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The First
Find Her.
Is the ancient directive that has once again reawakened in the hearts of those who hide.
Kill Her!
Is the frantic command of those who fear their rise.
Aelia returns from a vacation that did not go quite as she expected, to a life she does not feel at home in but that is, at least, hers. Or so she thinks. Within days of returning she is targeted by a killer and she has no idea why.
But then neither does he. All Kyle Rhys knows is that to protect humanity, this woman must die. At least, he thinks, killing her will be easy. After all, the organization that raised him has prepared him for her death his entire life.
So why can’t he kill her?
In an impossible turn of events, both killer and target find themselves on the run from those who would stop at nothing to destroy them, to those who hold a truth that would overturn their entire world, taking their very identities from them forever.
Is the ancient directive that has once again reawakened in the hearts of those who hide.
Kill Her!
Is the frantic command of those who fear their rise.
Aelia returns from a vacation that did not go quite as she expected, to a life she does not feel at home in but that is, at least, hers. Or so she thinks. Within days of returning she is targeted by a killer and she has no idea why.
But then neither does he. All Kyle Rhys knows is that to protect humanity, this woman must die. At least, he thinks, killing her will be easy. After all, the organization that raised him has prepared him for her death his entire life.
So why can’t he kill her?
In an impossible turn of events, both killer and target find themselves on the run from those who would stop at nothing to destroy them, to those who hold a truth that would overturn their entire world, taking their very identities from them forever.
- GenresThriller
301 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 6, 2016
20 people are currently reading
40 people want to read
About the author
A. Claire Everward
4 books63 followersA. Claire Everward is a suspense author with a love of knowledge and a lively imagination that made writing the natural thing for her to do.
Claire is also the author of the Oracle suspense series and Blackwell series and is currently working on the next two books in the Oracle series with the help of her two hyperactive cats and a laptop named Stanley Jr.
Claire is also the author of the Oracle suspense series and Blackwell series and is currently working on the next two books in the Oracle series with the help of her two hyperactive cats and a laptop named Stanley Jr.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
February 8, 2018
The first by A Claire Everward.
Aelia only knows her first name. She doesn't know her last name.
Kyle Rhys is sent to kill aelia. But he cannot do it. Why? Why does he feel as though he knows her? Why does she feel she knows him? Who are the first?
And what do they want?
A little slow to begin with but then I couldn't put it down. I loved how aelia and rhys was with each other. Can't wait for next part. 5*.
Aelia only knows her first name. She doesn't know her last name.
Kyle Rhys is sent to kill aelia. But he cannot do it. Why? Why does he feel as though he knows her? Why does she feel she knows him? Who are the first?
And what do they want?
A little slow to begin with but then I couldn't put it down. I loved how aelia and rhys was with each other. Can't wait for next part. 5*.
August 25, 2021
Aelia travels someplace historic every year to vacation, where she can immerse herself in the local customs and scenery. Rome should have been a trip like many others—filled with sunshine and exotic food but soon over. Except this time a strange man has followed her home.
But instead of feeling afraid, she feels protected. Just like in Rome, when a motorcyclist almost hit her except a stranger intervened. And now that stranger is here in the USA, following her.
Kyle has trained his entire life for a single mission—Kill Aelia. If left unchecked, she could threaten the survival of all humanity. But when the time comes for him to do it…he just can’t.
Kyle abandons his mission, and he and Aelia escape together. They have to figure out a plan of action. But the shadowy organization Kyle belongs to, one that is far older than anyone could guess, now wants them both dead. Together, they’ve got to answer all the unanswered questions, before one of them gets them killed.
***
A fun read, especially for those who like their thrillers livened up with some fantasy world building—or for those who like their fantasy mixed with the modern world and hit men. Don’t go into it expecting nonstop action, though—there’s plenty of discovery going on and a mystery to be solved. A complex plot, told from multiple viewpoints with some likable characters.
But instead of feeling afraid, she feels protected. Just like in Rome, when a motorcyclist almost hit her except a stranger intervened. And now that stranger is here in the USA, following her.
