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The Order of Chaos Trilogy #1
The Order of Chaos
Alicia’s younger brother has been missing for two years. On the eve of her eighteenth birthday, she finds a book in her parents’ bedroom containing a list of names, including a boy who drowned at her school. How far is her mother prepared to go to return David to the family?
While lucid dreaming, Alicia enters a realm where survival depends on the strength of your will. A young man named Ryan leads her through a series of tests to determine whether she is ready to face those responsible for David’s disappearance.
The Order of Chaos is the first in a speculative series for young adults and adults young at heart. Fans of The Hunger Games and His Dark Materials are invited to follow Alicia beyond the waking world, where thoughts and insecurities are laid bare. When we fall asleep, where do we go?
While lucid dreaming, Alicia enters a realm where survival depends on the strength of your will. A young man named Ryan leads her through a series of tests to determine whether she is ready to face those responsible for David’s disappearance.
The Order of Chaos is the first in a speculative series for young adults and adults young at heart. Fans of The Hunger Games and His Dark Materials are invited to follow Alicia beyond the waking world, where thoughts and insecurities are laid bare. When we fall asleep, where do we go?
- GenresYoung AdultFantasy
374 pages, ebook
First published April 3, 2021
20 people are currently reading
146 people want to read
About the author
Ben J Henry
3 books4 followersAfter six years of teaching in London and five in Singapore, I'm finishing the trilogy in Bristol. For more about me, head to my website.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
March 28, 2021
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
This story takes a fun concept and really plays with it well. I was immediately intrigued by the idea of lucid dreaming and all the psychological elements that might entail. The author seems likewise aware of it because the concept is one that is used well but doesn’t fall into the “superpower” that is all too easy to slip into.
The beginning came across as a bit confusing. I really can’t pinpoint why but I had to revisit it a few times to really feel that I had grasped everything the author was trying to convey. It could be a bit tedious but is a minor complaint.
Overall, I found myself compelled by the characters’ plight and interested by what step they would take next. The concept of sacrifice and of no easy answers is clear and loud here. It’s a welcomed addition and gives weight to a story that really knows how to make the most of its premise!
This story takes a fun concept and really plays with it well. I was immediately intrigued by the idea of lucid dreaming and all the psychological elements that might entail. The author seems likewise aware of it because the concept is one that is used well but doesn’t fall into the “superpower” that is all too easy to slip into.
The beginning came across as a bit confusing. I really can’t pinpoint why but I had to revisit it a few times to really feel that I had grasped everything the author was trying to convey. It could be a bit tedious but is a minor complaint.
Overall, I found myself compelled by the characters’ plight and interested by what step they would take next. The concept of sacrifice and of no easy answers is clear and loud here. It’s a welcomed addition and gives weight to a story that really knows how to make the most of its premise!
April 19, 2021
This was an interesting book, in more ways than one. The story follows Alicia whose brother has been missing for 2 years, and how her story intertwines with Winter, whose boyfriend mysteriously died, and Gus, Alicia's new neighbour.
The fantastical element of this story is very interesting; It was a nice link between reality and fantasy and it was definitely imaginative. This aspect of the world I would definitely like to see developed further as I was genuinely intrigued by it.
Unfortunately, the murder mystery aspect of the story fell a bit short for me and it made parts of the fantasy element less impactful. At times the murder plot was intriguing but at other times, it was just very confusing.
Similarly, the characters were confusing at times. I love characters that aren't flat but some of the characters in this story felt out of place. I'm not sure what some of them were doing or wanted to achieve... I also wasn't a fan of some of them because they felt very bland but that was balanced out by the few very interesting characters.
One part of the story that I think was brilliant was the psychological aspect and I kind of wish that more of the story had focused on that.
Overall, I think this series has potential! I was captivated by it at certain points but it was a mixed bag that definitely left me a bit disappointed.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The fantastical element of this story is very interesting; It was a nice link between reality and fantasy and it was definitely imaginative. This aspect of the world I would definitely like to see developed further as I was genuinely intrigued by it.
Unfortunately, the murder mystery aspect of the story fell a bit short for me and it made parts of the fantasy element less impactful. At times the murder plot was intriguing but at other times, it was just very confusing.
Similarly, the characters were confusing at times. I love characters that aren't flat but some of the characters in this story felt out of place. I'm not sure what some of them were doing or wanted to achieve... I also wasn't a fan of some of them because they felt very bland but that was balanced out by the few very interesting characters.
One part of the story that I think was brilliant was the psychological aspect and I kind of wish that more of the story had focused on that.
Overall, I think this series has potential! I was captivated by it at certain points but it was a mixed bag that definitely left me a bit disappointed.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 2, 2021
Henry transports readers to an exhilarating world of high-stakes enchantment, intrigue, family secrets, murder, and chaos in this YA speculative series launch.
It’s been two years since David, Alicia’s younger brother, went missing. But she hasn’t lost hope yet. When the enigmatic Gus moves next door, the loss and trauma becomes the basis of a close bond between the duo. When a hidden book in her parents’ bedroom accidentally lands in Alicia’s hands, she’s devastated to find her mother’s link with the suspicious deaths happening around. Torn apart, Alicia is willing to go to any length to get to the truth of the matter even if it means entering a realm where survival depends on the strength of a person’s will.
The world that Henry draws, is full of intrigue and vividly tactile, with constant menace lurking in the shadows. While the murder mystery adds an additional tangle, it’s the Vivador, the world of lucid dreaming, that drives the complex story forward. And though it takes time to settle into this complex dream world, Henry’s assured prose skillfully guides the reader throughout.
The narrative shifts back and forth between different characters, each tormented by the past and the shadows it cast on the present. Alicia and Gus, connected by the missing and the dead, remain intriguing throughout. Nuanced and interconnected, the secondary characters are equally convincing. Unexpected plot twists, relentless suspense, and high-tension help keep the pages turning. Henry wraps up this intriguing tale with a shocking revelation, leaving readers hungry for the next installment.
This poignant exploration of family, friendship, trust, and betrayal is a winner.
It’s been two years since David, Alicia’s younger brother, went missing. But she hasn’t lost hope yet. When the enigmatic Gus moves next door, the loss and trauma becomes the basis of a close bond between the duo. When a hidden book in her parents’ bedroom accidentally lands in Alicia’s hands, she’s devastated to find her mother’s link with the suspicious deaths happening around. Torn apart, Alicia is willing to go to any length to get to the truth of the matter even if it means entering a realm where survival depends on the strength of a person’s will.
The world that Henry draws, is full of intrigue and vividly tactile, with constant menace lurking in the shadows. While the murder mystery adds an additional tangle, it’s the Vivador, the world of lucid dreaming, that drives the complex story forward. And though it takes time to settle into this complex dream world, Henry’s assured prose skillfully guides the reader throughout.
The narrative shifts back and forth between different characters, each tormented by the past and the shadows it cast on the present. Alicia and Gus, connected by the missing and the dead, remain intriguing throughout. Nuanced and interconnected, the secondary characters are equally convincing. Unexpected plot twists, relentless suspense, and high-tension help keep the pages turning. Henry wraps up this intriguing tale with a shocking revelation, leaving readers hungry for the next installment.
This poignant exploration of family, friendship, trust, and betrayal is a winner.
April 10, 2021
This cover is what caught my attention first! Absolutely beautiful and "In Dreams Do Secrets Lie".....I was hooked and knew I had to read this book. It was soooo good. It was really creative! The author did an amazing job describing everything in this book. I could visualize everything as I was reading. I found the topic of lucid dreaming intriguing! I will definitely have to read the next book as soon as possible!
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5/stars I gave this book 4.5 star instead of the full 5 stars only because the ending is really confusing. I think the next book will help to unscramble this for me. I definitely think you should all check it out!
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5/stars I gave this book 4.5 star instead of the full 5 stars only because the ending is really confusing. I think the next book will help to unscramble this for me. I definitely think you should all check it out!
July 11, 2021
** I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I was pretty excited to pick up this book since the concept of lucid dreaming with a murder-mystery twist seemed really interesting, but I was ultimately disappointed. Overall, the book just doesn't feel finished. The sentence structure gets repetitive, the characters are poorly developed, and the plot is full of twists that come out of nowhere and disappear just as quickly without being expanded upon. There are some good ideas, but they are lost to the disjointed writing and unorganized story. Ultimately, the plot itself is interesting and could be salvaged with a solid rewrite. This is the kind of novel that would benefit immensely from being hacked apart with a red pen.
I was pretty excited to pick up this book since the concept of lucid dreaming with a murder-mystery twist seemed really interesting, but I was ultimately disappointed. Overall, the book just doesn't feel finished. The sentence structure gets repetitive, the characters are poorly developed, and the plot is full of twists that come out of nowhere and disappear just as quickly without being expanded upon. There are some good ideas, but they are lost to the disjointed writing and unorganized story. Ultimately, the plot itself is interesting and could be salvaged with a solid rewrite. This is the kind of novel that would benefit immensely from being hacked apart with a red pen.
September 2, 2021
A complex but interesting murder story
-I got this book as an eARC with Hidden Gems Books in exchange for an honest review-
It's been two years since Alicia last saw her brother. One day, she finds a strange book with a list of names in her mother's room and she starts investigating what it's about. And when she discovers lucid dreaming and starts escaping to another world, everything will start to make sense. Only, murders are happening in the real world and she doesn't know how to stop it.
I'm not going to lie, it took me a few chapters to get into the story. There are a lot of characters and the beginning is a bit confusing, with many changes of POVs that had me a bit lost. But once you get into it, it's really quite intriguing. I loved the general vibe of the book. The mix between murder mystery, paranormal and thriller was really fascinating and interesting. I quite liked the characters too, especially Gus that I found really endearing. The idea of lucid dreaming and how it's tied up to all the rest is quite good too. But, the book was a bit long in my opinion. It took a while to really get interesting and some of the middle and end was a bit dragging. However, there were also some really intense scenes and moments that had me hooked and I just couldn't stop reading. I really liked how it all made sense the further in you were. The concept really is quite complex but also unique and I loved diving into this book, even though it's not my main genre of reading. I don't regret picking it up and I'm interested to know what will happen in the next one, how the characters will unravel all the mystery and fix all this mess.
I'd recommend if you're looking for something intriguing, new and mysterious!
"If they want us to keep out mouths shut, they're going to have to tell us everything."
-I got this book as an eARC with Hidden Gems Books in exchange for an honest review-
It's been two years since Alicia last saw her brother. One day, she finds a strange book with a list of names in her mother's room and she starts investigating what it's about. And when she discovers lucid dreaming and starts escaping to another world, everything will start to make sense. Only, murders are happening in the real world and she doesn't know how to stop it.
I'm not going to lie, it took me a few chapters to get into the story. There are a lot of characters and the beginning is a bit confusing, with many changes of POVs that had me a bit lost. But once you get into it, it's really quite intriguing. I loved the general vibe of the book. The mix between murder mystery, paranormal and thriller was really fascinating and interesting. I quite liked the characters too, especially Gus that I found really endearing. The idea of lucid dreaming and how it's tied up to all the rest is quite good too. But, the book was a bit long in my opinion. It took a while to really get interesting and some of the middle and end was a bit dragging. However, there were also some really intense scenes and moments that had me hooked and I just couldn't stop reading. I really liked how it all made sense the further in you were. The concept really is quite complex but also unique and I loved diving into this book, even though it's not my main genre of reading. I don't regret picking it up and I'm interested to know what will happen in the next one, how the characters will unravel all the mystery and fix all this mess.
I'd recommend if you're looking for something intriguing, new and mysterious!
"If they want us to keep out mouths shut, they're going to have to tell us everything."
April 22, 2021
I loved the premise of this one. Lucid dreaming in a murder mystery, yes please. I was instantly intrigued and couldn't wait to pick it up.
I did find it confusing at the beginning. The mystery I was excited about was present, but found other plot points where opened up before the main characters were fleshed out and developed properly. So I felt like I was holding a lot of baskets wondering which was important, to the main plot, and not know what to do with it.
I took me a while to get through this book as I didn't care enough about the characters to continue when I had other books in my tbr that I couldn't put down. I was confused as to the characters motives and some seemed a bit meh. This was the same with parts of the Murder mystery parts. Some fell flat and again...meh. I nearly dnf'd it at 12% but as it was a review copy, I pushed forward.
It was clear the author knows his stuff when it comes to lucid dreaming. It appeared well researched and I wish the psychological aspect was featured a bit more in the book as I really enjoyed it.
This book definitely has potential for greatness, but overall, I felt like it needed something. Perhaps another draft of some of the characters, to really flesh it out? Plot arcs sometimes felt like they were climbing to crescendo and then didn't. I didn't dislike this book but I wasn't in love with it.
