Jon Messenger

Sadly, I wanted to like this, as I am trying to be a connoisseur of werewolf stories, but this one just falls like a flat dud to the ground. I'd only gotten a few pages in and I felt that a good editor would have tightened a good chunk of this prose.

I feel like this could be a good concept, both as a steam punk and mythological creature entry. But the execution leaves much to be desired. There's showing, there's details for details sake, then there's extraneous details that really are pointless unless it's unusual. Specifying that a pencil has a graphite point is only important if you establish that no other pencil in the world you're writing has such a thing. And while there is a taste of the olden style detective stories, it just doesn't pan out well.

The story has a good germ beneath, but the layers of extensive wordiness just bury the concept. There are also points where the Point of View (POV) shifts mid-paragraph between Simon and Luthor, which tends to come across as jarring. I gave up at the end of Chapter 9.… (meer)

Balance. Equilibrium. These are concepts that drive the entire universe. Light cannot exist without dark, just like good cannot exist without evil. Look deeper, and you may take notice of the cycle of seasons. Winter melts into spring, which flourishes into summer, and then begins the process of dying into autumn and back to winter again. Life on earth needs this cycle to remain harmonious. The four elements can stand alone, but like the seasons, each requires a turn to rule to maintain a healthy cycle. Balance.

This book chronicles the impending change of elemental power. The first two elements, earth and sea, have already ruled. The wind has ruled for thousands of years and is almost ready to bow to the flames. The wind, however, is now reluctant to give way and creates a new Warrior. Why now? What does this mean for the Flame Warriors, who have been patiently waiting for their turn to rule?

Xander is a typical young college student who, after many reminders, still lives with his parents… and grandfather. Though the family is close, many skeletons are hidden in a closet far away from the world – and Xander.

In the blink of an eye and a mysterious gust of wind, life suddenly changes for the wayward teen. His family begins acting strangely, a beautiful blond suddenly shows up in class, and so much more.

As to the “why now?” question, I had my theories. That is until Sammy made a disturbing discovery. Now, I’m fairly certain I know why, but I haven’t given up all hope on my initial theory. There just needs to be a reason why their connection is so powerful… On to the second book to see if I’m on the right trail.… (meer)