Title: Exodus 2022
Author: Kenneth G Bennett
Genre: Speculative Fiction/ Thriller
Book Blurb:
Joe Stanton is in agony. Out of his mind over the death of his young daughter. Unable to contain his grief, Joe loses control in public, screaming his daughter’s name and causing a huge scene at a hotel on San Juan Island in Washington State. Thing is, Joe Stanton doesn’t have a daughter. Never did. And when the authorities arrive they blame the 28-year-old’s outburst on drugs. What they don’t yet know is that others up and down the Pacific coast—from the Bering Sea to the Puget Sound—are suffering identical, always fatal mental breakdowns. With the help of his girlfriend, Joe struggles to unravel the meaning of the hallucination destroying his mind. As the couple begins to perceive its significance—and Joe’s role in a looming global calamity—they must also outwit a billionaire weapons contractor bent on exploiting Joe’s newfound understanding of the cosmos, and outlast the time bomb ticking in Joe’s brain. Is he losing his mind–or his world?
Review:
What have I just read? *sits in stunned silence*
Exodus 2022 is unlike anything I have ever read before. I think it deserves a genre of all its own. The plot....was simply amazing and breath taking and unique and....different in a good way. How else did I read a 400+ page book in one day?
The plot. Oh jeez....where do I even begin??? Part fiction, part fantasy and part sci-fi (or something close to sci-fi--the story takes place in the year 2022, not too far from present day), Exodus 2022 will blow your mind with its plot uniqueness and integrity. It's one of those books that just seems to unfold more and more the further you read. I love how the author reveals little bits of the mystery at a time, allowing readers to piece together the big picture.
The novel is told from 3rd person POV, and alternates POV between different characters. I really enjoyed Joe's character because he isn't your stereotypical thriller-action-adventure-hero. He's a priest. But he's not your typical priest either. He's adventurous, understanding and possesses an unyielding loyalty to Ella, his girlfriend. The other characters were solidly put together.
The writing was easy to understand, but I think the author particularly excels in descriptive writing. Here are some of my favorite quotes from the book, most of them describing natural wonders.
"The sky was clear, a rare thing in Southeast Alaska, and Eagle Peak lorded over Admiralty Island like a stoic king, its jagged snow-covered slopes jutting crisp and white against a pale blue sky." Isn't that beautiful? I love the play on words with lorded and stoic king Bennett implemented in this sentence.
"I look at the stars because they remind me how most the stuff we worry about is so...trivial. How insignificant we are in this little splinter of time and space we occupy." Once again I laud this beautiful passage. I particularly love the last sentence.
"Beneath stars glittering like shards of blue ice in a black ocean. Constellations wheeled big and bright beyond the cliff, so that it looked as if one could run, leap from the edge, and fall directly into another galaxy." Stunning imagery. Period.
Rating:
About the Author
Kenneth G. Bennett is the author of the young adult novels, THE GAIA WARS and BATTLE FOR CASCADIA, and the new sci-fi thriller, EXODUS 2022. A wilderness enthusiast who loves backpacking, skiing and kayaking, Ken enjoys mysteries, science fiction, action adventure stories and, most especially, novels that explore the relationship between humans and the wild. He lives on an island in the Pacific Northwest with his wife and son and two hyperactive Australian Shepherds.
THE GAIA WARS series was optioned for film by Identity Films, LA in 2012, and both GAIA and BATTLE have been featured as Top 100 Bestsellers in Teen Literature and Fiction on Amazon. Kirkus Reviews called THE GAIA WARS “A solid first entry of a promising, imaginative new young-adult fantasy series featuring a well-crafted character.”
Be Sure to Enter the Giveaway Below for the Chance to Win a Kindle Fire or a Signed Copy of Exodus 2022
Be Sure to Enter the Giveaway Below for the Chance to Win a Kindle Fire or a Signed Copy of Exodus 2022
No comments:
Post a Comment