Kyle has trained his entire life for a single mission—Kill Aelia. If left unchecked, she could threaten the survival of all humanity. But when the time comes for him to do it…he just can’t.
Kyle abandons his mission, and he and Aelia escape together. They have to figure out a plan of action. But the shadowy organization Kyle belongs to, one that is far older than anyone could guess, now wants them both dead. Together, they’ve got to answer all the unanswered questions, before one of them gets them killed.
***
A fun read, especially for those who like their thrillers livened up with some fantasy world building—or for those who like their fantasy mixed with the modern world and hit men. Don’t go into it expecting nonstop action, though—there’s plenty of discovery going on and a mystery to be solved. A complex plot, told from multiple viewpoints with some likable characters.
February 8, 2018
An engaging fantasy you won't want to put down. Aelia is a young woman who really just doesn't fit in anywhere she has landed in life. She was an abandoned kid tossed from foster home to foster home yet grows into a remarkably intelligent woman who obtains a stable life and job but really has no human resources like friends and family. Once a year she takes a vacation to places she's never been. When she embarks on a vacation in Rome it changes her life. She visits a small Cathedral and runs into a couple of people whom she's never met but they feel familiar in some way. It isn't until she returns to the states and her home that she begins to realize her life isn't at all what she thought it was. Soon after she comes home she's stalked by a hitman who tries to kill her. Oddly she isn't afraid of this crazy person, but feels as if he's safe, as if she's known him all of her life. Her would-be killer's name is Kyle and he's been trained his whole life for this one mission which is to kill Aelia. Why he doesn't know other than she poses a threat to humanity. So he is told. When it comes time for him to pull the trigger, he can't. He can't bring himself to kill this woman and the reason why is killing him because he was raised and trained from a child to be a killer. Kyle ends up doing the unthinkable. He abandons his mission, everything that he is in order to protect Aelia and get her to a safe place. That safe place happens to be back to Rome where they both discover neither of them are the people they think they are. A great deal of the book is these two's journey to discover who they are to these people. Each in their own way grow to understand their role. Still the threat of the Organization Kyle was a part of exists and they will stop at nothing to eliminate both Kyle and Aelia. This was really an on the edge of your seat read. The writing was very clean and concise albeit a bit redundant in some areas. It could have flowed better if the author hadn't repeatedly explained the roles of each of the primary and secondary characters, but at least by the end you understood. It's obviously a series. Not a stand alone book. So yes be prepared for a cliffhanger, which I suppose is a good thing if you enjoy a series. This is not a romance whatsoever. At least not in book one. There is room for a romance, but I don't know if that's even in the mind of the author. All in all I really enjoyed the story. I think people who enjoy this genre will really love this book.
September 1, 2021
The First by A. Claire Everward is an interesting clash of styles and genre. The book seems to be primarily a thriller, but with definite fantasy, mystery, sci-fi and travelogue elements infused within.
The novel follows Aelia, a main character who doesn’t know her last name as an abandoned orphan. With a tumultuous childhood moving around multiple foster homes, Aelia still is without friends and family as an adult, but she does enjoy yearly vacations. Her latest holiday sees her in Rome, where the weirdness of who she really is begins to unravel. It seems a hitman has followed her back to America, Kyle, a man who’s trained all his life just to kill her, since he’s told Aelia is a threat to all humanity for some unknowable reason. Fortunately for Aelia, Kyle can’t bring himself to do the thing he’s been trained for and instead becomes her protector. Problem is, the shadowy organisation Kyle is apart of still want Aelia dead and now will kill Kyle for betraying them.
The First seems to be the first in a series and does end on a cliffhanger, so be warned. The writing was solid, if a little tell-y, and the overall plot was an interesting premise, but with some jarring pacing choices. Also points for a great front cover depicting an hourglass, since time is a theme throughout.
