Charlie Swingling is a suburban teenager who lives his life just like any other high schooler his age - that is, until he embarks on a treacherous bike ride home through a forest during a storm. There, he encounters a warrior with curious abilities that defy reality.
Drawn into a fatal skirmish beyond his control, Charlie finds himself at the brink of death. When all hope seems lost, something astounding happens. Charlie has a moment of awakening and discovers that he can harness the power of the storm to strike down his adversary.
The next day, Charlie gets a letter in the mail. It’s an acceptance letter to a school he’s never heard of, Halotempora Institute for the Inertly Adept, a mysterious paranormal academy. He wonders if this acceptance letter is linked to what happened the previous night. There is only one way to find out. And so begins this tale of incredible fantasy fiction and magic.
At times in life, we are presented with challenges that appear to be monumental. Yet, it is what we do in these moments that define who we really are. Halotempora is this kind of story – a coming of age paranormal tale of an improbable hero who encounters the insurmountable and conquers it in the process.
Halotempora is the:- Story of a Brave Teen Paranormal Powers Struggle for Life Encounter Conquer at the end Making it on his own If you have been looking to devour anamazing young adult fantasy novel, look no further. Click to order and jump into this fabulous adventure!
Librarian note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name. This profile may contain books from multiple authors of this name.
“In the darkness, it’s easier to grasp the things that you can’t understand, those which are unfathomable. The very spires of the soul, the bundles of being, the tangles and knots of knowing, and consequently, unknowing” Indeed! The human mind is a conspicuous habitation to explore our definite potential, and the true wisdom was right in front of Charlie, which took him years to realize… Ever wanted to read fiction that is way darker than Harry Potter? Well, Halotempora is all about it. At least that’s how I feel it! Halotempora by A.J. Brooks was a friend referral, and so glad I decided to go with it. The story features a young lad named Charlie and how a strange accident turned his life upside down. Charlie happens to be one of the rare humans who can manipulate and possess great powers, and he gets picked by "Halotempora" to master this art. But his stay at Halotempora was not as smooth as expected, as he goes through quite a challenging time until he proves his true potential. Will Charlie be able to ever leave Halotempora? Will he finally prove his potential to those who have been watching over him? Up to you to find out! Apart from Charlie, the characters like Charlie’s grandmother, Professor Limontochry, Emil, Melinda & Alex popped out quite strong within the plot, and the character development was not that detailed but still was powerful. Throughout the plot, it was evident that the author had given a lot of focus on developing the scenes, or the background of the story, and it was so detailed. Especially the way the whole Halotempora concept was developed and presented was remarkable, and it led to uninterrupted imaginations. This book surely has laid a great foundation for a beginning of a series, and I sincerely hope the next episodes will come up soon. The book stands up to its genre as fantasy fiction and includes every element that a fantasy lover would expect from a book of this kind. Starting from fear and mystery goes all the way up to the action, adventure, depression, sadness, love, and affection. The storyline had a strong grip from the beginning to the end, and the theme was consistent. I especially liked the adventures that rolled in after the climax, the “awakening of Charlie”. I must admire the creativity that has gone into creating this fantasy, and every element fuses together really well. Author A.J. Brooks have used a simple yet descriptive writing style that fueled my imaginations. Looking back to the plot, I feel it would have been great if some chapters were less descriptive, as it has not contributed much to the overall story. Simply the book was not a fast read as expected. Even the main villain character didn’t come out as powerful as expected towards the end of the story. However, the author might be planning to use these elements and characters in future releases & that could be one reason for this nature. Conclusively it was a great & unique read that I enjoyed in the recent past. Recommended for all the fantasy & fiction lovers!
