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River Madden #1
Touching Madness
Light bulbs talk to River Madden; God doesn't. When the homeless schizophrenic unintentionally fractures a dimensional barrier and accidentally steals a gym bag containing a million dollars, everyone from the multiverse police to the local crime boss—and an eight-foot tall demon—are after him. Can he dodge them long enough to correct his mistakes and prevent the destruction of three separate dimensions? If he succeeds, will the light bulbs stop singing off-key?
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First published March 4, 2012
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About the author
K.S. Ferguson
7 books27 followersK S Ferguson has published one critically-acclaimed novella, Puncher's Chance (co-written with James Grayson,) which appeared in the June 2006 edition of Analog Science Fiction and Fact, America's longest-running science fiction magazine. She's since completed another five novels. She enjoys writing suspense and murder mysteries in futuristic and fantasy settings, and occasionally writes fiction in the guise of technical manuals for unfinished software—otherwise known as help documentation.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
November 11, 2020
Real or not real?
River Madden is homeless and suffering from schizophrenia. The lightbulbs sing to him. He wakes up naked in dumpsters. Those eight-foot demons no one else can see are a problem. The last place he wants to go? That would be back to a psych ward lockup. So when a group of law enforcement looking agents corner his position in an alley, no way is he coming out. But are they and their weird sci-fi equipment even real or just another delusion? Things only get crazier when you add in a bag with a million dollars inside.
This high-octane thriller jumped straight into the action from page one and never let up. Intensely plot driven, it keeps you guessing, never wanting the reader to fully decide whether what River sees is a result of paranormal abilities or his delusions. Real or not real? It’s the sort of delicious book where you’re not sure there’s anyone you can trust. But as the layers of the onion are slowly peeled back and River and covert operative Sammy are pursued in a crazy chase through multiple dimensions, River begins to doubt that the delusions are all in his imagination. This was brilliantly imagined, with wonderful worldbuilding, sci fi bad guys whose evil machinations play into current day themes, and plot twists in the second half that had me eagerly flipping pages. Eager to read book two!
Trigger Warnings:
Please excuse typos/name misspellings. Entered on screen reader.
River Madden is homeless and suffering from schizophrenia. The lightbulbs sing to him. He wakes up naked in dumpsters. Those eight-foot demons no one else can see are a problem. The last place he wants to go? That would be back to a psych ward lockup. So when a group of law enforcement looking agents corner his position in an alley, no way is he coming out. But are they and their weird sci-fi equipment even real or just another delusion? Things only get crazier when you add in a bag with a million dollars inside.
This high-octane thriller jumped straight into the action from page one and never let up. Intensely plot driven, it keeps you guessing, never wanting the reader to fully decide whether what River sees is a result of paranormal abilities or his delusions. Real or not real? It’s the sort of delicious book where you’re not sure there’s anyone you can trust. But as the layers of the onion are slowly peeled back and River and covert operative Sammy are pursued in a crazy chase through multiple dimensions, River begins to doubt that the delusions are all in his imagination. This was brilliantly imagined, with wonderful worldbuilding, sci fi bad guys whose evil machinations play into current day themes, and plot twists in the second half that had me eagerly flipping pages. Eager to read book two!
Trigger Warnings:
Please excuse typos/name misspellings. Entered on screen reader.
December 5, 2014
I’ve read many books and seen countless movies where the protagonist is unable to tell reality from delusion and where there is no superior position for the reader/viewer. The result can often be to sever empathy and gradually alienate the reader. That is unless it’s done well and I’m happy to say ‘Touching Madness’ does exactly that. One of the main reasons the novel holds us is that River is someone we can empathise with and root for, a homeless schizophrenic, who speaks to demons but also manages to be extremely likeable.
This first person narrative though doesn’t chronicle the thoughts of a delusional simply misinterpreting the external world (as one finds in Gogol’s ‘Diary of a Madman for example,) the whole multi-universe around River seems schizoid. The narrative often has elements of farce, most notably with the theft of the million dollar gym bag and the way River is pursued by inter-dimensional police and a gigantic demon. The main character himself however is never portrayed as someone to laugh at and indeed in many respects we can view him as heroic. To go into much more detail would create spoilers; all I will say is that the stakes in this one are very, very high indeed and trust me, you’ll be hooked right until the end. No matter what genre you prefer I’m sure you’ll enjoy this one. I look forward to reading more by this very talented author.
This first person narrative though doesn’t chronicle the thoughts of a delusional simply misinterpreting the external world (as one finds in Gogol’s ‘Diary of a Madman for example,) the whole multi-universe around River seems schizoid. The narrative often has elements of farce, most notably with the theft of the million dollar gym bag and the way River is pursued by inter-dimensional police and a gigantic demon. The main character himself however is never portrayed as someone to laugh at and indeed in many respects we can view him as heroic. To go into much more detail would create spoilers; all I will say is that the stakes in this one are very, very high indeed and trust me, you’ll be hooked right until the end. No matter what genre you prefer I’m sure you’ll enjoy this one. I look forward to reading more by this very talented author.
May 30, 2015
A multiverse story is mixed with young adult urban fantasy. A policier thriller is mixed with paranormal fantasy. High level entities are able to move freely from one universe into another. Each universe is an alternative path of the one we know. This novel has a bit of everything. And I forgot to mention a well written sarcasm that paints a humoresque tone on some very dark, bloody actions.
A young man sees unreal things that are real, and unreal things that are, well, unreal. The thing is to find what is and what is not; real, of course. The very well presented inner thinking and self-talking of the main character are guiding the reader in a hard struggle to discern dreams from a reality that is not your common reality. With the first demon appearance, the young man’s reaction is something that will follow him through the whole book: ‘Not real, not real, River.’ But the demon was real - a ‘multiverse balancer’ entity with a philosophical bent - and River’s life was often hanging on a split second discerning the ‘not real’ from the ‘real’.
Touching Madness is a good young adult novel.
I received the book from the author.
A young man sees unreal things that are real, and unreal things that are, well, unreal. The thing is to find what is and what is not; real, of course. The very well presented inner thinking and self-talking of the main character are guiding the reader in a hard struggle to discern dreams from a reality that is not your common reality. With the first demon appearance, the young man’s reaction is something that will follow him through the whole book: ‘Not real, not real, River.’ But the demon was real - a ‘multiverse balancer’ entity with a philosophical bent - and River’s life was often hanging on a split second discerning the ‘not real’ from the ‘real’.
Touching Madness is a good young adult novel.
I received the book from the author.
December 7, 2014
Get on board if you want a crazy roller-coaster ride, complete with an eight-foot tall demon, cops, gangsters and a raft of other characters. At the centre of it all is protagonist, River Madden, who is remarkably street wise, sober, and sane considering his mental state and out of control circumstances. That’s as much as I’ll say, because any more would just be spoilers.
I was looking for something different to read, and this book delivered. Top marks for crisp, clean writing, good editing, and a story that keeps you turning the pages right to the end. There are plenty of laughs and plenty of moments that’ll make you squirm. Turn the sound up on your light bulbs and enjoy the ride!
I was looking for something different to read, and this book delivered. Top marks for crisp, clean writing, good editing, and a story that keeps you turning the pages right to the end. There are plenty of laughs and plenty of moments that’ll make you squirm. Turn the sound up on your light bulbs and enjoy the ride!
March 8, 2015
Okay, so I have to state my main case for this book right away, because it's remarkable.
This author works with a complicated, multi-level, thrillerlike plot like a BOSS.
I was hooked within the first ten pages. The plot is interesting, dynamic--small conflict, and not-so-small, in every scene--and it's handled so well, so suspensefully, that I knew I could trust every small out-of-place plot hair to have its own particular meaning by the end of the novel. This is rarer than it should be, and thus, even on its own, deserves five stars.
And the action is pretty nonstop, as well. Even the quiet scenes--one of my favorites features the homeless main character, young River, in an IHOP--have an element of suspense (River is, at that point, wanted by the police) that go a long way towards driving the plot forward all day, E'REY DAY, just as a plot should be driven forward. Conflict in every scene, again, without it feeling obvious or forced. Hats off. Hands together.
The main character is extremely likeable, too. River's schizophrenia confuses me a little--it seems to mainly manifest itself in lightbulbs singing thematically appropriate songs out of key, and it isn't made clear, by the end of the novel, how much of his 'disease' is actually a disease, and how much of it is River's unusual gift--but River himself is a sweet kid, and you want him to succeed and find a better place for himself. Secondary characters--including especially Sammie, a familially influenced 'government' agent, her old-soldier father, and two very mafia-style crime bosses--are given clear motivation for doing the things they do, and the more prominent among them (again, Sammie especially) have well-developed character arcs. A good job was done, in fact, adding characterization to a plot based story. This can be difficult to do, and it's honestly somewhat impressive. Again, hats off.
Even setting is handled well. The main city (Centerville? River seems to have some trouble remembering the name) is described well through the eyes of a young homeless man. A little TOO well, I thought at several points, as River himself is just passing through, and hasn't lived there his whole life. The extra-dimensional scenes (again, not going to spoil anything for you, but there are some) offer a little less physical detail, and I'm still on the fence about whether I agreed with that writing path or not. I was curious about the extra dimensions, and I didn't feel like my curiosity was properly assuaged.
On the other hand, it's the first book in a series, so, you know. I guess I'll buy the next one and see for myself. :)
Highly recommend it, especially for fans of paranormal fantasy, urban fantasy, secret agent style thrillers, and YA literature (for this book has, at its core, a coming-of-age flavor that fits in well with YA). The writing is clear and carefully managed, and you'll find yourself following the complicated plot with ease--and having a lot of fun along the way.
This author works with a complicated, multi-level, thrillerlike plot like a BOSS.
I was hooked within the first ten pages. The plot is interesting, dynamic--small conflict, and not-so-small, in every scene--and it's handled so well, so suspensefully, that I knew I could trust every small out-of-place plot hair to have its own particular meaning by the end of the novel. This is rarer than it should be, and thus, even on its own, deserves five stars.
And the action is pretty nonstop, as well. Even the quiet scenes--one of my favorites features the homeless main character, young River, in an IHOP--have an element of suspense (River is, at that point, wanted by the police) that go a long way towards driving the plot forward all day, E'REY DAY, just as a plot should be driven forward. Conflict in every scene, again, without it feeling obvious or forced. Hats off. Hands together.
The main character is extremely likeable, too. River's schizophrenia confuses me a little--it seems to mainly manifest itself in lightbulbs singing thematically appropriate songs out of key, and it isn't made clear, by the end of the novel, how much of his 'disease' is actually a disease, and how much of it is River's unusual gift--but River himself is a sweet kid, and you want him to succeed and find a better place for himself. Secondary characters--including especially Sammie, a familially influenced 'government' agent, her old-soldier father, and two very mafia-style crime bosses--are given clear motivation for doing the things they do, and the more prominent among them (again, Sammie especially) have well-developed character arcs. A good job was done, in fact, adding characterization to a plot based story. This can be difficult to do, and it's honestly somewhat impressive. Again, hats off.
Even setting is handled well. The main city (Centerville? River seems to have some trouble remembering the name) is described well through the eyes of a young homeless man. A little TOO well, I thought at several points, as River himself is just passing through, and hasn't lived there his whole life. The extra-dimensional scenes (again, not going to spoil anything for you, but there are some) offer a little less physical detail, and I'm still on the fence about whether I agreed with that writing path or not. I was curious about the extra dimensions, and I didn't feel like my curiosity was properly assuaged.
On the other hand, it's the first book in a series, so, you know. I guess I'll buy the next one and see for myself. :)
Highly recommend it, especially for fans of paranormal fantasy, urban fantasy, secret agent style thrillers, and YA literature (for this book has, at its core, a coming-of-age flavor that fits in well with YA). The writing is clear and carefully managed, and you'll find yourself following the complicated plot with ease--and having a lot of fun along the way.
June 23, 2015
“Touching Madness” sucked me in right away, and I had a hard time putting it down. River Madden travels through other planes of existence, always coming out the other side, naked, cold, and disoriented. But he has schizophrenia, so it’s an illusion. Or is it?
After one travel, he finds out there’s much more to his illusions, and that he’s not quite as crazy as he assumes. He’s also important to the multiverse, a series of universes. He meets Sammie, and true craziness ensues as he is thrust into a race against time to save the universe, and not just his own.
Filled with action, sci-fi themes, and some romance, this book has it all. A quick read, I would definitely recommend this book for anyone looking for something to keep your attention while being thoroughly entertained at the same time.
I was kindly given a copy of this book in exchange for a review, and I loved it!
After one travel, he finds out there’s much more to his illusions, and that he’s not quite as crazy as he assumes. He’s also important to the multiverse, a series of universes. He meets Sammie, and true craziness ensues as he is thrust into a race against time to save the universe, and not just his own.
Filled with action, sci-fi themes, and some romance, this book has it all. A quick read, I would definitely recommend this book for anyone looking for something to keep your attention while being thoroughly entertained at the same time.
I was kindly given a copy of this book in exchange for a review, and I loved it!
March 22, 2015
Touching Madness is a unique, complicated story that follows River Madden as he tries to prevent the collapse of multiple dimensions while being chased by a drug dealer. The book starts off with a lot of action and then River meets Sammie and much of the story revolves around them working together to prevent the collapsing of multiple dimensions.
I found the characterization of River to be interesting and also complex. He suffers from schizophrenia, and throughout the story he is scratching himself and witnessing and communicating with nightmares and other figures. It made for an interesting storyline, but at times it was challenging to follow and make sense of what was going on and trying to understand reality from hallucination.
I thought the best part of the story was the relationship between River and Sammie. Their interactions made for interesting banter throughout the story and I liked the way they worked together in trying to save the dimensions.
However, there were a couple points that I struggled with. There were times when a lot of action was happening very quickly and new characters were introduced and at times I had a hard time figuring out what was happening. Also, there were points throughout the story where the author would reveal a lot of the plot through narrative and detail every thought in River's mind. This made it difficult at times to stay engaged in the story. I also struggled with understanding the mechanics of the multiverse and "fractures."