The novel follows Aelia, a main character who doesn’t know her last name as an abandoned orphan. With a tumultuous childhood moving around multiple foster homes, Aelia still is without friends and family as an adult, but she does enjoy yearly vacations. Her latest holiday sees her in Rome, where the weirdness of who she really is begins to unravel. It seems a hitman has followed her back to America, Kyle, a man who’s trained all his life just to kill her, since he’s told Aelia is a threat to all humanity for some unknowable reason. Fortunately for Aelia, Kyle can’t bring himself to do the thing he’s been trained for and instead becomes her protector. Problem is, the shadowy organisation Kyle is apart of still want Aelia dead and now will kill Kyle for betraying them.
The First seems to be the first in a series and does end on a cliffhanger, so be warned. The writing was solid, if a little tell-y, and the overall plot was an interesting premise, but with some jarring pacing choices. Also points for a great front cover depicting an hourglass, since time is a theme throughout.
April 30, 2018
The story revolves around Aelia who goes on a vacation to Rome and comes back with more than just her luggage. She is hunted by a hitman who has been trained to kill her because she is considered to be a threat to humanity. Not only does she and Kyle have to overcome many obstacles, he has to also abandon the mission he trained for all his life while they discover more about themselves.
This was a great read with a lot of adventure and good chemistry between the characters. If you love a good fantasy, this is the read for you!
This was a great read with a lot of adventure and good chemistry between the characters. If you love a good fantasy, this is the read for you!
February 8, 2018
The premise for this book sounded amazing - ancient prophesy, interesting characters, twisting plot - and it started out really well. However, I feel the author got a little sidetracked with her own story in the second half. I would have loved a little more background on the "The First", but that's just a personal preference. All in all, a fairly good read.
February 7, 2018
I found myself enjoying this book even tho it’s not my usual type of story. It started out quick paced and action packed but slowed down too much for my liking as the story carried on.
Would still recommend this book to my friends :)
Would still recommend this book to my friends :)
January 27, 2018
Not my first book by this author, but my favorite so far. The story was complex, and yet easy to follow. There was just the right amount of description and plenty of action.
January 14, 2018
Some books just don’t do it for you and this is the case for me with The First. Others appear to have loved it, so you should form your own opinion.
I really struggled with the book. The premise for the story is really interesting, but I feel it could have been executed better. There are some very obvious and gaping holes in the plot that leave you baffled as to why the world is even in the situation it is in. Yet, it would have been relatively straightforward to provide an explanation.
The characters are actually well defined and in the first half of the book, the pace is good. It slows considerably in the second half.
I’d give it 2.5, so chose to round up. 3/5.
I really struggled with the book. The premise for the story is really interesting, but I feel it could have been executed better. There are some very obvious and gaping holes in the plot that leave you baffled as to why the world is even in the situation it is in. Yet, it would have been relatively straightforward to provide an explanation.
The characters are actually well defined and in the first half of the book, the pace is good. It slows considerably in the second half.
I’d give it 2.5, so chose to round up. 3/5.
May 24, 2020
For the last few years, a hot topic of discussion amongst astrobiologists has been the question of the existence of a technological civilization on this planet before Homo Sapiens came along. No, I’m not talking about some crackpot theory, though personally when the speculation was given the name of an old Dr. Who episode, The Silurian Hypothesis, I don’t think the scientists did themselves any favours. Incidentally, the credibility of the scientists in question is not in doubt either – we are talking about Adam Frank, Professor of astrophysics at the University of Rochester, N.Y., and Doctor Gavin A. Schmidt, the director of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies, a world-class climate-science facility.
Think about it for a minute. The Earth is 4.5 Billion years old, give or take 50 million years. We, Homo Sapiens, didn’t appear until 300,000 years ago. Our geological record goes back to the Quaternary period, which is 2.6 million years ago, and in fact, the largest stretch of ancient earth (small ‘e’) that we can examine is only 1.8 million years old and is situated in the Negev Desert, in southern Israel. So where’s the evidence? you may ask. It’s a good question, one that is very relevant IF you are talking about civilizations that rose and fell in the last few millennia, but if you go back further than the Quaternary period, any traces will have been crushed to dust millions of years beforehand.
