
When it comes to the format, I see that it is a great book of that type, but I can now say that these decision-making books aren’t for me. I liked reading it, the experience of it, but it was (weirdly enough) too “energy-consuming for me”. I think I prefer following a character who evolves on his own. Nonetheless, the book is great and if you love that type of book or are curious about it, give it a try!
However, I think that a paperback copy would make it easier: I would have preferred, I think, turning pages in order to go to the indicated pages after making X or Y decision.
Altogether, the book is great and if you are tempted, give it a try, you won’t be disappointed!
I did know how Iong it would take me to read it, and then I have started, out of curiosity, reading the first page, and so on and so on: I ended up reading the whole of it!
I must say that the story is super well-researched and very interesting, studying the way human beings work. It is quite a heavy read, because of the topic of course, but also because of the terms used (legal and medical terms especially). It may be easier for you but as I am not a native English speaker, it was sometimes quite hard. However, I find the story to be very interesting and obviously, the author is very well-documented.
When it comes to the format, I see that it is a great book of that type, but I can now say that these decision-making books aren’t for me. I liked reading it, the experience of it, but it was (weirdly enough) too “energy-consuming for me”. I think I prefer following a character who evolves on his own. Nonetheless, the book is great and if you love that type of book or are curious about it, give it a try!
However, I think that a paperback copy would make it easier: I would have preferred, I think, turning pages in order to go to the indicated pages after making X or Y decision.
Altogether, the book is great and if you are tempted, give it a try, you won’t be disappointed!
May 25, 2021
Score: 4/5
I would to thank the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts expressed are my personal opinion.
I enjoyed this more so than I initially expected! I don't care how old school these "Choose Your Own Adventure" books but I love them. There is something perfectly compelling by choosing the destiny of your character (in this case literally you). I always call them "video games for readers".
Luckily, I already know some basics about psychology and the human brain so the heavier explanations of consciousness and the areas of the brain were easier to digest; in fact I actually found them fascinating from a hypothetical perspective.
This was a quick read and though the side characters seem fishy, I think it fits with the setting and feel of the book. The beginning equation and rules of time at the beginning is what confused me (I'm terrible in the natural sciences) but other than that I thoroughly enjoyed this contemporary adventure story.
Do I recommend? Yes I do but be sure to read up a bit about the brain areas and what each lobe is responsible for, also know the difference between your consciousness and subconscious.
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I would to thank the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts expressed are my personal opinion.
I enjoyed this more so than I initially expected! I don't care how old school these "Choose Your Own Adventure" books but I love them. There is something perfectly compelling by choosing the destiny of your character (in this case literally you). I always call them "video games for readers".
Luckily, I already know some basics about psychology and the human brain so the heavier explanations of consciousness and the areas of the brain were easier to digest; in fact I actually found them fascinating from a hypothetical perspective.
This was a quick read and though the side characters seem fishy, I think it fits with the setting and feel of the book. The beginning equation and rules of time at the beginning is what confused me (I'm terrible in the natural sciences) but other than that I thoroughly enjoyed this contemporary adventure story.
Do I recommend? Yes I do but be sure to read up a bit about the brain areas and what each lobe is responsible for, also know the difference between your consciousness and subconscious.
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June 13, 2021
A novel on the idea of free will and choice, loosely in the form of a choose-your-own-adventure book. Thought provoking and wordy at times, this format doesn't work as well on an e-reader. See the author's blog for more links and information.
The author reached out with a free copy in exchange for an honest review. I will not spoil the story or the choices I made.
I read plenty of choose-your-own books as a kid, where the adventure was more important than the writing. My tastes for writing have grown since then, and this meets most. The descriptions and text were a little much at times, but not overbearing. The courtroom / jury aspect seemed a little thin, but this is not a genre I read frequently. Snow Falling on Cedars this isn't - but the connection to the questions of determinism are plain enough.
In this sort of story, an author has to write for multiple outcomes. It is hard for me as a reader not to guess how much of the story I didn't see. In this case, I am guessing about a third. A re-read could solve most of that, but that might also peel back too much of the veneer. I mentioned the e-reader flaw here - a "The End" should be followed by a link to the closing portion of the book. Instead, I stumbled into another ending.
From the author's blog, I surmise this was a writing prompt / experiment. I would call this a success, and wouldn't mind reading another of his books in the future. 3½ stars - do you choose to round it up to 4, or down to 3? :)
The author reached out with a free copy in exchange for an honest review. I will not spoil the story or the choices I made.
I read plenty of choose-your-own books as a kid, where the adventure was more important than the writing. My tastes for writing have grown since then, and this meets most. The descriptions and text were a little much at times, but not overbearing. The courtroom / jury aspect seemed a little thin, but this is not a genre I read frequently. Snow Falling on Cedars this isn't - but the connection to the questions of determinism are plain enough.
