The Skin Map

Nov 30, 2012 Werner rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Fans of adventure-oriented science fiction

Shelves: books-i-own, alternate-worlds, science-fiction

Note, Nov. 30, 2012 --I'm adding this note to correct an error in the review. The Bright Empires series is NOT to be a trilogy; Lawhead is projecting five volumes for it in all. My bad! :-)

In the 1920s, landscape photographer and amateur antiquarian Alfred Watkins became convinced that large numbers of pre-Roman sites in Great Britain (megaliths, mounds, hill forts, wells, causeways, sacred sites, etc.) were deliberately laid out along straight lines, for which he coined the term "ley lines," ru...more Note, Nov. 30, 2012 --I'm adding this note to correct an error in the review. The Bright Empires series is NOT to be a trilogy; Lawhead is projecting five volumes for it in all. My bad! :-)

In the 1920s, landscape photographer and amateur antiquarian Alfred Watkins became convinced that large numbers of pre-Roman sites in Great Britain (megaliths, mounds, hill forts, wells, causeways, sacred sites, etc.) were deliberately laid out along straight lines, for which he coined the term "ley lines," running across the landscape for long distances. His theory, elaborated in such writings as The Old Straight Track (1925) was that these were actual paths or trackways made by ancient Britons to facilitate travel at a time when the land was much more heavily forested than it is now. (For the most part, the archaeological community has dismissed the theory.) He did NOT ascribe any sort of paranormal significance to these lines; but beginning in 1969, occult enthusiasts began to seize on the concept and ascribe various sorts of mystical properties to ley lines, and (according to Lawhead's postscript to this novel) some researchers have claimed to find electromagnetic energy emanating from some ley lines in the UK and elsewhere. Building on this background, Lawhead's fictional premise is that these ley lines are the points along which the boundaries of other inter-dimensional alternate worlds, like touching soap bubbles, intersect with our world --and allow travel between the two. The Goodreads description above elaborates on this pretty accurately.

This is the first novel of a trilogy; and no spoilers here, but I'd advise having quick access to the second book, The Bone House, when you finish this one. :-) Lawhead wrote this, I believe, at a time when he was battling life-threatening cancer. Given that distraction, it's a testament to his prowess as a writer that the book is as good as it is. It has to be said, though, that the literary craftsmanship here is not up to his usual high standard. In places, the dialogue flow is off-kilter; there are some internal inconsistencies in plotting, the author occasionally clearly forgets a significant detail, and once a wooden staircase changes to stone a few pages later (and no, paranormal processes weren't involved! :-) ). I'd say that most of the characters aren't as well developed as they are in much of Lawhead's fiction, and Kit isn't as compelling a character as other Lawhead heroes I've encountered.

Nonetheless, the book has some strengths. The subject matter is right up my alley; the plotting is exciting and engaging, with good guys and gals to root for and a ruthless villain to root against; Lawhead makes good use of local color and detail to evoke historical settings, and his tendency to create strong female characters who are active rather than passive, and well able to look the male characters in the eye and meet them as equals, is as much in evidence as ever. As the Thomas Nelson label suggests, it's free from bad language and sexual content. Evanelical author Lawhead treats the faith of some of his characters sympathetically, and clearly recognizes the hand of Providence in the tale's events; but his spiritual content is low-key and naturally integrated with the storyline. And his plot developments managed to take me by surprise several times --sometimes to my pleasure and sometimes to my consternation! :-)

This is a relatively quick read, a page-turner that flows easily; and having come to the end, there are still a LOT of unanswered questions.
So, as soon as possible, it's going to be on to Book 2 of the trilogy!(less)

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Oct 02, 2012 Mike (the Paladin) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

Okay 3.5. I'm to some extent a Lawhead fan. He's written some books I've liked greatly though he's capable (sometimes) of writing some very dry prose. It happens.

I saw this book, read the synopsis and noted it as one I wanted to read some years ago.

And then forgot it.

I saw it mentioned here, a few days ago, said "oh yeah, I remember wanting to read that". It was in audio on the library's web sight so I downloaded it. I must say it's not what I expected from the synopsis I read. It's much more......more

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May 13, 2013 Hazel rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, sci-fi-fantasy

I have mixed feelings about this book. Though I really liked it, the pacing was off at times with the different storylines. There are several stories to follow: Kit, Mina, Burleigh, Flinders-Petrie & Sir Henry/Cosimo. Not to mention all the tertiary characters these people meet in their travels. At the beginning of the book I found Mina's story to be the msot interesting. Then Flinders-Petrie's story fascinated me. And that's where I was left at the end of the book.

As a main character Kit i...more

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Aug 01, 2011 Seak (Bryce L.) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-review, 2011, fantasy

Kit is your average Londoner dealing with an average Londoner's complications, more specifically, the metro system. One problem leads to the next and on his way to his girlfriend's, he finds himself in a dark alley, Stane Way, but this dark alley's not as mysterious or treacherous as you may think, Kit ends up finding his great-grandfather for the first time...who's not looking as old as he probably should be.

Thus begins the adventure for the Skin Map, which contains directions through the ley l...more Kit is your average Londoner dealing with an average Londoner's complications, more specifically, the metro system. One problem leads to the next and on his way to his girlfriend's, he finds himself in a dark alley, Stane Way, but this dark alley's not as mysterious or treacherous as you may think, Kit ends up finding his great-grandfather for the first time...who's not looking as old as he probably should be.

Thus begins the adventure for the Skin Map, which contains directions through the ley lines that can transport a person from one location to another and even through different times.

There are two main storylines that we follow, at least at first. One takes us with Kit and his adventures with his great-grandfather and the other follows Kit's girlfriend Wilhelmina, who uses her 21st century know-how to influence her new situation as she finds herself by the side of the road in 17th century Bohemia.

While I enjoyed The Skin Map [US] [UK], it's not without it's faults. I guess this is where I should explain my rating system a bit because it really applies with this book. I'd say a perfectly executed and well-written book will get a 3 out of 5 stars. There's really nothing wrong with a 3 star book. More than that, it's got to do things that impress me, such as great characterization, a unique plot or magic system, etc.

The Skin Map is a great example of the perfect 3 star book. It's well done, I can't really say there's anything wrong with it. But then again, that's kind of the problem. The Skin Map is very formulaic. Everything's in it's spot, nice and tidy and there's not much in terms of surprises.

This aspect also hinders the sense of danger that's hinted at when the antagonists enter the picture. I can't say I was ever really worried when they were around even though I was told they were bad news.

The Skin Map is also not a gritty book, full of blood and violence. I like this every now and then - I've grown a bit wary of the trend where everyone is a terrible person who's only looking out for their own interests. This was a nice change.

Why Read The Skin Map?

Overall, I had a fun time reading The Skin Map. It's a light, straight-forward, romp through the 17th century and other parts of history. The sense of place is great, but don't expect many surprises. If you want well-crafted, this is it.

3 out of 5 Stars (Liked it)(less)

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Mar 11, 2012 Cameron Brooks rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, fantasy, europe, history, christian, author

The story opens on Kit, a 27 year-old professional headed to his girlfriend's place on a pleasant Sunday outing. (Now, I didn't think anything could dampen my enthusiasm for visiting London one day, but Kit's misadventure through England's most notoriously convoluted transit system came uncomfortably close.) Happily, though, the Tube is soon exchanged for ley travel--much bigger and more adventurous, certainly more dangerous, and arguably easier to navigate! Throw in a hot commodity, a nefarious...more The story opens on Kit, a 27 year-old professional headed to his girlfriend's place on a pleasant Sunday outing. (Now, I didn't think anything could dampen my enthusiasm for visiting London one day, but Kit's misadventure through England's most notoriously convoluted transit system came uncomfortably close.) Happily, though, the Tube is soon exchanged for ley travel--much bigger and more adventurous, certainly more dangerous, and arguably easier to navigate! Throw in a hot commodity, a nefarious creep with his mob of iniquitous brutes, a handful of innocent mistakes, and the reader is swept into a lighthearted odyssey in pursuit of the skin map before it falls into the grasp of said creep.[return][return]This novel is a pleasure to read, partly due to Lawhead's imaginative storytelling, and partly to his choice of interesting cultural settings. Here in Canada, our entertainment is usually presented through an American lens; so reading The Skin Map from the lead characters' British perspective was a refreshing change. Discovering colourful British slang was also part of the fun. In chapter one, for example, I spiced up my vocabulary with "skint" (having no money), "up sticks" (to relocate), "sprogs" (children) and "old-timey" (old-fashioned).[return][return]The characters are entertaining, quirky and enjoyable to watch along their journey. If I have one complaint, it would be minimal character development. The leads, namely our amateur ley travelers, don't exhibit any compelling inward struggle given the mind-bending nature of the experience--especially without a map to point the way home. Kit only begins to rise from the page in three dimensions near the story's end. The villain, meanwhile, is also not a dynamic force, as he doesn't appear to have a motive besides pure, self-serving evil.[return][return]I rate the book as 3 out of 5 stars for two reasons: 1) minimal character development, and 2) the story doesn't give me the feeling of an epic, when compared to some of Stephen Lawhead's other books. Still, I recommend "The Skin Map" to Lawhead fans and anyone else who'd enjoy an easy-to-read adventure through space and time. I look forward to the next Bright Empires novel.[return][return]A complimentary copy of "The Skin Map" was provided to me by Booksneeze as part of the blogger review program.(less)

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Dec 22, 2011 Brenten Gilbert rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: faith, fiction, reviews-booksneeze

my history with Stephen Lawhead isn’t the best… a long time ago, (when i was but a wee lad) i bought three Lawhead books from a book club… Taliesin, Merlin, and Arthur… i had heard that he was a good author and i guessed based on the titles, that i’d be interested in the books… unfortunately, i could never get into them and i doubt i made it past the first three chapters of the first book, despite trying several times… and, as it turns out, those books are part of a larger series, the Pendragon...more

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Apr 14, 2013 Steve Trower rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I should preface this review by saying that parts of the story take place in locations I know, that things like leylines, prehistoric monuments and English mythology have long fascinated me, and that when you mix these things up with a little time and inter-dimensional travel, you’re going to have a book that I’ll at least take a look at in Waterstones.

And the opening line would pretty much make the sale:

'Had he but known that before the day was over he would discover the hidden dimensions of th...more I should preface this review by saying that parts of the story take place in locations I know, that things like leylines, prehistoric monuments and English mythology have long fascinated me, and that when you mix these things up with a little time and inter-dimensional travel, you’re going to have a book that I’ll at least take a look at in Waterstones.

And the opening line would pretty much make the sale:

'Had he but known that before the day was over he would discover the hidden dimensions of the universe, Kit might have been better prepared. At least, he would have brought an umbrella.'

A great opening line for sure, but did the story continue in a similar vein? Well, for the most part, yes. The story is a cocktail of historical, adventure, science fiction and fantasy. It tells the story of Kit Livingstone, who finds himself suddenly thrust into the family business of travelling across time and between parallel Earths by way of the extensive ley-line network, the only map of which known to exist was tattooed on the back of an earlier ley-traveller.

It also tells the story of Kit’s girlfriend, Mina, who follows him only to end up in Prague and invent Starbucks; I found these bits a little tedious at times, but Kit’s efforts to track her down (which soon got sidetracked by the efforts to track the Skin Map down) were fun enough to make up for it.

I have to admit that when Cosimo first appeared, I was reminded of something from a Thursday Next novel but without the jokes; and as for the whole ley-travelling thing, I wonder if Mr Lawhead has seen Jumper? They even have the same secret hideout near the Egyptian pyramids.

None of which detracts from what is, overall, a great story told well, with the possible exception of the slightly out of place ending. Neat twist, or deus ex machina? I’m not sure, but I’m willing to wait for volume two to get it explained to my satisfaction.

On the plus side, the info-dumps, such as they are, fit nicely into the story thanks to Kit’s utter ignorance of what is going on; and for all the time and dimension hopping and multiple viewpoint characters, the story was not hard to keep track of.

