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The Caretaker
"With a little luck, I'd be dead in exactly twenty-three minutes."-William St. DenisCaretaker William St. Denis was chosen by Death, Herself to carry out her influence in the world. In this mind-bending debut Novel, David Badurina brings you along for a journey that erases the line between reality and William's psyche. Can William discover why he is a pawn in a sinister plot to alter the fabric of humanity itself? Can he save the woman he loves being unable to trust anyone or anything around him? Is being a Caretaker the ultimate curse, or the greatest gift? William's story explores the very nature of what it is to be human - navigating death, love, loss, and our own psychology to discover how we fit into our own harsh reality. We all make mistakes, bad decisions, and deal with insecurities. William St. Denis is flawed and finding his way through a high-stakes world much like your own. Join him for this adventure, and you just might see your own world differently once you finish the final page.
273 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 1, 2020
14 people are currently reading
40 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
March 15, 2021
*Disclaimer: I’m the niece of the author ... but you should read this review anyway. Because I’m going to be brutally honest.
I don’t enjoy Sci-fi or books that derail from modern society. I’m a basic, boring reader. Mysteries, romance, and books that make me think are what I stick to. So when my Uncle/Godfather wrote a book, I made an exception ... added it to my shelf, excited to read it mainly because I wanted to see what he came up with after hearing so much about this book. Knowing him and his style, I knew it’d be entertaining, regardless of the genre.
Without giving it away, this story makes your mind go into deep, deep places. There’s a hidden language in this story. The very meaning of common words/characteristics will have you second guess yourself after finishing this book.
To my knowledge, this concept has never been done before. But it sure makes you think. It has you question the world around you. It has you question your own life and specifically your own emotions. Every person in the world could read this and get something COMPLETELY different out of it.
This is a story that you won’t stop thinking about ... days, weeks, or even months after.
I laughed, I felt pain, and I felt complete. Long story short, it was quite a journey. There were paragraphs I reread because I enjoyed the messages coming off the pages and there were parts I sped through because of how invested I got with these characters. It wrapped up in a way I definitely did NOT see coming and I’m so happy with the adventure I went on.
The areas in the story are familiar to me, helping my imagination while reading. And this story was just SO special because my Uncle David hid some of his quirks throughout the pages that almost felt like I was reading a secret message from him.
All in all, well done. I look forward to the next one. Don’t forget to read the copyright.
I don’t enjoy Sci-fi or books that derail from modern society. I’m a basic, boring reader. Mysteries, romance, and books that make me think are what I stick to. So when my Uncle/Godfather wrote a book, I made an exception ... added it to my shelf, excited to read it mainly because I wanted to see what he came up with after hearing so much about this book. Knowing him and his style, I knew it’d be entertaining, regardless of the genre.
Without giving it away, this story makes your mind go into deep, deep places. There’s a hidden language in this story. The very meaning of common words/characteristics will have you second guess yourself after finishing this book.
To my knowledge, this concept has never been done before. But it sure makes you think. It has you question the world around you. It has you question your own life and specifically your own emotions. Every person in the world could read this and get something COMPLETELY different out of it.
This is a story that you won’t stop thinking about ... days, weeks, or even months after.
I laughed, I felt pain, and I felt complete. Long story short, it was quite a journey. There were paragraphs I reread because I enjoyed the messages coming off the pages and there were parts I sped through because of how invested I got with these characters. It wrapped up in a way I definitely did NOT see coming and I’m so happy with the adventure I went on.
The areas in the story are familiar to me, helping my imagination while reading. And this story was just SO special because my Uncle David hid some of his quirks throughout the pages that almost felt like I was reading a secret message from him.
All in all, well done. I look forward to the next one. Don’t forget to read the copyright.
December 2, 2020
This book grabbed me from the opening line and kept me wanting more the whole way through. It is built on a refreshingly original idea and is unlike anything I've read before. It kept me guessing continuously and I had no idea which way it would go, or how it would end at any point!
It is interspersed with some wonderfully dark humour that had me chuckling often, and often broke the tension nicely.
The characters felt very varied and unique, with each having their own voice and personality. It is written in first person, which is something I don't usually enjoy, however I barely even noticed, and had to remind myself of this multiple times!
There are some wonderful thoughts and aspects to self discovery throughout this book that have helped me grow as a person. It gave me a different outlook and helped me to observe my own behaviour in a different light. I highly recommend it!
It is interspersed with some wonderfully dark humour that had me chuckling often, and often broke the tension nicely.
The characters felt very varied and unique, with each having their own voice and personality. It is written in first person, which is something I don't usually enjoy, however I barely even noticed, and had to remind myself of this multiple times!
There are some wonderful thoughts and aspects to self discovery throughout this book that have helped me grow as a person. It gave me a different outlook and helped me to observe my own behaviour in a different light. I highly recommend it!
July 14, 2022
Quirky, deep, dark, bloody, funny... simply brilliant !
December 15, 2020
From its first pages, The Caretaker draws you into a world in which abstract ideas are sentient beings with temporal flaws and motives; operating just below the surface of everyday life. The author takes this unconventional premise and somehow pulls us seamlessly into a wild ride of a plot that by turns is menacing, romantic, violent, and contemplative. It is one of those novels that you won't want to put down until you discover how its threads are knit together, and in some cases what those threads even are. Expect that you'll take some mental side trips of your own as you travel through the storyline's milieu. A worthy read.
May 4, 2021
This was the most fascinating inner world I've read in a long time. I love the concept of the Concepts and am dying to know more.
It's a wild adventure into seeing the bigger ideas of life in a whole different light. The imagery is beautiful and at times brutal. It's a bit slow in the beginning but still very enticing as you want to understand this world more. It did pick up for me at around page 197 into that 'I'm not putting this book down until I finish it' mode.
I feel that this story was well written and that this author will have a promising future. I would love to see a whole series based on this beginning story. Regardless, I look forward to reading more from this author.
It's a wild adventure into seeing the bigger ideas of life in a whole different light. The imagery is beautiful and at times brutal. It's a bit slow in the beginning but still very enticing as you want to understand this world more. It did pick up for me at around page 197 into that 'I'm not putting this book down until I finish it' mode.
I feel that this story was well written and that this author will have a promising future. I would love to see a whole series based on this beginning story. Regardless, I look forward to reading more from this author.
December 8, 2020
Amazing
This book, in a sci-fi setting, has something that everyone can relate to. From the depths of despair to the comfort of the every day, it is a journey of the power self awareness and knowledge. I hope there is more.
This book, in a sci-fi setting, has something that everyone can relate to. From the depths of despair to the comfort of the every day, it is a journey of the power self awareness and knowledge. I hope there is more.
December 2, 2021
I love the original world-building. There are some original ideas and that was refreshing to read. This is his first book so unfortunately there are a number of exposition dumps and some drawn out flash backs while chasing a McGuffin.
I do hope he continues to write and improve his craft as there is a dearth of original ideas out there.
I do hope he continues to write and improve his craft as there is a dearth of original ideas out there.
June 1, 2021
Excellent book! It reads quickly and held my interest throughout. I highly recommend it. Many twists and turns, and the ending surprised me. I hope the author writes more!
January 24, 2025
"Emotions are gross."
I promise that quote will pay off when you reach it... Though the sentiment of it may not resonate because emotion is at the nucleus of this cosmic tale.
It's every bit of a supernatural thriller, horror at times, romance, and balls out action. It's also much deeper, psychological, philosophical, entertaining you while it makes you think. And you should.
But this is more than just a story. At the forefront of this novel is a personal dedication that anchors author David Badurina's tale off loss, discovery, adventure, and understanding. It sets the mood, and I challenge you not to be affected by it as the pages swiftly turn.
This is a personal meditation, therapy even, that Badurina bleeds onto every page, never betraying the value of engaging the reader with a breakneck pace, relatable characters even in an overwhelmingly unrelatable scenario spanning time and space itself. You're going for a ride with the Caretaker of Death - THE DEATH that conceptually and literally hovers over our every unassuming essence. Badurina's analytical thesis here is always just below the surface, personality types playing a key role, keeping you in its grip from the FIRST to the LAST page.
That being said, The Caretaker is a fantastical romp rivaled only by the complexity of The Matrix and the mysticism of (accusations aside) Gaiman's The Sandman. The Caretaker could easily translate to other mediums, graphic novel or film, and beautifully and brutally wisk you away, transcending space and time until you regretfully reach the end of this CONCEPTUAL blockbuster of a thriller.
I promise that quote will pay off when you reach it... Though the sentiment of it may not resonate because emotion is at the nucleus of this cosmic tale.
It's every bit of a supernatural thriller, horror at times, romance, and balls out action. It's also much deeper, psychological, philosophical, entertaining you while it makes you think. And you should.
But this is more than just a story. At the forefront of this novel is a personal dedication that anchors author David Badurina's tale off loss, discovery, adventure, and understanding. It sets the mood, and I challenge you not to be affected by it as the pages swiftly turn.
This is a personal meditation, therapy even, that Badurina bleeds onto every page, never betraying the value of engaging the reader with a breakneck pace, relatable characters even in an overwhelmingly unrelatable scenario spanning time and space itself. You're going for a ride with the Caretaker of Death - THE DEATH that conceptually and literally hovers over our every unassuming essence. Badurina's analytical thesis here is always just below the surface, personality types playing a key role, keeping you in its grip from the FIRST to the LAST page.
That being said, The Caretaker is a fantastical romp rivaled only by the complexity of The Matrix and the mysticism of (accusations aside) Gaiman's The Sandman. The Caretaker could easily translate to other mediums, graphic novel or film, and beautifully and brutally wisk you away, transcending space and time until you regretfully reach the end of this CONCEPTUAL blockbuster of a thriller.
January 1, 2021
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Finishing my bookish reviews for 2020 with a favorite! I was privileged to be sent an advanced copy of this debut novel from the author earlier this year, and it did not disappoint. Love to see what David Badurina will come out with next!
Finishing my bookish reviews for 2020 with a favorite! I was privileged to be sent an advanced copy of this debut novel from the author earlier this year, and it did not disappoint. Love to see what David Badurina will come out with next!
July 14, 2022
Originality is so hard to find these days but this book has it in spades.
A book that is hard to put down and impossible to forget once you do.
A book that is hard to put down and impossible to forget once you do.
February 21, 2024
I thought this was an easy read, wished it was longer. I could identify with the characters and being an INFJ personality made it enjoyable. If you like the mysterious and supernatural read this book. Thank you David Badurina and keep writing. Enjoy your channel as well.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews