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The Aaru Cycle #2
Aaru: Halls of Hel
“… Let them have everything - health, food, a place to live, entertainment. They are and remain unhappy and low-spirited for the demon waits and waits…”
-Friedrich Nietzsche
Rose is a Veda.
In Elysian Industries’ virtual paradise of Aaru, that means she’s practically a goddess. She is immortal. She is powerful. A limitless paradise is hers and her friends’ to command. They are free from sickness and pain, old age and death. She should be ecstatic over her prestige and privilege, but the gilded utopia has lost its luster.
In a reality where anything can be hers with a thought, and Rose can master any skill instantly with nothing but her imagination, to what can she still aspire? She has all of eternity to fill, but what will her purpose be? Rose adores her sweet, Latin boyfriend, Franco. She loves wiling away endless immaculate days with her friends, but shouldn’t there be more to life than mere play? Also, Rose is dogged by deep concern for her little sister, Koren, the Elysian Industries spokes-model and reality star back in the “Before” world.
Though Koren is wealthy, famous, and idolized by millions of adoring fans, her life is spinning out of control. Her parents’ marriage is on the rocks, and the boyfriend of her dreams, Jonas Perry, seems suddenly indifferent. Koren finds her celebrity increasingly isolating, her grueling work schedule exhausting, and the constant scrutiny of her personal life unwelcomed and intrusive. To top it all off, she has regular nightmares about the death of her friend, Kiku, and the still-at-large Magic Man who nearly stole away her everything.
Koren and Rose have more to fear from this quarter than they know. Magic Man’s obsession with the teenage idol has not lessened, and he is far from defeated. With vital aid from an unexpected source, his nefarious schemes to make Koren his own and to hack the Aaru mainframe are on track and moving forward. Unless the sisters can thwart his sinister designs, everyone and everything the girls hold dear could be destroyed.
-Friedrich Nietzsche
Rose is a Veda.
In Elysian Industries’ virtual paradise of Aaru, that means she’s practically a goddess. She is immortal. She is powerful. A limitless paradise is hers and her friends’ to command. They are free from sickness and pain, old age and death. She should be ecstatic over her prestige and privilege, but the gilded utopia has lost its luster.
In a reality where anything can be hers with a thought, and Rose can master any skill instantly with nothing but her imagination, to what can she still aspire? She has all of eternity to fill, but what will her purpose be? Rose adores her sweet, Latin boyfriend, Franco. She loves wiling away endless immaculate days with her friends, but shouldn’t there be more to life than mere play? Also, Rose is dogged by deep concern for her little sister, Koren, the Elysian Industries spokes-model and reality star back in the “Before” world.
Though Koren is wealthy, famous, and idolized by millions of adoring fans, her life is spinning out of control. Her parents’ marriage is on the rocks, and the boyfriend of her dreams, Jonas Perry, seems suddenly indifferent. Koren finds her celebrity increasingly isolating, her grueling work schedule exhausting, and the constant scrutiny of her personal life unwelcomed and intrusive. To top it all off, she has regular nightmares about the death of her friend, Kiku, and the still-at-large Magic Man who nearly stole away her everything.
Koren and Rose have more to fear from this quarter than they know. Magic Man’s obsession with the teenage idol has not lessened, and he is far from defeated. With vital aid from an unexpected source, his nefarious schemes to make Koren his own and to hack the Aaru mainframe are on track and moving forward. Unless the sisters can thwart his sinister designs, everyone and everything the girls hold dear could be destroyed.
386 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 27, 2018
1 person is currently reading
13 people want to read
About the author
David Meredith
4 books83 followersDr. David Meredith is a writer and educator originally from Knoxville, Tennessee. He received both a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts from East Tennessee State University, in Johnson City, Tennessee. He received his Doctorate in Educational Leadership (Ed.D.) from Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, Tennessee. On and off, he spent nearly a decade, from 1999-2010 teaching English in Northern Japan, but currently lives with his wife and three children in the Nashville Area where he continues to write and teach English.
Author page: https://www.facebook.com/DavidMeredit...
Author page: https://www.facebook.com/DavidMeredit...
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
September 2, 2018
What if you could live on after death in a cyber world where all you had to do was think something and it “was," our every wish was possible, you could live forever? David Meredith dives back into this world and we are taken ever deeper, where cracks just may exist in the “perfect eternal world.” What happens to those left behind?
AARU: HALLS OF HEL has a darker flavor, but is just as intense, just as imaginative and just as riveting as book one, and may even surpass it in the brilliance of David Meredith’s world-building as we become part of both the living reality and the cyber universe created.
Rose has mastered her new world, created her own Utopia, found love, but has she lost that feeling of being challenged or of needing to strive to meet her goals, as in life? As her sister Koren struggles with the celebrity of being a spokesperson for Elysian Industries, the young teen becomes overwhelmed with keeping her public persona and her heart intact. Has she been saddled with too much pressure? Her family has slowly imploded under the weight of fame and Koren needs her sister more than ever.
As the sisters each navigate their respective worlds, a dark evil is lurking in the cyber shadows. Magic Man is back, still obsessed with Koren and now has broken into Aaru and a new resident is “born.”
Who is Hel? Is she truly the vile creature she was created to be? Will this be the end of Aaru, the end of the promised eternal life, the end of being able to connect with loved ones who have left the living world? What of the opposition in the living world? Has science really gone too far or has evil twisted a miraculous world into a virtual nightmare?
David Meredith has nailed a real page turner that rockets through scene after scene with the creative brilliance of a shooting star! Strap yourself in and hang on tight, this is a nail biter from start to finish! In our technology-based world, this is a must read fantasy!
I received a complimentary copy from David Meredith!
Series: The Aaru Cycle - Book 2
Publication Date: July 26, 2018
Publisher: David Meredith
Genre: Urban Fantasy | Science Fiction
Print Length: 388 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
AARU: HALLS OF HEL has a darker flavor, but is just as intense, just as imaginative and just as riveting as book one, and may even surpass it in the brilliance of David Meredith’s world-building as we become part of both the living reality and the cyber universe created.
Rose has mastered her new world, created her own Utopia, found love, but has she lost that feeling of being challenged or of needing to strive to meet her goals, as in life? As her sister Koren struggles with the celebrity of being a spokesperson for Elysian Industries, the young teen becomes overwhelmed with keeping her public persona and her heart intact. Has she been saddled with too much pressure? Her family has slowly imploded under the weight of fame and Koren needs her sister more than ever.
As the sisters each navigate their respective worlds, a dark evil is lurking in the cyber shadows. Magic Man is back, still obsessed with Koren and now has broken into Aaru and a new resident is “born.”
Who is Hel? Is she truly the vile creature she was created to be? Will this be the end of Aaru, the end of the promised eternal life, the end of being able to connect with loved ones who have left the living world? What of the opposition in the living world? Has science really gone too far or has evil twisted a miraculous world into a virtual nightmare?
David Meredith has nailed a real page turner that rockets through scene after scene with the creative brilliance of a shooting star! Strap yourself in and hang on tight, this is a nail biter from start to finish! In our technology-based world, this is a must read fantasy!
I received a complimentary copy from David Meredith!
Series: The Aaru Cycle - Book 2
Publication Date: July 26, 2018
Publisher: David Meredith
Genre: Urban Fantasy | Science Fiction
Print Length: 388 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
September 21, 2018
I received a free copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Aaru: Halls of Hel by David Meredith is a more than worthy sequel to the outstanding series opener which I also read for review. I'm so happy that the author remember me and how much I enjoyed it so I could have the opportunity to return to Aaru and the Before world with Rose and Koren. It was fantastic to see how far both of them have come from the moment we met them. Due to their experiences they're a bit different than they were before, but I adored getting to see them grow over the course of the story, especially Rose who's really had the chance to come into her own since she got a second chance at a life after her life before was stolen from her. As you can imagine, though, the two have struggled and suffered dearly and constantly have to grapple and come to terms with who they are and their lives as they are now. Meredith has done a fantastic job of continually developing his cast of characters. He isn't afraid to put them through the wringer. As for the world building, the author expertly builds upon everything we were introduced to the first time around. Now, though, the darkness is a little more intense - the world of Aaru certainly isn't as perfect as it was designed to be. Overall, Aaru: Halls of Hel if a must read if you enjoyed the first volume of the series. I have a feeling you'll also enjoy it if you are interested in virtual worlds, sci-fi thrillers, and contemporary YA that isn't afraid to tackle tough subjects. I'm certainly looking forward to continuing The Aaru Cycle.
Aaru: Halls of Hel by David Meredith is a more than worthy sequel to the outstanding series opener which I also read for review. I'm so happy that the author remember me and how much I enjoyed it so I could have the opportunity to return to Aaru and the Before world with Rose and Koren. It was fantastic to see how far both of them have come from the moment we met them. Due to their experiences they're a bit different than they were before, but I adored getting to see them grow over the course of the story, especially Rose who's really had the chance to come into her own since she got a second chance at a life after her life before was stolen from her. As you can imagine, though, the two have struggled and suffered dearly and constantly have to grapple and come to terms with who they are and their lives as they are now. Meredith has done a fantastic job of continually developing his cast of characters. He isn't afraid to put them through the wringer. As for the world building, the author expertly builds upon everything we were introduced to the first time around. Now, though, the darkness is a little more intense - the world of Aaru certainly isn't as perfect as it was designed to be. Overall, Aaru: Halls of Hel if a must read if you enjoyed the first volume of the series. I have a feeling you'll also enjoy it if you are interested in virtual worlds, sci-fi thrillers, and contemporary YA that isn't afraid to tackle tough subjects. I'm certainly looking forward to continuing The Aaru Cycle.
December 6, 2018
Actual Rating 4.25
I was got a paperback from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I read Aaru in March, I was a bit scared to read Aaru: Hall in the Hel whether I’ll remember the story or not…But Yayyy I did with all the details 😁
I liked this book better than the first one. The story was creepy, dark, twisted page turner. Story equally focuses the good and bad side of Aaru, I still can’t trust Elysian Industries. At the same time, I don’t know who is trustable everyone is so suspicious.
Character development is so amazing, the transformation of character is done so smoothly I didn’t even realize how much they changed. We get a few and really interesting new characters.
Koren annoy me but at the same time I also feel sorry for her, Her mother is such a disappointment, I hated her more than Magic man.
Hel is clearly the winner in this book, She is so twisted, poor and dark character, I feel sorry for her but also hate her. We get to know a few glimpses of Magic man’s background, Still, I couldn’t understand his this creepy behaviour.
I loved the ending, Don’t want to spoil it but I didn’t expect it and of course, I am loving the concept.
I don’t know if the next book will be last one or not but I surely know It has so many things to offer.
I was got a paperback from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I read Aaru in March, I was a bit scared to read Aaru: Hall in the Hel whether I’ll remember the story or not…But Yayyy I did with all the details 😁
I liked this book better than the first one. The story was creepy, dark, twisted page turner. Story equally focuses the good and bad side of Aaru, I still can’t trust Elysian Industries. At the same time, I don’t know who is trustable everyone is so suspicious.
Character development is so amazing, the transformation of character is done so smoothly I didn’t even realize how much they changed. We get a few and really interesting new characters.
Koren annoy me but at the same time I also feel sorry for her, Her mother is such a disappointment, I hated her more than Magic man.
Hel is clearly the winner in this book, She is so twisted, poor and dark character, I feel sorry for her but also hate her. We get to know a few glimpses of Magic man’s background, Still, I couldn’t understand his this creepy behaviour.
I loved the ending, Don’t want to spoil it but I didn’t expect it and of course, I am loving the concept.
I don’t know if the next book will be last one or not but I surely know It has so many things to offer.
September 3, 2018
I loved this second installment! The author built on previous themes but added so much more emotion and heartbreak. I appreciated the added internal conflict for the girls. In a utopia where one can shape their world at will, what is there to work for, to set goals for, to be motivated, when all of that can be done with a snap of a finger? There is no such thing as a utopia. Hel is a very enthralling character. I The detailed descriptions of the torture she endured by the Magic Man brought tears to my eyes. I don't believe that she is all evil, and I feel that there is still light inside of her. Read more of my review at http://pagesforthoughts.blogspot.com/...
August 31, 2018
This second installment of the Aaru Cycle (find my other review here) is intense and full of suspense - you can not stop turning the pages as you have to know what is happening next.
Rose is now immortal and living in the world of Aaru (while not necessary, you should really read book one first to learn more about the history of the world and how it came to be), she is free of the disease that plagued her in life and free of pain, worry and fear. She can create things into existent with her mind and she has finally found true love in Franco. The only drawback? She is struggling to learn to live with a purpose. Why is she there? What does she give back to society? How will she continue to learn and grow? She is given the blessing of Arch Veda for protecting the world from the horrors of Magic Man but even then is this enough to satisfy her needs and wants?
Her sister, Koren, is plagued by nightmares of the ordeal she endured at the hands of Magic Man not to mention the fame and family fights that seem to follow her. She misses her sister and struggles in a world while watching her sister live in presumed happiness. We begin to see not only her but others question why would they continue on in a world of pain when a world of happiness is so close by?
Tied into this is a strange new character throughout the novel who seems to contain parts of both Rose, Koren and her creator. In the beginning, I was not quite sure who she was and how she tied into the story but as the plot evolved you became well aware of who she was and how she was tied into Rose, Koren and Magic Man.
This was an exciting, well written novel. You are given just enough at each stage of the book to keep the plot moving but not enough to spoil the story. Your heart goes out to Rose and Koren but oddly enough also to our new character, Hel, who isn't quite as evil as you are led to expect. She is a product of her creator but has elements of warmth and love, just not quite sure how to show it. We are left with a hanger that makes you excited for the next book in this series. A definite must read!
October 16, 2018
I was so excited when I accepted the invitation to review this book. I will admit that I hyped up Aaru: Halls of Hel in my mind more than I should have. Usually, I get burned by the book. It ends up not being as good as I thought it would be. Not in this case. Aaru: Halls of Hel lived up to my mental hype.
Aaru: Halls of Hel takes place shortly after the events of Aaru. Rose has been made into the Arch Veda of Aaru. As she grows into the role that she was given, Rose deepens her relationship with Franco. She also becomes aware of Residents who were not allowed past the firewall because of different issues. While she is concerned about Koren, her first responsibility is Aaru and its Residents. Koren is not doing so well. She barely speaks to Rose. Her mother is cheating on her father. Her father is content to sit home and drink all day. Her boyfriend isn’t there for her and is seen stepping out with another girl. On top of it, she is having disturbing nightmares about Kiku’s death and the Magic Man’s assault. It is taking a toll on her and she is about to break. Hel is the Magic Man’s creation. Kept isolated in another computer, she is tortured and maimed. She has a dual nature. While loving and kind, she also is vicious. It is her dark nature that shows when she is in Aaru. How is Hel connected to Koren and Rose? Will Rose be able to look out for her sister and the Residents of Aaru? Will Koren reach a breaking point with her life? What is the Magic Man’s end game? And more importantly, who is the mysterious man helping him?
I was disappointed that I didn’t see as much as Rose as I did in the first book. I wanted to see more of what an Arch Veda could do in Aaru. I did like seeing her interactions with the other Vedas, though. I thought it was interesting what they could do and how much control they had over the Aaru’s landscape. I also liked reading about her relationship with Franco. I also wish that there was more interaction with Koren. But, that did come towards the end of the book.