Definitely worth a read if you like historical fiction, adventure stories, time travel, or just Stephen Lawhead.(less)

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Jan 26, 2013 Shawn Spjut rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Bright Empire Series; Stephen R. Lawhead; Thomas Nelson

The Skin Map; 2010;

I’ve been a Stephen Lawhead fan since I first read his Albion Trilogy (Thomas Nelson) back in the ’90′s, and this sentiment was later reinforced with his Pendragon Cycle. So when I heard he’d come out with another series; one that took a step back away from the historical, and leaned more towards the fantasy, I could hardly wait.

Now keep in mind, even if the author hadn’t been Lawhead, the whole idea of realm travel an...more

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Dec 02, 2012 Beverly rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

My thoughts:
I wasn't sure what to think of this book as I started it. I had not read the jacket of the book or the Amazon blurb listed above and was going into it blind. I was pleasantly surprised.
This is a complex story of multi-dimentional time travel, alternate realities, and magic. The characters are wonderfully ordinary and yet extraordinary at the same time. Each seeming to discover themselves and their strengths by the sheer need to adapt and survive.
I enjoyed the story and the characters...more

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Oct 19, 2012 Avry15 rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook, conspiracy, historical, reviewed, sci-fi

I'm very excited upon receipt of this audiobook, the summary and the cover is superb, what more the contents, right?

FYI, THE SKIN MAP is my very first audiobook, and probably my last. Don't get me wrong, Simon Bubb, the voice behind it was great, his voice is strong, rich and clear; he could easily change the tone/rhythm according to feelings and the characters, it's easy to lose one's self listening to his voice, transported in the world, Stephen Lawhead created. BUT, audio is still very differ...more I'm very excited upon receipt of this audiobook, the summary and the cover is superb, what more the contents, right?

FYI, THE SKIN MAP is my very first audiobook, and probably my last. Don't get me wrong, Simon Bubb, the voice behind it was great, his voice is strong, rich and clear; he could easily change the tone/rhythm according to feelings and the characters, it's easy to lose one's self listening to his voice, transported in the world, Stephen Lawhead created. BUT, audio is still very different from an actual book, and in my case, where I don't have an audio player, besides the laptop, I sometimes got tired, and the story dragged long enough for my excitement to ebb.

The SKIN MAP has a very intriguing storyline. I love how Kit found the “portal”. He was late for a date with his girlfriend and he figured he'll take a shortcut only to find himself transported in a different place/period. There he meets his great-grandfather, Cosimo. Cosimo asked him for help to find the Skin Map which was tattooed on a man's chest that is an intricate code of roadmap symbols, which bad guys out there are also looking for. But Kit refuses, and goes back to London to explain to her girlfriend, Wilhelmina (Mina). In order to support his reason, he brought her to the portal, but they were separated through making the transportation (“leap), he meets his grandfather again while Mina found herself in Prague (1600)

Now Kit has no choice but to help Cosimo, and find where Mina landed. Add to that, they should waste no time for the Burley Men are following them to use it for their evil plans. Will they find it and Mina before it's too late? And what secrets do the Skin Map has?

There are many perspective on the book (he loss me sometimes), but I guess I was more interested in Mina's story, how she and her partner are the first ones to build a coffeehouse in Prague and probably in the world. I enjoyed the adventure and the quest for the Skin Map. Lawhead gives us the right twists and turns in the story, I was there when the characters discover more of the missing map. The different languages and the culture adds flavor to the story. Some of the characters are flat, some are well-humored and good witted.

What's the down part of this book is that, Lawhead failed to give us the main plot at the right time; it took a while for the main storyline to progress. I mean subplots are not at all bad, but one could only focus a few minutes. The narration seems to go on forever (if not for the changing tone, I may have slept). There are lots of things to cover and explain, but it wasn't done. I hope the ley lines are more explained. I'm hoping for a climax, but having it wasn't really bad. The ending, although left in such a way that makes one say, “Is it over? But we're just starting” (I know you understand the feeling lol)…has somewhat laid a good start-up for the sequel.

I do believe that they are correct in saying that The Bright Empire Series is one to look out for. The plot/storyline will really be great. And I can already see this book, going to the big screen, where there will be more actions, effects and adventures to see. I may read the second book in the series and see if it got better- read the book and not the audio. Maybe it's just the audio, so I will read more from this author in print.>: D

Overall, Skin Map, if you have patience to go enough a few chapters, will leave you wanting for more. It's a great alternate reality that will make you wish it's the reality you are in. An infusion of secrets, conspiracies, time-travel, treasure hunt and ancient history, Skin Map is a book any of the said things-fanatic will enjoy.

Also, I think this book isn't at all Christian-based, no mention on anything spiritual.

Disclosure: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising." (less)

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May 06, 2012 Lynnda Ell rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

It’s much harder to write a negative review than a positive one. However, I’ve put off writing this one long enough. Thomas Nelson sent me a free copy of the unabridged audio edition of The Skin Map with the understanding that I would write an honest evaluation of it, so here it is…

Issue number one: the plot. The Skin Map begins with both heroes and villains searching for a hidden map of the locations for moving around in time and space. About halfway through the book, Stephen Lawhead decides th...more It’s much harder to write a negative review than a positive one. However, I’ve put off writing this one long enough. Thomas Nelson sent me a free copy of the unabridged audio edition of The Skin Map with the understanding that I would write an honest evaluation of it, so here it is…

Issue number one: the plot. The Skin Map begins with both heroes and villains searching for a hidden map of the locations for moving around in time and space. About halfway through the book, Stephen Lawhead decides the race to get the skin map is just a smoke screen for the real prize. He does not foreshadow this plot change in any way and only the villains know the true goal even at the end of the book. Finally, when the hero’s situation at the end is hopeless, one of the characters in a subplot rescues him quite melodramatically (think cavalry coming over the hill). The plot disappointed me.

Issue number two: the style. Mr. Lawhead wrote this book in the style of Charles Dickens, Jane Austen, and George Eliot. Since I like A Tale of Two Cities, Pride and Prejudice, and Adam Bede, I anticipated adding another author to this list. The style didn’t work. I kept waiting for the ebb and flow of the characters’ lives to draw me in and capture me with the events of their lives. That never occurred. Almost everything felt flat and uninteresting. (One of the subplots was better than the main plot.)

Issue number three: the characters. I’ve alluded to this in the other two issues. Even in a melodrama, the heroes are heroic. In The Skin Map, the heroes bumble into and out of one dire situation after another, never getting anything right and losing at every turn of the plot. The villains are appropriately villainous, but all of the characters appear to be vague and moved around rather like the pieces on a board game.

The technical aspects of the audio edition met my expectations. I listened to it on a 900-mile road trip, which was just about right for this 11-hour book. The reader’s pacing and style are good. If you buy this book, be prepared for English accent and pronunciation.
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Feb 15, 2012 Christine Edison rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shades of Doctor Who and a classic adventure tale, albeit one that moves a little more slowly. I enjoyed this parallel worlds tale, although I didn't like the characters at first.

Wimpy Kit Livingstone gets lost on his way to meet his mopey girlfriend Wilhemina and walks into a parallel world, where he meets his great-grandfather, Cosimo. When he returns to the "home world," he discovers that what felt like an hour or two to him meant a lapse of more than 8 hours, and Wilhemina is upset he's so...more

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Jan 11, 2012 Diana Campos rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: physical-shelf

The Skin Map by Stephen R. Lawhead (2010) was my very first audiobook and I must say, I will repeat the experience. Simon Bubb, the person chosen to read the book, is an extremely good reader and in changing is voice to interpret different characters and their different state through the story he can make us travel there and almost see what’s happening in front of our eyes.
Now, about the story. When I first read the synopse of this book I was interested in reading it, it appealed to me. The one...more

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Dec 16, 2011 Fred Warren rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: science-fiction

Kit Livingstone is having trouble negotiating the London Underground subway system. Service in his neighborhood is limited on weekends, and the fare machines aren’t taking his card. As he plods to a connecting station in the rain, he encounters a strange old man who claims to be his great-grandfather, Cosimo–the great-grandfather who disappeared without a trace back in 1893. Kit dismisses him as a drunk or lunatic, but the old man knows things about Kit and his family that nobody outside the fam...more Kit Livingstone is having trouble negotiating the London Underground subway system. Service in his neighborhood is limited on weekends, and the fare machines aren’t taking his card. As he plods to a connecting station in the rain, he encounters a strange old man who claims to be his great-grandfather, Cosimo–the great-grandfather who disappeared without a trace back in 1893. Kit dismisses him as a drunk or lunatic, but the old man knows things about Kit and his family that nobody outside the family could know. If that wasn’t odd enough, the stranger leads Kit down a nearby alley, and they emerge in a different part of England, in an entirely different time.

It’s a bit much to absorb all at once. Cosimo has apparently discovered the secret of traveling along ley lines, mysterious pathways of force that connect ancient landmarks around the world. Depending on where and when you enter the network, travel across time, space, and alternate dimensions is also possible–and it seems Kit has the innate ability to detect and access the focal points of ley energy. Cosimo wants to enlist Kit in some sort of quest involving ley travel, but Kit needs some time to think about it. He returns home and tries to explain his remarkable experience to his girlfriend, Wilhelmina, who is understandably skeptical. He takes her back to the alley in an attempt to duplicate his trip with Cosimo. He succeeds, mostly, but Wilhelmina is separated from Kit during the transition, her destination unknown. In a panic, Kit seeks out Cosimo, but finding someone lost in the ley network is very difficult and largely a matter of trial and error. They’ll need some help, in the form of the only existing map of Earth’s ley system. There are a few other problems, though:

•The map is tattooed on a parchment made from human skin.
•The map has been cut into pieces.
•Nobody knows where all the pieces are.
•Other people are searching for the Skin Map. Big, nasty people.

The one certainty is that Kit’s life will never be quite the same. He’s exchanged his humdrum London routine for something quite remarkable–and more dangerous than he can possibly imagine.

The Skin Map is the first installment of Stephen R. Lawhead’s Bright Empires series, planned to encompass five volumes. He’ll need every one of them. The scope of this story is as broad as time itself and spans several alternate universes. If the first book is any indication, we’re in for a rollicking roller-coaster adventure full of wonder and mystery. We follow Kit, Wilhelmina, and their friends to 1600′s England, Prague, Macau, and finally to Ancient Egypt, where the hunt for the Skin Map takes on a deadly urgency. All sorts of interesting things happen along the way. We meet people familiar from our own history and others completely novel. Kit learns what it takes to fit in among different cultures and times, and it’s not as easy as he expects. The surprisingly resourceful Wilhelmina partners with a German baker to found the first coffeehouse in the Holy Roman Empire. We also discover the meaning, origin, and tragic history of the Skin Map.

Lawhead bounces the story at a quick pace among various key locations in the story, which can be a little disorienting, but it mirrors the characters’ experiences. The diverse settings are described in vivid, affectionate detail. I liked that the author didn’t gloss over some practical difficulties of time travel, including language barriers. Some of his characters seemed almost too conveniently equipped to cope with the challenges of their unexpected jaunts across time and space, but the story also implies a larger hand at work guiding their travels–not God, precisely, at least not to the characters’ understanding, but they do acknowledge a “Providence” steering events in an unknown direction and helping them escape from tight spots. The ley lines themselves are a genuine mystery of our world, and Lawhead uses them to good effect as a springboard for this delightful tale.

Suitable for teens and up. If you enjoy historical adventures, tales of time travel, the Sherlock Holmes mysteries, or science fiction romps along the lines of Doctor Who, you’ll have a wonderful time reading The Skin Map.

>>This review is based upon a copy of the book provided to me free of charge by the publisher, a courtesy I appreciate, but which does not guarantee my recommendation. I strive to evaluate every book I review purely on its intrinsic merits.<<

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Dec 12, 2011 Luanne Ollivier rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Stephen Lawhead is an author whose name I was familiar with, but hadn't yet sampled. When I received an offer to listen to his book The Skin Map (A Bright Empires novel) it was the tag line that convinced me to say yes.

"It is the ultimate quest for the ultimate treasure. Chasing a map tattooed on human skin. Across an omniverse of intersecting realities. To unravel the future of the future."

Kit Livingstone is on his way to visit his girlfriend Wilhemina. Somewhere along the way, he takes a short...more Stephen Lawhead is an author whose name I was familiar with, but hadn't yet sampled. When I received an offer to listen to his book The Skin Map (A Bright Empires novel) it was the tag line that convinced me to say yes.

"It is the ultimate quest for the ultimate treasure. Chasing a map tattooed on human skin. Across an omniverse of intersecting realities. To unravel the future of the future."

Kit Livingstone is on his way to visit his girlfriend Wilhemina. Somewhere along the way, he takes a shortcut through an unfamiliar alley in London, England and ends up.... Well, he's not quite sure where he ends up. But the man who greets him by name says he is his great grandfather Cosimo and he's been hoping Kit would show up. Cosimo spins a fantastic tale of ley lines, time travel and alternate worlds. Kit listens, but decides to head back to his own time. He finally gets to Wilhemina's apartment. She's quite angry at Kit for turning up almost 8 hours late and doesn't believe his reason, so Kit decides to show her instead. He find the alley again and makes the leap into the other world. But....Wilhemina loses her grip on Kit and doesn't make the jump. She is lost...somewhere. Kit rejoins Cosimo and his peers. They are seeking to keep The Skin Map - a tattooed version of the ley lines and their entry points safe. Kit just wants to find Mina.

I thought this was a great premise. Although I don't read a lot of sci-fi, the concept of ley lines is indeed fact based and the cause of much speculation in history.

The reader, Simon Bubb, was fantastic. He conveyed many different characters, conjuring up separate personalities with his voice. His reading style is even and measured. Bubb is British, but I had no problem understanding his accent. A five for the reader.

Although Kit is the main character, I found myself more drawn to Mina. She lands in 17th century Prague. She seems to assimilate much easier than Kit and embraces her new life. I found myself really looking forward to 'her' chapters.Kit seems more unsure of himself and content to follow.

I found the book very slow in the beginning. While I appreciated the historic detail Lawhead has infused his story with, it dragged for me after awhile. While I didn't fast forward, I would have been flipping forward if I had a book in hand. Again, the concept is great and I was looking forward to what would be found in these alternate universes. I kept waiting for things to happen - some action. I did get my wish close to the end of the book, but it wasn't a satisfying finish for me. I had the feeling that this first book was simply setting things up for future books in this planned five book series.

So, for me a solid listen. I'm curious as to what Lawhead has planned - the second book, The Bone House was released in September 2011, but it's not at the top of my must have list.
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Dec 06, 2011 Melanie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, review-copy

I have become a increasingly tired, or perhaps suspicious of books intended for a series. I guess I feel I have been burnt enough times with either a promising series that ends flat, or like it was with the Skin Map- by Stephen Lawhead, where the author sort of assumes the readers will hang on for the long haul without truly endearing us to the characters, or giving us enough of the story to keep the reader wanting more.
I must say that Lawheads writing is quite good. (I especially love reading...more I have become a increasingly tired, or perhaps suspicious of books intended for a series. I guess I feel I have been burnt enough times with either a promising series that ends flat, or like it was with the Skin Map- by Stephen Lawhead, where the author sort of assumes the readers will hang on for the long haul without truly endearing us to the characters, or giving us enough of the story to keep the reader wanting more.
I must say that Lawheads writing is quite good. (I especially love reading British writing, which he executes well) He develops the concept of ley lines and time travel well, sets the backgrounds up perfectly. The problem for me was, there were just too many questions that were never resolved in this book. Kit runs into his great grandfather who would like Kit to join him on the quest to find the skin map. And yes, it’s gross! The Skin map is made of human skin, and no, it isn’t on a still living body. (Though we never find out in this book how it went from tattoos on a living person to some sort of nasty parchment) The skin map has been divided and good and bad people are all looking for it. The thing is, I didn’t get a sense as to what was a stake should the good guys fail.
You see, before we get that background, or the chance to see the scope of this, Kit loses his cold girlfriend among the Ley lines and must set out to find her, in the millions of places she could have ended up. The problem is, I didn’t care about them as a couple, and the both seemed the better for this separation. I will probably read the second book The Bone House, which was released in Fall 2011, but only if it gets enough positive reviews, and only if it answers more questions than this first book did. I am rating this a 3 star book, which really does mean that it was okay. The writer is quite talented, I just expect the first book in a series to really stand out and set the character foundation a little better than this did. I received a review copy from the book sneeze program.
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Nov 20, 2011 Nora St Laurent rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Kit Livingstone and his girlfriend (only because he didn’t have the time to find another) Wilhelmina are watching life pass them by. Until one day Kit is in the middle of a day where everything is going wrong, he starts to walk because the transit system is not working and is caught up in a storm. When things settle he runs into a man who says he’s his great-grand father. How could that be? He’d never met this man before. He turns to flee when Cosimo tells him, “I need your help with a project....more Kit Livingstone and his girlfriend (only because he didn’t have the time to find another) Wilhelmina are watching life pass them by. Until one day Kit is in the middle of a day where everything is going wrong, he starts to walk because the transit system is not working and is caught up in a storm. When things settle he runs into a man who says he’s his great-grand father. How could that be? He’d never met this man before. He turns to flee when Cosimo tells him, “I need your help with a project. It will be the adventure of a life time – of several lifetimes. But it will change yours forever.” Cosimo has discovered a way to travel through space, time and alternate universes using ley lines, which are forces of energy that are intersections between worlds.

Kit doesn’t know what to think. Was this real or a dream? He has to go home and sort this out. Cosimo lets him. He needs a willing partner who believes in the search for the Skin Map which will lead them to “the secret of the universe or something even more significant and momentous? He told Kit.” Should he join the quest to find the Skin Map? He gathered that it’s a treasure map everyone wants because it’s the road map to the ley-lines. What would he do?

Thanks to BookSneeze® who provided me with a complimentary copy of this amazing audio book. The man reading had a British accent and read with so much expression and created different voices for the many characters I felt as if I was there. The reader brought The Skin Map to life for me. It was a very unique experience. I really enjoyed. I've never read anything so riveting and illuminating as The Skin Map. Stephen Lawhead is a brilliant and imaginative writer. I liked his well timed sense of humor and his quirky characters. I liked his main characters and his sub-characters some are compassionate, quick witted and others are full of surprises.

The author starts the story in current time and whisks them back to Sept 1666 where life is quite primitive. The time travel is through ley lines. Kit is dropped into Cosimo and Sir Henry's world this way. They both keep Kit in the dark about their search for treasure. The author reveals things to Kit and the reader at the same time. I liked that but poor Kit gets in trouble because he doesn't understand the rules and what this mission is all about. I was so captivated by the adventure and search for the skin map, time travel, and them running from the bad guys I felt as if I might run into Kit during my daily routine. They were that believable.

I could see this series as an amazing big screen movie. This author did a great job of creating visual scenes and a setting I could picture and feel part of. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series. These books are a little expensive because they are in hard back but I’m telling you they are worth every dollar you spend to read this master story teller. I highly recommend this great adventure.

Nora St. Laurent
The Book Club Network
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Nov 14, 2011 Rachel Thomson rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Kit Livingstone, like so many heroes of so many stories, is living a vaguely dissatisfying life when we first meet him attempting to navigate the London transit system on his way to meet Wilhelmina Klug, described in book blurbs as Kit’s “unpleasant girlfriend.” But it doesn’t take long for the unexpected to charge in, starting when Kit meets the last person he would have expected to meet even if he’d been entertaining expectations of meeting anyone: his great-grandfather Cosimo, who disappeared...more Kit Livingstone, like so many heroes of so many stories, is living a vaguely dissatisfying life when we first meet him attempting to navigate the London transit system on his way to meet Wilhelmina Klug, described in book blurbs as Kit’s “unpleasant girlfriend.” But it doesn’t take long for the unexpected to charge in, starting when Kit meets the last person he would have expected to meet even if he’d been entertaining expectations of meeting anyone: his great-grandfather Cosimo, who disappeared two generations ago and has never been seen since.

Cosimo, who is shockingly spry for a man presumed dead for at least a decade or two, wants Kit’s help with something. What, we’re not entirely sure–but it involves navigating ley lines, intersections between times, worlds, and dimensions that only a select few people know exist.

One of those select people is a nasty piece of work called Lord Burleigh, whose men travel armed and keep a prehistoric cave lion on a leash. Burleigh, like Cosimo, is trying to find the pieces of a detailed map of the ley lines–the Skin Map, so called because it was once tattooed on the torso of the most far-ranging traveler of all.

Cosimo’s plans are quick to go awry, and Kit is pulled into an adventure that takes him — and us — across worlds. From London in the 1600s to a crypt in 19th-century Egypt, from a Chinese tattoo parlour to the courts of Bohemia, The Skin Map travels a rich landscape of history and imagination.

My thoughts about this book are as varied as its locales. The beginning of the story (when Kit meets an eccentric old man who teaches him to cross between dimensions) reminded me very much of The Paradise War, though the similarities don’t last long. I found the narrative style entertaining and almost old-fashioned, especially in its use of omniscient POV, so prevalent in older books but used less often now.

Lawhead’s attention to the small setting details — foods, dress, smells, textures, temperatures — is excellent as always. His ability to transport readers to another time and place is on display here, and it’s nice to see him ranging beyond the Celtic worlds to bring places like Egypt and China to life. Locations are drawn with an artist’s eye and a terrific sense of atmosphere (Black Mixen Tump was a highlight of the read for me).

As for the plot itself, it was less bizarre and perhaps less original than I had expected, although the ley lines themselves are fascinating (and I enjoyed the essay at the end that explains where Lawhead got the concept). At times I found the plot inconsistent, and what came as huge revelations to Kit– concepts of time and dimension travel — seemed pretty standard to me. For most of the book, I was more engaged in the side plots — the adventures of Wilhelmina, who has been accidentally sent to 17th-century Prague and becomes a ragingly successful businesswoman there, and of Arthur Flinders-Petrie, the Man Who Is Map — than in Kit’s story.

But just when I wasn’t sure how I felt about the book, a few twists at the end left me eager to read more.

The author says of this series that it is “the most challenging work I’ve ever undertaken,” alternately exhilarating and terrifying. I am not sure it lives up to the hype — yet. The story isn’t over, and while The Skin Map may not be everything it could have been as an opening, I have high hopes that The Bone House, Book 2, will make this story the adventure I’m waiting for.
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Oct 03, 2011 Books for Me - Linda rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011, free-publisher-review-copy

Kit is an average Londoner who has average problems. He isn't really happy with anything in his life but nothing is horrible either. Then, after a series of very bad luck on the metro system or "tube" he bumps into someone he never expected to see -- his great grandfather. Of course, after doing the math the man should have been over 125 years old. Suddenly, Kit finds himself with his grandfather in another world in another time using the ley lines (dimension and time jumps). Together, they go o...more

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Sep 15, 2011 Joy Felix rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This was an entertaining story - about time-travel, dimensions and different worlds. It's funny in places and suspenseful in others. The ending takes a twist that leaves you wondering what happens next. All in all, great for a beach read and fantastic classic escapism. I'm about to download the next one, so wanted to go back and reread a bit of this to review the complicated character web.

That is my biggest complaint in the book - there are a lot of characters and keeping them straight is diffi...more

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Aug 03, 2011 James Korsmo added it

Thanks to Thomas Nelson for the review copy. This book is the first in a new series by the prolific author Stephen Lawhead. The concept is a relatively intriguing one: London-resident Kit Livingstone sumbles on a "Ley line," an invisible portal between different universes of our multiverse. He is apparently possessive of some faculty that allows him to do this. And things get immediately stranger when he meets his great-grandfather, who helps him understand this new ability and this trans-univer...more

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Jul 20, 2011 Phyllis Wheeler rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy-sci-fi

Stephen Lawhead starts off his new Bright Empires series with this book, The Skin Map. The title refers to a grisly artifact: a parchment made from the skin of a man. This man was an experienced time/space traveler across alternate universes who had his torso tatooed with markings that served as a map in case he would get lost. (I was put off by the grisly part, but decided to forge ahead anyway, and I am very glad I did. There was nothing gory about this book.)

An alternate universe, by the way,...more

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Jul 16, 2011 Birgit rated it 3 of 5 stars

In The Skin Map, the first installment of a new series, Stephen R. Lawhead introduces the reader to a world of time travel that's not just plain fantasy or science fiction, but a sort of Celtic historical fiction at its core.
After Kit meets a man, who claims to be his great-grandfather, he soon finds himself traveling through the centuries not only to find the legendary skin map, but also to search for his girlfriend Mina who got lost in transit, so to say, after he tried to show her how he trav...more

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May 29, 2011 Sara rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Skin Map
By: Stephen R. Lawhead

I requested this book because it looked like an interesting read. I looked forward to reading it. I started reading this book and it was a little different than I had imagined. Even though I was looking forward to something a little different I was not disappointed. The Skin Map is full of mystery and very sci-fi. The twists and turns through out this book will take you on an adventure of a lifetime. You will not want to put this book down. The main character, K...more

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Oct 12, 2010 Jeannie Mancini rated it 4 of 5 stars

Skin Map by Stephen Lawhead
(4 Star Review for Amazon, Goodreads, Librarything.com)

Time Leaping Along the Ley Lines

Stephen Lawhead’s new book Skin Map, the first in an upcoming series called Bright Empires, is a bit of a deviation from his usual style of fiction. I think it’s important to up front, not compare it to his other works and normal literary style, in order to not get disappointed. This is a light, fun, sci-fi adventure story, not a lot of deep substance or description. Once in that fra...more Skin Map by Stephen Lawhead
(4 Star Review for Amazon, Goodreads, Librarything.com)

Time Leaping Along the Ley Lines

Stephen Lawhead’s new book Skin Map, the first in an upcoming series called Bright Empires, is a bit of a deviation from his usual style of fiction. I think it’s important to up front, not compare it to his other works and normal literary style, in order to not get disappointed. This is a light, fun, sci-fi adventure story, not a lot of deep substance or description. Once in that frame of mind, readers will enjoy the concept of what Lawhead is trying to create. The book is also definitely an intro book, a sort of outline of the lead characters and their background history. You will learn who they are, what their part in the scheme will be, and where they are located in time and place along the ley line journeys. Do not expect a wrapped up story, this first installment really does leave you hanging, and literally is just the tip of the iceberg with the basic players and a core plot set-up that will evolve with more significance in the coming installments.

At first I was disappointed in the simple writing and at times unsophisticated dialog, and because some characters appeared to be locked into one place not moving. But as I got further into the book I realized what the author was attempting, and with that knew I had to be patient for him to invent a starting point that would obviously be followed up with more in-depth scenarios later in the future books.

The plot of the Skin Map revolves around Kit Livingstone who is one day out racing to the London train station to meet his girlfriend Mina. Along the way he is stopped by an old man who calls Kit by his real name, Cosimo. Stunned and stopping to a halt, he finds a ragged old man who claims to be his great grandfather, and is fed a ridiculous story of how a person can travel through time and space and into otherworld dimensions. Kit refuses to believe this nonsense as the old man tugs him along a dark alley, when a sudden and violent wind storm surrounds them. Within seconds, Kit finds himself thrown to the ground, in 16th century England. His great grandfather, also named Cosimo, then introduces the world of ley line travel to Kit, leaving Kit rather in denial, yet fascinated. Still unwilling to participate in this hoax, he returns to modern day London, arrives at Mina’s apartment 8 hours later, and decides to prove to her what just happened to him in order for her to not be angry he was late for their date. As he pulls her down that same mysterious dark alley, the storm comes once again, and although they were holding hands, she ends up in 17th century Prague, and Kit ends up back in old London, frantic that he has apparently lost his girl!

Lawhead slowly introduces various characters, letting us know who the good guys and the bad guys are. He begins to weave stories within stories in each place in time that will all come together in future volumes. When you are reading the book you soon realize that all is not going to connect in this first book, and one must be patient. I totally enjoyed the ley line theory, and after getting half way through, started to chose characters I liked and the mini stories within that they got involved in. Visiting 17th Century Prague (Austria then), 16th century London, and both ancient and Victorian Egypt was fun to armchair travel to! At times I did feel this was printed television, and that it did read like a screenplay for a new sci-fi channel T.V. series because of the Quantum Leap/Stargate feel to it. But I found by the end of the book, that it was O.K., and I liked what Lawhead did. I have to say I did enjoy it and am eagerly awaiting book two to see what creative innovation the author will use to entertain me and execute this cool concept of time travel using ley lines, all to find a map made of skin! This was interesting, fun, and different for a Lawhead novel, but it shows promise!
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Sep 22, 2010 Kimberly Bartlett rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Description:

Enter the ultimate treasure hunt–with a map made of skin, a playing field of alternate realities, and a prize that is the greatest mystery of all.

Kit Livingstone’s great-grandfather has re-appeared with an unbelievable story–the ley lines throughout Britain are not merely the stuff of legends but truly are pathways to other worlds. So few people know how to use them, though, that doing so is fraught with danger.

But one explorer knew more than most. Because of his fear of being una...more

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Sep 14, 2010 Mindy rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book was a fantastic journey that was hard to put down. It combines science, history, mystery, and alternate realities. The first sentence of the first chapter draws you in:

"Had he but known that before the day was over he would discover the hidden dimensions of the universe, Kit might have been better prepared. At least he would have brought an umbrella."

The day that Kit meets his great-grandfather, his world is turned upside down. Or inside out. Or maybe sideways. Lawhead is able to weav...more

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Sep 08, 2010 Jenelle rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

When I heard Stephen Lawhead was writing a new book, I was thrilled. When I learned the title of the new book was The Skin Map, I was confused. It didn’t sound very ... well... Lawhead-y. However, as I began reading this beginning to a brand new series, I swiftly became engrossed in the story.

Filled with descriptions that beguile all five senses and all the beauty and charm of the language I have come to expect from Lawhead, this book is a fascinating blend of fantasy and sci-fi. In the world of...more When I heard Stephen Lawhead was writing a new book, I was thrilled. When I learned the title of the new book was The Skin Map, I was confused. It didn’t sound very ... well... Lawhead-y. However, as I began reading this beginning to a brand new series, I swiftly became engrossed in the story.

Filled with descriptions that beguile all five senses and all the beauty and charm of the language I have come to expect from Lawhead, this book is a fascinating blend of fantasy and sci-fi. In the world of The Skin Map, there is an Omni-verse, a universe filled with alternate realities that are easily accessible to those who know where to look via roads known as “ley lines.” These alternate realities are also located in different “time zones” as it were, and thus jumping from one reality to the next also inevitably includes a certain amount of time travel.

The book follows the stories of several different characters: Kit Livingstone a young man from modern-day London, who encounters his great grandfather and is shown how to ley travel; Wilhelmina, Kit’s girlfriend, who, when Kit tries to prove to her that ley travel is real, gets trapped in 17th century Prague; Cosimo (Kit’s great grandfather) and Sir Henry, ley line adventurers who wish to use the ley lines for the betterment of science and humanity; Lord Burleigh, the villain of the story, whose motivations seem to stem from greed; and Arthur Flinders-Petrie, the “Ernest Shackleton” of the ley line adventurers who mapped out the ley lines and had them tattooed on his body so they could never be stolen or lost.

Something I love about this book is the masterful way Lawhead subtly uses his characters to point to Christ. He never beats his audience about the head with his beliefs, despite publishing with a Christian publishing house. Instead, he allows his books to unfold the message of his faith - either through characters whose faith is an integral part of who they are (such as Etzel), or through characters who don’t know what they believe and the conversations they have with other characters about questions they have (such as Kit and Lady Faythe). As always, Lawhead is unique in that he is not a writer of Christian Fiction. Rather, he is a Christian Author who writes Fiction.

On the flip side of this rave review I do have a couple of negatives to mention. First, is that I have to wait until next September to read the second book in the series. Second, don’t read this book expecting to have any questions answered. I was about 10 pages from the end when I realized that the book was leading me to a cliff-hanger ending, and I was going to have to wait for the rest of the series to find out what happens. Since Lawhead is delving back into sci-fi with this series, this first book was mainly an introduction to the characters, the concept of ley travel, and a tantalizing glimpse at the story this series will become.

Overall, I would say I thoroughly enjoyed the book and would recommend it to anyone who likes a good blend of sci-fi, fantasy, and history as well as the idea of time travel and being able to mess with historical events.
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Sep 06, 2010 Sarah rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Skin Map is the first novel in the Bright Empires fantasy series. Stephen R Lawhead is widely known for many of his other series; including the Pendragon series, the Celtic Crusades, and the Song of Albion. While the novel's underlying messages are serious in terms of discovering the secret of life, saving numerous lives, and finding true paradise, the novel reads very light, fun, and is incredibly engaging!

Kit is down on his luck in present-day London, when out of the blue he is visited by...more The Skin Map is the first novel in the Bright Empires fantasy series. Stephen R Lawhead is widely known for many of his other series; including the Pendragon series, the Celtic Crusades, and the Song of Albion. While the novel's underlying messages are serious in terms of discovering the secret of life, saving numerous lives, and finding true paradise, the novel reads very light, fun, and is incredibly engaging!

Kit is down on his luck in present-day London, when out of the blue he is visited by his supposed deceased great-grandfather Cosimo. Cosimo presents to Kit the way of traveling through ley lines, which are supernatural railroads that allow one to time-travel and visit alternate dimensions. Kit then shows this magical way of jumping through time to his girlfriend Wilhemina. The two become separated from each other and the rest of the novel describes their adventures apart.

Lawhead also incorporates a whirlwind of various other characters to the novel which all have their own important roles to play in the quest for the Skin Map; a map displaying all the known ley lines that may lead to the ultimate Paradise humanity has sought out since the near beginning of time.

The Skin Map flows quite nicely, making it difficult to tear yourself away. The novel is divided up very smartly, giving us equal doses of action-adventure with Kit's side of the story, and Wilhelmina's ambitious business-savvy practices, which undoubtedly transform London during its more ancient times. I love how Lawhead introduces us to a plethora of other characters but keeps us hanging as to their exact roles in the novel until the end.

Lawhead also touches base on a novel concept that time-travel books do not disrupt; which is the concept of causing a massive rift or butterfly-effect in times past. Kit and Cosimo debate the morals of changing history in terms of good deeds for the greater good. Why can't one change history if it ensures and promises saving hundreds and thousands of lives?

As a reader, the only frustration comes from some rather abrupt finales without explanations which I'm sure will be sated in his next Bright Empires novel, The Bone House, which at this time does not have a release date. I felt a surge of pride at the end of The Skin Map when certain characters come to the rescue. For the sake of protecting spoilers, I'll not divulge much more, but I can promise that all lovers of fantasy and amazing storytelling will appreciate and enjoy The Skin Map.

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Dec 18, 2011 Meghan rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I'm not sure what I was expecting, but this is an interesting mix of Lawhead's other books - time travel, historical fiction, etc. Kit, who accidentally "jumps" through time upon meeting his great-grandfather, attempts to show his girlfriend Wilhelmina what happened and ends up losing her. They are now in parallel worlds, in different time periods, with an endless amount of worlds in the "omniverse" in which to try to find each other. While Kit tried to find Mina and learn about his talent for "...more

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