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Lifting the Veil #1
Fallen
Humanity is plunging down a slippery slope of morality. Righteous attitudes abound with malice, hatred, and discontent prevailing in the currents riding through humankind. In the spiritual planes, battles between the light and darkness are being fought over souls and for their very existence. Assailed on all sides, heaven is left with no choice but to open the seven seals. The horsemen are summoned and ride forth. Conquest, the drums of war, hunger, and death are felt by all. Humanity is left standing on the brink where the slightest tremor will send it plunging into the abyss. Will humankind survive the tribulation placed upon them? Or will they vanish into oblivion?
- GenresHorror
292 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 12, 2018
51 people are currently reading
38 people want to read
About the author
John O'Brien
45 books285 followersJohn O'Brien is a former Air Force fighter instructor pilot who transitioned to Special Operations for the latter part of his career gathering his campaign ribbon for Desert Storm. Immediately following his military service, John became a firefighter/EMT with a local department. Along with becoming a firefighter, he fell into the Information Technology industry in corporate management. Currently, John is writing full-time.
As a former marathon runner, John lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest and can now be found kayaking out in the waters of Puget Sound, mountain biking in the Capital Forest, hiking in the Olympic Peninsula, or pedaling his road bike along the many scenic roads.
As a former marathon runner, John lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest and can now be found kayaking out in the waters of Puget Sound, mountain biking in the Capital Forest, hiking in the Olympic Peninsula, or pedaling his road bike along the many scenic roads.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
January 27, 2018
A TALE FOR PEOPLE THAT WATCH TOO MUCH TV IT IS....
Hello, I really don't know where to get started on this one. I am a Christian but really don't follow any of the organized religions. This story, however, completely flew off the track in my opinion. I just didn't like it.. Thanks.
Hello, I really don't know where to get started on this one. I am a Christian but really don't follow any of the organized religions. This story, however, completely flew off the track in my opinion. I just didn't like it.. Thanks.
January 14, 2018
OMG!!!! THIS IS ONE AWESOME BOOK FOR SURE, PEOPLE WILL BE WAITING IN DROVES FOR BOOK #2.
OMG!!!! - All I can say for sure is, this is one awesome book.... John O'Brien definitely has written one major hit here and if this book #1 here is any indication, people will be waiting in droves for Book #2 of this series. Count me in, as I'm hoping to be one of the first in line to get the next book just as quick as possible. I loved this book and my mind is already zeroed in wondering where the second one will take us. This is somewhat different from all my other readings in the past, but coming coming from John O'Brien, I didnt think twice about checking it out and I'm so glad I did. This book just ROCKED!!!!!! You have Heaven at one end and Hell at the other, in the middle one hundred and forty four thousand souls, now we wait and see which prevails, the goodness in people or the evil. With goodness prevailing, the earth and people may live again, but if evil prevails, all will be lost and the world will be no more. Lucifer believes he has already won, for some of the few people left standing have more evil in their hearts and souls, then he could even hope for. But Michael sheds his heavenly ties, for he refuses to give up. As he believes that goodness can and will prevail, Michael becomes a mortal as he plans on being front and center, hoping the ones left, keep the love and hope strong, doing what they can to turn the tide and keep the darkness from enveloping the world forever.
OMG!!!! - All I can say for sure is, this is one awesome book.... John O'Brien definitely has written one major hit here and if this book #1 here is any indication, people will be waiting in droves for Book #2 of this series. Count me in, as I'm hoping to be one of the first in line to get the next book just as quick as possible. I loved this book and my mind is already zeroed in wondering where the second one will take us. This is somewhat different from all my other readings in the past, but coming coming from John O'Brien, I didnt think twice about checking it out and I'm so glad I did. This book just ROCKED!!!!!! You have Heaven at one end and Hell at the other, in the middle one hundred and forty four thousand souls, now we wait and see which prevails, the goodness in people or the evil. With goodness prevailing, the earth and people may live again, but if evil prevails, all will be lost and the world will be no more. Lucifer believes he has already won, for some of the few people left standing have more evil in their hearts and souls, then he could even hope for. But Michael sheds his heavenly ties, for he refuses to give up. As he believes that goodness can and will prevail, Michael becomes a mortal as he plans on being front and center, hoping the ones left, keep the love and hope strong, doing what they can to turn the tide and keep the darkness from enveloping the world forever.
January 31, 2018
Lifting the Veil: Fallen is a heavy book... at least it is to me. I am far from a Biblical scholar, but I grew up learning about (and fearing) the prophecies of the Book of Revelation, so it struck a chord with me. It was O'Brien's intent to provide loose interpretations of Bible prophecy (he says this in his Author's Note), but the real-world headlines included in the story make it almost plausible—at least as plausible as any other story regarding the "end times". This is why the book scared me. More than that, it depressed me. This is not O'Brien's fault, though... and my review rating is not based upon my tendency to get depressed with the way the world is. That's my hang-up.
I like the characters O'Brien introduces in Fallen—both the humans and the angels. I wish the book dealt more directly with them. A lot of the story was dedicated to explaining what was happening around the world... too much, in my opinion. And that is the reason I gave the book four stars instead of five. I prefer stories that are more character-focused, and I felt the story was lacking in this respect. With that said, something tells me the next book will be more focused on the characters; the groundwork has been laid, and the story is ready to move forward driven by the characters introduced in Fallen. For this reason, I will definitely read the next book when it comes out.
