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Gnosis
Psychics, government conspiracies, and dangerous criminals swirl like a summer storm around 17yo parkour enthusiast Samantha Black.
When a series of crushing headaches lands Sam in the hospital, she wakes to an imaginary voice in her head: Alexander, an adorable ten-year-old who claims to be a telepath. The doctors think Sam’s brain was damaged after a stroke, but they’re wrong. Alexander isn’t imaginary. He’s a sentient virus, and the government knows about him. After all, they created him.
When a series of crushing headaches lands Sam in the hospital, she wakes to an imaginary voice in her head: Alexander, an adorable ten-year-old who claims to be a telepath. The doctors think Sam’s brain was damaged after a stroke, but they’re wrong. Alexander isn’t imaginary. He’s a sentient virus, and the government knows about him. After all, they created him.
331 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 8, 2019
10 people are currently reading
39 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
August 1, 2020
3.5* rounded up because I had fun
Sci-fi action thriller with psychic powers and secret government agents. Main character is 17 so don't expect wisdom, science, thought through decisions; do expect someone impulsive, self-centered and emotional and lots of running jumping etc that comes with parkour. I had to suspend my disbelief few times but on the whole it was an engaging easy read - exactly what I was looking for.
Sci-fi action thriller with psychic powers and secret government agents. Main character is 17 so don't expect wisdom, science, thought through decisions; do expect someone impulsive, self-centered and emotional and lots of running jumping etc that comes with parkour. I had to suspend my disbelief few times but on the whole it was an engaging easy read - exactly what I was looking for.
August 1, 2020
This has honestly been one of the best books I've read all year so far! I've been trying to remember whose blog post I read that prompted me to buy it so I could thank them - but I can't, for the life of me, remember who it was. I guess it was a year ago. But thanks, friend, whoever you were. This book rocked. It was so fresh, I got through it so fast and was incredibly entertained. By the way, I was in a book slump. This book got me out of it!
It's fast paced, it's unexpected, it's quite a wild ride. But also, despite being a twisty adventure tale about a teen - it's not stale or overused AT ALL. Everything is original and surprising! Reading 100-200 books a year, I find that a challenge - it's a rare thing in a book for me. But this one certainly deserves the praise. Especially all that stuff that went down by the end!!!
I kind of REALLY want a sequel!
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It's fast paced, it's unexpected, it's quite a wild ride. But also, despite being a twisty adventure tale about a teen - it's not stale or overused AT ALL. Everything is original and surprising! Reading 100-200 books a year, I find that a challenge - it's a rare thing in a book for me. But this one certainly deserves the praise. Especially all that stuff that went down by the end!!!
I kind of REALLY want a sequel!
Book Blog | Bookstagram | Bookish Twitter
November 13, 2019
Book Reviewed on www.whisperingstories.com
Teenager Samantha Black is a parkour enthusiast something that has come in handy since her police officer dad was murdered and no-one seems to be looking into his death.
She has been tracking one of her father’s partner’s squad cars, listening in to conversations to find out if any new information about her father’s murder has come to light, however, she has to stay at close range to the car to listen in.
The police though are after her and one mistake costs her freedom. Once at the police station someone claiming to be from the homeland security removes her from the station claiming that she is needed in witness protection due to a terrorist threat.
Once there Sam is held up in a room with a security officer who is supposed to be looking out for her. Sam begins suffering from headaches and is soon in the hospital with a suspected virus – Trella Gondii. When she wakes up after two days in the hospital she seems to have a young boy called Alexander living inside her head, although he can move to inside other people’s brains and read their minds.
With the help of Alexander and some mystery ‘ghost’ who contacts her via her mobile, Sam manages to give ‘homeland security’ the slip and sets out to find out what is really happening to her and who really killed her father too.
The above is just a small snippet of what Gnosis is about as there is so much happening. The book was really enjoyable and I eagerly turned each page looking forward to continuing the story.
I love little Alexander, for a virus, he was such a cutie and he certainly behaved like a child, sulking if he was told off or getting giddy. He also wasn’t up on the ways of the world just yet.
Sam was also a wonderful character. I enjoyed her skills and her determination to discover the truth about her father’s murder, not believing the hype that he was a dirty cop.
I absolutely enjoyed the book, however, I’m wondering how many of the YA audience will pick the book up. My main concern is the size of the book, It’s a big book, both in pages and height (not so bad if you are reading on a Kindle). I believe with some tweaking (removing a few sections that didn’t add anything to the story) this book could be amazing and be the book that YA readers are craving.
It is fast-paced, action-filled, and has a great cast of characters and was pure enjoyment the whole way through.
Teenager Samantha Black is a parkour enthusiast something that has come in handy since her police officer dad was murdered and no-one seems to be looking into his death.
She has been tracking one of her father’s partner’s squad cars, listening in to conversations to find out if any new information about her father’s murder has come to light, however, she has to stay at close range to the car to listen in.
The police though are after her and one mistake costs her freedom. Once at the police station someone claiming to be from the homeland security removes her from the station claiming that she is needed in witness protection due to a terrorist threat.
Once there Sam is held up in a room with a security officer who is supposed to be looking out for her. Sam begins suffering from headaches and is soon in the hospital with a suspected virus – Trella Gondii. When she wakes up after two days in the hospital she seems to have a young boy called Alexander living inside her head, although he can move to inside other people’s brains and read their minds.
With the help of Alexander and some mystery ‘ghost’ who contacts her via her mobile, Sam manages to give ‘homeland security’ the slip and sets out to find out what is really happening to her and who really killed her father too.
The above is just a small snippet of what Gnosis is about as there is so much happening. The book was really enjoyable and I eagerly turned each page looking forward to continuing the story.
I love little Alexander, for a virus, he was such a cutie and he certainly behaved like a child, sulking if he was told off or getting giddy. He also wasn’t up on the ways of the world just yet.
Sam was also a wonderful character. I enjoyed her skills and her determination to discover the truth about her father’s murder, not believing the hype that he was a dirty cop.
I absolutely enjoyed the book, however, I’m wondering how many of the YA audience will pick the book up. My main concern is the size of the book, It’s a big book, both in pages and height (not so bad if you are reading on a Kindle). I believe with some tweaking (removing a few sections that didn’t add anything to the story) this book could be amazing and be the book that YA readers are craving.
It is fast-paced, action-filled, and has a great cast of characters and was pure enjoyment the whole way through.
May 14, 2025
Urban Psychics for Real Paranormal Lovers
In my personal opinion, very few writers are writing just good, plain, paranormal fiction. Rick Hall is an exception. Gnosis is the real deal. No cutsie romantic relationships, just psychics trying to survive.
One of the book's strengths is that it has multiple strong, female lead characters. The male characters mostly avoid fitting into typical macho stereotypes. There is a strong value system running underneath the actions of everyone in the book.
Gnosis has characters you instantly like. You'll find yourself going through horrible scenes, still hoping that they make it through. On the other hand, you'll find plenty of characters you'll instantly dislike, and spend the rest of the book hoping they get what is due them.
I absolutely adored the huge variety of psychic powers the author invented, as well as one of the most creative ways I've ever read to become psychic. That's some imaginary brain he has.
I hope by now you can tell that Gnosis is a book I highly recommend. Almost any age group over 13 would love this book and completely relate to the characters. Try it out for yourself. You won't regret it.
In my personal opinion, very few writers are writing just good, plain, paranormal fiction. Rick Hall is an exception. Gnosis is the real deal. No cutsie romantic relationships, just psychics trying to survive.
One of the book's strengths is that it has multiple strong, female lead characters. The male characters mostly avoid fitting into typical macho stereotypes. There is a strong value system running underneath the actions of everyone in the book.
Gnosis has characters you instantly like. You'll find yourself going through horrible scenes, still hoping that they make it through. On the other hand, you'll find plenty of characters you'll instantly dislike, and spend the rest of the book hoping they get what is due them.
I absolutely adored the huge variety of psychic powers the author invented, as well as one of the most creative ways I've ever read to become psychic. That's some imaginary brain he has.
I hope by now you can tell that Gnosis is a book I highly recommend. Almost any age group over 13 would love this book and completely relate to the characters. Try it out for yourself. You won't regret it.
April 25, 2019
I had never read an urban fantasy novel and fantasy is on my thanks-but-no-thanks list. But when Rick Hall told me the premise of Gnosis, it intrigued me. There's mystery and thriller elements. I really enjoyed this book. Here are a few reasons why:
Samantha Black is one heck of a heroine.
She's determined, strong, and hot-headed. She's a parkour enthusiast, which is something like military obstacle training minus the military. (Think jumping from rooftop to rooftop, climbing up or down brick walls, all without equipment. It's one reason the state declared her self-destructive and stuck her in foster care.) Once Alexander shows up, she's extremely protective of the little guy. Sure, he lives in her head but he's still vulnerable.
I wrote in my notes that she reminds me a bit of Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games, but I think I prefer Sam!
Alexander is one awesome little virus.
Alexander sounds like an eager little kid, sometimes a bit younger than the ten-year-old boys I've met recently. But he's very innocent and naive--after all, he was "born" not long before--and he has to rely on Sam's memories to form his knowledge of the world.
This leads to some interesting and funny moments, such as when he pops up wearing neon pink Daisy Dukes, a knotted t-shirt, and headphones, and spouts teen speak from the last decade. He's taken his fashion sense from Sam in her preteen years. Um, no. (Don't worry. Sam sets him straight on that point.)
He's capable of loving others and shows great loyalty to those he loves. He's a full-fledged character.
The writing voice is terrific.
After reading the opening pages of Gnosis, I knew I had to read it. Why?
The writing voice grabbed me and didn't let go.It's a great blend of intensity and humor. Fresh. Energetic. Hall nails the voice of an older teen girl without seeming to try too hard or too obviously.
The premise is well-executed.
This is a complicated premise. Alexander not only hops from head to head, but he also "watches" Sam's memories and her world from inside a (fantasy) treehouse in her head. Sam can simultaneously watch the inside of the treehouse and the external world she lives in. At points, Melvin, their ally (who does not have a virus and is not telepathic), also appears in the treehouse, and Alexander pops into his head and hunts around in his memories, too. At times, all three are speaking to one another. When Gabi and Victor come into the story, things become even more complicated. (Two viruses, three humans, multiple mind-readers.)
But it's never confusing. I never had to wonder who was speaking or who could or couldn't hear their words. In the fantasy world Hall created, the rules of communication may be different than in our real world, but they are still consistent. The environment and its "laws" are also never so complex that I struggled to understand what was going on. (This has been an issue for me in other fantasy novels.)
I suspect Hall's background as a game designer helps with the vivid nature of his fantasy world. (See his recent blog post on the "active environment" in storytelling here: https://www.wordrefiner.com/guest-blo.... It's a must read for all fiction writers.)
Overall, this is a terrific, energetic, awesome book to read.I heartily recommend Gnosis for anyone who enjoys urban fantasy or thrillers.
Note: I received a review copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Samantha Black is one heck of a heroine.
She's determined, strong, and hot-headed. She's a parkour enthusiast, which is something like military obstacle training minus the military. (Think jumping from rooftop to rooftop, climbing up or down brick walls, all without equipment. It's one reason the state declared her self-destructive and stuck her in foster care.) Once Alexander shows up, she's extremely protective of the little guy. Sure, he lives in her head but he's still vulnerable.
I wrote in my notes that she reminds me a bit of Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games, but I think I prefer Sam!
Alexander is one awesome little virus.
Alexander sounds like an eager little kid, sometimes a bit younger than the ten-year-old boys I've met recently. But he's very innocent and naive--after all, he was "born" not long before--and he has to rely on Sam's memories to form his knowledge of the world.
This leads to some interesting and funny moments, such as when he pops up wearing neon pink Daisy Dukes, a knotted t-shirt, and headphones, and spouts teen speak from the last decade. He's taken his fashion sense from Sam in her preteen years. Um, no. (Don't worry. Sam sets him straight on that point.)
He's capable of loving others and shows great loyalty to those he loves. He's a full-fledged character.
The writing voice is terrific.
After reading the opening pages of Gnosis, I knew I had to read it. Why?
The writing voice grabbed me and didn't let go.It's a great blend of intensity and humor. Fresh. Energetic. Hall nails the voice of an older teen girl without seeming to try too hard or too obviously.
The premise is well-executed.
This is a complicated premise. Alexander not only hops from head to head, but he also "watches" Sam's memories and her world from inside a (fantasy) treehouse in her head. Sam can simultaneously watch the inside of the treehouse and the external world she lives in. At points, Melvin, their ally (who does not have a virus and is not telepathic), also appears in the treehouse, and Alexander pops into his head and hunts around in his memories, too. At times, all three are speaking to one another. When Gabi and Victor come into the story, things become even more complicated. (Two viruses, three humans, multiple mind-readers.)
But it's never confusing. I never had to wonder who was speaking or who could or couldn't hear their words. In the fantasy world Hall created, the rules of communication may be different than in our real world, but they are still consistent. The environment and its "laws" are also never so complex that I struggled to understand what was going on. (This has been an issue for me in other fantasy novels.)
I suspect Hall's background as a game designer helps with the vivid nature of his fantasy world. (See his recent blog post on the "active environment" in storytelling here: https://www.wordrefiner.com/guest-blo.... It's a must read for all fiction writers.)
Overall, this is a terrific, energetic, awesome book to read.I heartily recommend Gnosis for anyone who enjoys urban fantasy or thrillers.
Note: I received a review copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
August 8, 2019
Gnosis is a young adult urban fantasy novel. Samantha (Sam) Black has run away from her foster home, because she’s frustrated at the lack of police progress in finding her father’s murderer. However, something else is happening to Sam; she’s having severe headaches.
Jumping further into the story, Sam develops a virus called Trella Gondii, which translates into a symbiotic character call Alex who now shares her head and her memories. He can hop into the heads of others, too, but the pair are now in danger from a government agency. See here for full review https://wp.me/p2Eu3u-eVZ
Jumping further into the story, Sam develops a virus called Trella Gondii, which translates into a symbiotic character call Alex who now shares her head and her memories. He can hop into the heads of others, too, but the pair are now in danger from a government agency. See here for full review https://wp.me/p2Eu3u-eVZ
May 5, 2019
Gnosis could be a TV series. To me, the draw is the characters that stay with you long after you read about them. Not to mention, the compelling science fiction elements that are unpacked in reveal upon reveal. You won’t know what is going on at first but probably won’t care as you’ll be too busy enjoying Sam’s journey as she figures out her next move while constantly dodging her pursuers.
