“Others have attempted to blend the genres of an investigative detective piece with sci-fi, but few achieve such a seamless integration as do McFall and Hays … a compelling saga, edgy and different, thoroughly absorbing."
What if you knew men, women and children were being slaughtered but had to cover it up?' Fake news. Alternative facts. Truth, lies, damn lies and statistics. Just who are we to believe? In this near-future dystopian thriller, that will be United Nations Police "moderators". Thirty year old UNPOL officer Richard Warren has been embedded with the BBC and not seeing eye-to-eye with journalist Sarah Dyer is just the start of his problems. News of an Ebola pandemic is being withheld, and when it’s discovered Sarah’s artistic savant brother is involved, Richard’s determination to get to the truth takes an unexpected turn. But what if the truth must never be known? And Richard thought Sarah was a challenge. The very concept of right and wrong is about to be tested and in a way that’s going to make fake news look like quality journalism.
✪✪✪✪
HALL
WAYS REVIEW: Alt
Truths is the fourth book I have read by the talented Alec
Birri, but it’s the first of his books that I have read
in print. I enjoyed The
Condition Trilogy with my ears and was barely recovered from fan-girling
over the amazing narration by Jonathan Keeble when the audio book of Alt Truths published. JOY! Listening to Alt Truths is just as satisfying as reading it.
Told in short, highly
interesting chapters, Alt Truths
keeps the reader engaged and the story moving along at a fast clip. The character building happens quickly, too,
so readers not only meet the main cast of characters, they also see them
fleshed-out early on. This is not to say that Birri gives away the goods. Many
of the characters are not exactly the what-you-see-is-what-you-get kind of
people, so there are plenty of times that readers will be taken aback.
“Stop
apologizing. Americans are so annoying like that.”
It is those “WHOA” moments
that really force the page-turning pace to increase and induce some philosophical
deep thinking for readers. Birri’s novel explores the what-ifs of savants,
science, germ warfare, political agendas, and even mind control all in a very
near future scenario (just barely futuristic given it’s only the 46th
United States president in office, at times making it difficult to discern that
the book is dystopian). Honestly, I had some trouble reconciling that some of
the elements were feasible. Perhaps
feasible is the wrong word – possible? Yes. Probable that soon? Doubtful to me. Sadly, fake news and bad cell signals are still a thing in the future, but
there wasn’t a mention of selfies, so small victories there.
Birri’s writing is very
good, and he does an excellent job with his descriptions of setting, allowing
readers to visualize everything from the defunct amusement park and its West
World-ish (original) occupants to the re-purposed military compounds and their
hidden agendas. For those who are squeamish, look-out. Birri also masterfully
and vividly describes the devastating and deadly effects of a virus that is
ravaging the world. ICK! (But, ooooooh, so cool/gross/fascinating!)
Alt
Truths is divided into two parts, and it’s almost like they are
two separate books. Where part one gives us realistic characters and a
realistic world, part two dives deeply into the sci-fi realm and went a bit too
out-there for me with the droids and the robots and the transcendental trips. Strangely
enough, within the advanced technology, global crises, and conspiracies
happening, Alt Truths manages to
infuse the strength of family bonds, romance, humor, and even witchcraft into
this crumbling world. And it works! Admittedly, these elements work better in
part one than part two, but the second half of the book does circle back around
and grounds itself by the end for a satisfying and thought-provoking
story.
ABOUT THE NARRATION: Jonathan
Keeble could read a recipe card and I’d be hooked. In Alt Truths, his performance of all the characters – male and female,
young and old – is stellar. There is never confusion over who is speaking
because Keeble manages to differentiate them so that each has a unique sound
and cadence. However, for me, there’s
nothing more delightful than an international accent, and sadly, there’s a lot
less of that in Alt Truths since so
many important characters are American. I am less enamored of Keeble’s American accent,
particularly Richard’s, which is supposed to be southern. (As a Texan, every
time I heard “ma’am” mispronounced, it took me right out of the story.) I eventually
acclimated to the peculiarities of the American accents, and Keeble knocks it
out of the park with the others, so my fan-girl status is still firmly in place.
Thank you to the author and
Audiobookworm for providing me an eBook and audio download in exchange for my
honest opinion – the only kind I give.
I received this audio book as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Alec Birri. The gifting of this audio book did not affect my opinion of it.
Alec Birri served thirty years with the UK Armed Forces. He commanded an operational unit that experimented in new military capabilities classified at the highest level (Top Secret Strap 3) and it is this that forms the basis of his novels. Although semi-autobiographical, for national security and personal liberty reasons, the events and individuals portrayed have to be fiction but are still nonetheless in keeping with his experiences.
If you regularly enjoy listening to audio books then this Shakespearean actor will need no introduction. Winner of a 2016 SOVAS award, Jonathan’s voice is rightly recognized as being one of the best, and his narration of Alt Truths is no exception.
ABOUT THE BOOK (Amazon): What if you knew an entire race of people was being systematically slaughtered but had to cover it up?
Fake news. Alternative facts. Truth, lies, damn lies and statistics. Just who are we to believe? In this near-future dystopian thriller, that will be United Nations Police “moderators”. Thirty year old UNPOL officer Richard Warren has been embedded with the BBC and not seeing eye-to-eye with journalist Sarah Dyer is just the start of his problems. News of an Ebola pandemic is being withheld, and when it’s discovered Sarah’s artistic savant brother is involved, Richard’s determination to get to the truth takes an unexpected turn. But what if the truth must never be known? And Richard thought Sarah was a challenge. The very concept of right and wrong is about to be tested and in a way that’s going to make fake news look like quality journalism.
Alt
Truths is the fourth book I have read by the talented Alec
Birri, but it’s the first of his books that I have read in print. (The
Condition Trilogy, I read with my ears and am still fangirling over the
amazing narrator Jonathan Keeble.) Alt
Truths does not disappoint.
Told in short, highly
interesting chapters, Alt Truths
keeps the reader engaged and the story moving along at a fast clip. The character building happens quickly, too,
so readers not only meet the main cast of characters, they also see them
fleshed-out early on. This is not to say that Birri gives away the goods. Many
of the characters are not exactly the what-you-see-is-what-you-get kind of people,
so there are plenty of times that readers will be taken aback.
It is those “WHOA” moments
that really force the page-turning pace to increase and induce some philosophical
deep thinking for readers. Birri’s novel explores the what-ifs of savants, science,
germ warfare, political agendas, and even mind control all in a very near
future scenario. Initially, it is difficult to discern that the book is dystopian,
and honestly, I had some trouble reconciling that some of the elements were
feasible for as soon as when the United States seats a 46th
president. Perhaps feasible is the wrong word – possible? Yes. Probable that
soon? Doubtful to me. (Sadly, fake news and bad cell signals are still a thing
in the future, but there wasn’t a mention of selfies, so small victories
there.)
There is always a small
concern when I love an author’s audio books and decide to migrate to print…I
am, after all, a grammar freak and am much-too-easily distracted with errors. While
I did come across some typos and inconsistencies, there were not so many that
it impacted my enjoyment of the story. Birri’s writing is very good, and he
does an admirable job with his descriptions of setting, allowing readers to
visualize everything from the defunct amusement park and its West World-ish
(original) occupants to the repurposed military compounds and their hidden
agendas. For those who are squeamish, look-out.
Birri also masterfully and vividly describes the devastating and deadly
effects of a virus that is ravaging the world. ICK! (But, ooooooh, so
cool/gross/fascinating!)
Alt
Truths is divided into two parts, and it’s almost like they are
two separate books. Where part one gives us realistic characters and a
realistic world, part two dives deeply into the sci-fi realm and went a bit too
out-there for me with the droids and the robots and the transcendental trips. Strangely
enough, within the advanced technology, global crises, and conspiracies happening,
Alt Truths manages to infuse the strength
of family bonds, romance, humor, and even witchcraft into this crumbling world.
And it works! Admittedly, these elements work better in part one than part two,
but the second half of the book does circle back around and grounds itself by
the end for a satisfying and thought-provoking story.
Thank you to the author for
giving me an eBook in exchange for my honest opinion – the only kind I give.
⭖￭⭖￭⭖￭⭖￭⭖￭⭖￭⭖￭⭖￭⭖￭⭖￭⭖￭⭖￭⭖￭⭖￭⭖￭
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Alec Birri served thirty years with the UK Armed Forces. He commanded an operational unit that experimented in new military capabilities classified at the highest level (Top Secret Strap 3), and it is this that forms the basis of his novels. Although semi-autobiographical, for national security and personal liberty reasons, the events and individuals portrayed have to be fiction but are still nonetheless in keeping with his experiences.
2018 San Francisco Book Festival Honorable Mention
ABOUT THE BOOK: The lucent land of the Echoes is haunted by hate. How see-through your skin is determines whether you live or die. Until two boys - an Echo and his Sound - unravel a 250-year-old riddle and change Echoland forever.
In a see-through land, our reflections live. They call us Sounds. They are our Echoes. And they think that they must die when we do. Is this why children are disappearing from the Sound realm? Because someone wants their Echo to die?
Twelve-year-old Will Cleary tries to escape the frightening answer. But dangers sweep him into that magical, see-through land. And there, in a fortress filled with castaway children, a 200-year-old riddle lies buried. The most important boy in Echoland, with a handful of other kids, will help Will solve it. For the fate of Echoland and of the Sound realm depends on the answer.
An answer hidden in an ancient book...deep in a frozen lake of gems...beyond a buried door...at the foot of the greatest Crystillery of all.
But many men and monsters, crystal balls, and spying eyes will try to stop the brave teens. For how see-through your skin is all important in Echoland. And when this ancient hate ends, the realm of the Echoes will change forever.
GET THE KINDLE EBOOK FOR JUST $0.99JULY 12TH-JULY 19TH, 2018
PLUS, THE AUDIO BOOK IS DISCOUNTED WITH YOUR KINDLE PURCHASE!
CHECK OUT THE BOOK TRAILER!
🔹🔵🔹🔵🔹🔵🔹
HALL WAYS REVIEW 4.5 Stars. Audio Book and Print Review.
The Crystilleries of Echoland is a magical, mystical journey into the parallel Echo realm
where twelve-year-old Will Cleary finds his identity is not what he believed it
to be and even things in his world are not what they seem. The premise is
wonderful – haven’t all of us wondered at times about the existence of parallel
worlds? Throw into the mix that it’s an often Harry Potter-like world with
fantastic feats and beasts, full of mystery and danger, and you’ve got a
winning combination that readers will devour.
The Echo realm is pure
magic -- a mystical, shimmering world of illusions and often deadly realities. There
are plenty of colorful characters, including the terrifying but intriguing Fate
Sealers (think Dementors from HP, but
even more gruesome). Lessons of friendship and loyalty, accepting differences,
and putting others before one’s self make The
Crystilleries of Echoland an impactful reading choice.
Author Dew Pellucid's
imagination is wondrous and the author's ability to put ideas to paper is
phenomenal. The author truly immerses the reader into the setting where descriptions
are vibrant, emotions are strong, and danger feels real. Andy Simmons's
haunting CGI illustrations draw readers into the Echo realm, its characters, and
its landscapes, and are a good forced pause between chapters that are sometimes
relentlessly fast-paced. The writing and artwork allow for readers to truly
escape into an otherworldly experience every time they turn the page.
About the audio book: The narration of The
Crystilleries of Echoland is outstanding. Narrator B.J. Harrison is flawless
in his portrayal of the many voices and personalities within the story. His
pacing and emotion perfectly match the intended tone and mood of the plot, and
listeners will be delighted with his accent. I would listen to him narrate
directions for assembling a box and be engrossed.
Be warned -- there is a
fair amount of death and killing, often remorseless, and some moderately
intense, even grisly scenes of violence. The audience feels tween/middle-grade,
but with those elements in mind, it’s best suited for more mature young readers
and older. From a technical perspective, the Grammar Policewoman issues a
citation because the book needs another pass by the proofreader to correct typos,
punctuation and capitalization errors, and the overuse of the word “lucent.”
Twists and turns abound,
and readers will find themselves utterly immersed in this story right up to the
satisfying ending, which leaves open the possibility of more Echoland adventures.
(Fingers crossed.) Prepare to be thinking about the fantastic Echo world, where
there is adventure, danger, and beauty beyond imagination, long after finishing
The Crystilleries of Echoland.
Thank you to the author
for sending me a beautiful, color illustrated copy of this book plus an audio
download in exchange for my honest opinions of each – the only kind I give.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Tal Boldo is a self-published, award-winning
novelist and audio book reader
and producer. She likes to write under
pseudonyms that relate to her stories. Her
teen fantasy, The Crystilleries of Echoland,
was published under Dew Pellucid (Tal
being the Hebrew word for Dew, and Dew
being an Echo's name). Her adult love story, Looking Glass
Friends, was published under E. L. Neve
(an anagram of 11, or a symbol of two
individuals standing side-by-side). The
novel won 13 awards. Tal recorded and
produced the audio book herself.
BOOK DESCRIPTION:Dahlia, a centuries-old genie, lies hopelessly trapped in a damaged golden locket charm attached to an ankle bracelet. Its owner, sixteen-year-old Liana, wears it for the first time during her father Jamison’s opening night illusion spectacular. Not only does its presence cause Jamison to folly his performance, but it also starts a chain of bizarre events that lead to a showdown with Dahlia’s mortal enemy, Stefan, and an unsuspecting romance between Liana and his son.
Matt Dallmann has a background in acting and holds a BFA from Marymount Manhattan College in New York City. His films and screenplays have been featured at film festivals across the United States including Cinequest, Big Apple Film Festival, Seattle’s True Independent Film Festival, DragonCon and Zero Independent Film Festival. His piano compositions have been published for commercial use and he is a member of ASCAP. Matt is also the Co-Founder and Vice President of the boutique medical billing firm VGA Billing Services, Inc. in New York City. He lives in New Jersey with his wife and two daughters.
ENTER THE GIVEAWAY! ONE WINNER: paperback copy of Tribal Affairs + $20 Amazon gift card TEN WINNERS: paperback copy of Tribal Affairs (11 winners total / open internationally to wherever Amazon delivers)
