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Tome
When Adrien finds a book hidden in the floor of his old home, he realises that it records everything that happens within its walls. Before long, he develops a powerful Gift, the ability to find more of these mysterious Tomes...On the other side of town, Alistair struggles through his days as an outsider. He alone can see the giant creatures that stand silently in every doorway in every house. They never move, they never speak, but they always watch. This Gift of his feels more like a curse.Only when Adrien and Alistair meet through a mutual acquaintance does everything seem to be connected in some way... But how? And more importantly, why? There are people who will do anything for a Gifts like theirs, so they must always watch their backs as they are watched on every step of the way...Tome is the first published novel by Irish author, Brian Lelas. It was written for young adults with hungry imaginations and adults with a sense of mystery and adventure. The dark corridors that Tome guides you through will create worlds of possibilities without limitations and turn your mind into overdrive.Tome is part one of the two-part story that concludes with Resolver, the world-changing finale. Look out, the Visors are watching... always.
357 pages, Paperback
First published June 25, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 30, 2018
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Summary:
Adrien Moore discovers a mysterious book under the floorboards of his house, and opening it also opens a whole new world to him, of Resolvers, Readers and Acquisitors, of Visors and Scribes, and supernaturally-charged Tomes that have the ability to grant immense powers, for both good and evil.
Thus begins an absorbing and well-premised science fiction tale, which has elements of coming-of-age, loss, and the finality of choice. It is the first novel in the series. It will suit a general audience who like a fresh voice in the science-fiction genre, and will also suit a YA audience.
Main Characters:
Adrien Moore: Nineteen, just left school, and at a bit of a loose end. He is a good kid, who finds a Tome and unknowingly absorbs its gift. In time, he finds out he is a Resolver. As the book progresses we see him grow in confidence, and essentially grow up. By the end, he is more confident around making decisions, and the consequences of them.
David Gillen: Adrien’s best friend, he does not have the ability to absorb gifts, nor can he read the Tome. However, he is fully supportive of his friend, and willing to take great risks on his behalf.
Alistair Yorke: Slightly older than the two friends, he knows he has been different since he was born. He sees things that others do not, and over time learns to accommodate himself to his unique situation.
Edwin Merchant: Leader of the Circle, an underground movement resisting the Acquisitors. Fragile in appearance, he is in fact is equipped with a powerful gift, and is driven by a strong internal agenda.
Isobel: David’s love interest, the newly-arrived girl next door discovers she has a gift of being able to Read the Tomes. Strong-willed and determined, she is a great friend and ally to the two boys.
Minor Characters:
Berthold: Initially the main Acquisitor, he seems to have a mean streak, and delights in cruelty.
Martin Gale: The true leader of the Acquisitors, based at the Scar Vault, he is impeccably in control, and as driven to destroy Edwin as Edwin is him.
Stefan: Low-level Acquisitor, causes a lot of trouble for David & Isobel, and generally a dangerous man.
Plot:
Adrien Moore is moving house, and takes a last look around the place he has called home for all of his nineteen years. He’s only moving five minutes down the road, but he’s packing up a lifetime of memories. When he discovers a mysterious book beneath the floorboards, he realises that he’s not the only one who has memories of his time there – the Tome contains every detail of every day that his family has lived there, and the family before theirs, and before that…
He can read the writing, but doesn’t realise he is actually absorbing a gift of Gravitation, which will allow him to bend gravity to his will. Naturally spooked by his discovery, he brings in his best friend David, who is sceptical initially, and takes some convincing. Eventually, Adrien gets him there.
As the two friends struggle to come to terms with this discovery, Adrien bumps into a homeless man, who eventually reveals himself as Edwin. Edwin recognises that Adrien is gifted, and seeks to teach and nurture him in the ways of a Resolver. He eventually introduces him (and David, who won’t let his friend walk into trouble by himself) to the rest of the Circle, and tells them of the deadly mission they have to resist the Acquisitors. Everyone in the Circle, only about 7 of them or so, each possesses at least one gift, and they give Adrien and David a demonstration of their own unique power.
In parallel, twenty-two year old Alistair Yorke knows not to mention what he sees to anyone. However, when his visions start acting out of the ordinary, and begin to MOVE, then he knows there is something wrong. Taking an early afternoon of work, he sees and follows some of this unusual activity to a run-down building, and meets the Circle.
The Circle now being complete as it were, operations against the Acquisitors step up. However, for every action there is, in this case, an unequal and opposite reaction, and the tensions and consequences escalate in intensity and frequency. The Circle members are much smaller in number than the Acquisitors, but are tight-knit, and determined.
When Isobel gets threatened, David and Adrien realise the stakes have gotten impossibly high, and fully throw in their lot with the Circle.
The story climaxes at the Scar base near the ocean, and each side wreaks devastation on each other and the physical cliffside. Personal losses are high, and Adrien is not ready for what he finds.