I like the characters O'Brien introduces in Fallen—both the humans and the angels. I wish the book dealt more directly with them. A lot of the story was dedicated to explaining what was happening around the world... too much, in my opinion. And that is the reason I gave the book four stars instead of five. I prefer stories that are more character-focused, and I felt the story was lacking in this respect. With that said, something tells me the next book will be more focused on the characters; the groundwork has been laid, and the story is ready to move forward driven by the characters introduced in Fallen. For this reason, I will definitely read the next book when it comes out.
July 27, 2018
A story in search of some characters.
The reviews were good and I loved the premise so I decided to give Lifting the Veil: Fallen a shot. I've found that authors generally like to introduce their worlds one of two ways: either you slowly find out what's going on through the eyes and actions of the characters or the author just lays it out for you and then begins the story. In the case of this book, John O'Brien chose the latter. The introduction to his world was interesting and I found myself engaged and couldn't wait for the story to begin. Explanations and the laying out of the hows and whys continued and while still relatively interesting, I was eager to meet our main character. I "read" this book via audio book and didn't have a good sense of how far through it I'd progressed but when I finally checked and saw that I was already 3/4's of the way through it and the story still hadn't begun, I gave up.
Lifting the Veil: Fallen reads like a synopsis of a interesting world that is being pitched to an editor. All it's missing is a story, some characters, a bit of dialog and a reason to care.
The reviews were good and I loved the premise so I decided to give Lifting the Veil: Fallen a shot. I've found that authors generally like to introduce their worlds one of two ways: either you slowly find out what's going on through the eyes and actions of the characters or the author just lays it out for you and then begins the story. In the case of this book, John O'Brien chose the latter. The introduction to his world was interesting and I found myself engaged and couldn't wait for the story to begin. Explanations and the laying out of the hows and whys continued and while still relatively interesting, I was eager to meet our main character. I "read" this book via audio book and didn't have a good sense of how far through it I'd progressed but when I finally checked and saw that I was already 3/4's of the way through it and the story still hadn't begun, I gave up.
Lifting the Veil: Fallen reads like a synopsis of a interesting world that is being pitched to an editor. All it's missing is a story, some characters, a bit of dialog and a reason to care.
February 19, 2022
Humankind has been given a pass for all the hatred, warring conflicts, political divides and total disregard for others for far to long, It is time for it to end. The battle between Heaven vs. Hell, angels vs. demons, good vs. evil whatever you want to call it has began. Billions perished, countries disappeared in nuclear blasts but there are a chosen number of people that haven been given the chance to save the human race and the world. On to the next book of this edge of your seat, page turning tale to see how we're doing.
February 27, 2018
Once again...
Once again John O'Brien has done a killer job. This might be a departure from his ANW series but no less the quality of writing expected. This book simultaneously scared the crap out of me, because it's all laid bare and so obvious once seen as a whole, and satisfied my need for something other than "standard zombie fare". I hope you're writing this as a new series John. Once again, you've proven why you're my "go to" author.
Once again John O'Brien has done a killer job. This might be a departure from his ANW series but no less the quality of writing expected. This book simultaneously scared the crap out of me, because it's all laid bare and so obvious once seen as a whole, and satisfied my need for something other than "standard zombie fare". I hope you're writing this as a new series John. Once again, you've proven why you're my "go to" author.
July 20, 2020
I liked this book, it introduces you to the characters but is primarily a "setting of the stage" for at least the next few books in this series. I like how the author used a lot of things/events that are already going on in the world today that many people wouldn't necessarily associate with the end of the world as we know it. I'll be continuing to read this series to see where the story goes and what the world will be like.
January 27, 2018
Wow!...just WOW!
Don't really know how to review the core of this story, so I will leave you with this thought that I now can't get out of my head....
"....that there is a devil, there is no doubt. But is he trying to get in or is he trying to get out...."
Author unknown
Read it and you decide....Great job John O'Brien.
Don't really know how to review the core of this story, so I will leave you with this thought that I now can't get out of my head....
"....that there is a devil, there is no doubt. But is he trying to get in or is he trying to get out...."
Author unknown
Read it and you decide....Great job John O'Brien.
January 22, 2018
Wow, excellent
Amazingly awesome story mixing our current headlines and the state of world, with a fictionalized story that could be true. Well done John, can't wait to see where this story goes, praying for the light to rally! Wow!
Amazingly awesome story mixing our current headlines and the state of world, with a fictionalized story that could be true. Well done John, can't wait to see where this story goes, praying for the light to rally! Wow!
June 11, 2019
The story kept me on my toes. Enjoyed the concept of this story a great deal. Towards the end I started to get worried that there may be a political view being pushed. I still don't know for sure if that is the case. I hope not because I really would love to finish this series.
March 21, 2019
Great Read!
Enjoyed the book very much, you drew me into this adventure from the 1st page. Can't wait for the next book.
Enjoyed the book very much, you drew me into this adventure from the 1st page. Can't wait for the next book.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews