In a world ravaged by the devastating arrival of the squid, status and age no longer matter. Everyone fought, and the war was still lost.
Burke, a veteran of the squid invasion, is facing a new enemy: age. All he wants is to get through the remainder of his days without any trouble, but the world is unforgiving and peace is a distant memory.
Arvin, Burke’s neighbour and friend, is losing himself. Once a powerful wizard, he has become a danger to those he cares about most.
Charlie, a girl born after the squid invasion, knows only loss and fear. Her mother and best friend were killed, and every time the lights go out, she hopes she’s not next. But hope is as dead as her mother.
The squid are evolving. Where light was once a death sentence, it now serves as a mere obstacle in their relentless pursuit of food and corpses.
Leumas Llewtnac is a storyteller and as such is cursed with many creative outlets. Author, voice actor, actor, screenwriter, podcaster, audio engineer, director, digital effects artist, animator, and producer (among other things) are titles stuffed under his already strained belt.
Made popular by his Tiktok character Gentleman Leu, Leu strives to subvert expectations of trope and genre and bring readers something fresh. His debut novel FLIPSIDE released June 10, 2022, and was followed by The Lighthouse at the End of the World July 31, 2024.
Leu grew up on the southeast coast of Australia and after travelling the state for work, finds himself back home. It is here he will forever be fine-tuning the balance between parenthood, adventure, and creativity.
I wasn't sure what to expect going into the book. And I was not ready for the creative brilliance of it. It's not the standard fare for any of the genres, and it shines all the brighter for it. It doesn't "Do the genre credit" it stands above and apart from the genre. I read a lot, I love books, and it has been a long time since one gripped me so fully in the feels as this book. I'm not a paid reviewer, I didn't get the book for free, I am a heart and soul fan of this book, because it more than deserves it, it demands it. Leumas Llewtnac is like the best parts of Joe Abercrombie mixed with Terry Pratchet. From the characters to the twists, this book will have you invested bone deep in what happens next.
I was given an ARC copy of Flipside to read and I could not put it down. I finished it in one day. Absolutely loved it. Just now getting around to reviewing it because it wasn't on Goodreads then and a lot of has been going on in my world, but that is neither here nor there.
Leumas Llewtnac has crafted a story that keeps you interested from page one. A post-apocalyptic alternate universe inhabited by urban fantasy wizards, squid aliens, and one resilient little kid named Charlie.
You will laugh, you will cry, and you will curse Leumas for turning you into a puddle of emotions while simultaneously hating him for not having the sequel out yet.
It's a fabulous book that I cannot recommend enough. Do yourself a favor and buy a copy of Flipside. It is well worth it <3
This book is like nothing I've read before. It's got humor along side a terrible reality that the characters live through. The author does well with creating characters that are distinguishable from each other and they all progress in their own way throughout the story. The twist ending had me crying and I can't wait for the sequel!
I love this story. It's so well done both in terms of the writing and in the characters. The author does a great job in building the suspense, making the villain of the story truly chilling. But the heroes are definitely was the heart of the story, told with such depth, you'll feel all the emotions at the end. Job well done!
Discovered so much in the re read. I appreciated Burke and Arvin and their friendship so much. Love that the villains get as much depth as they do and how much I enjoyed following their povs.
It reminds me in some ways of Kings of the Wyld, both have aged heros who fiercely fight for and with the younger characters. It's unique, I love that it's not like anything else I've read recently.
This book still destroyed me, especially knowing what happens. It's a good time too, great humer, characters, relationships, worldbuilding, and narration. I thought I'd re-read and read the physical book this time, but the audiobook is too good that I listened to it again instead.
2022: This book destroyed me. Amazing world building, characters real and unique and loveable and hilarious. Such good relationships between them. The audiobook is an amazing experience and I highly recommend!
FLIPSIDE: Jack of All is a fast-paced, thrilling read set in a world overrun by evolving alien squids. 🦑 It follows Burke, an aging soldier, Arvin, a fading wizard, and Charlie, a young survivor. The characters are real and relatable, and the suspense keeps you hooked. Perfect for fans of post-apocalyptic and alien invasion stories. 🌍👽 📚
Unique take with humour, heartache and real stakes
This is a wild yet subdued ride. Yes im contradicting myself but hear me out.
This is gonna be the most convoluted review I've ever written. I'm still going through the emotions so bare with me.
Flipside starts of almost cozy. Old friends taking the mickey out of each other whilst checking in and showing each other, in their own way, that they care.
We are soon reminded that nothing is cozy cause it's a dystopian world and alien squid like beings are trying to kill and possess everyone.
What I'm trying to say is that Llwetnac dumps us 'into the thick of it' and allows us to work it out from there, through some well crafted scenes and world building.
It's multi pov, including a pov from one of the squids, who you hate (cause they're a squid) but also, I found myself empathising with. Having both sides of the conflict pov was really gave this tale an added layer of depth I was completely submerged in this world.
The story itself is medium paced which I think was wholey intentional. Reading along with the audiobook forced me to slow down to the pace of 3 of the main characters. It's night when reading about older characters, the pace of the actual words matches them. Very well done!
The characters!!! For me this was very character based though that isn't to say there is no plot or action. There are twists and revelations that had me gasping. But the dialogue and characters kept me invested and saying "just one more chapter".
The humour is natural and seemingly effortless as is the fear and grief.
I highly recommend this read and can't wait to see where this goes cause Llewtnac can't leave us hanging like this!!!
This was an enjoyable story. This is not a genre I typically read, so it was a nice change of pace.
If I could sum it up, story’s about surviving an alien invasion/apocalypse. We follow a few humans and a few aliens in their fight for survival. At one point, I found myself rooting for the aliens… like, was I supposed to be doing that?
I enjoyed the craftiness of the aliens and wanted to see a little more of it. I really enjoyed “the light wall” scene and felt like the story had just started to ramp up here. I wanted to see a little more destruction and chaos. I actually WANTED to see the hero’s suffer a bit.
With that being said, I did have some issues with the world-building. Time period? If it’s an alternate universe, why is it so similar to ours or what made it different? How does the magic system work? How did Ol’ Buddy with memory loss get powers? What did “the special diet” do to the other Old Guy?! Little unclear here. How was the oxygen effecting the aliens? Wait… where did the mercenaries come from and why didn’t they send more - what was their purpose? Many questions here…
I did find myself struggling to care about one of the characters. I felt like I was SUPPOSED to like the character, but I just didn’t and I really wanted to know why everyone was tasked with saving her. I finally came around at the end, but by then, it was too late to really be invested. Personality-wise? The character was beautifully written. Not all girls need to be the broody, “I don’t need nobody” personality, but I needed to know why I should care about her.
Overall- good book. It could be a standalone or the setup of a series. It has potential and room for growth.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Wizards, aliens, found family and flat earth conspiracy theories?
This book was both a horror story and a warm hug. The dystopian sci-fi horror meets and hint of magic meets found family. I don’t know how this story combines action with elderly characters that are some of the most complex characters I’ve read in a while. The story of dementia and surviving at the end of the world is unique and a refreshing take on a genre that is typically young adult heavy.
I had a great time with the themes of this book. Honestly the only reason it lost a star for me was because the story was a little slow for me in places and sometimes I was confused where the plot was headed. But that was all made up by the underlying threads of a crazy world of magic and other worlds mixed with funny and artful prose and very compelling characters.
ALSO the narration is stunning if you’re listening to the audiobook.
Wow! What do I say? Wow! Flipside had me feeling everything, I was invested in the well built characters and their world. I felt their highs and lows, I felt their pain and heartbreak. Each of the characters were extremely well thought out and well put together, their actions and personalities felt real. The scatterings of humour had me laughing out loud, there were moments that made me physically uncomfortable.. you know it’s good when you can feel stressed as the pace and intensity step up! Additionally the audio is phenomenal, so many unique voices and clear narration, easy to follow and hard to believe this wasn’t a full cast! Recommend Flipside for sure!
Read this book because the author on TikTok is clever and highly entertaining. I found the book to be the same - I couldn’t put it down. My only complaint was that it was over too quickly, and ended right when I felt like it was really beginning!! Looking forward to the next one. *wink wink*
Listened on audio, which was spectacularly performed. A unique twist on the alien invasion tale told from the perspective of both the surviving humans and one crafty “squid.”
The characters were very well crafted and the story moved along at a nice pace, making for an enjoyable “read” (listen)
Listened to this on audiobook, which was read by the author. Fantastic characters created, on both the human and the squid sides, and it was hard to pick a side in this dystopian 'battle for the earth' to root for. I was strangely drawn to Helmut, the 'squid with a difference' who, despite wanting to kill the humans, mounted his 'steeds' while they were still alive and had a touching empathy for them. Yet, in the end, Arvin and Bourke and their devastatingly sad stories are the characters who will stay with me now that I have finished this book: Arvin with immense raw power but a mind that slips, and Bourke with a broken, run down body, but the inner strength and determination that comes from wanting to protect his friends. The story is engaging and I found the typical happy/sad ending fitting given the genre. I would have liked a bit more world building, particularly in how this world differs from our own (e.g. the magical element), and how (and why) the characters were trapped where they were, but I enjoyed hearing how the human characters lived in hope despite the seemingly hopeless situation they faced. The narration was fantastic and totally convincing, even with a huge range of characters that existed.
Flipside was a unique read with twists on the stereotypical elements of alien invasion stories. First, getting to see a perspective of the alien POV from one of the more gifted squids helped heighten tensions and give a new perspective and some much needed life to the "other side" (or the flipsdie).
I had a few minor gripes that were more my own personal preference than an issue with the story or writing. There were a number of things left unexplained or briefly glossed over that I would have enjoyed being explored more to add more depth and richness to the world. The majority of the book goes on before we get any kind of goal or objective from the protagonists, it's mostly a post-apocalyptic survival thriller until they are forced to act.
I digested this story by means of audiobook. The writing was compelling, and the voice acting was perfect, the author delivering an excellent performance to give these characters life. I understand this is part of a series, though stand alone from the others, so I'd be excited to read the next to see if my questions concerning the invasion, world, and creatures get explored more deeply.
Review: This was fairly well written. An interesting story coupled with good characters and strange aliens. So why did I lose interest midway through the novel? Perhaps because of the centric nature of the world building. In other words, nobody goes anywhere and hence there is no real movement outside of their town. The story line behaves in much the same way, with events repeating with minor twists over and over.
I liked the idea of the squids that I think were derivations of the panspermia model taken to a new level. Also not a fan of writers that kill off beloved characters. I think writers trying to be poignant while fulfilling some story line credo, do so at the readers expense.
In an alternate world, meteors have crashed to the planet. Inside are aliens, that because of their form are called squid.
This book was full of action that found you cheering for humans and loathing the squid. I found myself totally engrossed in this story, wanting to see what was going to happen next. Finding myself in shock as the squid become more advanced, and unable to tear my eyes from the book.
If you like alternate words, alien invasion and lots of adventure then I highly recommend this book. It will keep you enthralled to the very end, and wanting more.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
It was incredible experiencing the world in this book through the eyes and emotions of the palette of characters in it.
It is great example of soft worldbuilding. It was so often the aspects that weren't explained that made the journey so enjoyable and tantalizing and which wrapped their tentacles around me and sucked me in.
Each character is included purposefully, and it is plain that the character development (especially in some instances) is a vital part of the storytelling mechanism.
All praise give to this book is well deserved and I look forward to seeing where things head on the flipside.
I received a review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I confess this book hit me out of nowhere: I'd never heard of it when it came out, and it proved to be a nice surprise once I realized how good it is! The synopsis was genuinely intriguing, the writing has merit, and there's a solid story here, unlike much of what passes as post=apocalyptic in the market. The story is original, the dialogue maybe not so great, nor the systematic aspects of the story (perhaps there'll be more detailed revelations in other books?), but the author has a very fertile imagination and the tale is riveting. Recommended!
I found this author on TikTok (very entertaining btw, highly recommend) and was able to buy a signed book from him. Flipside has everything I love in a book: emotion, equally interesting protagonists and antagonists and, best of all, I couldn't predict what was coming next. The premise was unique, which is always something I appreciate in a book, and the outcome left me eager for the next book. If you enjoy sci-fi and unpredictable storylines, this is a must-read!
I follow this author on social media, and even after months of listening to him talk about this book, I still wasn't sure what to expect. It is a little bit of sci-fi, a little bit of fantasy, a hint of romance, with some mystery, thriller, and dystopian thrown in, and I absolutely loved it! Oh, and not to mention the author narrated the book, and it was brilliant. Yeah, definitely 5 stars for me!
I received a copy for review through BooksGoSocial on Netgalley.
The world has been overrun by aliens called the squid. Everyone fought when they came and humans lost the war. Now there are very few survivors that are hunted down at night. Burke is an aging man whose body is failing him. Arvin is an aging mage whose mind is starting to slip. Charlie is a teenager who has lost everything, but is a survivor.
This book is a true genre blend. I suppose the main genre would be science fiction since it is a post-apocalyptic story. There are fantasy elements weaved in and it is set in another world that is similar to our own. The deadliness of the alien creatures borders on horror feeding my body-snatching nightmares. However, despite the dark nature of the story, there is quite a bit of light in this story exploring relationships and found family. The characters are very likeable and interesting. There are some sections told from the point of view of an alien which gives insight into the thought processes and evolution of the aliens as they gather information about the humans they are hunting. Flipside is a really entertaining and interesting novel that I would recommend highly.
This book was refreshing, a change from my normal genre. Flipside takes you to another place where you can’t fathom how life can continue and then gives you so much hope for the future. The characters are well written and deep, and you will get attached. Ugly tears were shed but can’t wait for the rest of the series!
I didn't think a book that's basically Invasion of the Body Snatchers with squids and wizards would make me feel the entire spectrum of human emotion, but here we are. I like to offer constructive criticism where I have it, but I have none. Every turn and twist, every line of dialogue, every choice the characters make draws you further and further into this tragic, funny, wonderful world.
This book was amazing!! I found it so hard to put down, making it one of the quickest reads I've done for a while. Suspenseful, spooky and most of all heartfelt/wrenching. Love love love 10/10 would recommend!!
Not only is the author an amazing story writer, but also an amazing storyteller. You could listen to him read the phonebook. The story was fun, tragic, and brilliant. If you want a twist on classic horror, this is a great option.
What a phenomenal book. Blasted through it across the course of a day. Monsters were very well done and the connections between the characters was a real highlight. Always a bonus to find out the author is Australian as well in the afterword!
Hilarious, heartwarming, heartbreaking, horrifying. Perfect for fans of The Last of Us, and just an overall phenomenal book from an incredibly talented author. Highly recommend the audiobook. Easily one of my favorites!