This story is not the typical story I would read (I was given a copy for an honest review), and given all the other positive reviews, I think other readers who appreciate this genre, might enjoy Touching Madness.
I found the characterization of River to be interesting and also complex. He suffers from schizophrenia, and throughout the story he is scratching himself and witnessing and communicating with nightmares and other figures. It made for an interesting storyline, but at times it was challenging to follow and make sense of what was going on and trying to understand reality from hallucination.
I thought the best part of the story was the relationship between River and Sammie. Their interactions made for interesting banter throughout the story and I liked the way they worked together in trying to save the dimensions.
However, there were a couple points that I struggled with. There were times when a lot of action was happening very quickly and new characters were introduced and at times I had a hard time figuring out what was happening. Also, there were points throughout the story where the author would reveal a lot of the plot through narrative and detail every thought in River's mind. This made it difficult at times to stay engaged in the story. I also struggled with understanding the mechanics of the multiverse and "fractures."
This story is not the typical story I would read (I was given a copy for an honest review), and given all the other positive reviews, I think other readers who appreciate this genre, might enjoy Touching Madness.
April 30, 2015
This novel wasn’t bad.
I liked that the author really put me inside the head of a character. I also liked that I was never bored – lots of exciting stuff happening. The writing, overall, was pretty clean, and I dug the romance secondary plot.
I did have some complaints, however.
The opening, I think, was one of the weakest parts of the book. The character’s belief that nothing that was happening was real detracted from the feel of danger. I also hated that we were repeatedly told that he didn’t feel like anything was real rather than being shown it through his actions. The author also steps on one of my pet peeves – using italics to give artificial emphasis to words. Really, why not just say, “Hey, I didn’t choose words that were strong enough, so I’ll just put them in italics.” And, to make things even worse, italics are also used for thought. The first time I encountered an artificially emphasized word, I wondered for a moment, “Why is the character only thinking a single word in that sentence… Oh.”
This final negative didn’t bother me all that much, but I think some readers will find it really annoying – instead of the protagonist proactively getting out of bad situations, he seemed to escape mostly due to coincidental happenstance. Many times he’s able to get away from one group of people chasing him because another group shows up at the same time. If you nitpick plots, I think you’ll find lots of material there.
Overall, though, I found the novel more enjoyable than not. 4 stars.
(Disclaimer: I discovered this author on Goodreads and received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for a review.)
I liked that the author really put me inside the head of a character. I also liked that I was never bored – lots of exciting stuff happening. The writing, overall, was pretty clean, and I dug the romance secondary plot.
I did have some complaints, however.
The opening, I think, was one of the weakest parts of the book. The character’s belief that nothing that was happening was real detracted from the feel of danger. I also hated that we were repeatedly told that he didn’t feel like anything was real rather than being shown it through his actions. The author also steps on one of my pet peeves – using italics to give artificial emphasis to words. Really, why not just say, “Hey, I didn’t choose words that were strong enough, so I’ll just put them in italics.” And, to make things even worse, italics are also used for thought. The first time I encountered an artificially emphasized word, I wondered for a moment, “Why is the character only thinking a single word in that sentence… Oh.”
This final negative didn’t bother me all that much, but I think some readers will find it really annoying – instead of the protagonist proactively getting out of bad situations, he seemed to escape mostly due to coincidental happenstance. Many times he’s able to get away from one group of people chasing him because another group shows up at the same time. If you nitpick plots, I think you’ll find lots of material there.
Overall, though, I found the novel more enjoyable than not. 4 stars.
(Disclaimer: I discovered this author on Goodreads and received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for a review.)
September 1, 2012
'Touching Madness' has a great narrative voice that drew me in right from the first page. The writing style is quirky and humorous, which made it really fun to read. It's chatty and written in first person, so I was able to really get into the main character's head.
The main character, River Madden, is a homeless man suffering from schizophrenia. Despite the overall humorous tone of the book, I thought that River's condition was handled with sensitivity and intelligence. It is never used to mock him, neither is he ever reduced to just his illness - his schizophrenia is a part of who he is, but there's a lot of other qualities to him as well. I found him to be an inspiring and very likable main character. He was also fun to hang around with, which made me keep reading.
The plot is interesting. It revolves around there being different dimensions, and we get to meet characters from them such as raps (from a dimension where dinosaurs were never wiped out), neans (from a dimension where homo sapiens never developed and humanity descended from neanderthals) and my personal favourites - demons.
From the beginning to the end, the plot was tightly woven and exciting, with never a dull moment. I won't give anything away about the ending, but it was the sweetest thing I've ever read. It made me so happy.
This book is part of a series and I'm looking forwards to the next book!
I think 'Touching Madness' would be suitable as a young adult book, but would equally be enjoyed by adults. It's charming and poignant and funny.
The main character, River Madden, is a homeless man suffering from schizophrenia. Despite the overall humorous tone of the book, I thought that River's condition was handled with sensitivity and intelligence. It is never used to mock him, neither is he ever reduced to just his illness - his schizophrenia is a part of who he is, but there's a lot of other qualities to him as well. I found him to be an inspiring and very likable main character. He was also fun to hang around with, which made me keep reading.
The plot is interesting. It revolves around there being different dimensions, and we get to meet characters from them such as raps (from a dimension where dinosaurs were never wiped out), neans (from a dimension where homo sapiens never developed and humanity descended from neanderthals) and my personal favourites - demons.
From the beginning to the end, the plot was tightly woven and exciting, with never a dull moment. I won't give anything away about the ending, but it was the sweetest thing I've ever read. It made me so happy.
This book is part of a series and I'm looking forwards to the next book!
I think 'Touching Madness' would be suitable as a young adult book, but would equally be enjoyed by adults. It's charming and poignant and funny.
May 3, 2015
This is a story about a multiverse and the people that have the natural power to move from one universe to another. The hero is a good guy unaware of his talent at first. You have a good faction, a bad faction with real bad guys and minions, some clueless factions, and also the overseers, a demon faction that are able to shutdown a universe.
The first chapter has an overloaded style like a good writing exercise. And it works. It puts you in the mood of wanting to read more.
In the following chapter the story is developed in an interesting manner. Our hero learns more about himself and goes through the tribulations that come with knowledge and taking decisions. It’s well written and I liked it. And then glitches start to creep in. The hero feels the needs to emphasize periodically that he is an uneducated schizophrenic homeless, although his knowledge and education scream at the reader from every sentence.
Three quarters in the story everything goes sideways. A dozen pages of piloting a ship with quotes from different science fiction movies make things unclear. Everything becomes messy once a big demon invites our hero for some creepy sexual foreplay. I’m not against an 18+ scene but there is nothing in this scene or the previous ones that will help the story.The storyline goes back to its track towards the end although the characters from different universes seem to behave and think the same despite being on different evolution levels or species.
A very good end saves this story and makes me curios to read the sequel.
The first chapter has an overloaded style like a good writing exercise. And it works. It puts you in the mood of wanting to read more.
In the following chapter the story is developed in an interesting manner. Our hero learns more about himself and goes through the tribulations that come with knowledge and taking decisions. It’s well written and I liked it. And then glitches start to creep in. The hero feels the needs to emphasize periodically that he is an uneducated schizophrenic homeless, although his knowledge and education scream at the reader from every sentence.
Three quarters in the story everything goes sideways. A dozen pages of piloting a ship with quotes from different science fiction movies make things unclear. Everything becomes messy once a big demon invites our hero for some creepy sexual foreplay. I’m not against an 18+ scene but there is nothing in this scene or the previous ones that will help the story.The storyline goes back to its track towards the end although the characters from different universes seem to behave and think the same despite being on different evolution levels or species.
A very good end saves this story and makes me curios to read the sequel.
January 2, 2015
River Madden is one of the most original and endearing protagonists I’ve met in a long time. He’s a pacifist and reluctant hero who’s never sure what is real and what isn’t but always goes with his heart. He’s been living on the streets ever since he ran from an abusive orphanage, but he absolutely refuses to steal. He’s terrified of elevators and has to wear a watch cap to keep ants from dancing on his head, but he’s determined to save three dimensions. He suffers from social anxiety and yearns for a friend. He has weird hallucinogenic episodes that end with him naked far from wherever he was last, so he’s had some tough run-ins with the cops. Now in non-stop action, he has even tougher run-ins with gangsters, people from other dimensions, and demons. He tells the story in first person, and it was his delightful voice — full of self-deprecating humor and accompanied by an off-key soundtrack provided by singing lightbulbs — that pulled me in and kept me wanting to get back to this book every chance I got, even when I wasn’t exactly sure what all the soot ball nightmares were about.
I don’t usually read urban fantasy, and I have kind of an aversion to series, but K. S Ferguson has created such a compelling character with such an entertaining voice — and the plot works great too although it’s way too wacky to describe here — that I’m just going to have to keep following River Madden through more alternate dimensions.
I don’t usually read urban fantasy, and I have kind of an aversion to series, but K. S Ferguson has created such a compelling character with such an entertaining voice — and the plot works great too although it’s way too wacky to describe here — that I’m just going to have to keep following River Madden through more alternate dimensions.
August 22, 2015
It’s rare to read a book where a character, who probably should have been in the psych ward, is such a believable hero. Many times, a person suffering from delusions and other mental issues is seen simply as crazy. You feel for them but in a pitiful kind of way. That is not River Madden. River cannot always separate his delusions from reality and it simply makes him endearing. It makes him brave and heroic in the most unconventional way. I was rooting for him the whole time and never doubted he’d save the day.
One of the best parts about this book is the relationship between River and Sammie. All River seems to want is a friend, which can be hard to come by when you’re living on the streets. I love that a romantic relationship isn’t thrust on them right away as it is in so many books. What’s lost in so many romantic stories (not that this is a romance) is the pure joy of having a friend that you can count on one hundred percent. For River, it’s the pure joy of having a friend at all.
I’m not used to reading books about different dimensions and things like that so this next part may just be my problem. There were a lot of times where I found myself getting confused because of all the different story threads and lingo they use for everything. Once again, that may just be me so I recommend you read this for yourself. Despite the confusion, I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading the next one!
One of the best parts about this book is the relationship between River and Sammie. All River seems to want is a friend, which can be hard to come by when you’re living on the streets. I love that a romantic relationship isn’t thrust on them right away as it is in so many books. What’s lost in so many romantic stories (not that this is a romance) is the pure joy of having a friend that you can count on one hundred percent. For River, it’s the pure joy of having a friend at all.
I’m not used to reading books about different dimensions and things like that so this next part may just be my problem. There were a lot of times where I found myself getting confused because of all the different story threads and lingo they use for everything. Once again, that may just be me so I recommend you read this for yourself. Despite the confusion, I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading the next one!
June 1, 2015
To be honest, I've never read something quite like this book before. If this was something I saw on a shelf, I probably wouldn't pick it up simply because this isn't a genre I like.
What worked for this book? The premise, parts of River's development as a character, and the action sequences--to an extent. When he's getting chased around, jumping between dimensions, or having an internal moment of change, those worked. Sometimes the action got a bit too much. It kept going. And going. Characters would be flung around here and there, and even though it worked for River's state of mind, being a reader, I thought it got convoluted at times. It was hard to keep track of who was where.
That's not to say it didn't work for River's character. Like I said, his state of mind makes this book unique. (And yes, the protagonist is a guy. It took me til the end of Chapter 1 to figure that out because it wasn't clearly stated, and I've only ever heard River as a girl's name). His schizophrenia gets in his way, and at times he questions his own sanity. He and Sammie form a relationship together, which was pretty well paced. There was one particular scene that was odd, to say the least, involving a sexual encounter.
As I said, this isn't a book I'd typically pick up off the shelf, but overall, if you're looking for something out of the ordinary, give this a shot. Who knows?
What worked for this book? The premise, parts of River's development as a character, and the action sequences--to an extent. When he's getting chased around, jumping between dimensions, or having an internal moment of change, those worked. Sometimes the action got a bit too much. It kept going. And going. Characters would be flung around here and there, and even though it worked for River's state of mind, being a reader, I thought it got convoluted at times. It was hard to keep track of who was where.
That's not to say it didn't work for River's character. Like I said, his state of mind makes this book unique. (And yes, the protagonist is a guy. It took me til the end of Chapter 1 to figure that out because it wasn't clearly stated, and I've only ever heard River as a girl's name). His schizophrenia gets in his way, and at times he questions his own sanity. He and Sammie form a relationship together, which was pretty well paced. There was one particular scene that was odd, to say the least, involving a sexual encounter.
As I said, this isn't a book I'd typically pick up off the shelf, but overall, if you're looking for something out of the ordinary, give this a shot. Who knows?
May 5, 2015
River Madden isn’t your stereotypical hero. He’s a homeless, psychotic schizophrenic, who wakes up naked in alleyways and is often serenaded by light bulbs. This hapless but loveable character must separate hallucinations from reality to discover whether Smokey, an eight-foot demon and a nightmare cloud trailing him are real or not. As mayhem erupts around him, River is pursued by police, secret agents, drug lords and wizardly types—and the attractive DPS agent, Sammie.
We learn about River’s special talent, while discovering his endearing flaws and troubled past. The story takes a delightful dive into multi-dimensions inhabited by Raptors and Neanderthals. River must negotiate fractures connecting these parallel worlds through D-space where Demons lurk. As the unlikely hero, he is also lumped with the onerous task of saving the multiverse from collapse.
Ferguson’s writing is slick, fast and funny. River is a terrific character, appealing and relatable with his dry, detached humour and self-deprecating manner. The author capably balances thrilling action, creative fantasy and a dash of romance in a story that could be successfully translated into a film series. Highly recommended.
We learn about River’s special talent, while discovering his endearing flaws and troubled past. The story takes a delightful dive into multi-dimensions inhabited by Raptors and Neanderthals. River must negotiate fractures connecting these parallel worlds through D-space where Demons lurk. As the unlikely hero, he is also lumped with the onerous task of saving the multiverse from collapse.
Ferguson’s writing is slick, fast and funny. River is a terrific character, appealing and relatable with his dry, detached humour and self-deprecating manner. The author capably balances thrilling action, creative fantasy and a dash of romance in a story that could be successfully translated into a film series. Highly recommended.
April 17, 2015
Touching Madness by KS Ferguson is a romp through madness made livable by a big dose of humor in a future world where oddly prehistoric feud alongside humans to keep their realities from blowing up or disappearing. Leading us down this wonderful rabbit hole, River Madden narrates which lets us in on the inventive way his schizophrenia makes us question what is real and what isn’t. Just as he does. We may completely believe in the fractures that he passes through into other places and times and dimensions. But are those overhead lights humming the Battle Hymn of the Republic? Real? Or not real? A story about madness with a character named River made me think more than once about Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, but instead of going up river to find the mad man, we have a mad man bringing us on his journey. Except funny. And just at the right moments. River’s self-depreciating humor makes him endearing and engaging. No lack of action in any chapter, and futuristic wonder and new technology abound. The pace never lagged, though catching my breath might have been nice here and there. The ending delivers the emotional goods I was afraid might have gotten left behind.
March 17, 2015
~~~~~~4.5 Stars~~~~~
This book was so original and marvelously vivid that I fear that my review cannot due it true justice. What started out as an action packed plot turned into a seemlessly navigated, fast paced multidimensional, expertly woven web of addictive sub-plots. It gives an utterly unique spin and explanation of mental illness, especially schizophrenia. There is a mutidimension police force, various species inhabiting said demensions, in-between realms occupied by all manor of demons and lost souls, a sweetly burgeoning romance (though not too prevalent as to hijack the multifaceted storyline), mobsters, dirty cops and more. There is so much going on in this book that I marveled at how adroitly this author kept together this patchwork tapestry. I was helplessly drawn in to this world within the first few pages and not let go until the wee hours a day later. Is this an Epic story? No!...but it is a well developed, very well written, action packed, fun read.
This book was so original and marvelously vivid that I fear that my review cannot due it true justice. What started out as an action packed plot turned into a seemlessly navigated, fast paced multidimensional, expertly woven web of addictive sub-plots. It gives an utterly unique spin and explanation of mental illness, especially schizophrenia. There is a mutidimension police force, various species inhabiting said demensions, in-between realms occupied by all manor of demons and lost souls, a sweetly burgeoning romance (though not too prevalent as to hijack the multifaceted storyline), mobsters, dirty cops and more. There is so much going on in this book that I marveled at how adroitly this author kept together this patchwork tapestry. I was helplessly drawn in to this world within the first few pages and not let go until the wee hours a day later. Is this an Epic story? No!...but it is a well developed, very well written, action packed, fun read.
March 15, 2015
Touching Madness by K.S. Ferguson centers around River Madden, a homeless man with schizophrenia who accidentally steals a gym bag with a million dollars after breaking through a dimensional barrier (also an accident). This sets off a chain of events that River is forced to navigate. The world in this fantasy involves multiple dimensions and timelines (dinosaurs, demons, Neanderthals). I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I was drawn into it through the first person narrative voice of River, who was likable, touching and quirky. The author handled the aspects of mental health issues sensitively, offering a broad view of how schizophrenia is merely one aspect of River.
This book is the first in a series, and readers will want to read more. The plot is complex, compelling and keeps you on your toes. Between the strong character development, great narrative voice and excellent plot, this series of off to an excellent start!
This book is the first in a series, and readers will want to read more. The plot is complex, compelling and keeps you on your toes. Between the strong character development, great narrative voice and excellent plot, this series of off to an excellent start!
June 25, 2012
A lot of urban fantasy is cookie-cutter, especially in a world where everyone seems to be imitating JK Rowling. I took a punt on Touching Madness because it sounded a bit different, and so it proved.
The author's portrayal of a schizophrenic hero gradually discovering that not all the demons he sees are products of his mind hooked me early on, and the narrator (River) especially is a fun and interesting character. There's lots of action and intrigue, but the author did a good job of keeping things moving and not letting the story bog down.
It's not perfect--there are some subplots where I thought the tone was a bit too light-hearted, and there's maybe one climax too many for my taste--but it was an interesting and enjoyable read, with plenty of laughs along with the dark moments. I'll definitely be keeping an eye open for the promised sequel.
The author's portrayal of a schizophrenic hero gradually discovering that not all the demons he sees are products of his mind hooked me early on, and the narrator (River) especially is a fun and interesting character. There's lots of action and intrigue, but the author did a good job of keeping things moving and not letting the story bog down.
It's not perfect--there are some subplots where I thought the tone was a bit too light-hearted, and there's maybe one climax too many for my taste--but it was an interesting and enjoyable read, with plenty of laughs along with the dark moments. I'll definitely be keeping an eye open for the promised sequel.
April 18, 2015
Wow. This book is nuts from start to finish and I LOVED IT. Sarcasm, craziness, demons, dimensions, etc. Such a great mix of thrills, comedy, and sci fi. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
River Madden is a homeless guy with schizophrenia who dealt with horrible mental health issues his whole life. He really has no perception of real life outside of his episodes. Except his episodes turn out to be a very rare talent sought after by both good guys and bad guys from other dimensions.
At the start of the book he's going about his usual schizophrenic day/night, but quickly finds himself in the middle of a brutal fight between two parties. Slowly but surely, though he tries to get away from it all, he gets tugged back in.
I don't want to give away any spoilers so you definitely need to pick this book up and read it for yourself. You will NOT be disappointed, trust me!
River Madden is a homeless guy with schizophrenia who dealt with horrible mental health issues his whole life. He really has no perception of real life outside of his episodes. Except his episodes turn out to be a very rare talent sought after by both good guys and bad guys from other dimensions.
At the start of the book he's going about his usual schizophrenic day/night, but quickly finds himself in the middle of a brutal fight between two parties. Slowly but surely, though he tries to get away from it all, he gets tugged back in.
I don't want to give away any spoilers so you definitely need to pick this book up and read it for yourself. You will NOT be disappointed, trust me!
April 22, 2013
Review from the wife.
She thought this was a lot of fun. She loved the quirk of the schizophrenic narrator, and thought that the unreliable perspective was handled very well. She said that the narrative tone meshed perfectly with the sometimes absurd visuals, and the story was brisk and enjoyable. She didn't mention any quibbles with plot holes, or pacing, and those are usually the first things to leave her mouth when she finishes a book. She said sometimes the action, and the alternate dimensions worldbuilding got a little confusing, but that it wasn't too difficult to follow, and in spots the confusion even added to the overall chaos of the setting and narrator. She's excited to read more from Ferguson, especially more featuring this character.
She thought this was a lot of fun. She loved the quirk of the schizophrenic narrator, and thought that the unreliable perspective was handled very well. She said that the narrative tone meshed perfectly with the sometimes absurd visuals, and the story was brisk and enjoyable. She didn't mention any quibbles with plot holes, or pacing, and those are usually the first things to leave her mouth when she finishes a book. She said sometimes the action, and the alternate dimensions worldbuilding got a little confusing, but that it wasn't too difficult to follow, and in spots the confusion even added to the overall chaos of the setting and narrator. She's excited to read more from Ferguson, especially more featuring this character.
February 26, 2015
An action packed scifi-paranormal-fantasy that is both touching and humorous. This is the first time I've read this type of book but I'm a fan. Touching Madness is an adventure filled with action from the first page to the last. River, a young schizophrenic vagabond, discovers he is wanted. Evidently he is someone special, but he has no idea why anyone would want him. River enters a world of dimension travelers, demons, corrupt cops, secret federal agents, and drug dealers who are all out to get him. Rest assured, River never wakes up to discover it was all a delusion. His adventure is certainly real. Touching Madness is a fun story with an unlikely hero and a touch of romance. I look forward to reading more of River's adventures.
April 26, 2015
River Madden suffers from delusions and can rarely tell what’s real and what’s not. But in spite of that, he sets out to save not only his world but others as well.
I’m not a big fan of books about different dimensions simply because I find them hard to read. Though Touching Madness has lot going on, sometimes in the same scene, did not slow me down or hold me back.
Ferguson balances a thrilling action peppered with fantasy and a dash of romance in a story with unique and terrific characters.
Highly recommended.
I’m not a big fan of books about different dimensions simply because I find them hard to read. Though Touching Madness has lot going on, sometimes in the same scene, did not slow me down or hold me back.
Ferguson balances a thrilling action peppered with fantasy and a dash of romance in a story with unique and terrific characters.
Highly recommended.
March 12, 2015
Highly Addictive!
Urban fiction is not my favorite genre, but Author Ferguson sucked me into River's world and I did not want to leave. I love books that make you feel that you are in the pages like a virtual movie. This book is well written and I can't wait to read more works of art by this author. Keep up the Amazing works!
Urban fiction is not my favorite genre, but Author Ferguson sucked me into River's world and I did not want to leave. I love books that make you feel that you are in the pages like a virtual movie. This book is well written and I can't wait to read more works of art by this author. Keep up the Amazing works!
July 1, 2015
Didn't want to put it down. This action packed story adds new meaning to schizophrenia and challenges the norm when it comes to our understanding (or lack there of) of a multi-dimensional universe and demons. Cool.
River Madden is not your normal hero. He's just some guy with issue or so he thinks. Yet he manages to survive and thrive in this adventure.
It was worth the read.
River Madden is not your normal hero. He's just some guy with issue or so he thinks. Yet he manages to survive and thrive in this adventure.
It was worth the read.
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