Alexandra Almeida probes the philosophical and ethical depths of wealth, technology, pop culture, and religion in a world ravaged by global warming through her sci-fi adventure, Unanimity: Spiral Worlds #1.
Readers will delight in the gradual reveal of both the technology within the story and the dramatic history between many of those involved with the creation and evolution of that technology.
Tom, a screenwriter, works with Harry, the genius inventor of the world’s most popular AI (artificial intelligence) app, to create a simulation that will nudge people toward acting morally.
This virtual world consists of multiple layers, each focusing on a different psychological alignment depending on the needs of the person using the program. A lower level, much like Hell, exposes people to horrors and cruelty, while some upper levels focus on order and happiness.
The project becomes more complex when they upload the entire consciousness of people, creating virtual immortality. The story opens with the digital resurrection of Tom, also known as Shadow, long after his death.
With this rise of digital immortality comes an effective replacement for the afterlife of Heaven and Hell promised by Christianity.
Almeida gives readers a glimpse at a world coming to grips with direct access to this afterlife which is completely and undeniably real. Governments as well as popular culture must deal with new questions. Should humans have access to immortality? Who ultimately controls this virtual world? Who acts as God within the machine? This story explores the depths of these questions.
The characters are all delightfully complex.
The name Shadow fits the protagonist, given the corrupting task he undertakes, all with the good intention to understand those he loves more completely. Harry, also known as Twist, lacks social skills and empathy, but he knows this and reaches for help from Shadow. The cast is full of inner conflicts and contradictions. They match the complexities of real people and include LGBTQ+ characters among them, making the story more relatable and universal.
With this breadth of characters, readers might be confused during the early introductions in the book. However, this confusion passes as the story goes on and the characters differentiate themselves.
Unanimity’s technology feels well-researched and thought out.
Throughout the novel, readers get more and more of a view of both the complexity of the story world and the ideology behind the virtual reality system. Almeida does a great job of making everything about this story fully believable, as if this AI afterlife could happen in the real world in the near future.
Overall, Unanimity is a strong read for fans of sci-fi, philosophy, and AI fiction, and a gripping first entry for the Spiral Worlds series.
The Cygnus Book Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in the genre of Science Fiction, Steampunk, Alternative History, and Speculative Fiction. The Cygnus Awards is a genre division of Chanticleer International Book Awards and Novel Competitions (The CIBAs).
Chanticleer International Book Awards is looking for the best books featuring space, time travel, life on other planets, parallel universes, alternate reality, and all the science, technology, major social or environmental changes of the future that author imaginations can dream up for the CYGNUS Book Awards division. Hard Science Fiction, Soft Science Fiction, Apocalyptic Fiction, Cyberpunk, Time Travel, Genetic Modification, Aliens, Super Humans, Interplanetary Travel, Climate-Fiction, and Settlers on the Galactic Frontier, Dystopian, our judges from across North America and the U.K. will put them to the test and choose the best among them.
These titles have moved forward in the judging rounds from all 2022 CYGNUS Science Fiction Long List to the 2022 Cygnus Book Awards Short List These entries are now in competition for the 2022 Cygnus Semi-Finalists. The Semi-Finalists will compete for the Finalist positions. FINALISTS will be recognized at the Chanticleer Authors Conference, CAC23.
These titles are in the running for the SEMI-FINALISTS of the 2022 Cygnus Book Awards novel competition for Science Fiction!
Join us in cheering on the following authors and their works!
Jay Hartlove – The Insane God
Timothy S. Johnston – An Island of Light
Melissa Diyab – Crossing Over
Charles Ross – The Future is a Memory
J. N. Johnson – Pig
Annie Williams – Maximized Entropy: Death of the Internet
Dana Dargos, Said Al Bizri – Einstein in the Attic
D. H. Ford – Rogue Reborn
O.E. Tearmann – Deuces Are Wild
Lou Dischler – Mona’s Odyssey
Ash Bishop – Intergalactic Exterminators, Inc.
S.G. Blaise – The Last Lumenian
S.G. Blaise – True Teryn
Michael Simon – Extinction
Nik Frank-Lehrer – Future Show
Sydney Raeburn-Power – The Sleepers
Dimple Desai – The Lambda Factor
Isaac Petrov – The Advent of Dreamtech
PA Vasey – Harbinger
John J. Spearman – Pike’s Passage
E. R. Harris – Surf the Milky Way
U.W. Leo – ARKO: The Dark Union (A Sci-fi Adventure Series)
Fulmer/Proto Dagg – Terminus
Kristopher Clewell – The Penrose Triangle
Wilson Whitlow – Consent, Vol. 1: Erdos
Joanna Evans – Sinai Unhinged
Prescott Harvey – In Beta
Bryn Smith – Magnus Nights: The Helios Incident
Good luck to all as your works move on to the next rounds of judging.
PROMOTING OUR AUTHORS!
This post has been posted on the Chanticleer Facebook Page. We try to tag all authors listed here in the FB post. However, for FB to allow us to tag an author, that author must LIKE our page and Follow Chanticleer Reviews.
Seating is Limited. The esteemed WRITER Magazine (founded in 1887) has repeatedly recognized the Chanticleer Authors Conference as one of the best conferences to attend and participate in for North America.
The Cygnus Book Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in the genre of Science Fiction, Steampunk, Alternative History, and Speculative Fiction. The Cygnus Awards is a genre division of Chanticleer International Book Awards and Novel Competitions (The CIBAs).
Chanticleer International Book Awards is looking for the best books featuring space, time travel, life on other planets, parallel universes, alternate reality, and all the science, technology, major social or environmental changes of the future that author imaginations can dream up for the CYGNUS Book Awards division. Hard Science Fiction, Soft Science Fiction, Apocalyptic Fiction, Cyberpunk, Time Travel, Genetic Modification, Aliens, Super Humans, Interplanetary Travel, Climate-Fiction, and Settlers on the Galactic Frontier, Dystopian, our judges from across North America and the U.K. will put them to the test and choose the best among them.
These titles have moved forward in the judging rounds from all 2022 CYGNUS Science Fiction entries to the 2022 Cygnus Book Awards LONG LIST. These entries are now in competition for the 2022 Cygnus Short List. The Short Listers will compete for the Semi-Finalists positions. FINALISTS will be chosen from the Semi-Finalists and recognized at the Chanticleer Authors Conference, CAC23.
These titles are in the running for the SHORT LIST of the 2022 Cygnus Book Awards novel competition for Science Fiction!
Join us in cheering on the following authors and their works!
Jay Hartlove – The Insane God
Timothy S. Johnston – An Island of Light
Melissa Diyab – Crossing Over
Charles Ross – The Future is a Memory
Sebastian Dax – Grasp of Erebus
J. N. Johnson – Pig
Annie Williams – Maximized Entropy: Death of the Internet
Dana Dargos, Said Al Bizri – Einstein in the Attic
D. H. Ford – Rogue Reborn
O.E. Tearmann – Deuces Are Wild
Lou Dischler – Mona’s Odyssey
Ash Bishop – Intergalactic Exterminators, Inc.
S.G. Blaise – The Last Lumenian
S.G. Blaise – True Teryn
Steven Paul Terry – Star Revelations
Michael Simon – Extinction
Nik Frank-Lehrer – Future Show
Sydney Raeburn-Power – The Sleepers
Dimple Desai – The Lambda Factor
Isaac Petrov – The Advent of Dreamtech
PA Vasey – Harbinger
Sandra J. Jackson – Dancing in the Wind, Book 3 Escape Series
Dana Hayward – Entropy
John J. Spearman – Pike’s Passage
Steve Ramirez – The Great Migration
E. R. Harris – Surf the Milky Way
U.W. Leo – ARKO: The Dark Union (A Sci-fi Adventure Series)
Fulmer/Proto Dagg – Terminus
J. B. Christensen – Dylan McLeod-Vexor City
Lucien Telford – The Sequence
Kristopher Clewell – The Penrose Triangle
Wilson Whitlow – Consent, Vol. 1: Erdos
Chris Black – NORAD’s Ghost
Joanna Evans – Sinai Unhinged
James McGill Jr – The Alien Agenda: The Earth is a Garden
Prescott Harvey – In Beta
Alex Usher – The Age Of Obsidian
Bryn Smith – Magnus Nights: The Helios Incident
Good luck to all as your works move on to the next rounds of judging.
PROMOTING OUR AUTHORS!
This post has been posted on the Chanticleer Facebook Page. We try to tag all authors listed here in the FB post. However, for FB to allow us to tag an author, that author must LIKE our page and Follow Chanticleer Reviews. FB rules — not ours.
Seating is Limited. The esteemed WRITER Magazine (founded in 1887) has repeatedly recognized the Chanticleer Authors Conference as one of the best conferences to attend and participate in for North America.
We are deeply honored and excited to continue to announce the 2021 Winners of the Chanticleer International Book Awards (The CIBAs) with our third and final of three official postings.
CIBA Grand Prize Ribbons!
The winners were recognized at the CIBA ceremonies held on June 25th, 2022 in-person and by ZOOM webinars at the luxurious Hotel Bellwether, Bellingham, Wash.
The CIBA announcements were made LIVE with Chanticleerians participating and interacting from around the globe and North America.
Raising our glasses to cheer the CIBA Winners!
We want to thank all of the CIBA judges who read each and every entry and then comment, rate, and rank within each of the 25 CIBA Divisions. Without your labors of love for books, the Chanticleer International Book Awards would not exist. THANK YOU!
We want to thank all of the authors and publishers who participated in the 2021 Chanticleer International Book Awards (the CIBAs). Each year, we find the quality of the entries and the competitiveness of the division competitions increasing exponentially. We added a new level to the judging rounds in 2019—the premier Level of FINALIST per each CIBA Division. The CIBA judges wanted to add the Finalist Level of Achievement as a way to recognize and validate the entries that had outstanding merit but were not selected for the very few First Place Award positions within each genre division.
This post will recognize the First Place and Grand Prize Winners for the
Seven Non-Fiction Divisions:
Journey, Hearten, Harvey Chute, Mind and Spirit, I & I, Military & Frontline and Nellie Bly
along with the FIRST Winners for the
Short Story, and Book Series Awards,
and concluding with the
OVERALL 2021 GRAND PRIZE WINNER
for the 2021 Chanticleer International Book Awards
J.W. Zarek will also be awarded $1,000 USD in recognition of her 2021 BEST BOOK of the YEAR – Chanticleer International Book Awards – Sponsored by Chanticleer Reviews & Media.
A Chanticleer Review ofThe Devil Pulls the Stringswill be featured in the in the Chanticleer Reviews OnWord Magazine (print and epub) along with other promotional and marketing opportunities along with an interview with the author, J.W. Zarek.
Thank you J.W. Zarek for participating in the 2021 Chanticleer International Book Awards. We look forward to receiving future work in our CIBAs.
CONGRATULATIONS J.W. Zarek!
Six Grand Prize Winners with J.W. Zarek, the 2021 Overall Grand Prize Winner!
From all of us at Chanticleer International Book Awards and Chanticleer Reviews.
Looking for your Division? Check out our previous posts:
Be sure to register early for the 11th Chanticleer Authors Conference that will start on April 23rd, 2023 with the 2022 CIBA banquet and ceremony scheduled to take place on Saturday, April 25th, 2023 at the luxurious Hotel Bellwether in Bellingham, Wash.
Be well. Stay Healthy. Take Care!
An email will go out to all 2021 CIBA award winners prior to October 30, 2022, with instructions, links, and more information about the awards packages. We appreciate your patience. As stated many times before “One does not need to be present at the CIBA ceremony and banquet to win. But it sure is a lot more fun!”
As always, please contact us at Chanticleer@ChantiReviews.com with any questions, concerns, or suggestions!
We are deeply honored and excited to announce the 2021 Winners of the Chanticleer International Book Awards (The CIBAs). The Finalists were recognized at the Virtual Chanticleer Authors Conference and Awards Ceremonies, and the First Place Category and Grand Prize Winners were announced June 25th, 2022 at the luxurious Hotel Bellwether, Bellingham, Wash.
The 2022 Chanticleer Authors Conference and the 2021 Chanticleer Int’l Book Awards Banquet and Ceremony took place over June 23-26, 2022, with the CIBA Banquet happening on June 25th. Each year, Chanticleerians from around the globe come together to celebrate and cheer each other on at the annual CIBA banquet and awards evening at the luxuriousHotel Bellwetherthat is situated on beautiful Bellingham Bay, Washington State.
Meeting in-person for the first time since lockdown began brought such joy into our lives. The ability to celebrate, hug, and learn together with the extra space provided by the Hotel Bellwether made this a truly unforgettable experience. Champagne was poured and shared as the 2021 CIBA Grand Prize Division Award Winners were announced. Thank you to all who joined us in-person and virtually to make the CIBA Ceremonies a success!
The 2021 Grand Prize Winners in attendance!
After two virtual conferences, it was a joy and pleasure to feel the energy of an in-person crowd! It was amazing to have such a marvelous event with presenters like Cathy Ace, Judy Gaman, Betsy Graziani Fasbinder, Jessica Morrell, Nicole Evelina, Jodé Millman, Oriana Leckhert, Diane Garland, and more!
We are already excited and gearing up for our next conference in nine short months! Save the date for CAC23 April 27-30, 2023.
At the June 25th, 2021 Ceremonies, we were overjoyed to recognize the 18 Fiction and 7 Non-Fiction CIBA Divisions for the First Place Category and Grand Prize Winners!
First of all, we want to thank all of the CIBA judges who read each and every entry and then comment, rate, and rank within each of the 25 CIBA Divisions. Without your labors of love for books, the Chanticleer International Book Awards would not exist. THANK YOU!
We want to thank all of the authors and publishers who participated in the 2021 Chanticleer International Book Awards (the CIBAs). Each year, we find the quality of the entries and the competitiveness of the division competitions increases exponentially. We added a new level to the judging rounds in 2019—the premier Level of FINALIST per each CIBA Division.
The CIBA judges wanted to add the Finalist Level of Achievement as a way to recognize and validate the entries that had outstanding merit but were not selected for the very few First Place Award positions within each genre division. Promotional Stickers are available to those who have advanced in the CIBA Tiers of Achievement here.
A Recap of the CIBA Selection Process
The 2021 CIBAs have 18 Fiction Divisions and 7 Non-fiction Divisions.
First Place Category award winners were selected for each one of the 25 divisions from an overall field of titles that progressed to the Premier FINALIST Division Level from the Division Semi-Finalists positions from the Shortlists, the Long List, and the infamous beginning slush pile rounds.
One Grand Prize award winner was selected from the First Place Category Award Winners for the 25 CIBA divisions.
One Overall Grand Prize award winner was selected from the 25 divisions of Grand Prize Award Winners
This post will recognize the First Place and Grand Prize Winners for Cygnus, Ozma, Paranormal, Global Thrillers, M&M, Clue, Little Peeps, Gertrude Warner, and Dante Rossetti Book Awards.
As always, if you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions, please email us at Chanticleer@ChantiReviews.com — We will try to respond within 3 business days.
Thank you for joining us in celebrating the 2021 CIBA Winners! –The Chanticleer Team
Dawn of Genesis: Titan Code Book 1 by Rey Clark portrays a near future Earth that is dying by inches, feet, and yards.
Specifically, yards and acres of crops are choked to death by a constant dust-bowl. Only a small human population has so far managed to survive the collapse of both the environment and the economy of the entire world.
The desperate circumstances of most of humanity are exacerbated by the rise of mutated super-humans with powers to rival those of typical superheroes. But the “Evos,” evolved humans, are missing the moral compass that directs those comic book superheroes, and the government that has arisen to “protect” the remaining non-Evo population isn’t much better.
The reader’s perspective on that boiling stew is teen Tessa Jones, still in school and trying to pretend that her combat and engineering skills aren’t nearly as excellent as she knows they are.
If she shows what she’s really capable of, she’ll be whisked away from her family’s farm by a government that uses – and uses up – every available person in order to defeat the Evos.
But Tessa’s dreams of remaining with her family explode when she manifests her own Evo powers to save her little sister’s life. Unable to hide what she really is, Tessa becomes a pawn, caught between forces that plan to use her for their own ends, either as a warrior for the Evos or a lab rat for a government planning to make more super-soldiers just like Tessa.
Because Tessa is still learning about the world and her place in it, she provides an eye-opening perspective on this post-apocalyptic world, as well as giving the story crossover appeal to readers of young adult and new adult fiction.
Tessa is on the cusp of adulthood, facing decisions that will set the course of her life. She is still facing all the issues of being in school: boredom, bullying, trying to fit in and desperate not to stand out too much. Even in the post-apocalypse, these issues are easy for readers to identify with.
She also tries to find her truth, to find a way of coping with the dying world she has been born into. She’s aware that what she hears about the larger world is all propaganda, and she doesn’t know which way to turn or what to believe because she has no idea where to find the truth.
She’s naive, she’s uncertain, and she’s desperate because she’s trapped in terrible circumstances facing equally terrible choices, none of them of her making. But she is the one person who might be able to fix at least some of her world, if she is willing to take the reins of the future into her own hands.
Dawn of Genesis is a post-apocalyptic survival story. And it’s a story about one young woman making a place for herself on a dying Earth. But it’s also a story about training and learning to be the most that one can be, and it’s a kick-ass adventure story about grabbing a better future.
A scientific thriller by Jacques St-Malo, Cognition draws from a variety of sources – from Middle East royals to Asians, corporate tycoons from the US and UK to the Chinese and US administrations – to create a canvas as broad and fascinating as the philosophical and moral speculations it presents.
Cognition moves along in the span of a few decades, with its many facets of people in search of the child entrusted with the full capability of germinal-choice technology – to finish off the exclusive child before its countrymen could claim the genius mind for themselves. Meanwhile, an agitation based on the rage of those denied this germline manipulation is being waged against the richly endowed children of the privileged. The tug-of-war between the several factions throughout the book, each with their own set of interests and ideologies, creates numerous opportunities for philosophical debates among these genetically engineered children, educating the reader on the many ramifications of genetic manipulation that results in mental and physical enhancement.
Upon the fall of the last monarch’s regime in Turkey, the royal child prince is taken away to a foreign land to live with his mother’s maidservant for safety of life.
The Chinese Code Seagull is under operation to locate the child entrusted with the full Prometheus module —alpha and beta complement. Ethan, the sought-after child, is growing up away from his regal life and knowledge of real identity as a housekeeper’s son in the home of billionaire business mogul Bruce Taylor. Valerie Taylor, Bruce’s daughter, is another ‘extra somatic’ or genetically tailored child whose fate intersects with Ethan’s. Their course is eventually altered by the gap in their familial genealogy.
Driven by resentment against privileged for the lack of opportunities, Connor Dashaw becomes a rolling force in populist Aamon Wade’s political party fighting against germ line-treatment, which is only affordable by the rich.
All the big players in the novel – political, business, and administration – enact a cat-and mouse game to get grip of a clue puzzle to gain greater power. The collision of many motives results in a chain reaction that consumes everyone in its radar – those seeking a countermeasure to humanity’s predetermined DNA on the one hand, and arbitrariness on the other.
The novel explores, through the psyches of three children, the feeling of estrangement.
Ethan and Connor, in their own ways, embody the estrangement: one is a prince who is oblivious of his identity, while the other is socially deprived of prospects. Ethan feels at ease in the peaceful seclusion of tycoon Taylor’s historic palace-like property. However, his position as a servant’s son stings him, and he considers it humiliating to spend his life “tending to another’s leisure.” Connor, on the other hand, becomes a staunch supporter of political ideology against extrasomatics. The feeling of not belonging returns to Ethan, along with genetically modified Valerie, when they do not find friends or partners who share their “eccentric” views.
Each chapter of the story begins with a quote and introspection about the topic of the chapter.
The author’s tone is upbeat and open about his various philosophies as well as current technologies, which demonstrates his extensive knowledge and necessitates thought. A subtle critical tone accompanies the ardent tone: there is an occasional commentary on the human urge to exert control over others and his own fate, however unethical it may be.
Cognition mixes a wealth of material – from science and technology to business and philosophy, and politics – to create an enthralling fiction about modern evolution. A heavy-read that requires time and consideration, Cognition will especially appeal to tech nerds due to the abundance of scientific discussion that it presents.
Science Fiction often asks the question: What Could Be? At Chanticleer, we seek to discover those strange new worlds, from Space Opera to Alternate History, and Cli-Fi to YA Sci-Fi. Wherever your book lands on the Speculative Fiction spectrum, there’s a good chance that it will fit in here with us!
Let’s take a look at the Hall of Fame for Grand Prize Winners of the Cygnus Awards
Will a knockoff weapons salesman end peace between Humans and Vulbathi? Alien tech and a spectacular cast of characters drive The Luna Missile Crisis into high gear and will have readers screaming for more! Highly recommended!
Jaime Castle and Rhett C. Bruno are the Audible #1 bestselling authors of The Buried Goddess Saga (Aethon Books, Audible Studios), and The Luna Missile Crisis, amongst other works. Rhett C. Bruno is also a USA Today Bestselling & Nebula Award nominated Sci-Fi/Fantasy Author.
Appropriate to a novel about time travel, there is considerable time-shifting from chapter to chapter that will require readers to stay on their toes as they work through this 500-page novel. And like any skilled author who plants clues neatly in the text – clues that are keys to resolving the overarching mysteries in the book – Cole does the same. What can we say? Here’s an impressive novel by a major new talent, and one we highly recommend keeping an eye on.
Insynium is Tim Cole’s Debut novel. We are shivering with anticipation and hope at the prospect of something new from him!
The Korpes File by J.I Rogers
An award-winning space opera that’s sure to gather a dedicated audience. One of our favorites! Recommended!
When not writing Award Winning novels, J.I. Rogers writes Award Winning Shorts, having recently won two six-word story challenges. The most recent of which being “Inherited ruin. Forged a new Empire.” Visit Rogers’ website here for even more excellent Sci-Fi! The second book in the series, The Korpes Agenda, is out now, and we’re excitedly waiting for the next book to finish revisions!
“The catastrophic Purge War at the end of the twenty-first century destroys planet Earth, jeopardizing the future for the remnants of humanity. Horrific repercussions roll across the ages until, generations later, a scientific group called the Time Forward Project harnesses a deep-space wormhole in which they can travel through time. They find the portal unstable and shrinking, but they have little choice but to take desperate, drastic measures and journey back to prevent the war.”
Straight from John Yarrow’s website! The Story Plant Publishing company will publish the full trilogy starting with Future’s Dark Past! You can preorder The Future’s Dark Past today, and the sequel, Time Unfolded, is expected to come out in the Summer of 2023!
In a world where the rich obtain immortality, a forbidden love can either bridge the gap of unimaginable inequity or drive the disparaging classes even farther apart. A science-fiction novel with an earthly conscious.
Sean Curley‘s new book, Anika’s Gift is making good progress through the cover design process, and ARCs are being sent out now. Sean is a renaissance man who loves new experiences, diversity, and challenges (though more intellectual than physical). He is also the author of the the 2014 Chaucer Grand Prize for Early Historical Fiction with his book Propositum. Sean will also be at the Chanticleer Authors Conference June 23-26, 2022!
Now that you’re set on your next five reads, what are you waiting for? The only way to join this amazing list of Cygnus Winners is to submit today!
Those who submit and advance will have the chance to win the Overall Grand Prize of the CIBAs and $1000!
Are you a Chanticleer Author who has some good news to share? Let us know! We’re always looking for a reason to crow about Chanticleerians! Here are some recent achievements from our authors:
FLEXIBLE REGISTRATIONS ARE AVAILABLE for these challenging times.
Seating is Limited. The esteemed WRITER Magazine (founded in 1887) has repeatedly recognized the Chanticleer Authors Conference as one of the best conferences to attend and participate in for North America.
Award-winning author, Strider S. R. Klusman’s Stone: Rhone and Stone Series, Book One is set in the high desert outside of the dusty town of Skragmoore.
With all the trappings of a western, he draws us into the Badlands and takes us on a merry and hair rising journey through lake strewn caves and the dusty little town of Skragmoore. This YA adventure will have readers riveted in place to find out what happens next.
Rhone has survived alone in the wilderness since his mother’s death, but he has learned to thrive and spends more and more time out of doors under the open sky than at home in his old, dilapidated house. So, when he hears a voice, and no one else is there, he is confused to say the least. Where is the voice coming from and why won’t it shut up?
Rhone has been carrying the stone in his pouch for several years.
The most beautiful stone he’s ever seen, it is his prized possession and now it’s talking? Yet, somehow he is calmed by the voice and develops a sense of well being as it speaks. Soon Rhone is talking back and finds the stone’s intelligent conversation philosophical and instructive. His new friend educates him about how a lump of mineral can communicate with a human and where it came from.
As part of a meteor that struck earth in the distant past, Stone’s story unfolds with the skill wielded only by Klusman’s master storytelling. Stone’s mission is to find more of his kind, the “We,” and Rhone pledges his services to help and his undying friendship.
Meanwhile in the dusty town of Skragmoore, we meet Commissioner Dodge.
A heavy-handed boss who drives his men with a clenched fist ready to strike. Dodge is planning his escape from the dying town, and when news reaches him of a beautiful stone that flashes blinding light, he knows it must be an artifact, and his dream of escape grows closer than he imagined. Thus begins the misadventure, and Rhone soon loses stone to Dodge’s men.
Rhone will never give up on Stone, though.
The bond they forged in the short time they were together is too strong for him to ignore, and Rhone won’t let his friend suffer at the hands of Dodge, who only wants to use Stone for his own gain. Rhone understands fully the Dodge will treat Stone as an object, not the sensitive, sentient being he is. Rhone uses the lessons that Stone instilled in him to memorize a route out of the maze of the badlands and rescue Stone.
The Counsel has Dodge on their radar as a person of interest for poorly overseeing his commission, and they have also been informed of Stone. Agents Aundrea and Bran arrive in the Badlands in search of this stone and the boy who found it.
Klusman’s fast-paced novel keeps readers turning pages to learn the fate of Rhone and Stone.
Rhone becomes the unlikely hero who will do anything to help his friend and unwittingly exposes Dodge whose ruthless and cold-hearted nature lose him any friend he ever had. Part fantasy, part western, part YA, part adventure/thriller, Klusman’s novel melds genres seamlessly to give us a riveting and rollicking story of friendship, trust, and adventure. This five-star read will keep readers entertained and wanting more! And they are in luck because Book II in the Rhone and Stone series carries on the adventure.
Trinity’s Fall, the second book in the science fiction thriller series (Vu-Hak War) by P.A. Vasey, delivers the story of an alien invasion as seen through the twisted, heart-pounding lens of a Twilight Zone episode, complete with invisible mind-controlling alien monsters, nuclear explosions, hidden lunar bases, and secret wormholes with “Men in Black” playing both sides.
As this entry opens, the protagonist has no idea of her true identity—and no memory of her first encounter with either the monstrous alien Vu-Hak—or her relationship with humanity’s presumed savior, Adam Benedict.
Although this is the second book in the series, the first half of the book does an excellent job of bringing the reader up to speed. Looks can be deceiving. When the FBI knocks on her door—and knocks her out of her amnesia-induced rut—she begins to remember who she is and what’s at stake.
Kate gradually rediscovers the truth—and Vasey cleverly allows new readers to discover it with her.
The action pounds readers with thrill-a-minute suspense as Kate races to recapture the threads of a life stolen from her. She then takes charge of an around-the-world hunt for the one person who might be able to stop the alien invasion. Stakes are high, and no one wants to believe the invasion is further along than previously thought.
Once Kate and Adam reunite, Vasey slows the pace a bit.
The characters and their colleagues must reckon with the harrowing possibility that the aliens will succeed. Questions arise about whether the ends justify the means, and what they will do to ensure the human species survives. Do they have the right to set humanity on a different course? Vasey develops the plot, including the paradoxes of time travel, the ethical implications of human cloning, and even the ultimate question of where life begins.
Fans who love their sci-fi with a serving of ethical discourse on the side will love this series. No doubt, the Vu-Hak War saga overall will amass fans in both the sci-fi world and literary circles as well. Book two closes with a universe-altering surprise that bodes very well indeed for the third and concluding book in the trilogy. Stay tuned, much more is on the way!
Dawn of Genesis: Titan Code Book 1 by Rey Clark portrays a near future Earth that is dying by inches, feet, and yards.