Now it is into this wonderful enigma that author A. Claire Everward has fearlessly stepped. Her novel, ‘The First’, is fiction, yet, given the above, and an open mind, the questions posed and exploited in the story add weight to its pure entertainment value as an outstanding thriller. Author Everward proposes that such a civilization existed and still exists, and, as is logical, it has evolved both technologically, biologically, and morally to create a society dedicated to peace (otherwise it may have extinguished itself a long time ago, as we seem destined to do today). They coexist, hidden from humans, until it is decided they should reveal themselves and altruistically offer humanity their greater advances. Being us, warring humanity, however, matters do not go as expected. I won’t say more about the story, only that since I finished the novel at 1am last night, I have been thinking about its multiple messages since.
However, if all you want is a superbly-written, original, modern thriller with a touch of romance, populated by credible characters; something that will have you turning pages late into the night, then I thoroughly recommend this tale. If, like me, having heard of the hypothesis beforehand, you find yourself so intrigued by the premise you want to know more, you have two roads to follow: read the scientific papers published by the experts, and grab the next book in the series by this remarkable author.
Think about it for a minute. The Earth is 4.5 Billion years old, give or take 50 million years. We, Homo Sapiens, didn’t appear until 300,000 years ago. Our geological record goes back to the Quaternary period, which is 2.6 million years ago, and in fact, the largest stretch of ancient earth (small ‘e’) that we can examine is only 1.8 million years old and is situated in the Negev Desert, in southern Israel. So where’s the evidence? you may ask. It’s a good question, one that is very relevant IF you are talking about civilizations that rose and fell in the last few millennia, but if you go back further than the Quaternary period, any traces will have been crushed to dust millions of years beforehand.
Now it is into this wonderful enigma that author A. Claire Everward has fearlessly stepped. Her novel, ‘The First’, is fiction, yet, given the above, and an open mind, the questions posed and exploited in the story add weight to its pure entertainment value as an outstanding thriller. Author Everward proposes that such a civilization existed and still exists, and, as is logical, it has evolved both technologically, biologically, and morally to create a society dedicated to peace (otherwise it may have extinguished itself a long time ago, as we seem destined to do today). They coexist, hidden from humans, until it is decided they should reveal themselves and altruistically offer humanity their greater advances. Being us, warring humanity, however, matters do not go as expected. I won’t say more about the story, only that since I finished the novel at 1am last night, I have been thinking about its multiple messages since.
However, if all you want is a superbly-written, original, modern thriller with a touch of romance, populated by credible characters; something that will have you turning pages late into the night, then I thoroughly recommend this tale. If, like me, having heard of the hypothesis beforehand, you find yourself so intrigued by the premise you want to know more, you have two roads to follow: read the scientific papers published by the experts, and grab the next book in the series by this remarkable author.
October 8, 2021
Aelia takes a vacation trip to a distant city. The young researcher follows an often-repeated pattern: She immerses herself in the new environment, hoping to discover its secrets, or fill in some blanks in her own unknown origins. Rome is different. “The air here felt charged. It was as if the city was watching her. As if unseen ghosts all turned away from gazing at the endless processions of tourists, to her.” In a cathedral, a stranger stares intently at Aelia, singling her out of the crowd of hundreds of tourists. The man vanishes. She shakes off the incident, but can’t rid herself of the feeling of being watched. She returns to her normal life in Michigan. The man from the cathedral appears and vanishes again.
Elsewhere, an assassin named Kyle Rhys is given a mission: put a bullet in a young woman named Aelia. Kyle is the best at what he does. He locates his target, gets her in the crosshairs. His finger is on the trigger. Somehow Aelia senses him, reaches out, and touches his mind. He can’t shoot, and he remembers that he knows her.
So begins The First, a book I thought would be a thriller, or a romance. The two main characters are well developed; the story is engaging. The author does a masterful job of displaying the confusion of Aelia and Kyle when they discover their entire lives have been a lie. The two are propelled toward each other, and toward a truth about their origins that is too strange for them to believe — humans are not alone on Earth.
I enjoyed the first half of the book very much. The second half has an awful lot of exposition. To be fair, the author has her hands full explaining the history of The Firsts and Aelia and Kyle’s reactions. For me, there just wasn’t enough action in the second half. I kept hoping for a twist or for Kyle to just break down and kiss Aelia already! I never learned what the differences between the Firsts and humans was either. I also got the impression that the end was too much a setup for sequels. Still, a very inventive plot!
Elsewhere, an assassin named Kyle Rhys is given a mission: put a bullet in a young woman named Aelia. Kyle is the best at what he does. He locates his target, gets her in the crosshairs. His finger is on the trigger. Somehow Aelia senses him, reaches out, and touches his mind. He can’t shoot, and he remembers that he knows her.
So begins The First, a book I thought would be a thriller, or a romance. The two main characters are well developed; the story is engaging. The author does a masterful job of displaying the confusion of Aelia and Kyle when they discover their entire lives have been a lie. The two are propelled toward each other, and toward a truth about their origins that is too strange for them to believe — humans are not alone on Earth.
I enjoyed the first half of the book very much. The second half has an awful lot of exposition. To be fair, the author has her hands full explaining the history of The Firsts and Aelia and Kyle’s reactions. For me, there just wasn’t enough action in the second half. I kept hoping for a twist or for Kyle to just break down and kiss Aelia already! I never learned what the differences between the Firsts and humans was either. I also got the impression that the end was too much a setup for sequels. Still, a very inventive plot!
February 7, 2017
During Aelia's vacation to Rome, she experienced a few things that left her feeling unsettled. This feeling continues even after she returns home and tries to get back into her daily life, the daily life that's never fully felt like hers. She's spent her entire life feeling like she didn't fit in and that she wasn't really wanted in the life she was living but this feeling is heightened after her return home. Within days, she finds herself staring into the eyes of the hitman who has been sent to kill her. As she looks at him, she can't help but feel that she's known this man in her past, but doesn't know how or when. Kyle Rhys was raised knowing that he was born to do one task: kill the one person who's the biggest threat to all of humanity. But, when the day comes that this threat is identified and he's sent to kill her, there's just one problem: he can't bring himself to do it! For some inexplicable reason, he feels an instant connection to Aelia, even though he knows he has to kill her to save all of humankind! Instead, he somehow finds himself turning his back on the organization who has trained him from childhood to protect his target. What could have possibly caused Kyle betray everything and everyone he knows in order to protect this woman that he doesn't remember having ever met before. What's causing this connection between them and this instinctual need to protect Aelia?
I enjoyed reading this book from the minute I picked it up. The story line was amazing and I loved all the characters, even the "villains". I really enjoyed reading about Aelia and Kyle and their backstory, how their connection came to be. I found the entire concept to be fascinating. This was the first book I've ever read by A. Claire Everward, and I was lucky enough to be gifted a copy by the author, but I can guarantee that this will not be my last book by her. I can't wait until the second book in this series comes out so that I can find out what happens next.
I enjoyed reading this book from the minute I picked it up. The story line was amazing and I loved all the characters, even the "villains". I really enjoyed reading about Aelia and Kyle and their backstory, how their connection came to be. I found the entire concept to be fascinating. This was the first book I've ever read by A. Claire Everward, and I was lucky enough to be gifted a copy by the author, but I can guarantee that this will not be my last book by her. I can't wait until the second book in this series comes out so that I can find out what happens next.
September 9, 2021
This fantastical thriller has a thought-provoking, unique premise that unfolds with Aelia and Kyle — the main characters — on the run while they learn about secrets that have surrounded them their whole lives.
The first part of the story had a great sense of intrigue and suspense, drawing the reader in, but then the story slowed and tried to branch out too much, loosing focus and becoming repetitive. Multiple points of view offered different takes on events, but too often jumped too quickly and so interrupted the story’s flow. All the head-hopping, especially to very minor characters sometimes, made it difficult to really connect with the main characters.
The story is told with a lot of narration and is light on dialogue. Too often, lengthy bits of backstory popped up in the midst of the action, again interrupting the flow. Frequently, long sentences tried to do too much and became difficult to follow, dropping me out of the story. Mostly focused on Kyle’s point of view, the story left me feeling even more disconnected from Aelia, the character that the beginning had led me to believe was equally, if not more important to the tale.
I feel like the core of something really fun and intriguing is present here, but it was too scattered to truly coalesce. While I found this a likable and interesting read with a creative storyline, ultimately the book was not as thrilling as promised in the blurb and left me feeling less satisfied than I hope for from my reading. Also, it ends in a frustrating cliff-hanger – ‘frustrating’ in that a sequel is seemingly nowhere in sight.
The first part of the story had a great sense of intrigue and suspense, drawing the reader in, but then the story slowed and tried to branch out too much, loosing focus and becoming repetitive. Multiple points of view offered different takes on events, but too often jumped too quickly and so interrupted the story’s flow. All the head-hopping, especially to very minor characters sometimes, made it difficult to really connect with the main characters.
The story is told with a lot of narration and is light on dialogue. Too often, lengthy bits of backstory popped up in the midst of the action, again interrupting the flow. Frequently, long sentences tried to do too much and became difficult to follow, dropping me out of the story. Mostly focused on Kyle’s point of view, the story left me feeling even more disconnected from Aelia, the character that the beginning had led me to believe was equally, if not more important to the tale.
I feel like the core of something really fun and intriguing is present here, but it was too scattered to truly coalesce. While I found this a likable and interesting read with a creative storyline, ultimately the book was not as thrilling as promised in the blurb and left me feeling less satisfied than I hope for from my reading. Also, it ends in a frustrating cliff-hanger – ‘frustrating’ in that a sequel is seemingly nowhere in sight.
April 14, 2018
Another great book by A.Claire Everward. I really like this author. She/he has this amazing ability to make you feel connected to the main characters, to make you care about what happens to them. And I don’t mean slowly as the book progresses, I mean more or less from the start. The fact that it is also a good story is a bonus. Nothing is over-described, there is just enough detail so you can easily picture it while still leaving some things to your own imagination. The author makes everything believable, even though, if you take a step back and think about it, you realise that a lot of it should be hard to imagine it could actually be real. There are no boring bits or parts where you don’t understand what is going on or why and the pace is just right.
Unfortunately I didn’t have much spare time so I read over a lot of short periods. This spoilt it a little for me. If you are going to read this book, and I highly recommend you do, I suggest you set aside some time where you won’t get interrupted and you can lose yourself in the story and characters.
I can’t wait to read more by this author.
Unfortunately I didn’t have much spare time so I read over a lot of short periods. This spoilt it a little for me. If you are going to read this book, and I highly recommend you do, I suggest you set aside some time where you won’t get interrupted and you can lose yourself in the story and characters.
I can’t wait to read more by this author.
March 17, 2019
This is the debut novel by author A. Claire Everward. It is a very original book indeed. The narrative engine is fuelled by a historical assumption that will amaze you when it is finally revealed to you. Aelia is a young woman who suddenly has to face something extraordinary that turns her life upside down. Suspense and action are intertwined with drama, romance, and a lot more. This book is not only a thriller and fantasy work, but it also gives you food for thought, and you have to let the author guide you with her elegant style through unexpected events, beautiful scenes, poetic descriptions, and subtle meditations. If you do that, you will certainly end up exclaiming, "Hey, is this just a suspense novel?" And, trust me, it is not. I cannot conclude this review without giving you an example of what I mean. Here is one of my favourite quotes: "Sleep cannot be overestimated. Good sleep, that is, not the kind plagued by uneasy dreams, distant memories, or the constant expectation that someone will shoot you."
A highly recommended book. Exciting and intriguing.
A highly recommended book. Exciting and intriguing.
November 26, 2022
‘The First’ is a fabulous amalgamation of genres, it keeps you guessing whether fantasy is more fascinating than mystery or the combination of both. There is also a touch of modern style science fiction, which has been handled quite well. Aelia represents The Light and she discovers it accidentally, when she faces her potential killer. Why can’t he kill her? What is their connection? What is the role of The Organization that has raised Kyle with the sole motive of killing Aelia. These questions would keep you at the edge of your chair. Curiosity mounts with each revelation! Neora’s description about the girl who was different, highly independent, empathetic and strong-willed adds interesting details to the story of Aelia.
Claire’s characters are well-defined and grow with the story. The way Kyle and Aelia fit into their new role is remarkable. However, I found this book repetitive and descriptive at places. There are superfluous elements, which could have been eliminated. The story could have flowed better with incisive editing. On the whole it is an engrossing book.
Claire’s characters are well-defined and grow with the story. The way Kyle and Aelia fit into their new role is remarkable. However, I found this book repetitive and descriptive at places. There are superfluous elements, which could have been eliminated. The story could have flowed better with incisive editing. On the whole it is an engrossing book.
February 11, 2018
There’s lots to like about The First – intriguing plot, told from multiple viewpoints with some likeable characters.
However, for me, the blurb is rather misleading since it suggested The First was an action-packed thriller, a supposition borne out by the opening chapters where I counted at least three bodies.
However, once Aelia and Kyle reach their place of sanctuary, the action stops and instead readers are presented with a moralistic struggle between good and evil – which I found confusing.
Admittedly, Everward’s reflective, measured writing – she tells rather than shows – is better suited to the more thoughtful moral tale.
But I was expecting a thriller!
I’m sure lots of readers will enjoy Everward’s style of story-telling – she writes well and with confidence – and will invest in The First and Aelia and Kyle’s fight to save their new community from impending doom.
Sadly, though I thought I was getting something with a bit of fizz, and this just wasn’t my cup of tea.
However, for me, the blurb is rather misleading since it suggested The First was an action-packed thriller, a supposition borne out by the opening chapters where I counted at least three bodies.
However, once Aelia and Kyle reach their place of sanctuary, the action stops and instead readers are presented with a moralistic struggle between good and evil – which I found confusing.
Admittedly, Everward’s reflective, measured writing – she tells rather than shows – is better suited to the more thoughtful moral tale.
But I was expecting a thriller!
I’m sure lots of readers will enjoy Everward’s style of story-telling – she writes well and with confidence – and will invest in The First and Aelia and Kyle’s fight to save their new community from impending doom.
Sadly, though I thought I was getting something with a bit of fizz, and this just wasn’t my cup of tea.
February 3, 2018
I was really excited to read this book as the blurb gave off a air of mystery which appealed to me,but i was dissappointed as some books just don't reach your expectations and this book was one of them.
The story started off good and i did love the characters of Aelia and Kyle Rhys, but i found the plot lacked any pace and there was not alot explained how the 'First' came to be on the planet in the first place.I was hoping for more from this story but for me it didn't get any better the more i read.I couldn't wait to finish this book (not in a good way)and lost alot of consentration near the end as the plot didn't get any better,i was also left baffed at the end.
The story started off good and i did love the characters of Aelia and Kyle Rhys, but i found the plot lacked any pace and there was not alot explained how the 'First' came to be on the planet in the first place.I was hoping for more from this story but for me it didn't get any better the more i read.I couldn't wait to finish this book (not in a good way)and lost alot of consentration near the end as the plot didn't get any better,i was also left baffed at the end.
September 2, 2021
The Hitman . . .
Aelia goes on a vacation to Rome. But she is followed back this time by a hitman whose sole purpose is to kill her since she has been declared to be a threat to all humanity. He was trained specifically for this purpose. All Kyle Rhys knows is that to protect humanity, this woman must die. His entire life has been devoted to this task as the organization that raised him set him loose on her.
But instead of killing her, he has protected her. He doesn’t understand why. She has no idea why anyone would find her a threat. So the two go on the run. They need answers. Will they find what they are looking for?
Aelia goes on a vacation to Rome. But she is followed back this time by a hitman whose sole purpose is to kill her since she has been declared to be a threat to all humanity. He was trained specifically for this purpose. All Kyle Rhys knows is that to protect humanity, this woman must die. His entire life has been devoted to this task as the organization that raised him set him loose on her.
But instead of killing her, he has protected her. He doesn’t understand why. She has no idea why anyone would find her a threat. So the two go on the run. They need answers. Will they find what they are looking for?
February 23, 2018
Amazing book from a new author. She combines sfi, drama and action in this book. This one book that will always be part of my book collection. I sat down and could not put the book down. A. Claire Everward weaved in murder, mystery, adventure, drama, sfi into one fantastic book. She is bold with her writing and descriptions of events and places. I remained spellbound through the entire book. At the end I was left with wanting more.
A. Claire Everward is on par with King, Rowling, Patterson, Brown.
A. Claire Everward is on par with King, Rowling, Patterson, Brown.
September 2, 2021
The author's writing style is great for suspense. Having said that, there needed a bit more clean up with this novel. A few times I had to go back and re-read what was written in order to get an idea of what was said, also a developmental editor would have caught the repeats of information. Not a bad read, but with a few more books under her belt, this author is one to watch!
I received a free copy of this book in return for my honest opinion.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book in return for my honest opinion.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 8, 2017
An ancient prophecy, a woman whose life is about to change and a man who must kill her...but it isn't as straightforward as it seems.
Someone is following, hasn't she seen him before?
Then the story plunges into a mystery as things may not turn out as expected.
Well-written and engaging, this story has believable characters and a plot to keep you interested.
Overall, something different and entertaining.
Worth a look.
Someone is following, hasn't she seen him before?
Then the story plunges into a mystery as things may not turn out as expected.
Well-written and engaging, this story has believable characters and a plot to keep you interested.
Overall, something different and entertaining.
Worth a look.
February 7, 2018
Claire Everward doesn't disappoint. This is my second book from the author and I'm in awe. Aelia returns from a vacation in Rome to find that nothing in her life will be the same, she is pursued by a hit man and she can trust no one. The events that bring Khyl Rhys and Aelia are not the best but their meeting is inevitable and will trigger things that were meant to be from the start. Who is Aelia and why is she being pursued? You will devour each page to find out.
March 17, 2017
The book was an amazing read and I couldn't put the book down. As I read it, with chapter, I was at the edge of my seat. I loved it. It was very suspenseful and the characters felt so real as I read it. I would recommend this book if you lat great suspense thriller story.
January 12, 2018
I know a book is going to be good when I do more time on the treadmill because I don't want to stop reading. The beginning grabbed me and did not want to let go. Great story and one I didn't want to put down.
January 18, 2018
Fast paced page turner
A fast paced thriller full of mystery, the supernatural, and twists that keep you turning the pages. Great character depth and definitely worth your time. Really enjoyed it! You won’t regret it!
A fast paced thriller full of mystery, the supernatural, and twists that keep you turning the pages. Great character depth and definitely worth your time. Really enjoyed it! You won’t regret it!
December 11, 2017
Thrilling Read
Captured me from the first page all the way to the end. Fully formed characters. The author's storytelling and plotting was good adding to the suspense and mystery.
Captured me from the first page all the way to the end. Fully formed characters. The author's storytelling and plotting was good adding to the suspense and mystery.
November 25, 2018
Good but very short, interesting & will read more...
May 20, 2016
This is such an amazing book. I mean it takes you for a ride and then when you think you got a hold of it you get more. There is so much that you get from this story, where you cannot and dare not put it down. The characters are amazing and will bring you to love, hate, and refuse to let go of when it is time to put it down.
The story takes you through suspense, drama, and action, and a bit of everything else in such a smooth way. The writing is above par and that is underselling it. I would say and expect that her to climb the charts and become a best seller.
The story takes you through suspense, drama, and action, and a bit of everything else in such a smooth way. The writing is above par and that is underselling it. I would say and expect that her to climb the charts and become a best seller.
September 23, 2016
An absolutely fantastic dystopia novel from A.Claire Everward. Kyle has been brought up to do one thing in life , kill Aelia. But what happens when he can't and in a sudden flip turns into her protector?? But why? Read this excellently written book to find out. Fantastic characters that you actually seem to bond with and a great, non stop storyline that just constantly keeps you on edge. A must read for all dystopia fans. Looking forward to the second in this series xx
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