In this sort of story, an author has to write for multiple outcomes. It is hard for me as a reader not to guess how much of the story I didn't see. In this case, I am guessing about a third. A re-read could solve most of that, but that might also peel back too much of the veneer. I mentioned the e-reader flaw here - a "The End" should be followed by a link to the closing portion of the book. Instead, I stumbled into another ending.
From the author's blog, I surmise this was a writing prompt / experiment. I would call this a success, and wouldn't mind reading another of his books in the future. 3½ stars - do you choose to round it up to 4, or down to 3? :)
December 17, 2020
Thanks to the author for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book is my first from the Choose-your-own-adventure genre. I liked being one of the jurors. I'm also happy to report that my choices led me to win the money. I was a millionaire.
The plot was intriguing, but the delivery fell short for me. First, it had a weak start. A little build-up for anticipation would have made the whole experience of the experiment stronger.
The writing style was technical so that as a reader, you get so detached from your character. You cannot feel a connection with what your character is going through.
There is a lot of technical jargon, but that is incomparable to the descriptions that just drowned the entire narrative. It was difficult to get into the momentum of reading because of the descriptive noise and clutter.
Overall, this book has a promising and intriguing plot that could have been delivered better through the help of sharp and focused editing.
This book is my first from the Choose-your-own-adventure genre. I liked being one of the jurors. I'm also happy to report that my choices led me to win the money. I was a millionaire.
The plot was intriguing, but the delivery fell short for me. First, it had a weak start. A little build-up for anticipation would have made the whole experience of the experiment stronger.
The writing style was technical so that as a reader, you get so detached from your character. You cannot feel a connection with what your character is going through.
There is a lot of technical jargon, but that is incomparable to the descriptions that just drowned the entire narrative. It was difficult to get into the momentum of reading because of the descriptive noise and clutter.
Overall, this book has a promising and intriguing plot that could have been delivered better through the help of sharp and focused editing.
October 15, 2021
The Friar’s Lantern by Greg Hickey is a choose your tale adventure novel where you have a chance to win $1,000,000 and judge a man on trial for murder.
If you are not familiar with the choose-your-own-adventure concept, throughout the book, the reader is given options that alter the direction and outcome of the story. As someone on the jury, you must use logic with the information given to you. And in the lab, you are given different tests or tasks. For instance, you play the game Three Card Monte.
I particularly enjoyed this choose-your-own-adventure because it made me nostalgic for my childhood. However, sometimes I felt like the story was a little dry, especially when in the courtroom.
For me, the story really comes to life when you’re in the lab with Dr. Pavlov, with the possibility of winning $1,000,000. In fact, I think the story would have held up better if the book chose to just focus on winning the $1,000,000 and not bouncing between the courtroom and the lab. It felt a little disconnected and confusing at times.
*I was given a copy in exchange for an honest review.
If you are not familiar with the choose-your-own-adventure concept, throughout the book, the reader is given options that alter the direction and outcome of the story. As someone on the jury, you must use logic with the information given to you. And in the lab, you are given different tests or tasks. For instance, you play the game Three Card Monte.
I particularly enjoyed this choose-your-own-adventure because it made me nostalgic for my childhood. However, sometimes I felt like the story was a little dry, especially when in the courtroom.
For me, the story really comes to life when you’re in the lab with Dr. Pavlov, with the possibility of winning $1,000,000. In fact, I think the story would have held up better if the book chose to just focus on winning the $1,000,000 and not bouncing between the courtroom and the lab. It felt a little disconnected and confusing at times.
*I was given a copy in exchange for an honest review.
October 21, 2021
The author offered a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
And honestly, I have mixed feelings regarding this book.There are parts I adored and there are parts I just simply disliked.I was excited about it at first because it's not the type of book I would go for on my own-at all.
Starting with the genre, it was unfamiliar; choosing your fate during the read was a bit uncomfortable with all the scrolling here and there, yet alluring to what's next.
I enjoyed the elements of the story; the crime,the characters-the plot in itself.What really triggered me though(it really did) was the considerable amount of descriptive text and excessive detailing of irrelevant facts.Yes,the parade of vocabulary was a delightful sight-I loved it, but I felt it was unnecessary in most cases, slowed down the action and made it hard to continue reading.
All in all, it is a decent read,even interesting with all the possible outcomes of the story (just not my cup of tea).
And honestly, I have mixed feelings regarding this book.There are parts I adored and there are parts I just simply disliked.I was excited about it at first because it's not the type of book I would go for on my own-at all.
Starting with the genre, it was unfamiliar; choosing your fate during the read was a bit uncomfortable with all the scrolling here and there, yet alluring to what's next.
I enjoyed the elements of the story; the crime,the characters-the plot in itself.What really triggered me though(it really did) was the considerable amount of descriptive text and excessive detailing of irrelevant facts.Yes,the parade of vocabulary was a delightful sight-I loved it, but I felt it was unnecessary in most cases, slowed down the action and made it hard to continue reading.
All in all, it is a decent read,even interesting with all the possible outcomes of the story (just not my cup of tea).
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