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Passage at Delphi: A Mythic Time-Travel Thriller
What would you be willing to sacrifice with one chance to rescue the future? A mysterious taskmaster with foreknowledge of a life-changing attack on the United States triggers a desperate mission to prevent the disaster. He chooses a pair of history professors as allies, but they’re no random selection. Professors' Zack and Lauren Fletcher are mentioned in the “Book of Histories”, and yet, the record is incomplete as to exactly how the massive attack had been be carried out. Plotters and traitors must be exposed and countered. The couple have no idea what they're about to become involved in, nor what treacherous routes of survival they will encounter, skills that could be useful when the fateful day arrives. Who will survive the irreversible threat when it finally dawns? From sunny San Diego, to ancient and modern-day Greece, meat-and-bones history, forlorn romance, the challenges of the present, and future technologies collide in this epic trilogy adventure.
- GenresFantasy
437 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 4, 2013
45 people are currently reading
56 people want to read
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November 2, 2021
English review below the Greek one...
Κάπου στην εποχή μας ο Δυτικός Πολιτισμός απειλείται, οπότε ο Απόλλωνας αποφασίζει να επέμβει και διαλέγει δύο Αμερικάνους ακαδημαϊκούς για να σώσουν την παρτίδα. Τους μεταφέρει πίσω στο χρόνο, στους Δελφούς λίγο πριν τη μάχη στις Θερμοπύλες για να...τι ακριβώς; Για να πάρουν πολύτιμα μαθήματα και να είναι έτοιμοι όταν τους φέρει πίσω στην σύγχρονη εποχή ή κάτι τέτοιο.
Όπως μαντεύει κανείς, οι δύο πρωταγωνιστές με τον ένα ή τον άλλο τρόπο συμμετέχουν σε σημαντικά ιστορικά γεγονότα και επισκέπτονται αρκετές αρχαίες πόλεις-κράτη, συναντώντας σημαντικές προσωπικότητες.
Αν είναι κάποιος αναγνώστης που δεν το ψειρίζει και πολύ κατά το κοινώς λεγόμενο, υποθέτω ότι είναι μία ευχάριστη περιπέτεια να περάσει κανείς την ώρα του. Ωστόσο είναι το πρώτο μίας σειράς που θα ήταν 7 βιβλία, αλλά τελικά είναι τριλογία από όσο ξέρω. Και το τέλος δεν είναι και πολύ τέλος. Εγώ δεν έχω πολύ υπομονή με σαθρές πλοκές, μονοδιάστατους χαρακτήρες και εξελίξεις που είναι δεικτικές ή προβλέψιμες.
Παρόλο που σαν Ελληνίδα με τιμάει ο θαυμασμός του συγγραφέα για την αρχαία Ελλάδα κι όλα αυτά, νομίζω ότι η μανιχαϊστική προσέγγιση στην Ιστορία γενικά και στους πολιτισμούς και τους χαρακτήρες του βιβλίου ειδικά δεν είναι σωστή. Δεν είναι όλα μαύρο άσπρο, καλό κακό. Επίσης ένας Έλληνας θα δει ότι την σύγχρονη Ελλάδα σε κάποια σημεία την αντιμετωπίζει με λογικές περασμένων δεκαετιών και υπάρχουν κι αρκετά λαθάκια γραμματικά, νοηματικά κτλ. Και δεν ξέρω πόσοι θα συμφωνήσουν με τον παραλληλισμό Αμερικής-Αρχαίας Ελλάδας σαν ηγέτες της ελεύθερης σκέψης, ελευθερίας, ισότητας κτλ.
Πέρα από το ταξίδι στον χρόνο κι όλα αυτά, είναι πολλά άλλα στοιχεία της πλοκής που δεν κολλάνε και πρέπει να δεχτεί ο αναγνώστης για να απολαύσει το βιβλίο. Ίσως είμαι σπαστικιά διότι είναι μυθοπλασία, αλλά ακόμα και σε βιβλία φαντασίας ας πούμε, θέλω να με πείσει ο συγγραφέας. Εδώ δεν με έπεισε σε πολλές μικρές ή μεγάλες λεπτομέρειες. Μου άρεσε πιο πολύ η αρχή της περιπέτειας όταν οι κεντρικοί χαρακτήρες βρεθήκαν στην αρχαιότητα, αλλά σιγά σιγά κουνούσα το κεφάλι μου με τα κλισέ και τις απιθανότητες και την αδύναμη πλοκή. Προς το τέλος άρχισε να με κουράζει.
Δεν είναι ένα κακό βιβλίο και πολλοί αναγνώστες θα το λατρέψουν. Δεν θα αναζητήσω ενεργά τα άλλα βιβλία της σειράς, αλλά δεν θα τα προσπεράσω κιόλας αν τύχει να πέσουν στα χέρια μου. Η επιλογή δική σας.
My rating is a bit strict because I'm not very fond of thrillers that have to do with conspiracies and terrorist attacks or/and represent everything outside western civilisation as crude, cruel and evil.
I admit too, that coming from Delphi, I obtained this book due to title and location although the blurb seemed a bit cheesy. Up to a point I enjoyed the way the author imagined the ancient locations and events and I definitely enjoyed more the action taking place in antiquity than the modern drama. The author is not errorless on some details, for example mixing Hephaistos with Hephaistion, spelling some locations wrong, claiming Delphi under Livadia's police department rather than Amfissa's, the depiction of modern Greece is too American sometimes (who on earth drink ice tea in a taverna?) etc and sometimes on the imaginative part of the plot it's not easy to get where the characters roam geographically and why. But these are minor flaws.
The major ones are that there is so much suspension of disbelief one can do in a book -and I'm not talking about the time traveling here- while the characters felt too one-dimentional and the drama among them too forced.
I appreciate that often authors need some kind of villains to form their stories, but I think that in this book -both on a general note and on a more specific note-, people, civilisations and individual characters appear too black or white.
Furthermore, there is some effort to pose themes such as slavery, western civilisation vs "the East", free will versus destiny and so on, but I found the way these themes are pressed too superficial and clumsy. Maybe some things will clear up in the sequels, but I found the plot and characters too weak and/or all over the place in this book and many developmetns too unbelievable or predictable. I often rolled my eyes, especially towards the end of the book. And be warned, this is the first part of a trilogy and there is no conclusion.
All that said, depending on each reader's bias, people might actually like this book more than me. It is actually decent if one doesn't have very high expectations. I won't actively seek for the next books in the series, but I'll not ignore them in case they fall in my hands.
Κάπου στην εποχή μας ο Δυτικός Πολιτισμός απειλείται, οπότε ο Απόλλωνας αποφασίζει να επέμβει και διαλέγει δύο Αμερικάνους ακαδημαϊκούς για να σώσουν την παρτίδα. Τους μεταφέρει πίσω στο χρόνο, στους Δελφούς λίγο πριν τη μάχη στις Θερμοπύλες για να...τι ακριβώς; Για να πάρουν πολύτιμα μαθήματα και να είναι έτοιμοι όταν τους φέρει πίσω στην σύγχρονη εποχή ή κάτι τέτοιο.
Όπως μαντεύει κανείς, οι δύο πρωταγωνιστές με τον ένα ή τον άλλο τρόπο συμμετέχουν σε σημαντικά ιστορικά γεγονότα και επισκέπτονται αρκετές αρχαίες πόλεις-κράτη, συναντώντας σημαντικές προσωπικότητες.
Αν είναι κάποιος αναγνώστης που δεν το ψειρίζει και πολύ κατά το κοινώς λεγόμενο, υποθέτω ότι είναι μία ευχάριστη περιπέτεια να περάσει κανείς την ώρα του. Ωστόσο είναι το πρώτο μίας σειράς που θα ήταν 7 βιβλία, αλλά τελικά είναι τριλογία από όσο ξέρω. Και το τέλος δεν είναι και πολύ τέλος. Εγώ δεν έχω πολύ υπομονή με σαθρές πλοκές, μονοδιάστατους χαρακτήρες και εξελίξεις που είναι δεικτικές ή προβλέψιμες.
Παρόλο που σαν Ελληνίδα με τιμάει ο θαυμασμός του συγγραφέα για την αρχαία Ελλάδα κι όλα αυτά, νομίζω ότι η μανιχαϊστική προσέγγιση στην Ιστορία γενικά και στους πολιτισμούς και τους χαρακτήρες του βιβλίου ειδικά δεν είναι σωστή. Δεν είναι όλα μαύρο άσπρο, καλό κακό. Επίσης ένας Έλληνας θα δει ότι την σύγχρονη Ελλάδα σε κάποια σημεία την αντιμετωπίζει με λογικές περασμένων δεκαετιών και υπάρχουν κι αρκετά λαθάκια γραμματικά, νοηματικά κτλ. Και δεν ξέρω πόσοι θα συμφωνήσουν με τον παραλληλισμό Αμερικής-Αρχαίας Ελλάδας σαν ηγέτες της ελεύθερης σκέψης, ελευθερίας, ισότητας κτλ.
Πέρα από το ταξίδι στον χρόνο κι όλα αυτά, είναι πολλά άλλα στοιχεία της πλοκής που δεν κολλάνε και πρέπει να δεχτεί ο αναγνώστης για να απολαύσει το βιβλίο. Ίσως είμαι σπαστικιά διότι είναι μυθοπλασία, αλλά ακόμα και σε βιβλία φαντασίας ας πούμε, θέλω να με πείσει ο συγγραφέας. Εδώ δεν με έπεισε σε πολλές μικρές ή μεγάλες λεπτομέρειες. Μου άρεσε πιο πολύ η αρχή της περιπέτειας όταν οι κεντρικοί χαρακτήρες βρεθήκαν στην αρχαιότητα, αλλά σιγά σιγά κουνούσα το κεφάλι μου με τα κλισέ και τις απιθανότητες και την αδύναμη πλοκή. Προς το τέλος άρχισε να με κουράζει.
Δεν είναι ένα κακό βιβλίο και πολλοί αναγνώστες θα το λατρέψουν. Δεν θα αναζητήσω ενεργά τα άλλα βιβλία της σειράς, αλλά δεν θα τα προσπεράσω κιόλας αν τύχει να πέσουν στα χέρια μου. Η επιλογή δική σας.
My rating is a bit strict because I'm not very fond of thrillers that have to do with conspiracies and terrorist attacks or/and represent everything outside western civilisation as crude, cruel and evil.
I admit too, that coming from Delphi, I obtained this book due to title and location although the blurb seemed a bit cheesy. Up to a point I enjoyed the way the author imagined the ancient locations and events and I definitely enjoyed more the action taking place in antiquity than the modern drama. The author is not errorless on some details, for example mixing Hephaistos with Hephaistion, spelling some locations wrong, claiming Delphi under Livadia's police department rather than Amfissa's, the depiction of modern Greece is too American sometimes (who on earth drink ice tea in a taverna?) etc and sometimes on the imaginative part of the plot it's not easy to get where the characters roam geographically and why. But these are minor flaws.
The major ones are that there is so much suspension of disbelief one can do in a book -and I'm not talking about the time traveling here- while the characters felt too one-dimentional and the drama among them too forced.
I appreciate that often authors need some kind of villains to form their stories, but I think that in this book -both on a general note and on a more specific note-, people, civilisations and individual characters appear too black or white.
Furthermore, there is some effort to pose themes such as slavery, western civilisation vs "the East", free will versus destiny and so on, but I found the way these themes are pressed too superficial and clumsy. Maybe some things will clear up in the sequels, but I found the plot and characters too weak and/or all over the place in this book and many developmetns too unbelievable or predictable. I often rolled my eyes, especially towards the end of the book. And be warned, this is the first part of a trilogy and there is no conclusion.
All that said, depending on each reader's bias, people might actually like this book more than me. It is actually decent if one doesn't have very high expectations. I won't actively seek for the next books in the series, but I'll not ignore them in case they fall in my hands.
