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Being Found #1
Being Found
A war is being fought in the higher dimensions of the Universe and the most important players are just waking up to their purpose.
Cameron has been hearing the thoughts of everyone around him for as long as he can remember. A double edged gift that has given him fantastic insight into the human mind, and prevented him from making a real connection to the people around him. He has no idea where this “gift” comes from or why it was given to him, but he’s about to find out. One night on his way home from work, Cameron is approached by a mysterious man with purple eyes whose thoughts he cannot hear. Little does Cameron know, that man has come from somewhere far away to awaken him to his destiny.
What happens next sends Cameron on a mission that spans the Universe. Discovering the reasons behind his “gift” and his purpose on Earth.
Cameron has been hearing the thoughts of everyone around him for as long as he can remember. A double edged gift that has given him fantastic insight into the human mind, and prevented him from making a real connection to the people around him. He has no idea where this “gift” comes from or why it was given to him, but he’s about to find out. One night on his way home from work, Cameron is approached by a mysterious man with purple eyes whose thoughts he cannot hear. Little does Cameron know, that man has come from somewhere far away to awaken him to his destiny.
What happens next sends Cameron on a mission that spans the Universe. Discovering the reasons behind his “gift” and his purpose on Earth.
271 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 11, 2020
53 people are currently reading
527 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
December 3, 2020
Here from Tiktok! This is exactly what my INFJ heart needed! WOW I am blown away....such an amazing story. This gave me the same kind of feeling the "Speaker for the Dead" by Orson Scott Card gave me. This makes you want to strip yourself of all the day to day chaos and connect with your inner peace. The sci-fi imagary was really really cool and the character development made me excited to see where they are all heading. Everyone needs to read this book! It's crazy to say this but it feel like every aspect of this book was written for me. It gave me all things I didn't know I needed. I can't wait to read the next one!
December 2, 2020
This is a great debut novel... well, series?!??! Now I have to wait!!!! 😫 I highly recommend this sci fi for people who are hesitant on reading sci fi books— it’s not too heavy on the science part where in some books it can get confusing. Very interesting concepts. I can’t wait for the next book!!!
December 1, 2020
Great read!
Compelling and original, I could not put it down. Also thrilled to see a gay character that is relatable. Can’t wait for book 2!
Compelling and original, I could not put it down. Also thrilled to see a gay character that is relatable. Can’t wait for book 2!
August 4, 2022
I remember reading this book last year but I guess I hadn't reviewed it or added it as read... I remember dnf'ing it too so.. I also remember liking it quite a bit because I think I found it through a tiktok on YouTube and hearing that it was the book that Arend Richard made for his younger self.
February 17, 2022
This is actually a hard review to write, mostly because I discovered this book via the author on TikTok and was immediately swept up into the excitement of supporting him through buying his book. But when it comes down to it, I had a very hard time getting through Being Found and there were several points where I considered adding it to the dnf pile, but I'm unapologetically stubborn and didn't want another title on that list, especially one that I know many people did actually enjoy. I just didn't happen to be one of them.
For starters, it takes a couple chapters to get into. By the time things do start moving I was expecting... Well, not a meditation training montage. But the majority of the second half of the book is the main character meditating and connecting to his inner soul, with twist reveals that were obvious to anyone who's ever read a book before. We learn about the inevitable big bad, but there wasn't really anything big or bad the entire time. We're told there's this urgency, that a war is coming, yet there's a several page long meditative journey to go on first.
However, the visuals written by the author are beautiful. Full of description and detail, like painting a picture. But aside from looking and sounding pretty when described, it just felt a little flat. Plot wise, I was more interested in finding some kind of tension that had nothing to do with Cameron's UST towards Nick, but by the time something dangerous or moderately exciting happens it's the end of the book.
The characters were... fine I guess? Cameron goes from a super-powered awkward gay to an uber-powered awkward gay, and Nick is kind of an asshole, but he gets better and I like his sense of humor when he's messing with Cameron. The only problem is that kind of liking the characters didn't save me from wishing for something more to happen story-wise.
I really did want to like this book, but the story just wasn't quite there for me. Maybe it was because I was expecting it to be something it wasn't, but it's hard to tell. Maybe somebody else will find they liked it more than I did.
