Oblivion

Lycopolis #2

by Ali Luke

This novel is the second in the Lycopolis trilogy. I strongly recommend starting with the first book, Lycopolis. Seth has fled London – and, he hopes, his past – to an isolated house in the countryside. But his new home harbours an old secret, one that’s set to rock Mark and Hannah’s already shaky marriage ... despite their determination to have nothing more to do with him. Kay, the one person he considers a friend, wants to help. But she also wants to get on with her life and her studies at Oxford – and she’s getting increasingly annoyed with Seth’s capricious disruption of Lycopolis, the online game he runs. An empty picture frame, a dark snowy night, and the gift of a thousand pounds open up a dangerous path for fresh temptation and ancient evil to combine. This fast-paced novel, second in the Lycopolis trilogy, deals with guilt, escape, manipulation and the seductive promise of Oblivion.

276 pages, Paperback

First published December 22, 2015

About the author

Ali Luke loves writing (and reading!) fast-paced novels with a touch of the supernatural. While writing, she likes to listen to Metallica and drink hot chocolate. When she's not writing, she reads pretty much anything she can get her hands on, cross-stitches occasionally, and plays board games / card games (Dominion and Eight-Minute Empire are current favourites).

She lives in Leeds in the UK with her husband and two young children; she was born in Cambridge and after a stint in Oxford aged 10 - 18, she returned there to university to study English Literature. After a few years in London, during which she gained an MA in Creative & Life Writing from Goldsmiths College, she married, spent some time living near family in Oxford, then headed north.

Reviews

[Corianne Oosterbaan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this second installment in the Lycopolis series. It picks up fairly soon after the dramatic happenings and climax of the first book, so I strongly advise you to read Lycopolis first and then come back to Oblivion. Even though I’d read the first book, there were a few occasions I had to go back to it!

Oblivion digs a little deeper into what happened in the previous book and shows that there really are consequences to the characters’ dealings with demons. Not trying to give too much away here, but let’s quote Hemingway and substitute demon for man: “A [demon] can be destroyed but not defeated.” All characters are haunted by what happened to them a few months ago. Interestingly enough, it’s not just the supernatural that haunts them (literally), but also personal, real-life problems such as bullying, daily life with kids, etc. This psychological part of the story makes for a very interesting layer and ensures that this book is so much more than ‘just a story about demons.’ The psychological part at times interweaves with the demon parts – which makes for a very well-crafted story.

All in all, this is a great read – a psychological and supernatural thriller with great pacing and a story set-up that makes you rush towards the final chapter because you desperately want to know what happens in the end! Can't wait for the third book!

[Sebanti · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story continues in Oblivion.
Kay has managed to banish the prince somehow and save all her friends. But they still have nightmares and Seth is worse of them all. The prince still wants him. In fact he would do anything to get his mortal back. Kay is the only one standing between him and Seth. 
At the beginning of the story it would seem that all the characters have slowly began to drift away from the darkness but that is not so. As the story progresses and life throws hardships in their paths it would seem that some darkness are never meant to disappear.
Seth lives alone in a small house outside of the populated city. He feels warmth and safe there. When Kay visits him she also feels that. It seems that the house is protecting him. But what will be the cost of that protection?
Everything comes at a price and sometimes it's better to struggle alone than surrender to protection
..
Check out tye link below for the detailed review.
https://ensnaringlibri.blogspot.com/2...

[William Polm · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a dark and suspenseful novel. It takes off basically from where that first novel Lycopolis ended. In this way, this novel can be seen as a consequence, an outworking of the first. As you read, the characters easily come alive and are fully dimensional: in fact, you may recognize people you know (their personality types, that is)! Within the setting, two realities are portrayed, the everyday reality we all experience, and a supernatural world in which demons operate. Both realms are quite convincing.
I value this novel—not just as an entertaining thriller, which it certainly is—but also for its implied emphatic lesson: Don’t mess with the occult. Participation in and toying with occult practices are too widespread in western culture as well as around the world and can be damaging and harmful. This story dramatizes such involvement and its consequences quite well.
In short, if you can handle dark novels that include demons, get this book. It’s an entertaining, fun read, and a page-turner. You might also want to pick up Lycopolis, if you haven’t read it yet. I highly recommend both.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

We all have demons, don't we? It's just that in this second installment of the Lycopolis series, "demons" are both internal and external, psychological and physiological, sometimes simultaneously. While it can be read as a stand-alone volume, I recommend starting with Lycopolis so you have the background of the characters and why the things that happen in this book have come about.

Ali Luke has done a sterling job dancing between the two worlds her seven characters inhabit, creating a roller-coaster ride just as suspenseful and engaging as in Lycopolis. I can't wait for volume three!

And, if after you read this book, you ever use the phrase "sink into oblivion," you will have a totally different perspective of what that really means... and probably decide to run away as if your life depends on it. Because it does.