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Peak
First, she was an acolyte. Then, a rogue. Finally, a catalyst.
Now she’s declaring war on Hell itself.
Jack Harper can raise the dead, and those she resurrects she also controls. She belongs to an ancient race of magical beings called “ferrics,” though she is the first of her kind with this power.
Having just escaped Jonathon Roth and his kill-for-hire organization, her new target is the demonic Builder, architect of damnation.
She must act fast, too, because the ferrics’ last countermeasure—a plasmatic weapon—is dwindling away. Meanwhile, her closest confidante, the ferric Lutin, has come under attack, all while her brother Alex joins forces with the Builder to unleash a malevolent new power.
Dying of poison and scrambling for help, Jack turns to an unlikely ally, her charismatic and drug-addled friend, Patrick. She must ask him to help with the impossible: kill the Builder. Whether or not they succeed may not matter because a new threat has joined the battle, an evil ferric bathed in blood, brimstone, and mystery.
Jack will never quit, no matter the odds, but deep down she worries: what if the cure is worse than the disease?
Now she’s declaring war on Hell itself.
Jack Harper can raise the dead, and those she resurrects she also controls. She belongs to an ancient race of magical beings called “ferrics,” though she is the first of her kind with this power.
Having just escaped Jonathon Roth and his kill-for-hire organization, her new target is the demonic Builder, architect of damnation.
She must act fast, too, because the ferrics’ last countermeasure—a plasmatic weapon—is dwindling away. Meanwhile, her closest confidante, the ferric Lutin, has come under attack, all while her brother Alex joins forces with the Builder to unleash a malevolent new power.
Dying of poison and scrambling for help, Jack turns to an unlikely ally, her charismatic and drug-addled friend, Patrick. She must ask him to help with the impossible: kill the Builder. Whether or not they succeed may not matter because a new threat has joined the battle, an evil ferric bathed in blood, brimstone, and mystery.
Jack will never quit, no matter the odds, but deep down she worries: what if the cure is worse than the disease?
276 pages, ebook
Published January 1, 2020
2 people are currently reading
1332 people want to read
About the author
L.C. Barlow
6 books217 followersI am a traditionally published author (a three book deal with California Coldblood Books). Pivot, Perish, and Peak are the three novels of the Jack Harper Trilogy. Pivot was featured in Kirkus’ July 2021 issue, and Perish and Peak are Publishers Weekly editor’s picks. If you love thrillers, I recommend checking them out!
In addition, feel free to follow me on BookBub at: L.C. Barlow Books - BookBub as well as to peruse my Quora account or even email me at eternityinonehour@gmail.com
Cheers!
-Lindsey
In addition, feel free to follow me on BookBub at: L.C. Barlow Books - BookBub as well as to peruse my Quora account or even email me at eternityinonehour@gmail.com
Cheers!
-Lindsey
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
May 23, 2021
Book 3 of the Jack Harper trilogy, may not have been the best one. I'm really rating this book at 3.5 stars, which technically pushes it up to 4, but only just. My main issue was the characters that we have followed through the series. It's not giving away a spoiler that Jack can control anyone that she resurrects from the dead. This is a great concept, except for the fact that even the most vicious beings that she controls end up as docile puppies that have no fight in them at all this unfortunately took away a bit of the tension I wanted.
It also turns out she can control 'things too. I'll leave that to the reader to find out more here.
I still found this book very entertaining and enjoyed every minute of it. I was just a little let down by the washed out feeling I got from some parts. Also, for a trilogy, it still remained fairly open at the end. Will there be more on Jack Harper in the future?
It also turns out she can control 'things too. I'll leave that to the reader to find out more here.
I still found this book very entertaining and enjoyed every minute of it. I was just a little let down by the washed out feeling I got from some parts. Also, for a trilogy, it still remained fairly open at the end. Will there be more on Jack Harper in the future?
September 10, 2021
Sometimes, the sales blurb of a book is so good that I am drawn to reading it, neglecting some of the important information I should pay attention to, as is the case with “Peak.” I did not notice this was the third in a trilogy, and once I was over the initial surprise, I hoped it would not be too much of an issue.