Picture a spunky teen with an arsenal of parkour gymnastic moves, who is vulnerable but not weak, her courage and belief in herself relentless against the hard knocks she’s endured. That’s Sam. And you’ll get to know her intimately as she chats to you in first-person narrative taking you with her on her journey.
This book is full of non-stop action with the plot continuously twisting and turning keeping you on the edge of your seat. You will be surprised at key points. This is not a predictable story by any means. At the same time, the building relationships between characters are palpable and real and when you finally see certain things coming together, it clicks, surprises and all.
Sam’s love for her dad and determination to solve his murder moves me as does her growing relationship with Alexander, the 10-year old boy who is not your average kid by any means. What would a sentient virus learning about the world for the first time while living in Sam’s head look like? Adorable, naive and enchanting might not be your first thought. But that’s Alexander. A so-called imaginary-turned-true and formidable friend.
Melvin, a retired Israeli soldier, takes Sam under his wing. He is the father figure she doesn’t have and the kinda gruff guy with so much heart, you take to him immediately. Gabi, a prickly and damaged homeless teen who becomes a member of Sam’s motley crew, is perhaps one of the most compelling characters, her mental struggles and fierce love for her friends even as she hurts them, is so well-written. Gabi is someone you won’t forget anytime soon. She is almost Sam’s dark twin. You know when she’s in a scene as her pain dominates the room.
Perhaps one of my favorite unique elements of this series is how the non-corporeal characters – the ‘viruses’ that live in characters’ heads – are written. They are distinctive with their own personalities and seamlessly woven into the characters’ thoughts as the viruses and characters converse telepathically. If that alone doesn’t make you want to pick up this book . . . I don’t know what will.
As to the author’s writing style, you can really picture the characters and scenes vividly, forgetting the words on the page as the movie runs in your mind. He makes writing look easy. If forgetting you are reading and getting lost in the story is a mark of good writing, Rick Hall’s got that going on in spades.
This writer is someone to watch. I look forward to seeing where he takes this book series.
Picture a spunky teen with an arsenal of parkour gymnastic moves, who is vulnerable but not weak, her courage and belief in herself relentless against the hard knocks she’s endured. That’s Sam. And you’ll get to know her intimately as she chats to you in first-person narrative taking you with her on her journey.
This book is full of non-stop action with the plot continuously twisting and turning keeping you on the edge of your seat. You will be surprised at key points. This is not a predictable story by any means. At the same time, the building relationships between characters are palpable and real and when you finally see certain things coming together, it clicks, surprises and all.
Sam’s love for her dad and determination to solve his murder moves me as does her growing relationship with Alexander, the 10-year old boy who is not your average kid by any means. What would a sentient virus learning about the world for the first time while living in Sam’s head look like? Adorable, naive and enchanting might not be your first thought. But that’s Alexander. A so-called imaginary-turned-true and formidable friend.
Melvin, a retired Israeli soldier, takes Sam under his wing. He is the father figure she doesn’t have and the kinda gruff guy with so much heart, you take to him immediately. Gabi, a prickly and damaged homeless teen who becomes a member of Sam’s motley crew, is perhaps one of the most compelling characters, her mental struggles and fierce love for her friends even as she hurts them, is so well-written. Gabi is someone you won’t forget anytime soon. She is almost Sam’s dark twin. You know when she’s in a scene as her pain dominates the room.
Perhaps one of my favorite unique elements of this series is how the non-corporeal characters – the ‘viruses’ that live in characters’ heads – are written. They are distinctive with their own personalities and seamlessly woven into the characters’ thoughts as the viruses and characters converse telepathically. If that alone doesn’t make you want to pick up this book . . . I don’t know what will.
As to the author’s writing style, you can really picture the characters and scenes vividly, forgetting the words on the page as the movie runs in your mind. He makes writing look easy. If forgetting you are reading and getting lost in the story is a mark of good writing, Rick Hall’s got that going on in spades.
This writer is someone to watch. I look forward to seeing where he takes this book series.
September 12, 2020
What a wild ride! Urban fantasy goes parkour crazy.
From page one, I’m endeared to rebellious, self-possessed teenager Samantha Black. Her first-person narrative and stellar parkour moves whirl you across the city as she searches for her father’s murderer. For a YA novel, the story is set up with all the right ammo — a lovable, but flawed heroine and a mystery to solve. But it quickly morphs into so much more.
When Sam’s (the shortening of her name says it all!) worsening headaches land her in the hospital, her life flips upside down. Following a trail of lies and deceit, she uncovers a government conspiracy that has not only kept tabs on her for years but labeled her dangerous to the country. Why? Because they infected her with a virus that’s taken on a life and will of its own.
Enter Alexander, a charming manifestation of Sam’s mind. As she comes to accept and love this sentient virus, we watch Alexander grow from a naïve little boy into a quick-witted, honest youngster who has some hilarious mishaps along the way! The interaction between Alexander and other characters’ viruses is a flair of inspiration by Hall and adds another dimension to the plot. Ingenious!
My favorite character was Melvin, the grouchy, retired Israeli soldier. I’d want him on my side any day! As much as I loved Sam, the story wouldn’t be realistic for her to accomplish what she did on her own, well, with only Alexander’s help. Melvin and the other supporting cast round out the story and strengthen the credibility of the plot as Sam is pursued by the secret, ruthless government agency.
Let's talk voice. First-time author or not, Hall's writing grips. With smooth sentence flow, vivid descriptions and witty dialogue, Gnosis was a pleasure to read. Evoking emotions comes easy to this author, and whether it was fear, anger, determination or love and pride, I experienced it all along with the characters.
Overall, a fantastic first novel. Good plot, solid writing, unforgettable characters and invigorating action to blend it all together.
From page one, I’m endeared to rebellious, self-possessed teenager Samantha Black. Her first-person narrative and stellar parkour moves whirl you across the city as she searches for her father’s murderer. For a YA novel, the story is set up with all the right ammo — a lovable, but flawed heroine and a mystery to solve. But it quickly morphs into so much more.
When Sam’s (the shortening of her name says it all!) worsening headaches land her in the hospital, her life flips upside down. Following a trail of lies and deceit, she uncovers a government conspiracy that has not only kept tabs on her for years but labeled her dangerous to the country. Why? Because they infected her with a virus that’s taken on a life and will of its own.
Enter Alexander, a charming manifestation of Sam’s mind. As she comes to accept and love this sentient virus, we watch Alexander grow from a naïve little boy into a quick-witted, honest youngster who has some hilarious mishaps along the way! The interaction between Alexander and other characters’ viruses is a flair of inspiration by Hall and adds another dimension to the plot. Ingenious!
My favorite character was Melvin, the grouchy, retired Israeli soldier. I’d want him on my side any day! As much as I loved Sam, the story wouldn’t be realistic for her to accomplish what she did on her own, well, with only Alexander’s help. Melvin and the other supporting cast round out the story and strengthen the credibility of the plot as Sam is pursued by the secret, ruthless government agency.
Let's talk voice. First-time author or not, Hall's writing grips. With smooth sentence flow, vivid descriptions and witty dialogue, Gnosis was a pleasure to read. Evoking emotions comes easy to this author, and whether it was fear, anger, determination or love and pride, I experienced it all along with the characters.
Overall, a fantastic first novel. Good plot, solid writing, unforgettable characters and invigorating action to blend it all together.
July 27, 2020
Rick Hall's, Gnosis is a wonderfully written and descriptive piece of fiction that's fresh and imaginative and filled with strong well developed characters. Some you'll love and some you'll love to hate. It's fast paced with riveting action, suspense and drama that will leave you breathless. I highly recommend this book.
May 11, 2019
Couldn't put it down!
Powerfully written, riveting drama on nearly every page, great character depictions, wonderfully interwoven sub-plots. One of my new favorites!
Powerfully written, riveting drama on nearly every page, great character depictions, wonderfully interwoven sub-plots. One of my new favorites!
May 13, 2019
I loved this book!!! can't wait for the sequel!
April 29, 2019
“Gnosis” is generally entertaining and well-written by Rick Hall, even if, for my tastes, there aren’t things about it which particularly stand out. It falls very firmly in the young-adult / sci-fi / fantasy camp and features all the usual formulaic elements of this contemporary cross-genre: the resourceful but unwitting teen heroine, with psychic abilities bordering on superpowers and shady government figures in pursuit, to either kill her or harness her ability. The author himself, to my knowledge, does not fall into the young adult category (sorry, no offence Rick), and at times his sophistication – which really comes only from experience – betrays the YA narrative; not often, but just occasionally. It is just as well that it does, though, because at times the language starts to grate a little, as does little Alexander; I have to admit, I did find the repeated use of the idiom “—or something” at the end of observations to be a wee bit lackadaisical and - whilst I am sure it was intentional, to befit the characters – perhaps it came across as nonchalant writing, which I am sure that Rick is not at all. On the contrary, he is a good author, clearly, and his book is very professionally written. Whilst I did note a handful of errors, which should really be proofread, particularly in some of the punctuation choices, other than this, the writing itself, and the dialogue, is decent.
Regarding the plot of “Gnosis”: albeit with the addition of a couple of “Happy”-style brain manifestations called trella gondii - which, in the case of the lead character, takes the form of a young, naïve and caring boy - the storyline is a rather generic one. Yet, despite this, whilst overall it is a simple enough read, it did become something of an effort to remain engaged – I think, perhaps, because of the sheer number of events occurring, from one scene to the next. Beyond the main plot points I have mentioned, the story otherwise becomes very – and unnecessarily - convoluted. As we explore each character’s additional trella gondii symptoms - which generally take the form of supernatural kinetic abilities, such as technokinesis, telekinesis and pyrokinesis - I started to become baffled by the whole dynamic of Sam (the heroine) and Alexander (her manifestation) in respect of the things they were actually able to do – not because these things are not clear, but more because they are not kept simple enough. I personally believe the book would be a great deal more entertaining if it were shorter and on a less ambitious scale, with a less involved storyline; it is quite long, and does feel it, in parts. The fantasy element doesn’t really benefit this book a great deal; what it does is necessitate more scenes and expand the word count, to the point where, unfortunately, at times it feels like things are just happening, one after another, in what is otherwise quite a simple YA storyline; I have to admit that by midway, I was starting to read with half an eye.
In the long term, “Gnosis” comes together ably enough, if unsurprisingly. Overall, though, I found myself thinking that it could be vastly improved by tweaking – and simplifying its story. To end on a positive note, though, Rick knows his genre and has created an interesting ensemble of characters, I am sure, with half an eye on a sequel. So, for those who like to read this sort of book, I would recommend keeping an eye on Rick Hall and Samantha Black.
Regarding the plot of “Gnosis”: albeit with the addition of a couple of “Happy”-style brain manifestations called trella gondii - which, in the case of the lead character, takes the form of a young, naïve and caring boy - the storyline is a rather generic one. Yet, despite this, whilst overall it is a simple enough read, it did become something of an effort to remain engaged – I think, perhaps, because of the sheer number of events occurring, from one scene to the next. Beyond the main plot points I have mentioned, the story otherwise becomes very – and unnecessarily - convoluted. As we explore each character’s additional trella gondii symptoms - which generally take the form of supernatural kinetic abilities, such as technokinesis, telekinesis and pyrokinesis - I started to become baffled by the whole dynamic of Sam (the heroine) and Alexander (her manifestation) in respect of the things they were actually able to do – not because these things are not clear, but more because they are not kept simple enough. I personally believe the book would be a great deal more entertaining if it were shorter and on a less ambitious scale, with a less involved storyline; it is quite long, and does feel it, in parts. The fantasy element doesn’t really benefit this book a great deal; what it does is necessitate more scenes and expand the word count, to the point where, unfortunately, at times it feels like things are just happening, one after another, in what is otherwise quite a simple YA storyline; I have to admit that by midway, I was starting to read with half an eye.
In the long term, “Gnosis” comes together ably enough, if unsurprisingly. Overall, though, I found myself thinking that it could be vastly improved by tweaking – and simplifying its story. To end on a positive note, though, Rick knows his genre and has created an interesting ensemble of characters, I am sure, with half an eye on a sequel. So, for those who like to read this sort of book, I would recommend keeping an eye on Rick Hall and Samantha Black.
August 9, 2019
I highly recommend this book for those that enjoy action, strong female leads, unique paranormal settings, and honestly anyone that enjoys good writing.
I loved this book. The writing style was everything I could have asked for, enough detail to understand the setting and tone of the action without droning on for pages. The action was punctual and surprisingly easy to follow. And the dialogue was engaging and felt like it told me all about the characters without needing to explicitly state their personality.
The world building was also top notch. I read everything fantasy and paranormal of all genres, and this was a unique idea. The author also did a good job providing enough information about the world without overwhelming you. Action and Character took first seat but was supported by the world building.
The main character, Sam, was a powerhouse of a female and I liked to see her unique attributes like parkour. It felt like she had a good balance of hot-headed bravery and intelligence to listen to others. A refreshing character that I hope to see more of. Would love to see another book in this world with different characters and cameos from the main characters in this novel!
Additional Review (with minor/non-important spoilers):
Alexander was surprisingly my favorite character. When he first arrives to meet Samantha and he is wearing a suit, it makes me smile and my heart warm. That moment perfectly represents a young sibling trying to impress their older sibling with how mature they are. The relationship between Sam and Alex I feel truly represents an older sister, younger brother relationship. They fight, they argue, Alex tries to impress Sam, Alex annoys the shit out of Sam, and Sam can’t help but worry about protecting Alex from the bad things in the world.
I also love how the author put in these little Easter eggs. For example, when Sam first comes to in the hospital with Alexander showing up and introducing himself, the author mentions a historical documentary is on the hospital TV. Then Alexander proclaims that he would like to be called Alexander and then for the rest of the book brandishes a sword. Like Alexander the Great. That was just such as cool small detail that when I picked up on, I felt uber smart. Although really the credit goes to the author for planting all the information there for me to find.
What surprised me the most was how easy it was to follow whose head they were in or if they were in the real world. Having this weird meta tree-house place which is where Alexander exists in Sam’s head I first thought would be confusing jumping back and forth but was surprisingly easy to follow.
Also, the author is truly a genius, because he wrote a novel with a story that played directly to his strengths. This authors dialogue is amazing. Like the best part of the whole book is reading the interaction between characters. So, then the author intelligently wrote a book where the main character, Sam, has another character in their head, Alex, they can talk to at any point. Plus, Alex can jump to other people’s heads and connect them to Sam so they can all talk, equivalent to if they all had telepathy. The genius of this that the author can now write dialogue anytime they want. No need to force characters into the same location through poorly devised plot, nope none of that. Just good dialogue whenever it suits the situation. Pure Genius.
I also liked that the story followed the Hero’s Journey. It wasn’t perfectly followed, but you do see the mentor character and the mid story low point/rebirth. It made the story feel familiar which paired well with the unique world building and complex web of mystery of who was on whose side.
There were small things I do feel could have been better. I loved Sam’s parkour ability and felt like it was used a lot in the first half of the book, but almost not at all in the last half of the book. I think Sam is a kickass character, but she just lost her father. I felt like the book did not do the best job expressing Sam’s feelings towards losing her father. I can only image the pain and sadness I would feel at losing an only parent, but I never got the impression from Sam that she was sad or mourning his loss. A touch more here or there might have made me more empathetic for Sam’s fight to erase the slander on her father’s name.
All and all, 100% recommend this book. If you are even considering getting it, just get it. Stop thinking and get it. You won’t regret it!
I loved this book. The writing style was everything I could have asked for, enough detail to understand the setting and tone of the action without droning on for pages. The action was punctual and surprisingly easy to follow. And the dialogue was engaging and felt like it told me all about the characters without needing to explicitly state their personality.
The world building was also top notch. I read everything fantasy and paranormal of all genres, and this was a unique idea. The author also did a good job providing enough information about the world without overwhelming you. Action and Character took first seat but was supported by the world building.
The main character, Sam, was a powerhouse of a female and I liked to see her unique attributes like parkour. It felt like she had a good balance of hot-headed bravery and intelligence to listen to others. A refreshing character that I hope to see more of. Would love to see another book in this world with different characters and cameos from the main characters in this novel!
Additional Review (with minor/non-important spoilers):
Alexander was surprisingly my favorite character. When he first arrives to meet Samantha and he is wearing a suit, it makes me smile and my heart warm. That moment perfectly represents a young sibling trying to impress their older sibling with how mature they are. The relationship between Sam and Alex I feel truly represents an older sister, younger brother relationship. They fight, they argue, Alex tries to impress Sam, Alex annoys the shit out of Sam, and Sam can’t help but worry about protecting Alex from the bad things in the world.
I also love how the author put in these little Easter eggs. For example, when Sam first comes to in the hospital with Alexander showing up and introducing himself, the author mentions a historical documentary is on the hospital TV. Then Alexander proclaims that he would like to be called Alexander and then for the rest of the book brandishes a sword. Like Alexander the Great. That was just such as cool small detail that when I picked up on, I felt uber smart. Although really the credit goes to the author for planting all the information there for me to find.
What surprised me the most was how easy it was to follow whose head they were in or if they were in the real world. Having this weird meta tree-house place which is where Alexander exists in Sam’s head I first thought would be confusing jumping back and forth but was surprisingly easy to follow.
Also, the author is truly a genius, because he wrote a novel with a story that played directly to his strengths. This authors dialogue is amazing. Like the best part of the whole book is reading the interaction between characters. So, then the author intelligently wrote a book where the main character, Sam, has another character in their head, Alex, they can talk to at any point. Plus, Alex can jump to other people’s heads and connect them to Sam so they can all talk, equivalent to if they all had telepathy. The genius of this that the author can now write dialogue anytime they want. No need to force characters into the same location through poorly devised plot, nope none of that. Just good dialogue whenever it suits the situation. Pure Genius.
I also liked that the story followed the Hero’s Journey. It wasn’t perfectly followed, but you do see the mentor character and the mid story low point/rebirth. It made the story feel familiar which paired well with the unique world building and complex web of mystery of who was on whose side.
There were small things I do feel could have been better. I loved Sam’s parkour ability and felt like it was used a lot in the first half of the book, but almost not at all in the last half of the book. I think Sam is a kickass character, but she just lost her father. I felt like the book did not do the best job expressing Sam’s feelings towards losing her father. I can only image the pain and sadness I would feel at losing an only parent, but I never got the impression from Sam that she was sad or mourning his loss. A touch more here or there might have made me more empathetic for Sam’s fight to erase the slander on her father’s name.
All and all, 100% recommend this book. If you are even considering getting it, just get it. Stop thinking and get it. You won’t regret it!
June 25, 2021
4.5⭐
I love how we meet Sam parkouring across rooftops following cops, trying to prove that her dad wasn't a dirty cop like everyone believes. The introduction to Hayden and her team makes you believe they're going to be the answer to her prayers, but are they what or who they really say they are.
I thoroughly enjoyed how Sam's relationship with Alexander and Melvin grew over the course of the book and how they're family; they'll do anything to protect one another.
The idea of Trella Gondii - a virus that lives in the brain and when matured activates giving it's hosts powers (in Sam's case telepathy in the form of Alexander) is original and really good!
There were moments in the book where I was sure that was it - Sam was dead or out of harms way then BOOM no she wasn't.
If you're looking for a fun, fast paced, and action-packed book then I highly recommend you check this one out!!
I love how we meet Sam parkouring across rooftops following cops, trying to prove that her dad wasn't a dirty cop like everyone believes. The introduction to Hayden and her team makes you believe they're going to be the answer to her prayers, but are they what or who they really say they are.
I thoroughly enjoyed how Sam's relationship with Alexander and Melvin grew over the course of the book and how they're family; they'll do anything to protect one another.
The idea of Trella Gondii - a virus that lives in the brain and when matured activates giving it's hosts powers (in Sam's case telepathy in the form of Alexander) is original and really good!
There were moments in the book where I was sure that was it - Sam was dead or out of harms way then BOOM no she wasn't.
If you're looking for a fun, fast paced, and action-packed book then I highly recommend you check this one out!!
November 19, 2020
What do you do when you discover the hallucinations are real?
Samantha Black is a teenage girl who wants nothing more than to clear her father's name, but when government agents arrive on the scene, all hell breaks loose.
What I liked:
The writing is strong and the dialogue feels natural for the characters.
What I didn't like:
The story slowed down about a third of the way in, and I wasn't emotionally invested in the characters enough to finish.
Overall:
I gave Gnosis by Rick Hall three stars for imagination.
Samantha Black is a teenage girl who wants nothing more than to clear her father's name, but when government agents arrive on the scene, all hell breaks loose.
What I liked:
The writing is strong and the dialogue feels natural for the characters.
What I didn't like:
The story slowed down about a third of the way in, and I wasn't emotionally invested in the characters enough to finish.
Overall:
I gave Gnosis by Rick Hall three stars for imagination.
June 30, 2019
A very entertaining book!!
I'm a fan of sci-fi, fantasy, and urban fantasy novels. I don't mind reading YA novels if they are written well. Gnosis certainly delivered on that!!
I love that the book starts literally 30 feet in the air and never looks back. Solid action with a parkour twist. Great fun.
Sam, Alex, Melvin, and even Buddy were lovable characters, each with their own well-developed personalities.
I have recommended this book to my friends and would happily recommend it to anyone looking for an great read. I truly hope the author is already hard at work on a sequel.
I'm a fan of sci-fi, fantasy, and urban fantasy novels. I don't mind reading YA novels if they are written well. Gnosis certainly delivered on that!!
I love that the book starts literally 30 feet in the air and never looks back. Solid action with a parkour twist. Great fun.
Sam, Alex, Melvin, and even Buddy were lovable characters, each with their own well-developed personalities.
I have recommended this book to my friends and would happily recommend it to anyone looking for an great read. I truly hope the author is already hard at work on a sequel.
August 15, 2019
I don't put down my phone and pick up a book as much as I should, so it took me a while to start this after buying it. But once I started, I couldn't put it down! The writing style is clever, easy to follow, and gets you hooked into the story quickly. I've also read and watched plenty of fantasy movies and novels, but this was a wonderfully fresh and unique take on the superhero theme. And of course, I always love a badass female protagonist. <3
November 21, 2019
Yes!
I give this book a 5/5 and let me tell you why: the characters were so well written that I miss them and I want to reread the book just to hang out with them some more. The action never stopped and I never grew tired of it. And the story was AWESOME! The voices in my head concur that you should read this book and they also express that they would be pleased to meet with Samantha and Alexander again.
I give this book a 5/5 and let me tell you why: the characters were so well written that I miss them and I want to reread the book just to hang out with them some more. The action never stopped and I never grew tired of it. And the story was AWESOME! The voices in my head concur that you should read this book and they also express that they would be pleased to meet with Samantha and Alexander again.
July 30, 2019
Gnosis: A Psychic Urban Fantasy is Great Read!
The author Rick Hall had my attention from the very beginning. I really liked the character San and her familiar. With constant governmental interference, Sam was constantly in danger and on the run.
I heartedly recommend reading this book. It kept my interest (and anxiety up) throughout the whole book from chapter to chapter.
The author Rick Hall had my attention from the very beginning. I really liked the character San and her familiar. With constant governmental interference, Sam was constantly in danger and on the run.
I heartedly recommend reading this book. It kept my interest (and anxiety up) throughout the whole book from chapter to chapter.
June 23, 2019
I’ve never read an urban fantasy book before Gnosis. I truly loved this book! It is such an original concept and the excitement never ended. It kept my interest and I kept picking it up to read “just a little more”. The book was well written. I hope there is a series!
did-not-finish
August 29, 2022Dnf at about 50%. The MC, plot & writing style are all annoying me.
August 6, 2019
This book has some of my favorite topics including psychic or psionic abilities. I also loved the fast pacing of the book especially in the beginning and the end.
May 11, 2019
I couldn't put this book down! It is powerfully written, has drama on nearly every page, has great character depictions & wonderfully interwoven sub-plots. It keeps you guessing all the way to the end. It has become one of my new favorites!
June 5, 2019
This book was great. It's very imaginiative and suspenseful. I hope there is a sequel.
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