October 20, 2018
If you like suspense with a lot of history thrown in, this book is for you, great read.
August 25, 2019
Greece and it's ancient histories of war, philosophy's, gods and monuments was barely an abstract thought for me until I read Volume 1 of the Apollo Series. After being lulled by sacred grounds, religion and ancient ruins I slipped into a time warp taking me twenty five hundred years into the past awed by all I found there totally immersed. I did not read, I absorbed the horrors of war, lessons of humanity and the fierce braveness of kings and warriors alike. The story came alive as I took in the sacrifices, the price of arrogance and all that was lost there in this intelligently articulated mix of fiction and factual events. This book is a true work of art in it's vivid descriptions so real you could see every page unfolding before your very eyes. It combines the emotions of great love, fears that are palpable and a journey to marvel at keeping the reader in place and involved.
-To The Author- I cannot say enough about the depths of your talent. (I will be continuing the Series)
-To The Author- I cannot say enough about the depths of your talent. (I will be continuing the Series)
December 22, 2018
For some reason I thought this book would be a mystery and why it is certainly mysterious in several ways, I wouldn't call it a mystery so much as cross between science fiction and historical fiction. I love all three of those genres but I just wasn't blown away by this book.
What I thought there would be two main characters - wife and husband ancient scholars Lauren and Zack - and most of the chapters focus on their viewpoints. Lauren I had empathy for since I am an ancient historian who spent some time in academia. I can even empathize with her desire to move on to the mothering stage of her life. Zack was a selfish child and eventually I hoped he'd die and leave Lauren to save the world if indeed it needs to be saved. That is one of the mysteries of the book -- why is any of this happening because the reported conflict at the start of the book didn't hold weight with me by the end of this first book.
Another viewpoint character is Bessus minion of King Xerxes who looked at first like he might be the big bad for the book if not the series. As icky as Bessus is he seems like a mere pawn by the end. Whose pawn? Well, that gets to the heart of this book, the same cause of all of Lauren and Zack's problems.
The book begins with the "god" Apollo and the story returns to his view several times. Each time, I liked him less and less. That's actually good research because to be blunt, Apollo was not a nice entity, he was a misogynist of the highest order that shines through Patch's text well. But it is also weird because this is the first in a series entitled "Apollo Series" so I expected him to be heroic or at least a neutral deity but he is really unlikable.
At this point, I'm cheering for Lauren and all the male characters can go to Hades as quickly as possible.
Note: I was sent three books in this series by the publisher in exchange for a review.
What I thought there would be two main characters - wife and husband ancient scholars Lauren and Zack - and most of the chapters focus on their viewpoints. Lauren I had empathy for since I am an ancient historian who spent some time in academia. I can even empathize with her desire to move on to the mothering stage of her life. Zack was a selfish child and eventually I hoped he'd die and leave Lauren to save the world if indeed it needs to be saved. That is one of the mysteries of the book -- why is any of this happening because the reported conflict at the start of the book didn't hold weight with me by the end of this first book.
Another viewpoint character is Bessus minion of King Xerxes who looked at first like he might be the big bad for the book if not the series. As icky as Bessus is he seems like a mere pawn by the end. Whose pawn? Well, that gets to the heart of this book, the same cause of all of Lauren and Zack's problems.
The book begins with the "god" Apollo and the story returns to his view several times. Each time, I liked him less and less. That's actually good research because to be blunt, Apollo was not a nice entity, he was a misogynist of the highest order that shines through Patch's text well. But it is also weird because this is the first in a series entitled "Apollo Series" so I expected him to be heroic or at least a neutral deity but he is really unlikable.
At this point, I'm cheering for Lauren and all the male characters can go to Hades as quickly as possible.
Note: I was sent three books in this series by the publisher in exchange for a review.
December 18, 2018
Passage at Delphi, An Apollo series Novel by A. K. Patch
History, mythology, philosophy and contemporary suspense weave and plunge through this adventurous first book of the Apollo series.