Even though this is the last book in a trilogy, author L. C. Barlow did not feel the need to overwhelm readers with what had already gone before. A sentence here and there, inobtrusive, yet competently serving as gentle reminders of what had already passed were all we received, and it was enough.
I found myself caught up in the story, which I would categorize as an urban fantasy/horror tale. While the genre is not normally my first choice, Ms. Barlow has created an interesting premise and I initially found myself caught up in the story.
I say initially because about halfway through the story took an unexpected turn and slowed to a crawl, losing all its energy as it lumbered to an ending that caused me to feel that the author had painted herself into a corner and this was the only way out. The early promise of the book left, similar to the slow release of air from a leaking balloon.
For those who have followed this trilogy through the first two books, you will probably love this final chapter to the story of Jack. While this could be a standalone, coming in to the story at this point would put you way behind and I would recommend to start with the first book. Bottom line – talented author (so I would definitely give her another chance and read her next book), can be imaginative, with a good start that didn’t sustain all the way through. Three stars.
My thanks to NetGalley and Rare bird Books for a complimentary electronic copy of this book.
Even though this is the last book in a trilogy, author L. C. Barlow did not feel the need to overwhelm readers with what had already gone before. A sentence here and there, inobtrusive, yet competently serving as gentle reminders of what had already passed were all we received, and it was enough.
I found myself caught up in the story, which I would categorize as an urban fantasy/horror tale. While the genre is not normally my first choice, Ms. Barlow has created an interesting premise and I initially found myself caught up in the story.
I say initially because about halfway through the story took an unexpected turn and slowed to a crawl, losing all its energy as it lumbered to an ending that caused me to feel that the author had painted herself into a corner and this was the only way out. The early promise of the book left, similar to the slow release of air from a leaking balloon.
For those who have followed this trilogy through the first two books, you will probably love this final chapter to the story of Jack. While this could be a standalone, coming in to the story at this point would put you way behind and I would recommend to start with the first book. Bottom line – talented author (so I would definitely give her another chance and read her next book), can be imaginative, with a good start that didn’t sustain all the way through. Three stars.
My thanks to NetGalley and Rare bird Books for a complimentary electronic copy of this book.
May 6, 2021
While I read the previous two installments in the Jack Harper trilogy and was excited for the conclusion, I found Peak to be a bit disappointing. While it is a trilogy, the three books each seem to have a different tone. Unfortunately, this one was not a fit for me.
While I enjoyed the mystery of the first novel and still enjoyed the action-focused sequel, parts of this one felt anticlimactic. The prose became repetitive, the action was sometimes confusing, and the plot felt devoid of tension. There was too much happening and too much teleporting around to the point that it felt a bit messy. The main plot of this novel also felt more like a side plot that got in the way of the story coming to a close.
That being said, I did enjoy the addition of Patrick as a POV & I also liked how previous characters returned. The way that Barlow recapped the story of the first and second novels within character dialogue was also nicely done. Jack remains an interesting character, but her journey in this novel feels like it has gone on a bit too long.
I will be interested to see what L.C. Barlow comes up with in the future, as she is clearly imaginative and surely has many more ideas up her sleeve. I am likely to give any further novels in this world a skip, but am certainly open to reading newer concepts from the author.
*I received a free ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Overall series rating- 3
While I enjoyed the mystery of the first novel and still enjoyed the action-focused sequel, parts of this one felt anticlimactic. The prose became repetitive, the action was sometimes confusing, and the plot felt devoid of tension. There was too much happening and too much teleporting around to the point that it felt a bit messy. The main plot of this novel also felt more like a side plot that got in the way of the story coming to a close.
That being said, I did enjoy the addition of Patrick as a POV & I also liked how previous characters returned. The way that Barlow recapped the story of the first and second novels within character dialogue was also nicely done. Jack remains an interesting character, but her journey in this novel feels like it has gone on a bit too long.
I will be interested to see what L.C. Barlow comes up with in the future, as she is clearly imaginative and surely has many more ideas up her sleeve. I am likely to give any further novels in this world a skip, but am certainly open to reading newer concepts from the author.
