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The Amaranth Chronicles: Deviant Rising
The Helix was created to revolutionize the way we communicate. But even the purest of intentions can spawn terrible evil.
This wasn’t what Lithia had in mind when she decided to run away from home. Her ship, the Amaranth, was not meant to carry a fugitive wanted in two galaxies, or the stowaways running from a war that wasn’t hers. She just wanted to live a quiet, peaceful life alongside her brother. But now she knows too much about The Helix, the secret hidden deep within it, and what it would mean for all humankind if she walked away.
Starting the story in San Francisco California, it continues to the other side of the Galaxy.
This wasn’t what Lithia had in mind when she decided to run away from home. Her ship, the Amaranth, was not meant to carry a fugitive wanted in two galaxies, or the stowaways running from a war that wasn’t hers. She just wanted to live a quiet, peaceful life alongside her brother. But now she knows too much about The Helix, the secret hidden deep within it, and what it would mean for all humankind if she walked away.
Starting the story in San Francisco California, it continues to the other side of the Galaxy.
406 pages, Paperback
Published November 14, 2017
6 people are currently reading
421 people want to read
About the author
Alexander Barnes
4 books24 followersMy first love has always been Science-Fiction. Big surprise, right? Bet you didn’t see that one coming. There’s only a handful of Software Engineers in the world that love Star Trek and Star Wars. Sarcasm aside, me and Chris have slowly been assembling the world of “The Amaranth Chronicles” for the better part of the last decade. I’ve been working as a User Experience and Interface Designer in San Francisco California for the last ten years. I’ve seen the way technological innovations have changed the way we live our lives and with Artificial Intelligence just around the corner, I wanted to tell a story not of the emergence of this Earth changing technology but rather a story of when its so ubiquitous it is as if its totally invisible. What would the world be like if there was an invisible omniscient computer algorithm trying to slowly lead the human race in some unknown direction? How would it prune our society to meet its goals and who would be responsible for its decisions?
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
December 21, 2017
The Amaranth Chronicles:Deviant Rising by Alexander Barnes is a sci-fi book with plenty of action, adventure and a bionic man. It was an enjoyable read. I received this book to read and the review is voluntary.
August 12, 2019
Note: I received an eARC of this book on Reedsy Discovery. You can view it, and other self-published works like it, here:
https://reedsy.com/discovery/book/the...
Imagine a world where a giant corporation uses its social media technology to influence its users while controlling and manipulating the world’s information. Sounds familiar, right? Now imagine what this scenario would be like 1,000 years into the future, with its technology spanning across galaxies. Such is the premise for Deviant Rising, book one of The Amaranth Chronicles, a fun sci-fi adventure with a summer blockbuster action-movie sensibility.
The Helix is more than just an earring, it’s a wearable search engine with a holographic display that has access to almost all data in the universe. While useful, it’s a controversial piece of tech that has created further rifts in class divide, among various other problems. Yet, shadowy figures behind the Helix are attempting to spread it across the galaxy with nefarious intentions. After a peaceful demonstration against the Helix turns deadly, our characters become entangled in a growing rebellion until they find themselves harboring a secret that could change humanity. Oh yeah, there’s also indestructible, cybernetically-enhanced monsters after them, so, uh, good luck with all that.
There were a few issues that stood out while reading this. There’s some minor stuff, such as a case of “insta-love” where two characters decided they’re in love only 24 hours after meeting each other. That level of forced romance is more grating than endearing. Another time, a character picks up a gun for the first time and learns how to shoot… and a few hours later, that character has a few kills to their name while winning a gunfight against a squad of trained military officers. Hmm. But the most glaring thing that bothered me about the writing was how little credit the authors seemed to give the audience. There was a tendency to overexplain everything. There was no use of subtext, no chance for the audience to think for themselves. Every character’s emotion and motivation were spoon-fed to us. I would have appreciated the story more if I wasn’t told what everyone was thinking all the time.
Above grievances aside, this is an enjoyable read that builds steam and gets better the further it goes along. The characters were likable and the authors have laid out plenty of world-building groundwork for the volumes ahead. Although it doesn’t add too many new ideas to the genre, I can recommend it for those who enjoy a fast-moving, action-heavy space opera that leaves the door wide open for many more adventures to come.
6.5 / 10
https://reedsy.com/discovery/book/the...
Imagine a world where a giant corporation uses its social media technology to influence its users while controlling and manipulating the world’s information. Sounds familiar, right? Now imagine what this scenario would be like 1,000 years into the future, with its technology spanning across galaxies. Such is the premise for Deviant Rising, book one of The Amaranth Chronicles, a fun sci-fi adventure with a summer blockbuster action-movie sensibility.
The Helix is more than just an earring, it’s a wearable search engine with a holographic display that has access to almost all data in the universe. While useful, it’s a controversial piece of tech that has created further rifts in class divide, among various other problems. Yet, shadowy figures behind the Helix are attempting to spread it across the galaxy with nefarious intentions. After a peaceful demonstration against the Helix turns deadly, our characters become entangled in a growing rebellion until they find themselves harboring a secret that could change humanity. Oh yeah, there’s also indestructible, cybernetically-enhanced monsters after them, so, uh, good luck with all that.
There were a few issues that stood out while reading this. There’s some minor stuff, such as a case of “insta-love” where two characters decided they’re in love only 24 hours after meeting each other. That level of forced romance is more grating than endearing. Another time, a character picks up a gun for the first time and learns how to shoot… and a few hours later, that character has a few kills to their name while winning a gunfight against a squad of trained military officers. Hmm. But the most glaring thing that bothered me about the writing was how little credit the authors seemed to give the audience. There was a tendency to overexplain everything. There was no use of subtext, no chance for the audience to think for themselves. Every character’s emotion and motivation were spoon-fed to us. I would have appreciated the story more if I wasn’t told what everyone was thinking all the time.
Above grievances aside, this is an enjoyable read that builds steam and gets better the further it goes along. The characters were likable and the authors have laid out plenty of world-building groundwork for the volumes ahead. Although it doesn’t add too many new ideas to the genre, I can recommend it for those who enjoy a fast-moving, action-heavy space opera that leaves the door wide open for many more adventures to come.
6.5 / 10
December 3, 2017
As a sci-fi lover, I’m always on the lookout for more fascinating books in this genre. Truly saying, it’s pretty hard to pick out something worth your attention from the endless heaps of literature on the market. However, with The Amaranth Chronicles: Deviant Rising, I believe I have found something unique and fresh! This book possesses all features of a classic sci-fi novel, but the authors successfully added some dystopian elements.
Living happily on Venus, Lithia and Bobby Boson, after the death of their parents, have moved to Earth, to live in a dystopian San Fransico, divided into the Upper Terraces and the Undercity. Lithia kept on thinking about getting away: off the Earth, away from her aunt, and one day, receiving an offer she could not refuse, her dream came true!
The plot is fast-paced and full of many unexpected turns! The narrative voices of Lithia, Bobby, Captain Xander Pacius, Aurelius, Cade and other characters are so descriptive, establishing the atmosphere of mystery and adventure, with a tribute to real human values and feelings. The greatly developed storyline of Lithia’s and Bobby’s relations, the battle of The Enigma and The Deviant Rising, the mysterious Helix and its interface accessories - ‘earrings,’ these are just a few things to mention that will accompany you in a breath-taking journey through the pages of the book. The numerous characters are intertwined greatly, keeping you in constant suspense. My favorite character is Caden Path, the bionic man, who, with his ominous looks and coldness, sometimes possesses more human features than the humans themselves!
So, if you’re looking for an exciting sci-fi novel The Amaranth Chronicles: Deviant Rising is a perfect choice for you!
Living happily on Venus, Lithia and Bobby Boson, after the death of their parents, have moved to Earth, to live in a dystopian San Fransico, divided into the Upper Terraces and the Undercity. Lithia kept on thinking about getting away: off the Earth, away from her aunt, and one day, receiving an offer she could not refuse, her dream came true!
The plot is fast-paced and full of many unexpected turns! The narrative voices of Lithia, Bobby, Captain Xander Pacius, Aurelius, Cade and other characters are so descriptive, establishing the atmosphere of mystery and adventure, with a tribute to real human values and feelings. The greatly developed storyline of Lithia’s and Bobby’s relations, the battle of The Enigma and The Deviant Rising, the mysterious Helix and its interface accessories - ‘earrings,’ these are just a few things to mention that will accompany you in a breath-taking journey through the pages of the book. The numerous characters are intertwined greatly, keeping you in constant suspense. My favorite character is Caden Path, the bionic man, who, with his ominous looks and coldness, sometimes possesses more human features than the humans themselves!
So, if you’re looking for an exciting sci-fi novel The Amaranth Chronicles: Deviant Rising is a perfect choice for you!
December 2, 2017
Awesome book
This book has three story lines. At over 400 pages its like you are getting three books for the price of one. This Sci-fi book is set in the future. It gives you images of what our future could be like with space ships and flying cars.
One story line follows a girl named Lithia who used to live in a habitat dome on Venus. Her and her brother now live on Earth in San Francisco with their Aunt and Uncle. It was court ordered and Aunt Petra isn’t very nice to the kids. Lithia dreams of the day they can escape and get back to Venus.
Another story line follows Captain Pacius who wants nothing to do with the Helix earrings that are being force upon everyone in the galaxy. One earing has more computing power than any old computer. They can access almost any information you could ever want. They can perform almost any task. They can communicate with people on the other side of the galaxy and store complete memories of a lifetime. All you do is think and it reads your mind.
