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Sins of the Father
Bowen is an orphaned child in feudal England whose first appearance in this novel is having been bound hands and feet and whipped mercilessly by the monks in a monastery in an excess of bloodlust. He’s realistically of an indeterminate age but no more than about seven years old and the monks are very sadistic. He’s punished repeatedly for any number of minor and inconsequential infractions.
Bowen’s father and mother and sister are dead. His sister was the victim of a brutal rape in which she became pregnant and died shortly after giving birth though she had been returned to her parents’ home in a beaten and catatonic state. His father drowned and his mother burned to death in the family home.
Aaron is a minister in present day Midwest America who takes a short sabbatical after he has a fainting episode while experiencing the marks of the stigmata immediately preceding a sermon that he’s supposed to deliver about Faith Unending, a concept with which he’s struggling himself.
Lucian is a severely autistic child in the present day who’s found homeless and taken to a mental health center after a fire in an abandoned building in which he’s sleeping. He’s horribly scarred and disfigured and bears a striking resemblance to Bowen and Aaron. He takes a liking of a sort to Aaron, who has eyes of the same amethyst color as his. He also bears a mark on his chest which looks like a brand and is the mark of the Celtic war god Rudianos.
A minister losing touch with his faith…
A severely autistic child with no past, no present and no real future…
An evil older than time itself…
When the boy Lucian is thrown into Aaron’s life with nowhere else to go all hell breaks loose and Aaron confronts things he never actually imagined could really exist in an effort to save one small, tortured child.
Bowen’s father and mother and sister are dead. His sister was the victim of a brutal rape in which she became pregnant and died shortly after giving birth though she had been returned to her parents’ home in a beaten and catatonic state. His father drowned and his mother burned to death in the family home.
Aaron is a minister in present day Midwest America who takes a short sabbatical after he has a fainting episode while experiencing the marks of the stigmata immediately preceding a sermon that he’s supposed to deliver about Faith Unending, a concept with which he’s struggling himself.
Lucian is a severely autistic child in the present day who’s found homeless and taken to a mental health center after a fire in an abandoned building in which he’s sleeping. He’s horribly scarred and disfigured and bears a striking resemblance to Bowen and Aaron. He takes a liking of a sort to Aaron, who has eyes of the same amethyst color as his. He also bears a mark on his chest which looks like a brand and is the mark of the Celtic war god Rudianos.
A minister losing touch with his faith…
A severely autistic child with no past, no present and no real future…
An evil older than time itself…
When the boy Lucian is thrown into Aaron’s life with nowhere else to go all hell breaks loose and Aaron confronts things he never actually imagined could really exist in an effort to save one small, tortured child.
- GenresParanormalMysteryFantasy
232 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 29, 2012
10 people are currently reading
517 people want to read
About the author
R.J. Palmer
2 books24 followersHi there.
I'm R.J. Palmer and I'm told that I should write a little something about myself at which point I should probably tell you that if you slog through this I give you kudos, you've done very well. You see, there is nothing the least bit interesting about me and in truth sometimes I believe that I live vicariously through characters of my own creation in which case I should probably seek professional help straightaway.
I could bore you with dry facts recited by rote but that would be contra-indicative of my personality type which demands that I at least make this somewhat interesting regardless of the enormity of the task involved. Easier said than done I can assure you.
Good God, you guys want to know MORE about me? Okay, fine then. Here goes. My husband has longish brown hair and pretty hazel eyes. Ooohhhh, wait. That had nothing to do with me, did it? You can blame Wodke Hawkinson for this bio because you really got me onto having to think about the least related answer while tying it all together.
Should I get more serious now? Nah! Here's the 411 on the Head Wingnut in Charge...Or at least I am in my head. I'm an awesome writer and I buy in bulk whenever possible because the dozens of kids that I have eat a LOT! Okay, so that was a bit of an exaggeration but they seem like dozens when they all get going. Can I get an "Amen?" And why does it seem like all of them like to get an ornery attitude at the exact same time? Do they synchronize their watches and plan this stuff ahead of time? One of my favorite colors is that orangey yellow of the school bus even though it's a horrible eye sore.
Okay, now that you all know I'm a writer with a husband and children, I could let you know that I like to drink Guinness stout and I got mad when they took the widget out of the bottle. You know, that little plastic thingy that made noise when you were getting the stuff that looks like coffee grounds (Mmmm...coffee) out of the bottom of your beer bottle. I think people decided that the widget took up too much space that could've been better used for more beer. Not that I don't understand, I guess I just like crunchy beer or something like that. I like to chew that last swallow of my stout. I'm going to stop this bio before it gets any more idiotic.
You can find me at http://rjpalmer.blogspot.com
I'm R.J. Palmer and I'm told that I should write a little something about myself at which point I should probably tell you that if you slog through this I give you kudos, you've done very well. You see, there is nothing the least bit interesting about me and in truth sometimes I believe that I live vicariously through characters of my own creation in which case I should probably seek professional help straightaway.
I could bore you with dry facts recited by rote but that would be contra-indicative of my personality type which demands that I at least make this somewhat interesting regardless of the enormity of the task involved. Easier said than done I can assure you.
Good God, you guys want to know MORE about me? Okay, fine then. Here goes. My husband has longish brown hair and pretty hazel eyes. Ooohhhh, wait. That had nothing to do with me, did it? You can blame Wodke Hawkinson for this bio because you really got me onto having to think about the least related answer while tying it all together.
Should I get more serious now? Nah! Here's the 411 on the Head Wingnut in Charge...Or at least I am in my head. I'm an awesome writer and I buy in bulk whenever possible because the dozens of kids that I have eat a LOT! Okay, so that was a bit of an exaggeration but they seem like dozens when they all get going. Can I get an "Amen?" And why does it seem like all of them like to get an ornery attitude at the exact same time? Do they synchronize their watches and plan this stuff ahead of time? One of my favorite colors is that orangey yellow of the school bus even though it's a horrible eye sore.
Okay, now that you all know I'm a writer with a husband and children, I could let you know that I like to drink Guinness stout and I got mad when they took the widget out of the bottle. You know, that little plastic thingy that made noise when you were getting the stuff that looks like coffee grounds (Mmmm...coffee) out of the bottom of your beer bottle. I think people decided that the widget took up too much space that could've been better used for more beer. Not that I don't understand, I guess I just like crunchy beer or something like that. I like to chew that last swallow of my stout. I'm going to stop this bio before it gets any more idiotic.
You can find me at http://rjpalmer.blogspot.com
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
December 8, 2012
What a great story! The beginning was horrifying, the middle was engrossing, and the ending was suprising and satisfying. What more could I ask for. The book is described as being a paranormal story, but it is not the currently fad vampire/witch/psychic type of paranormal. This is much more a dark, ancient, religious type of paranormal, which was very well written, and well played. I was hooked.
September 17, 2012
I found reading this story and thinking of how best to provide a useful review to be quite a challenge. Part of the challenge for me was that I normally don't read this genre and the other part was perhaps my personal preference for style and structure. That isn't to say that Palmer doesn't write well either. Had I not liked the writing, I may not have finished reading the story.
The story itself is imaginative and thought provoking. It was easy to keep up with the character development because the author chose some characters who balance well in the story. I liked how the paranormal transcendence of time and space played out along with the revelation of possibilities for understanding autism.
What I had the most difficulty with was the story kicked off well but then there was lots of repetition at the beginning of each chapter up until the introduction of Lucian. I felt that part of the story could have been significantly shorter while still holding all the content. I also had difficulty with the extensive narrative in place of what could have been more dialogue. The dialogue didn't pick up until Aaron and Lena Williams came together about half way into the story. In fact, for me the middle was the best part because there was some excellent dialogue and plenty of drama.
I'm glad I held on and read this intriguing novel. Others who are fans of the genre will probably love it.
The story itself is imaginative and thought provoking. It was easy to keep up with the character development because the author chose some characters who balance well in the story. I liked how the paranormal transcendence of time and space played out along with the revelation of possibilities for understanding autism.
What I had the most difficulty with was the story kicked off well but then there was lots of repetition at the beginning of each chapter up until the introduction of Lucian. I felt that part of the story could have been significantly shorter while still holding all the content. I also had difficulty with the extensive narrative in place of what could have been more dialogue. The dialogue didn't pick up until Aaron and Lena Williams came together about half way into the story. In fact, for me the middle was the best part because there was some excellent dialogue and plenty of drama.
I'm glad I held on and read this intriguing novel. Others who are fans of the genre will probably love it.
August 29, 2012
Sins of the Father (R.J. Palmer)
Psychological/Thriller
Bowen, in Feudal England was left orphaned and raised by cruel monks. There he was tortured beyond belief. He learned to retreat deep inside himself to ease the pain.
Modern day, Aaron a Minister from the Midwest is asked by a homeless man to come to the (psychiatric) hospital, he needs help. There Aaron finds an autistic boy (Lucian) who has no past. No parents a homeless child that no one knows anything about.
Once Aaron has encountered this child he can't sleep, he has terrors during the night, but are they real? A Delusion? Hallucination? What is the connection to this boy, if any? Now Aaron must face a force like no one has ever witness and make the biggest decision of his life to save this boy.
Fantastic nail biting, emotional read. Kept me up way past my bed time! I would love to read more from R.J. Palmer
Psychological/Thriller
Bowen, in Feudal England was left orphaned and raised by cruel monks. There he was tortured beyond belief. He learned to retreat deep inside himself to ease the pain.
Modern day, Aaron a Minister from the Midwest is asked by a homeless man to come to the (psychiatric) hospital, he needs help. There Aaron finds an autistic boy (Lucian) who has no past. No parents a homeless child that no one knows anything about.
Once Aaron has encountered this child he can't sleep, he has terrors during the night, but are they real? A Delusion? Hallucination? What is the connection to this boy, if any? Now Aaron must face a force like no one has ever witness and make the biggest decision of his life to save this boy.
Fantastic nail biting, emotional read. Kept me up way past my bed time! I would love to read more from R.J. Palmer
September 3, 2012
I was sent a copy of this book by the author and I am extremely glad of it.
I loved this story from beginning to end. It was superbly written and held my attention the whole way.
I particularly liked the 'boy's' story (I don't give spoilers) and would have liked more of that side of things.
It is a fantastic tale of good versus evil, with believable characters, wonderful descriptions and fabulous suspense.
There aren't many books that I've enjoyed as much as this, and I would highly recommend it.
I loved this story from beginning to end. It was superbly written and held my attention the whole way.
I particularly liked the 'boy's' story (I don't give spoilers) and would have liked more of that side of things.
It is a fantastic tale of good versus evil, with believable characters, wonderful descriptions and fabulous suspense.
There aren't many books that I've enjoyed as much as this, and I would highly recommend it.
May 6, 2012
Overall Feedback: To be fair from the start again I will state that this is a book written by my wife and my review may be skewed by this. For this reason I will take away one star from the start so it will be an even playing field.
On to the review…
After her first novel “Birthright” I knew I would be in for a good read and that overall I would enjoy the experience. I however had not expected to enjoy myself as much as I did. As all married couples know, we must be supportive of our spouse and the excursions into what makes them happy. I thought I would do just that and give the token husband “I Love It” speech and that would be that. “Birthright” has not been edited so RJ’s penchant for the overuse of words in her storytelling shined through unimpeded. This time though she went for broke and has had “Sins of the Father” edited and a professional cover created to reflect her growth in both her craft and her understanding of how to publish credible work. I was intrigued by the story and how it transformed throughout the pages. I was taken back when all the small details left in the pages became important in the end. To accurately sum it up, this is RJ’s “here I am” and “I have learned to better my writing” book and I am sure others will agree. I still believe she has more to give and I can only say that it can only get better when the author is still striving to learn more about their craft. Sins delivered far above my expectations of what RJ may have been capable of in writing even before it was edited. She took the reviews from “Birthright” and used that criticism to better her own skills instead of whining and pouting and then quitting. Now after reading the edited version of Sins I would have to say that she is serious about her chosen career and she is doing what she can to be the best. Sins is a great possibility to be her breakout work and I hope it does just that for her. Not because I am her husband but because I am an avid reader (300 books last year) and this has got to be the best I have read since “Indie Chicks”. After reading this book I was actually excited to talk to the author, in person, about what they wrote. I can not believe it but when I look back I was so acting like a fan. So go ahead and at least sample the book. After the sample (50 percent) I am sure you will agree.
Point of View: The story is third person from Bowen/Lucian’s mind.
Voice: In each story we find ourselves relating to the characters in our own way but I really feel that RJ was telling us a little about her feelings as a child in this one. It is only up to us to read between the lines.
Character Development: You find yourself trying to protect Bowen/Lucian through your minds eye and trying to shake Aaron loose from his lost faith. Lena starts off brusk but ends up as your favorite busy body.
Plot: There are things in this universe that defy explanation so this could be true or it could be myth but you will follow along with a dry mouth and panic in your heart for the black is always there.
Dialogue: Seeing that this takes place in the “Midwest” I would have to say the dialogue was spot on for the present day characters. The Welsh dialogue was intriguing to see included as was seeing the author jump back in time and still manage to keep up with the dialogue used.
Pacing: If you are looking for a coffee table read, move on, if not then pull up a comfy chair, blanket and good drink because you will not want to put it down.
Setting: RJ was able to move in and out of past and present settings without disturbing the story. She also was able to keep the descriptions concise but leave room for the reader to imagine where they were without being handheld there.
Continuity: No issues here. RJ was able to lead the reader along and give tidbits here and there but not give away the entire plot. She then ties everything off in the end superbly. The reader will have a moment of “wow” that was why they said this or did this and that is where that came from or that is why that happened. Impressive to the last period.
On to the review…
After her first novel “Birthright” I knew I would be in for a good read and that overall I would enjoy the experience. I however had not expected to enjoy myself as much as I did. As all married couples know, we must be supportive of our spouse and the excursions into what makes them happy. I thought I would do just that and give the token husband “I Love It” speech and that would be that. “Birthright” has not been edited so RJ’s penchant for the overuse of words in her storytelling shined through unimpeded. This time though she went for broke and has had “Sins of the Father” edited and a professional cover created to reflect her growth in both her craft and her understanding of how to publish credible work. I was intrigued by the story and how it transformed throughout the pages. I was taken back when all the small details left in the pages became important in the end. To accurately sum it up, this is RJ’s “here I am” and “I have learned to better my writing” book and I am sure others will agree. I still believe she has more to give and I can only say that it can only get better when the author is still striving to learn more about their craft. Sins delivered far above my expectations of what RJ may have been capable of in writing even before it was edited. She took the reviews from “Birthright” and used that criticism to better her own skills instead of whining and pouting and then quitting. Now after reading the edited version of Sins I would have to say that she is serious about her chosen career and she is doing what she can to be the best. Sins is a great possibility to be her breakout work and I hope it does just that for her. Not because I am her husband but because I am an avid reader (300 books last year) and this has got to be the best I have read since “Indie Chicks”. After reading this book I was actually excited to talk to the author, in person, about what they wrote. I can not believe it but when I look back I was so acting like a fan. So go ahead and at least sample the book. After the sample (50 percent) I am sure you will agree.
Point of View: The story is third person from Bowen/Lucian’s mind.
Voice: In each story we find ourselves relating to the characters in our own way but I really feel that RJ was telling us a little about her feelings as a child in this one. It is only up to us to read between the lines.
Character Development: You find yourself trying to protect Bowen/Lucian through your minds eye and trying to shake Aaron loose from his lost faith. Lena starts off brusk but ends up as your favorite busy body.
Plot: There are things in this universe that defy explanation so this could be true or it could be myth but you will follow along with a dry mouth and panic in your heart for the black is always there.
Dialogue: Seeing that this takes place in the “Midwest” I would have to say the dialogue was spot on for the present day characters. The Welsh dialogue was intriguing to see included as was seeing the author jump back in time and still manage to keep up with the dialogue used.
Pacing: If you are looking for a coffee table read, move on, if not then pull up a comfy chair, blanket and good drink because you will not want to put it down.
Setting: RJ was able to move in and out of past and present settings without disturbing the story. She also was able to keep the descriptions concise but leave room for the reader to imagine where they were without being handheld there.
Continuity: No issues here. RJ was able to lead the reader along and give tidbits here and there but not give away the entire plot. She then ties everything off in the end superbly. The reader will have a moment of “wow” that was why they said this or did this and that is where that came from or that is why that happened. Impressive to the last period.
October 26, 2012
Sins of the Father tells two tales that are separated by centuries of time but become linked with one little boy. The first tale is that of a young boy living in England during some point in the early medieval period. The boy is an orphan who lives within a monastery. The people who put him there hoped he would gain an education and become someone great. What they didn’t know is that the monastery is run by a group of sadist monks who love to inflict pain on the poor boy by giving him nightly whippings!
The second tale is based in the present and tells the story of a dissatisfied Reverend called Aaron. Aaron is a religious man but is having doubts about that religion and his position within the church. But things become much worse when Aaron trips in church and has a vision. He finds himself in a dark, stone library watching a group of monks whipping a small child. Outraged by their activities, Aaron shields the boy from the blows of the whip. Even though the monks can’t see or hear Aaron, Aaron can feel the blows. The monks give up on beating the boy and Aaron returns to the present to discover that the vision has only taken seconds (when it felt like hours) and that his back is crossed with bloody whip marks.
After showing his friend Lena (who is a nurse) the scars on his back, Aaron is prescribed some sleeping pills to stop him hurting himself when he ‘sleep walks’. The pills stop any more visions, but on a visit to his local psychiatric home, Aaron is introduced to a severely autistic boy called Lucien who looks exactly like the boy from the dark library in his visions!
Eventually, Aaron becomes Lucien’s guardian and soon discovers that it is something much darker than a mental illness that haunts him. That the strong link Aaron feels towards Lucien is not just that of a carer towards a child, but stretches back over the centuries!
I enjoyed reading this book and I’m glad R.J. Palmer got in touch and supplied me with a copy of her novel! I think the thing I liked most was that Palmer put a supernatural twist on to a historical novel (or maybe that should be the other way round?) and as most of you all know, I love all things history. If I had one issue with the book, it would be that the ending did seem a little rushed. Throughout the whole book Lucien cannot talk, but within the last 20 or so pages he snaps out of his condition and starts telling his life story. It just seemed like the novel was rounded off quickly. Nevertheless, I did enjoy the ending, as Palmer ties all the plot strings together very nicely!
I would suggest this book to anyone who likes books like Inquisition or the Da Vinci Code. Novels that have a historical, religious or a supernatural twist to them. Again, I’d like to say a massive thank you to R.J. Palmer for getting in touch. If you would like to purchase this novel, it is available from Smashwords.com or for kindle and in paperback from Amazon.co.uk.
For more great book reviews check out http://adam-p-reviews.blogspot.co.uk/
The second tale is based in the present and tells the story of a dissatisfied Reverend called Aaron. Aaron is a religious man but is having doubts about that religion and his position within the church. But things become much worse when Aaron trips in church and has a vision. He finds himself in a dark, stone library watching a group of monks whipping a small child. Outraged by their activities, Aaron shields the boy from the blows of the whip. Even though the monks can’t see or hear Aaron, Aaron can feel the blows. The monks give up on beating the boy and Aaron returns to the present to discover that the vision has only taken seconds (when it felt like hours) and that his back is crossed with bloody whip marks.
After showing his friend Lena (who is a nurse) the scars on his back, Aaron is prescribed some sleeping pills to stop him hurting himself when he ‘sleep walks’. The pills stop any more visions, but on a visit to his local psychiatric home, Aaron is introduced to a severely autistic boy called Lucien who looks exactly like the boy from the dark library in his visions!
Eventually, Aaron becomes Lucien’s guardian and soon discovers that it is something much darker than a mental illness that haunts him. That the strong link Aaron feels towards Lucien is not just that of a carer towards a child, but stretches back over the centuries!
I enjoyed reading this book and I’m glad R.J. Palmer got in touch and supplied me with a copy of her novel! I think the thing I liked most was that Palmer put a supernatural twist on to a historical novel (or maybe that should be the other way round?) and as most of you all know, I love all things history. If I had one issue with the book, it would be that the ending did seem a little rushed. Throughout the whole book Lucien cannot talk, but within the last 20 or so pages he snaps out of his condition and starts telling his life story. It just seemed like the novel was rounded off quickly. Nevertheless, I did enjoy the ending, as Palmer ties all the plot strings together very nicely!
I would suggest this book to anyone who likes books like Inquisition or the Da Vinci Code. Novels that have a historical, religious or a supernatural twist to them. Again, I’d like to say a massive thank you to R.J. Palmer for getting in touch. If you would like to purchase this novel, it is available from Smashwords.com or for kindle and in paperback from Amazon.co.uk.
For more great book reviews check out http://adam-p-reviews.blogspot.co.uk/
October 11, 2012
If you're looking for a scary, paranormal narrative, and one that entertains as well as makes you look over your shoulder in the dark, avoid fire and torture, you've come to the right place with this book.
RJ Palmer bends to no one, and pens her prose via her own style, weaving a modern day histronic, based on her own imagination. For this, she deserves a mighty huge nod.
I've been reading paranormals for more than I care to admit, beginning with The Exorcist. I thought that story was great.
However, after reading, The Sins of the Father, RJ's prose took 'possession' of my mind and swooped me into a completely different level regarding the paranormal and old evils with oh-so-strange histories, combined with the present day.
Without giving away any spoiler alerts, the story begins with a young boy, abandoned to some nasty religious zealots in mid-evil times, centuries ago. The youngster is made to
pay a hefty penance with his very innocence, all because of a terrible injustice done to his older sister, and ultimately caused by The Sins of the Father.
The boy has not known anything akin to kindness, excepting one priest, called Father Jacob...The boy reveres the color purple...
Fast forward to the present day, when Reverend Aaron finds himself scathed into an incredible past and joined with an unspeakable bond with The Boy. Reverend Aaron already has issues, and is questioning not only his faith, but his place within God's realm. When Aaron is introdcuced to an autistic child in a pyschiatric facility, (a child with no known origins or history), Aaron's life is changed forever.
Forever...
Oh, and one more thing, and this is very important, people: I'm an author. RJ Palmer's book, The Sins of the Father, took me away from my own work for several days. I can think of no better praise than that, from one author to another. An intriguing read and well worth your time.
RJ Palmer has the gift of sharing worlds we know nothing about...Crazy Cool and that's no joke.
RJ Palmer bends to no one, and pens her prose via her own style, weaving a modern day histronic, based on her own imagination. For this, she deserves a mighty huge nod.
I've been reading paranormals for more than I care to admit, beginning with The Exorcist. I thought that story was great.
However, after reading, The Sins of the Father, RJ's prose took 'possession' of my mind and swooped me into a completely different level regarding the paranormal and old evils with oh-so-strange histories, combined with the present day.
Without giving away any spoiler alerts, the story begins with a young boy, abandoned to some nasty religious zealots in mid-evil times, centuries ago. The youngster is made to
pay a hefty penance with his very innocence, all because of a terrible injustice done to his older sister, and ultimately caused by The Sins of the Father.
The boy has not known anything akin to kindness, excepting one priest, called Father Jacob...The boy reveres the color purple...
Fast forward to the present day, when Reverend Aaron finds himself scathed into an incredible past and joined with an unspeakable bond with The Boy. Reverend Aaron already has issues, and is questioning not only his faith, but his place within God's realm. When Aaron is introdcuced to an autistic child in a pyschiatric facility, (a child with no known origins or history), Aaron's life is changed forever.
Forever...
Oh, and one more thing, and this is very important, people: I'm an author. RJ Palmer's book, The Sins of the Father, took me away from my own work for several days. I can think of no better praise than that, from one author to another. An intriguing read and well worth your time.
RJ Palmer has the gift of sharing worlds we know nothing about...Crazy Cool and that's no joke.
November 30, 2012
Sins of the Father by RJ Palmer is an emotional thriller that gets your heart pumping and sets your mind to reeling. The thought of someone harming an innocent child is completely beyond me and what the monks do almost daily to poor Bowen is abhorrent, but as the story unfolds you learn that, while Bowen is an innocent, there is something more going on. Over time we learn of Bowen's past and how he came to live at the monastery. Forward to the present, Aaron who is a minister at the local church begins having strange moments of being pulled into the past and being witness to the beating of a young boy. When he returns to his present he wears the scars of having been beaten himself. Later he is invited to meet a young autistic boy, upon this meeting the strange encounters Aaron had been experiencing become more intense. Suddenly, two worlds are colliding as the past, Bowen's story, and the present, Aaron story, merge into one and we begin to truly grasp what has happened to cause such chaos within their two worlds.
Are there flaws within the telling of this story? Yes. However, the tale RJ Palmer tells and the characters of Sins of the Father are intriguing enough to allow this reader to look past the minor issues that were discovered. The highly descriptive prose used by the author easily sets the teeth on edge and we are taken deep into a world of pure and utter evil.
Are there flaws within the telling of this story? Yes. However, the tale RJ Palmer tells and the characters of Sins of the Father are intriguing enough to allow this reader to look past the minor issues that were discovered. The highly descriptive prose used by the author easily sets the teeth on edge and we are taken deep into a world of pure and utter evil.
June 20, 2012
A genuinely sad and haunting supernatural novel about a curse from the deep past and its repercussions in the present day, Sins of the Father really did scare me! The young boy at the center of the novel is a real person, and his story is very moving. The book has atmosphere to spare, and its plot is well-controlled. It's my humble opinion that some of the passages are too wordy, but another reader might as well disagree. In any event, recommended.
February 13, 2013
My review of "Sins of the Father" by R J Palmer ~Laura~
I did find this book a little difficult to get into at first. It left me wondering where the story was going. It wasn't until the author introduced "Lucien" to the story did it start to unfold and then i couldn't put it down!
The story has some quite detailed accounts of the charactors lives and upbringings and some readers may find this a little unsettling to read but, as a whole, the author does write the story very well.
I did find this book a little difficult to get into at first. It left me wondering where the story was going. It wasn't until the author introduced "Lucien" to the story did it start to unfold and then i couldn't put it down!
The story has some quite detailed accounts of the charactors lives and upbringings and some readers may find this a little unsettling to read but, as a whole, the author does write the story very well.
November 16, 2012
I don't know why, but after first holding this book, I thought it would take me a while to finish. It seemed heavy (talk about judging a book!) now I was surprised it took me 3 days to finish this book! I could not put it down, some scenes were haunting and hard to read. But definitely worth my time.
May 5, 2012
YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!! Another editing project has now become a published book. Check out Sins of the Father to find out the deep and mysterious connection between Bowen, Lucian, Aaron and an ancient evil.
September 10, 2012
A haunting supernatural story about a curse from the past and its repercussions in the present.It's a fantastic story of Good versus Evil. A very emotional read for me.I couldn,t wait to see what the outcome would be.I look forward to reading more books by Author R.j Palmer
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September 1, 2012This is the paperback version of my book
September 14, 2012
what an amazing book!
October 8, 2012
Very interesting and imaginative story. Worth the time spent reading.
September 1, 2012
Very good story, kept me interested from the very first page
May 2, 2013
Story Overview:
Bowen is a boy who is sent to a middle ages monastery by his neighbours after all of his family is killed. There he is brutally tortured until one night he escapes. Aaron is a minister in modern day America, who has recently been struggling with the world around him and how his job fits in with it. However when he falls over one day in church he is taken to see the torture of Bowen in past and as the days go past he visits Bowen more. That is until he has sleep therapy and the visions go away. But then Aaron is introduced to an autistic child at a mental institution that looks exactly like Bowen. Suddenly Aaron finds himself traveling down a path he never thought he would.
Cover Page: 18/20
The cover page is simple, yet effective. The image of a child being burned on the crucifix is very striking and conjures up all sorts of images in which we can all associate with. Yet its simplicity doesn’t give much to the plot, or the time frame in which the story largely takes place, which may be its weakness. The font is perfect for the title and story of the book, giving more away about the story than the front cover.
Character (and their development): 20/20
The characters are well portrayed and very realistic. Aaron is the minister that none us imagine when we think of religious leaders, but that is more to do with the preconception of them rather than the character. Aaron instead gives a more down to earth and human appearance to ministers that is refreshing from the stereotypical character that I have often found in other novels. His movements and thoughts are perfectly drawn out and his character development is done so well that it truly feels linear. Other characters are portrayed with the same delicate touch that makes them believable and lovable. The actions of the autistic character, named Lucian by another patient at the medical centre, are beautifully crafted and seemed to be well researched.
Storyline: 18/20
The storyline is well thought out. Unlike most novels, there is not one single thread that the reader must continuous go along and consider at the time, but a number of well drawn out threads that lead into one large story plot. I don’t want to give the story away, or any clues as to what happens, preferring you to read it yourself, but I can say that every moment was an eager moment to discover what the next card to turn would be. Unfortunately I think that certain story plots were easily left by the wayside and forgotten, but if they were brought back or even in it from the start and more drawn out it might have gotten top marks.
Style: 15/20
The author certainly has talent, but I feel that it is in need of a little refinement. The description was lovely and was really scene setting, but at the same time long and complicated words were used all too often when simple language could have conveyed the message and not made sentences seem chunky. There isn’t a huge amount of dialogue in the novel, mostly concentrating on the thoughts and actions but when there is dialogue it is wonderfully created and seems the most natural of conversations.
Unfortunately what really let the style down are the very long sentences and paragraphs in places. For the most part the writing was really good. But at more than one point the paragraph took up more than a page on my e-reader and sentences had 4 or even 5 commas in it making reading a chore in places.
Spelling and Grammar: 15/20
To say that the spelling and grammar is poor is a little bit of an over statement. There are some mistakes littered throughout the novel but nothing serious. The main points have been mentioned before, long sentences and paragraphs and some awkward wording in places.
The main issues is the formatting, something that I don’t often mention. On the contents page the formatting changes from “CHAPTER 1, CHAPTER 2” to “chapter 19, chapter 20” which unfairly makes it look like it could be a poor book. I also noted there were two chapter 26’s. Also the paragraphs most of the time have line breaks for them but from chapter 6 some paragraphs are just indented and there are a couple of times when a paragraph break happens mid sentence. These are easily fixed errors and if they were corrected, would instantly move this sections grade up. But as it stands it does look odd in places and needs correcting.
Conclusion: 86/100
It seems like a tale of two halves with this book. The story, characters and the initial look of the book are fantastic, putting it up with some of the best writing that I’ve had the pleasure of reading for a while. However at the same time, the style grammar and formatting is in need of a little improvement. I feel there is great potential in the author and the story is strong enough to be read by the masses, but I think that some people will be overly critical for the use of some words and the formatting mistakes.
So I’ve broken it down to one question: Would I recommend the book?
Yes. Despite the errors, the story and characters are strong. The formatting can be fixed and the use of words is not wrong, just not warranted by the mass market. If a reader can get past these, they’ll have a great read that is full of excitement few authors can achieve.
Bowen is a boy who is sent to a middle ages monastery by his neighbours after all of his family is killed. There he is brutally tortured until one night he escapes. Aaron is a minister in modern day America, who has recently been struggling with the world around him and how his job fits in with it. However when he falls over one day in church he is taken to see the torture of Bowen in past and as the days go past he visits Bowen more. That is until he has sleep therapy and the visions go away. But then Aaron is introduced to an autistic child at a mental institution that looks exactly like Bowen. Suddenly Aaron finds himself traveling down a path he never thought he would.
Cover Page: 18/20
The cover page is simple, yet effective. The image of a child being burned on the crucifix is very striking and conjures up all sorts of images in which we can all associate with. Yet its simplicity doesn’t give much to the plot, or the time frame in which the story largely takes place, which may be its weakness. The font is perfect for the title and story of the book, giving more away about the story than the front cover.
Character (and their development): 20/20
The characters are well portrayed and very realistic. Aaron is the minister that none us imagine when we think of religious leaders, but that is more to do with the preconception of them rather than the character. Aaron instead gives a more down to earth and human appearance to ministers that is refreshing from the stereotypical character that I have often found in other novels. His movements and thoughts are perfectly drawn out and his character development is done so well that it truly feels linear. Other characters are portrayed with the same delicate touch that makes them believable and lovable. The actions of the autistic character, named Lucian by another patient at the medical centre, are beautifully crafted and seemed to be well researched.
Storyline: 18/20
The storyline is well thought out. Unlike most novels, there is not one single thread that the reader must continuous go along and consider at the time, but a number of well drawn out threads that lead into one large story plot. I don’t want to give the story away, or any clues as to what happens, preferring you to read it yourself, but I can say that every moment was an eager moment to discover what the next card to turn would be. Unfortunately I think that certain story plots were easily left by the wayside and forgotten, but if they were brought back or even in it from the start and more drawn out it might have gotten top marks.
Style: 15/20
The author certainly has talent, but I feel that it is in need of a little refinement. The description was lovely and was really scene setting, but at the same time long and complicated words were used all too often when simple language could have conveyed the message and not made sentences seem chunky. There isn’t a huge amount of dialogue in the novel, mostly concentrating on the thoughts and actions but when there is dialogue it is wonderfully created and seems the most natural of conversations.
Unfortunately what really let the style down are the very long sentences and paragraphs in places. For the most part the writing was really good. But at more than one point the paragraph took up more than a page on my e-reader and sentences had 4 or even 5 commas in it making reading a chore in places.
Spelling and Grammar: 15/20
To say that the spelling and grammar is poor is a little bit of an over statement. There are some mistakes littered throughout the novel but nothing serious. The main points have been mentioned before, long sentences and paragraphs and some awkward wording in places.
The main issues is the formatting, something that I don’t often mention. On the contents page the formatting changes from “CHAPTER 1, CHAPTER 2” to “chapter 19, chapter 20” which unfairly makes it look like it could be a poor book. I also noted there were two chapter 26’s. Also the paragraphs most of the time have line breaks for them but from chapter 6 some paragraphs are just indented and there are a couple of times when a paragraph break happens mid sentence. These are easily fixed errors and if they were corrected, would instantly move this sections grade up. But as it stands it does look odd in places and needs correcting.
Conclusion: 86/100
It seems like a tale of two halves with this book. The story, characters and the initial look of the book are fantastic, putting it up with some of the best writing that I’ve had the pleasure of reading for a while. However at the same time, the style grammar and formatting is in need of a little improvement. I feel there is great potential in the author and the story is strong enough to be read by the masses, but I think that some people will be overly critical for the use of some words and the formatting mistakes.
So I’ve broken it down to one question: Would I recommend the book?
Yes. Despite the errors, the story and characters are strong. The formatting can be fixed and the use of words is not wrong, just not warranted by the mass market. If a reader can get past these, they’ll have a great read that is full of excitement few authors can achieve.
March 16, 2013
/I received the book for free from the author through Smashwords/
SPOILERS
I loved the intrigue in this book and i just couldn't put it down! I liked most the first chapters, when the tension was just building up and two different centuries were mixing up so well to build one story.
If I had to look for something to criticize, I would say that it was a bit weird not to be preoccupied or at least very surprised that a child that is supposed to be autistic surviving a fire suddenly becomes much more open in a new unknown to him place and with one completely strange person, that he opens up so much that finds a way to communicate his needs and comes out of the stupor, stops rocking himself back and forth and walks around the flat freely.
The other thing that disturbed me a bit was the ending: I would prefer to leave it open and cut the story after Aron's sacrifice, because all the details of the boy's future and happy ending were written in a different style.
But still, I would read any other book by this author without any hesitation and i truly enjoyed it!
SPOILERS
I loved the intrigue in this book and i just couldn't put it down! I liked most the first chapters, when the tension was just building up and two different centuries were mixing up so well to build one story.
If I had to look for something to criticize, I would say that it was a bit weird not to be preoccupied or at least very surprised that a child that is supposed to be autistic surviving a fire suddenly becomes much more open in a new unknown to him place and with one completely strange person, that he opens up so much that finds a way to communicate his needs and comes out of the stupor, stops rocking himself back and forth and walks around the flat freely.
The other thing that disturbed me a bit was the ending: I would prefer to leave it open and cut the story after Aron's sacrifice, because all the details of the boy's future and happy ending were written in a different style.
But still, I would read any other book by this author without any hesitation and i truly enjoyed it!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 24, 2013
I have received a free copy of this book through a GoodReads First Reads giveaway.
I consider myself a seasoned horror fan. The reason I'm talking about myself in a book review is to elucidate the point that I am not rattled easily.
I actually got goosebumps reading this book. I can't even tell you the last time that happened.
R.J. Palmer has an exceptional skill for writing that draws you in and leaves you gasping for more.
Curious about the author, and whether she has written any other books, I checked out her blog and read that she was a quarter finalist in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Contest. I would be willing to bet 'Sins Of The Father' makes it to a top ten list or two. If you like horror, run, don't walk to get this book.
I consider myself a seasoned horror fan. The reason I'm talking about myself in a book review is to elucidate the point that I am not rattled easily.
I actually got goosebumps reading this book. I can't even tell you the last time that happened.
R.J. Palmer has an exceptional skill for writing that draws you in and leaves you gasping for more.
Curious about the author, and whether she has written any other books, I checked out her blog and read that she was a quarter finalist in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Contest. I would be willing to bet 'Sins Of The Father' makes it to a top ten list or two. If you like horror, run, don't walk to get this book.
March 29, 2013
Took me a while to go through this book and I deliberately was slow to read it.
Some of the content outraged me, some made me curious, some was blatantly boring, and yet some pages had a profound effect on me, some thing I wasn't expecting at all to happen!
If you want to be confronted within a book, if you are looking for something that will make you ponder upon bigger questions there is to ask, risk and read this book, may be it will fulfil some of the above in you.
One way or another you have nothing to lose and everything to gain, yes it may be not a light read, but some times, a "hard" read is just what we need.
Some of the content outraged me, some made me curious, some was blatantly boring, and yet some pages had a profound effect on me, some thing I wasn't expecting at all to happen!
If you want to be confronted within a book, if you are looking for something that will make you ponder upon bigger questions there is to ask, risk and read this book, may be it will fulfil some of the above in you.
One way or another you have nothing to lose and everything to gain, yes it may be not a light read, but some times, a "hard" read is just what we need.
September 26, 2013
I truly enjoyed sections of this book. Some of them, however (in my opinion) were written too formally, or included too much repetitive information/explanation, or it was just too wordy. I found myself skipping over those parts to get to the good stuff. I think it could have been shorter and been just as good, if not better. The beginning drew me in quickly. It was extremely intriguing, and I couldn't wait to delve further into the story. As I got about half way into the book, my enthusiasm decreased because there was too much of a lull before the final reveal. Over all, I feel the author has a wonderful imagination, and great potential, and I love the main idea for the story. The tale of Bowen's family and how he ended up with the monks was riveting. The story of his punishment by the monks was painful and heart wrenching. The idea that Aaron was questioning his faith, that he was taking these "trips" to the past, and he endured the whippings for Bowen was fascinating. The very end, where the story comes together is also very interesting. The way they are all pulled together in the book could be better.
I was given a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
I was given a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
May 2, 2015
It's really a nice book! I love the twists and changes of each characters.. Hope to read more of your books in the future. (I'm actually re-writing a review, was unintentionally delete most of my reviews.. :'( Thank you again!
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August 31, 2012This is my book.
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