For starters, it takes a couple chapters to get into. By the time things do start moving I was expecting... Well, not a meditation training montage. But the majority of the second half of the book is the main character meditating and connecting to his inner soul, with twist reveals that were obvious to anyone who's ever read a book before. We learn about the inevitable big bad, but there wasn't really anything big or bad the entire time. We're told there's this urgency, that a war is coming, yet there's a several page long meditative journey to go on first.
However, the visuals written by the author are beautiful. Full of description and detail, like painting a picture. But aside from looking and sounding pretty when described, it just felt a little flat. Plot wise, I was more interested in finding some kind of tension that had nothing to do with Cameron's UST towards Nick, but by the time something dangerous or moderately exciting happens it's the end of the book.
The characters were... fine I guess? Cameron goes from a super-powered awkward gay to an uber-powered awkward gay, and Nick is kind of an asshole, but he gets better and I like his sense of humor when he's messing with Cameron. The only problem is that kind of liking the characters didn't save me from wishing for something more to happen story-wise.
I really did want to like this book, but the story just wasn't quite there for me. Maybe it was because I was expecting it to be something it wasn't, but it's hard to tell. Maybe somebody else will find they liked it more than I did.
December 6, 2020
3.5 Stars
The book was ok the writing was light. So you wonder why the 3.5 rating.
The story goes more into the category of metaphysics than scifi. Also the lack of real action and more like a self discovery was a bit ... boring? In my honest opinion Sci Fi would mean some sort of science, but the story lacks any of it. What we have instead is spirituality, buddhism mostly, hinduism as well also metaphysics aspects.
There is also many contradiction when it come to spiritual and material world. I don't know if the author is talking from experience or just a very rich research, but a few times in the story this two parts collided with no rational aspect. The out of body experiences are just that. Out of body, means the material part of the existence is left behind.
The last 20% was a stretch and there was more than one time when it almost DNF-d it. It ends rushed and with a cliffhanger.
While this was a great start of a series i just hope the next book will have more plot to it...
The book was ok the writing was light. So you wonder why the 3.5 rating.
The story goes more into the category of metaphysics than scifi. Also the lack of real action and more like a self discovery was a bit ... boring? In my honest opinion Sci Fi would mean some sort of science, but the story lacks any of it. What we have instead is spirituality, buddhism mostly, hinduism as well also metaphysics aspects.
There is also many contradiction when it come to spiritual and material world. I don't know if the author is talking from experience or just a very rich research, but a few times in the story this two parts collided with no rational aspect. The out of body experiences are just that. Out of body, means the material part of the existence is left behind.
The last 20% was a stretch and there was more than one time when it almost DNF-d it. It ends rushed and with a cliffhanger.
While this was a great start of a series i just hope the next book will have more plot to it...
December 5, 2020
I have to admit the beginning was SO boring. I almost dnfed this book, but thank G i didnt give up!
This was AMAZING:):):) I cant believe how different and interesting and special this world and these characters are! I loved the story and the little bit of romance and the soul theories. This book is now one of my favs of 2020. I cant wait for book 2!
A masterpiece.
This was AMAZING:):):) I cant believe how different and interesting and special this world and these characters are! I loved the story and the little bit of romance and the soul theories. This book is now one of my favs of 2020. I cant wait for book 2!
A masterpiece.
November 1, 2021
Great read Arend, looking forward to the next in the series!
January 7, 2021
first of all, wtf! my mind is reeling. i feel like i’m floating a few feet above the ground. the description of this novel DOES NOT DO THE NOVEL JUSTICE. as i have said a million times i found this book on tik tok. obviously i had my reservations as to whether it would even be a good book or not, but i wanted to support a author who got rejected for writing a lgbtq+ story and decided to self publish instead. regardless of whether it was actually good i had to support my community. BRUH WAS I WRONG. all of my timid expectations were SHATTERED! this book. this book right here is a FANTASTIC lgbtq+ fantasy/sci fi if i ever did find one. my goodness. i am left with a loss for words as to what i should even say beyond YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK. it would be a HUGE disservice to yourself if you do not. arend’s way of explaining his world and characters to the reader is far superior to MANY other professional authors i’ve read. he truly lets his reader enter into his mind and walk about effortlessly. the development of the story/main character went fast but i loved that! too many times have i read books that just dragggggg on. i liked his pace greatly! arend was not messing around. wow. just wow. and that ending! BRUH! i’m sweating! just bloody fantastic. fr tho, if you like lgbtq+ fantasy/sci fi novels PLEASE READ THIS BOOK!
