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The Destined #1
Augur of Shadows
(Alternate cover edition of Kindle ASIN B07KXDLT6H.)
PROPHECY. ADVENTURE. APOCALYPTIC.
Grief-stricken seventeen-year-old Henri moves to New York City after he loses his father. He starts having vivid dreams that tell of things to come, and his visions lead him to meet a wise young man, Siméon, and to reconnect with an old friend, Etlina.
Henri and his friends, Siméon and Etlina, venture on adventures required to fulfill their intertwined destinies in order to bring forth a cataclysmic event to aid against the Primordial Evil.
With the guidance from otherworldly beings, Henri and his friends will do what is needed to ensure their success.
Editors: Jean Riley and Jessica Ryan.
PROPHECY. ADVENTURE. APOCALYPTIC.
Grief-stricken seventeen-year-old Henri moves to New York City after he loses his father. He starts having vivid dreams that tell of things to come, and his visions lead him to meet a wise young man, Siméon, and to reconnect with an old friend, Etlina.
Henri and his friends, Siméon and Etlina, venture on adventures required to fulfill their intertwined destinies in order to bring forth a cataclysmic event to aid against the Primordial Evil.
With the guidance from otherworldly beings, Henri and his friends will do what is needed to ensure their success.
Editors: Jean Riley and Jessica Ryan.
- GenresFantasyYoung Adult
258 pages, ebook
Published February 26, 2019
8 people are currently reading
199 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
May 17, 2019
I loved this book. Jacob really did a great job. The amount of research that went into this book is amazing. The world that he built so vividly is exciting and scary. Descriptions of temples and deities will make you feel like you’re there, right alongside Henri, Simeon and Etlina. Henri is a very well portrayed teenager, with all his internal struggles about being something he never imagined. The reader can really empathize with him in this time of struggle, when Henri and his friends have to pay the ultimate price in order to become what they were always supposed to be, fight the Primordial Evil and fulfill their destinies.
April 14, 2019
Jacob Rundle has written a unique action-packed urban fantasy novel with lovable characters.
Henri is a young teen, who after moving to NY following the death of his father, learns that his life isn’t quite as ordinary as he thought. After meeting the incredibly attractive Simeon, Henri feels an instant connection, but Simeon is also more than meets the eye. He shows Henri what his “dreams” actually mean about him and that he is a highly gifted individual; an augur. He can teleport and project through time, among other incredible things too ;-)
I won’t give too much away, but after teaming up with Etlina, the bruja, this threesome become the Destined, the three (of possibly 4?- wink, wink) individuals that are to save the fate of the cosmos from the Old ones.
This book was unique in that it touched on all kinds of “controversial” elements. It deals with grief, loss, love, religion- well sorta, the end times, coming out and coming of age. You will meet angels, demons and deities, travel to exotic places, and be caught up as these three “kids” who were chosen by their destiny take on unbelievable odds and dangerous missions.
I enjoyed this book. The dialogue and wording at times was repetitive and the scenes where Henri projects got a bit confusing, but all in all, it kept my interest and I loved that it was such a one-of-a-kind idea. I enjoyed seeing Henri find himself as the tale weaved on and overcome the obstacles that he had to face in the literal face of adversity; the strength that he possessed. This book was hopeful, encouraging and adrenaline-pumping. If you enjoy apocalyptic young adult reads then this book is for you!
I look forward to seeing what and who the team encounters in the next book of the installment.
Henri is a young teen, who after moving to NY following the death of his father, learns that his life isn’t quite as ordinary as he thought. After meeting the incredibly attractive Simeon, Henri feels an instant connection, but Simeon is also more than meets the eye. He shows Henri what his “dreams” actually mean about him and that he is a highly gifted individual; an augur. He can teleport and project through time, among other incredible things too ;-)
I won’t give too much away, but after teaming up with Etlina, the bruja, this threesome become the Destined, the three (of possibly 4?- wink, wink) individuals that are to save the fate of the cosmos from the Old ones.
This book was unique in that it touched on all kinds of “controversial” elements. It deals with grief, loss, love, religion- well sorta, the end times, coming out and coming of age. You will meet angels, demons and deities, travel to exotic places, and be caught up as these three “kids” who were chosen by their destiny take on unbelievable odds and dangerous missions.
I enjoyed this book. The dialogue and wording at times was repetitive and the scenes where Henri projects got a bit confusing, but all in all, it kept my interest and I loved that it was such a one-of-a-kind idea. I enjoyed seeing Henri find himself as the tale weaved on and overcome the obstacles that he had to face in the literal face of adversity; the strength that he possessed. This book was hopeful, encouraging and adrenaline-pumping. If you enjoy apocalyptic young adult reads then this book is for you!
I look forward to seeing what and who the team encounters in the next book of the installment.
January 16, 2020
Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to The Novelette and Jacob Rundle for this free copy. All quotes in this review are taken from the Advanced Reader Copy and may change in final publication.
Thank you so much for this opportunity to read this novel, and wow I have to say that I was very intrigued by this world that Rundle created. Again I have another main character that is dealing with grief over losing his father – and ugh if Disney hadn’t already killed me with amazing father figures and losing mothers at an early age, this definitely made me feel a certain type of way – and we have Henri moving to New York to lick his wounds. Like, I don’t know about you, but I don’t know how I could have survived in New York after something like that.
I’ve only been to NYC once, and I felt like it was a jungle, just saying.
I’m glad that we ended up seeing a friendship between Henri, Simeon, and Etlina. Especially because of all the drama that was happening in this world, and how they needed to band together against this ancient evil that will threaten to destroy their world. That’s tough as it is. This actually reminded me of Buffy in that she did well with the help of her friends and that by working together, they were able to save Sunnydale multiple times, even though she always thought that being the Slayer meant that she had to suffer alone. To me, this shows that they don’t need to suffer alone, and I think that maybe seeing that there was something that Henri could do after his father’s death may have made him realize that there was more to life afterwards, even if he didn’t really feel like it.
This was a great first novel for this series, and I’m curious to see more character growth in the other novels.
Thank you so much for this opportunity to read this novel, and wow I have to say that I was very intrigued by this world that Rundle created. Again I have another main character that is dealing with grief over losing his father – and ugh if Disney hadn’t already killed me with amazing father figures and losing mothers at an early age, this definitely made me feel a certain type of way – and we have Henri moving to New York to lick his wounds. Like, I don’t know about you, but I don’t know how I could have survived in New York after something like that.
I’ve only been to NYC once, and I felt like it was a jungle, just saying.
I’m glad that we ended up seeing a friendship between Henri, Simeon, and Etlina. Especially because of all the drama that was happening in this world, and how they needed to band together against this ancient evil that will threaten to destroy their world. That’s tough as it is. This actually reminded me of Buffy in that she did well with the help of her friends and that by working together, they were able to save Sunnydale multiple times, even though she always thought that being the Slayer meant that she had to suffer alone. To me, this shows that they don’t need to suffer alone, and I think that maybe seeing that there was something that Henri could do after his father’s death may have made him realize that there was more to life afterwards, even if he didn’t really feel like it.
This was a great first novel for this series, and I’m curious to see more character growth in the other novels.
February 21, 2019
The world that Jacob Rundle created in Augur of Shadows is so well done that I couldn't put down the book. I read it all throughout the night. The characters are relatable, the pace is perfect and I wasn't expecting the ending. It's an amazing twist to the concept of the Apocalypse.
February 21, 2019
This book is an excellent blend of Sci Fi and Metaphysical. The story keeps you turning the page to see what happens. I recommend this book!
February 23, 2019
I have never read a book like this before. The author's prose is so eloquently executed. The idea that an apocalypse is a good thing is quite different. Fantastic job.
February 1, 2019
This book just captures your attention right away and keeps you wanting more. I found the plot to be a fresh take on something we all have read or heard about in our lifetime. Characters were easily relatable. I found myself latching onto their journey very quickly. A great start to what will be an amazing series of books. I for one can not wait for the next installment.
February 23, 2019
Augur of Shadows is a phenomenal achievement. What really struck me is the sheer amount of research Jacob must have gone through to walk the fine line between agnostic sensibilities and deep cut religious references. Henry's reaction to conversing with the various avatars and deities felt well balanced.
Without going into spoiler territory, Henri's journey takes him beyond a physical plane of existence, and these sections have an almost dreamlike flavour to them. Some scenes left me feeling as disoriented as the protagonist, giving the sense that Henri also represents the reader as much as he is directly involved.
Essentially a tale about a young man finding his place in the world, and the friends he makes along the way, whilst also facing the ghosts of the past and repairing the emotional damage caused by a broken family home, I enjoyed the world Jacob has built.
I have a feeling the next installments will really allow this author to stretch his muscles and explore even more fantastical corners of the metaphysical multiverse.
My one criticism is that I would have liked to have spent more time in a certain timeframe of the book. But this is a series, and I have every faith that wish will be fulfilled.
Praise to Jacob, for taking risks in his attempt to tell a prophecy tale that embraces the concept of time, religion, existential self reflection, all revolving around a young man who wants nothing more than to learn who he is, and where he fits, in terms of the grander scheme of things.
Without going into spoiler territory, Henri's journey takes him beyond a physical plane of existence, and these sections have an almost dreamlike flavour to them. Some scenes left me feeling as disoriented as the protagonist, giving the sense that Henri also represents the reader as much as he is directly involved.
Essentially a tale about a young man finding his place in the world, and the friends he makes along the way, whilst also facing the ghosts of the past and repairing the emotional damage caused by a broken family home, I enjoyed the world Jacob has built.
I have a feeling the next installments will really allow this author to stretch his muscles and explore even more fantastical corners of the metaphysical multiverse.
My one criticism is that I would have liked to have spent more time in a certain timeframe of the book. But this is a series, and I have every faith that wish will be fulfilled.
Praise to Jacob, for taking risks in his attempt to tell a prophecy tale that embraces the concept of time, religion, existential self reflection, all revolving around a young man who wants nothing more than to learn who he is, and where he fits, in terms of the grander scheme of things.
February 21, 2019
This book is truly my new favorite work! I have read it multiple times, and still feel all the feelings like it’s the first time! You will get transported right into this book, and walk along with the characters through the story as if you were there! Truly a breakthrough book by a most talented writer! I highly recommend it!
January 31, 2019
Book review by Gatlin Ross
Title of Book: Augur of Shadows
Author of Book: Jacob Rundle
Date Published: February 26th, 2019
Page length: 203 pages
Apocalypse and dystopian future genres, thought finely separated from one another, have been very popular to young teen and young adult demographics for a significant amount of time. Because there are so many books that fit into that demographic, it is hard to find a story that speaks to you as the reader. I found that distinction in Jacob Rundle’s Augur of Shadows. He directly reflects what it means to be human, in this case an older adolescent teenager going through the difficult post-death reality of his father and coming out to his mother as a gay man, and preparing to save the world from an inevitable future.
Augur of Shadows’ main protagonist, Henri, begins having visceral and real-like dreams involving visions of the future with a cataclysmic event and no chance of survival. However painful and lonely these visions can be, they lead Henri to meet two close life-partners that will undoubtedly assist the future struggle. Destiny is a common theme in apocalypse stories and Augur of Shadows is no different; yet, with this story developing from a twist on conceptualization of what an apocalypse can be the reader can see the reality of Henri’s difficult choices and the consequences of his actions.
In this first book of four, it takes place pre-apocalypse, allowing the reader to understand what sparks the fire and a brief illustration on what is required to extinguish it. However, to drown out the intense heat, one must add more fuel. The Ancestors of the past civilization guide Henri and his two friends, Siméon and Etlina, to fulfill the prophecy that was created at the beginning of time; if they fail, nothing remains.
One thing that separates this story from similar ones is a twist that you can only figure out by immersing yourself. You may not like the foreseeable end, but you will certainly enjoy the road and appreciate the journey of these characters.
I enjoyed reading Augur of Shadows that I re-read the story two more times. Each opportunity gave me more insight into Jacob Rundle’s labyrinth of knowledge and elements of creation. I strongly encourage anyone who enjoys young adult fiction novels to engulf themselves in this amazing story before the continuation book two comes out – You will want to read it again!
Title of Book: Augur of Shadows
Author of Book: Jacob Rundle
Date Published: February 26th, 2019
Page length: 203 pages
Apocalypse and dystopian future genres, thought finely separated from one another, have been very popular to young teen and young adult demographics for a significant amount of time. Because there are so many books that fit into that demographic, it is hard to find a story that speaks to you as the reader. I found that distinction in Jacob Rundle’s Augur of Shadows. He directly reflects what it means to be human, in this case an older adolescent teenager going through the difficult post-death reality of his father and coming out to his mother as a gay man, and preparing to save the world from an inevitable future.
Augur of Shadows’ main protagonist, Henri, begins having visceral and real-like dreams involving visions of the future with a cataclysmic event and no chance of survival. However painful and lonely these visions can be, they lead Henri to meet two close life-partners that will undoubtedly assist the future struggle. Destiny is a common theme in apocalypse stories and Augur of Shadows is no different; yet, with this story developing from a twist on conceptualization of what an apocalypse can be the reader can see the reality of Henri’s difficult choices and the consequences of his actions.
In this first book of four, it takes place pre-apocalypse, allowing the reader to understand what sparks the fire and a brief illustration on what is required to extinguish it. However, to drown out the intense heat, one must add more fuel. The Ancestors of the past civilization guide Henri and his two friends, Siméon and Etlina, to fulfill the prophecy that was created at the beginning of time; if they fail, nothing remains.
One thing that separates this story from similar ones is a twist that you can only figure out by immersing yourself. You may not like the foreseeable end, but you will certainly enjoy the road and appreciate the journey of these characters.
I enjoyed reading Augur of Shadows that I re-read the story two more times. Each opportunity gave me more insight into Jacob Rundle’s labyrinth of knowledge and elements of creation. I strongly encourage anyone who enjoys young adult fiction novels to engulf themselves in this amazing story before the continuation book two comes out – You will want to read it again!
February 25, 2019
Augur of Shadows, Jacob Rundle’s debut novel, tells the story of three young adults: Henri, Simeon, and Etlina. The three face a task of monumental, apocalyptic proportions, and Rundle successfully establishes those stakes throughout Augur. By the end, you’ll feel entrenched in the spiritual journey of these three heroes, rooting for them as they discover fantastical powers beyond anything you can imagine.
As a debut author, Rundle’s bringing a lot to the table. This story sets the stage for a much larger narrative, and I’m intrigued to see where he takes future tales. He’s also not afraid to take risks; Augur of Shadows pulls no punches as it relentlessly barrels toward its end game.
I will emphasize, however, that Rundle has a lot of room to improve the writing of his stories. A little too often, the emotions and intentions of characters were plainly stated in the text, leaving little room for the imagination to infer such feeling through the actions of the characters. However, this writing style may also be more symptomatic of young adult urban fantasy, a genre I read less than others.
The three principle characters are sufficiently unique and diverse characters; Rundle does a great job of bringing LGBT voices into an urban fantasy setting, and injecting underrepresented folklore throughout his worldbuilding. However, I sometimes felt like the characters succeeded in their tasks a little too easily; few roadblocks or consequences (other than the very end of the story) seemed to strike these characters as they resolved the increasingly complex plot.
I look forward to watching Jacob Rundle’s career. Not only did he tell an epic tale, he told it in only 203 pages. Well done.
Writing: 6/10. The writing was the weakest part of this tale; it leaves plenty of room for Rundle to improve, which is a good thing!
Character: 7/10. A diverse cast, though their personas are slightly marred by few personal consequences for many actions taken throughout the tale.
Setting: 7/10. The setting of New York City felt inconsistent in certain moments, based on my personal experience visiting the city. However, the story takes readers to a variety of exotic locales that will stimulate anyone’s imagination!
Plot: 8/10. The stakes of the tale are immense, yet I often didn’t feel as if the characters truly felt these immense stakes. However, this drastically changes during the conclusion of the tale, preparing readers for the next stages of this series.
Overall: 7/10. I’ve decided to lean toward three stars instead of four, though I preface that decision primarily on personal taste. While urban fantasy isn’t the genre I particularly read, I do encourage other readers of the genre to dive into Rundle’s Augur of Shadows, especially if you’re looking to support the debut of an indie author.
As a debut author, Rundle’s bringing a lot to the table. This story sets the stage for a much larger narrative, and I’m intrigued to see where he takes future tales. He’s also not afraid to take risks; Augur of Shadows pulls no punches as it relentlessly barrels toward its end game.
I will emphasize, however, that Rundle has a lot of room to improve the writing of his stories. A little too often, the emotions and intentions of characters were plainly stated in the text, leaving little room for the imagination to infer such feeling through the actions of the characters. However, this writing style may also be more symptomatic of young adult urban fantasy, a genre I read less than others.
The three principle characters are sufficiently unique and diverse characters; Rundle does a great job of bringing LGBT voices into an urban fantasy setting, and injecting underrepresented folklore throughout his worldbuilding. However, I sometimes felt like the characters succeeded in their tasks a little too easily; few roadblocks or consequences (other than the very end of the story) seemed to strike these characters as they resolved the increasingly complex plot.
I look forward to watching Jacob Rundle’s career. Not only did he tell an epic tale, he told it in only 203 pages. Well done.
Writing: 6/10. The writing was the weakest part of this tale; it leaves plenty of room for Rundle to improve, which is a good thing!
Character: 7/10. A diverse cast, though their personas are slightly marred by few personal consequences for many actions taken throughout the tale.
Setting: 7/10. The setting of New York City felt inconsistent in certain moments, based on my personal experience visiting the city. However, the story takes readers to a variety of exotic locales that will stimulate anyone’s imagination!
Plot: 8/10. The stakes of the tale are immense, yet I often didn’t feel as if the characters truly felt these immense stakes. However, this drastically changes during the conclusion of the tale, preparing readers for the next stages of this series.
Overall: 7/10. I’ve decided to lean toward three stars instead of four, though I preface that decision primarily on personal taste. While urban fantasy isn’t the genre I particularly read, I do encourage other readers of the genre to dive into Rundle’s Augur of Shadows, especially if you’re looking to support the debut of an indie author.
June 28, 2019
Intriguing and captivating
This story of astral projection and time travel between the past present and future is delivered in an eloquent, rich and detailed manner. For anyone who finds this concept intriguing, enter the world of Henri and Simeon; who, together with their friend Etlina have to stop a catastrophic end to civilisation as we know it. Fuelled with research and knowledge on many levels - this is a very enjoyable read.
This story of astral projection and time travel between the past present and future is delivered in an eloquent, rich and detailed manner. For anyone who finds this concept intriguing, enter the world of Henri and Simeon; who, together with their friend Etlina have to stop a catastrophic end to civilisation as we know it. Fuelled with research and knowledge on many levels - this is a very enjoyable read.
April 1, 2019
Book: Augur of Shadows
Author: Jacob Rundle
Genre: Adventure, Fantasy, Sci-fi
Published By: N/A
Published Year: 2019
My Review:
Having received a free copy of this book as an ARC for Silver Dagger Tours I was glad to be able to be a part of the tour as the novel seemed very interesting to me and had a great premise about it. With the book being a young adult, apocalyptic novel.
Augur of Shadows is about a boy named Henri and his friends Simeon and Etlina who need to stop the Old Ones from coming to Earth and destroying the world and putting it into complete darkness. In order to do this Henri must use his magic in order to bring the apocalypse and help reset the world.
I found that this book had a good story and that it was a very easy book to read, which did make me want to continuously find out more about how the children's adventures would progress. By also seeing how Henri comes to terms with his powers was something in which I thought was great for the reader as it helped to show how Henri was feeling and being able to sympathise with his character and the struggles he was going through. Having Henri also be gay and coming to terms with it and struggling to tell his mother was something else I thought was a nice way of bringing in some problems in which people do struggle with and making him more relateable for those within the LGBT community. Augur of Shadows brings the characters together really well and builds a friendship in which makes the reader want the children to succeed, showing the different ways of ancestors and how they are able to help them along the way was something in which brought in different cultures and guidance within it. The epilogue of this book also left the book on a good cliffhanger and makes me want to read more of the series when they will be released.
Unfortunately, there was some things about this book in which I also wasn't a fan of such as when the book had different languages and didn't translate at all making me at times confused about what was being said as well as wondering if it was information in which I would need later in the novel. As well as this I found that not all of the sentences were fully formed and some of the words didn't make sense with the book leaving me wondering at times what the end of sentences were and what the atmosphere truly was, however as this is an ARC I feel that with the correct editing that this would be improved and sorted out. The only other thing about this novel in which I didn't like was that at times there was places for chapter headings however seemed to not be needed within the book and just left me wondering why they were there when they didn't go with the story that well.
Overall, I did enjoy Augur of Shadows and thought that Jacob Rundle did a good job and I am excited to see how this series of books progresses. I also think that this book would be good for those who are fans of apocalyptic novels with sci-fi and fantasy features throughout it.
Author: Jacob Rundle
Genre: Adventure, Fantasy, Sci-fi
Published By: N/A
Published Year: 2019
My Review:
Having received a free copy of this book as an ARC for Silver Dagger Tours I was glad to be able to be a part of the tour as the novel seemed very interesting to me and had a great premise about it. With the book being a young adult, apocalyptic novel.
Augur of Shadows is about a boy named Henri and his friends Simeon and Etlina who need to stop the Old Ones from coming to Earth and destroying the world and putting it into complete darkness. In order to do this Henri must use his magic in order to bring the apocalypse and help reset the world.
I found that this book had a good story and that it was a very easy book to read, which did make me want to continuously find out more about how the children's adventures would progress. By also seeing how Henri comes to terms with his powers was something in which I thought was great for the reader as it helped to show how Henri was feeling and being able to sympathise with his character and the struggles he was going through. Having Henri also be gay and coming to terms with it and struggling to tell his mother was something else I thought was a nice way of bringing in some problems in which people do struggle with and making him more relateable for those within the LGBT community. Augur of Shadows brings the characters together really well and builds a friendship in which makes the reader want the children to succeed, showing the different ways of ancestors and how they are able to help them along the way was something in which brought in different cultures and guidance within it. The epilogue of this book also left the book on a good cliffhanger and makes me want to read more of the series when they will be released.
Unfortunately, there was some things about this book in which I also wasn't a fan of such as when the book had different languages and didn't translate at all making me at times confused about what was being said as well as wondering if it was information in which I would need later in the novel. As well as this I found that not all of the sentences were fully formed and some of the words didn't make sense with the book leaving me wondering at times what the end of sentences were and what the atmosphere truly was, however as this is an ARC I feel that with the correct editing that this would be improved and sorted out. The only other thing about this novel in which I didn't like was that at times there was places for chapter headings however seemed to not be needed within the book and just left me wondering why they were there when they didn't go with the story that well.
Overall, I did enjoy Augur of Shadows and thought that Jacob Rundle did a good job and I am excited to see how this series of books progresses. I also think that this book would be good for those who are fans of apocalyptic novels with sci-fi and fantasy features throughout it.
June 24, 2019
What would you do if you were asked to start the apocalypse? In Augur of Shadows, that’s the dilemma Henri faces when he starts seeing visions of the future. He sees destruction, loss, and otherworldly beings made of pure evil. And through the help of his friends Simeon and Etlina, as well as divine and spiritual assistance, the three Destined set out to begin the end of the world.
Augur of Shadows takes an event that most main characters and heroes try to prevent and twists it into the only viable solution for saving the world. The evil beings that Henri sees are far beyond what one would consider ancient, and their intent is to destroy the universe - one soul at a time. And the only way to stop these beings is by initiating the apocalypse. The plot that Jacob Rundle weaves around this theme is both innovative and exciting, with some twists that you wouldn’t expect.
I loved the passion with which Henri was written. He’s an extremely relatable character dealing with several close to home issues - and that’s even before he takes up his destiny as the Augur. Rundle does a great job delving into Henri’s thoughts and emotions as each new twist of fate arises, making the reader experience all that Henri does.
My only critiques for Augur of Shadows are that the writing comes across a bit slow and formal because of a lack of contractions, and in a few places I got lost during the action due to some flow and perspective skips. However, as a debut author, Jacob Rundle has nailed this exciting and powerful story, and I can’t wait to see what comes next!
Augur of Shadows takes an event that most main characters and heroes try to prevent and twists it into the only viable solution for saving the world. The evil beings that Henri sees are far beyond what one would consider ancient, and their intent is to destroy the universe - one soul at a time. And the only way to stop these beings is by initiating the apocalypse. The plot that Jacob Rundle weaves around this theme is both innovative and exciting, with some twists that you wouldn’t expect.
I loved the passion with which Henri was written. He’s an extremely relatable character dealing with several close to home issues - and that’s even before he takes up his destiny as the Augur. Rundle does a great job delving into Henri’s thoughts and emotions as each new twist of fate arises, making the reader experience all that Henri does.
My only critiques for Augur of Shadows are that the writing comes across a bit slow and formal because of a lack of contractions, and in a few places I got lost during the action due to some flow and perspective skips. However, as a debut author, Jacob Rundle has nailed this exciting and powerful story, and I can’t wait to see what comes next!
April 21, 2019
What a great story this was and quite different than any post-apocalypse I’ve ever read. In fact, I’d call it a PRE-apocalypse mixed with some paranormal and fantastical elements.
Henri is a teen who is struggling with several secrets. The main one is that he's having visions and dreams and doesn’t know why or what it's all about until he meets Simeon. But Henri soon finds out that he is meant for more than the normal teenage angst and drama that most kids experience. He is an Augur, a seer, and he is the key to saving the world from ancient dark ones that steal souls.
I was completely enthralled with the three main characters (Henri, Simeon ... I won't spoil who the third one is!!) and enjoyed their adventures. There were times that I got a little lost with Henri’s projections and meeting deities and goddesses, but I think that was merely Henri’s feelings that I was experiencing while absorbed in the story!
I was blown away by the different struggles that the three faced and especially the ending...was not expecting that twist. You’ll have to read it to see for yourself, but my heart was beating hard in many places wondering how it was going to turn out.
I think my only negative was sometimes I felt the dialogue felt too formal without contractions. All in all it was a very intriguing story and I’ll be waiting impatiently to see what happens next! Well done, Jacob Rundle on your debut novel! I'm looking forward to more from you!
Henri is a teen who is struggling with several secrets. The main one is that he's having visions and dreams and doesn’t know why or what it's all about until he meets Simeon. But Henri soon finds out that he is meant for more than the normal teenage angst and drama that most kids experience. He is an Augur, a seer, and he is the key to saving the world from ancient dark ones that steal souls.
I was completely enthralled with the three main characters (Henri, Simeon ... I won't spoil who the third one is!!) and enjoyed their adventures. There were times that I got a little lost with Henri’s projections and meeting deities and goddesses, but I think that was merely Henri’s feelings that I was experiencing while absorbed in the story!
I was blown away by the different struggles that the three faced and especially the ending...was not expecting that twist. You’ll have to read it to see for yourself, but my heart was beating hard in many places wondering how it was going to turn out.
I think my only negative was sometimes I felt the dialogue felt too formal without contractions. All in all it was a very intriguing story and I’ll be waiting impatiently to see what happens next! Well done, Jacob Rundle on your debut novel! I'm looking forward to more from you!
April 5, 2019
Author Rundle tenders a high-stakes found family thriller in his coming-of-age tale of a young man coming into his awesome powers. Eons-old supernatural feuds blast into our present day, requiring our reluctant hero to mature quickly to save his newfound friends. The book ends with raw, visceral emotion after Henri makes his Faustian bargain to defend them (along with all of humankind.) He has little time to mourn as he, along with allies Simeon and Etlina, prepares for the cataclysmic battle sure to lead off the next installment of the series.
This reader would have preferred to more deeply experience these characters’ triumphs and losses throughout the book. In example after example of “show don’t tell,” Rundle leaves little by way of character emotions and intentions to the imagination. Other times, character insights, reflections and applications are glossed over or simply non-existent. Personal preferences suggest much of the dialogue ought to have been streamlined into an alternate form of exposition, preventing numerous lengthy segments from obscuring pertinent and interesting story details.
Our author has laid a foundation for enjoyable storytelling. This reader looks forward to him continuing to refine and strengthen his craft, his conflicts and his characterizations as the series progresses.
This reader would have preferred to more deeply experience these characters’ triumphs and losses throughout the book. In example after example of “show don’t tell,” Rundle leaves little by way of character emotions and intentions to the imagination. Other times, character insights, reflections and applications are glossed over or simply non-existent. Personal preferences suggest much of the dialogue ought to have been streamlined into an alternate form of exposition, preventing numerous lengthy segments from obscuring pertinent and interesting story details.
Our author has laid a foundation for enjoyable storytelling. This reader looks forward to him continuing to refine and strengthen his craft, his conflicts and his characterizations as the series progresses.
April 14, 2019
A unique and captivating story.
I’ll start this review by saying that I don’t usually read post-apocalyptic novels. Having said that, I truly enjoyed this book. Mr. Rundle’s take on apocalypse was completely different and unique. Three teenagers, whose lives are complicated already, are chosen to save the world from destruction.
The story is a non-stop action that keeps you at the edge of your seat from the first page. Multiple gods of different pantheons, angels and demons, and otherworldly creatures – you’ll find everything in this captivating story.
I’m looking forward to the next installment of this unique series.
