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Rearview Mirror
Lucifer Vilhelm Caelestis is the first of his kind. The son of two Seraphs, with an infernal lineage from his grandfather, the Devil, he finds himself coming of age in a family of extraordinary people who have led adventurous lives of tragedy, triumph, romance, and darkness.
It's that darkness which LV fears in himself the most. His one desire is to bring peace and happiness to those that he cares about, and to be a light in the world, but the sins previously committed by his family haunt him, and he dreads what things he could be capable of. Making matters worse, his cousin, Sigurd, has a boredom that can only be satisfied by testing LV's abilities, causing mischief at any opportunity.
LV seeks out council with the oldest and wisest person he knows, and through the story of Johnny's life on Earth through the ages, and stories from other family members, LV and Siggy alike begin to learn that darkness is within us all, but it's what you choose to do that makes you who you are.
It's that darkness which LV fears in himself the most. His one desire is to bring peace and happiness to those that he cares about, and to be a light in the world, but the sins previously committed by his family haunt him, and he dreads what things he could be capable of. Making matters worse, his cousin, Sigurd, has a boredom that can only be satisfied by testing LV's abilities, causing mischief at any opportunity.
LV seeks out council with the oldest and wisest person he knows, and through the story of Johnny's life on Earth through the ages, and stories from other family members, LV and Siggy alike begin to learn that darkness is within us all, but it's what you choose to do that makes you who you are.
643 pages, Paperback
First published January 9, 2021
About the author
Amanda Johnston
16 books39 followersAmanda Johnston wrote seventeen novels in twenty months, and that's only part of the madness that seems to constantly surround her books, The Anthem Saga, The Viridian Record, and The Seraph Chronicles.
Amanda's interest in books began when she was four years old and she discovered ghost stories. From that young age she devoured novels involving "true" or fictional paranormal situations, developing an interest in angels and demonology around the age of twelve.
At fifteen she wrote a short story that she and a talented friend began turning into a graphic novel called The Impaler, blending Amanda's love of gothic and historical fiction with her love of vampires. The project was short-lived, however, as both parties involved were teenagers with limited resources and attention spans.
In 2009 Amanda began writing Blackwoods Bend (a traditional horror story) and Mad Red Rose (a traditional vampire love story). Some would say that it is ill-advised to work on two books in two different worlds at once. So of course Amanda began writing Where Angels Sing (the earliest form of Left In The Dark).
It turns out that three novels at once is too many.
For years Amanda read books and wrote short stories, finding out just what her voice might be. Finally on June 6th, 2018 she wrote the first half of the first chapter of Left In The Dark and things kicked off from that point on.
What was only intended to be one short novella became a trilogy. That trilogy then became a six book series. Then, to Amanda's surprise, the six book series became a nine book saga, with a tenth book in the works, and the groundwork for a YA series.
See? Madness.
Keep your hearts and minds and eyes open, because Amanda Johnston and The Anthem Saga will sweep you away to Anthem City, and a world of adventure, love, danger, and hope!
Amanda's interest in books began when she was four years old and she discovered ghost stories. From that young age she devoured novels involving "true" or fictional paranormal situations, developing an interest in angels and demonology around the age of twelve.
At fifteen she wrote a short story that she and a talented friend began turning into a graphic novel called The Impaler, blending Amanda's love of gothic and historical fiction with her love of vampires. The project was short-lived, however, as both parties involved were teenagers with limited resources and attention spans.
In 2009 Amanda began writing Blackwoods Bend (a traditional horror story) and Mad Red Rose (a traditional vampire love story). Some would say that it is ill-advised to work on two books in two different worlds at once. So of course Amanda began writing Where Angels Sing (the earliest form of Left In The Dark).
It turns out that three novels at once is too many.
For years Amanda read books and wrote short stories, finding out just what her voice might be. Finally on June 6th, 2018 she wrote the first half of the first chapter of Left In The Dark and things kicked off from that point on.
What was only intended to be one short novella became a trilogy. That trilogy then became a six book series. Then, to Amanda's surprise, the six book series became a nine book saga, with a tenth book in the works, and the groundwork for a YA series.
