Dying Embers: Dragons, Aliens, and Things That Go Boomp in the Night

by Betty Adams

Dying Embers tells the story of Drake McCarty; a sixteen year old boy with more than a few challenges in his life. As if it wasn't enough that he had begun seeing creatures that no one else could, he is suddenly thrust into the position of liaison to an alien race. He was just coming to understand that part of his life when he finds himself pronounced father to three Larian infants; embers. They are injured, frightened, and carrying a pathogen with the capacity to destroy any technology it contaminates. Bole and the rest of the mature aliens are of limited help; exiled from their home-world following a bloody civil war, they arrived on Earth in a burned out spaceship just as the Cold War began, and for over half a century the military kept them a closely guarded, rather boring, and ultimately unproductive secret. But when the other half of the conflict arrives, bent on continuing the war here on Earth Bole has no choice but to defend his new home and the family he has built here, leaving Drake to tend to the embers on his own. But Drake has other allies; a family with roots that stretch back into antiquity, and a reach that spans the world. They in turn know beings native to Earth, but far more alien than any of the Larians; creatures that hold no love for the species that they see as invaders, but might hold the key to his children's very survival.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fantasy

253 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

Betty Adams lives in a particularly damp and remote corner of the Pacific Northwest and like a hobbit enjoys visitors so long as she knows them in advance and knows when they are coming. She was born sometime last century and will likely die sometime this century. She works winters on a small organic research farm when not writing and spends most of her time herding eccentric genius scientists (she is absolutely certain cats would be easier) with the help of her 4 year old Great Pyrenees mix. Summers she spends nomadically wandering the Pacific Northwest in search of material for her stories and a regular paycheck for a biology major (she is reasonably certain those are on the Endangered Species List). She has several works published in the National Park Internal Database which may or may not be classified documents.

Reviews

[Amy Coles · Rating 1 out of 5]

I want to begin by apologizing to the author of this novel, Betty Adams, for not completing her book which I had agreed to give my honest review about. Holding up my end of the deal, this review will be by thoughts and opinions on the first half of the book as I only managed to read up to page 127 / 276.

This book originally captured my attention with the adorable cover art - it is nothing completely amazing or spectacular, but it hit me as being very genuine and beautiful, and thus, I decided to read this novel.

To be completely honest, I didn't enjoy this book. Not to say that the story is terrible, but I found this book to be very one dimensional, which resulted in me having absolutely no emotional connection with the characters or story. There were obvious attempts by the author to build on backstories of the characters, which just fail to work. These attemps to build backstories were dispersed throughout the novel in, what I assume, is to allow the reader's connection with the characters slowly change and mature. Unfortunately I found that this attempted method of connection made the story very boring, as we really don't know all that much about the characters at any given point in time.

My second issue with the characters, is with the aliens and their many names. The protagonist aliens in this book are mostly introduced within the first few chapters - and there are a decent number of aliens to introduce! The problem is that each alien has several different names (formal, informal, and sometimes nicknames), which caused me to really struggle to remember who was who. Needless to say this caused a huge lack of connection between me and the alien characters.

Lastly, I found the story line to be quite boring, considering this is a sci-fi genre book. I was very underwhelmed. During the first half of the book, which is all I read, there really is not much epic action as would be expected with an alien book. The story mainly based around a brother - sister relationship developing more trust, of which the alien babies are just a mean of.

Though I've been trying for two weeks to finish reading this novel, my lack of connection with the characters and lack of interest in the storyline, made Dying Embers too unbearable to finish.
Keep in mind that this is only my opinion of the first half of the book, and that my opinion may, in no way, reflect that of the entire novel - for all I know, it could have had a spectacular ending.

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

So when I started this book I was little lost. I am glad that through out the book we got more back story but for a while I had no idea why or what was going on. I loved the idea of the book but I honestly think that it would have flowed better for me so that we understand better where each character is coming from.

I loved the alien species. They were definitely not what I was expecting them to be, but I wish we could have seen more of the “bad” side of things. We get small tastes through back story and conversations but we never get to see any kind of interactions with them. To me it was lacking something, but I just can't put my finger on what.

Over all I love the book and it got to me. Let me say, when you start reading this you don't expect to need the tissues, but trust me, you will need them. The plot was great, but I just feel like there was so much more that could have been done with this book. Again, that is where the lacking something comes in. I just don't know where it really is missing something.

After I finished reading this book I thought about it for a while before I started to write this review. When I finished the book I had strong emotions about the whole story but I was unsure how I would rate it. I also felt like I was missing something. I went back over certain parts of the book and still felt missing pieces.

I think that over all what we are lacking is more about the aliens and how they got to Earth, how they ended up where they are. I just think that we need to know why they are working with the government, why they are with the humans. I guess I am just a bit cynical and would think that the humans would not be so open to the interactions we are getting in this book.

Pros: Great idea, love the characters

Cons: Feels incomplete

Overall rating: Great book, would recommend it.

[Cathe Frederic]

I am absolutely stunned!!! This is more evoking than Charlotte's Web and she is ten times the writer of those Harry Potter books! Not only did I cry, I sobbed again and again! And the last sentence and the last word of the epilogue will simultaneously fill you with joy and hope while wrenching the last tears you have left to cry from your eyes! If you have never lost a loved one you will still be moved. But, if you have suffered that loss you will no doubt be moved beyond reason at this wonderful, tragic story. You will never regret having spent your time to read it.

[Betty Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read, but a real tear jerker. Have a packet of tissues ready.

[Jóhannes Birgir Jensson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the concepts this story builds upon. But like another reviewer mentioned, it is as we are looking at a book in the middle of a series, so many things are referenced at a glance but we never know more about them.

The naming issue is also not helping, I get the cultural meanings behind names but for the fresh reader who is thrust into the middle of a setting which references a bygone era with familiarity it is quite difficult.

Changes between scenes also don't come across very well, you are unsure if it is a new paragraph in the same setting or if we've jumped in time and are now referencing whole new things in a new setting.

Many good ideas, many interesting points but some heavy editing work and layout would have improved it and got the authors intent - the story they wanted to tell - much better to the audience.

[Al · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like I came into the middle of a series. I wish I could have read the books that came before this one. It stands alone, but I felt like I was missing out. It was a good, heart-wrenching read, though!

[Matthew Pitts · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will be honest; I love the story, and would recommend this to anyone that enjoys reading about bizarre alien races and strange life forms from our own world. My mother even loved the book, and she was never a fan of science fiction in general.

[Karl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun story that transports the reader and wins the heart

[Boundless Book Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was provided a copy of Dying Embers in exchange for an honest review.

Dying Embers was an interesting concept but from the beginning I spent most of the story confused. I found myself wondering if I missed a previous book.

There are aliens here on earth and they are living with a family. But it isn't fully explained. At least not enough to where I'm satisfied with the how's and why's.

The Aliens are shape shifters but are huge. But it is almost like they are made of metal also. I never got a clear picture of what they were supposed to be. Then there was the whole two name thing that just confused me even more and I never quite got a grasp on who was who because the names were never the same.
Then there is the sentient semi truck who is part of a native clan with mystical powers.... I think? Again confused because Drake knew them from before and it's like we were missing backstory we weren't given.

The story revolving around the embers was heartbreaking and I was sobbing. So in that aspect the book was very good. The story was touching and honestly I'm curious to see what happens next.

What I would really like would be a prequel explaining the alien war. Drake's families involvement with the aliens and more on the Franklin's. That way this story has more history and I don't feel so lost....Sara

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[Liza · Rating 2 out of 5]

o say Dying Embers is confusing is an understatement. I found this book extremely difficult to follow from the beginning. Some of the characters had two names which made getting a grasp on any one of them impossible, this meant that I was never able to connect.

The concept of the story is good, the idea of shape shifting aliens living among us, is a concept that I love. Sadly in this instance I was unable to establish who exactly they really where, what the looked like, where they came from etc.

There are parts of the story that are sad and heart-wrenching, specifically about the embers themselves, but that wasn’t really enough to make the story good.

Overall, I can’t honestly say that I would be able to recommend this book to anyone. Sorry.

NB I Reveived this book free for an honest review

[Sara]

See Review at http://www.boundlessbookreviews.com/

[Why-bless-your-heart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aliens, dragons, and fathers (oh my!)

Every science fiction or fantasy book is about the same question: what makes us human? Betty Adam’s answer is simple and powerful. Family.

[Teresa Giegler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Be prepared to cry

Warning cliffhanger. Beautiful, endearing, heart breaking. Well written world. This is definitely a strong beginning but also full of previous lore.