A lovely, heartfelt story, full of rich characters and with themes of love and hope. The novel combines both a human touch with science fiction. I won't give away the plot, but I was very surprised when the sci fi aspects of the story were revealed. The author clearly has a rich imagination as well as a warm soul.
This book is engaging from start to finish. A mysterious supernatural element is introduced in the first paragraph and then the reader is teased a bit until the secret is fully revealed about a third of the way through. The story is completely engrossing, the main character, Grover, compelling. The author comes up with charming features which seem completely original. This is a case where it is best to know nothing about the plot and just be carried along by the story and the surprises. There are a lot of historical elements which are fascinating. My only stumble was over the FBI scene which seemed a bit sketchier than the rest of the story. Once past that you regain momentum and speed along the the, again surprising, conclusion in which all the elements of the plot and characters are nicely wrapped up. This book has the feel of a fable. There is no cynicism and some scenes evoke a lot of emotion in the reader. Interesting themes are dealt with such as whether or not good and evil are inherent or are somehow developed through free will and how those who are 'different' are treated by society, also the importance of love and friendship. I was sorry to see the book end and would love to read a sequel. It would also make a great movie.
Mary
This is a wonderful book. I enjoyed the character development of the main characters. I found the plot twists and turns to be intriguing. It is hard to believe this is the author’s first book. The best description I can suggest is to say it is like a well-crafted story by John Grisham with just a hint of Stephen King. Definitely put this on your must read list.
Excellent treatment (with a new twist) of a familiar theme. I TOTALLY enjoyed this novel and found it hard to put down. Characters are compelling and the plot moves in directions that I could not predict. Grover is a very believable man profoundly changed by his mentor. The path he takes while growing and incorporating this change is realistic and moving. I found myself thinking of this novel long after reading the last page - author Richards has talent and I look forward to his next effort!
This is a fine work, fast moving, thought provoking and imaginative. The author writes with a great voice, explores a number of deep life issues, and takes the story to a lot of different places. I found myself wanting more and trying to guess what would happen as the fabric of the novel grew more complex.
This book hit me like a brick. I stumbled upon it, gave the preview a try, then bought the book. Couldn't help it. I read a lot of books, but once in a while, I come across gems such as this that have an amazing and profound effect on me. I highly recommend this to everyone! Mr. Richards, keep up the great work!