Married couple, and history professors, Lauren and Zack are struggling to balance careers and family. Laruen yearns for children, and Zack yearns to surpass Lauren’s academic standing. Their marriage is on the brink. Seizing an opportunity to advance his career, Zack deceives and manipulates Lauren into a trip to visit a dear friend, and colleague in Greece.
Zack and Lauren have no idea the depth of deceit and manipulation they are already ensnared in when an inexplicable vortex transports them back to ancient Greece. Again, Zack selfishly coerces Lauren into following him to bear witness to the great battle of Thermopylae, where this contemporary couple must live the brutality. Lauren and Zack learn that more than their marriage and lives are on the brink, their world, freedom itself will be vanquished. Generations of enslavement or liberty? Athens to apocalypse.
Historic and fiction characters are engaging, deep and kept me turning the pages in a well-paced, and exciting story. Like a good thrill ride, this book kept thundering along with the power of Apollo, from climax and near conclusion, to another crisis climax.
And, best of all, there are two more books in the series, Delphi’s Chosen and Journey from Delphi, so the adventure continues…
History, mythology, philosophy and contemporary suspense weave and plunge through this adventurous first book of the Apollo series.
Married couple, and history professors, Lauren and Zack are struggling to balance careers and family. Laruen yearns for children, and Zack yearns to surpass Lauren’s academic standing. Their marriage is on the brink. Seizing an opportunity to advance his career, Zack deceives and manipulates Lauren into a trip to visit a dear friend, and colleague in Greece.
Zack and Lauren have no idea the depth of deceit and manipulation they are already ensnared in when an inexplicable vortex transports them back to ancient Greece. Again, Zack selfishly coerces Lauren into following him to bear witness to the great battle of Thermopylae, where this contemporary couple must live the brutality. Lauren and Zack learn that more than their marriage and lives are on the brink, their world, freedom itself will be vanquished. Generations of enslavement or liberty? Athens to apocalypse.
Historic and fiction characters are engaging, deep and kept me turning the pages in a well-paced, and exciting story. Like a good thrill ride, this book kept thundering along with the power of Apollo, from climax and near conclusion, to another crisis climax.
And, best of all, there are two more books in the series, Delphi’s Chosen and Journey from Delphi, so the adventure continues…
August 22, 2016
In Passage of Delphi by A. K. Patch, the peril of both the ancient and modern worlds rests in the knowledge, determination, and valor of Zach and Lauren, ancient language and history professors who are thrust into a portal of dangerous adventures. From 480 B.C to the present day, from Athens, Greece to San Diego, California, A. K. Patch delivers an intriguing and gripping tale of time travel, Greek Gods, and ancient battles, all tangled with the realities of relationships. Following Zach and Lauren through their travels, discoveries, and in the end, their acceptance of their destiny, we are granted a wild ride that gains momentum in spades. By the end, we are left thirsty for the next installment. A testament to the author, this is a well-written, finely weaved story with abundance for the reader to learn and relish. Grab some olives, pita bread, and a carafe of wine, and sink into this unique book that will transport you to the magic of distant places and times.
September 10, 2015
This one is a mixed bag of a read. Firstly, the writing is good and easy to read with good selections on wording most of the time. There are a few moments I felt as though someone else were doing the writing. Maybe this is too heavy of an editing hand? The research that went into this book is evident from the start; a very good job at that. The characters are good but could use a touch more work to make them feel fleshed out. The order of presentation provides for some rather lengthy sluggish points. With some editing and restructuring this could be a much better book. Overall it is an interesting read and a good mythological/fantasy choice. I received an ARC through STRATEGIES Literary Public Relations in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influenced my opinion.
September 13, 2014
OK. I almost gave up on this, but I am glad I didn't. First, I have much respect for the research, knowledge of mythology and history that is going into this series. Second, it is intriguing, the action is moving, but there are some slow parts that could have been edited better. I think the only problem I see with this novel is the blurb. I was expecting a terrorist plot from the beginning, based on the blurb I read, but don't hear of it til close to the end of the book. Honestly, in editing, I would have put the 2016 scenes in the opening and gone back from there, then maybe closed with the 2016 after fight scene and dream in 2011. I will read the next in the series.
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