What I Liked:
- The world-building is excellent – you easily slip into their environment, because it is so familiar.
- Very well paced. None of the meetings or interactions seem forced, the prose is very well structured, and the story keeps a steady forward motion all the way through.
- Characterisation of the main players is good. We see, for example, the development of Adrien from slightly lazy teenager to determined and focused young man, and how he deals with personal adversity and tragedy.
- We see things in the third person from two main viewpoints (Alistair and Adrien), which is an interesting approach.
What I Didn’t Like:
- Some of the minor characters acted in a way that seemed inconsistent with what we find out later, and the supposed values/principles of their group.
- Dead bodies were just “disappeared” by people outside of the two groups, which was somewhat of a loose end. Who did this? How are they notified?
- The role of Visors is fully unexplained, but maybe something that will be expanded upon later in the series. We don’t see how they directly impact, if at all, on the novel’s unfolding events, and are a bit of a distraction.
Overall:
I found this to be a very enjoyable read, and it will hold the interest of an adult readership as well as a YA market. From the start, I was drawn into the everyday world of ordinary guys, who are thrust into a dangerous situation. The characters were well-drawn, and interacted believably. The premise is interesting, and has me looking at the walls and doors differently now!
You want to find out how the battles play out, you root for the underdog Circle, you feel for Adrien when he suffers betrayal and loss. The novel is very entertaining, a great read, and thoroughly recommended. I am already looking forward to “Resolver”, the next in the series!
Acknowledgements:
Thanks to the author for sending me a free copy of the book, in return for an objective and honest review.
Summary:
Adrien Moore discovers a mysterious book under the floorboards of his house, and opening it also opens a whole new world to him, of Resolvers, Readers and Acquisitors, of Visors and Scribes, and supernaturally-charged Tomes that have the ability to grant immense powers, for both good and evil.
Thus begins an absorbing and well-premised science fiction tale, which has elements of coming-of-age, loss, and the finality of choice. It is the first novel in the series. It will suit a general audience who like a fresh voice in the science-fiction genre, and will also suit a YA audience.
Main Characters:
Adrien Moore: Nineteen, just left school, and at a bit of a loose end. He is a good kid, who finds a Tome and unknowingly absorbs its gift. In time, he finds out he is a Resolver. As the book progresses we see him grow in confidence, and essentially grow up. By the end, he is more confident around making decisions, and the consequences of them.
David Gillen: Adrien’s best friend, he does not have the ability to absorb gifts, nor can he read the Tome. However, he is fully supportive of his friend, and willing to take great risks on his behalf.
Alistair Yorke: Slightly older than the two friends, he knows he has been different since he was born. He sees things that others do not, and over time learns to accommodate himself to his unique situation.
Edwin Merchant: Leader of the Circle, an underground movement resisting the Acquisitors. Fragile in appearance, he is in fact is equipped with a powerful gift, and is driven by a strong internal agenda.
Isobel: David’s love interest, the newly-arrived girl next door discovers she has a gift of being able to Read the Tomes. Strong-willed and determined, she is a great friend and ally to the two boys.
Minor Characters:
Berthold: Initially the main Acquisitor, he seems to have a mean streak, and delights in cruelty.
Martin Gale: The true leader of the Acquisitors, based at the Scar Vault, he is impeccably in control, and as driven to destroy Edwin as Edwin is him.
Stefan: Low-level Acquisitor, causes a lot of trouble for David & Isobel, and generally a dangerous man.
Plot:
Adrien Moore is moving house, and takes a last look around the place he has called home for all of his nineteen years. He’s only moving five minutes down the road, but he’s packing up a lifetime of memories. When he discovers a mysterious book beneath the floorboards, he realises that he’s not the only one who has memories of his time there – the Tome contains every detail of every day that his family has lived there, and the family before theirs, and before that…
He can read the writing, but doesn’t realise he is actually absorbing a gift of Gravitation, which will allow him to bend gravity to his will. Naturally spooked by his discovery, he brings in his best friend David, who is sceptical initially, and takes some convincing. Eventually, Adrien gets him there.
As the two friends struggle to come to terms with this discovery, Adrien bumps into a homeless man, who eventually reveals himself as Edwin. Edwin recognises that Adrien is gifted, and seeks to teach and nurture him in the ways of a Resolver. He eventually introduces him (and David, who won’t let his friend walk into trouble by himself) to the rest of the Circle, and tells them of the deadly mission they have to resist the Acquisitors. Everyone in the Circle, only about 7 of them or so, each possesses at least one gift, and they give Adrien and David a demonstration of their own unique power.
In parallel, twenty-two year old Alistair Yorke knows not to mention what he sees to anyone. However, when his visions start acting out of the ordinary, and begin to MOVE, then he knows there is something wrong. Taking an early afternoon of work, he sees and follows some of this unusual activity to a run-down building, and meets the Circle.
The Circle now being complete as it were, operations against the Acquisitors step up. However, for every action there is, in this case, an unequal and opposite reaction, and the tensions and consequences escalate in intensity and frequency. The Circle members are much smaller in number than the Acquisitors, but are tight-knit, and determined.
When Isobel gets threatened, David and Adrien realise the stakes have gotten impossibly high, and fully throw in their lot with the Circle.
The story climaxes at the Scar base near the ocean, and each side wreaks devastation on each other and the physical cliffside. Personal losses are high, and Adrien is not ready for what he finds.
What I Liked:
- The world-building is excellent – you easily slip into their environment, because it is so familiar.
- Very well paced. None of the meetings or interactions seem forced, the prose is very well structured, and the story keeps a steady forward motion all the way through.
- Characterisation of the main players is good. We see, for example, the development of Adrien from slightly lazy teenager to determined and focused young man, and how he deals with personal adversity and tragedy.
- We see things in the third person from two main viewpoints (Alistair and Adrien), which is an interesting approach.
What I Didn’t Like:
- Some of the minor characters acted in a way that seemed inconsistent with what we find out later, and the supposed values/principles of their group.
- Dead bodies were just “disappeared” by people outside of the two groups, which was somewhat of a loose end. Who did this? How are they notified?
- The role of Visors is fully unexplained, but maybe something that will be expanded upon later in the series. We don’t see how they directly impact, if at all, on the novel’s unfolding events, and are a bit of a distraction.
Overall:
I found this to be a very enjoyable read, and it will hold the interest of an adult readership as well as a YA market. From the start, I was drawn into the everyday world of ordinary guys, who are thrust into a dangerous situation. The characters were well-drawn, and interacted believably. The premise is interesting, and has me looking at the walls and doors differently now!
You want to find out how the battles play out, you root for the underdog Circle, you feel for Adrien when he suffers betrayal and loss. The novel is very entertaining, a great read, and thoroughly recommended. I am already looking forward to “Resolver”, the next in the series!
Acknowledgements:
Thanks to the author for sending me a free copy of the book, in return for an objective and honest review.
February 8, 2019
I found this book because I like Sci-fi and mystery stories, but didn't expect it to end up being a kind of superhero story underneath it all. The characters of Alistair and Adrien have really amazing "Gifts" that are basically superpowers and can do really interesting things with them.
My favourite storyline through this book is about the doorway creatures. They are invisible creatures called Visors and they watch everything going on in the room next to the door they occupy. Everything they see is recorded in Tomes (which the book is named after) and that information is available only to special people with the power to read them. The potential for spying and learning secrets is amazing and a really cool idea.
This book has a brilliant conclusion as well, something I find very important. The writing is done for young adults so there is not much swearing or references to adult themes but the book feels very gritty and exciting even without that. I would recommend this book and the sequel to anyone who likes Hunger Games, Marvel movies or Harry Potter. While different to all of those, there are similarities in all of them, in a good way.
My favourite storyline through this book is about the doorway creatures. They are invisible creatures called Visors and they watch everything going on in the room next to the door they occupy. Everything they see is recorded in Tomes (which the book is named after) and that information is available only to special people with the power to read them. The potential for spying and learning secrets is amazing and a really cool idea.
This book has a brilliant conclusion as well, something I find very important. The writing is done for young adults so there is not much swearing or references to adult themes but the book feels very gritty and exciting even without that. I would recommend this book and the sequel to anyone who likes Hunger Games, Marvel movies or Harry Potter. While different to all of those, there are similarities in all of them, in a good way.
February 11, 2019
If you are looking for a Sci Fi with a good twisting story and interesting exploration of super powers, served with a dash of magic, then this is the book for you.
The characters are relatable and the world is deep. Lucky for us there is a second book, Resolver, to enjoy right after this one. Prepare to binge read!
The characters are relatable and the world is deep. Lucky for us there is a second book, Resolver, to enjoy right after this one. Prepare to binge read!
February 7, 2019
I bought this simply because I know the author, but I was awestruck by the book, although I wouldn't usually pick science fiction I decided to give it a try. It was so good I couldn't put it down, I re-read it when I heard the sequel was on the way and loved it all over again.
October 1, 2021
This book was recommended to me and I thought it was amazing. Why is this not better known? The idea of the Tomes and the way they record the actions in their buildings is very mysterious but its the characters who make such an addictive story. Loved it and the second one.
February 8, 2019
Fantastic book. I read the eBook first, then got the hard copy when it first came out (and again in paperback because I forgot!) just to encourage me to re-read it. Couldn't wait for the sequel.
February 8, 2019
Great read! Imaginative, engrossing and wonderfully put together. A true must read for anyone!
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June 17, 2018Testing that this works! Slightly biased opinion.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews