What do you think?
Rate this book
Task Force: Gaea #1
Finding Balance
During the age of Olympos, when a vengeful goddess shatters the Sacred Scales, both immortals and humans alike suffer. Apollo, the god of truth, goes from a glorious existence as The Shining One to a victim of Zeus' wrath, and his journey makes him question his godhood, his role in the cosmos, and his views on humanity. Prophecy and the Fates direct his course, and he must make difficult, yet vital, choices. Millennia pass, and Dan, Aleta, Brandon, and Sarah-four reluctant modern-day heroes gifted by ancient civilizations born of the gods-bound by prophecy, have to choose whether or not to save their world when it could mean they never existed. They must master their new powers while battling against incomprehensible forces from the Underworld and repairing the Sacred Scales, destroyed long ago. With the equilibrium between Order and Chaos unhinged, and the Olympian gods struggling to exist, these four must ally themselves with the United Nations to protect an endangered world, becoming the only group who can fight against metaphysical threats to the Earth, forging Task Force: Gaea. Can mortals succeed where gods cannot go?
380 pages, Paperback
First published February 2, 2012
22 people are currently reading
284 people want to read
About the author
David Berger
9 books100 followersDavid grew up with privilege—the privilege of being immersed in reading from a very early age. A fan of fantasy, comics, and mythology, he eventually would become an English teacher where he could help foster a love of literature with his students. This love would bring about the Task Force: Gaea series, a Greek mythology fantasy set in the modern world. The first four books (of five) in his Task Force: Gaea series are out now: Finding Balance, Memory's Curse, The Liar's Prophecy, and The Archer's Paradox. The first book in The DragonHawk Cycle, The Quest of Wyndracer and Fyrehunter, is also currently out. He also has two personal anthologies, Hippocrene's Promise and Hippocrene's Dream. He is living his dream, as it were, and resides in Land O' Lakes, FL with his dog, Argos.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
March 20, 2012
This definitely would have been an easier read if I was far more familiar with Greek Mythology. I found myself constantly having to go back into my mind, searching for the little mythology I have learned...and at times, venturing onto that ever so frightening place known as "wikipedia."
In all reality though, Task Force Gaea: Finding Balance has been one of those books that after getting past the first coupe of chapters, I was able to embrace the story, without really wanting to put it down at all. It embraces both the classical mythology, with a modern and unique twist, creating an idea I never would have attributed to the gods. I've read many books and I've watched many televisions shows with a dual reality, and those story lines have always fascinated me to no end. The simple idea that two fates are aligned with each other, and just by one mistake, an entire world could forget the building blocks of a culture is almost scary, keeping me hooked from the start.
Little did I expect those two fantastic twists at the end of the novel either! I knew there had to be something more with Brandon, Aleta, and Sarah, but I never expected Alkonoe to tell that to Brandon! What Themis and Apollo discuss in the epilogue also emerged out of the shadows; I completely forgot about Apollo's penance, and it wasn't until the epilogue that I realized that there had to be something that made Zeus so filled with rage.
I cannot wait to see the twists in the next volume. The feeling that there is so much more to Brandon, Aleta, and Sarah keeps me on my toes, like pins and needles. I'm already speculating a few things, but I cannot be certain, for, as I said, I never expected that thing with Brandon.
My only criticism of the novel was the pace of the second half. I would have loved to spend more time getting to know Danelos, Brandon, Aleta, and Sarah...but I supposed that will have to wait for Volume 2. By knowing that Volume 2 is coming, the pace of the second half (part 4) did not completely disappoint me. The ambiguity just keeps me waiting for the next step in the tale.
Now, I really want to go refresh my Greek Mythology...that way, the Book Club Discussion will be even better! Task Force Gaea: Finding Balance definitely has many discussion points, and I am so glad we chose this book as our book for March!
In all reality though, Task Force Gaea: Finding Balance has been one of those books that after getting past the first coupe of chapters, I was able to embrace the story, without really wanting to put it down at all. It embraces both the classical mythology, with a modern and unique twist, creating an idea I never would have attributed to the gods. I've read many books and I've watched many televisions shows with a dual reality, and those story lines have always fascinated me to no end. The simple idea that two fates are aligned with each other, and just by one mistake, an entire world could forget the building blocks of a culture is almost scary, keeping me hooked from the start.
Little did I expect those two fantastic twists at the end of the novel either! I knew there had to be something more with Brandon, Aleta, and Sarah, but I never expected Alkonoe to tell that to Brandon! What Themis and Apollo discuss in the epilogue also emerged out of the shadows; I completely forgot about Apollo's penance, and it wasn't until the epilogue that I realized that there had to be something that made Zeus so filled with rage.
I cannot wait to see the twists in the next volume. The feeling that there is so much more to Brandon, Aleta, and Sarah keeps me on my toes, like pins and needles. I'm already speculating a few things, but I cannot be certain, for, as I said, I never expected that thing with Brandon.
My only criticism of the novel was the pace of the second half. I would have loved to spend more time getting to know Danelos, Brandon, Aleta, and Sarah...but I supposed that will have to wait for Volume 2. By knowing that Volume 2 is coming, the pace of the second half (part 4) did not completely disappoint me. The ambiguity just keeps me waiting for the next step in the tale.
Now, I really want to go refresh my Greek Mythology...that way, the Book Club Discussion will be even better! Task Force Gaea: Finding Balance definitely has many discussion points, and I am so glad we chose this book as our book for March!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 20, 2012
After discovering that my daughter's high school English teacher had written a fantasy novel based on Greek mythology, I couldn't resist both reading it and recommending it to my book club this month.
This book is intriguing on several levels. Greek mythology has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. Growing up with my Mom, a high school English teacher with a special passion for Edith Hamilton, has something to do with that I suppose. ...and now, I teach early Western Humanities on the college level, so of course the belief systems of ancient civilizations are addressed in my classes. So to be able to immerse myself in a fantasy revolving around Apollo's world was of course lots of fun! The first portion of this book goes heavily into Greek mythology, so of course curiosity about this topic is a must here.
I especially like the contemporary Task Force characters and I enjoyed reading about how an archaeologist, a zoologist, an animal geneticist and a creative potter turn into Greek-like superheros who get to experience a whole space-time continuum paradox! I hope to read more about their lives and adventures in the next book in this series since we only get to spend time with them for a portion of the book.
The adventures of both the deities of the Greek pantheon as well as those of Danelos, Sarah, Brandon & Aleta would also translate REALLY well into a graphic novel.
A great debut novel by Mr. Berger!
This book is intriguing on several levels. Greek mythology has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. Growing up with my Mom, a high school English teacher with a special passion for Edith Hamilton, has something to do with that I suppose. ...and now, I teach early Western Humanities on the college level, so of course the belief systems of ancient civilizations are addressed in my classes. So to be able to immerse myself in a fantasy revolving around Apollo's world was of course lots of fun! The first portion of this book goes heavily into Greek mythology, so of course curiosity about this topic is a must here.
I especially like the contemporary Task Force characters and I enjoyed reading about how an archaeologist, a zoologist, an animal geneticist and a creative potter turn into Greek-like superheros who get to experience a whole space-time continuum paradox! I hope to read more about their lives and adventures in the next book in this series since we only get to spend time with them for a portion of the book.
The adventures of both the deities of the Greek pantheon as well as those of Danelos, Sarah, Brandon & Aleta would also translate REALLY well into a graphic novel.
A great debut novel by Mr. Berger!
July 7, 2012
The Review:
(So when I write/you read this it might seem a little rumbled up to you, so I’ll try my best to organize it to your understanding. If it’s a problem I can rewrite it!)
The first Part is Apollo’s story, in only Apollos view really. At the first it was a little confusing reading from his point since it was more describing then showing. Instead of seeing much of the surrounding we saw and heard what Apollo saw and thought. This was a good set up to get the reader into the story and wonder how balance will be found again. And it ends just on the point of driving the reader mad.
The second part: We’re introduced to the characters of the prophecy. This is when it stops being descriptive and we see the characters and their thought patterns more.Each character acquires a gift or a certain power in some way. Their stories behind them were what i found most fascinating about the books. Each individual character was given a good in depth personality and we see apollo from a different point of view.
The book like all book would drag at points, but isn’t that normal? Well it didn't drag very much since it was smoothly pushed into another scene or event or action/fight. SOme scenes would end rather abrupt and it felt like they had lost some of their meaning.
Overall it was a good read and the artwork at the end was a surprise
(So when I write/you read this it might seem a little rumbled up to you, so I’ll try my best to organize it to your understanding. If it’s a problem I can rewrite it!)
The first Part is Apollo’s story, in only Apollos view really. At the first it was a little confusing reading from his point since it was more describing then showing. Instead of seeing much of the surrounding we saw and heard what Apollo saw and thought. This was a good set up to get the reader into the story and wonder how balance will be found again. And it ends just on the point of driving the reader mad.
The second part: We’re introduced to the characters of the prophecy. This is when it stops being descriptive and we see the characters and their thought patterns more.Each character acquires a gift or a certain power in some way. Their stories behind them were what i found most fascinating about the books. Each individual character was given a good in depth personality and we see apollo from a different point of view.
The book like all book would drag at points, but isn’t that normal? Well it didn't drag very much since it was smoothly pushed into another scene or event or action/fight. SOme scenes would end rather abrupt and it felt like they had lost some of their meaning.
Overall it was a good read and the artwork at the end was a surprise
April 16, 2014
If you're a fan of Greek mythology, superhero comics, or both, you'll absolutely love this engaging novel. The chapters seeped in classical mythology will have you wondering which parts are straight from antiquity and which Berger has seamlessly (and cleverly) added. Those set in modern times echo the best of modern DC and Marvel origin stories and event comics. There are a lot of great ideas at play: mythic locales, magical relics, alternate universes, freak lab "accidents" and more. Throughout, its clearly evident Berger has a great love and understanding of all his source material.
While there's a relatively long build-up for such an action-packed and briskly paced third act, Berger does a wonderful job building his characters up and gives them plenty of obstacles to overcome as they progress. By the end you'll definitely be rooting for the team he assembles, and dying to find out more about the two shocking twists he leaves you with.
The prose can be challenging for a casual reader, but if you're a logophile it will be right up your alley. Berger does a great job keeping things in context, but I'd recommend using a reading app with a robust dictionary, or keeping a physical copy nearby. Overall this is a wonderfully exciting read that I highly recommend. I'm looking forward to starting the next installment ASAP!
While there's a relatively long build-up for such an action-packed and briskly paced third act, Berger does a wonderful job building his characters up and gives them plenty of obstacles to overcome as they progress. By the end you'll definitely be rooting for the team he assembles, and dying to find out more about the two shocking twists he leaves you with.
The prose can be challenging for a casual reader, but if you're a logophile it will be right up your alley. Berger does a great job keeping things in context, but I'd recommend using a reading app with a robust dictionary, or keeping a physical copy nearby. Overall this is a wonderfully exciting read that I highly recommend. I'm looking forward to starting the next installment ASAP!
November 3, 2014
I have always admired writing that takes well trodden themes and character archetypes and finds new ways to make them interesting. David Berger certainly achieves this in volume one of his series. My interest in Greek mythology has always been cursory at best. However, this story was so interesting that I found myself researching the mythology while I was reading the book. I was so invested in the world created by Berger that I just had to know more and see where he took his inspiration from.
I love good storytelling. The actual subject of a story is secondary in my opinion. How you tell your story and your passion for it are the most important aspects of writing to me. A fantastic story can be ruined if put in the wrong hands. While reading this wonderfully thought-out story and the detailed characters (My favorite being Brandon Jeffries A.K.A. ZODIAK.) that make up Task Force: Gaea the passion of the storyteller was more than evident.
I am eagerly anticipating the next installment of this excellent series.
I love good storytelling. The actual subject of a story is secondary in my opinion. How you tell your story and your passion for it are the most important aspects of writing to me. A fantastic story can be ruined if put in the wrong hands. While reading this wonderfully thought-out story and the detailed characters (My favorite being Brandon Jeffries A.K.A. ZODIAK.) that make up Task Force: Gaea the passion of the storyteller was more than evident.
I am eagerly anticipating the next installment of this excellent series.
May 18, 2012
As far as interesting goes, it was a good book. It kept me on my toes, I was definitely surprised when each character began to figure out the prophecy, and it had a little bit of romance (with Apollo and Alkinoe) which is sort of a necessity for me. =]
It was sort of a difficult read for me because I don't know much about mythology besides the really common names like Zeus and some others. So while I really enjoyed it, it was a slow read because I was constantly trying to figure out what it all meant. That's not a bad thing, I just really have no background. Reading this book did instill some motivation on me to take a mythology class sometime in the next semester at school.
Overall though I really liked the story and I can not wait for the sequel!
It was sort of a difficult read for me because I don't know much about mythology besides the really common names like Zeus and some others. So while I really enjoyed it, it was a slow read because I was constantly trying to figure out what it all meant. That's not a bad thing, I just really have no background. Reading this book did instill some motivation on me to take a mythology class sometime in the next semester at school.
Overall though I really liked the story and I can not wait for the sequel!
March 20, 2015
This was an amazing book. It took awhile for me to get really invested, but once I did, it was a great journey to be on. Lots of rich world building. This was a much more adult universe than the Percy Jackson books, which I love immensely. I loved Apollo's journey and meeting the core four characters. Almost would've liked to have met them earlier, but I thinking about it, I feel you can't really enter their world without finding out how everything got to be the way it is. Trying to be as vague as possible here. Seriously though, I totally recommend this book.
June 6, 2012
Add one part mystery, one part intrigue, one part adventure. Throw in the Greek Gods of Myth and compelling heroes and you get Task Force Gaea: Finding Balance. An excellent first effort from author David Berger. Highly recommended for people who love adventure, ancient myths and heroes. Much anticipation for the next chapter.
February 23, 2014
Wow! What an adventure! As a fan of Greek and Roman mythology I enjoyed Mr. Berger's new spin on the gods. Especially found his use of flash back / flash forward interesting. not only can I see task Force Gaea turned into a graphic novel I would certainly read this with my kids in the hopes of getting them hooked on mythology, fantasy and science fiction.
Want to read
March 31, 2012I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
January 10, 2019
Halfway through I just couldn't keep on waiting for something interesting to happen. The author just keeps time jumping all over the place this book didn't know what it wanted to be, A history on Ancient Greek mythology? An Ancient Greek monster Index? A book of Ancient weird sounding names with very little actually happening besides name dropping? Or an attempt at Urban Fantasy which it just failed at completely?! I can't even tell and I was halfway through the audio-book I kept listening that long because I was just that bored. Felt like an attempt at re-making Hercules but with a different name and some morally grey question marks thrown in for good measure. It's all been done before and in a much better way. I was at first interested by the concept though I felt the story seemed very mediocre. But then as time went by. I realized he didn't evolve his characters at all they are all carbon copies with no real personalities. You feel no connection to the characters or what happens to them. Hell half the time I wasn't sure whom was whom. The author kept jumping from this time to that time and I just found I couldn't care less about what happened because none of it seemed even halfway interesting.
March 21, 2014
Could not finish (and that is so rare for me). In fact, I only made it through the first few chapters & then skimmed ahead to see if it got any better since so many of the reviews said it picks up when the book gets to modern day. It's a very tough read. First, it's wordy - very flowery and repetitive - and that holds true throughout the entire book. I also had to look up several words which I'm not accustomed to having to do. I love learning new words when I read but I don't want to break out the dictionary every page. And the word has to feel natural - most of these felt forced. Considering the premise is "modern-day heroes", it takes interminably long for the actual plot to get started. The entire first half of the book needs to be chopped down or somehow woven into the actual story. Referring specifically to just the opening chapter, I kept getting confused about Nyx because she's referred to differently every sentence. And I found the way Zeus would repeat everything she wordlessly said irritating. I'd rather read her thoughts in his head than hear him parrot everything back. Also, the point of view is all over the place. First Zeus, then Nxy, then Hermes, etc. I couldn't keep track of anyone. Truthfully, it read like a first draft. I think the idea has a lot of promise but it needs heavy editing first.
July 23, 2012
I have always enjoyed authors who have put their own spin on well-known fairy tales and myths. In his Task Force: Gaea, David Berger truly delivers an original view of Greek mythology with a modern twist. Comic book meets Mount Olympus as the present meets the past in this fascinating novel. The mythological aspect came through as well-researched and incredibly realistic, blending believably into a modern-day myth. The characters are dynamic, growing before our eyes and bringing the reader along on their personal and literal journeys. The plot is complex enough to keep me engaged with an interesting twist that really brings things together. If you’re looking for a book that is at times pensive, at times action-packed, and will stay with you even after you have finished, consider reading Task Force: Gaea, Finding Balance.
March 2, 2017
While I am fan of mythology I found this book merely interesting. It was worth the read and I did find myself looking a few things up. The characters for me however; were 1 or 2 dimensional. The gods were not quite god like (to many "human" failings). The humans were not as well developed as they could have been. The fallen or demi or god in human form gods had it to easy. Becoming human should not make them more logical, reasonable or intelligent.
January 18, 2015
If you loved the Percy Jackson series, or if you loved Clash Of The Titans (The orginal film with all the Harry Hamlin realness one can handle), you will love this book. Starting in the ancient past, David Berger crafts a tale of gods, mortals, and monsters that once you open the book you a hooked. I recommend this book to everyone who loves fantasy both traditional and urban, as well as those who like comics. It is a series worth picking up!!!!
December 7, 2015
Amazingly written!
This book is amazing. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Berger writes in a manner long lost to us. His method is classic, his prose eloquent, his character development second to none. I'm only on Chapter 5. I would be finished by now, had I not had to work. It's a great before bedtime story. Zeus is my favorite omnipresent being. Making him vulnerable is difficult to do - and Berger did it successfully. Can't wait to read the other masterpieces in this series.
This book is amazing. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Berger writes in a manner long lost to us. His method is classic, his prose eloquent, his character development second to none. I'm only on Chapter 5. I would be finished by now, had I not had to work. It's a great before bedtime story. Zeus is my favorite omnipresent being. Making him vulnerable is difficult to do - and Berger did it successfully. Can't wait to read the other masterpieces in this series.
June 8, 2014
it was a little myth heavy without enough explaining for me decent plot but the first part before we get to the plot of the book seemed too long and that time could have been spent developing the heroes.
December 11, 2012
Just starting
September 7, 2016
Not my genre of choice, but an a well constructed story which draws you in from page one.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews