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Gravity Breaker
For Isaac Williams, nothing comes easy and never has. But all that’s about to change. During a routine encounter with a police officer in Oakland, Isaac makes a life-altering realization: He can use gravity to do almost anything. To build or destroy. To lift up or hold in place. To bend, straighten, or break apart.
Isaac is suddenly in command of a power beyond his wildest imagination, the power to reshape the world around him, something that he’s struggled to do his entire life. Filled with newfound hope, Isaac immerses himself in the experimentation process: testing his limits, broadening his skill set, and refining his control, all in secret.
But Isaac is forced to reveal the extent of his capabilities when his eleven-year-old daughter is attacked, which sets in motion a series of events that strips him of everything he’s worked so hard for: his child, his job, and his home. Pursued relentlessly by the authorities, Isaac is forced to use his abilities in increasingly dramatic and dangerous ways to avoid capture and reunite with his daughter, ultimately learning that the power he wields—though enviable—comes at a deeply unenviable price.
- GenresFictionScience Fiction
215 pages, Paperback
Published July 1, 2020
6 people are currently reading
1980 people want to read
About the author
Jonathan R. Miller
11 books94 followers"Though his books are labeled literary thrillers, Miller is most concerned with his characters, who struggle with issues of discrimination, identity, ideological rigidity, and belonging."
- Poets & Writers Magazine
"The protagonist's story feels light-years from the typical hero's journey, consistently focusing on more existential themes—and the result is something unusually unsettling and unforgettable. A strange, inventive tale that evolves into a challenging and rewarding odyssey."
- Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"A bold, cerebral, and unnervingly intimate exploration of what happens when the need to make the world better collides with the corruptive pull of control. Miller balances cerebral depth with raw emotion, crafting a story that lingers long after the final page."
- BookTrib.
"Miller's skillful economy of language and penchant for playing the cards close to the vest — or chest plate — works to his advantage as the tale picks up momentum/mayhem and puts an intriguing, nonstereotyped lead character through pitfalls and deadly perils of parahumanity. Ghost in the Shell fans will have a blast."
- Kirkus Reviews
"A truly layered piece of fiction"
- ABC's news magazine program, "CityLine"
"High-tech thrillers with complex characters"
- San Jose Mercury News
"A lean, well-oiled narrative"
- Kirkus Reviews
Otherwise Award nominee and Kirkus Best Indie Books of 2025 honoree Jonathan R. Miller is an author of "magical realism" literary fiction novels, as well as sci-fi thrillers featuring diverse, complex characters.
Miller was born in Illinois, lived in New Mexico for most of his childhood, and then became a California transplant after undergraduate school at Stanford University. He was an 8th-grade teacher for 7 years in the Oakland public school system, and has worked as a writer/marketer in the San Francisco Bay Area ever since.
Miller's own multiracial heritage has had a strong influence on his thought processes and writing approach. His novels deftly explore issues of identity while providing storylines that are layered, thought-provoking, and moving.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
October 12, 2020
I really enjoyed this book, even if it didn't turn out to be quite what I was expecting. In fact, I probably enjoyed it more because it was different than my expectations. While the protagonist here has super-human abilities, he is still entirely human, and that humanity is the powerful draw to this book. Isaac is a black single father of a teenage girl, struggling to be a good father and do the right thing. But circumstances make it difficult, and when his powers come into play they make things worse, rather than better.
With the narration provided from a black point-of-view, we are provided with a first hand look at what it is like for black men to interact with the police and others in authority. These aspects of the novel are especially compelling in the current political environment with the BLM protests and the pushback against them. Here is a visceral illustration of the points that the Black Lives Matter movement have been trying to make, in a context that makes them compelling without being preachy.
I would recommend this book just for those elements, but it is also a well written story with characters you can identify with and root for, even when their flaws are readily apparent. This is a wonderful book that arrived on my shelf at the perfect moment. I look forward to reading the author's next book, which continues this story.
With the narration provided from a black point-of-view, we are provided with a first hand look at what it is like for black men to interact with the police and others in authority. These aspects of the novel are especially compelling in the current political environment with the BLM protests and the pushback against them. Here is a visceral illustration of the points that the Black Lives Matter movement have been trying to make, in a context that makes them compelling without being preachy.
I would recommend this book just for those elements, but it is also a well written story with characters you can identify with and root for, even when their flaws are readily apparent. This is a wonderful book that arrived on my shelf at the perfect moment. I look forward to reading the author's next book, which continues this story.
January 3, 2021
Great book!!! Loved all of it!! I want more!!! Can't wait to get another book from you!!!!
August 14, 2021
It makes me so mad when I read about a character being yelled at/scrutinized for doing nothing wrong. That is what happened at the very beginning of this book when Isaac was being questioned by the police officer for supposedly stealing items from a store when he was just doing his job. It made me even angrier when a couple pages later the author mentioned that Isaac is black. He was a black man, pushing a cart filled with bags in a rich neighborhood. THAT was why he was stopped. This kind of behavior was the same in all of the situations that involved the police throughout the whole book, rather Isaac was in the wrong or not. That aspect was infuriating.
I’m kind of amazed that it took Isaac into adulthood for him to learn that he had this strange ability. I mean, sure, he mentioned having the weird airborne feeling once when he was 10 years old (his feet were about an inch off the ground as he ran around the track). If this power of his is triggered by his emotions (like it seemed to be before he started practicing) how did it take him so long to find out he had it? Surely other strange things had to have happened as he grew up.
Sooo, Tallah (Isaac's daughter) gets in serious trouble (it wasn't even that bad; she was ignoring her teacher) and the police are called. The school calls Isaac to come and help handle his daughter. Why would the police woman's first reaction to a black man running towards the school be to call for backup?? Why is THAT her first reaction?? The reason she is even there in the first place is because one of the few black kids at this school got in trouble. Her parents are probably going to be black, and when Isaac got the call that the police were there dealing with a situation that involved his child . . . Of course he is going to be running towards the school. WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH THIS POLICE FORCE. I know this kind of shit really goes on, but come on. Officers need to use SOME common sense.
I have read a couple self-published books that had a lot of noticeable spelling or wrong word placement mistakes. I didn’t catch any of those kind of mistakes in THIS book. One weird thing though was Isaac’s mysterious cell phone. At one point, after Isaac first goes on the run from the police, he wakes up in his motel room to the sound of a phone ringing. It says at first that he attempted to look for said phone in his pockets, but then remembers that he lost it near the Dumbarton Bridge. I may have missed it, but I don’t remember the author saying anything about him misplacing his cell phone until then. Later that afternoon, Isaac returns to his apartment and is sitting out in the atrium . . . and he pulls out his cell phone??? So, first, I don’t remember him losing it initially, and then all of a sudden he has it back?????? This was the only strange thing that I noticed in this book that could have used a proofreader.
I loved this book. It made me feel so many emotions. I liked how it turned out that Tallah had the same abilities as Isaac, but has different plans on what to use them for.
It was kind of weird how the author changed from third-person point-of-view for Isaac, to first-person when he switched to Tallah’s point-of-view in the last chapter. I think it would have been interesting if the author had explained this change in some way. Like Tallah had been writing about her father and what had happened to him in her journal or something, but no. No explanation was given for the sudden change in point-of-view. The story also ended really abruptly. I’m so glad there is actually a second book to this one. I’m curious as to rather it is written in first-person as well. I will have to get my hands on it as soon as possible.
I’m kind of amazed that it took Isaac into adulthood for him to learn that he had this strange ability. I mean, sure, he mentioned having the weird airborne feeling once when he was 10 years old (his feet were about an inch off the ground as he ran around the track). If this power of his is triggered by his emotions (like it seemed to be before he started practicing) how did it take him so long to find out he had it? Surely other strange things had to have happened as he grew up.
Sooo, Tallah (Isaac's daughter) gets in serious trouble (it wasn't even that bad; she was ignoring her teacher) and the police are called. The school calls Isaac to come and help handle his daughter. Why would the police woman's first reaction to a black man running towards the school be to call for backup?? Why is THAT her first reaction?? The reason she is even there in the first place is because one of the few black kids at this school got in trouble. Her parents are probably going to be black, and when Isaac got the call that the police were there dealing with a situation that involved his child . . . Of course he is going to be running towards the school. WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH THIS POLICE FORCE. I know this kind of shit really goes on, but come on. Officers need to use SOME common sense.
I have read a couple self-published books that had a lot of noticeable spelling or wrong word placement mistakes. I didn’t catch any of those kind of mistakes in THIS book. One weird thing though was Isaac’s mysterious cell phone. At one point, after Isaac first goes on the run from the police, he wakes up in his motel room to the sound of a phone ringing. It says at first that he attempted to look for said phone in his pockets, but then remembers that he lost it near the Dumbarton Bridge. I may have missed it, but I don’t remember the author saying anything about him misplacing his cell phone until then. Later that afternoon, Isaac returns to his apartment and is sitting out in the atrium . . . and he pulls out his cell phone??? So, first, I don’t remember him losing it initially, and then all of a sudden he has it back?????? This was the only strange thing that I noticed in this book that could have used a proofreader.
I loved this book. It made me feel so many emotions. I liked how it turned out that Tallah had the same abilities as Isaac, but has different plans on what to use them for.
It was kind of weird how the author changed from third-person point-of-view for Isaac, to first-person when he switched to Tallah’s point-of-view in the last chapter. I think it would have been interesting if the author had explained this change in some way. Like Tallah had been writing about her father and what had happened to him in her journal or something, but no. No explanation was given for the sudden change in point-of-view. The story also ended really abruptly. I’m so glad there is actually a second book to this one. I’m curious as to rather it is written in first-person as well. I will have to get my hands on it as soon as possible.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 15, 2016
It's like the movie Chronicle mashed up with the movie Fruitvale Station. Crazy, but good. Well-written. Timely.
October 22, 2020
I received this book through a Goodreads Giveaway.
Rating: 2.5 stars
I do think part of the reason I struggled to finish this book was simply because it is outside of my preferred genres. Another element could be the fact that it's self-published, and could use some professional editing. (Pro-tip: justify the text! (It's a pet peeve of mine haha.))
The first thing that bothered me a bit: this book is very action-heavy. Sometimes it's easier to write action scenes, and the in-between moments can be difficult to fill. But those moments are just as necessary to a story, as they help us better understand and empathize with the main character. And this book was a bit lacking in those moments, choosing instead to focus on Isaac's newfound abilities and his run-ins with law enforcement. Especially in a book centered around such a hopeless, depressing reality, we need those small moments to lift us up a bit, to offset the heaviness. Personally, as a reader, I don't really like books that are heavy with doom and gloom, with no hope of a positive outcome or closure of some sort. I ended up having to take a break from the book, and struggled to pick it up again.
It also felt to me that at times, the main character's inner monologuing sounded more like a strategy the author used to give information, or to explain what someone felt about something. It didn't feel natural. And somehow, it prevented me from empathizing with the main character - I think because, while he was telling me what he felt, I never really had the chance to experience what he felt with him.
I do feel that this is an important perspective, and that exploring these themes (of racism and the flawed law-enforcement system) through supernatural abilities is a creative way to approach the topic. BUT because this is a superhero-type story, set in this world, I really would have liked some sort of explanation of how and why these abilities manifested in Isaac. I think that background could be really interesting to explore, and as a reader, it's something I was wondering throughout the story. Hopefully book 2 will explain some of this.
Now to talk about the ending...
And I can't review this book without addressing Miller's use of the word "female". During Tallah's narration, she refers to the other girls in her group home as "females" (and b*tches). A) This is not realistic; women don't refer to other women as "females" - it's either "girls" or "women". B) This is dehumanizing. We might refer to animals as like, "a male lizard" or "you can tell it's a female by the feathers" or something. But referring to a human being in that way? It reduces them down to their gender, addressing them as if they are just one identical member of a pack. This is NOT okay.
Here are some examples: "There were two particular females at Utley..."
"...ever since I'd hurt Orion--the females in the house had started keeping their distance..."
"...going to meetings, getting cold-shouldered by a bunch of unbalanced females..." (this one bothered me expecially... who are you to call them unbalanced?)
"Another example of a female hurting another female for no reason." (Evidently the author thinks women just hate each other? I don't know, but this is ridiculous and dehumanizing, trying to shove all women into a box, a stereotype... Note the use of "a female." It would be fine if Miller said that everyone in the group home was female. But it's not okay to say everyone was a female.)
And it wasn't as if she was living with boys as well. There was no need to differentiate between genders, because everyone in the home was female.
That was just the last straw for me, I guess. I do think this book has merits (read the positive reviews to find out what people liked), but it definitely wasn't the book for me. Despite that, I am planning on reading the second book, because I'm curious.
Rating: 2.5 stars
I do think part of the reason I struggled to finish this book was simply because it is outside of my preferred genres. Another element could be the fact that it's self-published, and could use some professional editing. (Pro-tip: justify the text! (It's a pet peeve of mine haha.))
The first thing that bothered me a bit: this book is very action-heavy. Sometimes it's easier to write action scenes, and the in-between moments can be difficult to fill. But those moments are just as necessary to a story, as they help us better understand and empathize with the main character. And this book was a bit lacking in those moments, choosing instead to focus on Isaac's newfound abilities and his run-ins with law enforcement. Especially in a book centered around such a hopeless, depressing reality, we need those small moments to lift us up a bit, to offset the heaviness. Personally, as a reader, I don't really like books that are heavy with doom and gloom, with no hope of a positive outcome or closure of some sort. I ended up having to take a break from the book, and struggled to pick it up again.
It also felt to me that at times, the main character's inner monologuing sounded more like a strategy the author used to give information, or to explain what someone felt about something. It didn't feel natural. And somehow, it prevented me from empathizing with the main character - I think because, while he was telling me what he felt, I never really had the chance to experience what he felt with him.
I do feel that this is an important perspective, and that exploring these themes (of racism and the flawed law-enforcement system) through supernatural abilities is a creative way to approach the topic. BUT because this is a superhero-type story, set in this world, I really would have liked some sort of explanation of how and why these abilities manifested in Isaac. I think that background could be really interesting to explore, and as a reader, it's something I was wondering throughout the story. Hopefully book 2 will explain some of this.
Now to talk about the ending...
And I can't review this book without addressing Miller's use of the word "female". During Tallah's narration, she refers to the other girls in her group home as "females" (and b*tches). A) This is not realistic; women don't refer to other women as "females" - it's either "girls" or "women". B) This is dehumanizing. We might refer to animals as like, "a male lizard" or "you can tell it's a female by the feathers" or something. But referring to a human being in that way? It reduces them down to their gender, addressing them as if they are just one identical member of a pack. This is NOT okay.
Here are some examples: "There were two particular females at Utley..."
"...ever since I'd hurt Orion--the females in the house had started keeping their distance..."
"...going to meetings, getting cold-shouldered by a bunch of unbalanced females..." (this one bothered me expecially... who are you to call them unbalanced?)
"Another example of a female hurting another female for no reason." (Evidently the author thinks women just hate each other? I don't know, but this is ridiculous and dehumanizing, trying to shove all women into a box, a stereotype... Note the use of "a female." It would be fine if Miller said that everyone in the group home was female. But it's not okay to say everyone was a female.)
And it wasn't as if she was living with boys as well. There was no need to differentiate between genders, because everyone in the home was female.
That was just the last straw for me, I guess. I do think this book has merits (read the positive reviews to find out what people liked), but it definitely wasn't the book for me. Despite that, I am planning on reading the second book, because I'm curious.
November 30, 2020
I received a copy of this book for free in a Goodreads giveaway.
I'm not usually one to read superhero stories, so I can't say I have a lot of experience with the genre. This book tells the story of Isaac, who realizes he has the ability to manipulate gravity. His daughter gets attacked and captured, and he's forced to rely on his superpower and his wits to rescue her. The action moved along at a pretty fast pace, especially around the climax, when Isaac has to overcome a lot of obstacles to get to his goal. I found the character development lacking, however. I had hoped for some kind of origin story behind Isaac's superpower, but all we really get is one brief scene from his childhood told in a flashback, and not much else about what happened in the past to lead up to Isaac and his daughter's situation in the first chapter. If he realized he had some kind of power when he was a kid, why didn't he explore it at all for so many decades? I got that Isaac really cares for his daughter, Tallah, but I wanted more development behind their relationship, some explanation about how the situation of having a single father with a daughter has really affected them over the years. It feels like it would have been more effective had the story been told in first person, from Isaac's point of view, so that the feelings and physical sensations he felt were more descriptive. There are quotes on the Goodreads page that seem to be from Isaac's point of view, but they don't appear to be from the version of the book I got, since none of it is from Isaac's point of view. The quotes hint at how much more effective the style would have been had it been written that way. The ending is also rather disappointing. The action in the penultimate chapter wasn't exactly clear, and the final chapter is a jarring shift in tone, with an obvious setup for the sequel, but it didn't feel like the proper end of a novel.
I'm not usually one to read superhero stories, so I can't say I have a lot of experience with the genre. This book tells the story of Isaac, who realizes he has the ability to manipulate gravity. His daughter gets attacked and captured, and he's forced to rely on his superpower and his wits to rescue her. The action moved along at a pretty fast pace, especially around the climax, when Isaac has to overcome a lot of obstacles to get to his goal. I found the character development lacking, however. I had hoped for some kind of origin story behind Isaac's superpower, but all we really get is one brief scene from his childhood told in a flashback, and not much else about what happened in the past to lead up to Isaac and his daughter's situation in the first chapter. If he realized he had some kind of power when he was a kid, why didn't he explore it at all for so many decades? I got that Isaac really cares for his daughter, Tallah, but I wanted more development behind their relationship, some explanation about how the situation of having a single father with a daughter has really affected them over the years. It feels like it would have been more effective had the story been told in first person, from Isaac's point of view, so that the feelings and physical sensations he felt were more descriptive. There are quotes on the Goodreads page that seem to be from Isaac's point of view, but they don't appear to be from the version of the book I got, since none of it is from Isaac's point of view. The quotes hint at how much more effective the style would have been had it been written that way. The ending is also rather disappointing. The action in the penultimate chapter wasn't exactly clear, and the final chapter is a jarring shift in tone, with an obvious setup for the sequel, but it didn't feel like the proper end of a novel.
February 4, 2021
I won this book from a Goodreads giveaway in return for a review. And so, an honest review I shall give it.
This book wasn't that great. Miller attempted to bring to attention the atrocious racism of the police force while using the superpower of "gravity" to thread elements together. However, this story fell flat because the characters in it fell flat. We didn't get to see enough depth in the characters for me to understand their motives for anything. This made the main conflict that kicked off the plot confusing to me, as I didn't understand Tallah's actions at all, nor did I understand Isaac's. Throughout the novel, I continuously felt as if I was missing a huge part of their personality and/or story, and that was why I didn't understand. Additionally, there were very large time jumps in this novel that really took you out of it (such as the time jump where Isaac learns to use his powers...hello, Jonathan Miller. Have you ever heard of a training montage? Everyone loves those, don't skip it!). To further my dislike of the story, every single piece of dialogue in it felt so forced, like the characters were only talking to narrate to the reader what was happening.
Ultimately, this story lacked a lot of elements for me. I'm still undetermined as to whether I will read the second one or not, but I likely will simply because I won it in the giveaway with this one and feel that I should.
This book wasn't that great. Miller attempted to bring to attention the atrocious racism of the police force while using the superpower of "gravity" to thread elements together. However, this story fell flat because the characters in it fell flat. We didn't get to see enough depth in the characters for me to understand their motives for anything. This made the main conflict that kicked off the plot confusing to me, as I didn't understand Tallah's actions at all, nor did I understand Isaac's. Throughout the novel, I continuously felt as if I was missing a huge part of their personality and/or story, and that was why I didn't understand. Additionally, there were very large time jumps in this novel that really took you out of it (such as the time jump where Isaac learns to use his powers...hello, Jonathan Miller. Have you ever heard of a training montage? Everyone loves those, don't skip it!). To further my dislike of the story, every single piece of dialogue in it felt so forced, like the characters were only talking to narrate to the reader what was happening.
Ultimately, this story lacked a lot of elements for me. I'm still undetermined as to whether I will read the second one or not, but I likely will simply because I won it in the giveaway with this one and feel that I should.
November 19, 2020
I received this book for free in a giveaway. This is an honest review, as I can't be anything other than dead honest and I can't do false praise. That said, I don't need it for this book. I can heap praise on it and be totally honest.
This is a great book. I almost cried at one point, something that has only happened with a handful of books. I felt a wide range of emotions while reading this novel, positive and negative, very deeply, over the course of the story.
When you read this book you feel like you are in the character's heads. Their actions make sense and are very logical, even if they are often seemingly driven by emotion as much as by logic. I wanted to stop the world in this book and help the characters.
The story is very contemporary and touches on current events. It has a feeling of one man's life spiraling out of control as each decision he makes takes him down a path that puts his life and the lives of those he loves on a collision course with fate. Highly recommended.
Good for teenagers and above. There is some graphic violence and some situations may be too scary for younger readers. Racism is depicted in a realistic manner.
This is a great book. I almost cried at one point, something that has only happened with a handful of books. I felt a wide range of emotions while reading this novel, positive and negative, very deeply, over the course of the story.
When you read this book you feel like you are in the character's heads. Their actions make sense and are very logical, even if they are often seemingly driven by emotion as much as by logic. I wanted to stop the world in this book and help the characters.
The story is very contemporary and touches on current events. It has a feeling of one man's life spiraling out of control as each decision he makes takes him down a path that puts his life and the lives of those he loves on a collision course with fate. Highly recommended.
Good for teenagers and above. There is some graphic violence and some situations may be too scary for younger readers. Racism is depicted in a realistic manner.
August 20, 2019
Isaac is pretty down on his luck when he slowly discovers that he can control gravity. A series of poor choices, bad cops and an easy out have him on the run pretty quickly.
Disclaimer, I'm a white woman and this book was hard to get into, Isaac and I are from very different worlds and the experiences he has are very different than what I have; it's really hard at times to understand why he does things. But these interactions are realistically portrayed and, a bit uncomfortable to read, but still, once I got into the meat of the story, I couldn't put the book down. Once Isaac got a real idea of what he could do with these powers the story got interesting.
On top of that, strong, independent women, (who, by the way) don't throw themselves at our main character are prevalent throughout, from his young daughter, to a doctor that saves him to Leti Sanders, a coworker who helps him along the way.
This was a really enjoyable, if not a bit awkward (for me) book to read and I'm really looking forward to reading the sequel.
Disclaimer, I'm a white woman and this book was hard to get into, Isaac and I are from very different worlds and the experiences he has are very different than what I have; it's really hard at times to understand why he does things. But these interactions are realistically portrayed and, a bit uncomfortable to read, but still, once I got into the meat of the story, I couldn't put the book down. Once Isaac got a real idea of what he could do with these powers the story got interesting.
On top of that, strong, independent women, (who, by the way) don't throw themselves at our main character are prevalent throughout, from his young daughter, to a doctor that saves him to Leti Sanders, a coworker who helps him along the way.
This was a really enjoyable, if not a bit awkward (for me) book to read and I'm really looking forward to reading the sequel.
January 4, 2021
I received this book as a Goodreads giveaway. I think Jonathan R. Miller has written an engaging superhero adventure tale revolving around the serious issue of police officers and race. The main character in this book is Isaac. He is a single father who is doing his best to provide for his daughter. He works hard every day and stays on the right side of the law. Despite this, he is harassed by the police while working and when he explains to the officer why he is pushing a cart full of laundry bags, the officer does not believe him and wants to place him under arrest.Isaac is an easy character to sympathize with as a protective father who deals with a series of setbacks. Yet Miller makes certain not to draw him in too perfect terms: some of the more psychologically interesting moments revolve around Isaac’s motivation and his relation with his daughter Tallah, the character that will lead the sequel to this volume.
October 22, 2024
I suspect a huge number of older people grew up comics and comic book heroes, like Superman. And all of us that did, secretly also wished to be able to do the same things he did, but without the Kryptonite part.
Isaac Williams had no idea whatsoever that he would be able to emulated Superman til the day he got accosted by a policeman about the trolley of clothing he was carting to his truck for cleaning.
Then his daughter Tallah misbehaved at school and he accosted once again a policeman.
And life changed drastically for Isaac.
Gravity Breaker by author Jonathan R Miller deals with the effects and negative, heartbreaking results that are more likely to result from such superior abilities.
Yet the plot draws you in and keep you rather anxiously following the exploits of an ordinary man grappling with the inexplicable.
And I no longer wish to become Superman.
Enjoy.
Isaac Williams had no idea whatsoever that he would be able to emulated Superman til the day he got accosted by a policeman about the trolley of clothing he was carting to his truck for cleaning.
Then his daughter Tallah misbehaved at school and he accosted once again a policeman.
And life changed drastically for Isaac.
Gravity Breaker by author Jonathan R Miller deals with the effects and negative, heartbreaking results that are more likely to result from such superior abilities.
Yet the plot draws you in and keep you rather anxiously following the exploits of an ordinary man grappling with the inexplicable.
And I no longer wish to become Superman.
Enjoy.
September 12, 2020
I was chosen to receive this book by entering a goodreads drawing.
This is a timely book about a black man and his daughter and the bad cops he has to deal with. Mr. Miller has done a good job with character development and has made the main character likeable. The superpowers Isaac discovers he has is more of a curse than blessing. The use of his powers makes his situation worse in most cases. All of the law enforcement officers in this book seem to be biased and too fast in using force so there is a sense of doom and gloom. I am going to read the next book in the series but I can't imagine everything will turn out okay. I hope I'm wrong.
This is a timely book about a black man and his daughter and the bad cops he has to deal with. Mr. Miller has done a good job with character development and has made the main character likeable. The superpowers Isaac discovers he has is more of a curse than blessing. The use of his powers makes his situation worse in most cases. All of the law enforcement officers in this book seem to be biased and too fast in using force so there is a sense of doom and gloom. I am going to read the next book in the series but I can't imagine everything will turn out okay. I hope I'm wrong.
January 8, 2021
I won this book from the giveaways and I am very glad I did. This is not the kind of story I would have picked up for myself and I am so glad the opportunity came my way. I may have found a whole new genre of reading that I had never considered reading. At first I found it hard to connect to a story of 'superpowers' but I loved this book. Definitely read. I am hurrying to read the next one. Also loved the characters.
September 13, 2020
I won this here on goodreads. Great story! A bit of fantasy, drama and intrigue all rolled together! I usually don't like books that leave you hanging because there is a sequel, but, fortunately, I have the sequel as well and will be reading that one immediately. This would make an incredible movie or TV series.
January 8, 2021
Really interesting premise, but no character development and odd dialogue. While I appreciate the story was fast-paced, I didn't know enough about the relationship the main character had with his daughter and coworker to really feel for him when things went sideways.
This story started out really promising but definitely could have used more character development to keep it interesting.
This story started out really promising but definitely could have used more character development to keep it interesting.
December 29, 2020
Pretty good read once Isaac learns to control his powers. Can't wait to read the sequel
June 21, 2016
Disclaimer: I was sent an ARC by the publisher and agreed to give an honest review. There are no spoilers in this review.
The superhero genre is both one of my favorite genres and one of the most frustrating genres to try and find a good book in. I am always on the lookout for a good superhero book, but great ones are rare. The superhero genre is perhaps the most likely genre to fall into tired cliches. That is the frustrating side of superhero books - However, when you find a good superhero book, they can be among the best books to lose yourself in. As a kid, I loved superhero cartoons. As an adult, I yearn for something more sophisticated while still letting me lose myself in a fantasy world where power is possible. For me, my favorite books (any genre) are ones where I can relate with the characters, envision myself in their shoes, and can see characters take real actions in realistic situations.
Gravity Breaker is one of those rare superhero books that both fulfills my desire to lose myself in another world while also avoiding cliche's. The characters in this book are well-developed and the story is told thoughtfully and without a lot of politicking. It is rare that I find an author in any genre who can develop as realistic characters as in Gravity Breaker. There is also a satisfying level of realism in how the book tackles current events like race and the police. The main character stays relatable without being perfect all the time, and the antagonists are not painted as evil monsters, which I liked. I want my villains to be nuanced (perhaps one of the biggest pitfalls in the superhero genre), and this book delivers on that. I won't give any of the plot away, but I will say that the writing itself is also compelling and flows well.
Overall, even for those who do not particularly like the superhero genre, I would highly recommend the book. If you like exploring racial themes with realistic characters, it stands alone on its merits entirely in that sense as well. We can all relate to feeling powerless at times, and the desire to be able to do something about it.
The downsides of the book? My main criticism is that I perhaps would have jumped deeper into the story more quickly, though that is admittedly often a tough balance for any book. My recommendation is to give yourself enough time to become hooked, and you won't be disappointed.
In conclusion, you should pick up this book if you like well-written, exciting stories with a particular emphasis on realistic character development (to me, that is almost always a characteristic that distinguishes good books from great books, and is a critical component in my reviews). In addition to caring about the people involved, I very much enjoyed the plot. Overall, a fantastic superhero story with exciting twists and turns, relatable characters and enough emotion to make you feel personally invested. Well done.
The superhero genre is both one of my favorite genres and one of the most frustrating genres to try and find a good book in. I am always on the lookout for a good superhero book, but great ones are rare. The superhero genre is perhaps the most likely genre to fall into tired cliches. That is the frustrating side of superhero books - However, when you find a good superhero book, they can be among the best books to lose yourself in. As a kid, I loved superhero cartoons. As an adult, I yearn for something more sophisticated while still letting me lose myself in a fantasy world where power is possible. For me, my favorite books (any genre) are ones where I can relate with the characters, envision myself in their shoes, and can see characters take real actions in realistic situations.
Gravity Breaker is one of those rare superhero books that both fulfills my desire to lose myself in another world while also avoiding cliche's. The characters in this book are well-developed and the story is told thoughtfully and without a lot of politicking. It is rare that I find an author in any genre who can develop as realistic characters as in Gravity Breaker. There is also a satisfying level of realism in how the book tackles current events like race and the police. The main character stays relatable without being perfect all the time, and the antagonists are not painted as evil monsters, which I liked. I want my villains to be nuanced (perhaps one of the biggest pitfalls in the superhero genre), and this book delivers on that. I won't give any of the plot away, but I will say that the writing itself is also compelling and flows well.
Overall, even for those who do not particularly like the superhero genre, I would highly recommend the book. If you like exploring racial themes with realistic characters, it stands alone on its merits entirely in that sense as well. We can all relate to feeling powerless at times, and the desire to be able to do something about it.
The downsides of the book? My main criticism is that I perhaps would have jumped deeper into the story more quickly, though that is admittedly often a tough balance for any book. My recommendation is to give yourself enough time to become hooked, and you won't be disappointed.
In conclusion, you should pick up this book if you like well-written, exciting stories with a particular emphasis on realistic character development (to me, that is almost always a characteristic that distinguishes good books from great books, and is a critical component in my reviews). In addition to caring about the people involved, I very much enjoyed the plot. Overall, a fantastic superhero story with exciting twists and turns, relatable characters and enough emotion to make you feel personally invested. Well done.
June 18, 2016
I don't want to start off too dramatically, but here we go. This is one of the better books I've read in a long time, and I would also say that it is an IMPORTANT book. I know, I know, it's only about super powers, but it's about so much more than just superpowers.
This review won't contain any spoilers, so don't worry: Read on!
The story basically follows a man who realizes he has the power to affect gravity, as the title indicates. That is one of my top 3 powers. I would say my number 1 would be time manipulation, then gravity manipulation (because I could fly), and finally invisibility. But I digress. The plot follows a somewhat familiar plot arc for a superhero tale (in fact, if I had to level a criticism against the book, that would be it), but it has some tricks up its sleeve, believe me. Just when you think you have things figured out, it will go off in a new and unexpected direction. No spoilers, but trust me when I say there are more then a few surprises in store.
So what did I like about it so much? The writing for one. I would describe it as elegantly restrained. (That is a compliment). I also liked the fact that the author brought some much needed diversity to the fantasy/science fiction/super hero genre without being stereotypical or tokenistic about it. I found the characters believable. I didn't always like the main character to be honest (he committed some rather sketchy actions in my book) but I always cared what happened to him. And his daughter! Well, let's just say that she was my favorite. What a great characterization. Loved her. Not to mention that the story was page turning and just plain exciting (for the most part. the end slowed down a little bit).
What else, what else...
Ok, I think the best science fiction stories ( superhero stories count as science fiction I believe) have several layers to them. There is the main story of course, but also the messages underneath. This story is about a regular person bcoming a superhero, fighting against injustices and so on and so forth... but it is also strangely realistic in the portrayal of the man at the center of the drama. It brings up so many real issues like how we treat each other, the access people have to "the good life", being a parent, trying to just live our lives without trouble but trouble finding us anyway. It's a universal story.
Pros: exciting, diverse, good characters, fun but still deep, TALLAH!
cons: Some familiar superhero plot elements, the ending drags on a bit
Note: I received an advance copy of this book at MIXED REMIXED in la.
This review won't contain any spoilers, so don't worry: Read on!
The story basically follows a man who realizes he has the power to affect gravity, as the title indicates. That is one of my top 3 powers. I would say my number 1 would be time manipulation, then gravity manipulation (because I could fly), and finally invisibility. But I digress. The plot follows a somewhat familiar plot arc for a superhero tale (in fact, if I had to level a criticism against the book, that would be it), but it has some tricks up its sleeve, believe me. Just when you think you have things figured out, it will go off in a new and unexpected direction. No spoilers, but trust me when I say there are more then a few surprises in store.
So what did I like about it so much? The writing for one. I would describe it as elegantly restrained. (That is a compliment). I also liked the fact that the author brought some much needed diversity to the fantasy/science fiction/super hero genre without being stereotypical or tokenistic about it. I found the characters believable. I didn't always like the main character to be honest (he committed some rather sketchy actions in my book) but I always cared what happened to him. And his daughter! Well, let's just say that she was my favorite. What a great characterization. Loved her. Not to mention that the story was page turning and just plain exciting (for the most part. the end slowed down a little bit).
What else, what else...
Ok, I think the best science fiction stories ( superhero stories count as science fiction I believe) have several layers to them. There is the main story of course, but also the messages underneath. This story is about a regular person bcoming a superhero, fighting against injustices and so on and so forth... but it is also strangely realistic in the portrayal of the man at the center of the drama. It brings up so many real issues like how we treat each other, the access people have to "the good life", being a parent, trying to just live our lives without trouble but trouble finding us anyway. It's a universal story.
Pros: exciting, diverse, good characters, fun but still deep, TALLAH!
cons: Some familiar superhero plot elements, the ending drags on a bit
Note: I received an advance copy of this book at MIXED REMIXED in la.
July 15, 2016
MY REVIEW:
At its core, GRAVITY BREAKER is a Science Fiction / Superhero-type story, but this tale also tackles some very real and relevant social issues.
Author Jonathan R. Miller has crafted a superbly entertaining tale of an ordinary man who develops extraordinary powers.
It makes the reader ponder what they would do if they could suddenly control gravity. Would you use the powers for good? Or would the temptation of easy money overwhelm you?
Besides being an engrossing Superhero story, Gravity Breaker is also a commentary on what men of color sometimes have to contend with just because of the color of their skin.
The best word to describe GRAVITY BREAKER is "timely."
With the recent racial tension in the United States, it is impossible to turn on the television or radio or to open a newspaper without hearing about #BlackLivesMatter as well as the recent police shootings.
The main character in this book is Isaac. He is a single father who is doing his best to provide for his daughter. He works hard every day and stays on the right side of the law. Despite this, he is harassed by the police while working and when he explains to the officer why he is pushing a cart full of laundry bags, the officer does not believe him and wants to place him under arrest.
Where I live, this would never happen. If it did, the entire community (white and colored) would be up in arms. However, I am well aware that things like this happen on a daily basis in many urban centers across North America and it needs to stop.
I commend Jonathan R. Miller for using his writing talent to not only entertain his readers but also to inform them of the injustices that occur in our society.
I do want to ensure potential readers that this book is not just about race issues. Yes, that is part of the story, but it is by no means the only topic
There is a sequel planned for this book. It is set to be released in 2017 and will be titled: TALAH. (TALAH is the name of Isaac's daughter.) I will be eagerly awaiting it's release. I am very interested in reading about what happens next.
* I received a free copy of this book through the Goodreads Giveaway program.
To read more of my reviews visit my blog at http://Amiesbookreviews.wordpress.com
At its core, GRAVITY BREAKER is a Science Fiction / Superhero-type story, but this tale also tackles some very real and relevant social issues.
Author Jonathan R. Miller has crafted a superbly entertaining tale of an ordinary man who develops extraordinary powers.
It makes the reader ponder what they would do if they could suddenly control gravity. Would you use the powers for good? Or would the temptation of easy money overwhelm you?
Besides being an engrossing Superhero story, Gravity Breaker is also a commentary on what men of color sometimes have to contend with just because of the color of their skin.
The best word to describe GRAVITY BREAKER is "timely."
With the recent racial tension in the United States, it is impossible to turn on the television or radio or to open a newspaper without hearing about #BlackLivesMatter as well as the recent police shootings.
The main character in this book is Isaac. He is a single father who is doing his best to provide for his daughter. He works hard every day and stays on the right side of the law. Despite this, he is harassed by the police while working and when he explains to the officer why he is pushing a cart full of laundry bags, the officer does not believe him and wants to place him under arrest.
Where I live, this would never happen. If it did, the entire community (white and colored) would be up in arms. However, I am well aware that things like this happen on a daily basis in many urban centers across North America and it needs to stop.
I commend Jonathan R. Miller for using his writing talent to not only entertain his readers but also to inform them of the injustices that occur in our society.
I do want to ensure potential readers that this book is not just about race issues. Yes, that is part of the story, but it is by no means the only topic
There is a sequel planned for this book. It is set to be released in 2017 and will be titled: TALAH. (TALAH is the name of Isaac's daughter.) I will be eagerly awaiting it's release. I am very interested in reading about what happens next.
* I received a free copy of this book through the Goodreads Giveaway program.
To read more of my reviews visit my blog at http://Amiesbookreviews.wordpress.com
July 22, 2016
A GoodReads GiveAway
This novel opens with the hero — Isaac Williams — experiencing Bob Seger lyrics in action. He is running against the wind: “As a boy, whenever I ran around the red dirt track out on the play yard, it didn’t matter which way I was heading; I always felt the wind blowing in the direction of my face.”
Eventually, the wind blows against Isaac’s back, pushes him forward and maybe — just maybe — helps him defy gravity.
Okay, perhaps not defy gravity so much as influence gravity.
Isaac becomes a man endowed with special powers.
Super powers? Destructive powers?
You’ll have to decide for yourself.
All Isaac wants in life is the means of providing for and protecting his daughter, eleven year old Tallah. At school one day, when she is “taken down” by a brutal white policeman, Isaac loses control of his equilibrium and unleashes his power. The result makes him the subject of a nation-wide manhunt.
On the run, Isaac learns there is a physical price to pay for use of his power to influence gravity. There is a physical toll — nosebleeds and exhaustion, just like in the movies, eh b’ys?
But, hey, Isaac is a superhero, so he fights against the odds.
This book explores racial themes, especially those associated with persecution of black people and attendant social issues.
The plot moves quickly. While the themes are not new, the action is sufficiently swift that readers will not be bogged down by authorial preaching.
Although a book with a message, I suppose, this novel is fun to read. It’s a superhero book after all. So be assured someone — alright, the hero — will leap from a tall building.
This novel opens with the hero — Isaac Williams — experiencing Bob Seger lyrics in action. He is running against the wind: “As a boy, whenever I ran around the red dirt track out on the play yard, it didn’t matter which way I was heading; I always felt the wind blowing in the direction of my face.”
Eventually, the wind blows against Isaac’s back, pushes him forward and maybe — just maybe — helps him defy gravity.
Okay, perhaps not defy gravity so much as influence gravity.
Isaac becomes a man endowed with special powers.
Super powers? Destructive powers?
You’ll have to decide for yourself.
All Isaac wants in life is the means of providing for and protecting his daughter, eleven year old Tallah. At school one day, when she is “taken down” by a brutal white policeman, Isaac loses control of his equilibrium and unleashes his power. The result makes him the subject of a nation-wide manhunt.
On the run, Isaac learns there is a physical price to pay for use of his power to influence gravity. There is a physical toll — nosebleeds and exhaustion, just like in the movies, eh b’ys?
But, hey, Isaac is a superhero, so he fights against the odds.
This book explores racial themes, especially those associated with persecution of black people and attendant social issues.
The plot moves quickly. While the themes are not new, the action is sufficiently swift that readers will not be bogged down by authorial preaching.
Although a book with a message, I suppose, this novel is fun to read. It’s a superhero book after all. So be assured someone — alright, the hero — will leap from a tall building.
August 19, 2016
I received a copy of Gravity Breaker in exchange for an honest review from Goodreads.
Johnathan R. Miller's new novel, Gravity Breaker is a timely story that is accessible to all readers of different generations. It takes the racial challenges of today, and symbolizes them under the guise of a superhero story that is as human as it is fantastic.
Isaac Williams is a struggling single father who develops gravity shifting powers, seemingly overnight. His discovery of these powers during an altercation with a difficult police officer throws Williams into a journey of paranoia and fear as he attempts to save himself and his daughter Tallah from the accusations leveled against him.
While I found the novel to be unrealistic in parts and too simplified (not much detail is given about why the powers develop, and why specific conflicts occur in the novel), I loved the constant feeling of paranoia that was presented within each of the characters. The sparse writing and structure of the novel made it seem cinematic and really emphasized and upped the stakes of the
I would love to see this novel be produced and fleshed out as a film. Grey's Anatomy's Jesse Williams comes to mind as an ideal Isaac. The story has the action and intrigue to merit a cinematic release and hopefully the novel earns the audience to merit one.
Johnathan R. Miller's new novel, Gravity Breaker is a timely story that is accessible to all readers of different generations. It takes the racial challenges of today, and symbolizes them under the guise of a superhero story that is as human as it is fantastic.
Isaac Williams is a struggling single father who develops gravity shifting powers, seemingly overnight. His discovery of these powers during an altercation with a difficult police officer throws Williams into a journey of paranoia and fear as he attempts to save himself and his daughter Tallah from the accusations leveled against him.
While I found the novel to be unrealistic in parts and too simplified (not much detail is given about why the powers develop, and why specific conflicts occur in the novel), I loved the constant feeling of paranoia that was presented within each of the characters. The sparse writing and structure of the novel made it seem cinematic and really emphasized and upped the stakes of the
I would love to see this novel be produced and fleshed out as a film. Grey's Anatomy's Jesse Williams comes to mind as an ideal Isaac. The story has the action and intrigue to merit a cinematic release and hopefully the novel earns the audience to merit one.
August 15, 2016
An intriguing, engaging tale.
It's customary - or should be - for other authors to recognize a superhero genre social narrative as symbolic: superhero powers within permit characters to transcend, rise above and outside of, circumstances faced. That's how I began to read this interesting work by Jonathan Miller. Yet, he depicts his protagonist savoring benefits of his superpowers at times, which dispels a reader's synthesized perspective somewhat.
A well-written work, with some of the author's dry humor evoking amusement. One feels immersed in the scenes and interactions described. This is clearly a talented writer who can engage readers.
A work that highlights contemporary social challenges. Not having read it fully, this review is necessarily brief. The book can surely benefit from further editing and proofreading.
Recommended to all who enjoy the genre, and racial and related social challenges. A Goodreads Giveaway received and reviewed.
It's customary - or should be - for other authors to recognize a superhero genre social narrative as symbolic: superhero powers within permit characters to transcend, rise above and outside of, circumstances faced. That's how I began to read this interesting work by Jonathan Miller. Yet, he depicts his protagonist savoring benefits of his superpowers at times, which dispels a reader's synthesized perspective somewhat.
A well-written work, with some of the author's dry humor evoking amusement. One feels immersed in the scenes and interactions described. This is clearly a talented writer who can engage readers.
A work that highlights contemporary social challenges. Not having read it fully, this review is necessarily brief. The book can surely benefit from further editing and proofreading.
Recommended to all who enjoy the genre, and racial and related social challenges. A Goodreads Giveaway received and reviewed.
November 15, 2020
I received this as I won a Goodreads giveaway.
Isaac Williams discovers he has a super power during an encounter with a police officer who questions his actions solely because of race. Isaac is a single dad working hard to pay his bills but facing systemic racism in his attempt to get ahead in life. Miller deftly shows how torn Isaac is when he used his new power to gain money by questionable means. When he accidentally kills a police officer who is hurting his 11 year old daughter simply because she is non-compliant, Isaac and Tallah go on the run.
Isaac Williams discovers he has a super power during an encounter with a police officer who questions his actions solely because of race. Isaac is a single dad working hard to pay his bills but facing systemic racism in his attempt to get ahead in life. Miller deftly shows how torn Isaac is when he used his new power to gain money by questionable means. When he accidentally kills a police officer who is hurting his 11 year old daughter simply because she is non-compliant, Isaac and Tallah go on the run.
January 21, 2017
I received this book for free and have chosen to give my honest opinion about it.
Phenomenal book, characters made the story truly enjoyable, surprisingly meaningful themes unlike many superhero books these days, would read again!
Phenomenal book, characters made the story truly enjoyable, surprisingly meaningful themes unlike many superhero books these days, would read again!
August 20, 2016
Definitely a different kind of super hero story. Great story with a lot of deep meaning. Very captivating from start to finish. Interesting look at our society and how it works and doesn't work. I highly recommend this book for a great read. I won this book in a GoodReads Giveaway.
July 29, 2016
I gave this book to my grandson. He enjoyed it very much.
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