*I received a free ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Overall series rating- 3
April 11, 2021
I would like to thank California Coldblood Books and Rare Bird Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC for free for an honest review. Jack and Patrick team up together to find a cure for the disease Alex let loose on the world and also to destroy the Builder. They have to kill it if they want to save the world. I read the first two books, so I had to read this one. By the time I was halfway through it, I just wanted to keep reading it so I’d be done with this story. Although there was a lot of action, none of it did anything to keep me interested. I felt like the author was tired of the story, too. Part of it was that I felt the story got a bit preachy in places. Another thing was too many characters that didn’t do a lot for the story, such as Margaret, Ven and half of Lutin’s brothers. And I guess they were meant to be different places, but Domum and Beretrum just read Heaven and Hell to me. The worst thing for me was that I couldn’t envision the Builder. It was a white creature, whose body looked like a plastic statue. The face was completely blank. It was just some white plastic thing without a face, which did nothing to frighten me.
August 5, 2021
*ARC received from NetGalley*
Nothing about this series went the way I expected it to, and that is not a criticism.
After facing off with cult leaders and mercenaries, balanced on a knife's edge of cooperation with the race of immortal beings she is now a part of--Jack sets her sights on a final kill, the ancient being that has wrought so much pain and suffering around the world. As Jack mobilizes for one final fight, allies and enemies will rise and fall around her. With everything she knows and trusts being threatened, Jack faces one final, desperate struggle to achieve the peace she has sought for so long. But as the cost of victory begins to come due, she will have to face the consequences of her own actions and confront the unexpected damage that follows in her wake and threatens the future of all she has tried to protect.
With Peak Barlow takes the scope of Jack Harper's story to new heights while also bringing us full circle--concluding the story in much the same place it began. As the stakes get ever higher and everything Jack once trusted becomes threatened, Barlow weaves together the ties and threads that she has woven so effectively though the larger story. Peak does take on a more philosophical bend as Jack reckons with her place in the world and the larger forces that have always sought to shape her life, but through it all she has been so much--a weapon, an operative, and now an agent of dramatic change.
Everything rises or falls on Jack Harper, and as Peak reaches its dramatic climax, the conflict that has been building since the beginning will finally be decided. Horror and dark fantasy, coming-of-age story and an examination of good, evil, and self-determination--the Jack Harper trilogy is a bold and gripping story that reaches new heights with each installment. It began with a pivot, and now with Peak Barlow brings it all to a satisfying end.
Nothing about this series went the way I expected it to, and that is not a criticism.
After facing off with cult leaders and mercenaries, balanced on a knife's edge of cooperation with the race of immortal beings she is now a part of--Jack sets her sights on a final kill, the ancient being that has wrought so much pain and suffering around the world. As Jack mobilizes for one final fight, allies and enemies will rise and fall around her. With everything she knows and trusts being threatened, Jack faces one final, desperate struggle to achieve the peace she has sought for so long. But as the cost of victory begins to come due, she will have to face the consequences of her own actions and confront the unexpected damage that follows in her wake and threatens the future of all she has tried to protect.
With Peak Barlow takes the scope of Jack Harper's story to new heights while also bringing us full circle--concluding the story in much the same place it began. As the stakes get ever higher and everything Jack once trusted becomes threatened, Barlow weaves together the ties and threads that she has woven so effectively though the larger story. Peak does take on a more philosophical bend as Jack reckons with her place in the world and the larger forces that have always sought to shape her life, but through it all she has been so much--a weapon, an operative, and now an agent of dramatic change.
Everything rises or falls on Jack Harper, and as Peak reaches its dramatic climax, the conflict that has been building since the beginning will finally be decided. Horror and dark fantasy, coming-of-age story and an examination of good, evil, and self-determination--the Jack Harper trilogy is a bold and gripping story that reaches new heights with each installment. It began with a pivot, and now with Peak Barlow brings it all to a satisfying end.
June 4, 2021
A good conclusion to the Jack Harper Trilogy.
Full review on my blog here:
http://bookshelfadventures.home.blog/...
Full review on my blog here:
http://bookshelfadventures.home.blog/...
April 2, 2021
I loved it. This is an awesome trilogy. I enjoyed every minute I spent reading it. This final book is an excellent ending. How Jack went about saving the world was creative and shows the strength and fortitude she some how found within herself even after her horrible life. While I know it's a horror novel it's also fantastical. I finely applaud the author and the creativity that was applied to create a masterpiece all It's own.
I received an ARC and I'm voluntarily leaving an honest review.
I received an ARC and I'm voluntarily leaving an honest review.
October 10, 2021
I was a huge fan of
Pivot
and
Perish
, the first two books in the Jack Harper Trilogy and although the concluding part has its moments and imaginative ideas, it is not a patch on its magnificent predecessors. If you have never heard of Jack Harper, I strongly suggest you click back and read the earlier reviews, as Peak is almost impossible to review without providing horrendous spoilers. Also, just to be absolutely clear, this conclusion will make less than zero sense unless you have read them in sequence. Both sequels pick up the action moments after the immediate conclusion of the predecessor, so it should be seen as one continuous story presented in three parts, which is played out over a relatively short period of time. Considering where Pivot opens, with a fascinating inner look at the inner workings of a cult, Peak ends up a million and one miles away, but lacks the suspense and intrigue from the earlier stages. Horror is abandoned and the action edges into the realms of urban fantasy and in doing so, much of the wind disappears from the sails. However, if you have read parts one and two, then dive straight into the conclusion, you may well be a bigger fan of it than I.
You can read Tony's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
You can read Tony's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
April 17, 2021
I have loved the series so much - but I must confess, about two-thirds of the way through I felt like this book should have been finished... This final installment got way more philosophical and preachy then the earlier two did, in a way that felt dissonant given the tone of the earlier books. I must confess I found myself slogging my way through the last third simply to see what the author was going to do. It felt less exciting and much more anticlimactic than I expected. And since this has always been described as a trilogy, I found the ending disappointingly open-ended - because I'm honestly not sure how much more of interest can happen in Jack's World, given the way everything came together in this book... As a result the ending felt unfinished rather than like leaving possibilities open for future installments, and it sat oddly with me...
It is wild to see how this all came together, considering how it all began. I would have never guessed after reading the first book that this is the direction the whole series would have taken. It's not to say I'm disappointed, just surprised - it felt like it started as horror and ended as religion, with journeys through several other genre along the way. I found the ride to be more uneven than I anticipated, and I'm not sure that it feels like the ending and the beginning really fit as coherently as one would expect from such a generally well written series...
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my obligation-free review copy.
It is wild to see how this all came together, considering how it all began. I would have never guessed after reading the first book that this is the direction the whole series would have taken. It's not to say I'm disappointed, just surprised - it felt like it started as horror and ended as religion, with journeys through several other genre along the way. I found the ride to be more uneven than I anticipated, and I'm not sure that it feels like the ending and the beginning really fit as coherently as one would expect from such a generally well written series...
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my obligation-free review copy.
October 11, 2021
Unfortunately, this was my least favorite of the 3 books. Jack and the rest of the staple characters from the other books are still solid and there was a ton of action in there, but it just didn't gel for me. It seemed to drag on and it was not as interesting as the other books in the series. I really wanted to love this book. Some of the imagery and concepts were really fun. The hostility between the characters seemed forced and Jack just got to be too much. It was almost as though the story got too big to be sustained. It was not bad and I would recommend the series as a whole to someone interested in a unique and interesting set of books.
I received this free copy for my unbiased review.
I received this free copy for my unbiased review.
October 2, 2021
Jack was raised by her adoptive father, Cyrus. Cyrus had built a network of evil ones to work for the Builder as he feed on the ills in the world. Jack was trained to fight the Builder for Cyrus. Jack has a special gift — the ability to control those that she has killed (she brings back from death). She is joined by a group of ferrics who are the enemies of the Builder. Lutin is a ferric who gave her the gift of resurrection. As Jack and Lutin continue on their journey to the Builder, a strange illness circulates the world. Jack discovers she can do translocation. Jack and Lutin stop to see the Gaurdian who gives out “godsoul.” Godsoul is a miraculous healing substance. Strange events continue to happen causing Jack to have consequences that she can’t alway get the result she wanted.