I received an advanced readers copy in return for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
I did find it confusing at the beginning. The mystery I was excited about was present, but found other plot points where opened up before the main characters were fleshed out and developed properly. So I felt like I was holding a lot of baskets wondering which was important, to the main plot, and not know what to do with it.
I took me a while to get through this book as I didn't care enough about the characters to continue when I had other books in my tbr that I couldn't put down. I was confused as to the characters motives and some seemed a bit meh. This was the same with parts of the Murder mystery parts. Some fell flat and again...meh. I nearly dnf'd it at 12% but as it was a review copy, I pushed forward.
It was clear the author knows his stuff when it comes to lucid dreaming. It appeared well researched and I wish the psychological aspect was featured a bit more in the book as I really enjoyed it.
This book definitely has potential for greatness, but overall, I felt like it needed something. Perhaps another draft of some of the characters, to really flesh it out? Plot arcs sometimes felt like they were climbing to crescendo and then didn't. I didn't dislike this book but I wasn't in love with it.
I received an advanced readers copy in return for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
June 30, 2021
*** CONTAINS SPOILERS ***
Let me start off by saying I love the concept of this book. A world where “your insecurities are laid bare (and) survival depends on your strength of will”. Where “lucid dreaming might make the intangible tangible”. Something teetering in reality, slight fantasy and sci-fi but with a hint of could this really happen?? It’s exciting!
Add in murder, assassins, twisted family ties, trying to find true potential, a mad scientist plot, questioning fear, losing hope and all that you hold dear and, don’t forget, sourcing god-like power… and you end up with an overly stuffed novel that can’t find its footing.
I love a story with multiple POV’s but there are way too many POV’s here! Along with too many ulterior motives. Too many deaths. Too many twists. And somehow, still too many questions that I don’t know if they are going anywhere or if I even care.
It would be great if this story was drawn out over several books, having them play out gradually, but it is all crammed into one 374 page book that is already overly wordy, repetitive and full of unnecessary descriptions.
And then there is the biggest unresolved point that I hope will actually lead somewhere eventually. Rory’s narcolepsy. In a book that is all about sleeping, lucid dreams and being stuck in a dreamworld it would seem imperative to the story to have Rorys narcolepsy play into this in some way. But it’s just kind of a side note to the already overly-stuffed main story. “Oh yeah Rory falls down asleep a lot. Alicia make sure to save your dad from falling down the stairs or burning himself with boiling water.” What is the point??
Ultimately, this book is extremely intriguing and I love this idea of collective lucid dreaming, assassins and a deadly family history. Unfortunately, it became just a slog to get through. The writing is so verbose that it became rather tedious. There wasn’t enough backstory for the main villains of the novel to be anything more than passing names that I could not be bothered to care about.
It’s so wordy but literally never gets to the point. Entire pages of unnecessary description could be taken out. I wanted to love this book but I just can’t. A really good editor would do wonders here, hacking this book down, and bringing it to its full potential.
** I received a copy for review and am leaving this review voluntarily **
Let me start off by saying I love the concept of this book. A world where “your insecurities are laid bare (and) survival depends on your strength of will”. Where “lucid dreaming might make the intangible tangible”. Something teetering in reality, slight fantasy and sci-fi but with a hint of could this really happen?? It’s exciting!
Add in murder, assassins, twisted family ties, trying to find true potential, a mad scientist plot, questioning fear, losing hope and all that you hold dear and, don’t forget, sourcing god-like power… and you end up with an overly stuffed novel that can’t find its footing.
I love a story with multiple POV’s but there are way too many POV’s here! Along with too many ulterior motives. Too many deaths. Too many twists. And somehow, still too many questions that I don’t know if they are going anywhere or if I even care.
It would be great if this story was drawn out over several books, having them play out gradually, but it is all crammed into one 374 page book that is already overly wordy, repetitive and full of unnecessary descriptions.
And then there is the biggest unresolved point that I hope will actually lead somewhere eventually. Rory’s narcolepsy. In a book that is all about sleeping, lucid dreams and being stuck in a dreamworld it would seem imperative to the story to have Rorys narcolepsy play into this in some way. But it’s just kind of a side note to the already overly-stuffed main story. “Oh yeah Rory falls down asleep a lot. Alicia make sure to save your dad from falling down the stairs or burning himself with boiling water.” What is the point??
Ultimately, this book is extremely intriguing and I love this idea of collective lucid dreaming, assassins and a deadly family history. Unfortunately, it became just a slog to get through. The writing is so verbose that it became rather tedious. There wasn’t enough backstory for the main villains of the novel to be anything more than passing names that I could not be bothered to care about.
It’s so wordy but literally never gets to the point. Entire pages of unnecessary description could be taken out. I wanted to love this book but I just can’t. A really good editor would do wonders here, hacking this book down, and bringing it to its full potential.
** I received a copy for review and am leaving this review voluntarily **
June 9, 2022
This book, the first in a trilogy, explores an interesting premise: that of lucid dreaming. This is coupled with a mystery involving a disappearance and a death and explores the psychological impacts and ramifications of lucid dreaming, loss, death, suspicion, and family dynamics. The book is engaging, and really tempts the reader such that there is great anticipation for the next books in the series. The author conveys well the paradoxes in life when it comes to families and our wills, and the cost of sacrifice, and the price for satisfying our curiosity and “need to know”.
There are a couple of places in the story that are a little confusing, snd required several reads to try and make sense of what the author was trying to convey, but overall, this was minor.
A very worthy read!
There are a couple of places in the story that are a little confusing, snd required several reads to try and make sense of what the author was trying to convey, but overall, this was minor.
A very worthy read!
April 17, 2021
This book was really hard to get into. The first few chapters focus on different characters which made it difficult to engage with any of them and came across as a bit confusing.
The concept of lucid dreaming and the storyline are interesting but the structure and the writing were repetitive and the sentence really long. I happened to have to restart some of them as I got lost in the middle. Since the writing didn't flow easily it felt like it kept pulling me out of the story so that I could really understand what was being said.
I received an advance review copy for BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The concept of lucid dreaming and the storyline are interesting but the structure and the writing were repetitive and the sentence really long. I happened to have to restart some of them as I got lost in the middle. Since the writing didn't flow easily it felt like it kept pulling me out of the story so that I could really understand what was being said.
I received an advance review copy for BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 1, 2021
found it a very difficult book to read. Whilst the storyline has an interesting perspective and is very well written, I struggled to get into it. For me, it was extremely convoluted and unclear. The 1st half of the book was especially confusing as I tried to grasp who was who and what their role was. The 2nd half did have more details on Alicia, Gus and Winter and though I could see where the author was going so much was confusing and didn't flow. I still have no clue what Ryan did or didn't do, nor can I make sense of what Rainn's goal is.
November 9, 2021
An awesome read. This book is not my usual genre, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. The lucid dreaming element is really interesting, but it’s the depth of the characters and the incredible descriptions of the scenes that totally captivated me. I could imagine the scenery really clearly as if watching a film & loved the way the author creates twists and turns -and then gives you those really satisfying ‘ahhh, that’s why!’ moments! As I said, it’s not my usual genre, but I’ll definitely be reading the next book as soon as it comes out!
April 6, 2021
I must say I had a difficult time with this one. It didn't attract me too much to finish it but I did it. I felt that something was missing. I didn't understand many of the scenes (I guess that's why it cost me so much to finish it). The plot was promising, but at the end, the writing was confusing. To sum, great idea but poor writing.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 2, 2021
I received an advance copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.
The premise of this idea is a good one and appealed to me instantly. That being said the first almost half of the book was tough to follow and I struggled to finish it. The characters didn't evolve the way one would hope in a novel regarding lucid dreams and murder. Parts seemed a bit repetitive and the book could have gone in many directions but all the pieces were dead ends in my opinion.
The premise of this idea is a good one and appealed to me instantly. That being said the first almost half of the book was tough to follow and I struggled to finish it. The characters didn't evolve the way one would hope in a novel regarding lucid dreams and murder. Parts seemed a bit repetitive and the book could have gone in many directions but all the pieces were dead ends in my opinion.
August 14, 2021
Holy Crow
Wow. What a ride!
I really enjoyed this book, even thought it was slow at times and I had to force myself to keep reading. The plot twists and just general craziness of it were amazing. I've not read anything like this is the longest time. I so look forward to seeing what happens to Alicia, Gus, Ryan, and Rainn in the next book.
Wow. What a ride!
I really enjoyed this book, even thought it was slow at times and I had to force myself to keep reading. The plot twists and just general craziness of it were amazing. I've not read anything like this is the longest time. I so look forward to seeing what happens to Alicia, Gus, Ryan, and Rainn in the next book.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews