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The Gastar #1
Act of Redemption
In a post-apocalyptic world with humans faced extinction as the priests of the God of the Dead release undead humans, children born and bred for battle face the enemy outside the great wall of the Great City of Gastar. After the humans gained victory in sacrifice of many lives and culture, a second menace arrives to complete the original mission of the undead. Zermon, ruler of all Hell, places himself just outside the city; bringing forth his own demonic horrors with plans to make Gastar part of his world in Hell. One human now remains in Gastar; knowing of the past and aware of Zermon's plans; a small human girl assassin named Shevata. She, along with her dragon mentor, her associates from the past, and the humans fight for their very existence.
- GenresFantasy
194 pages, Paperback
First published April 29, 2009
1 person is currently reading
234 people want to read
About the author
C.C. Cole
8 books149 followersC.C.Cole is an author from rural Mississippi. Schooled in medicine, she lives a suburban life with her family. Following her sister's death in a domestic violence incident, she began writing as a creative outlet.
Her debut novel is The First Book of the Gastar Series "Act of Redemption," a dark fantasy story about a heroine with a dark past who protects the people of the city of Gastar and seeks to re-claim her soul. It has been listed as Best Independent Novel on Goodreads and the lead character Shevata won an action heroine poll.
Book Two of the Gastar Series, "Children of Discord," was published in 2011, winning an NABE Pinnacle Achievement Award for fiction.
Her debut novel is The First Book of the Gastar Series "Act of Redemption," a dark fantasy story about a heroine with a dark past who protects the people of the city of Gastar and seeks to re-claim her soul. It has been listed as Best Independent Novel on Goodreads and the lead character Shevata won an action heroine poll.
Book Two of the Gastar Series, "Children of Discord," was published in 2011, winning an NABE Pinnacle Achievement Award for fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
July 20, 2011
This book is fantastic! It has a brilliantly original layered plot, is expertly written and is a captivating read.
It spoke mostly to me of the consequences of one’s actions, particularly when trusted with great power.
The story also has undertones of the importance of democracy. This is seen in the book by the value given to group decisions, especially when faced with a lack of official authority. In this case the lack of a king of Gastar.
Cole has done a fantastic job of keeping the concept original through highlighting the ambiguous nature of the line between ‘good’ and ‘evil’.
Interestingly, the book also covers questions which are prevalent in the philosophy of government authority and war such as the ethics behind assassination; and whether or not assassination without approval becomes murder, even if it’s for the greater good.
Cole also addresses the morality and consequences of using children as soldiers, concentrating on not only the damaging effects it has upon the children themselves, but also the consequences of trusting such young people with the responsibility of the power to kill.
One of the most honourable things about this book is that it reminds the reader of the importance of the debts we owe our ancestors who sacrificed so much in wars before our time.
Despite being set in a fantasy world with demons, magic and other realms, this book continuously succeeds in reminding the reader what it means to be human and it focuses on relevant issues in today’s world, which we could all learn something from.
Elizabeth Marshall
It spoke mostly to me of the consequences of one’s actions, particularly when trusted with great power.
The story also has undertones of the importance of democracy. This is seen in the book by the value given to group decisions, especially when faced with a lack of official authority. In this case the lack of a king of Gastar.
Cole has done a fantastic job of keeping the concept original through highlighting the ambiguous nature of the line between ‘good’ and ‘evil’.
Interestingly, the book also covers questions which are prevalent in the philosophy of government authority and war such as the ethics behind assassination; and whether or not assassination without approval becomes murder, even if it’s for the greater good.
Cole also addresses the morality and consequences of using children as soldiers, concentrating on not only the damaging effects it has upon the children themselves, but also the consequences of trusting such young people with the responsibility of the power to kill.
One of the most honourable things about this book is that it reminds the reader of the importance of the debts we owe our ancestors who sacrificed so much in wars before our time.
Despite being set in a fantasy world with demons, magic and other realms, this book continuously succeeds in reminding the reader what it means to be human and it focuses on relevant issues in today’s world, which we could all learn something from.
Elizabeth Marshall
May 6, 2011
Holy wow! When C.C. Cole first contacted me asking to review the first two novellas of her series, I had no idea it would be this awesome! This magical world that C.C. creates for us is full of dragons, demons, and children assassins. Seriously, you can’t get much more kick-butt than that! The characters are all very unique and well rounded, the fight scenes are amazing, and the whole story in general, is in a class all its own!
The cast of characters in Act of Redemption were all so great. First we have Shevata. Centuries ago she was created as an assassin to help fight in a brutal war. After disobeying her creator and a series of unfortunate events she was imprisoned for nearly two centuries. She is then released to help the humans fight a great war against the powerful demon lord, Zermon. Shevata’s personality is tough, brutal, and honest. She is a strong, independent girl who never backs down. I loved how tough this girl was! She could seriously kick some MAJOR butt. Zermon is your typical bad guy. As leader of the demons and a master of a plan to take over the world, he is as evil as evil could be. The relationship between Shevata and Zermon was surprisingly quite humorous. I loved the constant bickering and fighting between the two! Other characters such as William, Dalton, Griscom, and Harathgus all posses the qualities of great heroes. They are brave, strong, skillful characters all determined to protect the people of Gastar. The book is lined with many other fantastic characters, some evil some good, that add great depth to the story. Even though it was a little difficult to keep track of all these characters, I thoroughly enjoyed “meeting” every single one of them!
It is books like this that truly bring out the tom-boyness in me! The fight scenes in Act of Redemption blew me away! Shevata has the power to move objects with her mind. In seconds this girl could completely wipe out a roomful of armed men! I also loved this girl’s choice of weapons! She could seriously use anything to kick some demon booty; anything from a kitchen skillet to an ancient sword! Zermon’s demons also make for a good fight scene. With so many ranges of demon-type they all held special fighting abilities to make each fight scene unique!
The world that C.C. Cole creates in her series is magical, dark, and unique! I loved that some parts seemed like realistic moments right out of the renaissance era and then other parts were lined with magic and fantasy qualities. At some points I will admit to being confused over certain aspects of this book but there is no doubt that the next book, Children of Discord, will clear that all up! This is a great, fast-paced series for fans of dragons, demons, and hard-core fighting scenes!
The cast of characters in Act of Redemption were all so great. First we have Shevata. Centuries ago she was created as an assassin to help fight in a brutal war. After disobeying her creator and a series of unfortunate events she was imprisoned for nearly two centuries. She is then released to help the humans fight a great war against the powerful demon lord, Zermon. Shevata’s personality is tough, brutal, and honest. She is a strong, independent girl who never backs down. I loved how tough this girl was! She could seriously kick some MAJOR butt. Zermon is your typical bad guy. As leader of the demons and a master of a plan to take over the world, he is as evil as evil could be. The relationship between Shevata and Zermon was surprisingly quite humorous. I loved the constant bickering and fighting between the two! Other characters such as William, Dalton, Griscom, and Harathgus all posses the qualities of great heroes. They are brave, strong, skillful characters all determined to protect the people of Gastar. The book is lined with many other fantastic characters, some evil some good, that add great depth to the story. Even though it was a little difficult to keep track of all these characters, I thoroughly enjoyed “meeting” every single one of them!
It is books like this that truly bring out the tom-boyness in me! The fight scenes in Act of Redemption blew me away! Shevata has the power to move objects with her mind. In seconds this girl could completely wipe out a roomful of armed men! I also loved this girl’s choice of weapons! She could seriously use anything to kick some demon booty; anything from a kitchen skillet to an ancient sword! Zermon’s demons also make for a good fight scene. With so many ranges of demon-type they all held special fighting abilities to make each fight scene unique!
The world that C.C. Cole creates in her series is magical, dark, and unique! I loved that some parts seemed like realistic moments right out of the renaissance era and then other parts were lined with magic and fantasy qualities. At some points I will admit to being confused over certain aspects of this book but there is no doubt that the next book, Children of Discord, will clear that all up! This is a great, fast-paced series for fans of dragons, demons, and hard-core fighting scenes!
January 28, 2012
Well, this is one of those that I will have to rate, not great/not terrible. I had high hopes for it based on the other ratings here, but soon enough the blush was off the rose so to speak.
I wasn't taken with what I'd call the metaphysical system in the book. It is a sort of One from column A, one from column B take on a magic/religious system. There are Dragons (powerful seemingly semi-divine or at least very powerful almost immortal beings). There are "demons" some described in the traditional scaly, tailed with horns and hooves motif. We have undead...and a deity of the undead. There is also hell of a sort, the big demon on the block is busy trying to expand hell into (or is it on to? oh well) Earth, at least they call it Earth. There is a mention of heaven, but we don't find out too much about it, except that the dragon seems to be in charge(not a Biblical image that).
This is another take on the good vs. evil battle (I suppose) though it has some of those components that always bug me. For example, if an innocent person dies in hell (yeah you can get into and out of hell here, I won't go into details that's a part of the story) as I was saying, if an innocent person dies while in hell (bodily) then their soul stays in hell to be tormented and feed the demons.....what kind of "good" allows that kind of rule?
There are a few other rules we find out about and some of them make just as little sense.
So, I read the first part of the book with interest watching the story line and so on. About half way through I found myself skimming. When I finished (reaching the inevitable "more to come" ending) I was really just as glad it was over.
You've got a few good ideas here, a couple of interesting character ideas and a bit of action. All in all I didn't hate the book and thought it deserved more than a 2, but just. I don't think I'll follow it up and I plan to sell or trade the book.
Just me. See what you think.
I wasn't taken with what I'd call the metaphysical system in the book. It is a sort of One from column A, one from column B take on a magic/religious system. There are Dragons (powerful seemingly semi-divine or at least very powerful almost immortal beings). There are "demons" some described in the traditional scaly, tailed with horns and hooves motif. We have undead...and a deity of the undead. There is also hell of a sort, the big demon on the block is busy trying to expand hell into (or is it on to? oh well) Earth, at least they call it Earth. There is a mention of heaven, but we don't find out too much about it, except that the dragon seems to be in charge(not a Biblical image that).
This is another take on the good vs. evil battle (I suppose) though it has some of those components that always bug me. For example, if an innocent person dies in hell (yeah you can get into and out of hell here, I won't go into details that's a part of the story) as I was saying, if an innocent person dies while in hell (bodily) then their soul stays in hell to be tormented and feed the demons.....what kind of "good" allows that kind of rule?
There are a few other rules we find out about and some of them make just as little sense.
So, I read the first part of the book with interest watching the story line and so on. About half way through I found myself skimming. When I finished (reaching the inevitable "more to come" ending) I was really just as glad it was over.
You've got a few good ideas here, a couple of interesting character ideas and a bit of action. All in all I didn't hate the book and thought it deserved more than a 2, but just. I don't think I'll follow it up and I plan to sell or trade the book.
Just me. See what you think.
May 21, 2012
Shevata.
What a cool name for an assassin, don't you think?
Shevata is the central character in the wonderful fantasy novella "Act of Redemption (First Book of the Gastar Series)" by CC Cole. (@gastarbooks). (See the author's blog here)
I think of an assassin and someone like Charles Bronson in the "The Mechanic" or Javier Bardem as Anton Chigurh in "No Country For Old Men" comes to mind. Not a slight 16-year-old girl wearing a torn and ragged dress, but — oh my — Shevata is a more powerful killing machine than either of those two or any other assassin you can think of.
Pardon my French, but Shevata's just badass. She's been back and forth to Hell several times, slaying demons and rescuing trapped humans, and she's got some wicked skillz as the gamer-types may say. In fact, that very attribute of Shevata — her enormous power — is one of the potential pitfalls of this book that Ms. Cole deals with very well.
Having all-powerful characters — did I mention Zermon, the arch-demon Lord of Hell is a central part of this story as well? No? Well, he is — can tend to overwhelm a plot in so many ways. How do you build tension or drama if the reader knows no matter what the all-powerful Hero/Heroine of Villain will simply wipe the floor with their rivals?
But for Shevata there is a tremendous price attached to all that power, and it's a lesson she learns the hard way. In fact, the novella opens with an impetuous demonstration of Shevata's power, and the subsequent results — which aren't good for the human race — set the stage for the rest of the story.
As always, I won't spoil any of the plot for future readers, but know this is essential a fantasy along the lines of Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings", with the beleaguered and valiant humans of the once-great city Gastar fighting evil in the form of demons from Hell. There is swordplay, magic, tragedy, triumph, battles large and small, and did I mention the dragons?
One word on plot: Ms. Cole tosses the reader into the story without much exposition or backstory, so be prepared to hit the ground running. You *will* get the backstory, but it comes out in small pieces that are woven into narrative in a very natural and organic way.
As a writer I seem to always be in a quandary about exposition: give too much away early-on and you spoil surprises later; at the same time not having enough means confusing readers, who may then give up. I tend to give away too much, I think, and bog down my plot, but with this story Ms. Cole has shown me it is very possible to simply say "get going" to readers and provide the backstory along the way.
I finished "Act of Redemption" in a couple days and thoroughly enjoyed it. It has epic scope in novella length, and if you're looking for a fantasy story with a fun, fast-moving and thrilling plot, and great characters, including the aforementioned badass assassin, I highly recommend it. I'm adding the second book of the series to my To Read List post-haste.
What a cool name for an assassin, don't you think?
Shevata is the central character in the wonderful fantasy novella "Act of Redemption (First Book of the Gastar Series)" by CC Cole. (@gastarbooks). (See the author's blog here)
I think of an assassin and someone like Charles Bronson in the "The Mechanic" or Javier Bardem as Anton Chigurh in "No Country For Old Men" comes to mind. Not a slight 16-year-old girl wearing a torn and ragged dress, but — oh my — Shevata is a more powerful killing machine than either of those two or any other assassin you can think of.
Pardon my French, but Shevata's just badass. She's been back and forth to Hell several times, slaying demons and rescuing trapped humans, and she's got some wicked skillz as the gamer-types may say. In fact, that very attribute of Shevata — her enormous power — is one of the potential pitfalls of this book that Ms. Cole deals with very well.
Having all-powerful characters — did I mention Zermon, the arch-demon Lord of Hell is a central part of this story as well? No? Well, he is — can tend to overwhelm a plot in so many ways. How do you build tension or drama if the reader knows no matter what the all-powerful Hero/Heroine of Villain will simply wipe the floor with their rivals?
But for Shevata there is a tremendous price attached to all that power, and it's a lesson she learns the hard way. In fact, the novella opens with an impetuous demonstration of Shevata's power, and the subsequent results — which aren't good for the human race — set the stage for the rest of the story.
As always, I won't spoil any of the plot for future readers, but know this is essential a fantasy along the lines of Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings", with the beleaguered and valiant humans of the once-great city Gastar fighting evil in the form of demons from Hell. There is swordplay, magic, tragedy, triumph, battles large and small, and did I mention the dragons?
One word on plot: Ms. Cole tosses the reader into the story without much exposition or backstory, so be prepared to hit the ground running. You *will* get the backstory, but it comes out in small pieces that are woven into narrative in a very natural and organic way.
As a writer I seem to always be in a quandary about exposition: give too much away early-on and you spoil surprises later; at the same time not having enough means confusing readers, who may then give up. I tend to give away too much, I think, and bog down my plot, but with this story Ms. Cole has shown me it is very possible to simply say "get going" to readers and provide the backstory along the way.
I finished "Act of Redemption" in a couple days and thoroughly enjoyed it. It has epic scope in novella length, and if you're looking for a fantasy story with a fun, fast-moving and thrilling plot, and great characters, including the aforementioned badass assassin, I highly recommend it. I'm adding the second book of the series to my To Read List post-haste.
September 7, 2010
Act of Redemption by C. C. Cole
Review by Thomas Stone
ACT OF REDEMPTION, by author C. C. Cole, is a young adult fantasy and the first book in a planned series of four, entitled the Gastar Series. The theme of the tale is basically one of good versus evil containing a parallel sub-plot that leads the reader to question the use of violence altogether. However, there is still plenty of violence and all of it in the form of pitted battles between human and demonic forces.
Gastar is a city in Cole’s fantasy story that is under attack by forces of evil in the form of demons borne from Hell. Their ultimate goal is to decimate the entire population of Gastar and to annex a new territory that will be ruled by the son (Behemeth) of a powerful demon (Zermon). In order to create more demons for Zermon, women are periodically kidnapped from Gastar and made to bear demon spawn.
Like any good war story, there are spies and heroes, the chief heroine being a young female named Shevata, Shevata retains the form of a sixteen year old girl, although she is considerably older and has prior suffered twenty years as a prisoner in Hell. Upon her escape from Hell, Shevata, along with three resurrected men from a previous demon war, becomes the savior of Gastar. Shevata has superior fighting skills and magic swords (along with a heavy skillet) that she uses to good effect in destroying the demon enemy. Shevata’s problem is that she must bear the burden of knowing she must destroy souls in order to save souls. Her guilt does not stop her from utilizing her skills but it does seem to separate her from her comrades.
As a new author, Cole’s prose is not yet fully refined, but it is certainly good enough for the type of story she wants to convey. The style and language makes for an easy read -- very important when targeting a young adult audience. There are a few editing errors but most of those would likely be skimmed over by a casual reader. ACT OF REDEMPTION stands on its own but leaves enough in its open ending to allow for a sequel.
ACT OF REDEMPTION is a novella and can be read in two or three hours. The story is fast-paced and full of bladed action. Gore factor on a five star scale would probably merit a four. For that reason and because of an attempted “ravishing” of Shevata, ACT OF REDEMPTION is not recommended for children younger than thirteen.
ACT OF REDEMPTION can be obtained in either print or ebook from Amazon or Authorhouse.com.
C. C. Cole resides in rural Mississippi. More on Cole can be found on her official website at www.gastarseries.com.
Review by Thomas Stone
ACT OF REDEMPTION, by author C. C. Cole, is a young adult fantasy and the first book in a planned series of four, entitled the Gastar Series. The theme of the tale is basically one of good versus evil containing a parallel sub-plot that leads the reader to question the use of violence altogether. However, there is still plenty of violence and all of it in the form of pitted battles between human and demonic forces.
Gastar is a city in Cole’s fantasy story that is under attack by forces of evil in the form of demons borne from Hell. Their ultimate goal is to decimate the entire population of Gastar and to annex a new territory that will be ruled by the son (Behemeth) of a powerful demon (Zermon). In order to create more demons for Zermon, women are periodically kidnapped from Gastar and made to bear demon spawn.
Like any good war story, there are spies and heroes, the chief heroine being a young female named Shevata, Shevata retains the form of a sixteen year old girl, although she is considerably older and has prior suffered twenty years as a prisoner in Hell. Upon her escape from Hell, Shevata, along with three resurrected men from a previous demon war, becomes the savior of Gastar. Shevata has superior fighting skills and magic swords (along with a heavy skillet) that she uses to good effect in destroying the demon enemy. Shevata’s problem is that she must bear the burden of knowing she must destroy souls in order to save souls. Her guilt does not stop her from utilizing her skills but it does seem to separate her from her comrades.
As a new author, Cole’s prose is not yet fully refined, but it is certainly good enough for the type of story she wants to convey. The style and language makes for an easy read -- very important when targeting a young adult audience. There are a few editing errors but most of those would likely be skimmed over by a casual reader. ACT OF REDEMPTION stands on its own but leaves enough in its open ending to allow for a sequel.
ACT OF REDEMPTION is a novella and can be read in two or three hours. The story is fast-paced and full of bladed action. Gore factor on a five star scale would probably merit a four. For that reason and because of an attempted “ravishing” of Shevata, ACT OF REDEMPTION is not recommended for children younger than thirteen.
ACT OF REDEMPTION can be obtained in either print or ebook from Amazon or Authorhouse.com.
C. C. Cole resides in rural Mississippi. More on Cole can be found on her official website at www.gastarseries.com.
March 30, 2011
Act of Redemption by C.C. Cole is the first book of the Gastar Series and I am very glad that there are more books to come. The story is a fantasy novel taking place in a world where demons are overrunning humanity. It follows a teenage assassin Shevata and three men who are brought back from a previous time to help fight a battle against the demons of Hell.
Cole creates a universe that draws the reader in. Warriors, dragons, and half-demon half-humans are all things the reader is introduced to while reading this book. The elements of the story are well laid out though I feel a prequel would be very fitting to explain some of the events hinted at in this tale.
All of the characters were extremely likable and though the book was short I felt they were adequately developed. The main character Shevata was by far my favorite. It is always a treat to find a strong female lead character in a novel and Cole did not let us down in the creation of the assassin and demon killer Shevata. She is battle hardened and has been altered by her experiences, but still has emotional insecurities and desires. She is an extremely loyal character as well as an incredible fighter.
The style of this novel is reminiscent of the Forgotten Realms and Dragonlance novels I have read in the past. It is a brand new and well created world, which some writers have difficulty with but C.C. Cole doesn’t. I only wish I had more background knowledge of some of the wars and demons. I feel more development of this would make me fall more in love with the world. I am hoping the next novel Children of Discord will continue with more of the background and history of the world.
The best imagery in this book comes with descriptions of Hell and the demons. There were so many demonic forms in this novel and all of them were so imaginative.
Overall this was a book that drew me in immediately and carried me away into a new and different world. I think this is a great book for those who like fantasy novels
You can also read my review here.
Cole creates a universe that draws the reader in. Warriors, dragons, and half-demon half-humans are all things the reader is introduced to while reading this book. The elements of the story are well laid out though I feel a prequel would be very fitting to explain some of the events hinted at in this tale.
All of the characters were extremely likable and though the book was short I felt they were adequately developed. The main character Shevata was by far my favorite. It is always a treat to find a strong female lead character in a novel and Cole did not let us down in the creation of the assassin and demon killer Shevata. She is battle hardened and has been altered by her experiences, but still has emotional insecurities and desires. She is an extremely loyal character as well as an incredible fighter.
The style of this novel is reminiscent of the Forgotten Realms and Dragonlance novels I have read in the past. It is a brand new and well created world, which some writers have difficulty with but C.C. Cole doesn’t. I only wish I had more background knowledge of some of the wars and demons. I feel more development of this would make me fall more in love with the world. I am hoping the next novel Children of Discord will continue with more of the background and history of the world.
The best imagery in this book comes with descriptions of Hell and the demons. There were so many demonic forms in this novel and all of them were so imaginative.
Overall this was a book that drew me in immediately and carried me away into a new and different world. I think this is a great book for those who like fantasy novels
You can also read my review here.
June 19, 2011
This was a really interesting read; I have not come across anything like it before. In a post-apocalyptic world, the human race is plagued by powerful demons trying to make the human world another realm of hell, through the decimation of all humans. Each chapter intricately juxtaposes the human world with the demon world, keeping the reader up-to-date with the happenings in both realms as the story unfolds. The prologue sets the stage for the novella, dropping the reader straight into the midst of an age-old war between good and evil. From the very first page the action ensues, never waning until the completion of the novel.
The first chapter begins in medias res, 200 hundred years after the prologue, and 350 years after the end of the Great War. Although the Great War may be over, the battle for the human world still ensues; hence, pure souls are released, along with Shevata, the protagonist, back into the world to combat evil. While not all the background information is clear in the beginning, Cole intricately designs her novel to help the reader piece together all that has happened over the past 200 years. As the novel picks up in the middle, it only makes sense that the reader will have questions as he/she reads; some of the answers will come quickly, while others will not be answered until the near end of the novel. Utilizing this tactic, Cole creates suspense for the reader—nothing is necessarily what it seems. Usually I am an instant gratification reader, but Cole did a phenomenal job filling in just enough gaps to keep me turning the pages, always wanting more. While not all questions are answered in this first segment, fear not! Act of Redemption is the first novella in a series of four, and like all series, some questions will be left unanswered until later segments...
To see my full review:
http://bookvacations.wordpress.com/20...
The first chapter begins in medias res, 200 hundred years after the prologue, and 350 years after the end of the Great War. Although the Great War may be over, the battle for the human world still ensues; hence, pure souls are released, along with Shevata, the protagonist, back into the world to combat evil. While not all the background information is clear in the beginning, Cole intricately designs her novel to help the reader piece together all that has happened over the past 200 years. As the novel picks up in the middle, it only makes sense that the reader will have questions as he/she reads; some of the answers will come quickly, while others will not be answered until the near end of the novel. Utilizing this tactic, Cole creates suspense for the reader—nothing is necessarily what it seems. Usually I am an instant gratification reader, but Cole did a phenomenal job filling in just enough gaps to keep me turning the pages, always wanting more. While not all questions are answered in this first segment, fear not! Act of Redemption is the first novella in a series of four, and like all series, some questions will be left unanswered until later segments...
To see my full review:
http://bookvacations.wordpress.com/20...
June 2, 2011
Two hundred years has passed since assassin Shevata killed the last of the Abbian priests. As a result, Zermon, a demonic foe of Shevata has come to Gastar to create a new Hell on Earth. C. C. Cole has brought to life a journey into Hell and back to save the souls of the remaining humans in Gastar, a city that stood strong and tall for centuries. But one fatal mistake changed everything. A mistake that Shevata had to pay for with her own soul. Now three pure souls are resurrected by the Dragon Harragthus to help Gastar fight its demon foes and Zermon’s half-human, half-demon son, Behemeth, in an effort to rescue the annihilation of the human race.
The story of Shevata is an amazing tale. You learn that she was created during the “Great War” as an assassin. Her only goal was to go into Hell and free the good souls that were captured by demons. You learn of the curse laid upon her by Abbias and the lesson she learned that one thing can’t exist without the other. C. C. Cole weaves her story so well giving you great visuals about what Hell was like and the struggles of each character. The mystery that surrounds them as they carry out their mission set before them by Harragthus. The story moves quickly and by the end you are happy that there is more to come.
Act of Redemption was an amazing ride. I enjoyed every moment while reading this book. The banter between Zermon and Shevata was entertaining. The two characters were respectful of each other for who they were and what they stood for. I liked their relationship and over all Shevata’s true foe was the boy Goldeon, a soul she saved many years ago in Hell.
Act of Redemption is a fast paced dark fantasy novella. The story alone captured my attention and I found myself unable to put it down. I recommend this novella for anyone who enjoys a good adventure through Hell and back.
The story of Shevata is an amazing tale. You learn that she was created during the “Great War” as an assassin. Her only goal was to go into Hell and free the good souls that were captured by demons. You learn of the curse laid upon her by Abbias and the lesson she learned that one thing can’t exist without the other. C. C. Cole weaves her story so well giving you great visuals about what Hell was like and the struggles of each character. The mystery that surrounds them as they carry out their mission set before them by Harragthus. The story moves quickly and by the end you are happy that there is more to come.
Act of Redemption was an amazing ride. I enjoyed every moment while reading this book. The banter between Zermon and Shevata was entertaining. The two characters were respectful of each other for who they were and what they stood for. I liked their relationship and over all Shevata’s true foe was the boy Goldeon, a soul she saved many years ago in Hell.
Act of Redemption is a fast paced dark fantasy novella. The story alone captured my attention and I found myself unable to put it down. I recommend this novella for anyone who enjoys a good adventure through Hell and back.
May 24, 2011
Act of Redemption is the first in a series of four books. This first dark fantasy novel by author C. C. Cole is much more than I expected. It's very engaging and I couldn't stop reading. In fact, I finished Act of Redemption in only a few hours. It may be a short read but the story is fast-paced and full of action from the beginning to the end. C. C. Cole has created a dark and magical universe filled with a teenage assassin, dragons, demons, half-demons, half-humans..
The characters introduced throughout the book are very unique and well developed. My favorite would have to be Shevata. She's brave, tough and one kick-ass heroine with her magic swords and her ability to move objects with her mind. Being a child assassin back from hell, Shevata proves to be a great help to the Gastar citizens battling demons. The other characters, some evil and some good, are just as colorful. Although, I admit it was a bit hard sometimes to keep up with all of them.
Act of Redemption is a fantastic read. It's a great start to a series I'm sure will be just as amazing. A must-read for any fantasy lovers!
The characters introduced throughout the book are very unique and well developed. My favorite would have to be Shevata. She's brave, tough and one kick-ass heroine with her magic swords and her ability to move objects with her mind. Being a child assassin back from hell, Shevata proves to be a great help to the Gastar citizens battling demons. The other characters, some evil and some good, are just as colorful. Although, I admit it was a bit hard sometimes to keep up with all of them.
Act of Redemption is a fantastic read. It's a great start to a series I'm sure will be just as amazing. A must-read for any fantasy lovers!
January 26, 2013
Shevata... She has the vicious virtue a young guy can love. C.C. Cole has created a dark and dangerous world in her series of books young adult books about the city of Gastar. Humans, demons, vampires, dragons and other assorted creatures populate this world. Then there’s Shevata.
Shevata is an unlikely heroine. Although she is over two hundred years old, she has the human form of a petite sixteen year old girl, yet she is feared by every evil creature in the world and hell. She is relentless in her duties as an assassin for the protection of the humans in Gastar, but she is not controlled by anyone. She goes where she pleases and eliminates any evil at her will.
She can move things with her mind, wield any weapon with deadly efficiency and infiltrate enemy strongholds with ease. Yet she is tormented by her loneliness. She has never known the love of another human, not even her parents. She has been dragged to hell and came back, but with a curse...a curse that is dangerous to every living thing, good or evil. The souls that are the victims of that curse haunt her.
You need to know Shevata.
Shevata is an unlikely heroine. Although she is over two hundred years old, she has the human form of a petite sixteen year old girl, yet she is feared by every evil creature in the world and hell. She is relentless in her duties as an assassin for the protection of the humans in Gastar, but she is not controlled by anyone. She goes where she pleases and eliminates any evil at her will.
She can move things with her mind, wield any weapon with deadly efficiency and infiltrate enemy strongholds with ease. Yet she is tormented by her loneliness. She has never known the love of another human, not even her parents. She has been dragged to hell and came back, but with a curse...a curse that is dangerous to every living thing, good or evil. The souls that are the victims of that curse haunt her.
You need to know Shevata.
May 20, 2011
I really enjoyed reading Act Of Redemption! That said, this is not my usual genre. But I found myself sucked in to this fantasy world with a strong female lead Shevata. It moves along at a swift pace. What makes a great book for me is when I can see it play out like a movie in my mind. This means the author painted a clear picture but allows the readers imagination to take over. This is exactly what C.C. Cole has done.
In my reviews, I don't like to spoil, just comment on how I felt about it. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys colorful writing, dark fantasy and young adult. 4 stars!!!!
In my reviews, I don't like to spoil, just comment on how I felt about it. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys colorful writing, dark fantasy and young adult. 4 stars!!!!
August 17, 2013
I enjoyed myself very much reading this first book of Gastar Series. The story was fast-pacing, action-filled, developing very quickly, with all the blanks filled before the reader might start feeling bewildered. The new world the author created felt very natural, with everything logical and fititng, fantasy elements or not.
Shevata had my sympathy from the very beginning, the warrior-girl raised to fight, to assassinate, a complex character disillusioned by centuries of fighting, facing the Hell and her most avowed enemy, Zermon. I loved the strange relationship between those two. It was fascinating!
Shevata had my sympathy from the very beginning, the warrior-girl raised to fight, to assassinate, a complex character disillusioned by centuries of fighting, facing the Hell and her most avowed enemy, Zermon. I loved the strange relationship between those two. It was fascinating!
December 4, 2011
I just finished reading Act Of Redemption this morning and I can honestly say that I have found a new friend in C.c. Cole. Shevata, the main character in the story, is type of character that all female heroines should be. It was wonderful to be transported to the time where the story takes place and allow myself to be engrossed within it. I will definitely be reading the next chapter in the series.
January 11, 2012
I would be the first to admit that fantasy is not my usual genre, but after watching a respected friend read it in one sitting, I decided I would give it a try. It was awesome! An easy read, but don't let that fool you. It is action packed. A balanced plot between good and evil that reminds us that nothing or no one is all good or all evil. It is a series, but you don't feel dissatisfied after finishing the first book. I highly recommend this book!
February 12, 2011
you can find my review here:
http://mybookaddiction.blogspot.com/2...
http://mybookaddiction.blogspot.com/2...
April 2, 2011
This was my first fantasy genre book and I was really impressed with it! The character were really engaging and the story was great! I am excited to read on in this series!
March 22, 2012
Act of Redemption – Fantasy, Mystical, Magic, it’s all there!
C.C. Cole takes you on an extravagant journey through the perils of Gastar, one of the last human outposts and it’s never ending battle to survive. This book takes good versus evil to whole new level. It’s surprising at every turn; the characters are exciting and keep you wanting more! If you love fantasy, magic, thrillers and all things evil do not miss this book (first in the Gastar series, note I immediately read the second, Children of Discord and cannot wait for Ms. Cole to finish the next in the series).
C.C. Cole takes you on an extravagant journey through the perils of Gastar, one of the last human outposts and it’s never ending battle to survive. This book takes good versus evil to whole new level. It’s surprising at every turn; the characters are exciting and keep you wanting more! If you love fantasy, magic, thrillers and all things evil do not miss this book (first in the Gastar series, note I immediately read the second, Children of Discord and cannot wait for Ms. Cole to finish the next in the series).
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