Koren was a hot mess in this book. I felt so bad for her. She was spiraling out of control and had no safety net. I wondered as I read about her intense guilt over Kiku’s death and the Magic Man’s assault if she had received any sort of therapy for it. It seemed like Elysian Industries kept working her and turned a blind eye to what she was going through. She acted like the adult in her relationship with her parents. Which is sad for a barely 15-year-old. What I did like was how she was able to interact with Rose. Loved it!! I also got her confusion over meeting Hel. I would have been confused too.
I was a little confused when Hel was introduced. At first, I thought her chapters, which were brief, were Koren having nightmares about the Magic Man. I didn’t put two and two together until the Magic Man started interacting with Hel. He couldn’t have done that with Koren. Then I started to feel bad for Hel. What the Magic Man did to her was awful. What she was used for was awful. What she was programmed to think about Rose and Koren was frightening. Her skills were frightening. I winced at what she could do to the other Veda’s and Residents. But, I am curious to see where her character development goes.
The Magic Man was as slimy as he was in the first book. What he did to Hel was awful. What he wants to do to Koren was as bad. I thought he got what he deserved when he was left in Mexico. But, I was also interested in his backstory. I wanted to know how he got the way he did. There were hints and I hope that more is explained in the next book.
As always, the secondary characters added more depth to the story. I will say that I thought Koren and Rose’s parents were awful in this book.
The first plotline in Aaru: Halls of Hel was the one with Rose. It showed Rose’s rise to Arch Veda. It detailed her relationship with Franco and the other Vedas. It shows her confusion about Quarantine after Dani was snatched away from her. Her relationship with Koren was also discussed even though they didn’t interact much with each other. It also showed her confusion when Hel arrived and wrecked havoc in Aaru.
The second plotline in Aaru: Halls of Hel detailed what was going on in Koren’s life. It showed how bad Koren’s life had become. She had no relationship with her mother and barely had one with her father. All she did was work. When she did decide to take a vacation, she ended up going back after a couple of days. Because of her work schedule, she wasn’t able to talk to Rose as much as she could. Her boyfriend was a huge jerk. Things did start to get better for her towards the end of the book but man, she was a mess.
The third plotline was about Hel. It showed how much she was tortured by the Magic Man. What happened to her when she was behind the firewall was horrific. Her joy at seeing Koren was heartbreaking because of what happened to make Hel react the way she did. The same went for when she saw Rose for the first time. She loved her and she hated her. All because of what the Magic Man did to her.
The secondary storylines, like the secondary characters, added depth to the story. The author did a great job at wrapping them up and incorporating them into the main storylines. I will say that I have a good idea at who Simon was, or at least who he is in Aaru.
The end of Aaru: Halls of Hel was insane. The author left all the storylines up in the air. Which in turn left it wide open for book 3. There was a twist in the plot that I did not see coming. It took me by complete surprise when Hel introduced that person in the book. I went “No way“. Then the book ended. So, yes, a bit of a cliffhanger but man, it was good.
I gave Aaru: Halls of Hel a 4-star rating. This was a fast paced book that I enjoyed reading. The characters and their situations were relatable. I will say that the twist at the end of the book took me by surprise. It left me wanting to know more.
I would give Aaru: Halls of Hel an Adult rating. There is sex and sexual situations that were not graphic. There is violence. There is language. I would suggest that no one under the age of 21 read this book.
I would reread Aaru: Halls of Hel. I would also recommend this book to family and friends.
I would like to thank the author for allowing me to read and review Aaru: Halls of Hel.
All opinions stated in this review of Aaru: Hall of Hel are mine
**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**
Have you read Aaru: Halls of Hel?
Love it?
Hate it?
Meh about it?
Let me know!!!
Aaru: Halls of Hel takes place shortly after the events of Aaru. Rose has been made into the Arch Veda of Aaru. As she grows into the role that she was given, Rose deepens her relationship with Franco. She also becomes aware of Residents who were not allowed past the firewall because of different issues. While she is concerned about Koren, her first responsibility is Aaru and its Residents. Koren is not doing so well. She barely speaks to Rose. Her mother is cheating on her father. Her father is content to sit home and drink all day. Her boyfriend isn’t there for her and is seen stepping out with another girl. On top of it, she is having disturbing nightmares about Kiku’s death and the Magic Man’s assault. It is taking a toll on her and she is about to break. Hel is the Magic Man’s creation. Kept isolated in another computer, she is tortured and maimed. She has a dual nature. While loving and kind, she also is vicious. It is her dark nature that shows when she is in Aaru. How is Hel connected to Koren and Rose? Will Rose be able to look out for her sister and the Residents of Aaru? Will Koren reach a breaking point with her life? What is the Magic Man’s end game? And more importantly, who is the mysterious man helping him?
I was disappointed that I didn’t see as much as Rose as I did in the first book. I wanted to see more of what an Arch Veda could do in Aaru. I did like seeing her interactions with the other Vedas, though. I thought it was interesting what they could do and how much control they had over the Aaru’s landscape. I also liked reading about her relationship with Franco. I also wish that there was more interaction with Koren. But, that did come towards the end of the book.
Koren was a hot mess in this book. I felt so bad for her. She was spiraling out of control and had no safety net. I wondered as I read about her intense guilt over Kiku’s death and the Magic Man’s assault if she had received any sort of therapy for it. It seemed like Elysian Industries kept working her and turned a blind eye to what she was going through. She acted like the adult in her relationship with her parents. Which is sad for a barely 15-year-old. What I did like was how she was able to interact with Rose. Loved it!! I also got her confusion over meeting Hel. I would have been confused too.
I was a little confused when Hel was introduced. At first, I thought her chapters, which were brief, were Koren having nightmares about the Magic Man. I didn’t put two and two together until the Magic Man started interacting with Hel. He couldn’t have done that with Koren. Then I started to feel bad for Hel. What the Magic Man did to her was awful. What she was used for was awful. What she was programmed to think about Rose and Koren was frightening. Her skills were frightening. I winced at what she could do to the other Veda’s and Residents. But, I am curious to see where her character development goes.
The Magic Man was as slimy as he was in the first book. What he did to Hel was awful. What he wants to do to Koren was as bad. I thought he got what he deserved when he was left in Mexico. But, I was also interested in his backstory. I wanted to know how he got the way he did. There were hints and I hope that more is explained in the next book.
As always, the secondary characters added more depth to the story. I will say that I thought Koren and Rose’s parents were awful in this book.
The first plotline in Aaru: Halls of Hel was the one with Rose. It showed Rose’s rise to Arch Veda. It detailed her relationship with Franco and the other Vedas. It shows her confusion about Quarantine after Dani was snatched away from her. Her relationship with Koren was also discussed even though they didn’t interact much with each other. It also showed her confusion when Hel arrived and wrecked havoc in Aaru.
The second plotline in Aaru: Halls of Hel detailed what was going on in Koren’s life. It showed how bad Koren’s life had become. She had no relationship with her mother and barely had one with her father. All she did was work. When she did decide to take a vacation, she ended up going back after a couple of days. Because of her work schedule, she wasn’t able to talk to Rose as much as she could. Her boyfriend was a huge jerk. Things did start to get better for her towards the end of the book but man, she was a mess.
The third plotline was about Hel. It showed how much she was tortured by the Magic Man. What happened to her when she was behind the firewall was horrific. Her joy at seeing Koren was heartbreaking because of what happened to make Hel react the way she did. The same went for when she saw Rose for the first time. She loved her and she hated her. All because of what the Magic Man did to her.
The secondary storylines, like the secondary characters, added depth to the story. The author did a great job at wrapping them up and incorporating them into the main storylines. I will say that I have a good idea at who Simon was, or at least who he is in Aaru.
The end of Aaru: Halls of Hel was insane. The author left all the storylines up in the air. Which in turn left it wide open for book 3. There was a twist in the plot that I did not see coming. It took me by complete surprise when Hel introduced that person in the book. I went “No way“. Then the book ended. So, yes, a bit of a cliffhanger but man, it was good.
I gave Aaru: Halls of Hel a 4-star rating. This was a fast paced book that I enjoyed reading. The characters and their situations were relatable. I will say that the twist at the end of the book took me by surprise. It left me wanting to know more.
I would give Aaru: Halls of Hel an Adult rating. There is sex and sexual situations that were not graphic. There is violence. There is language. I would suggest that no one under the age of 21 read this book.
I would reread Aaru: Halls of Hel. I would also recommend this book to family and friends.
I would like to thank the author for allowing me to read and review Aaru: Halls of Hel.
All opinions stated in this review of Aaru: Hall of Hel are mine
**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**
Have you read Aaru: Halls of Hel?
Love it?
Hate it?
Meh about it?
Let me know!!!
October 15, 2018
Full review on Stellar Kitten Book Reviews:
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I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own!
After reading the first book in the series, Aaru, I was so very excited to be able to get my hands on the second book as well. I really loved the concept for Aaru as a system that keeps people alive and lets you connect to your loved ones, but I also enjoyed the questions and issues that grew organically out of having something like that exist. These were two really strong points in the first book that I was hoping would be in the second book and I was not disappointed!
Aaru: Halls of Hel takes place a little after the events in Aaru. Of course, after Magic Man’s big moment in the last book, I was dying to see what he was up to. Magic Man was a bit of a mystery in the first book and he didn’t make too many appearances until later in the book which is why I’m glad this book expanded on his character. We did get to know a little more about what makes him tick and what his childhood was like. It didn’t make me like him, but I think it gave some interesting insight.
And of course, we had Koren and her family’s fate to be worried about. I was really hoping that after the events with Magic Man her family would get a wake-up call and pull together but they remained as fractured as before. What’s great about the situation is how well it’s written. I love that we have all these different conflicts rising up out of Koren’s wealth and fame. We have a father who is trying to cope with losing his role as the breadwinner. A mother who loses sight of what’s important and starts putting her own interests first. And of course, we have young Koren who is dealing with the lack of direction and affection she’s used to from her parents. That’s not even adding in the fact that Koren’s life is being micro-managed by Elysian Industries.
It was frustrating to see all the mistakes Koren’s parents were making. Koren’s father was too busy wallowing in his self-pity and being self-destructive to be a real father to her. He was also too focused on fighting with Koren’s mom to realize everything that Koren was carrying on her shoulders. But, despite how incredibly infuriating they could be I enjoyed the complexity they brought into the story.
There did feel like there was a subtle shift in this book. Whereas the last book felt like it was really about Koren (her grief, adjusting to Rose’s physical death, and the danger of Magic Man), this book felt like it was more focused on Rose. Halls of Hel really brought up the issues of eternal life (which is essentially what people in Aaru are faced with within the system). Rose had begun feeling some of that restlessness in the first book, but in Halls of Hel, she really starts to question her purpose. And it’s not just her, many of the other minor characters express this need to have a purpose and to have something to work towards. The author really highlighted that emptiness that comes with being able to have everything instantly and not having to work for anything. There was a little bit of a religious angle in there as well that was interesting.
As always, I loved the thought that was put into the conflicts in this story. There were always multiple levels: physical, psychological, emotional–the writing and attention to detail really made the characters come off the page and made them feel real.
Besides the character detail, I also enjoyed the plot. Again, the attention shifted from Koren to Rose, so the danger was less physical and out in the real world. Instead, trouble started brewing inside Aaru’s paradise. I liked this angle because it gave Rose more to deal with and added an interesting element to the otherwise perfect world of Aaru. Plus, I think it created a nice bridge between the real world and Aaru because now Rose and Koren were fighting a common enemy.
Overall, I think Halls of Hel was an excellent sequel to the Aaru Cycle. It continued to build upon its world and characters in a way that kept me invested in the story. I can’t wait to see where the story goes next and what obstacles Rose and Koren (and Hel) will face in the future! This is a series you’ll definitely enjoy if you like sci-fi/dystopian!
Aaru: Halls of Hel was released on July 27, this is a series you’ll definitely enjoy if you like sci-fi/dystopian!
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❝ “Who are we?” murmured Auset quietly. “Why are we here? They are the oldest questions Mankind has ever asked itself, and they are not any more clearly answered in Aaru than they were Before…” ❞
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own!
After reading the first book in the series, Aaru, I was so very excited to be able to get my hands on the second book as well. I really loved the concept for Aaru as a system that keeps people alive and lets you connect to your loved ones, but I also enjoyed the questions and issues that grew organically out of having something like that exist. These were two really strong points in the first book that I was hoping would be in the second book and I was not disappointed!
Aaru: Halls of Hel takes place a little after the events in Aaru. Of course, after Magic Man’s big moment in the last book, I was dying to see what he was up to. Magic Man was a bit of a mystery in the first book and he didn’t make too many appearances until later in the book which is why I’m glad this book expanded on his character. We did get to know a little more about what makes him tick and what his childhood was like. It didn’t make me like him, but I think it gave some interesting insight.
And of course, we had Koren and her family’s fate to be worried about. I was really hoping that after the events with Magic Man her family would get a wake-up call and pull together but they remained as fractured as before. What’s great about the situation is how well it’s written. I love that we have all these different conflicts rising up out of Koren’s wealth and fame. We have a father who is trying to cope with losing his role as the breadwinner. A mother who loses sight of what’s important and starts putting her own interests first. And of course, we have young Koren who is dealing with the lack of direction and affection she’s used to from her parents. That’s not even adding in the fact that Koren’s life is being micro-managed by Elysian Industries.
It was frustrating to see all the mistakes Koren’s parents were making. Koren’s father was too busy wallowing in his self-pity and being self-destructive to be a real father to her. He was also too focused on fighting with Koren’s mom to realize everything that Koren was carrying on her shoulders. But, despite how incredibly infuriating they could be I enjoyed the complexity they brought into the story.
❝ Wouldn’t that be simplest? She thought. Wouldn’t that be easy? What if I could just close my eyes and leave everything behind? What if I could forget about it all, and just wake up in Aaru with Rose and the rest of forever to fill together.
Silent tears slid down her cheeks. That option was sounding better and better all the time. ❞
There did feel like there was a subtle shift in this book. Whereas the last book felt like it was really about Koren (her grief, adjusting to Rose’s physical death, and the danger of Magic Man), this book felt like it was more focused on Rose. Halls of Hel really brought up the issues of eternal life (which is essentially what people in Aaru are faced with within the system). Rose had begun feeling some of that restlessness in the first book, but in Halls of Hel, she really starts to question her purpose. And it’s not just her, many of the other minor characters express this need to have a purpose and to have something to work towards. The author really highlighted that emptiness that comes with being able to have everything instantly and not having to work for anything. There was a little bit of a religious angle in there as well that was interesting.
As always, I loved the thought that was put into the conflicts in this story. There were always multiple levels: physical, psychological, emotional–the writing and attention to detail really made the characters come off the page and made them feel real.
Besides the character detail, I also enjoyed the plot. Again, the attention shifted from Koren to Rose, so the danger was less physical and out in the real world. Instead, trouble started brewing inside Aaru’s paradise. I liked this angle because it gave Rose more to deal with and added an interesting element to the otherwise perfect world of Aaru. Plus, I think it created a nice bridge between the real world and Aaru because now Rose and Koren were fighting a common enemy.
Overall, I think Halls of Hel was an excellent sequel to the Aaru Cycle. It continued to build upon its world and characters in a way that kept me invested in the story. I can’t wait to see where the story goes next and what obstacles Rose and Koren (and Hel) will face in the future! This is a series you’ll definitely enjoy if you like sci-fi/dystopian!
Aaru: Halls of Hel was released on July 27, this is a series you’ll definitely enjoy if you like sci-fi/dystopian!
November 27, 2018
*I received a free ARC of this novel, with thanks to the author. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*
First and foremost, Aaru: Halls of Hel is the sequel to Aaru and if you haven’t read that then I strongly suggest you do so first because it contains much of the world- and character-building setup that led into this story.
It took me a little while to find my way back into Aaru this time round, as a lot of the early focus of the book is on Rose’s disquiet with the idyllic quality of her existence and how it translates to a life purpose to strive for, whilst poor Koren’s world is falling apart in every way possible with desertions, betrayals, and constantly being used to further other people’s goals. This became a bit dispiriting as one of our main characters drifted while the other became increasingly distraught.
However the glimpses of ‘other’ Koren hooked me in and tied together the superhero rescuer Sister and the vulnerable innocent, with the horrific shadow of sadistic paedophile Magic Man looming above them all. (A trigger warning here that there are vivid portrayals of physical, mental and sexual violence that can be very disturbing, but are necessary in the context of the plot.) Then, once the latest technology advances were introduced to Koren and Hel was introduced to the reader, the pace picked up and the action and tension built relentlessly.
I was particularly fascinated here by the exploration of the ethical dilemmas of how to deal with dangerous individuals in an environment shaped by the minds it contains; who has the right to make the decisions about who is ‘worthy’ or ‘competent’ to participate in society; and what to do with those that remain outside of the accepted society. Likewise the way in which these issues feed religious debate is explored here in both Aaru and Before, from different viewpoints. There are clear parallels with both Paradise Lost and Frankenstein in the ethical problems facing Elysium Industries and in Hel’s situation.
The story ends on a cliffhanger with David Meredith’s virtual heaven now divided and plunged into chaos. I can’t wait to find out what happens next, and am emotionally invested in the outcomes for the characters, particularly Aaru’s very own female Harvey Dent!
If you enjoy sci-fi / fantasy based on virtual reality with some emotional and philosophical issues and a hefty splash of horror then you should visit Aaru…but make sure you leave a window open to return…
Koren thrashed helplessly. She convulsed in her invisible prison as her captor callously dismembered her thoughts and dissected her fondest recollections, as he pawed roughshod through her memories and ogled her shattered dreams. Koren felt her mind breaking, her soul splintering. The ravaging of her mind was so excruciating she begged for death, but no relief was to be had that way – not anymore.
“Rose…” She beseeched voicelessly into the nothingness, mind wracked and riven, spirit shredded and torn. “Please…Help me…Save me…”
But there was no one to hear her, and Koren knew it. There was no hope in her plea – only desolation. The assault on her quintessence, her spiritual core, continued unabated. All Koren could do was endure and pray the loneliness would take her once more.
It was preferable to the pain.
– David Meredith, Aaru: Halls of Hel
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
First and foremost, Aaru: Halls of Hel is the sequel to Aaru and if you haven’t read that then I strongly suggest you do so first because it contains much of the world- and character-building setup that led into this story.
It took me a little while to find my way back into Aaru this time round, as a lot of the early focus of the book is on Rose’s disquiet with the idyllic quality of her existence and how it translates to a life purpose to strive for, whilst poor Koren’s world is falling apart in every way possible with desertions, betrayals, and constantly being used to further other people’s goals. This became a bit dispiriting as one of our main characters drifted while the other became increasingly distraught.
However the glimpses of ‘other’ Koren hooked me in and tied together the superhero rescuer Sister and the vulnerable innocent, with the horrific shadow of sadistic paedophile Magic Man looming above them all. (A trigger warning here that there are vivid portrayals of physical, mental and sexual violence that can be very disturbing, but are necessary in the context of the plot.) Then, once the latest technology advances were introduced to Koren and Hel was introduced to the reader, the pace picked up and the action and tension built relentlessly.
I was particularly fascinated here by the exploration of the ethical dilemmas of how to deal with dangerous individuals in an environment shaped by the minds it contains; who has the right to make the decisions about who is ‘worthy’ or ‘competent’ to participate in society; and what to do with those that remain outside of the accepted society. Likewise the way in which these issues feed religious debate is explored here in both Aaru and Before, from different viewpoints. There are clear parallels with both Paradise Lost and Frankenstein in the ethical problems facing Elysium Industries and in Hel’s situation.
The story ends on a cliffhanger with David Meredith’s virtual heaven now divided and plunged into chaos. I can’t wait to find out what happens next, and am emotionally invested in the outcomes for the characters, particularly Aaru’s very own female Harvey Dent!
If you enjoy sci-fi / fantasy based on virtual reality with some emotional and philosophical issues and a hefty splash of horror then you should visit Aaru…but make sure you leave a window open to return…
Koren thrashed helplessly. She convulsed in her invisible prison as her captor callously dismembered her thoughts and dissected her fondest recollections, as he pawed roughshod through her memories and ogled her shattered dreams. Koren felt her mind breaking, her soul splintering. The ravaging of her mind was so excruciating she begged for death, but no relief was to be had that way – not anymore.
“Rose…” She beseeched voicelessly into the nothingness, mind wracked and riven, spirit shredded and torn. “Please…Help me…Save me…”
But there was no one to hear her, and Koren knew it. There was no hope in her plea – only desolation. The assault on her quintessence, her spiritual core, continued unabated. All Koren could do was endure and pray the loneliness would take her once more.
It was preferable to the pain.
– David Meredith, Aaru: Halls of Hel
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
August 26, 2018
Aaru: Halls of Hel by author David Meredith is the must-read Book 2 of The Aaru Cycle. In this thrilling story, Meredith takes us deeper into the seemingly utopian post death cyber universe of Aaru where we learn Rose is deeply in love with Franco yet struggling to find purpose for her rather mundane infinite existence. Meanwhile, Koren is experiencing trials with her own celebrity life. Each girl is building friendships with both new and familiar faces but maintaining a tight bond that only sisters can share. Fortunately, Elysian Industries has been working on a new technology that brings these two sisters even closer than the original Aaru window panel allowed. However, the solace they get through their virtual physical interaction is short-lived. Magic Man, who skillfully continues to evade authorities, forms a dangerous partnership with a mysterious scientist while secretly devising a master plan involving his latest sinister creation – Hel. Rose and Koren’s worlds are about to unexpectedly and tragically collide.
This eagerly anticipated sequel far exceeds my expectations. Where some new adult fantasy novelists shy away from the harsh realities teenagers face, author David Meredith touches on them in an honest, intimate manner. He brilliantly weaves everyday problems into an exciting plot filled with laughter and heartache, fun and fear, beauty and horror. Meredith artfully balances the narratives and storylines of the 2 main protagonists, while cleverly introducing us to other characters. He combines crafty dialogue with poetic descriptions to engage readers in a dramatic yet elegant journey. This book challenges the audience to consider the practical, criminal, and faith-based implications of near-futuristic scientific progress. Although a bit subtle in his approach, Meredith even creatively addresses issues of racism, mental health, sexual assault and substance abuse that plague our world today. Aaru: Halls of Hel is an absolute page-turner that leaves you thinking.
This eagerly anticipated sequel far exceeds my expectations. Where some new adult fantasy novelists shy away from the harsh realities teenagers face, author David Meredith touches on them in an honest, intimate manner. He brilliantly weaves everyday problems into an exciting plot filled with laughter and heartache, fun and fear, beauty and horror. Meredith artfully balances the narratives and storylines of the 2 main protagonists, while cleverly introducing us to other characters. He combines crafty dialogue with poetic descriptions to engage readers in a dramatic yet elegant journey. This book challenges the audience to consider the practical, criminal, and faith-based implications of near-futuristic scientific progress. Although a bit subtle in his approach, Meredith even creatively addresses issues of racism, mental health, sexual assault and substance abuse that plague our world today. Aaru: Halls of Hel is an absolute page-turner that leaves you thinking.
December 12, 2018
This book picks up and smoothly continues the storyline from the first book. The main characters are still the two sisters with Rose in the virtual world and Koren on Earth. In this book, we get a deeper and more extensive look into each of their lives.
I had some mixed thoughts about this book. On the one hand, the storyline is very intriguing, but there were some disconnects for me with the dual personality of Hel and the level of mature subject matter for the age of the sisters. The technology that is presented and easily accepted by the characters had me wanting to know more about how it worked. The logical side of me had trouble just letting go and accepting without questions.
Most of the supporting cast adds to the plot. If you like creepy characters, Magic Man might be right up your alley. There is a hanging ending, so hopefully, all will be wrapped up in the next book.
I had some mixed thoughts about this book. On the one hand, the storyline is very intriguing, but there were some disconnects for me with the dual personality of Hel and the level of mature subject matter for the age of the sisters. The technology that is presented and easily accepted by the characters had me wanting to know more about how it worked. The logical side of me had trouble just letting go and accepting without questions.
Most of the supporting cast adds to the plot. If you like creepy characters, Magic Man might be right up your alley. There is a hanging ending, so hopefully, all will be wrapped up in the next book.
August 24, 2018
Aaru: Halls of Hel (The Aaru Cycle #2) by David Meredith is a young adult science fiction fantasy. The story continues from the first book, Aaru (The Aaru Cycle Book 1). A story that is filled with fantasy, drama, suspense and the unexpected. You will be drawn in from the beginning, never knowing what to expect next. As the story unfolds and secrets come to light you will not know what will happen next. The characters are well-developed with creative backstories that mesh perfectly with the overall storyline. The ending is sure to surprise you and leave you wanting more. Aaru: Halls of Hel (The Aaru Cycle #2) is the perfect fall read!
October 11, 2018
See the full review at Confessions of an ExBallerina
Another great read from David Meredith. I really enjoyed the first book, but the second installment really touches on how we can perceive something as perfect when it is far from it. Meredith took his characters from the last book and gave them more depth. They loved and cried. There was pain and heartache, but joy too. That is what I loved about this book. Don't get me wrong, the story was good too, but that characters were what drew me into the book.
Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.
Another great read from David Meredith. I really enjoyed the first book, but the second installment really touches on how we can perceive something as perfect when it is far from it. Meredith took his characters from the last book and gave them more depth. They loved and cried. There was pain and heartache, but joy too. That is what I loved about this book. Don't get me wrong, the story was good too, but that characters were what drew me into the book.
Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.
September 16, 2018
Better than the first
I really enjoyed Meredith's first book in the The Aaru Cycle, "Aaru." This book felt more put together than the last one, as it shows that a writer can only improve with each new story. It's a very intriguing story that features Rose and Koren. It's a more than normal life for both characters as they struggle to survive, as well as deal with different relationships. This story was very well written, and Meredith keeps not only the characters vibrant, but makes the reader wonder what is yet to come. Great story, very compelling!
I really enjoyed Meredith's first book in the The Aaru Cycle, "Aaru." This book felt more put together than the last one, as it shows that a writer can only improve with each new story. It's a very intriguing story that features Rose and Koren. It's a more than normal life for both characters as they struggle to survive, as well as deal with different relationships. This story was very well written, and Meredith keeps not only the characters vibrant, but makes the reader wonder what is yet to come. Great story, very compelling!
December 4, 2018
Creative and disturbing is the best way I can describe Halls of Hel.
Going into the Aaru Cycle I wouldn't have guessed that it was going to be the type of book that makes me really think. The concept and idea of Aaru is so clever and unique and then on the flip side of that so many issues and topics are addressed. I'm still not entirely sure I processed all of them while reading.
Is Psychological Science Fiction a genre? If not, it should be just for this book.
Check out my full review https://linzthebookworm.blogspot.com/...
Going into the Aaru Cycle I wouldn't have guessed that it was going to be the type of book that makes me really think. The concept and idea of Aaru is so clever and unique and then on the flip side of that so many issues and topics are addressed. I'm still not entirely sure I processed all of them while reading.
Is Psychological Science Fiction a genre? If not, it should be just for this book.
Check out my full review https://linzthebookworm.blogspot.com/...
September 16, 2018
There is a lot going on in Halls of Hel. The pacing is good and it’s easy to keep track of all the various storylines. There is a Huge Major Event right at the end that I didn’t see coming and after it happened, but was not explained immediately, what it actually was was one of many possibilities I thought of. I highly recommend this book (but read the first in the series first or it will make little sense). Aaru really made me think and Halls of Hel was just as thought-provoking. I look forward to seeing where the author takes the series.
(Note: I previously rated this book 4 stars due to numerous typos and editing issues. The author has addressed these and the re-edited version is now available from Amazon, so I am thrilled to be able to give it the 5 stars it absolutely deserves!)
(Note: I previously rated this book 4 stars due to numerous typos and editing issues. The author has addressed these and the re-edited version is now available from Amazon, so I am thrilled to be able to give it the 5 stars it absolutely deserves!)
January 3, 2021
The second book in this series was even better than the first! So much of what happened in the first book was built upon in this amazing sequel. What I really loved about this book was the imagery. The scenery was phenomenal and I felt like I was very much in Aaru due to the descriptors that really draw you in. It was also interesting to see the chapters shift into the perspectives of different characters as you really get so much more from the story by seeing each person's motives. I felt more familiar with the other residents of Aaru and the living world in this book and look forward to seeing what the future holds for them as well. The end of this book was phenomenal and unexpected so if you are looking for a book that questions and challenges emotion, growing up, and life and death, this is the book for you! Aaru is a unique and wonderfully written place in which a digital afterlife gives the deceased a second chance, and I can go there by reading this book, definitely reccomend.
August 20, 2022
I received a free copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
The first thing i wanna note is that the writing style is improving, which makes me happy. I would only advise adding some notes under line for the foreign words because the mass audience will wonder what these things mean.
I would say the plot is quite interesting. I like the fact that Magic Man is still on stage like the big villain, but this time he uses different methods to reach his goals and get his muse.
In this part, we encounter a lot of growing problems, everything gets fucked up, confused and hell. It seems that things are not going well, and the end just promises there will be a next part. How things will end is not yet known, but I can’t wait to find out. This time the book managed to catch my interest and make me wonder “now what’s next?” And I’ve read it relatively quickly, except for the big periods of time I simply didn’t read.
Can I say that Magic Man is my favorite character? One of my favorite quotes are his. I dare to say I understand him, partly.
“The Thought of Death, it gives me a melancholy happiness… Death freely chosen, death at the right time, brightly and sheerfully accomplished amid children and witnesses: then a real farewell is still possible… a real estimate of what one has achived and what one has wished!”
Thank you, David, for letting me sink into the world of Aaru again.
The first thing i wanna note is that the writing style is improving, which makes me happy. I would only advise adding some notes under line for the foreign words because the mass audience will wonder what these things mean.
I would say the plot is quite interesting. I like the fact that Magic Man is still on stage like the big villain, but this time he uses different methods to reach his goals and get his muse.
In this part, we encounter a lot of growing problems, everything gets fucked up, confused and hell. It seems that things are not going well, and the end just promises there will be a next part. How things will end is not yet known, but I can’t wait to find out. This time the book managed to catch my interest and make me wonder “now what’s next?” And I’ve read it relatively quickly, except for the big periods of time I simply didn’t read.
