Facets of the Nether

Dissolution Cycle #2

by William C. Tracy

The Dissolution approaches.

Sam has saved the Assembly of Species, but at a terrible cost. Locked in his apartment, his memories gone and his best friend abducted, he is once again crippled with anxiety. Meanwhile, Enos struggles to free her brother from imprisonment, alone for the first time in her life. Her true species has been revealed, and there are hints the deadliest of her kind survived an ancient war.

But the Nether contains more secrets. A musical chime disrupts daily life, signaling changes to its very fabric. To solve this mystery, Sam must face his anxiety and confront truths about his memories and unique abilities. Only then can he save his friends from the machinations of the Life Coalition, by understanding the reality behind the Facets of the Nether.

Genres: Genderfluid

332 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 23, 2020

About the author

William C. Tracy writes tales of the Dissolutionverse: a science fantasy series about planets connected by music-based magic instead of spaceflight. This series currently includes a three-book epic space opera cycle. It also includes five novelettes and novellas, including a coming of age story, tales of political intrigue, a Sherlock Holmes-like mystery, a Jules Verne style adventure. Several books include LGBT-friendly elements.

His first epic fantasy from NineStar Press is Fruits of the Gods, about a land where magic comes from seasonal fruit, and two sisters plot to take down a corrupt government.

William is a North Carolina native and a lifelong fan of science fiction and fantasy. He has a master's in mechanical engineering, and has both designed and operated heavy construction machinery. He has also trained in Wado-Ryu karate since 2003, and runs his own dojo in Raleigh NC. He is an avid video and board gamer, a reader, and of course, a writer.

In his spare time, he cosplays with his wife such combinations as Steampunk Agent Carter and Jarvis, Jafar and Maleficent, and Doctor Strange and the Ancient One. They also enjoy putting their pets in cute little costumes and making them cosplay for the annual Christmas card.

You can get a free Dissolutionverse short story by signing up for William's mailing list at http://williamctracy.com/contact-me/

Or follow him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/wctracy for writing updates, cat pictures, and thoughts on martial arts.

Reviews

[Connie Moon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Sequel!

I loved Seeds of Dissolution for the complexity of the plot and so many cool characters from the ten worlds. This continues the story with many of the same characters plus many new, interesting ones. Don't ask me to pronounce or spell their names. It just drew me in, again, into this wild, zany universe. Highly imaginative. I won't say anything more for fear of leaving spoilers. If you like part space opera in some other universe described so differently than ours(I don't know what physics apply there) and defined by the music of the universe this one is for you. It is very difficult for me to place in one sub-genre. Worth reading. It also includes indexes of characters, species, Houses and a timeline which in and of themselves were interesting reading. Great artwork! Massive, wild story.

[William Tracy]

Hello folks! I'll be using this space to provide some updates for The Dissolutionverse Cycle! If you want more stories, check out the four side-novellas I have out. You can read them in any order, and each one will give you a little more insight into the Dissolutionverse...

Tuning the Symphony
Merchants and Maji
The Society of Two Houses
Journey to the Top of the Nether

August 4th, 2021: Been a while since I did one of these, but I'm very pleased to announce that my first anthology, Distant Gardens, is released! My stories include one in the Dissolutionverse and one in a new universe. There are eight other stories as well, by my fellow authors!

April 21st 2021: The audiobook for Tales of the Dissolutionverse is released on Audible! Go check it out!

February 11th 2021: The audiobooks for Facets of the Nether and Fall of the Imperium are now available on Audible! In addition, The Seeds of Dissolution is available on Chirp, Kobo, Nook, Google Books, and more with updated audio and better voice acting. Check it out!

January 6th 2021: It's been a while since the last update, but I can happily say the audiobooks for Facets of the Nether and Fall of the Imperium have been released! You can find them on Chirp, Kobo, Nook, Google Books, and anywhere else you consume audiobooks. They will be available shortly on Audible as well, but it's taking longer than usual to approve them.

August 25th 2020: Book 3, Fall of the Imperium is out! Time to go finish up the trilogy. What lies in store for Sam, Enos, and Inas?

July 23rd 2020: The cover for book 3, Fall of the Imperium, has been revealed! Mark your calendars for August 25th and the release of the last book of the trilogy!

June 24th 2020: Book 2, Facets of the Nether is released! Go out and get it, people! I'm hoping to finish up Fall of the Imperium in 2-3 weeks, and that one will be released in August to finish out the trilogy.

May 13 2020: The Kickstarter is finished and the covers and illustrations are funded. Thanks to everyone who helped this project. In other news, I've finished the last draft of Facets of the Nether (book 2) and the planned release date is June 23rd! Now on to another round of edits on book 3, planned for August 2020...

[Lori Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Received as a review copy, this is an honest review. Sam may have prevented the collapsed of the Assembly of Species but its cost in doing so has wrought so much loss. His memories and a friend he'd deeply trust. The Nether has many puzzles lefts that need solving, Sam and his friends face an even more daunting task before them... and its their courage, abilities and persistence that give them the hope of solving the unfolding mysteries. The mind bending series continues its adventure in a most profound way. Highly recommended.

[Robin Duncan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full disclosure, I read an ARC of this story a little while ago, which I think had some minor edits post-comment, but is substantially the final book, I am assured.

I am a big fan of Bill Tracy's universe. I find the scale of invention quite staggering. It is no understatement, I think, to refer to the Grand Symphony and its attendant maji, houses and the Nether itself as a construction of Sanderson-esque proportions, and any story grounded in such an enthralling setting is bound to be highly entertaining. And this one is, just like The Seeds of Dissolution before it.

Seeds features a cast of characters and races that is staggeringly diverse, beautifully realised and endlessly intriguing, however in this second instalment we discover another facet, populated by yet more wonderful and varied creatures, and it is a genuine joy to discover them along with our protagonist, Sam.

The true joy of this story for me, however, is seeing our young trio of friends blossoming from their roles as precocious apprentices into genuine protagonists. In Seeds, Sam, Inas and Enos were very much learning about their abilities, and searching for the confidence to take part in grand events, to resist the dark forces that they encountered. Here in Facets, we see a trio of who are ready to take on the world, and they are discovering that is no easy task. They are flawed, they are challenged by adversity, and personal trials, they are tested near to destruction.

I feel that the stakes are most definitely raised in this book, and that our heroes are forced to unfurl their metaphorical wings and take action, which makes for a very engaging and entertaining story with three young people at its heart, a storm of powerful emotions surrounding them.

I would thoroughly recommend Facets (and Seeds) to anyone with a love for Fantasy or for Space Opera, as these books deftly tread the common ground between these genres. Catch up quick though, as Book 3 is on its way :O)

[Red Ink Book Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

Facets of the Nether (Book 2 of The Dissolution Cycle) – William C. Tracy

I was given a copy of this book in order to provide an honest review.

“Facets of the Nether” is book two in William C. Tracy’s series “The Dissolution Cycle”, the first book in the series being “The Seeds of Dissolution”.

This story picks up where we were left off at the end of the first book. Sam is struggling to deal with the aftermath of what he accomplished during the attach on the assembly. In addition to this, Inas has been taken by the group that calls themselves the Life Coalition., leaving Sam and Enos alone.

While Sam secludes himself in Majus Cyrysis’s apartment – Enos and Majus Ayama and Majus Cyrysis have been working together trying to track down and rescue Inas from the clutches of the Life Coalition and find out exactly what the group is up to.

Frustrated with constant dead ends Enos comes up with her own plan to get her brother back. It worked, for the most part – as long as you didn’t include the fact that Enos managed to get herself captured while freeing her brother Inas.

Now Sam must pull himself together and force himself out of his comfort zone to be there for Inas and find a way to get back Inas and stop the Life Coalition from whatever it is they have planned. Yet Sam has no idea what unspeakable things Inas has to suffer through under the clutches of the Life Coalition.

There are many strange twists and turns on the road ahead for young Sam. The Dissolution is coming and much sooner than anyone could have ever predicted.

And this, without giving away any major spoilers, is roughly where the author has left Sam and his comrades. Endings that are cliffhangers or leave plot lines unfinished both annoy me and make me happy in the sense that the author didn’t wrap up the plot line nicely but at least I know they will finish it off at a later stage.

I like that Sam’s character is progressing but what is frustrating me is that he also seems to go backwards a little bit as well in this story, though given certain plot points that could be intentional on the author’s part.

There are some really interesting plot points in the story which really help keep you engaged and invested in the outcome of the plot line and characters.

Overall, not a bad fantasy read but I personally preferred book one, but this was still enjoyable nonetheless.

[Sara Codair · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great installment in the Dissolution Cycle!

It was great to be back in the Nether with Tracy’s fantastic cast and fascinating music-based magic system. I love all the different alien species, and how so many different pronouns are accepted in this world.

Tracy is a master at creating deep and engaging characters, each with their own distinct voice, then weaving their stories together. I was on the edge of my seat throughout most of the book and can’t wait for the next installment.

If you like science fiction and fantasy, I highly recommend you pick up this book.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a fantastic follow-up to The Seeds of Dissolution. We get perspectives from more characters, including Mandamon Feldo. It's hard to say what I liked without spoilers, but the whole thing has me on the edge of my seat. We learn so much more about the Nether, the characters and the Symphony.
It's a good thing the third book comes out soon also, because you'll want to keep going to see what happens!
I received an ARC of this book.

[Cass Morrison · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked the themes behind this series – space opera in a universe based on music and focused on teamwork. The back story was filled in but I didn’t really connect with any of the characters even though they were well rounded and consistent.

I didn’t read the first book in the series but I’ve jumped into series and enjoyed them in the past. Although well-written and paced, this just wasn’t the story for me right now.

I received a free review copy but my opinions are my own. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jadin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tracy's music-based science fantasy series continues with Facets of the Nether, in which the three apprentices: Sam, Enos, and Inas, must do what their mentors cannot - confront the Life Coalition and solve the mystery of the Drains.

Each apprentice must face their own unique fear to do so. Sam, having lost his parents and his memories while battling the last Drain, must once again find a way to manage his anxiety while still sorting out his powers. Inas must live life alone for the first time after the abduction of his sister. Enos must glean all the information she can about her people--before she is eaten alive by them.

As always, elements of science and magic are woven seamlessly together in this second book in the Dissolution cycle. Old favorite characters return, such as Rilan and Origon, as well as the wayward apprentice Rey. Worldbuilding isn't shortchanged either, and aspects of the various novellas are wound into the book to continue building the elaborate 'Nether'.

Rey breaks out as a stronger character in this book, and it's his journey with the 'Snakey's that really steals the show. Yes, there are a million other things going on, but Rey's moral grayness in the face of unrelenting...weird...is just such a delight. Enos too, shines more brightly in this book than the previous, and her absorption of another Aridori, and the internal battles that stem from that, had excellent tension.

Fans of space opera and music-based magic systems will be well at home in Facets of the Nether. Queer rep remains strong in this book, with an m/m/f romance line, and lots of various nonbinary characters. I want to play bingo with all the different neopronouns!

[Helgaleena Healingline · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you thought book 1, The Seeds of Dissolution, was complex, you will get even more complexity from book2, Facets of the Nether. Our hero Sam entered the first book by using a skill he didn't know he had, then saved that place, the Nether, using yet another unknown talent shared by no other magi there. In this one, a Nether-wide chiming heralds a thinning between segments of the universe, called here 'facets', and an opening bridge between two of them by a being who can teach Sam what his harmonics are actually about. It seems that in Facet One they have lost knowledge of the two melodies that Sam hears, known as Matter and Time. They also have many more of the shape-shifting species like Inas and Enos, his beloveds....

The trouble is that the 'Dissolution seeds' the insurgents have developed are opening a hole into yet another Facet, bent on complete destruction of the entire Nether and everything it touches. Getting Enos away from them sets Dissolution in motion, far too soon. Can the Facets pool their resources before it's too late? Let's hope so.

[MM Book · Rating 5 out of 5]

Facets of the Nether has great world building, great characters that are very multidimensional, and captivating story - overall great series!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sarah F · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really like the concept of this book but the writing style was, in my opinion, awful. Usually I don't mind unique writing styles but this, I just couldn't handle it for some reason.

I recieved an advanced review copy and I am leaving this review voluntarily.