The Advent

Vessel #1

by Tominda Adkins

Divine, almighty, and about eight thousand years late, the Vessel are five living gods born to smite an ancient anomaly of death. That's what beloved pop legend Jesse Cannon is saying, anyway--after claiming to be a Vessel himself. It's enough to drive Jordan, his long-suffering personal assistant, to hand in her two weeks' notice. She might not survive one week, though, because Jesse's divine vision is no myth. Something is stalking them both, and it's not a crazed fan . . . Vessel's first installment brings five amateur deities together for the ride of their immortal lives--on a tricked-out tour bus, of course--from the banks of a forgotten Nile tributary to a Toronto truck stop, from the set of Oprah to the gates of Hell and back. Along the way, they must battle flesh-eating tentacles, water gun assassins, powerful hangovers, undead groupies, and one very fed up celebrity assistant. Gird your loins and step this armageddon is just getting started.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Ebooks, Contemporary, Action

314 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 20, 2010

Reviews

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

**MILD SPOILERS*

The BEST part about reading this book was that I got to share updates with the author, which is a VERY COOL way to go about it. BTW, Tominda is pretty darn awesome and loves feedback! Anyway, lets get to the book. I really did love it. It was silly, snarky, freaky, creepy and ANXIETY provoking (at least the last half of the book, anyway!). It starts with just giving you some background on the boys (Corin, Ghi, Jesse, Jackson & Khan) & girl (Jordan) you will meet that turn into gods & their unbelieving "roady". So the pace is interesting, but pretty normal at first. Except the fact that you are trying, as Jordan was, to comprehend what the heck they are talking about which is supposed to be the case. I was trying to decide if they were schizophrenic or not. Apparently, not. Even though they DEFINATELY have issues--I mean a DSM pletura of issues! I kept switching back and forth of which god I liked more and ended it somewhere between Khan & Jackson for this book. What a snarky pair, even though one of them really doesn't talk much. I did not like Jordan or Stella at first, but they grew on me as the story progressed. By the end of book 1 all kinds of CRAZINESS came flying out of Tominda's brain and will give you an anxiety attack of Rapture porportions. Its was insane. Last 7 chapters gave me nightmares because they were somewhat graphic, highly emotional and you jusy thought EVERYONE was gonna die. It was seat of your pants pace by the last few chapters and I can totally see why Stella wanted to retire and Jordan wanted to run from the island. I won't spoil much more for you. But when you get to The New River Gorge Bridge, then the quarry you won't be able to put the book down and your sleep will be fitful! It's awesome. Read it. Really. I'm stoked for book 2!

[Genna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of winning an ARC of Tominda Adkins’ Vessel (Book I: The Advent) from Goodreads a few weeks back. While not normally something I would read or buy for myself, I was delightfully surprised with how much I enjoyed this tale of hollows, gods, and the forces of nature, life, and death!

I attribute my enjoyment to Adkins’ fast paced writing, sharp knack for humor, sarcasm, and wit, and her intriguing characters, namely Jesse Cannon, the Russian-born singer turned diva extrodinare.

In a nutshell, Vessel is about five men who discover that they are “living gods” born to live out an ancient prophecy and smite the anomaly of death itself. Narrated from Jesse’s personal assistant, Jordan, readers are taken on for an unbelieveable ride, featuring pimped-out tour buses, undead stalkers, and a secret society of hunters of the dead. Each man embodies an element that can destroy death: earth, air, fire, water, and light.

The other characters include Ghi, a sweet amnesiac who may or may not be a terrorist, Jackson, a smart-mouthed, firefighting mama’s boy, Corin, a rich British philanthropist addited to his smartphone, and Khan, a 6’7” legally blind convict with a penchant for arson, nicotine, and prostitutes. Along the way, the “vessels” must survive not only one another, but flesh-eating monsters out for their blood, water gun assasins, prehistoric priestesses, undead groupies, powerful hangovers, cut-off jeans, and one very fed up celebrity assistant

[Richard Holmes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up the Kindle edition for a grand total of free; I figured at that price why not? Glad I did. In some ways this book, especially the first half or so, reminded me of one of my favorite authors, Christopher Moore. A similar mix of the fantastic and the absurd, with a generous degree of humor. The latter part of the book gets less humorous and more horrifying, but it's all a good read. Or maybe 1/3 of a good read, because the story doesn't finish at the end of the book; I suppose this is going to be a trilogy, though so far only the first two books are out. I went back to Amazon and paid actual money for the second book. That's the sincerest praise I know.

[Enjee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy through the Goodreads early reads program. This book is different from the usual paranormal vamps, shifters, mages, demons stuff I typically spend my reading hours on, so I was happy to have something new to try for a change.
This is an original story, with plenty of snarky comments. Five men are the manisfestations of ancient seers, each one specializing in an element. Right here this is different...most any other book would have the present day vessel female. Not this writer.
I liked the description of the origin of the vessel, and at first I thought it was going to be yet another theory of how vampires came into existence. Not so. Maybe the hallows are more like high-functioning zombies. Maybe they just defy common description, the book is that original.
I will point out that the POV is not consistent and I hate that. First person (Jordan) is primary, but then we are shown third-person what goes on when Jordan is not present or awake. That's not what a polished author would produce, for good reason. It is simply to difficult to follow.
The pace is choppy at first when the men are first introduced to the reader (and not equally). We learn lots more about Jesse than Khan.
Another original plot point is what happens to Jordan. A serious injury is permanent and does not "magically" get better.
And finally, I wondered exactly why Jordan does not like the island.

[Chris Cottrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished reading Vessel, Book 1: The Advent. I wasn't sure what to think after the first 20 pages or so, but I am glad I kept reading. I enjoyed the author's smartassed style, and I am looking forward to future installments in the series.

I personally enjoy longer novels and getting to know the characters and their backstories, so hopefully that is coming in the future books as the only character you really get to know much at all is Jesse, and maybe Jordan. I think that Khan is the character that we get to know the least through the book, and I assume that is intentional...

But the plot and the story itself were a lot of fun, as is the premise. And again, I enjoyed the very conversational style the book was written in. Ms. Adkins takes you through a variety of emotions, from rah rah for a couple of action scenes to despair to sarcastic humor.

Pick the book up and have a nice read...

[Strain · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it! I love the characters, I love the voice, I love the action! I could just read about the main characters doing mundane things and be perfectly happy.

[Mike Rasbury · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vessel, Book One: The Advent by Tominda Adkins could have very well just been your standard urban fantasy fare. The characters are almost archetypal, there are vampire-like things, a collection of superpowers and a tough female protag. This book isn't exactly standard, though.

Tominda does a great job with the antagonists of the book, Hollows. They're first introduced as Pre-Egyptian almost vampires, but they're far, far worse. Tominda does amazingly throughout the book of selling just how horrific these things are. One part John Carpenter's THE THING, one part RESIDENT EVIL 5 and flavoured heavily with her own skin-crawling ideas. I absolutely loved them as an unflinching source of evil.

The superpowered set—The Vessel—have a traditional collection of power over the elements, which as the author herself points out feel very Captain Planet, but given the context of the story, makes absolute sense. There's also some very inventive ways of interpreting these abilities, especially in the case of Earth.

The characters themselves will also seem fairly archetypal: you have the strong, dangerous silent type [Khan], the caring, mother hen [Corin], the gung-ho, earnest dude [Jackson], the grating, vain and entirely aloof diva [Jesse] and, yes, even the amnesiac [Ghi]. Corin is by far my favourite, not only because of the cool, calmness he has through most of the book, but because he's fleshed with such fun details like a penchant for fashion and fine liquor. Khan, I'd love to know more about because he's easily the second most interesting. Ghi is an amnesiac, and I have a hard time mustering much enthusiasm for that. Jackson is a great counterpoint to everyone else, and seems the most capable of the group. Jesse... ugh, I cannot stand this selfish, flighty diva. Just cannot do it.

The saving grace here is that through Jordan (Jesse's assistant and omnipotent narrator) all of these characters are given a fun, interesting light as they're seen through her eyes. I never once groaned because of these characters all being archetypes, even though I knew they were.

Jordan herself is great. She's fierce, and I would absolutely friend her. She's got a great sense of humour, and a lovely grasp on pop culture (Hello Gilmore Girls and Cardigans references, I see you). I can see why Tominda chose her as the narrator, because she makes the story. Her inner monologues which are often extended rants or quips at the expense of others are really where the book shines.

That said, Jordan also introduces one of the book's biggest flaws: POV. This book is all over the place at first. It's always apparently being given to us by Jordan in first-person, but the first few chapters jump around without easing us into how the story's being told so it almost feels as though it's a series of first-person POV jumps. Jordan also has this terrible sense of feeling omnipotent, as if she knows what everyone is thinking, or how things are going without being present. I caught Tominda using a technique akin to "...as I'd later come to find out," but there's no payoff in the book explaining when/how she figured it out. We just have to take it at face value.

I can't help but think that using a more clever framing sequence—like Bram Stoker's Dracula—or telling the story less omnipotently as an unreliable narrator—a la Carraway in Great Gatsby—might have given us the same great Jordan flavour, but less confusingly.

That was the biggest knock against the book, really. The POV was a strain to get a handle on unless Jordan was present, and not inside the others' heads, which was during the climax and the action sequences.

Oh, that reminds me, Tominda does a GREAT job with the action sequences in this book. They're not so detailed as to get a heart-pounding, summer blockbuster vibe, but they're solid, fun, very descriptive and you'll definitely cringe during some of the more brutal exchanges. A breath of fresh air as so much urban fantasy action is formulaic and flat. It certainly isn't here.

The only other thing to note might be that Tominda loves fragments. Loves them. If these annoy you, tread cautiously. I love them. Clearly. So I didn't mind at all. It helps, in a way, to cement the conversational narration, as they whole books is written more like a conversation than anything else.

Vessel, Book One: The Advent is not without its flaws, but of the urban fantasy books I've read it's perhaps one of the more competent and certainly one of the most fun.

[Kacie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, going to do my best to put my thoughts and feelings about this book into some kind of coherent stream, but I'm working on major sleep deprivation so no promises. First, the sleep deprivation can be solely blamed on this book. Even though I kept telling myself I needed to put it down and go to bed because I had to be up early, the book just refused to comply. So, a word of advice, if you hit around the halfway point of the book, and you're thinking of picking it up to read a few chapters before bed, best to just accept you won't sleep until you're finished, or maybe just wait until the next day, or whenever you have a good chunk of time to dedicate to finishing it, because from the halfway point to the end, Vessel doesn't slow down.

A quick sum-up of my feelings can be boiled down to: this book is amazing, and everyone needs to read it. Okay, it's that with a few more excitable expletives thrown in, but you know, that's the polite version.

Vessel is told from the point-of-view of Jordan Murphy, an exasperated and sarcastic woman, who's been stuck doing the bidding of Russian pop star Jesse Cannon for the last five years. Jordan is fantastic and hilarious, and her opinions and thoughts that are slipped in through the events of the book kept me laughing. Her voice keeps the book chained in reality even when the most ridiculous events are occurring, and the parallel is grand. It's also great to watch how she handles Jesse, who is equal parts maddening and charming.

I love Jesse, and think he's a brilliant character. I use brilliant in terms of the author's creation of him, cause Jesse himself is actually kind of an idiot, but that's just part of his charm. Jesse manages to be useless and flailing one minute, and then comes out of nowhere with an unexpected badass move on more than once occasion.

The other characters in the book, including the other four Vessel, along with the Luna Latum, and the Hollows are all just as interesting and individual as Jordan and Jesse. The plot itself is also fresh and exciting. I love a book with humor, and this book had me laughing out loud on a number of occasions, but it's not a book to be taken lightly. It's action packed, and has no trouble buckling down into the dark and gritty when it needs to. This book made me laugh, cry, shiver, and occasionally look over my shoulder with my eyes closed. It's a roller-coaster of emotions, and I loved every single moment of it.

In short, read this book! You won't regret it. It's got a little bit of something for everyone, and it's loads of fun. I eagerly await the second book in this series, but until then, I'll just make due with going back through this one often and enthusiastically. It effortlessly rocked, and gyrated its hips right into my favorite books.

[Nathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has been on my radar for quite a while, and I have no idea where I first saw it. I have no history of reading self published works, but the premise of this one intrigued me enough take the plunge. In this case the author has found a new fan.

Book one in a series(though fairly self-contained), this is a fairly unique take on vampires. Told in first person, the main character Jordan is a personal assistant to the worlds biggest pop-star, Jesse Cannon. Her life, and several others, is thrown into chaos when her boss learns in a very abrupt fashion that he is one of five men who make up the Vessel. Details are fuzzy, but the Vessel is the worlds defense against Hollows(vampire like creatures that in essence are pure death). The five strangers who make the vessel converge around the tour bus of Jesse, followed by hollows and a secret society. From there the book has some pretty standard series set up tropes, coming into power, learning the back story, and meeting bigger and badder villains.

The books biggest strength is the conversational style of the narrator. She is easy to read, sometimes witty, and a lot of fun She is an easy character to like(although the same can be said about most the authors characters). I was also impressed on how much back story was inserted without feeling like info dumps interrupted the flow. I know a lot about the realities of this world, especially for such a short book. Also, despite following some tropes to set up the series, the story line never feels trite.

There are some issues. The most glaring is some awkward switching between first and third person, when the entire book is supposedly narrated by Jordan. As Jordan is a mere mortal among demigods, she should not have a lot of the knowledge she passes along(such as the order of minor actions that take place when she is not around, and more importantly, what people are thinking). There were a few editing problems, the most glaring being a section in which some piece of dialog is missing, because two characters jump to a conclusion that the conversation doesn't even suggest. That said, the author obviously had an army of proof-readers, as I was expecting more errors of this type in a self-published work, so color me impressed.

Pros: A very enjoyable narrator(when not jumping between first and third person), and fairly unique story, and quite a bit of wit.

Cons: The switching narrator thing was the most jolting. At times it felt the author didn't know if she was going for a humorous book with a serious plot, or a completely serious plot where the humor disappeared for stretches.

3.5 stars, and I will be on the list for the next one.

Review Blog

[Jason "Book Sniper" · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, I understand that many readers are getting tired of the whole zombies/monsters genre. I also understand that it is a little played out and nothing seems original anymore. Trust me, I really do understand. I feel the same way.

Then out of nowhere… “Jesse” shows up, and a book so unique that demands readers around the world to take notice. That book is Vessel. A unique story of five "gods” who are out to save the world from "death" and destruction, or at least try to.

Don’t stop here, keep reading trust me…

You might say to yourself, been there, read that, but do those books have a crazy singer and his one arm assistant....I think not :)

I could keep going on and on about why I personally like this book but I will just stop here and give you the facts on why I gave these book four stars.

Character Development:
Tominda Adkins does a great job developing the characters. Tominda Adkins spends enough time early on to give the reader a sense of who the character is. Each character has his/her own personality that very distinctive. This is not an easy task for an author, especially when there are so many major characters. Tominda Adkins was able to accomplish this without losing the reader. Great job.

Plot:
This is where the fun begins. The plot is full of turns and action. A plot that is unpredictable and guaranteed to keep the reader on edge. The unique story also helps with the plot, I will not give out any spoilers, but the origin of the "un-dead" in Vessel is a completely new story, a must read.

Setting:
The story does jump around quite a bit. However, the jumping is a part of the overall story. Therefore, do what I did … enjoy the ride.

Book Flow:
A very quick and easy read. The flow is good; However, the jumping of scenes might take some getting used to.

Rating:
4 out of 5 shots!!!!
Really liked it!

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the first book in the Vessel Series by Tominda Adkins. I read this book because I received the second book in this series for free through the Goodreads First Reads program, and the author kindly sent me a free download of the first book also.

Let me start by saying that this book is funny. And it's packed with action from beginning to end. In many ways it reminds me of an action movie.The moments when something insane isn’t happening are rare, and when there is a break from the chaos, it's filled with witty conversation that is just as enthralling.

The plot is intriguing. Apart from the opening paragraphs, which described a character's not-terribly-original thoughts as he lies dying, I was interested enough that I would have read this book straight through, if my schedule had allowed it.

That being said...the problem I have with this book is the characters. The main character is someone you never really feel you get to know. She's always angry and annoyed and sarcastic, and there's no clear reason why she needs to be that way, other than that she is sick of her job. Why she is so upset at being where she is at the end still seems ridiculous to me, but I won't give any spoilers. At the beginning I was willing to put up with her attitude because I figured there were more reasons behind it, or that it would eventually go away. There weren't and it didn't. I'm not even sure why any of the other characters cared about her, besides the one guy who is her friend and employer. In short, I didn't find her to be very likable.

The other five main characters are boringly stereotypical. There's a sexy, manly fireman with a southern accent; a huge, scary-looking piro-maniac Asian escaped prisoner; a proper, kind and considerate, rich British businessman; a shy, eccentric, Middle Eastern guy with amnesia and no self-confidence. And of course, you have to throw in a gay, gorgeous, famous singer/musician. They're all funny. They're all likable in their own ways. But that's about all there is to these people.

Will we learn that there's more to these guys, and find reasons to like the main character, in the next book? I'm doubting it, but I'm wiling to be wrong.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

When five strangers share recurring dreams about both ancient Egypt and the Statue of Liberty, they all know something strange is going on. However none of them, least of all pop star Jesse Cannon, could have expected that behind the dreams lies the truth that they each represent the reincarnation of a god sent to defeat evil incarnate. A firefighter, a philanthropist, a convict, a diva celebrity, and an amnesiac who just might be a terrorist make an odd host for the spirits of earth, water, fire, air and light; but it's up to this cocktail of characters to stop the plague of zombie-like Hollows determined to destroy them and spread a deathly plague. For Jesse, saving the world is going to have to wait until after his appearance on Oprah, and it's up to Jesse's frazzled assistant - the book's hilarious narrator - Jordan to keep the unlikely heroes in line.

Vessel, Book I: The Advent is the first in Tominda Adkins' new series, and if the subsequent books are as well done as this one, readers are in for quite an enjoyable treat. I love the characters that Adkins created and the witty banter - especially between Jordan and Jesse - was delightful. From New York to Chicago and Totonto with flashbacks through the Middle East, Vessel blends fantasy with real life details to give the story a great structure. The Hollows were also a unique and wicked creation. Described as "the lasting imprint of a dying person", these flesh-eating beings masquerading as humans were a frightening and suspenseful addition to the story.

Adkins' book is not a life-altering work of profound literature but what it is, is a heck of a lot of fun. Multiple passages that are literally laugh-out-loud amusing are mixed with nail-biting action sequences to create a fast-paced story that is highly entertaining. With a writing style that might best be described as Rick Riordan meets Christopher Moore, Tominda Adkins shows wonderful promise with this debut work and I eagerly look forward to the future books in the Vessel series!

[Beau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vessel, Tominda Adkins' debut novel, creates a world where the incredibly plausible (traffic, Oprah, bartenders, rock stars) happens alongside the fantastical (reincarnation of Gods, attacking evil critters, elementals) and completely pulls it off. For reference, this is the completely opposite of Terry Pratchett, who populates a fantastical world and then grounds it with a few details that are all too familiar.

Vessel is the tale of five men brought together by a power far beyond them, and the bartender/personal assistant who manages to become their babysitter of sorts. The men are from disparate backgrounds, including a rich adventuring philanthropist, an amnesiac terrorist, and an escaped criminal, and the events, both present day and historical, that bring them together, are too interesting to ruin in a review.

Perhaps most impressive is how much Adkins transcends the cheap label of fantasy, with all its present day baggage. Instead she weaves what is, on a basic level, a thriller, with nail-biting chases, well-executed action sequences, and horrors aplenty, all relating to a rich, original mythology that Vessel is only beginning to reveal. This is reinforced with excellent pacing, an easy to read style, and a healthy dose or snark, in the form of the narrator's voice.

Recommended in particular for fans of Pratchett and Christopher Lamb, as well as those who enjoy fanciful elements in their fiction, or thrillers that don't relate to war or politics.

[Lori Wilkey · Rating 2 out of 5]

I won this book as a Goodreads giveaway. That is really the only reason I read it. I have read quite a bit of the contemporary paranormal type writing and I still found her story to be fairly original. I have no complaints there, however, I do feel much more revision was needed.

Her point of view changed constantly during the story. I felt like a pin pong ball bouncing back and forth from character to character. The majority of the story was written in first person. If a story is told through the voice of one specific character, then that character cannot tell about events that she didn't witness or was unaware of. There is a scene where the main character, Jordan Murphy, has been kidnapped. Jordan is still telling the readers what is happening concerning her rescue. She can't know know, she is not with the rescuers; but she continues telling it like she is witnessing the events. This results in low credibility. When Adkins describes other character' thoughts and feelings she is still writing as Jordan. Jordan cannot know how these others feel unless they tell her. They do not.

Her inability to do the point of view correctly does not destroy the story but it does not help the continuity. The readers needs to think a little too much about the mechanics instead of losing themselves in the story. I know this sounds like a petty complaint, but it is important for a writer to do it right.

[Joshua · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! What a great read. Vessel is entirely engaging. It was a mix of Dracula and Harry Potter stylistically with a massive dash of wit. Perhaps that needs just a little explaining...

It begins by jumping between each of the main characters: Jordan, Ghi, Jackson, Khan, and Corin. Jesse is only seen through Jordan's eyes all along. Eventually everyone is seen through Jordans eyes, but it begins in much the same manner as Bram Stoker's Dracula albeit, no in diary form.

The world that Adkins creates is flawless much the same way the world of Harry Potter makes perfect sense within its own story. Adkins blends the natural world everybody knows with the unnatural, perhaps supernatural, with ease and surprising clarity and believability. Everything within her world upholds the logic created for it. Events happen for a reason, not just for effect or some sort of hack mechanism to further the story. Well done to say the least.

Vessel is full of flare and wit. Jordan's sarcasm is well honed and punctuated in just the right places to give the reader a good chuckle. Her disdain for her job as personal assistant/handler of Jesse Cannon is epic. I can't wait for the next installment.

I dare anyone to read just the first page without getting hooked on Vessel... It is just that good and you're hooked immediately with her begining of the one armed bartender. Just wonderful.

Thanks Jordan for that.

[Andrea Arana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vessel is a book that's soomewhat interesting. i mean, 5 guys are the shell for 5 different gods and have to travel around the world in order to stop Death itself from turning the world and life itself into the Apocolypse. it has a comical view, but told by jesse's assistant, jordan, who is a little whiny and doesn't apreciate all the sacrifices that those 5 guys are doing everything in there power to protect from these zombie like minions called the hallows. there's a lot of action in it, which i apreciate and a lot of blood as well. the one thing that i love as well is that the dialogue doesn't hold anything back; curse words, gore, blood, action, being catapolted off the Grand Canyon, almost dying in the process to get them to an island in the middle of nowhere and special bodyguards called the Luna Latum (cool name) has to make sure that they get to that island, so they can hone their powers and learn how to control & use them when they need to, not just acting out of instinct. other than that, the story was well written, very dynamic, the characters had some much life and enthusiam (even though they're a little weird), and told by jordan's perspective and the experiences that she saw were told with excruciating detail. this book is great and is so excited for the next one!!!

[Julia Clemencia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vessel is a new twist on Egyptian Gods and modern society. it was somewhat very funny and captivating to read. everytime i turned a page, i'm always expecting something, but turns out the characters do the unexpected. this book puts mythology to a whole new level and told from the perspective of jordan, jesse's assistant and even though she's lost her arm, it turned out pretty good, since she's the narrating the story, telling the reader what she experienced and saw in her point of view and to tell you the truth, it was pretty awesome and a great book to read. very well written and has a great plot for the story. characters were amazing as well and developed different personalities in the process and gathered a lot about each other, so overall, a very impressive book to read and can't wait to read the sequels.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

My tweet to Tominda Adkins: 'what you just did to my emotions should be illegal'. I fell completely in love with this book, enjoying and reading it every moment I could. She deals with something I have a problem with - almost instant camaraderie amongst almost completely strangers - by brilliantly throwing most of them on a 14 hour road trip.

My love for Ghi knows no bounds but I fell in love with everyone. There was actually nothing I didn't like about this novel. Everything that normally might have tripped me up was handled so brilliantly that I never even thought twice about it.

Tominda makes you feel for her characters. Even Khan, who barely said ten words (though hilarious "Take me to Oprah" was in those; and the image of him diving into a ditch will never leave me), jumped from the pages. This is such a fun book and you'll never wan to put it down.

[Andrea]

I am convinced that I both enjoyed and am ambivalent about this book. For a long chunk of it, I was reading out of a vague curiosity -- the narrator presents a lot of questions early on and strings the answers along into this web of strange creatures, oversized personalities, and fiery explosions. So it's not like there's nothing to keep your attention. But I failed to connect strongly enough to the characters to love the book, even though at a certain point toward the end I was reading with wide eyes because I couldn't quite believe what seemed to be happening to them. I'm definitely reading the next one in the series, which says more about how much I liked this book than anything else in this review.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as a part of the First-Reads giveaway.

When reading the description of the book, I thought the premise sounded very interesting, so I was happy when I received the book as part of the First-Reads giveaway. Tominda Adkins does a really great job in telling an original story. The field of supernatural or paranormal stories have been so overwhelmed lately, I did not think that anyone could come up with something new, but she succeeded admirably.

I would highly recommend this book and the future "Vessel" stories.

[Jami Hadden · Rating 4 out of 5]

The mark of a good book for me is an identifying character. Jordan is that character. However, she is surrounded by many others as colorful (and even more so) as she is. And while certain characters may brush "over the top," I don't find they cross that line.

I was immersed in this world while reading this story. The story is strikingly visual, especially the tricked out pink tour bus.

I am patiently (or not so patiently) awaiting to hear more from Jordan, Ghi, Jackson, Stella, and the others.

[planetkimi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vessel Book I: The Advent is an absolute riot. Beyond being energetically snarky and humorous, the story itself is fresh and original. There are no vampires, werewolves, or fairies in this urban fantasy. Not that there's anything wrong with vampires, werewolves, or fairies - but gosh, there sure are a lot of books about them and it's very refreshing to read about a new type of supernatural being.

The characters are quite memorable and I find myself thinking about the book in the days since I've finished it. I hope the next one is published soon!

[Lyricalbard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vessel, Book I: The Advent, by Tominda Adkins

Tominda Adkins's Vessel) Book I: The Advent, is a remarkable urban fantasy worthy of, being reminiscent of both high epic fantasy, and one can paint a striking image in one's mind, because of the vividness and richness of the tone of the characters, with a very unique perspective, voice, and made by made that favoraby with works by such authors, as, Neil Gaiman, Bruce Sanderford, with the wit and warmth of Catherine Asaro.

Highly recommended.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

oh my, I'm 60 pages into this and I love it! But I need to read my library books first...bummer

Vessel, a book about 5 guys from all corners of the world who end up being gods and meeting up in New York. The story was funny, exciting, dramatic, and a little depressing all in one. All I can say is I do hope there is a second book to this because I would be severely disappointed if this ended the way it did, with everyone pissed off.

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book and can't wait for the next to come out. I can't say I was hooked by the first page, since it was a little slow to get into - but maybe that was just me. It didn't take long to hook me, however, and then I just couldn't put it down. I definitely recommend this one to anyone and everyone!

[Ishanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just won this book on First Reads! I have a feeling I'm going to love it! I will update my review upon receipt! Thank you!

**UPDATE**

Very good read. Quick and to the point. Look forward to other selections by this author!

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quirky and enjoyable read...it's apparently the first in a five book series though, so I was a little disappointed in not "finishing". But the characters are well developed and interesting and I'm sure I'll read the next installment.

[Jeffrey]

I won this from Goodreads First Reads. Looking forward to reading it now that I received it. Thanks.

[shinfu · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book in a First Reads giveaway. This was a great book to read. I really enjoyed the story and the people. Can't wait to read the next one. Thanks.

[Landy]

Thank you Goodreads First Reads for this free book. Looking forward to reading it.