See? Madness.
Keep your hearts and minds and eyes open, because Amanda Johnston and The Anthem Saga will sweep you away to Anthem City, and a world of adventure, love, danger, and hope!
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
January 12, 2021
I received an ARC of this book from the author and am leaving a review voluntarily.
While reading the nine-volume Anthem saga, what I wished for most were the deets on the origins of this stunning world.
Having just finished Rearview Mirror, I can happily say that author Amanda Johnston delivers.
Mirror is an innovative trek through the genesis of Lucifer and Anthem City. Johnston begins Lucifer’s (aka Johnny’s) narrative when the Light Bringer was the hottest and most beloved of Heaven on High’s angels until … he wasn’t. Until he crossed a celestial line in the sand that saw Lucifer hurled to earth to live out his days as the Father of Lies.
But as we’ve witnessed in previous Anthem novels, Heaven on High and its cohorts cannot be trusted. Sure, they’re beautiful and silvery and minty-fresh, but their empyrean visages cloak a most serpentine nature. They were, after all, responsible for the great war between Heaven and Hell and all realms in between which resulted in the deaths of millions.
What’s different about Rearview Mirror as opposed to the Anthem saga is the way in which Johnston presents the tale. The chapters unfold in alternating timelines, and not necessarily linear lines, either. But rather than confuse, as I thought it might, the pattern draws in the reader to be not only a witness to history, but also a participant.
The chapters unwind organically while Johnny shares jewels of wisdom with family, and we are pulled into a past that involves not only Adam and Eve, but also Queen Isabella of Spain, William Shakespeare, and Nero.
There is also no great war brewing in Rearview Mirror, another shift from Johnston’s previous works.
Once again, Johnston brings us face to face with the reality that our decisions as mortals make us what we are. Infinite choices sprawl before us like a smorgasbord; it is we who determine our ultimate destiny, for our decisions in each moment create us much like a painter adds highlights and shadows to a portrait to create depth.
Still have burning questions after reading through the nine-volume saga as I did? I suggest getting your favorite beverage and curling up by the fire with Johnny as he unravels the tangled skein of this narrative tapestry.
Because too much time spent in Anthem is never enough.
While reading the nine-volume Anthem saga, what I wished for most were the deets on the origins of this stunning world.
Having just finished Rearview Mirror, I can happily say that author Amanda Johnston delivers.
Mirror is an innovative trek through the genesis of Lucifer and Anthem City. Johnston begins Lucifer’s (aka Johnny’s) narrative when the Light Bringer was the hottest and most beloved of Heaven on High’s angels until … he wasn’t. Until he crossed a celestial line in the sand that saw Lucifer hurled to earth to live out his days as the Father of Lies.
But as we’ve witnessed in previous Anthem novels, Heaven on High and its cohorts cannot be trusted. Sure, they’re beautiful and silvery and minty-fresh, but their empyrean visages cloak a most serpentine nature. They were, after all, responsible for the great war between Heaven and Hell and all realms in between which resulted in the deaths of millions.
What’s different about Rearview Mirror as opposed to the Anthem saga is the way in which Johnston presents the tale. The chapters unfold in alternating timelines, and not necessarily linear lines, either. But rather than confuse, as I thought it might, the pattern draws in the reader to be not only a witness to history, but also a participant.
The chapters unwind organically while Johnny shares jewels of wisdom with family, and we are pulled into a past that involves not only Adam and Eve, but also Queen Isabella of Spain, William Shakespeare, and Nero.
There is also no great war brewing in Rearview Mirror, another shift from Johnston’s previous works.
Once again, Johnston brings us face to face with the reality that our decisions as mortals make us what we are. Infinite choices sprawl before us like a smorgasbord; it is we who determine our ultimate destiny, for our decisions in each moment create us much like a painter adds highlights and shadows to a portrait to create depth.
Still have burning questions after reading through the nine-volume saga as I did? I suggest getting your favorite beverage and curling up by the fire with Johnny as he unravels the tangled skein of this narrative tapestry.
Because too much time spent in Anthem is never enough.
Displaying 1 of 1 review