In some ways, I thought of the COVID-19 in our present world. The ferrics reminded me of elves. However the ferrics are definitely different from elves. The novel is full of action. The characters seemed quite realistic. The novel has depth and some emotional reflection. I like the novel as it made me positive change is always possible especially when you don’t that. This is the end of the trilogy. I have not read the first two books but I will be. The author is someone who will be on my author list to check out his latest writings.
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review or any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
In some ways, I thought of the COVID-19 in our present world. The ferrics reminded me of elves. However the ferrics are definitely different from elves. The novel is full of action. The characters seemed quite realistic. The novel has depth and some emotional reflection. I like the novel as it made me positive change is always possible especially when you don’t that. This is the end of the trilogy. I have not read the first two books but I will be. The author is someone who will be on my author list to check out his latest writings.
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review or any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
October 15, 2021
Peak by L.C. Barlow.
Jack Harper trilogy book 3.
First, she was an acolyte. Then, a rogue. Finally, a catalyst.
Now she’s declaring war on Hell itself.
Jack Harper can raise the dead, and those she resurrects she also controls. She belongs to an ancient race of magical beings called “ferrics,” though she is the first of her kind with this power.
Having just escaped Jonathon Roth and his kill-for-hire organization, her new target is the demonic Builder, architect of damnation.
She must act fast, too, because the ferrics’ last countermeasure—a plasmatic weapon—is dwindling away. Meanwhile, her closest confidante, the ferric Lutin, has come under attack, all while her brother Alex joins forces with the Builder to unleash a malevolent new power.
Dying of poison and scrambling for help, Jack turns to an unlikely ally, her charismatic and drug-addled friend, Patrick. She must ask him to help with the impossible: kill the Builder. Whether or not they succeed may not matter because a new threat has joined the battle, an evil ferric bathed in blood, brimstone, and mystery.
Jack will never quit, no matter the odds, but deep down she worries: what if the cure is worse than the disease?
A good read with some good characters. Likeable story. I liked Jack and Lutin. 4*.
Jack Harper trilogy book 3.
First, she was an acolyte. Then, a rogue. Finally, a catalyst.
Now she’s declaring war on Hell itself.
Jack Harper can raise the dead, and those she resurrects she also controls. She belongs to an ancient race of magical beings called “ferrics,” though she is the first of her kind with this power.
Having just escaped Jonathon Roth and his kill-for-hire organization, her new target is the demonic Builder, architect of damnation.
She must act fast, too, because the ferrics’ last countermeasure—a plasmatic weapon—is dwindling away. Meanwhile, her closest confidante, the ferric Lutin, has come under attack, all while her brother Alex joins forces with the Builder to unleash a malevolent new power.
Dying of poison and scrambling for help, Jack turns to an unlikely ally, her charismatic and drug-addled friend, Patrick. She must ask him to help with the impossible: kill the Builder. Whether or not they succeed may not matter because a new threat has joined the battle, an evil ferric bathed in blood, brimstone, and mystery.
Jack will never quit, no matter the odds, but deep down she worries: what if the cure is worse than the disease?
A good read with some good characters. Likeable story. I liked Jack and Lutin. 4*.
October 21, 2021
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The third and last installment of this series was just as fulfilled as the first two. I am so glad to see Jack's character evolve so much through the series. You can't help but want to know where she ends up after this story. I was hoping to see where Patrick and her end up within the story as the relationship was starting to evolve a little more than just friends in this book but I'm sure my imagination can finish it. They're relationship was more real life and I am thankful for that. I was a bit lost with the story line of the other ferrics and would have like to get more back ground on them. Also you mentioned within the story that there was another like Jack. What happened to him? Did he get destroyed or did he destroy himself? This would be where I did not give 5 stars. Maybe if there is a forth book we could see more back ground story on the ferrics, the builder and this other half ferric. I would once again like to say thank you for allowing me a free copy of your set and I am grateful for the chance to read them. I could not get enough of Jack and her growth. I look forward other installments (if there is to be) in the future and other stories you write.
The third and last installment of this series was just as fulfilled as the first two. I am so glad to see Jack's character evolve so much through the series. You can't help but want to know where she ends up after this story. I was hoping to see where Patrick and her end up within the story as the relationship was starting to evolve a little more than just friends in this book but I'm sure my imagination can finish it. They're relationship was more real life and I am thankful for that. I was a bit lost with the story line of the other ferrics and would have like to get more back ground on them. Also you mentioned within the story that there was another like Jack. What happened to him? Did he get destroyed or did he destroy himself? This would be where I did not give 5 stars. Maybe if there is a forth book we could see more back ground story on the ferrics, the builder and this other half ferric. I would once again like to say thank you for allowing me a free copy of your set and I am grateful for the chance to read them. I could not get enough of Jack and her growth. I look forward other installments (if there is to be) in the future and other stories you write.
December 4, 2021
The 3rd installment of the Jack Harper Trilogy. The story comes full circle.
Jack finally finished with the cult and the mercenaries. Now she's facing the end goal - killing the Builder and resurrecting him. Before she can even get to that point, the people she trusted deceived her. With her life on the line, Jack has to make decisions that change everything. With those decisions come consequences that she will have to confront.
The ending wasn't what I expected, which isn't a bad thing whatsoever. It was good! Some of the decisions that Jack made, made me question her decisions, but they turned out to be alright in the end.
Throughout this whole series, I wasn't expecting things to go the way they did. To be honest, I had no idea how it was even going to happen regardless, but I'm happy with how it ended. I can't wait to hear about any more of L.C. Barlow's books!
ARC provided by Netgalley for an honest review.
Jack finally finished with the cult and the mercenaries. Now she's facing the end goal - killing the Builder and resurrecting him. Before she can even get to that point, the people she trusted deceived her. With her life on the line, Jack has to make decisions that change everything. With those decisions come consequences that she will have to confront.
The ending wasn't what I expected, which isn't a bad thing whatsoever. It was good! Some of the decisions that Jack made, made me question her decisions, but they turned out to be alright in the end.
Throughout this whole series, I wasn't expecting things to go the way they did. To be honest, I had no idea how it was even going to happen regardless, but I'm happy with how it ended. I can't wait to hear about any more of L.C. Barlow's books!
ARC provided by Netgalley for an honest review.
December 30, 2021
“First, she was an acolyte. Then, a rogue. Finally, a catalyst. Now she’s declaring war on Hell itself.”
I think I made a mistake with this one. I read horror in the description and dove in head first before I realized this was the third in a series. Oops. I was probably a quarter of the way through when I realized why I was a bit lost but I continued on anyway. About halfway through the story seemed like it could have probably ended and the rest of the book was just filler. But I’m not sure if it felt that way because I hadn’t read the previous books or if it really did just come to a halt in the middle. I enjoyed the story up to that point, the writing is engaging and overall the story was good.
So, if you want to read this make sure you have read the first two beforehand. I will probably start in the correct order and come back to this. If I do, I’ll make sure to update my review.
eARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
I think I made a mistake with this one. I read horror in the description and dove in head first before I realized this was the third in a series. Oops. I was probably a quarter of the way through when I realized why I was a bit lost but I continued on anyway. About halfway through the story seemed like it could have probably ended and the rest of the book was just filler. But I’m not sure if it felt that way because I hadn’t read the previous books or if it really did just come to a halt in the middle. I enjoyed the story up to that point, the writing is engaging and overall the story was good.
So, if you want to read this make sure you have read the first two beforehand. I will probably start in the correct order and come back to this. If I do, I’ll make sure to update my review.
eARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
October 18, 2021
For those of you don’t like a lot of info or just want the recommendation…The Jack Harper Trilogy, starting with Pivot, is a wonderful read. I believe retailers are categorizing these as Horror or Dark Fantasy, but this whole trilogy will feel very at home on the shelf of anyone who enjoys speculative fiction of any flavor. So…go to your local bookseller and grab a copy while I ramble on too much about why I like it below. I’ll link the books at the bottom of my review.
For context, I read primarily in either the Epic Fantasy or the Hard Science Fiction realms so Pivot and it’s following titles are a little outside my mainstream. That said, however, this is exactly the kind of fiction I love when I take a break from the 600+-page epics. I read all three books straight through this past week and enjoyed every moment. I’ll try not to spoil any specific plot points below!