Doesn’t sound like a bad thing right? Must be if they are being protested, right? Lithia who just wanted to get off Earth accidentally discovers it has a secret and this is not a good thing.
But you must read this book to find out what is so bad about them. The three stories come togerher at the end and it is amazing.
This book is well written, easy to follow and understand. I really enjoyed this book and recommend it to all Sci-fi lovers. I know you will enjoy it too.
This book has three story lines. At over 400 pages its like you are getting three books for the price of one. This Sci-fi book is set in the future. It gives you images of what our future could be like with space ships and flying cars.
One story line follows a girl named Lithia who used to live in a habitat dome on Venus. Her and her brother now live on Earth in San Francisco with their Aunt and Uncle. It was court ordered and Aunt Petra isn’t very nice to the kids. Lithia dreams of the day they can escape and get back to Venus.
Another story line follows Captain Pacius who wants nothing to do with the Helix earrings that are being force upon everyone in the galaxy. One earing has more computing power than any old computer. They can access almost any information you could ever want. They can perform almost any task. They can communicate with people on the other side of the galaxy and store complete memories of a lifetime. All you do is think and it reads your mind.
Doesn’t sound like a bad thing right? Must be if they are being protested, right? Lithia who just wanted to get off Earth accidentally discovers it has a secret and this is not a good thing.
But you must read this book to find out what is so bad about them. The three stories come togerher at the end and it is amazing.
This book is well written, easy to follow and understand. I really enjoyed this book and recommend it to all Sci-fi lovers. I know you will enjoy it too.
December 2, 2017
I can’t stop thinking about this book as a video game fan. Alexander Barnes has really done a great job in creating dramatic effects in this story. I think every reader will surely appreciate the character development. I especially loved the way the the writer developed the character of Lithia throughout the plot. The suspense is superb, the story comments on the way technological innovations have changed the way we live our lives and I believe each reader will get a slightly different meaning out of it. I can’t wait to read more books of Barnes. Great job!
September 20, 2018
Deviant Rising is a solid space opera with big ideas, likable characters, and plenty of action.
The Helix is a universal communications system which everyone in the future is as addicted to as we are addicted to the internet. And what's not to like? It connects with your brain, feeding all the info you need on demand. At least that's how the people of the United Planets of Earth (UPE) feel about it. Out on the Frontier, well, that's a different story. They're pretty independent and not crazy about the UPE's edict that they hook up to the Helix.
And so a rebellion begins.
There's more to it than that, of course. Star Wars style, this tale is told through the eyes of several people who are unconnected to any big doings of government, politics, or power. Or so they think. I mentioned Star Wars and we do meet some familiar character types with motivations that are similar. But the feel I had more was of Firefly, with stubborn people on the fringes of society doing what they must to scratch along and, if necessary, make things right.
I really enjoyed this future San Francisco with the rich people living high up in full sunlight and the poor stuck at the bottom in the Undercity where no light ever penetrates. What a novel idea for establishing privilege and caste. I also enjoyed the Archer's Agony setting, with the story of how the dead ships docking just became part of the structure. That sounds just about right for a frontier culture without lots of resources.
There's a big cast of characters, including my favorites: a cyborg-assassin with a conscience (we love to love those bad boys, right?) and a naturally gifted engineer who's never happier than when he gets his hands on an engine to fix (like Kaylee from Firefly). They are part of three different plots that come together (natch) into one fast paced story.
In a lot of ways it made me think of my favorite Robert Heinlein stories, the "juveniles" which didn't dumb it down but gave us plenty of action to go with the ideas.
A lot of fun and I hope there is a sequel though this is a stand alone novel.
The Helix is a universal communications system which everyone in the future is as addicted to as we are addicted to the internet. And what's not to like? It connects with your brain, feeding all the info you need on demand. At least that's how the people of the United Planets of Earth (UPE) feel about it. Out on the Frontier, well, that's a different story. They're pretty independent and not crazy about the UPE's edict that they hook up to the Helix.
And so a rebellion begins.
There's more to it than that, of course. Star Wars style, this tale is told through the eyes of several people who are unconnected to any big doings of government, politics, or power. Or so they think. I mentioned Star Wars and we do meet some familiar character types with motivations that are similar. But the feel I had more was of Firefly, with stubborn people on the fringes of society doing what they must to scratch along and, if necessary, make things right.
I really enjoyed this future San Francisco with the rich people living high up in full sunlight and the poor stuck at the bottom in the Undercity where no light ever penetrates. What a novel idea for establishing privilege and caste. I also enjoyed the Archer's Agony setting, with the story of how the dead ships docking just became part of the structure. That sounds just about right for a frontier culture without lots of resources.
There's a big cast of characters, including my favorites: a cyborg-assassin with a conscience (we love to love those bad boys, right?) and a naturally gifted engineer who's never happier than when he gets his hands on an engine to fix (like Kaylee from Firefly). They are part of three different plots that come together (natch) into one fast paced story.
In a lot of ways it made me think of my favorite Robert Heinlein stories, the "juveniles" which didn't dumb it down but gave us plenty of action to go with the ideas.
A lot of fun and I hope there is a sequel though this is a stand alone novel.
December 5, 2017
A spectacular flight of the imagination!
Whatever flaws we might identify or frustrations we might feel are trivial in comparison to a reader’s pure joy in losing himself/herself in a narrative. When all the elements come together: an intriguing plot, thoughtful, profound themes, complex, troubling, characters, and language that will amaze for its clarity, directness and confidence; we gratefully set all analysis aside and give ourselves up to the sheer magic of a great book. And for me, The Amaranth Chronicles: Deviant Rising, is such a book.
Authors Alexander Barnes and Christopher Preiman weave an outstanding and noteworthy tale of sci-fi fantasy with intriguing twists and turns that will easily captivate the reader's attention from the beginning. The authors paint an exciting and adventurous story in a very vivid and convincing way. In addition, the characters are drawn with great credibility and integrity. If you’re looking for an action packed, sci-fi fantasy adventure that’s packed to the rafters with courage, bravery and heroism, this book has it all…and more.
The book description gives a sneak preview; ‘The Helix was created to revolutionize the way we communicate. But even the purest of intentions can spawn terrible evil. This wasn't what Lithia had in mind when she decided to run away from home. Her ship was not meant to carry a fugitive wanted in two galaxies, or the stowaways running from a war that wasn't hers. She just wanted to live a quiet, peaceful life alongside her brother. But now she knows too much about The Helix, the secret hidden deep within it, and what it would mean for all humankind if she walked away…’
Now, if that’s not enough to whet your appetite, I don’t know what will. But if you want to find out what happens, you’ll just have to turn the pages for yourself! However, I will say it was well worth the read. It’s my first time reading these authors and I must say I was very impressed.
Captivating and commendable, this work had me immersed from the beginning. The story flowed from scene to scene with ease, and the authors show exceptional ability when it comes to storytelling. There are plenty of attention-grabbing moments in this page turner that will take the reader on a truly spellbinding journey!
It’s one of those books that come along occasionally that makes you want to read it non-stop until you get to the end. Although, depending on your situation, this may not be possible as this is a ‘meaty’ read of over 400 pages. I’m giving nothing further away here. And this, I hope, will only add to the mystery and enjoyment for the reader.
If this volume is anything to go by, I’ll certainly be looking forward to reading more from Alexander Barnes and Christopher Preiman in the future. This has all the hallmarks of making a great series. I would definitely recommend this book and would love to see it adapted for the Silver Screen. I honestly think it would make a fantastic movie or TV series. A well-deserved five stars.
Whatever flaws we might identify or frustrations we might feel are trivial in comparison to a reader’s pure joy in losing himself/herself in a narrative. When all the elements come together: an intriguing plot, thoughtful, profound themes, complex, troubling, characters, and language that will amaze for its clarity, directness and confidence; we gratefully set all analysis aside and give ourselves up to the sheer magic of a great book. And for me, The Amaranth Chronicles: Deviant Rising, is such a book.
Authors Alexander Barnes and Christopher Preiman weave an outstanding and noteworthy tale of sci-fi fantasy with intriguing twists and turns that will easily captivate the reader's attention from the beginning. The authors paint an exciting and adventurous story in a very vivid and convincing way. In addition, the characters are drawn with great credibility and integrity. If you’re looking for an action packed, sci-fi fantasy adventure that’s packed to the rafters with courage, bravery and heroism, this book has it all…and more.
The book description gives a sneak preview; ‘The Helix was created to revolutionize the way we communicate. But even the purest of intentions can spawn terrible evil. This wasn't what Lithia had in mind when she decided to run away from home. Her ship was not meant to carry a fugitive wanted in two galaxies, or the stowaways running from a war that wasn't hers. She just wanted to live a quiet, peaceful life alongside her brother. But now she knows too much about The Helix, the secret hidden deep within it, and what it would mean for all humankind if she walked away…’
Now, if that’s not enough to whet your appetite, I don’t know what will. But if you want to find out what happens, you’ll just have to turn the pages for yourself! However, I will say it was well worth the read. It’s my first time reading these authors and I must say I was very impressed.
Captivating and commendable, this work had me immersed from the beginning. The story flowed from scene to scene with ease, and the authors show exceptional ability when it comes to storytelling. There are plenty of attention-grabbing moments in this page turner that will take the reader on a truly spellbinding journey!
It’s one of those books that come along occasionally that makes you want to read it non-stop until you get to the end. Although, depending on your situation, this may not be possible as this is a ‘meaty’ read of over 400 pages. I’m giving nothing further away here. And this, I hope, will only add to the mystery and enjoyment for the reader.