I’ll start this review by saying that I don’t usually read post-apocalyptic novels. Having said that, I truly enjoyed this book. Mr. Rundle’s take on apocalypse was completely different and unique. Three teenagers, whose lives are complicated already, are chosen to save the world from destruction.
The story is a non-stop action that keeps you at the edge of your seat from the first page. Multiple gods of different pantheons, angels and demons, and otherworldly creatures – you’ll find everything in this captivating story.
I’m looking forward to the next installment of this unique series.
November 9, 2023
I'll preface this review with the fact that I no longer read YA, but I wanted to pick this up because it interested me.
Augur has an amazing premise. Three young people thrown together to bring about the apocalypse in order to save the world? That's a lot to put on their shoulders, so the stakes are very high.
There were a fair few aspects about this book I enjoyed. The level of details about the various deities intrigued me. I don't want to give away any spoilers, but my favourite scene is what I'd describe as the climax of the book. I thought it was a fitting end with a lot of action.
I would recommend this to those who enjoy YA & apocalyptic stories.
Augur has an amazing premise. Three young people thrown together to bring about the apocalypse in order to save the world? That's a lot to put on their shoulders, so the stakes are very high.
There were a fair few aspects about this book I enjoyed. The level of details about the various deities intrigued me. I don't want to give away any spoilers, but my favourite scene is what I'd describe as the climax of the book. I thought it was a fitting end with a lot of action.
I would recommend this to those who enjoy YA & apocalyptic stories.
March 2, 2019
This book is truly my new favorite work! I have read it multiple times, and still feel all the feelings like it’s the first time! You will get transported right into this book, and walk along with the characters through the story as if you were there! Truly a breakthrough book by a most talented writer! I highly recommend it!
August 9, 2020
This is a really unique idea and I’d rate it a 3.7 actually if that were an option. There is a lot of risk taken in the topics the author tries to tackle and they, for the most part, really pay off. It’s rare to find empath abilities, spirituality, religion, sexual orientation and a host of other issues in books let alone all in one book but it’s tackled with respect and sincerity.
There are a lot of fun ideas in this story and it builds an interesting universe. I felt a lot of inspiration from other books and stories but it is its own angle and its own tale which is always fun to see. I deeply enjoyed each character.
If I were to offer the points that keep it from being a four or five star book for me, it’s that I feel the author “tells” far more than he shows especially in regard to the character interactions. Instead of describing how Simeon can see Henri is struggling, we’re told “he saw he was struggling.” To me, this is an area that could definitely be improved because the description in other areas of the book are excellent. When we’re told rather than shown, it takes us out of the story and this happens quite a bit. I could still enjoy the story but it certainly interfered with the experience.
Sometimes, the pacing suffers as well. Once the main action gets going, revelations and events start unfolding and sometimes I found myself going “they accepted that quickly” or “that’s convenient” It doesn’t happen a lot but when it did happen, it was noticeable and I think more time devoted to some of the revelations might have smoothed it out more.
Overall though, I enjoyed this adventure and I’m deeply interested in where it will go from here. The flaws I pointed out are areas that need work but the key part—the main players are solid. The characters were engaging and I want to see how this ends up. Looking forward to the next piece!
There are a lot of fun ideas in this story and it builds an interesting universe. I felt a lot of inspiration from other books and stories but it is its own angle and its own tale which is always fun to see. I deeply enjoyed each character.
If I were to offer the points that keep it from being a four or five star book for me, it’s that I feel the author “tells” far more than he shows especially in regard to the character interactions. Instead of describing how Simeon can see Henri is struggling, we’re told “he saw he was struggling.” To me, this is an area that could definitely be improved because the description in other areas of the book are excellent. When we’re told rather than shown, it takes us out of the story and this happens quite a bit. I could still enjoy the story but it certainly interfered with the experience.
Sometimes, the pacing suffers as well. Once the main action gets going, revelations and events start unfolding and sometimes I found myself going “they accepted that quickly” or “that’s convenient” It doesn’t happen a lot but when it did happen, it was noticeable and I think more time devoted to some of the revelations might have smoothed it out more.
Overall though, I enjoyed this adventure and I’m deeply interested in where it will go from here. The flaws I pointed out are areas that need work but the key part—the main players are solid. The characters were engaging and I want to see how this ends up. Looking forward to the next piece!
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