Adrien Moore sought answers, but all he got was more questions. When his Gifts to change gravity and detect powerful Tomes led him down a path he couldn't come back from, the only motivation he needed to right the wrongs of the past was the most primal of all Revenge. Another Resolver is hidden from the eyes of Acquisitors and The Scar, and quite ignorant of the world she stands on the edge of. Holly Banks has the remarkable ability to reverse time in short bursts but at a great physical cost. When she discovers another impossibility, she has to decide how she is going to live her life, forever changed from that moment on. The eyes of the Visors watch their every move. There are more mysteries presenting themselves as Adrien discovers his third Gift, and the greatest danger of all becomes startlingly apparent...
Following the explosive end to Tome, Adrien is back in the second and final novel of this series.
Main Characters:
Adrien Moore: He is a Resolver. He grew up in the first book, learning to control his absorbed powers, and through facing the might of the Circle.
Edwin Merchant: Leader of the Circle, an underground movement resisting the Acquisitors. Fragile in appearance, he is in fact is equipped with a powerful gift, and is driven by a strong internal agenda. On the run following the Scar explosion.
Holly Banks: An emerging Resolver, she has a unique power, that allows her to Blink back in time.
Minor Characters:
Martin Gale: The true leader of the Acquisitors, based at the Scar Vault, he is impeccably in control, and as driven to destroy Edwin as Edwin is him.
Stefan: Low-level Acquisitor, ingratiates himself with Holly, who doesn’t realise how lethal he is.
Plot:
Adrien and Martin are on the trail of Edwin and the Circle, who have been exposed as megalomaniacs. For Martin, this is something he has been pursuing for a long time; for Adrien, it is personal, as he lost a lot of friends through Edwin’s betrayal of him in Tome.
We follow the two groups, as they jostle for advantage. Edwin spends his time looking for other Resolvers, the aim being to either recruit them for his group, or kill them and absorb their Gift. Resolvers absorb their Gifts through reading Tomes, special books only visible to them. Edwin has…a different way of getting their power.
In addition to looking for his enemies, Adrien is also looking to solve the question of what exactly are the Visors, and The Scribes. These are entities, invisible to most humans, but not to Adrien. They inhabit every doorway, and understanding the link and purpose between them and the Scribes, goblin-like creatures who record what the Visors see, is a major quest.
The groups clash violently, with more loss of life and huge damage to property along the way. Holly becomes a major player in this war of ideologies, and Adrien discovers he still has a long way to go before being fully aware of, and able to control, the powers that reside in him. Edwin also grows in power, leading to a major conflict.
What I Liked:
- The pacing is well measured. The story develops and flows quickly, while allowing the author to develop different aspects of the character’s personalities. - The story builds nicely from the first book, and the world-building is well-crafted. - We get to have an insight into the Visors and their world. - The twist at the end – I did not see that coming.
What I Didn’t Like:
- Some of the decisions taken by characters jarred a little, and needed the explanation for them to make sense. In one particular instance, it felt like just clearing the undergrowth, but the dialogue post-action helped resolve it.
Overall:
Another thoroughly enjoyable read from this emerging writer. Solid world-building, believable characters and storyline, and fast action, it will appeal to a wide variety of readers. I would thoroughly recommend this book.
Acknowledgements:
I received a free physical copy of this book from the author, in return for an honest and objective review.
I loved the first book "Tome" and this one is even better. The new character of Holly, who has the power to reverse time, is one of the best additions. I was sad to discover that this book is the end of the story and hope that the writer decides to do more in the future. I bought his other eBooks on the strength of this one and while they are also good, they're not quite the same.
If you like action, suspense and mystery but are also interested in things like Avengers or Hunger games, I think you will love this series. Discovering the secret reasons for everything in the first book was brilliant and some of the best foreshadowing and twists in a book or movie I've seen.
This is probably my favorite book I've ever read. The sequel to Tome which was also brilliant. I love Holly the new character in this one and how she handles becoming part of the Resolver's world. Her Gift is incredible and the cost to her when she does it is terrifying. I will never forget the ending to this book and hope that one day we get to see a movie of it. But if not I would definitely read again and again. Hope there is a third one coming.
After Tome, I couldn't wait to find out what happens next. Yet wait I did! And boy was it worth it.
Y'know how in sequels there's usually a lot of explanation for people who haven't read the original? There's not a whole lot of that, I guess there wasn't space or time because there's so much more story to fit in.
My only regret is that it was so unputdownable that I finished it too quickly.
Having read Tome I did not think that the sequel could be any better, but wow it was well worth waiting for. Resolver is captivating unputdownable, definitely a brilliant read, written by a brilliant mind. I would recommend it for any age group. Well done Brian, another winner.
A fascinating world set in and around our own time with a subtle sci fi and magic twist. This is a sequel but could be read as a standalone. It explores the dark moralities of having special powers, dealing with death, friendship and justice. A gripping read which will leave you asking questions and wanting more!