Let’s start with my favorite element of any novel; character building. I thought the characters here were perfectly defined for the length of the novels. Our main interests are all very well thought out and written and the supporting cast is fleshed out very nicely to feel like real people without bloating the book. Our protagonist, Jack Harper, is wonderfully crafted and could easily be the centerpiece of a whole franchise if needed. Her progress through the Hero’s Journey will satisfy all who crave a classic story structure with just enough spice and surprises to entice those who love something new. In Pivot, we see Jack some to understand there is a world outside her experience and closes with an awakening understanding of herself as a person. Through the second book, Perish, we root for Jack as she comes to understand what it means to be her and I really enjoyed the ride as she discovers and begins to exercise her power. Finally, in Peak, Jack comes to embrace her power, her place in the world, and what that really means. Of course, like all good books, this trilogy has a great compliment of supporting characters that fill out the world and really make the book come to life. I especially loved every scene with Roland and Jasper so let me know your favorite after you read them! If characters are what drive you to invest in a story, these books are for you.
Next, let’s look at the plot. If you are specifically a fan of short format fiction, you will find here the tightly written, fast paced action, and efficient world building you might associate with the best short stories or novellas. Structure wise, these novels form a classic 3-act format that is very satisfying and propels the story forward at breakneck pace. In Pivot, we meet Jack Harper and experience the horror in which she was raised before joining her on a journey to overcome that upbringing, to understand good vs evil, and to claim her position in life. Of course, that journey only leads Jack, in Perish, to realize that the toughest thing she had ever faced was only the beginning. Like any good second act, the stakes continue to climb throughout Perish; the world continues to expand, and our understanding of the hidden world of good and evil evolves to new levels. The final novel, Peak, leads us to Jack’s crisis of faith. How will she respond? Does Jack belong to the world of good or evil? Can she choose? Does it matter? You’ll have to read that part for yourself.
Finally let me make a couple of points about prose and voice and then wrap up with a couple of comparisons . I found Ms. Barlow’s prose to be very engaging and compelling. I read each book in 2 sittings each as the story just moves that fast! It is immediately obvious that these books were written by an intelligent and well-spoken person, but they are not overly wordy. She doesn’t beat you over the head with a needlessly obtuse vocabulary. Maybe I am just a language nerd, but there definitely were several points where I said to myself, “That was a dang good sentence!” So, if the dumbed-down prose of your basic “beach-read” thriller novel makes you want to puke, rest assured you’ll be in good hands with Ms. Barlow. There is also something special here in her voice. The subject matter of these books is dark…in some places it is very dark. These books deal with good, evil, and the sometimes-blurred lines between them. It touches on mental health, substance abuse, both physical and mental abuse, and no small amount death…maybe even the end of the world. But somehow, through it all, there is a hopeful, uplifting, and soothing voice that seems to communicate “It will be alright. Even when it’s not all right, it’s all right”.
I always struggle to try to compare one author or book to another. It never really does justice to the book or author being discussed and is always super subjective. All the marketing, however, says that the most effective way to sell a book aside from personal recommendations is to compare it to something else that someone likes so I’ll give a shot. I’ll offer up two comparisons that are both lacking but both hinge on the contrast between the books’ voice and the subject matter. First, to pick an author that might be widely familiar, I’ll mention that this trilogy did make me remember the Odd Thomas novels of Dean Koontz. I think those represented a departure from his typical “horror” fare and there is a valid comparison to be made between those and The Jack Harper Trilogy. Next, and I think far more fitting, the books that most came to mind while reading were Dan Well's John Cleaver novels, beginning with I Am Not A Serial Killer. Not as many of my friends will be familiar with Dan’s work, but they are well worth your time as well if you haven’t enjoyed them.
Anyway, if you made it this far, congratulations! You’re a nerd! Here are links to all three books. I recommend you get started ASAP!
May 4, 2021
Now, I really enjoyed the first two books in this series and was extraordinarily pleased to be given the chance to read the final novel...until I read it and felt a little less satisfied. Following the story of Jack and her push back against forces trying to control her through two books was brilliant, with some great writing that brought me into the world. This one though, felt a bit preachy, maybe too philosophical for my taste - where was the horror of the first novel? Instead, it felt like a sanitised version of what came before. If you've read the previous two novels (and since this is a trilogy why wouldn't you have), then this is a recommendation despite the way my review sounds. Just don't expect the same feeling you may have had when reading the first.
August 7, 2022
Now, I really enjoyed the first two books in this series and was extraordinarily pleased to be given the chance to read the final novel...until I read it and felt a little less satisfied. Following the story of Jack and her push back against forces trying to control her through two books was brilliant, with some great writing that brought me into the world. This one though, felt a bit preachy, maybe too philosophical for my taste - where was the horror of the first novel? Instead, it felt like a sanitised version of what came before. If you've read the previous two novels (and since this is a trilogy why wouldn't you have), then this is a recommendation despite the way my review sounds. Just don't expect the same feeling you may have had when reading the first.
July 10, 2021
I received a free ARC and am leaving this review voluntarily. I really liked this series overall and this third book is a nice finisher for the trilogy The characters developed nicely over the trilogy and again I found myself rooting for someone who has character traits from an antagonist.
Jack works her magic to help save the world from evil and we get to tag along. I won’t do any spoilers here but suffice it to say if you liked the other two books you’ll enjoy this third book in the series.
Jack works her magic to help save the world from evil and we get to tag along. I won’t do any spoilers here but suffice it to say if you liked the other two books you’ll enjoy this third book in the series.
July 16, 2021
Fast-paced! Riveting! Emotional! Suspenseful! Compelling! Complex! An edgy thrill ride full of dark secrets, shocking plot twists and pulse-pounding, palpable tension. This book brings it ALL! It was an artful melding of twisted psychological thrills and nail-biting suspense. THIS is how you successfully keep a series interesting and keep your readers wanting more!
*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.
*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.
May 22, 2022
Jack is fully ferric now and has a plan to stop the Builder from destroying the planet but she needs help from Patrick after the Builder captured the kill-for-hire men and women that were under her control. This story has enough action to please any action junkie. I do not know if the ending was a HEA or a cliffhanger. Very highly recommended.
I received an advance review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I received an advance review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 3, 2023
A great wrap up to the trilogy. It had many builds and declines, so it did eventually feel like it needed to be over, but it was enjoyable. If you’ve read the first two, for sure finish up with this.
February 24, 2023
A solid enough ending to the trilogy that keeps the same quality as the previous books. I think I enjoyed this one a bit more than book 2 since it dealt less with the real world and more with the supernatural, but books 2 and 3 were both less than book 1 which was the strongest of the series.
October 18, 2021
3.5 stars. Review to come
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June 6, 2021DNF
The premise seemed interesting but I couldn't get into it, especially since I haven't, and don't plan to, read the first two books.
The premise seemed interesting but I couldn't get into it, especially since I haven't, and don't plan to, read the first two books.
October 12, 2021
Peak (Jack Harper Trilogy Book 1) Kindle Edition
by L. C. Barlow
Thank you to L.C. Barlow, the publisher and Booksirens for the complimentary copy. I am choosing to leave a fair and honest review.
We return to the world of Ferrics, humans, and a version of Heaven and Hell. Jack, our heroine, works to save the world.
The plot and story are influenced by the Covid-19 pandemic, as Jack has to stop the spreading of a disease. The reality that seeps into Ms. Barlow's writing makes it more tangible. Fortunately, the real life pandemic is hidden perfectly in the fictional pandemic.
Jack's story arc from the nearly sociopathic killer to the best version of what she is satisfying. Ms. Barlow lays down the steps required to reach that with ease and subtly.
This is a good, solid end to a very good series.
3 stars out of 5
by L. C. Barlow
Thank you to L.C. Barlow, the publisher and Booksirens for the complimentary copy. I am choosing to leave a fair and honest review.
We return to the world of Ferrics, humans, and a version of Heaven and Hell. Jack, our heroine, works to save the world.
The plot and story are influenced by the Covid-19 pandemic, as Jack has to stop the spreading of a disease. The reality that seeps into Ms. Barlow's writing makes it more tangible. Fortunately, the real life pandemic is hidden perfectly in the fictional pandemic.
Jack's story arc from the nearly sociopathic killer to the best version of what she is satisfying. Ms. Barlow lays down the steps required to reach that with ease and subtly.
This is a good, solid end to a very good series.
3 stars out of 5
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