Author: John

by John Irvin

A commentary by John Irvin

CLICK HERE TO GO AND BUY STARQUEST!!!

“The ground began to crack and split open and fiery rays shot upward from beneath his feet. A few skeletons that lay on the floor near his position suddenly sat up and waved frantically at him.”

            StarQuest covers the adventures of the group of freedom fighters—led by Commander Johan Eryn—that left Earth to find a new world where they could start the American dream all over again. Along the way, they discover there are worlds upon worlds with human life—all in one galaxy.

            The mission for a new world becomes a new mission for a new union—a union of planets. First, the novel inserts a key event in the travelers’ visit to the Marcrie, a tribe of warriors living on a planet called Nitara.

            Bringing the reader back to the present (2041 AD), the team returns to Nitara to find the Queen—a good friend of Johan’s—has disappeared. She was kidnapped by pirates. A mission of rescue ensues in which Johan must return to a place he did not ever want to visit again: the Nitara underworld. But at least he has a friend to go with him this time. They uncover pieces of the lost history of Nitara.

            Once the Queen is returned, the team takes the USS Patriot Ultimatum and returns to Earth—the first time they’ve been there in over 4 years. The world leaders make alliance with this massive spaceship and a new plan is instigated. A plan to unite the galaxy against a common foe: the Clongoth.

            Will they succeed? Can thousands of mostly-primitive worlds stand against an enemy that has long held the majority in slavery for centuries?

            So, this book is my only in-print novel at the time of writing this blog—I will have a second in-print novel by the end of this month (Longevity, Book 1: Revelation).

            StarQuest was written around 4 years ago, if not more, and published maybe 3 years ago. It seems like forever ago. I look back on it and see major differences in my writing style and narrative. I can think of so many authors I’ve read—such as Orson Scott Card—and how their works change over the course of their writing careers. Sometimes they’re so different you almost have a hard time believing they’re the same author. But it still holds a special place in my heart. I prove this with the two ebooks I recently published last year: Forgetfulness and Epix. I wrote about them the last two Fridays. The StarQuest Anthology world is a favourite of mine to visit every once in awhile. I’m certain there will be more ebooks and maybe even another in-print novel in the near future.

Click this link to go check it out: STARQUEST.

As a side note, I am required to inform you that my links provided are affiliate links to the said products. Hey, I’ve got to pay the bills somehow. I hope this is understandable!

I’m also a Patreon artist–the cool thing about Patreon is it allows people to support artists by monthly pledges which allow the artists to have more time to work on their own passions. Here is my account: PATREON.COM. If you’d like to support me, I would be eternally grateful!

Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Or email me at john@johnirvinauthor.com

by Rick Riordan

Published by Disney Hyperion

A review by John Irvin

CLICK HERE TO GO AND BUY THE BATTLE OF THE LABYRINTH!!!

“The last thing I wanted to do on my summer break was blow up another school.” –Percy Jackson

            From the back of the cover:

            “Percy Jackson isn’t expecting freshman orientation to be any fun. But when a mysterious mortal acquaintance appears on campus, followed by demon cheerleaders, things quickly move from bad to worse.

            In this fourth installment of the blockbuster series, time is running out as war between the Olympians and the evil Titan lord Kronos draws near. Even the safe haven of Camp Half-Blood grows more vulnerable by the minute as Kronos’s army prepares to invade its once impenetrable borders. To stop the invasion, Percy and his demigod friends must set out on a quest through the Labyrinth—a sprawling underground world with stunning surprises at every turn.

            Battle of the Labyrinth yanked me underground—not physically, of course—and I was holding my breath wondering what was around the next corner. Who would attack my good friends? What kind of denizen did they have to fight next? Also, then there’s the Arena duel, yeah, that was interesting.

            Already in his freshman year, Percy is beginning to learn things he will need in future battles. Plus, he’s getting so much closer to that specific age mentioned in the prophecy. A prophecy about some Half-Blood child of one of the Big Three (Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades) bringing the destruction of Olympus.

            I kept telling myself through this underground trip that every prophecy has more than one interpretation—while I kept turning the pages. As always, Riordan lived up to the expectations of his previous books in the series. This book should have its own movie just like the first two. In fact, I am of the mind that they should do a reboot of the entire series. But, I’m also content with simply reading for it’s just like watching a movie in your head.

            I felt like I was watching a virtual movie, standing right there among these young heroes. For young adults and older adults too, this Greek myth, urban fantasy could be one of your favourites.

            So, take my recommendation and click this link to go buy it: BATTLE OF THE LABYRINTH.

As a side note, I am required to inform you that my links provided are affiliate links to the said products. Hey, I’ve got to pay the bills somehow. I hope this is understandable!

I’m also a Patreon artist–the cool thing about Patreon is it allows people to support artists by monthly pledges which allow the artists to have more time to work on their own passions. Here is my account: PATREON.COM. If you’d like to support me, I would be eternally grateful!

Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Or email me at john@johnirvinauthor.com

by Drew Karpyshyn

Published by Del Ray, imprint of Random House

A review by John Irvin

CLICK HERE TO GO AND BUY REVAN!!!

“The Force can be bent to your will, but often there is a cost. The most powerful rituals of the dark side exact a toll few are willing to pay.”

            From the back cover,

            “Hero, traitor, conqueror, villain, savior—the man called Revan has been all of these. He left Coruscant a Jedi, on a mission to defeat the Mandalorians. He returned a Sith disciple, bent on destroying the Republic.

“The Jedi Council gave Revan his life back, but the price of redemption was the loss of his memories. All that’s left are nightmares—and deep, abiding fear. What happened beyond the Outer Rim that Revan can’t quite remember or entirely forget? One thing he’s certain of: Something dark is plotting to destroy the very existence of the Republic.

“With no idea how to identify the threat, let alone stop it, Revan may be doomed to fail. For he’s never faced a more powerful and diabolic enemy. But only death can stop him from trying.”

            An Old Republic follower, I’ve slowly been collecting all the books dating a thousand years before A New Hope—okay, the stories date back then, not the actual books themselves.

            I had heard and read snippets about this Jedi-turned-Sith by the name of Revan, but didn’t know much. So when the book came out, I was intrigued to discover more about this mysterious character.

            I’ll tell you, the plot did not disappoint—yes, I already knew Revan’s dark past before he remembers it in the story. But, of course, I didn’t know the details so waiting for him to find out the secrets and put a stop to this threat to the Republic had me turning pages.

            If you enjoy science fiction, or space opera, or anything related to the Star Wars franchise, you’ll enjoy this installment. Not too long either—I read it in less than three days. Some could read in less time, it was just a balance of work and other things.

            So, take my recommendation and click this link to go buy it: REVAN.

As a side note, I am required to inform you that my links provided are affiliate links to the said products. Hey, I’ve got to pay the bills somehow. I hope this is understandable!

I’m also a Patreon artist–the cool thing about Patreon is it allows people to support artists by monthly pledges which allow the artists to have more time to work on their own passions. Here is my account: PATREON.COM. If you’d like to support me, I would be eternally grateful!

Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Or email me at john@johnirvinauthor.com

by Robin Parrish

Published by Bethany House

A review by John Irvin

CLICK HERE TO GO AND BUY MERCILESS!!!

“The prophecy,’ Devlin declared in a reverent whisper, ‘is made flesh.’”

            From the book’s jacket,

            “From the Earth’s depths crawls a figure with skin like granite, flames for eyes, and the face of Grant Burrows. Oblivion has arrived. Every clock around the world has stopped. Time has frozen. The Secretum have fulfilled the prophecy, unleashing on earth the most powerful being to walk the earth in thousands of years. His name is Oblivion and his touch is death. He can’t be slowed. He can’t be stopped. And he can’t be killed. But as long as any live who trust in hope and love and freedom, the fight is not over. They have only one chance before he brings forth the DarkWorld. Oblivion is Merciless.”

            Grant Burrows failed. He failed his friends, he failed the world, and he failed his sister. When he plummeted into the pit in the Hollows, Grant knew, there was nothing he could do.

            Let me tell you something, for a bookworm, there is nothing more anxiety-inducing than reading a book to its cliff-hanging end then having to wait months before the finale finally comes out!

            When I finished reading Fearless and immediately went online to order Merciless because my heart couldn’t take it, I nearly freaked out when I found I had to wait. But a friend—without telling me—pre-ordered Merciless for me and surprised me.

            Immediately I was sucked back into the world of Grant Burrows—a world on the verge of destruction. This science fantasy, or apocalyptic fiction, that even got two thumbs up from Ted Dekker, will wrench your heart out then piece it back together for you and put it back in a warm, maddening, sort of way.

            I have to say, Merciless stuck true to its calling and fulfilled its own destiny as the finale in the Dominion Trilogy.

Thankfully, you don’t have to wait in between books either.

            So, take my recommendation and click this link to go buy it: MERCILESS.

As a side note, I am required to inform you that my links provided are affiliate links to the said products. Hey, I’ve got to pay the bills somehow. I hope this is understandable!

I’m also a Patreon artist–the cool thing about Patreon is it allows people to support artists by monthly pledges which allow the artists to have more time to work on their own passions. Here is my account: PATREON.COM. If you’d like to support me, I would be eternally grateful! I’m also considering adding a second tier in which those patrons would get an exclusive short series, an episode once a week. If you have any thoughts, I’d love to hear them. 

Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Or email me at john@johnirvinauthor.com

by Robin Parrish

Published by Bethany House

A review by John Irvin

CLICK HERE TO GO AND BUY FEARLESS!!!

“…he felt no pain. A chill stopped his pulse. This blood was not his.”

            Everything from earthquakes to disease was unleashed after the day when the sky burned. The world is being changed and its peoples feel helpless and stranded as they watch it verge on the edge of annihilation.

            But there are a few good people, imbued with special powers, who refuse to give up, resist letting fear take control—they are Fearless. They travel the planet, helping those in desperate need.

            But there’s an ancient prophecy and it’s being fulfilled the further these few try to go in stopping it.

            Is Grant still hiding secrets from the rest of his team?

            Staying worthy of its prequel, Fearless kept me in its hold. The unraveling mystery of the prophecy, the super heroic ventures, all thrilled me to the bone.

            A five star out of five stars on my list—this book kept me thinking and wondering and pondering. It would be classified as a science fantasy or science fiction—maybe even a superhero drama or apocalyptic fiction—whatever it is, I’m certain, if you enjoy at least one of those, you will fall in love with this second book in the Dominion trilogy.

            So, take my recommendation and click this link to go buy it: FEARLESS.

As a side note, I am required to inform you that my links provided are affiliate links to the said products. Hey, I’ve got to pay the bills somehow. I hope this is understandable!

I’m also a Patreon artist–the cool thing about Patreon is it allows people to support artists by monthly pledges which allow the artists to have more time to work on their own passions. Here is my account: PATREON.COM. If you’d like to support me, I would be eternally grateful! I’m also considering adding a second tier in which those patrons would get an exclusive short series, an episode once a week. If you have any thoughts, I’d love to hear them. 

Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Or email me at john@johnirvinauthor.com

by Tim Lebbon

Published by Del Ray, imprint of Random House

A review by John Irvin

CLICK HERE TO GO AND BUY DAWN OF THE JEDI!!!

“But I am unmoving. An inconvenience to the water as long as I remain. And slowly, slowly, I am being eroded to nothing.” –Dalien Brock

            In the ancient days of the old Republic, the Jedi Order was known as the Je’daii. For ten thousand years they held the Force balanced between light and dark. But now, now there is someone who could tip the balance.

            Lanoree Brock has served at the feet of the Masters, learning the enigmatic ways of the Force. She has done well in the Je’daii Order, but her brother was shunned.

            Never able to find his way to the Light, his tale ended in tragedy.

            Or did it?

            Many years of solitary Ranger life have passed for Lanoree. One day she is summoned by the Je’daii Council to take on a mission to stop some half-crazed occult scientist who is trying to open a dark matter portal to somewhere beyond the galaxy.

            This cosmic connection would mean annihilation for an entire star system—but that’s not what shocks Lanoree. Long has she mourned her brother’s death—but now, with this discovery of why the Council sent her of all people, she realizes it is his life that she must worry about.

            Yes, I’m a Star Wars fan—somewhat—does that surprise you? It shouldn’t if you keep up with my book recommendations and a few of my own published works.

            But I must say, I’m a man of the Old ways—over the years I’ve collected the books set before the days of Anakin Skywalker and Luke and Han and Leia. What I enjoy is, with each passing year, a new Old Republic book seems to pop out of nowhere. I feel almost like a space-archeologist who discovers relics of an ancient past in a galaxy far away from this one.

            Dawn of the Jedi is one such amazing artifact. Though the book is old, this space drama / science fantasy is a revelation in and of itself. Set almost at the dawn of the Jedi Age, the tale weaves itself into a dark fiction in the malignant powers of the Dark Side.

            Lanoree—tough, maybe sassy, but definitely a kick-butt—will whisk you along as she sets out on her mission to stop her brother from bringing an apocalypse to an entire solar system and put the Force back into balance.

            So, take my recommendation and click this link to go buy it: DAWN OF THE JEDI.

As a side note, I am required to inform you that my links provided are affiliate links to the said products. Hey, I’ve got to pay the bills somehow. I hope this is understandable!

I’m also a Patreon artist–the cool thing about Patreon is it allows people to support artists by monthly pledges which allow the artists to have more time to work on their own passions. Here is my account: PATREON.COM. If you’d like to support me, I would be eternally grateful! I’m also considering adding a second tier in which those patrons would get an exclusive short series, an episode once a week. If you have any thoughts, I’d love to hear them. 

Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Or email me at john@johnirvinauthor.com