Halotempora...where do I begin? I suppose I will start with the more technical aspects first. The way the author writes easily allows you to picture Charlie’s world in your mind, without being overbearing in its description. Grammar and editing is always a sore point for me when reading, and I have no complaints in that regard. The author also has a flow to his words that forced me to slow down to really grasp the meaning at points. I say this as a compliment. Often I can speed through stories when I get drawn in, but this grabbed me in a very different way. Even after I had to put the book down at times, I continued to ponder what I read throughout my day. I would call this story an adventure with overt philosophical overtones. Now onto the meat and potatoes of a book--the plot and characters. (Don’t worry, no spoilers here!) The mystery of it all pushed me to finish this book, and the nuggets of wisdom made me not want to put it down. Charlie’s journey--his odyssey if you will-- was not traveled through alone. I think that’s an important take away for a young reader. That you will meet people who will help you and who may need your help as well, even if you don’t realize it. Some you only meet for a short while and others you may meet over and over. The universe is forever in motion. I enjoyed how the characters were written, even those that were more malignant. Each character was distinct from the other, and their conversations had a natural flow to it. The world that was weaved together was beautiful and dangerous (much like our own). But what let me know that I was reading something different in this genre were the moments of epiphany and philosophy. I feel that many books in the YA fantasy genre have attempted to do the same in their way, but those intentions were often overshadowed by romantic conflict and love stories. And that’s not to say that’s a bad thing or not entertaining, but it does distract at times. It's also not to say that I didn’t look for it here out of habit. As I read, I realised that Charlie’s story didn’t need it. But I do appreciate the small hints of that possibility. All in all, I truly enjoyed the unexpected nature of the book. I hope that the author will continue with Charlie’s journey and we get to uncover more of the truth of his world. I’ll end with a quote by Professor Limontochry that stuck with me, “...And what is reality but a collection of consciousness?...”
I am a huge lover of fantastical/magical fiction, particularly when it comes to the YA genre, so I was sure that I was going to enjoy Halotempora from the offset – and how right I was! This entertaining and engaging tale of special powers, conquering the challenges that life throws at us and learning to better understand oneself is sure to be a hit with readers of all ages, as there is plenty to take away here whether you are young or young at heart. Books are, and have always been to me, the most perfect form of escapism, and that’s exactly what A.J. Brooks has created here – the opportunity to get lost in a fantastic and absorbing story while also leaving you with much to reflect upon once you’ve finished that final page. From beginning to end Halotempora was just a joy to read for me, and once I began, I really couldn’t put it down.
I won’t go too much into the plot here, as this is easily a book to curl up with and devour in one sitting, but we’re following Charlie Swingling, just your average teenager boy – until a chance meeting on the way home from school sees him acquire some particularly strange abilities! The premise reminds me a little of Schwab’s Villains series – a near-death experience being the catalyst for new-found abilities and powers – but with a little less superhero-style action and with more focus on the characters. I really enjoyed this, as so often with novels of this genre the characters come secondary to the plot, so much so that I often find myself not caring much for them, but that wasn’t at all the case with Halotempora. I loved seeing Charlie’s character growth and progression throughout the novel, and upon reaching the end it really felt as if I’d gone along on the journey with him. He felt so realistic and relatable to me, and I really hope that we get to read more of his story in the future!
In addition to the wonderful characters, one of my favourite things about the novel was Brooks’ effortlessly readable writing style. The world in which he created felt so vivid and realistic without the need for passages of overly-descriptive writing or ‘info-dumping’, and again fantastically showcases his talents as a writer. Exciting, engaging and hugely entertaining with plenty of heart thrown in for good measure, Halotempora really does deserve a place on your reading list this autumn – highly recommend!
This was both fabulous and totally unexpected all in one. What I adored about this book is that it left you challenging reality through reading about fantasy. It seamlessly tied in everyday challenges people face in the real world to the fantasy world so well, it allowed you to become completely immersed in the book. Meet Charlie, a totally ordinary teenage boy, until a near death experience leads him to discover extraordinary abilities. As Charlie comes to terms with his newfound talents he is thrown headlong into Halotempora, a world in an alternative reality that he must escape. I liked the plots that ran alongside the main plot, they kept things interesting and reflected test of everyday life, with Charlie having to face and overcome enemies. I also liked that whilst there were suggestions of romance this plot like many other fantasy novels did not follow the typical route that many of these take. Instead we follow Charlie closely on a journey of personal growth and self-discovery as he comes to terms with his new reality and faces tough adversaries. The characters created are true to life and the main protagonist Charlie is well rounded and his previous life events being unfortunate, really make him a relatable character that you can get behind. A. J. Brooks really proves himself to be an accomplished writer in creating an absorbing, immersive alternative reality. A fantasy novel is truly good when you can submerge the reader into the book where the unbelievable becomes believable, and this author has managed through wonderful descriptive writing to create an authentic fantasy world. The beginning is slow building, giving you that picture of Charlie, his life, his background and building the framework to a more explosive and fast moving second half, that kept me turning pages to find out what happens. The dialogue I found to be natural and easy to read, leaving me able to imagine these characters and really making the scenes come alive on the pages. All in all, a thought provoking read, it makes you really question reality, a mark of a brilliant fantasy read. I will be recommending this book to my teenage son as I believe he will enjoy it just as much, if not more than I have.
A.J. Brooks's enchanting novel Halotempora follows the teenager Charlie Swingling through his atypical coming of age. Charlie Swingling lived with his grandmother Argerry and younger sister Evelynn in Capacica Point, Virginia, after losing his parents.
Halotempora commences with Charlie attending a History Club meeting that voted for Mrs. Dean to become their faculty sponsor for their group, this allowed them the opportunity to visit historical sites. After the meeting, judging the late hour, Charlie decided to take a shortcut to his home. Trudging through inclement weather, Charlie set on a path through the thick forest. It is at this juncture the plot of the book is revealed. A bolt of lightning and strong gusts of wind almost catapulted Charlie off his bike but suddenly there was a strange occurrence, the rain disappeared and the surroundings were calm and eerie. He witnesses something mindblowing, and something incredible happens to him, “he was changed.” Charlie’s encounter placed him in the hospital, unable to recall the events in the forest. After ‘his awakening’, he has a visitor who urges him to maintain secrecy about what he experienced.
Charlie receives an admission offer from the prestigious ‘government-funded’ Halotempora Research Institute For The Inertly Adept. Although he had never applied for the institute, he discovers he was chosen. His friends were disheartened that there was a possibility that he would be leaving but encouraged him to accept the offer since his opportunities were few. On the cusp of his departure, his grandmother taught him a meditation technique that would become useful when he remembers it. The story progresses at a rapid pace from Act 2 and Charlie endures several challenges. The plot takes readers on a roller coaster ride and there are several plot twists to be expected.
The most successful and refreshing aspect of the novel is how Charlie coped under stress. Too many novels of the genre shy away and omit details altogether. Both young adults and adults will be thankful for the lack of coddling, which imparts an insincerity in writing. Brook’s work in this book is superb and highly captivating which manipulates contemporary young adult fantasy conventions to tell a fantastic story.
Such an amazing book! It’s been a while since I read a YA book that had me turning the page quickly, wanting more details. Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of good Yas out there but this one reminded me of when I first read Harry Potter and the nostalgia and goosebumps (from excitement) were a great feeling to have again. The characters, original plot (with all the good twists and turns I’ve been searching for), and the world that A. J. Brooks created are something to truly be admired. I’m really hoping that there may be more to the story or at least within the world that Brooks has made. Truly a great book and a definite recommendation for any age.
Charlie Swingling is an average high school teen. His grades aren’t great, has a good group of friends, and dreams of college where he can be free to do what he wants. However, Charlie isn’t average, not average at all. On his way home from school, he has a near-death experience and in the end, ends up with powers he couldn’t even imagine. Shortly after, he’s invited to the “Halotempora; Research Institute for the Inertly Adept”. It’s a school he can’t find anything about but it’s completely free and they only choose the best and brightest to attend. Charlie thinks there’s been a huge mistake but his name is clearly embossed on his acceptance letter; applying was something he never even did. Leaving his grandmother and sister behind, Charlie decides to take on this new educational journey at Halotempora. What he didn’t realize was how much he was actually going to learn. His life may not be actually average at all; including everything, he thought he knew. I absolutely don’t want to go into further details because the twists and the turns that led me to the end were so worth it. The one line that still kept me going and thinking was “There’s a price for everything, you know.” and it’s in the beginning chapters of the book but it kept me wondering just what exactly Charlie’s price was.
As an avid reader of both YA books and fantasy/magical fiction, I can honestly say I have never read anything quite like "Halotempora." In his book, Brooks was able to masterfully depict the wonderous land of Halotempora while also tying in a boy's coming of age story. The protagonist, Charlie Swingling, learns about the power he has within himself, or as the inhabitants of Halotempora call it, his Awakening. Thus begins a journey to find meaning and answers to life’s greatest questions while also making his family proud.
Although we as teenagers may never have undergone a harrowing trek through a mystical world like Charlie did, we can all agree that adolescence is a tumultuous time for us all and can relate to Charlie on that level. This development in Charlie’s character is what makes him so relatable to readers. He is seemingly ordinary boy, in an ordinary suburb, going about his ordinary life until the extraordinary happens. As he begins to ponder his life’s purpose, the realm of Halotempora calls to him with promising provision to fulfill his purpose. These events leave readers wondering what we would have done if our lives had been so abruptly interrupted during our sophomore year of high school.
Our author artfully paints Halotempora’s whimsical landscape with such grace and craft while leaving enough room for the imagination to keep his audience hungerly engaged. As the chapters march on, so does our discovery of the new world Charlie is thrust into. It feels as if we are right there with Charlie as he tries the heavy locked doors of rooms that we are not yet welcome in, or stumbling upon amphitheaters shrouded by a fantastical forest. One never knows what more there is to unlock by turning the page.
I highly recommend this book by A.J. Brooks, for its enticing hold it had on my mind kept me willingly engaged at every turn of the plot.
Halotempora is a young adult sorcery fantasy fiction written by Author A.J Brooks The main character of this book, Charlie Swingling, after a strange encounter in the woods where he had a close brush with death which activated his powers, using the term that was used in the book, he became awakened. He received a letter informing him that he had gotten admission into this strange school, Halotempora research institute for the inertly adept, basically cut off from the whole world to learn mastery over abilities he does not understand. He starts his classes in this new strange school, makes new friends, learns about all these new things happening to him and about his new environment but he soon comes to realize that everything is not as peachy as it seems. If you’re interested in reading a well-written story with interesting well-developed characters, this is for you. I really appreciate the way this book is divided into acts, it helps to further demarcate the phases of Charlie’s life and his experiences. The author did a great work capturing the angst and emotions a teenager faces when his whole life is basically turned upside down, this beautiful character arc where he grows as a person is a very beautiful thing to read. This was a very fun book to read and I honestly couldn’t put it down once I got over the feeling of familiarity I felt whilst reading this book because I thought it was very similar to the Harry Potter books. The ending had this bittersweet quality to it that I would never have seen coming. I enjoyed reading this book and I will be recommending this book to several people to read.
Halotempora is written by A.J. Brook where we get introduced to Charlie Swingling. He is a teenage boy who is an interesting, well-written, and developed character.
The story begins when Charlie was on his way home from school when he encounters the strange sight of a fight in the woods.
Later Charlie receives an envelope for admission and joins a strange school. Halotempora research institute for the inertly adept this school is unknown to others & apart from the rest of the world.
In this new strange school, Charlie's journey starts. He makes new friends and learns about different things. The significant ability dwells in the human mind but we can not realize it in specific, and such true wisdom was there in front of Charlie's eyes, which he didn't realize for years. He realizes that he has some strange abilities and learns to master them and he gets awakened!
Once I started reading this book, the plotline got interesting. I enjoyed reading about Charlie facing new challenges paranormal or mind manipulation, and his fight to overcome those challenges.
The author succeeded in creating a vivid, detailed world that is easily imaginable to enter into the fantasy realm and start experiencing, entertaining, and engaging with it.
The story has a natural flow and engaging dialog revealing the plot and with a message to have faith in yourself.
I enjoyed reading this book of a mystical story intermingling the real world with the fantasy world. I will be recommending this book to young adults reader. People who want to read about an interesting character who confronts the unbeatable, realizes it, and defeats it.
Riveting, Exciting and Reminiscent What do you look for in a book? For some people, the aim is to be educated, some read the books to pass time and then there is us: people who read books because they love reading books. Halotempora tells the story of a teenager whose life changed because of a small decision they make in their normal routine. I fell in love with the book and its story because it is familiar with me, and I guess with most readers. The author found a special connection between Charlie and the reader, which makes it easier for one to visualize themselves in Charlie’s world. The book connects with the teenager in us, making the reader invest in Charlie’s opinions and actions in every step that he makes. With the new ‘change’ that happens in his life, we all ask ourselves, “What could I do if I had that when I was 15?” However, the plot develops slowly until its climax. The storyline follows a teenager whose life changes when he encounters another individual but there is some sluggish development to the climax of the story. One might look at it that the author is trying to create suspense but the slow progress is a risky move since a reader may give up on the book entirely. Regardless, Halotempora is a book that awakens the teenager in me, the one who faced many challenges fighting bullies and I loved it. I would recommend the book for teenagers and adults alike since it has a unique ability to connect with the audience and help them relive their teenage life in the world that Charlie Swingling lives in.
I highly recommend this book if you want a fun young adult fantasy that kinda takes your mind with it and off of your hectic day. The way Brooks describes every character and every scene set forced me to visualise the story as if I was watching a movie! I could see each character and even relate them to me and people around me! it was really easy to finish this book within a week because it was hard to let it go. The story follows a clear structure of 3 acts. For me, act 1 was really really long, i would've started act 2 one turning point that happened in chapter 4. But I guess if all writers do the same thing, then it wouldn't be called "creative writing". I like that he had the 3 acts structure but he didn't necessarily follow it with every little step on the way. His style of writing made it super easy to read and not even notice how long act 1 one was. He also uses easy language, he doesn't care about seeming too smart! And that's what it made it smart! He doesn't want to distract his readers from the storyline. And thus, the way he describes everything like you see it and every emotion like you're in the characters shoes is very intelligent. The ending was also smoothly put, the storyline was flowing like a curve. Smooth beginning, escalates slowly to a plot and it's peak, and calms down slowly to the ending. It was the smoothest read ever.
“Halotempora” seems like a run-of-the-mill, a not-so-original YA fantasy about a young protagonist finding his powers and getting introduced to a whole new magical world that will change his life forever. But this book is more than just a story about Charlie Swingling and the Halotempora research institute for the inertly adept. The story felt like it was about a mentally and emotionally struggling teenager finding hope in his new life. We get to envision this new magical world through the eyes of Charlie as he learns, makes friends and enemies, goes through his different magical adventures, and gets awakened in the process. I believe that any story is as good as its main characters, and Charlie Swingling is a relatable protagonist that I could easily root for. The other characters like Will, Professor Limontochry, Emile, etc., are also well written with different voices. The book was longer than my liking, but it was easy to read and kept my attention. The book is very well-written. The author, A J Brooks, vivid description of the new world brought the world in front of my eyes. The language was simple, and the dialogues were engaging. The magic rules of the new world were also clearly defined and stayed true throughout. As I realize that this is the first book of a series, I understand the amount of setup, but a quicker flow would have been appreciated. I am looking forward to the second book.
To say this book is a must-read is an understatement. Author A.J. Brooks created a world I didn’t want to leave! Brooks masterfully weaves fantasy, realism, adventure, and more into one artistic masterpiece. The detail and clarity within Halotempora bring the alternate world to life, its existence jumping off the pages and into the mind of the reader.
Halotempora follows the journey of Charlie Swingling as he experiences his second life-altering accident – why can he not recall either of them? Shortly after this second near-death experience, Charlie’s life gets progressively stranger. First the odd conversation at the hospital, then that letter in the mail with an offer to attend Halotempora. The offer sounds great, but why hasn’t anyone heard of this school? Charlie shows up to the school nonetheless only to learn he has no contact with the outside world and must pass a test if he ever wants to leave the campus. What did he get himself into?
Charlie struggles to put the pieces together that everyone keeps insisting he has, but it’s not that simple when he’s running into obstacles at every turn. Will Charlie pass his test and get to return to the outside world as we know it? Or will he be bound to the confines of Halotempora for the rest of his life?
Good luck trying to put this book down as you find out how Charlie’s story ends!
A strange awakening. A young school age kid. Throughout his school history, he has had interesting run-ins with his teacher. He gave a presentation on how the earth was flat which was not received well. Charlie was reminded when Margaret wanted to praise him for the presentation. A friend wanted him to go for an evening ride with her afterschool. That night everything with him changed. He was riding home in the rain. When the rain stopped, he felt the scene creepy. An old man was heard behind a bush. This voice began to fight. Though Charlie fought he woke up in a hospital room. Life became ever confusing. He tried to begin to understand everything that had happened. A woman by his side tried to explain the idea that his mind was altered. Yet, Charlie was very confused. This posed a question to me. What would happen to me if I woke up and my mind was altered? Everyday, I wake up and know the world as it was the day before. Yes, the world has changed in little ways. However, I know who I am, and don’t question the night before. I wonder if people feel this way, though after a night of drinking or drugs. However, Charlie’s life after the encounter with the man, is nothing like a night of drinking. He experiences an adventure which will change his life! Will He succumb or succeed in His adventure?!
I enjoyed this book immensely. You get some Harry Potter vibes at the beginning and one of the professors that comes in later in the book I’ve even dubbed as McGonagall. It also reminded me of another book, Akarnae, that’s not as well known. They all have their own elements though.
I loved the character development in this book. I felt like I was suspicious of nearly everybody. I just remember thinking “how many of these people aren’t who they say they are?” or even “why does this person seem so important?”. There’s pure brilliance in one area towards the end but I’m not going to say what because spoilers. I loved the characters in this book. I feel like I’ve become close to them. There are so many good elements in this book. So many to list but then I’d just be babbling at that point.
There are some typos in the book. Melinda is referred to a few paragraphs before she’s introduced. Another one that happens quite frequently actually is there isn’t always a line spacing when switching between people in dialogue. Those are the major things I’ve noticed. There are some minor things here and there that didn’t bother me but I know some people wouldn’t be able to stand it.
I really hope that there will be a continuation. It doesn’t list it as being part of a series but I really hope it ends up being one because I’d like to read more about Charlie and his future endeavors.
This is an exhilarating book. Yes, believe me. Starting with a few curious and affectionate lives. A rural boy, his sister and granny are the key actors. The boy named Charlie is such an attention seeker throughout the story. The boy's parents died when he was young, and he was raised by his grandma.
The story is so captivating that it held me for long. Author has tried his best to weave the canopy of the story magnificently. In fact, the tone of all the dialogues was so upright and not monotonous. Let me put a statement quoted by the narrator, and I found it truly amusing to read at many places like, when the narrator says, "It was much like how the flat earthers deny the earth is round”. The story glints the creativity of the author who has kept the concerns of ages in whole yarn.
The story takes a turn When Charlie was riding his bike through the woods one day. There he faced many pernicious events. By the time the tale exhibits the courage and arduousness of the teen that any young person can relate himself with Charlie. I would highly recommend the book to the people who love to read enthusiastic novels and want some spice of bygone days of every teen.
I read a lot of fantasy and YA fantasy and it's rare I find one that both entertains and provokes some deep thoughts about reality and what we need to overcome as we grow up.
Set in the backdrop of the alternate reality Halotempora, Charlie finds new friends and enemies as he learns to come to terms with not only his new powers, but how the world is not what it seems. Even the concept of time takes on a new meaning.
But all is not well and there are forces who want to abuse Charlie's power and use them for their own nefarious purposes. Charlie needs to discover who can be trusted before it's too late and he embarks upon a path he might never be able to recover from.
While there was a slight lag in the middle of the story, it soon picked up the pace with great revelations at the end which enhanced the overall story.
It's the kind of novel which leaves you thinking when you put it down and wondering what comes next. And then you pick it up again because so much happened you know you've probably missed something.
Charlie Swingling is the main character that was brought to life by Aaron J. Brooks, the author of this universe that is Halotempora. Taking the good out of a bad situation, Aaron was able to transform his psychotic break into a fountain of inspiration, setting the foundations for what this book is now.
Charlie is going to take his readers to the next level when he starts his journey to become a great student at Halotempora Institute for the Inertly Adept, a school that is meant to help navigate the powers of the paranormal activities he has been seeing and provoking.
I really liked this story! I relate to Charlie’s way of thinking and I understand how scary it must have been for him. The challenges and activities at school are solid, but nothing that I haven’t read before. And I am curious about why the author decided to divide the book into 3 acts, but of course, this is only the first book of the series, so I am intrigued to see what comes next! A solid book aimed at young adults looking for a fantastic series with a dash of D&D thrown in for good measure.
I feel like AJ Brooks deserves more exposures for their amazing work. I must place special emphasis on how amazing his characters were. Usually YA fantasy books have the issue where the characters dont seem fit for their age, either they seem too mature or are in enviroments that dont seem age appropriate, however AJ BROOKS did an amazing job to keep the characters squared to their ages.
Anothe amazing thing about this author is that they managed to make a perfectly descriptive worldbuilding, which helped me a lot better to understand what was playing out and going on on the book.
I love how Charlie Swinger is despicted as a very curious character, which makes me relate to him as the kid I used to be, always hungry to learn.
This author's writing is also very poetic which made the book flow very smoothly without becoming a heavy book full of information.
I would highly reccomend for teens and preteens to read this book, ehich I hope will become well known by the readers community because of how very well written it is!
Without giving out any spoilers or details about the plot, I'll say this: The character had depth, not your average person in YA novels. I think Charlie represented a lot of realities that we all deal with in this world; such as inner conflict or confusion (especially after he wakes up in the hospital). It is a turning point in his life and this awakening represents more than something supernatural or magical to me as a reader, it symbolizes waking up to the truth and who you really are as a person. The author has a knack for conveying deep emotions through the conversations between characters. This is especially seen in the exchange of dialogue between Charlie and his loved ones. The imagery in the book is what kept me going, it was beautifully written in a way where I found it easy to visualize the actual settings. Considering that this is a supernatural YA book, I think it carries important themes to learn from. It also presents the magical or supernatural side of things in an exciting way, it sorts of reminded me of the books I read growing up in the 90s.
I was pleasantly surprised with my time reading through Halotempora. Set in a world where near-death experiences can open the doorway to godlike powers, Halotempora has the energy of a more mature and philosophical Harry Potter. The characters are entertaining, unique, and memorable. The plot is largely character-driven, focused on the perception of the world and on one's own internal growth and development, and there are some solid twists and developments that placed the main character in interesting situations, spurring his development in unexpected ways. The writing style is somewhat flowery, though the prose and the dialogue flow well--the only moments the reading was stumbled for me was due to formatting, and even then it didn't break my immersion. Overall, I enjoyed Halotempora, and I definitely recommend this for fans of YA and for those seeking a deeper story akin to the works of J.K. Rowling and Rick Riordan.
The stories have the ability to transfer us into a whole another world with the power of imagination such as the impact of Halotempora. The storyline of this book is set up in a fantasy world where the protagonist Charlie Swingling faces challenges nobody could even imagine in their wildest of dreams. The characters are written with such intricacies and nuances that you can’t help yourself from obsessing over some of them. The thing I liked most about the story was the diversification of characters and little details which author A.J. Brooks embellished impeccably.
The philosophical message is conveyed in a very subtle yet impactful manner throughout the book. There was not a single time when I found the storyline monotonous or tedious. I was constantly hooked to the story and rooted for the ending. I empathized with the protagonist and his struggle resonated with what we face in our life as well. This book is indeed a great work of fiction.
I really enjoyed reading this marvellous story. Halotempora was written by A.J. Brooks, an author who had a life changing experience that made him discover his true calling in life. From that moment, he started writing to tell his story in the realms of fantasy fiction to help other people understand themselves and to grow as characters grow in a story. I believe this is a beautiful purpose and I can tell he was born to tell this kind of stories, because he does it wonderfully.
This amazing book tells the story of a young boy called Charlie Swingling, an ordinary teen who lives in the suburbs, until one day his life changes forever, as he encounters a warrior in the forest with abilities that are not from this world.
This book is very well-written and I really enjoyed the fact that the story leaves a beautiful message for us, the readers. I believe anyone will enjoy this fantasy story as much as I did!
Halotempora by A. J. Brooks is a tale of a wonderland and a teenager both intertwined to bring an amazing reading experience. Charlie is an average highschooler who unexpectedly finds himself in a middle of a storm with a surreal fight going on between rivals with abilities that defy reality. Trying to save his life Charlie feels an awakening or emergence of power within that saves his life. Next day Charlie is greeted with an acceptance letter of Halotempora which will "help "him to harness his powers. What happens next as Charlie precariously travels through the journey of self-discovery is truly fascinating.
I enjoyed how the concept of Halotempora is presented, I can see this book turning into an amazing series. All the characters are well developed and the author has taken care to develop the story well as it all comes together in the end. Mystical and full of adventure, this is a must read for all enthusiast of fiction. Eagerly waiting for its next installment!
Halotempora is my new obsession in the fantasy genre after so many years of being a hardcore fan of Harry Potter and Percy Jackson. Well-developed and wonderfully thrilling, the book has succeeded in keeping my eyes glued to the pages. A.J.Brooks has done an incredible job in telling such a gripping story, where the best of fantasy and real-life met to create a unique world of magic and superpowers.
Charlie’s tale is a discovery of a lifetime, where he found a different identity within himself and along came the powers that he never knew he possessed. He represents the endless energy of youth, who got to experience many new exciting things and showed great endurance of hardships and challenges to take fate into his own hands, while his figure of the boy next door makes him incredibly down-to-earth. I held my breath with every twist and turn that slowly unveiled his future. The novel is simply impossible to put down, and I demand a sequel. Highly, highly recommended!
From beginning to end Halotempora was just a joy to read for me, and once I began, I really couldn’t put it down. It was a complete joy to read the book! And I finished it early, which is quite unusual for me to be honest.
I am not a huge fan of fantastical/magical fiction, so I was unsure if I was going to enjoy Halotempora from the offset – and how wrong I was! This was a very entertaining and engaging tale, and I was engaged in the book throughout. It is sure to be a hit with readers of all ages, as there is plenty to take away here whether you are young or young at heart. Books are extremely important to me and that’s exactly what A.J. Brooks has created here – the opportunity to get lost in a fantastic and absorbing storypage. This fact totally reflects how much I loved the book! All the best to all the readers, you will definitely love this book.
Let me start by saying I did enjoy this book. "Halotempora" is a fantastic story written by A. J. Brooks. This incredible book is divided into 3 acts, where we get to know Charlie Swingling, a young man who leads a life like any other young man his age, but one event changes everything. One day during a storm, while riding his bike, a series of confusing events happened. In that place he encounters a warrior with abilities that defy reality. This was a fascinating and captivating read that had me immersed from the beginning. The story flew from scene to scene with ease, and author Brooks shows exceptional ability when it comes to storytelling. As well as a highly original plot line, the novel includes a number of fascinating characters. I certainly recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a gripping story.
Halotempora is a magical fantasy read that is a perfect match for young adults who have a liking for mythology and fairy tale fantasy reads. The main character in the story, Charlie, seems like an ordinary high schooler until a night when he is swept from reality, if only for a moment. With an acceptance letter to a school that could hold the answers he is looking for in relation to what he experienced the night before, Charlie dives headfirst into an entirely new world full of adventure and heroism. What I liked the most about this story is that although it is written for young adult readers, it's equally enjoyable for adults as well. The adventure and motivation of conquering the unconquerable make this one a memorable read that even families can enjoy together.
Never judge a book by its cover This book should have a better cover, because the content is not well represented by the current one! Great coming-of-age story! I like a book with interesting action and good page turnability and this was one of those books. It’s a book that is very easy to read, but at the same time it has so many deep insights! There aren’t any obvious plot holes, and half-way through you’ll realise, like me, that it’s only the first part. There are some chapters where the action is slow paced and it’s a slow burn (which is not something I am keen on), but apart from that, I found the storyline well written. The main character’s development is clearly shown and we are silent witnesses in his journey of finding, understanding and using his powers. The way it’s written, you cannot not be in Charlie’s corner, constantly rooting for him. Waiting eagerly to read part 2!
Never judge a book by its cover This book should have a better cover, because the content is not well represented by the current one! Great coming-of-age story! I like a book with interesting action and good page turnability and this was one of those books. It’s a book that is very easy to read, but at the same time it has so many deep insights! There aren’t any obvious plot holes, and half-way through you’ll realise, like me, that it’s only the first part. There are some chapters where the action is slow paced and it’s a slow burn (which is not something I am keen on), but apart from that, I found the storyline well written. The main character’s development is clearly shown and we are silent witnesses in his journey of finding, understanding and using his powers. The way it’s written, you cannot not be in Charlie’s corner, constantly rooting for him. Waiting eagerly to read part 2!