Can I say that Magic Man is my favorite character? One of my favorite quotes are his. I dare to say I understand him, partly.
“The Thought of Death, it gives me a melancholy happiness… Death freely chosen, death at the right time, brightly and sheerfully accomplished amid children and witnesses: then a real farewell is still possible… a real estimate of what one has achived and what one has wished!”
Thank you, David, for letting me sink into the world of Aaru again.
November 10, 2018
I was immediately excited to book two because the concept for Aaru was really cool. Aaru is a system that keeps people alive and lets them connect to their loved ones. The motal questions and implications that come from something like that was what made book one super intriguing.
Aaru: Halls of Hel picks up a little after the events in book one. This book is very well written. David Meredith keeps the suspense piling slowly as we see the fracture in Koren’s family and the mistakes her parents kept making. It brought this really intriguing complexity to the novel that made me want more.
We get to focus on Rose and Aaru. What are the implications of eternal life? I loved the theme of emptiness that seemed to be in all the people in Aaru. They lacked purpose, and didn’t need to work for anything. The attention to detail and complexity levels of this story are really cool. Every character felt alive and I enjoyed reading their story.
I really enjoyed this book. I’m looking forward to finding out what happens next. I recommend this one to scifi/dystopian fans for sure.
* I recieved a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.*
Aaru: Halls of Hel picks up a little after the events in book one. This book is very well written. David Meredith keeps the suspense piling slowly as we see the fracture in Koren’s family and the mistakes her parents kept making. It brought this really intriguing complexity to the novel that made me want more.
We get to focus on Rose and Aaru. What are the implications of eternal life? I loved the theme of emptiness that seemed to be in all the people in Aaru. They lacked purpose, and didn’t need to work for anything. The attention to detail and complexity levels of this story are really cool. Every character felt alive and I enjoyed reading their story.
I really enjoyed this book. I’m looking forward to finding out what happens next. I recommend this one to scifi/dystopian fans for sure.
* I recieved a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.*
September 23, 2018
(I have been provided a copy of this book by the author for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own).
This was an interesting take on how out of control technology can become. I really liked the way the story dived into a few interesting questions, such as what it means to be alive, what happens when everything is perfect and what celebrity can do to a human and their family.
First I thought the depiction of the deterioration of Koren's life and her family life was spot on. From what we have all seen int the tabloids and through interviews, being a celebrity can easily destroy a life, especially a young person's life.
I thought everything the happened with Karen was very believable. In the last book I thought some choices didn't feel right. In this one it all felt natural. Koren is thrown into this world, her parents have no idea how to handle it. Her mother wants the fame and money, her father breaks having no purpose anymore. Koren is being tossed around without anyone to guide her. You may think some of the things she deals with it way beyond her age range but in the story you get the feel she is being forced to become much older than her age. She is being forced to grow up and so her drinking and her encounters with Jonas make sense. She may be fourteen but the world around her is treating her like she is twenty or older. I thought it all made sense and was portrayed well.
Hel's character was super interesting. I loved how she was this double personality. She was dark, she had light and she is constantly battling this distinct difference in her being. I love her parts. I loved how all she wanted to do was free those seen as broken. She wasn't the villain to me. She was trying to fight an oppressive system that has demonized those who are different.
I was nervous when the topic of mental health was brought up. I didn't like the way the board members were talking about those people as being defective. I really liked how that topic was switched around with Hel. She stood up and fought for them, she worked to free them. While her methods aren't the best and are quite proving the point I am interested to see how it plays out.
I did have a handful of issues with the book thought. First I still have really difficult time with the sexual overtones of the story. There is no need for the lust after Koren, the age there makes that very difficult to read. I understood using her brain scans to get into the system and Magic Man wanting to put himself into the system in order to take over, but his lust was too much. We could have had the same story without all that and nothing would have been lost. I thought it just made me squirm and really took me out of parts of the story.
I also had a bit of trouble with the timeline of the story. I couldn't quite place when Magic Man began working on creating Hel. I think it all started after he kidnapped Koren in the last book. But I wasn't quite sure on that count. There needed to be a bit of little bit of bridge there. I thought for a while that we were jumping between past and present. That he was going to take Koren again and then create Hel but that wasn't it. I just needed a clarification on the timeline.
While I was okay with the way Hel was fighting for the mentally ill that were trapped in quarantine I didn't like the way she turned the one character into an animal. I didn't like the metaphor there, for me there is no person who is broken enough to be considered an animal. I got the symbolism of creating Norse mythology characters but that part did leave a bad taste in my mouth.
In the end it was an interesting story and I do want to see how it all plays out!
This was an interesting take on how out of control technology can become. I really liked the way the story dived into a few interesting questions, such as what it means to be alive, what happens when everything is perfect and what celebrity can do to a human and their family.
First I thought the depiction of the deterioration of Koren's life and her family life was spot on. From what we have all seen int the tabloids and through interviews, being a celebrity can easily destroy a life, especially a young person's life.
I thought everything the happened with Karen was very believable. In the last book I thought some choices didn't feel right. In this one it all felt natural. Koren is thrown into this world, her parents have no idea how to handle it. Her mother wants the fame and money, her father breaks having no purpose anymore. Koren is being tossed around without anyone to guide her. You may think some of the things she deals with it way beyond her age range but in the story you get the feel she is being forced to become much older than her age. She is being forced to grow up and so her drinking and her encounters with Jonas make sense. She may be fourteen but the world around her is treating her like she is twenty or older. I thought it all made sense and was portrayed well.
Hel's character was super interesting. I loved how she was this double personality. She was dark, she had light and she is constantly battling this distinct difference in her being. I love her parts. I loved how all she wanted to do was free those seen as broken. She wasn't the villain to me. She was trying to fight an oppressive system that has demonized those who are different.
I was nervous when the topic of mental health was brought up. I didn't like the way the board members were talking about those people as being defective. I really liked how that topic was switched around with Hel. She stood up and fought for them, she worked to free them. While her methods aren't the best and are quite proving the point I am interested to see how it plays out.
I did have a handful of issues with the book thought. First I still have really difficult time with the sexual overtones of the story. There is no need for the lust after Koren, the age there makes that very difficult to read. I understood using her brain scans to get into the system and Magic Man wanting to put himself into the system in order to take over, but his lust was too much. We could have had the same story without all that and nothing would have been lost. I thought it just made me squirm and really took me out of parts of the story.
I also had a bit of trouble with the timeline of the story. I couldn't quite place when Magic Man began working on creating Hel. I think it all started after he kidnapped Koren in the last book. But I wasn't quite sure on that count. There needed to be a bit of little bit of bridge there. I thought for a while that we were jumping between past and present. That he was going to take Koren again and then create Hel but that wasn't it. I just needed a clarification on the timeline.
While I was okay with the way Hel was fighting for the mentally ill that were trapped in quarantine I didn't like the way she turned the one character into an animal. I didn't like the metaphor there, for me there is no person who is broken enough to be considered an animal. I got the symbolism of creating Norse mythology characters but that part did leave a bad taste in my mouth.
In the end it was an interesting story and I do want to see how it all plays out!
September 29, 2018
Aaru: Halls of Hel is the second book of The Aaru Cycle, a young adult series by David Meredith. I reviewed the first book in the series last year (see Aaru review, October 2, 2017).
In Halls of Hel, we return to the world of Rose and Koren. Rose continues her life after death as a Veda in Aaru, while her younger sister, Koren, and their parents continue their lives in the real, “Before,” world. Elysian Industries continues to work to improve Aaru, while Aaru’s detractors continue to attack Aaru. Most importantly, Magic Man, the bad guy foiled by Rose and Koren but who got away, continues his pursuit of Koren and his attack on Aaru.
I read Aaru during hurricane Harvey. Over the past year, I have thought about the Aaru world and wondered if my review had perhaps been too harsh; although I stand by the criticisms that I made, the mere fact that I continued to think about Aaru speaks volumes. So, when David Meredith asked me if I would like to read and review The Halls of Hel, I welcomed the opportunity to revisit Aaru.
The world of Aaru is intriguing and raises some interesting philosophical questions. In addition to the question about the propriety of this virtual world, Rose and her friends are struggling with questions of purpose in a world wherein they can have or do anything merely by thinking of it. And, then there are ethical questions concerning the residents who join Aaru but who are forced to remain quarantined.
One of my earlier criticisms of Aaru continues to bother me: Meredith’s written portrayal of Askr Ashe’s accent. It seems to me that the accent is inconsistent, and I continue to trip over it. Though this is a major stumbling block for me, it is relatively minor in the Aaru scheme of things. Another of my prior criticisms has been resolved, as both Rose and Koren have evolved. Although some of the angst we encountered in Aaru continues in Halls of Hel, both characters act in a more age appropriate manner.
Halls of Hel, like Aaru, is well written and thought provoking. I enjoyed my return to the Aaru world, and I am looking forward to reading the next installment in The Aaru Cycle.
In Halls of Hel, we return to the world of Rose and Koren. Rose continues her life after death as a Veda in Aaru, while her younger sister, Koren, and their parents continue their lives in the real, “Before,” world. Elysian Industries continues to work to improve Aaru, while Aaru’s detractors continue to attack Aaru. Most importantly, Magic Man, the bad guy foiled by Rose and Koren but who got away, continues his pursuit of Koren and his attack on Aaru.
I read Aaru during hurricane Harvey. Over the past year, I have thought about the Aaru world and wondered if my review had perhaps been too harsh; although I stand by the criticisms that I made, the mere fact that I continued to think about Aaru speaks volumes. So, when David Meredith asked me if I would like to read and review The Halls of Hel, I welcomed the opportunity to revisit Aaru.
The world of Aaru is intriguing and raises some interesting philosophical questions. In addition to the question about the propriety of this virtual world, Rose and her friends are struggling with questions of purpose in a world wherein they can have or do anything merely by thinking of it. And, then there are ethical questions concerning the residents who join Aaru but who are forced to remain quarantined.
One of my earlier criticisms of Aaru continues to bother me: Meredith’s written portrayal of Askr Ashe’s accent. It seems to me that the accent is inconsistent, and I continue to trip over it. Though this is a major stumbling block for me, it is relatively minor in the Aaru scheme of things. Another of my prior criticisms has been resolved, as both Rose and Koren have evolved. Although some of the angst we encountered in Aaru continues in Halls of Hel, both characters act in a more age appropriate manner.
Halls of Hel, like Aaru, is well written and thought provoking. I enjoyed my return to the Aaru world, and I am looking forward to reading the next installment in The Aaru Cycle.
August 26, 2018
After all the tribulations Koren and Rose have recently suffered, things appear to have gone back to what now passes as normal in David Meredith’s Aaru: Halls of Hel, but appearances can be rather deceiving.
To read this, and other book reviews, visit my website: http://makinggoodstories.wordpress.com/.
To honor Rose’s bravery in protecting Aaru from the dangers of Magic Man, she’s made an Arch Veda, making her even more of a celebrity among the residents of Aaru than before. Enjoying the ability to create anything she can envision and spending time with her friends, and especially her boyfriend Franco, Rose feels as if there should be some greater purpose to her life – something that she should be doing. Meanwhile, Koren is struggling to navigate her celebrity while simultaneously attempting to deal with the dysfunction of parents and her tumultuous relationship with Jonas Perry on her own. Realizing that talking with others about her problems helps, Koren begins to mature from a demanding child into a conscientious young woman. Though the sisters managed to keep the Magic Man at bay, his plans aren’t over and he’s managed to gain a foothold within Aaru, with help from an unlikely source, to execute his latest plan that would threaten the sisters.
This installment is an intriguing and compelling continuation to, and development of, the story first presented in Aaru. This narrative felt far more cohesive in its incorporation of multiple character perspectives than the previous one; it developed the characters more fully, providing a level of depth and complexity to make them both more interesting and more realistic. While the writing as a whole is quite good, there were still quite a few grammatical, and typographical, elements that could be cleaned up to make it easier for readers to remain attentive to the narrative instead of being pulled from the story due to surface-level textual issues.
Overall, I’d give it a 3.5 out of 5 stars.
*I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
To read this, and other book reviews, visit my website: http://makinggoodstories.wordpress.com/.
To honor Rose’s bravery in protecting Aaru from the dangers of Magic Man, she’s made an Arch Veda, making her even more of a celebrity among the residents of Aaru than before. Enjoying the ability to create anything she can envision and spending time with her friends, and especially her boyfriend Franco, Rose feels as if there should be some greater purpose to her life – something that she should be doing. Meanwhile, Koren is struggling to navigate her celebrity while simultaneously attempting to deal with the dysfunction of parents and her tumultuous relationship with Jonas Perry on her own. Realizing that talking with others about her problems helps, Koren begins to mature from a demanding child into a conscientious young woman. Though the sisters managed to keep the Magic Man at bay, his plans aren’t over and he’s managed to gain a foothold within Aaru, with help from an unlikely source, to execute his latest plan that would threaten the sisters.
This installment is an intriguing and compelling continuation to, and development of, the story first presented in Aaru. This narrative felt far more cohesive in its incorporation of multiple character perspectives than the previous one; it developed the characters more fully, providing a level of depth and complexity to make them both more interesting and more realistic. While the writing as a whole is quite good, there were still quite a few grammatical, and typographical, elements that could be cleaned up to make it easier for readers to remain attentive to the narrative instead of being pulled from the story due to surface-level textual issues.
Overall, I’d give it a 3.5 out of 5 stars.
*I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
March 18, 2019
**Disclaimer: I received a complimentary digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, which follows.**
Koren and Rose Johnson are back, and scrambling to find themselves in book 2 of David Meredith's AARU Cycle, Aaru: Halls of Hel.
Koren is still reeling from the loss of her friend and the publicity tour demands that Aaru's board has placed on her 14-year-old shoulders is wearing her out. Not only is she trying to navigate the hassles of being a teenager, but she's trying to do so under the microscope of public opinion, religious zealots, and her parents' marriage falling apart.
Rose is enjoying her second life in Aaru, but she's growing increasingly restless, learning the hard lesson that life without purpose is empty, and she's facing a very long existence.
And the Magic Man? He got what he needed from his attack on Koren, but he's not finished with his goal.
Aaru: Halls of Hel is a deeper dive into the fascinating universe of life-after-death. You could possibly start with this book, but you'll get far more out of it by reading book 1 first. Multiple plots are involved, and this is not the end of the series. I definitely enjoyed this book, though it is a long read.
Koren and Rose Johnson are back, and scrambling to find themselves in book 2 of David Meredith's AARU Cycle, Aaru: Halls of Hel.
Koren is still reeling from the loss of her friend and the publicity tour demands that Aaru's board has placed on her 14-year-old shoulders is wearing her out. Not only is she trying to navigate the hassles of being a teenager, but she's trying to do so under the microscope of public opinion, religious zealots, and her parents' marriage falling apart.
Rose is enjoying her second life in Aaru, but she's growing increasingly restless, learning the hard lesson that life without purpose is empty, and she's facing a very long existence.
And the Magic Man? He got what he needed from his attack on Koren, but he's not finished with his goal.
Aaru: Halls of Hel is a deeper dive into the fascinating universe of life-after-death. You could possibly start with this book, but you'll get far more out of it by reading book 1 first. Multiple plots are involved, and this is not the end of the series. I definitely enjoyed this book, though it is a long read.
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