If this volume is anything to go by, I’ll certainly be looking forward to reading more from Alexander Barnes and Christopher Preiman in the future. This has all the hallmarks of making a great series. I would definitely recommend this book and would love to see it adapted for the Silver Screen. I honestly think it would make a fantastic movie or TV series. A well-deserved five stars.
December 15, 2017
I found "The Amaranth Chronicles: Deviant Rising" to be an interesting read, especially for a snowy week. It makes you feel like you are there alongside the characters while they travel to different galaxies, fight battles, and come together for one common bond. The sci-fi adventure has many twists and turns in it. The writing style of the author is good. I especially like the different narratives throughout like there was Captain Xander Pacius, Aurelius, Cade, Bobby, and Lithia. Lithia actually starts off the story, which to note her character is written especially well. She was my favorite character actually. I liked that she wasn't another "damsel in distress" and she had her own personality. She wasn't a cliche character that you sometimes find in science fiction.
While reading this sci-fi epic I honestly didn't feel that any of the parts were boring or I didn't like them. I felt that the pace was good and it didn't feel like it was over 400 pages long. Nothing felt like it dragged on and I liked how all the characters seemed to intertwine even when you read different stories from the characters. The world that Alexander Barnes created in the book is exciting, scary, and complicated! He takes the reader on a journey that they won't forget.
Like stated there are many twists and turns in the plot from the Battle of the Enigma to the mysterious Helix. So with all that stuff happening, "The Amaranth Chronicles: Deviant Rising" will keep you on the edge of your seat. The story would make a good movie, which sounds cliche but it's the truth. I already know who could direct it, Luc Besson. I would pick him because the way the story in some parts reminded me of his own sci-fi adventure films like "The Fifth Element."
So if you are looking for an exciting sci-fi adventure to read don't hesitate to read "The Amaranth Chronicles: Deviant Rising." You won't regret reading it that I promise you.
While reading this sci-fi epic I honestly didn't feel that any of the parts were boring or I didn't like them. I felt that the pace was good and it didn't feel like it was over 400 pages long. Nothing felt like it dragged on and I liked how all the characters seemed to intertwine even when you read different stories from the characters. The world that Alexander Barnes created in the book is exciting, scary, and complicated! He takes the reader on a journey that they won't forget.
Like stated there are many twists and turns in the plot from the Battle of the Enigma to the mysterious Helix. So with all that stuff happening, "The Amaranth Chronicles: Deviant Rising" will keep you on the edge of your seat. The story would make a good movie, which sounds cliche but it's the truth. I already know who could direct it, Luc Besson. I would pick him because the way the story in some parts reminded me of his own sci-fi adventure films like "The Fifth Element."
So if you are looking for an exciting sci-fi adventure to read don't hesitate to read "The Amaranth Chronicles: Deviant Rising." You won't regret reading it that I promise you.
January 31, 2020
"Gods don't always get what they want. Gods just have a way of getting what they need."
.
United Planet of Earth(UPE), has held strife colony by the throat. Captain Xander Pacius is heading the crew of the Deviant Rising ship towards the star which could lead them to another galaxy accompanied by Sara Rim, the lieutenant.
UPE has tried to assault their freedom by using the technology of Helix. Helix is small but deceptively simple earring which holds more computing powers than all the computers built in the last century. Helix technology is being linked unknowingly and against will, which is the loss of freedom and humanity.
Most of the people feel that making this type of technology mandatory is an invasion of their privacy, alienation of their rights. It's this type of thing that caused the protest.
What happens after Captain Pacius and team dump helix at the Epsilon gate?
The UPE for many years considered the frontiers as nothing more than an indentured labour force.
When they dump the helix, they are counterattacked by the Enigma's Captian Shard. Sara rim is all burnt and captain Xander Pacius is also under unrecognisable condition. But Cade is sure that he is Pacius.
Meanwhile, Lithia, who has been living in California after the incident on Venus where she lost her parents is headed on a mission without having little idea that she has been transporting a fugitive.
But the fugitive is carrying the biggest scandal ever done to mankind.
.
After reviewing the other two parts I was extremely curious to know about the Helix and other secrets and although the book is a Sci-fi I could feel relations to a lot of happenings in our contemporary times. The biggest one: Right to privacy. Completely loved the storyline and the detailing of everything.
It had some mind-boggling lines inside which I loved so much that I jotted them down. I feel the book would be a really adventurous movie. Recommended.
.
United Planet of Earth(UPE), has held strife colony by the throat. Captain Xander Pacius is heading the crew of the Deviant Rising ship towards the star which could lead them to another galaxy accompanied by Sara Rim, the lieutenant.
UPE has tried to assault their freedom by using the technology of Helix. Helix is small but deceptively simple earring which holds more computing powers than all the computers built in the last century. Helix technology is being linked unknowingly and against will, which is the loss of freedom and humanity.
Most of the people feel that making this type of technology mandatory is an invasion of their privacy, alienation of their rights. It's this type of thing that caused the protest.
What happens after Captain Pacius and team dump helix at the Epsilon gate?
The UPE for many years considered the frontiers as nothing more than an indentured labour force.
When they dump the helix, they are counterattacked by the Enigma's Captian Shard. Sara rim is all burnt and captain Xander Pacius is also under unrecognisable condition. But Cade is sure that he is Pacius.
Meanwhile, Lithia, who has been living in California after the incident on Venus where she lost her parents is headed on a mission without having little idea that she has been transporting a fugitive.
But the fugitive is carrying the biggest scandal ever done to mankind.
.
After reviewing the other two parts I was extremely curious to know about the Helix and other secrets and although the book is a Sci-fi I could feel relations to a lot of happenings in our contemporary times. The biggest one: Right to privacy. Completely loved the storyline and the detailing of everything.
It had some mind-boggling lines inside which I loved so much that I jotted them down. I feel the book would be a really adventurous movie. Recommended.
December 5, 2017
The Amaranth Chronicles is a fascinating and profound book. If you are among those who still believe that science fiction is a genre of B series, with this book you will change your mind.
First of all, these Chronicles are not pure science fiction, but more dystopian genre. The creator of the dystopian genre was George Orwell with his unforgettable 1984 and I found so much of that atmosphere, of that intention.
There is a lot in trying to erase some parts of the story from this new communicative model The Helix, which recalls how the Party rewriting History at will in Orwell's dystopian London.
The really interesting thing in this plot, which also attracts those who love the thriller or action genre, is that the elements are all there: the story of the involuntary heroine, the conspiracy, the different societies, the characteristics and the backgrounds of the different characters in a fantastic mixture that keeps the reader attached to the pages until the last one. And with the desire, in the end, to read more.
Here, this is the right formula.
Then, we must not forget what the dystopian genre has of substantial and different from simple science fiction: the metaphor of today's society. In this, Alexander Barnes manages to do a subtle and chiseled work, but absolutely recognizable. It would be interesting to know if the author has written the story in recent times, because if it had been written in the past, it would be disturbingly prophetic of many current events.
It is a book, as a lover of the dystopian genre, that I recommend to many types of readers who also love other genres, because everyone will find a hook to their curiosity and especially want to know when they can read another volume.
First of all, these Chronicles are not pure science fiction, but more dystopian genre. The creator of the dystopian genre was George Orwell with his unforgettable 1984 and I found so much of that atmosphere, of that intention.
There is a lot in trying to erase some parts of the story from this new communicative model The Helix, which recalls how the Party rewriting History at will in Orwell's dystopian London.
The really interesting thing in this plot, which also attracts those who love the thriller or action genre, is that the elements are all there: the story of the involuntary heroine, the conspiracy, the different societies, the characteristics and the backgrounds of the different characters in a fantastic mixture that keeps the reader attached to the pages until the last one. And with the desire, in the end, to read more.
Here, this is the right formula.
Then, we must not forget what the dystopian genre has of substantial and different from simple science fiction: the metaphor of today's society. In this, Alexander Barnes manages to do a subtle and chiseled work, but absolutely recognizable. It would be interesting to know if the author has written the story in recent times, because if it had been written in the past, it would be disturbingly prophetic of many current events.
It is a book, as a lover of the dystopian genre, that I recommend to many types of readers who also love other genres, because everyone will find a hook to their curiosity and especially want to know when they can read another volume.
September 30, 2018
I won this book through a Goodreads giveaway. The Amaranth Chronicles began slowly. It had the elements that I enjoyed in my science fiction, but the authors chose to go the slow burn route. That’s fine, especially when it picked up significantly in the second act. I very much enjoyed this third of the book. Unfortunately, the final act was a hot mess of hokey clichés. All the fun was quickly disregarded and left me feeling upset at how quickly an interesting tale could go south. If I ranked each act of the book, the first would get three stars, the middle would earn four stars, but the final act deserves no stars. The rest of my review will contain spoilers.
The Good.
I liked many of the characters in this story. Aurelius and his buddies (especially Jerula) were fun. Their banter was awesome. Cade was cold blooded. He kept this trait throughout the book (instead developing a full-blown range of emotions).
Aurelius’ near-death accident in space was nerve racking. I was genuinely concerned that a POV character would leave early in the story.
Cade escaping the Enigma crew was also exciting. Basically, all action prior to the ultimate battle was amazing. The authors know how to make an action scene tantalizing.
I loved the references to 80s/90s pop culture. There were nods to Aliens and the Nintendo 64 (specifically the amazing Golden Eye). The references were fun Easter eggs to discover.
The Freedom’s Reach battle was the highlight of the book. The only problem was that plot armor successfully saw all the important characters through what should have been the final moment for a few (I mean what do we really need Paul and Nyreen for after this point?).
Clemens was a professional soldier. He was well written and did his duty, instead of falling victim to irrational emotions that nearly every other character (excluding Cade and Torque) eventually succumb to.
The Bad.
This isn’t so much bad as weird. Lithia is the main character (she’s on the cover and the free bookmark I received) yet after chapter 3 she takes a hiatus until chapter 20. It felt weird. Once I finished the book and realized how much I despised Lithia’s actions, I guess this was a blessing in disguise.
Lithia is a rich girl. She’s not quite spoiled, but she is definitely privileged. Therefore, her remarkable fighting abilities at the end seem highly unrealistic. If she had been the poor girl and Vijay had been the rich boy with a spaceship, I’d give her a pass. The undercity would develop some fierce warriors. If she went to fight in undercity cage matches instead of going to a church to garden, I’d give her a pass. If her toughness was left ambiguous (it wasn’t, she mentions being scared and not wanting to fight if Bobby wasn’t at risk), then I’d give her a pass. Instead, we are forced to believe that not only does she learn how to become an expert marksman after a single shot at a carnival game, but she also develops a killer instinct to end life. She mentions once how it made her sick that a man just lost his head from her shot, but moments later she’s shooting at a squad of advancing marines.
Let’s back up a bit. Why was Lithia even on that mission? The easy answer is because she volunteered and wanted to save her brother. That’s a bunch of garbage. I’m in the military. I would never let an untested civilian come with me on a mission as sensitive as the one SGT Clemons had. I doubt a worker in any profession would allow a stranger to come and be part of a crucial task in his or her chosen profession. If volunteers were hard to come by, I’d give another pass, but nearly every SMMC fighter present volunteered. If the more the merrier was the mentality, I’d let it slide. Another rifle could be beneficial, but only ten people were selected. If she just said, “to hell with it” and went by herself (cheesy and hokey, but at least believable) I’d give a pass. The point is she wouldn’t have been taken the way she was. She was a liability by anyone’s definition, yet not a single person made a point about this.
Lithia shouldn’t be as good a shot as she is. It isn’t that easy. Controlling your breath and finger squeeze takes more than a single shot to perfect. It’s insulting to think the authors willed this away as her being better than a natural. Then she also has the inner strength to take life without vomiting all over the floor? See my above rant on why this was silly. It was so annoying that I had to add it twice.
Well, Lithia’s on the mission. Fine. The only reason she went was to save her brother. However, after finding him she immediately splits from him. In the space of a single page, she decides to hold off the aforementioned squad of marines. Real soldiers were present. You know, the ones with actual training and no emotional compromise from having just found a brother. Yet, again, all the soldiers gladly allow Lithia to take a crucial role that she is nowhere near prepared to handle. It should have gotten her killed.
But, of course, it didn’t. The climax of the novel is a trio of terrible clichés and lucky chances. First, Aurelius must push three terminal buttons. The behemoth monster warrior blocks the final terminal. What does Aurelius do? He shoots, knowing the bullet will be moved around Torque to the real target of the switch. This may look cool, but it’s actually lame. Next, Aurelius can kill Torque by the luck of a water leak forming an ice spear. Again, looking cool trumped being cool and believable. Finally, Lithia is falling to her death. In a one in a billion chance (after already succeeding in two gambles equally as unlikely in the past ten minutes) Aurelius catches her and fulfills the scene on the cover.
Want one more cliché? Okay, how about the epilogue gives Aurelius and Lithia the chance to proclaim their attraction for each other. They constantly think of how the other is beautiful, but the risks they take for each other demanded more development on the romance front. They acted more like people looking for a casual hook up, not star-crossed lovers. The end scene, flipped this perception.
The Technical.
There is profanity and violence in this book.
It looks to be the beginning of a series, but it serves as a standalone adventure.
The Good.
I liked many of the characters in this story. Aurelius and his buddies (especially Jerula) were fun. Their banter was awesome. Cade was cold blooded. He kept this trait throughout the book (instead developing a full-blown range of emotions).
Aurelius’ near-death accident in space was nerve racking. I was genuinely concerned that a POV character would leave early in the story.
Cade escaping the Enigma crew was also exciting. Basically, all action prior to the ultimate battle was amazing. The authors know how to make an action scene tantalizing.
I loved the references to 80s/90s pop culture. There were nods to Aliens and the Nintendo 64 (specifically the amazing Golden Eye). The references were fun Easter eggs to discover.
The Freedom’s Reach battle was the highlight of the book. The only problem was that plot armor successfully saw all the important characters through what should have been the final moment for a few (I mean what do we really need Paul and Nyreen for after this point?).
Clemens was a professional soldier. He was well written and did his duty, instead of falling victim to irrational emotions that nearly every other character (excluding Cade and Torque) eventually succumb to.
The Bad.
This isn’t so much bad as weird. Lithia is the main character (she’s on the cover and the free bookmark I received) yet after chapter 3 she takes a hiatus until chapter 20. It felt weird. Once I finished the book and realized how much I despised Lithia’s actions, I guess this was a blessing in disguise.
Lithia is a rich girl. She’s not quite spoiled, but she is definitely privileged. Therefore, her remarkable fighting abilities at the end seem highly unrealistic. If she had been the poor girl and Vijay had been the rich boy with a spaceship, I’d give her a pass. The undercity would develop some fierce warriors. If she went to fight in undercity cage matches instead of going to a church to garden, I’d give her a pass. If her toughness was left ambiguous (it wasn’t, she mentions being scared and not wanting to fight if Bobby wasn’t at risk), then I’d give her a pass. Instead, we are forced to believe that not only does she learn how to become an expert marksman after a single shot at a carnival game, but she also develops a killer instinct to end life. She mentions once how it made her sick that a man just lost his head from her shot, but moments later she’s shooting at a squad of advancing marines.
Let’s back up a bit. Why was Lithia even on that mission? The easy answer is because she volunteered and wanted to save her brother. That’s a bunch of garbage. I’m in the military. I would never let an untested civilian come with me on a mission as sensitive as the one SGT Clemons had. I doubt a worker in any profession would allow a stranger to come and be part of a crucial task in his or her chosen profession. If volunteers were hard to come by, I’d give another pass, but nearly every SMMC fighter present volunteered. If the more the merrier was the mentality, I’d let it slide. Another rifle could be beneficial, but only ten people were selected. If she just said, “to hell with it” and went by herself (cheesy and hokey, but at least believable) I’d give a pass. The point is she wouldn’t have been taken the way she was. She was a liability by anyone’s definition, yet not a single person made a point about this.
Lithia shouldn’t be as good a shot as she is. It isn’t that easy. Controlling your breath and finger squeeze takes more than a single shot to perfect. It’s insulting to think the authors willed this away as her being better than a natural. Then she also has the inner strength to take life without vomiting all over the floor? See my above rant on why this was silly. It was so annoying that I had to add it twice.
Well, Lithia’s on the mission. Fine. The only reason she went was to save her brother. However, after finding him she immediately splits from him. In the space of a single page, she decides to hold off the aforementioned squad of marines. Real soldiers were present. You know, the ones with actual training and no emotional compromise from having just found a brother. Yet, again, all the soldiers gladly allow Lithia to take a crucial role that she is nowhere near prepared to handle. It should have gotten her killed.
But, of course, it didn’t. The climax of the novel is a trio of terrible clichés and lucky chances. First, Aurelius must push three terminal buttons. The behemoth monster warrior blocks the final terminal. What does Aurelius do? He shoots, knowing the bullet will be moved around Torque to the real target of the switch. This may look cool, but it’s actually lame. Next, Aurelius can kill Torque by the luck of a water leak forming an ice spear. Again, looking cool trumped being cool and believable. Finally, Lithia is falling to her death. In a one in a billion chance (after already succeeding in two gambles equally as unlikely in the past ten minutes) Aurelius catches her and fulfills the scene on the cover.
Want one more cliché? Okay, how about the epilogue gives Aurelius and Lithia the chance to proclaim their attraction for each other. They constantly think of how the other is beautiful, but the risks they take for each other demanded more development on the romance front. They acted more like people looking for a casual hook up, not star-crossed lovers. The end scene, flipped this perception.
The Technical.
There is profanity and violence in this book.
It looks to be the beginning of a series, but it serves as a standalone adventure.
June 27, 2018
The Amaranth Chronicles: Deviant Rising is the kind of science fiction that I like the most. It isn't too far out there or too contrived. With our dependence on technology is the idea of the Helix and cyborgs really that far fetched? With the inequality of the rich and poor is it really hard to imagine San Francisco with the poor on terra firma and the rich getting richer the higher up you go in the floating city?
People are spread out into the universe from the inner planets to the frontier but they haven't left their humanity behind. A girl is still devoted to her brother. There is still honor, sense of duty, pride in ones work and help from a stranger, There are also the bad aspects of humanity-war, class separation, revenge and feelings of superiority. Mr.Barnes took three stories and brought them together beautifully in this new universe. There are twists, turns, and surprises to the plot but everything in this story fits. It works. This world that he created is scary but believable.
Although The Amaranth Chronicles: Deviant Rising draws to a conclusion there is plenty of room for sequels. On a personal note I was glad to find out that cats are still around in the future even if they are called bozzels in the frontier. Dogs unfortunately didn't seem to make it out there.
People are spread out into the universe from the inner planets to the frontier but they haven't left their humanity behind. A girl is still devoted to her brother. There is still honor, sense of duty, pride in ones work and help from a stranger, There are also the bad aspects of humanity-war, class separation, revenge and feelings of superiority. Mr.Barnes took three stories and brought them together beautifully in this new universe. There are twists, turns, and surprises to the plot but everything in this story fits. It works. This world that he created is scary but believable.
Although The Amaranth Chronicles: Deviant Rising draws to a conclusion there is plenty of room for sequels. On a personal note I was glad to find out that cats are still around in the future even if they are called bozzels in the frontier. Dogs unfortunately didn't seem to make it out there.
June 15, 2018
Although The Amaranth Chronicles: Deviant Rising starts off a little slow, it soon develops into a rapid paced sci-fi adventure that will have you on the edge of your seat.
Lithia, the female heroine of the book reels you in and keeps you captivated until the very end. Hoping for a way off of Earth, Lithia dreams of her happy life on Venus when her parents were still alive. As usual, be careful what you wish for. What Lithia gets is a way off of Earth and a whole series of adventures with intriguing characters that are larger than life and are just as worthy of the readers attention as Lithia is.
The author does a fantastic job of bringing this story to life with details so colorful you almost feel as if you are a character in the story. The plot twists and cliffhangers are pretty awesome too.
All in all this was a really good sci-fi novel.
Lithia, the female heroine of the book reels you in and keeps you captivated until the very end. Hoping for a way off of Earth, Lithia dreams of her happy life on Venus when her parents were still alive. As usual, be careful what you wish for. What Lithia gets is a way off of Earth and a whole series of adventures with intriguing characters that are larger than life and are just as worthy of the readers attention as Lithia is.
The author does a fantastic job of bringing this story to life with details so colorful you almost feel as if you are a character in the story. The plot twists and cliffhangers are pretty awesome too.
All in all this was a really good sci-fi novel.
June 8, 2018
Wow, talk about one intense science fiction book! So there were times I had a bit of a hard time following what was going on as science fiction is always a bit of a struggle for me, but I really enjoyed it anyways. I absolutely loved the main character Lithia. She played such a strong roll and was so fun to follow along. The dystopian image of San Francisco and what it became was so fascinating to me. When Lillith gets the opportunity to get away from her aunt, she takes it and it's an incredible journey along the way. Her story most of all captivated me and I loved reading her character. It was so awesome to see a female lead like this that was strong. The world created this book was obviously well developed and I can see how this needed to become a series.
May 31, 2018
The plots wove together very well, and the different points of view of each of the characters leant a different bent on current events. The beginning was a bit choppy, and I found myself having a hard time connecting with the plot and characters at first, but by the time I was a third of the way through I was hooked, and this is fairly common with stories with as big a scope as this one. The writing was emotional, discriptive, and well worded, something which I always like. And while the plot was cliche in a few places, the characters and developed world by far excused this. Over all, a good, fun read.
December 12, 2017
The Amaranth Chronicles is almost exactly what it sounds like. It’s a book of adventure, a book with love of family, a book with secrets, twists, plots, and things that would make you wish you didn’t have to go to work and stop reading. And the best part is this is a book where you don’t have to end it so fast. It’s a decent amount of pages unlike most books here on amazon and it’s not just the “getting sucky info in the book to reach page count” type. It’s a genuinely amazing book. There is so much about it that I’d like to say but so much I’d like to leave out to leave it for you to find out. If you’re into books like this, maybe even only a little bit, I urge you to pick this book up, and if there is another afterwards (which it seems there very well could be) do not hesitate to get that one as well. It is a book that will leave you intrigued and on your thoughts all the time.
This book was different than other sci-fi/heroic books I’ve read in the past though. It showed separate stories of different people. It’s nice to see how things all connect and why the characters may choose the paths they do, background information is always amazing to have. It always provides a stronger connection between the reader and the characters. The book is also a dystopian type story in the way the people are in command, which is always quite fascinating. But best of all is this book breaks the gender normatives that most books put in place. There is usually a hero (man) and one who needs to be saved (female) but in this story it is a lot different than that. Lithia (the main female character) is such a strong character. One of the strongest in my opinion, both emotionally and physically.
With all of that being said this book is amazing. It is no simple fairytale where the good guys beat the bad guys every time. It is fascinating with the ideas featured in this book. It isn’t always straight to the point as well, you have to think and be mindfully interactive with it. The characters as well will certainly get to you. I do not want to spoil but a few things occur that is just impossible to not get upset about yourself. It is as if it was someone I knew getting those undeserving misfortunes. Connection is key when it comes to lengthy books, and when it comes to hero type books as well. But I do not only have the connection with the story, but the book as a whole, It is much different than those of which I have read before. But different does not mean bad.
February 6, 2018
Fully realised building of this futuristic society completely immerses you into the trials and lives of the characters. Would make a great video game of series.
March 5, 2018
I've been excited to read this one since I discovered it on Inkshares. The world is fantastically detailed, with thematic similarities to the intergalactic/old-west of Firefly. the biggest standout was future San Francisco and how the city built itself into this dystopic metropolis. Another cool detail was the divide in languages between Frontier and Terran characters, resulting in some interesting exchanges. Cade, a cyborg-assassin with a consicence, and Jerula, a massive human engineer were my favorite characters. The other characters Bobby, Lithia, and Aurelius have some great qualities and personality quirks that keep them as whole characters. Some of the issues I have come in the form of Meta jokes or references to popular items or things from 90s culture that took me out of the world momentarily. The other thing keeping this from hitting a 5 Star, is some of the relationships feel a little awkward and forced. Concerning their, romantic entanglement it felt more based on the fact both characters are pretty, than any written chemistry. That's not to say it doesn't work, I just felt it could have been improved. This ties into my other mild criticism, that nothing gets going until 200 pages into the story. There's a lot of important introductions and set-up, but I felt like the meat of the story didn't get going until well into the book.
July 7, 2018
This book reads like a movie on the big screen. The prose is very visual, descriptive and captivating. Filled with non-stop action, it is the classic story of rebellion against an overreaching empire that backs an unthinkable product for the people. The Helix system, when created was meant to be a universal communication system for the core planet system. It spread like wildfire, at first, among the UPE, United Planets of Earth, becoming a delineating social necessity for those that can afford them.
After enjoying decades of social control, information regulation, and caste formation, the Helix program is ready for distribution to the next system, the Frontier. Inhabitants in the Frontier have always enjoyed a system of self-rule since its formation, and predictably refuse to comply with the Helix directive. As the number of mysterious disappearances and assassinations begin to grow, the true face of Helix and the UPE begins to be shown. The adventure continues as the rebellion begins to grow, with no sign of stopping. Every character in this story is so well defined and memorable, that it will leave you turning pages non-stop, just to see what happens next. Like the amaranth flower symbolized in the book, it is fast growing, unfading, and classically representing its mythic link to the realm of life and death. Entertaining to the end, and not to be missed.
After enjoying decades of social control, information regulation, and caste formation, the Helix program is ready for distribution to the next system, the Frontier. Inhabitants in the Frontier have always enjoyed a system of self-rule since its formation, and predictably refuse to comply with the Helix directive. As the number of mysterious disappearances and assassinations begin to grow, the true face of Helix and the UPE begins to be shown. The adventure continues as the rebellion begins to grow, with no sign of stopping. Every character in this story is so well defined and memorable, that it will leave you turning pages non-stop, just to see what happens next. Like the amaranth flower symbolized in the book, it is fast growing, unfading, and classically representing its mythic link to the realm of life and death. Entertaining to the end, and not to be missed.
October 16, 2021
I'm reading this book again; I remember it was an excellent read, but can't remember all the details.
Thank you GoodReads for the book.
Review to follow
Thank you GoodReads for the book.
Review to follow
October 8, 2018
This book was super fun. Memorable, funny, exciting characters in a well crafted dystopian future. I'm eagerly looking forward to the next one to see what happens next!
March 9, 2020
Such a riveting futuristic adventure story!
I enjoyed reading every bit of this novel which hits at several significant ideas in today’s world by expanding them in an imaginary future setting.
If you’re a Sci-fi lover, then this one is for you!
From the very beginning, the fantastical and the scientific world that the author has created pulls you in. We move from Venus to Earth to Strife (which is another world) to the star-studded space and galaxies along with our characters. We travel in huge spaceships with their large crew suited to perform this or that action for the journey. We fly in a to-seated planet-hopper too. Most interesting of all, we have sped ahead in time to the era where nothing seems to be hidden anymore. Technological advancement and Artificial Intelligence has possibly reached its peak and is in control of everything happening in the whole universe which is not ‘uni’ anymore. Creative concepts like Helix, Lambda and the like are created by the author which add to the richness of the high-tech setting.
The narration moves in different dimensions/galaxies/worlds and the names of them all are a bit hard to remember at first but as the story progresses, the details are easily recalled.
So in this kind of setting, the author has aimed to show what happens when humans give AI an upper hand over themselves! I found the plot quite great in this way. There can be so many interpretations, so many discussions that the plot of this story can generate regarding the future of humans and their efforts to develop science and technological innovations to the extent where they end up becoming no less than weapons of destruction.
The writing style is pretty professional. It’s mature and very suited to the story and its setting. Some scientific words are used to accentuate the atmospheric feeling so if you find them unknown to you, just google them and you’ll be fine. The flow of thought is easy to pick up and that is a skill the author has, as I believe sometimes, with such complex ideas the writers start using very technical language which encumbers the flow but that is not the case here.
The writer also knows how to build mystery and suspense well. We are given situations first and not their backgrounds or the results. Slowly they are revealed. So the book does keep you on the edge of your seat many a time.
The imagery is beautiful. Scenes in space are described really nicely and the action in them adds to the fun that we, in the 21st century, can only have on either motion rides or games or simulations haha unless we’re astronauts.
I like how this book reaches to its readership or its audience in a number of ways. It caters to the people who are interested in space stories, in adventures through different realms, in fantasies, in stories of wars and battles. But this is not all that the book contains. There are some really deep, sentimental scenes full of emotions and some might tear you up too. So this is definitely a rollercoaster read! A complete package.
Even though in the first half of the book, the story seems to be progressing at a very slow pace but the next half you find is filled with some fast, intense action and thrilling adventure scenes mixed with a play on heartfelt emotions.
There is a variety of characters with their own personalities and the author has been able to keep them all distinct really deftly. Every chapter is from the POV of one or another important character and there are many of them who are important to the story so following the link of them all gradually is the key to understanding the story but that is what makes it so entertaining.
I have observed that there is no irrelevant part in the book or one which might bore you. Every scene seems to be giving something to the general plot. In the same way, there is no dialogue which is out of place. Each character’s personality is developed well. Personally, I felt myself feeling inclined towards Cade and his mysteriousness. Might I say, I found Aurelius really cute as well.
All in all, this book is a good asset to the modern world of today. The writer is showing the evils of today enlarged and worsened with the help of technology. Power and its unfair distribution, discrimination among humans, control of information and its misuse are some of the topics dealt with in a way which comes close to where we stand in regard to them.
I would totally recommend this book to anyone looking for a good read and some thrill.
I enjoyed reading every bit of this novel which hits at several significant ideas in today’s world by expanding them in an imaginary future setting.
If you’re a Sci-fi lover, then this one is for you!
From the very beginning, the fantastical and the scientific world that the author has created pulls you in. We move from Venus to Earth to Strife (which is another world) to the star-studded space and galaxies along with our characters. We travel in huge spaceships with their large crew suited to perform this or that action for the journey. We fly in a to-seated planet-hopper too. Most interesting of all, we have sped ahead in time to the era where nothing seems to be hidden anymore. Technological advancement and Artificial Intelligence has possibly reached its peak and is in control of everything happening in the whole universe which is not ‘uni’ anymore. Creative concepts like Helix, Lambda and the like are created by the author which add to the richness of the high-tech setting.
The narration moves in different dimensions/galaxies/worlds and the names of them all are a bit hard to remember at first but as the story progresses, the details are easily recalled.
So in this kind of setting, the author has aimed to show what happens when humans give AI an upper hand over themselves! I found the plot quite great in this way. There can be so many interpretations, so many discussions that the plot of this story can generate regarding the future of humans and their efforts to develop science and technological innovations to the extent where they end up becoming no less than weapons of destruction.
The writing style is pretty professional. It’s mature and very suited to the story and its setting. Some scientific words are used to accentuate the atmospheric feeling so if you find them unknown to you, just google them and you’ll be fine. The flow of thought is easy to pick up and that is a skill the author has, as I believe sometimes, with such complex ideas the writers start using very technical language which encumbers the flow but that is not the case here.
The writer also knows how to build mystery and suspense well. We are given situations first and not their backgrounds or the results. Slowly they are revealed. So the book does keep you on the edge of your seat many a time.
The imagery is beautiful. Scenes in space are described really nicely and the action in them adds to the fun that we, in the 21st century, can only have on either motion rides or games or simulations haha unless we’re astronauts.
I like how this book reaches to its readership or its audience in a number of ways. It caters to the people who are interested in space stories, in adventures through different realms, in fantasies, in stories of wars and battles. But this is not all that the book contains. There are some really deep, sentimental scenes full of emotions and some might tear you up too. So this is definitely a rollercoaster read! A complete package.
Even though in the first half of the book, the story seems to be progressing at a very slow pace but the next half you find is filled with some fast, intense action and thrilling adventure scenes mixed with a play on heartfelt emotions.
There is a variety of characters with their own personalities and the author has been able to keep them all distinct really deftly. Every chapter is from the POV of one or another important character and there are many of them who are important to the story so following the link of them all gradually is the key to understanding the story but that is what makes it so entertaining.
I have observed that there is no irrelevant part in the book or one which might bore you. Every scene seems to be giving something to the general plot. In the same way, there is no dialogue which is out of place. Each character’s personality is developed well. Personally, I felt myself feeling inclined towards Cade and his mysteriousness. Might I say, I found Aurelius really cute as well.
All in all, this book is a good asset to the modern world of today. The writer is showing the evils of today enlarged and worsened with the help of technology. Power and its unfair distribution, discrimination among humans, control of information and its misuse are some of the topics dealt with in a way which comes close to where we stand in regard to them.
I would totally recommend this book to anyone looking for a good read and some thrill.
July 9, 2025
This is the first novel by authors Alexander Barnes and Christopher Permian (https://theamaranthchronicles.com). They have also published several associated novellas. The Amaranth Chronicles: Deviant Rising was published in 2017. It is the 34th book I completed reading in 2025.
I received an ARC of this book through https://www.netgalley.com with the expectation of a fair and honest review. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own! Due to scenes of violence, I categorize this novel as R.
The Helix is a miracle of personal communication. But, as is so often true, technology can be twisted into evil intentions. The United Planets of Earth (UPE) had begun using Helix to control their widespread citizens. The population of Earth was divided into different strata, with the wealthy and powerful residing on the high terrace and those just scraping out an existence living in the undercity.
Lithia Boson and her younger brother Bobby are orphans taken in by their Aunt Petra and Uncle Amir in an upscale neighborhood of San Francisco. Much to her Aunt’s chagrin, Lithia often makes her way down to the undercity. Bobby lives vicariously through Lithia and her tales of adventure. He has a condition that prevents him from getting out much.
Captain Xander Pacius commands the Strife Merchant Marine vessel Deviant Rising. His First Officer is Sara Rin. They lead a group of Strife vessels in a protest of the UPE, dumping their cargo in space instead of delivering it to Earth. The notorious UPE vessel Enigma intercepts the protesting ships. Captain Shard of the Enigma has quite a reputation. Without any compassion, Shard orders the Enigma to fire on the mostly unarmed protesters.
UPE Lambda observer Cade Path is on board the Enigma. Path is ruthless and has nearly unlimited power. He and Captain Shard do not get along, and it is only due to their respective importance within the UPE that they have not come to open conflict.
Strife Governor Maher travels to Earth to address the growing concerns. Before leaving Strife, he adds the young mechanic/engineer Aurelius to his crew. Maher’s pleas to the UPE are rejected, and as his ship is returning home, it is attacked by the Enigma. Few survivors escape. The UPE is becoming more confrontational with those who oppose them. Path is having a change of heart. He falsifies orders to release Pacius and the other Deviant survivors.
Many living in the undercity begin demonstrating against the UPE and Helix. Boson takes a close friend, Vijay, down into the undercity to hide him from the UPE. She takes him to Priestess Tarja, the leader of the Magdalene religious order. The Amaranth is a small spacecraft Boson inherited from her parents. She has used it for short trips from time to time for the Magdalenes.
Path is now on the run from UPE authorities. He knows Tarja and seeks her assistance with leaving Earth. Tarja asks Boson to use the Amaranth to get Path to safety. Reluctantly, Boson agrees.
The protests have moved into open rebellion, though the UPE is quick to brutally crush any who opposes them. Boson is dragged into the thick of things, with the only positive thing being meeting Aurelius. Many are now being pursued by the UPE for instigating or participating in the revolt. Death or imprisonment seems like the only outcome.
I enjoyed the 11 hours I spent reading this 406-page science fiction novel. The novel was enjoyable, but it was busy with many characters and a somewhat chaotic storyline. I do like the chosen cover art. I give this novel a rating of 4.5 (rounded to 5) out of 5.
You can access more of my book reviews on my Blog ( https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/).
I received an ARC of this book through https://www.netgalley.com with the expectation of a fair and honest review. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own! Due to scenes of violence, I categorize this novel as R.
The Helix is a miracle of personal communication. But, as is so often true, technology can be twisted into evil intentions. The United Planets of Earth (UPE) had begun using Helix to control their widespread citizens. The population of Earth was divided into different strata, with the wealthy and powerful residing on the high terrace and those just scraping out an existence living in the undercity.
Lithia Boson and her younger brother Bobby are orphans taken in by their Aunt Petra and Uncle Amir in an upscale neighborhood of San Francisco. Much to her Aunt’s chagrin, Lithia often makes her way down to the undercity. Bobby lives vicariously through Lithia and her tales of adventure. He has a condition that prevents him from getting out much.
Captain Xander Pacius commands the Strife Merchant Marine vessel Deviant Rising. His First Officer is Sara Rin. They lead a group of Strife vessels in a protest of the UPE, dumping their cargo in space instead of delivering it to Earth. The notorious UPE vessel Enigma intercepts the protesting ships. Captain Shard of the Enigma has quite a reputation. Without any compassion, Shard orders the Enigma to fire on the mostly unarmed protesters.
UPE Lambda observer Cade Path is on board the Enigma. Path is ruthless and has nearly unlimited power. He and Captain Shard do not get along, and it is only due to their respective importance within the UPE that they have not come to open conflict.
Strife Governor Maher travels to Earth to address the growing concerns. Before leaving Strife, he adds the young mechanic/engineer Aurelius to his crew. Maher’s pleas to the UPE are rejected, and as his ship is returning home, it is attacked by the Enigma. Few survivors escape. The UPE is becoming more confrontational with those who oppose them. Path is having a change of heart. He falsifies orders to release Pacius and the other Deviant survivors.
Many living in the undercity begin demonstrating against the UPE and Helix. Boson takes a close friend, Vijay, down into the undercity to hide him from the UPE. She takes him to Priestess Tarja, the leader of the Magdalene religious order. The Amaranth is a small spacecraft Boson inherited from her parents. She has used it for short trips from time to time for the Magdalenes.
Path is now on the run from UPE authorities. He knows Tarja and seeks her assistance with leaving Earth. Tarja asks Boson to use the Amaranth to get Path to safety. Reluctantly, Boson agrees.
The protests have moved into open rebellion, though the UPE is quick to brutally crush any who opposes them. Boson is dragged into the thick of things, with the only positive thing being meeting Aurelius. Many are now being pursued by the UPE for instigating or participating in the revolt. Death or imprisonment seems like the only outcome.
I enjoyed the 11 hours I spent reading this 406-page science fiction novel. The novel was enjoyable, but it was busy with many characters and a somewhat chaotic storyline. I do like the chosen cover art. I give this novel a rating of 4.5 (rounded to 5) out of 5.
You can access more of my book reviews on my Blog ( https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/).
November 26, 2019
( Format : Audiobook )
"If you can't fix it with duck tape you're not using enough duck tape."
The Amarinth Chronicles should be a five star science fiction thriller, but for one thing - or rather, one character. Lithia is a wealthy Venusian young woman with a younger brother, Bobby, who is still underage. When their parents died, a court order put them in the cafe of their Aunt and uncle on Earth, living in the affluent Uppers of San Francisco. She opens the book and serves as an introduction to the times, showing the divide between rich and poor earther, and how anyone without the means to afford an eating - the helix - is denied access to almost everything, from housing to shopping and education. Later, she is along for the ride and to provide a touch of pseudo romance but essentially simply slows down the story. With just a modicum of alteration, she could be written out as the story wou!d benefit by her loss.
The characters of Deviant Rising are sufficiently developed to give them life and cause the reader to care and, with the exception of Cade, who has had numerou enhancements, are either good or bad with little deviation. The futuristic society is very similar to our own, apart from the colonization of space, and an even more powerful internet-type system, implanted and known simply as the earing: with it the wearer has access to almost all knowledge, language and communication with others instantly: the earing reads minds. Whilst the poorer citizens of earth are demonstrating to acquire it, the colonies, who respect their independence are not to sure and are ready to stand against the mandatory wearing order. Then a secret is discovered which needs to be exposed ....
The book is a good space action thriller, not uniquely different but still exciting enough to be called a good read. Narration is by Emily Smith, whose reading is clear, well modulated and well paced. Her individual character voicings are not bad, either, given that nearly every protagonist, apart from Lithia, is male. Given this, and since the book is not written in first person from Lithia's point of view, it was a mistake to have the book read by someone with such a girly voice. Nevertheless, it was a good performance on her part.
My thanks to the rights holder of The Amaranth Chronicles, who, at my request freely gifted me with a complimentary copy of the book. It was an enjoyable read, especially the first two thirds where characters were introduced and their world's explored; dialogue and interactions were excellent, especially with Aurelius and his companions, and there was a freshness, a feeling of reality to the wok. The pace was comfortable even when action ensued. After the two thirds mark, however, the story devolved into the more usual, predictable fight it out scenario, faster paced but less interesting .
This book is certainly worth reading by any die-hard space thriller fan, especially those with a penchant for p!lucky little female heroines.
"If you can't fix it with duck tape you're not using enough duck tape."
The Amarinth Chronicles should be a five star science fiction thriller, but for one thing - or rather, one character. Lithia is a wealthy Venusian young woman with a younger brother, Bobby, who is still underage. When their parents died, a court order put them in the cafe of their Aunt and uncle on Earth, living in the affluent Uppers of San Francisco. She opens the book and serves as an introduction to the times, showing the divide between rich and poor earther, and how anyone without the means to afford an eating - the helix - is denied access to almost everything, from housing to shopping and education. Later, she is along for the ride and to provide a touch of pseudo romance but essentially simply slows down the story. With just a modicum of alteration, she could be written out as the story wou!d benefit by her loss.
The characters of Deviant Rising are sufficiently developed to give them life and cause the reader to care and, with the exception of Cade, who has had numerou enhancements, are either good or bad with little deviation. The futuristic society is very similar to our own, apart from the colonization of space, and an even more powerful internet-type system, implanted and known simply as the earing: with it the wearer has access to almost all knowledge, language and communication with others instantly: the earing reads minds. Whilst the poorer citizens of earth are demonstrating to acquire it, the colonies, who respect their independence are not to sure and are ready to stand against the mandatory wearing order. Then a secret is discovered which needs to be exposed ....
The book is a good space action thriller, not uniquely different but still exciting enough to be called a good read. Narration is by Emily Smith, whose reading is clear, well modulated and well paced. Her individual character voicings are not bad, either, given that nearly every protagonist, apart from Lithia, is male. Given this, and since the book is not written in first person from Lithia's point of view, it was a mistake to have the book read by someone with such a girly voice. Nevertheless, it was a good performance on her part.
My thanks to the rights holder of The Amaranth Chronicles, who, at my request freely gifted me with a complimentary copy of the book. It was an enjoyable read, especially the first two thirds where characters were introduced and their world's explored; dialogue and interactions were excellent, especially with Aurelius and his companions, and there was a freshness, a feeling of reality to the wok. The pace was comfortable even when action ensued. After the two thirds mark, however, the story devolved into the more usual, predictable fight it out scenario, faster paced but less interesting .
This book is certainly worth reading by any die-hard space thriller fan, especially those with a penchant for p!lucky little female heroines.
February 7, 2021
Epic Tale
“A cocky smile creped its way across Aurelius’s face.’I don’t wanna grow up. I reckon it’s a trap.”
This my first book to read of the Amaranth Chronicles. This dystopian sci-fi book was just what I needed to read after the year of 2020. This book compilation is different from most I can not tell you at which moment the writers changed because it was seamless. The story was well written and while the characters were vaste were also complex and unique. The descriptions were written well enough you can see them but also allowed your own imagination to view them differently per reader. There was no real way to give you a summary without ruining the book for you at all. But… The bad is by chance the biggest surprise because you wonder if he is truly wrong at all.
I did find my favorite character is probably Aurelius. He is a no one when the book starts just a mechanic who has a gift with ships. He thinks completely out of the box, he does not understand why the UEP has all the tests to show if you can work on ships instead of just teaching them to work on ships. He gets pulled into a conflict he has no interest in being in but he does not back down from what is right. I kinda relate to him more than the other characters and his strong notion to just find a home and do what he loves. He would be content in the middle of nowhere working on ships or working on a ship as it flies through space.
This is definitely an all ages scifi the action sequence was not so graphic to affect a middle school age and not so subdued to bore an adult. I do think this is for the dystopian sci fi fan and do not really open itself up to another genre. I gave it four stars not because the story was bad or writing awful it honestly was because the story does drag and it makes it hard to enjoy. It is not one you can pick and read in one day because by dragging the story you have to put it down. Don’t let that discourage you from reading it. It is written well and this is not the first book ever to have this issue and I will be reading again.
“A cocky smile creped its way across Aurelius’s face.’I don’t wanna grow up. I reckon it’s a trap.”
This my first book to read of the Amaranth Chronicles. This dystopian sci-fi book was just what I needed to read after the year of 2020. This book compilation is different from most I can not tell you at which moment the writers changed because it was seamless. The story was well written and while the characters were vaste were also complex and unique. The descriptions were written well enough you can see them but also allowed your own imagination to view them differently per reader. There was no real way to give you a summary without ruining the book for you at all. But… The bad is by chance the biggest surprise because you wonder if he is truly wrong at all.
I did find my favorite character is probably Aurelius. He is a no one when the book starts just a mechanic who has a gift with ships. He thinks completely out of the box, he does not understand why the UEP has all the tests to show if you can work on ships instead of just teaching them to work on ships. He gets pulled into a conflict he has no interest in being in but he does not back down from what is right. I kinda relate to him more than the other characters and his strong notion to just find a home and do what he loves. He would be content in the middle of nowhere working on ships or working on a ship as it flies through space.
This is definitely an all ages scifi the action sequence was not so graphic to affect a middle school age and not so subdued to bore an adult. I do think this is for the dystopian sci fi fan and do not really open itself up to another genre. I gave it four stars not because the story was bad or writing awful it honestly was because the story does drag and it makes it hard to enjoy. It is not one you can pick and read in one day because by dragging the story you have to put it down. Don’t let that discourage you from reading it. It is written well and this is not the first book ever to have this issue and I will be reading again.
August 1, 2023
The Amaranth Chronicles Deviant Rising
Lithia lives in San Francisco in the upper city, but prefers to hang out with her friends in the under city. She and her brother are being raised by her haughty aunt and sweet uncle. She is a musician and performs for large crowds, her aunt is always critical of her performances. Her brother is being treated for mental illness and wears a cuff that administers medication, he feels dead inside from it.
Aurelius, is working hard in the hangers waiting for his big break to get out and fly in a spaceship and be a good mechanic, but he has unique ways of fixing things and no math skills. He gets his big break on the governors ship, his first big task almost costs him his life. 128 Cade is a cyborg with the lambda, who is the controlling factor of the helix earring, which they want everyone on every planet to have so that they can control most aspects of their life. Cade has been fired from the lambda and is on the run. He turns to Tarja for help, she intern asks Lydia to take him to a place that the helix doesn’t control. Lithia agrees with very little knowledge of who Cade is. She and Cade board her spacecraft and have taken off into outer space when she realizes that her little brother, Bobby has snuck in and is on board. She wants to turn around and take him back but realizes that she can’t because if lamba finds out that she was assisting Cade her and her brother will both be interrogated. It is just a matter of time before the enigma and captain shard find the amaranth and take over. Aurelius and Lithia manage to escape , leaving Cade, and Lithia‘s brother Bobbi and Jerula to be taken as hostages.
Lithia and Aurelius make it to archers agony, a docking station to find the help of Captain Pacius, they managed to get the information thatCade had sent with them to Pacius, who in turn forms a plan for all of their escape, and to bring down the Enigma.
Lithia lives in San Francisco in the upper city, but prefers to hang out with her friends in the under city. She and her brother are being raised by her haughty aunt and sweet uncle. She is a musician and performs for large crowds, her aunt is always critical of her performances. Her brother is being treated for mental illness and wears a cuff that administers medication, he feels dead inside from it.
Aurelius, is working hard in the hangers waiting for his big break to get out and fly in a spaceship and be a good mechanic, but he has unique ways of fixing things and no math skills. He gets his big break on the governors ship, his first big task almost costs him his life. 128 Cade is a cyborg with the lambda, who is the controlling factor of the helix earring, which they want everyone on every planet to have so that they can control most aspects of their life. Cade has been fired from the lambda and is on the run. He turns to Tarja for help, she intern asks Lydia to take him to a place that the helix doesn’t control. Lithia agrees with very little knowledge of who Cade is. She and Cade board her spacecraft and have taken off into outer space when she realizes that her little brother, Bobby has snuck in and is on board. She wants to turn around and take him back but realizes that she can’t because if lamba finds out that she was assisting Cade her and her brother will both be interrogated. It is just a matter of time before the enigma and captain shard find the amaranth and take over. Aurelius and Lithia manage to escape , leaving Cade, and Lithia‘s brother Bobbi and Jerula to be taken as hostages.
Lithia and Aurelius make it to archers agony, a docking station to find the help of Captain Pacius, they managed to get the information thatCade had sent with them to Pacius, who in turn forms a plan for all of their escape, and to bring down the Enigma.
September 22, 2023
I’m a huge fan of space opera and this one was well done. The main character, Lithia, finds herself helping a cyborg named, Cade. They didn’t know each other, but they knew the third person who happened to bring them together. Cade is in a bind and Lithia just so happens to have a vessel that could help him find his comrades. Her little brother, Bobby, wants to go with her, so he hides himself on the ship. He doesn’t want to be left behind because he, and Lithia, don’t get along with their aunt who had taken them in when they lost their parents.
There is a maelstrom of events in outer space. The big guys—the antagonists, want to take down some very important leaders so they can have power, but the people they come in contact with are not as easy to defeat as they had thought. This is where the action really gets moving, and this was my favorite parts of the story. There’s action inside the ships as well as outside. Lithia is forced to trust people she doesn’t know because her brother was left behind when all the fighting broke out and she needed to get him back. The ending was excellent. I love a good ending and this one did it.
This is a fun read for all age groups. It was easy to read and the action scenes were well thought-out and well written. The only thing that I felt could have been done better was the beginning. There were too many characters introduced, but Lithia was the main character. I wanted her story not only at the beginning, but throughout. I wanted to really feel her anger and sadness as to why she chose to do the things she did. It was only briefly mentioned when she was planning to leave and because of that, her character development felt weak. Other than that, I found the friendship between the soldiers excellently done as well as Cyborg Cade. He was pretty cool.
There is a maelstrom of events in outer space. The big guys—the antagonists, want to take down some very important leaders so they can have power, but the people they come in contact with are not as easy to defeat as they had thought. This is where the action really gets moving, and this was my favorite parts of the story. There’s action inside the ships as well as outside. Lithia is forced to trust people she doesn’t know because her brother was left behind when all the fighting broke out and she needed to get him back. The ending was excellent. I love a good ending and this one did it.
This is a fun read for all age groups. It was easy to read and the action scenes were well thought-out and well written. The only thing that I felt could have been done better was the beginning. There were too many characters introduced, but Lithia was the main character. I wanted her story not only at the beginning, but throughout. I wanted to really feel her anger and sadness as to why she chose to do the things she did. It was only briefly mentioned when she was planning to leave and because of that, her character development felt weak. Other than that, I found the friendship between the soldiers excellently done as well as Cyborg Cade. He was pretty cool.
December 22, 2019
You can never really 'make' it. There's no such thing as one shot. You can always 'make' it again.
🦄🦄🦄
Lithia hated living with her Aunt Petra, but she has no other choice but to live with her in San Francisco.
After fleeing Venus with her brother, Bobby, life has been hard.
Now, years later she ie looking for her way out, but she gets sucked into a war.
She cannot walk away, because that would mean putting the entire human race in danger.
Working hand-in-hand with fugitives, while possibly becoming a fugitive herself, Lithia's adventures begin with a favour with a friend.
And end??
She doesn't know.
🦄🦄🦄
The Amaranth Chronicles: Deviant Rising by Alexander Barnes and Christopher Preiman is a sci-fi fantasy novel.
It has the potential of becoming something bigger. A bigger franchise with more books and potentially movies.
The ending of this book kept an interesting opening for the next part.
The premise of the hook is that the people are controlled by the Government because of a new technology, but the Government is also manipulating them.
The book is fast paced and packed with adventure and a sense if what the future night hold when it comes to technology.
(It's a bit scary and again it reminded me so much about Black Mirror while reading it).
🦄🦄🦄
I didn't like the part where Lithia falls in love with someone with a handful of conversations. It was unnecessary and the story would be better without it. It seemed forced just to add an element of romance. If it had to be a part of the story if could have been done in a more natural way rather than forcing it.
Characters were okay, it didn't wow me like I thought it would. I felt that more if the focus was on Aurelius rather than Lithia and he had a better character development.
🦄🦄🦄
Rated 75/100.
Melina L.
🦄🦄🦄
Lithia hated living with her Aunt Petra, but she has no other choice but to live with her in San Francisco.
After fleeing Venus with her brother, Bobby, life has been hard.
Now, years later she ie looking for her way out, but she gets sucked into a war.
She cannot walk away, because that would mean putting the entire human race in danger.
Working hand-in-hand with fugitives, while possibly becoming a fugitive herself, Lithia's adventures begin with a favour with a friend.
And end??
She doesn't know.
🦄🦄🦄
The Amaranth Chronicles: Deviant Rising by Alexander Barnes and Christopher Preiman is a sci-fi fantasy novel.
It has the potential of becoming something bigger. A bigger franchise with more books and potentially movies.
The ending of this book kept an interesting opening for the next part.
The premise of the hook is that the people are controlled by the Government because of a new technology, but the Government is also manipulating them.
The book is fast paced and packed with adventure and a sense if what the future night hold when it comes to technology.
(It's a bit scary and again it reminded me so much about Black Mirror while reading it).
🦄🦄🦄
I didn't like the part where Lithia falls in love with someone with a handful of conversations. It was unnecessary and the story would be better without it. It seemed forced just to add an element of romance. If it had to be a part of the story if could have been done in a more natural way rather than forcing it.
Characters were okay, it didn't wow me like I thought it would. I felt that more if the focus was on Aurelius rather than Lithia and he had a better character development.
🦄🦄🦄
Rated 75/100.
Melina L.
July 15, 2022
THE SKY IS NJOT THE LIMIT- a piece from tales of AMARNATH CHRONICLES. Hardly 20 pages long it tends to give out an important learning through the story narrated by the LITHIAs father here. This story is about Hoban Boson, a long-ago captain of a ship on Earth who fights for his freedom. Fighting against the one with whom he dnt stand a chance to win at all yet tries all his blood, sweet and tears in never giving up attitude. All he wanted to prove that to show - standing up against those who would subjugate and terrorize.
A perfect bed time story where we look out for moral based stories but contradicting to those happy ending ones. With this courage HOBAN BOSON turns out to that kind of hero who never hesitate to sacrifice their life for others happiness. Also the plot line here is super interesting where LITHIA and her father are settled on planet VENUS and her father then narrates her this story from good old days when people from earth wouldn't been able to travel through different planets. Intriguing isn't it?
Overall narration seems engaging and fast pace as i have already mentioned its just 20 pages long, Also ordinally its a length novel named - The Amaranth Chronicles. There's more to this story of LITHIA and her family which i would like to discuss more about from the next tale which i find more interesting and fun named - The Evil That Men Do Lives After Them
A perfect bed time story where we look out for moral based stories but contradicting to those happy ending ones. With this courage HOBAN BOSON turns out to that kind of hero who never hesitate to sacrifice their life for others happiness. Also the plot line here is super interesting where LITHIA and her father are settled on planet VENUS and her father then narrates her this story from good old days when people from earth wouldn't been able to travel through different planets. Intriguing isn't it?
Overall narration seems engaging and fast pace as i have already mentioned its just 20 pages long, Also ordinally its a length novel named - The Amaranth Chronicles. There's more to this story of LITHIA and her family which i would like to discuss more about from the next tale which i find more interesting and fun named - The Evil That Men Do Lives After Them
April 23, 2018
I won this book from a giveaway and love the bookmark and cover art. I started reading and was quickly hooked. Good character introductions and development. Was really enjoying it until the character Torque was introduced then the story seemed to have suffered and became a lot more unbelievable. I finished but didn't really stay hooked in the story after. You lose a lot of characters that you come to know pretty quickly and there are a lot of actions from characters that I just can't see happening. The main character you don't actually get to know that well compared to several others. Trying to not give the story away too much. If you like conspiracy sci-fi stories and are okay with some things really not being believable then definitely give this book a try, it works well as a stand alone but also leaves a lot to be explored in future books.
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