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5 mf stars!!
now, when is book two coming out???!
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5 mf stars!!
now, when is book two coming out???!
February 12, 2022
I haven’t read a sci-fi novel since I was in middle school which was quite a few years ago now, and this was quite a strong hook back into the loop of that genre. While it seemed to also play into the metaphysical realm, Thea I do elements definitely start swinging in as the main character learns more about himself and the world, or rather, universe around him. The writing started off pretty easy to follow, and at times I’d say maybe a bit too easy to follow with some easy-to-infer answers that the main character seemed a bit clueless to at times. But as you drove further in, oh man, the concepts that both you and the main character, Cameron are introduced to, certainly made my head spin-in a good way! It is very much paced so that you are in the same intellectual dark as Cameron-learning and discovering truths about him at the same pace he is. Overall, the story rolls along a bit slowly but things certainly pick up speed as Cameron learns more and more, and I was hooked more and more into the story, and left with many questions, that I highly anticipate in the upcoming book(s). As a queer person myself, It was so lovely to have a gay main character whose sexuality was quite eloquently incorporated into the story, and not just the main focus of it. It was a lovely, quick read that had me intrigued and entertained all throughout. Highly recommend!
December 30, 2020
This is a wonderful debut novel and would and will be recommending it to those I know.
I think this is just as perfect for those who are a little skeptical when it comes to reading sci-fi as it is for those who do because it is not a genre I explore frequently, yet I enjoyed it immensely.
It was not entirely what I expected going into it, but I loved every second of it. This is really one of those books that reminds me how much I truly love reading! The characters were fun and I found them quite relatable (and was glad to see a gay main character with an actual love interest). Though there was a lack of action completed in this book (as it is very much centered on the main character's journey to understand himself), I am very excited to read the next in the series and quite frankly anything else this author puts out!
I think this is just as perfect for those who are a little skeptical when it comes to reading sci-fi as it is for those who do because it is not a genre I explore frequently, yet I enjoyed it immensely.
It was not entirely what I expected going into it, but I loved every second of it. This is really one of those books that reminds me how much I truly love reading! The characters were fun and I found them quite relatable (and was glad to see a gay main character with an actual love interest). Though there was a lack of action completed in this book (as it is very much centered on the main character's journey to understand himself), I am very excited to read the next in the series and quite frankly anything else this author puts out!
May 14, 2021
I LOVED THIS BOOK! The author is phenomenal at both taking this reader into a world that I would love to be in and his narration skills were top of the line. A Sci-fi genre and I loved the developing love story. From the beginning to the end, I was captured and I so want more...just saying. Did I mention that I loved this story?
July 2, 2021
Such a great read!
I loved how relatable the characters were. So many good elements, and I really loved the fantasy aspects within the book. The story really kept you going and wanting more all the way to the end. Also so many cute moments and interactions between the characters.
Can’t wait for the next one!!!
I loved how relatable the characters were. So many good elements, and I really loved the fantasy aspects within the book. The story really kept you going and wanting more all the way to the end. Also so many cute moments and interactions between the characters.
Can’t wait for the next one!!!
January 16, 2021
Omgggg I absolutely love this book!! I can’t wait for the rest. I couldn’t put the book down! I really want to know how you pronounce some of the names!! I definitely think I got them wrong haha. But this is a great book. Good job!
January 13, 2022
Enjoyed every twist and revelation
This story captured me early and kept me captivated throughout with self discovery and a rich environment. Highly recommended for those who enjoy gay science fiction and super powers!!!
This story captured me early and kept me captivated throughout with self discovery and a rich environment. Highly recommended for those who enjoy gay science fiction and super powers!!!
January 24, 2021
An original sci-if novel with witty, interesting characters and a crazy, trip of a story that pulls you through it. It’s a great start to a possible series, and if so, I can’t wait to see where it goes.
August 5, 2021
2.5 stars, really. I was excited to read this book as it was by a gay author and the main character is gay as well. But we are told everything they happens instead of shown. There is no build up or tension so the pay off of events is underwhelming.
April 19, 2025
DNF.
dotrwałam praktycznie do połowy.
koleś umie czytać w myślach, ma ratować świat czy dokonywać innego zbawienia, ale zamiast tego, dostajemy opis kuchni, altany, dywanu z mchu.
tu się tak bardzo nic nie dzieje...
dotrwałam praktycznie do połowy.
koleś umie czytać w myślach, ma ratować świat czy dokonywać innego zbawienia, ale zamiast tego, dostajemy opis kuchni, altany, dywanu z mchu.
tu się tak bardzo nic nie dzieje...
January 11, 2023
I picked this book up because of its high rating here, and the fact it was a gay sci-fi. This was the only sci-fi book I read in 2022, and at the time I was craving an exciting sci-fi book. I was intrigued by the premise of the story and wanted to see what the author could do with the setup, as I am a fan of the chosen one trope. Unfortunately, I was left feeling underwhelmed.
It started of interesting enough for me, but it began to drag at the halfway mark. I almost DNF’d it at 74%, but Cameron’s character convinced me to keep reading. I found him likeable and liked seeing the story through his eyes as the craziness started when he was thrust into his destiny.
But for me, I didn’t care or connect with the worldbuilding at all. It wasn’t what I was expecting, and I found it odd more than magical – but that’s a little on me with my expectations on what I wanted out of the story and characters. However, the plot in the end was predictable with certain twists and turns being obvious.
I noticed some formatting issues, making me believe this was self-published – though I haven’t been able to find that out for certain and haven’t looked further into it. I also can’t believe this sentence was in the book: “It’s hard to describe to you, the reader, how this worked”… Why are we suddenly breaking the fourth wall? And isn’t it your job to explain how it all worked for us, the reader…
I understand how people would enjoy this book for the adventures the characters go on, but I was left feeling underwhelmed at the end of the day. It seems the sequel might be more exciting if the ratings are anything to go by, however, I don't think I will be picking it up since this duology just isn't for me.
It started of interesting enough for me, but it began to drag at the halfway mark. I almost DNF’d it at 74%, but Cameron’s character convinced me to keep reading. I found him likeable and liked seeing the story through his eyes as the craziness started when he was thrust into his destiny.
But for me, I didn’t care or connect with the worldbuilding at all. It wasn’t what I was expecting, and I found it odd more than magical – but that’s a little on me with my expectations on what I wanted out of the story and characters. However, the plot in the end was predictable with certain twists and turns being obvious.
I noticed some formatting issues, making me believe this was self-published – though I haven’t been able to find that out for certain and haven’t looked further into it. I also can’t believe this sentence was in the book: “It’s hard to describe to you, the reader, how this worked”… Why are we suddenly breaking the fourth wall? And isn’t it your job to explain how it all worked for us, the reader…
I understand how people would enjoy this book for the adventures the characters go on, but I was left feeling underwhelmed at the end of the day. It seems the sequel might be more exciting if the ratings are anything to go by, however, I don't think I will be picking it up since this duology just isn't for me.
December 23, 2024
This book is fine for me, I guess. I wanted to love everything, and I did love the world building, I felt like could really see everything that was happening.
The plot fell very flat for me, as soon as something interesting started happening, the book was over.
I found Cameron slightly annoying, It seemed like all of his dialogue was just him asking questions, which got annoying for me, but I understand we were supposed to be learning everything with him it just felt like it could’ve used more finesse.
I’ll definitely pick up the sequel because I like where the story was going, but this first book could’ve used more for me.
The plot fell very flat for me, as soon as something interesting started happening, the book was over.
I found Cameron slightly annoying, It seemed like all of his dialogue was just him asking questions, which got annoying for me, but I understand we were supposed to be learning everything with him it just felt like it could’ve used more finesse.
I’ll definitely pick up the sequel because I like where the story was going, but this first book could’ve used more for me.
November 18, 2023
Looking through my reading challenge and could not for the life of me remember reading this book. Read the synopsis - still nothing. Looked through the reviews - maybe? And now that I think about it, I think that's as good as it's going to get, because that's how I felt immediately after reading. Nothing - and I mean nothing - happens in this book.
June 3, 2022
Love me some alien stories that are more on the fantasy side than on the sci-fi one. Typical hero journey but very well executed. I was not expecting it to end though when things finally got really going so, please dear author hurry with the sequel.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews