GRIPPING - SUPERNATURAL - CHRISTIAN FANTASY - DYSTOPIAN - SCIFI
Sequel to Invasion of the Mimics
After the victory comes celebration After the celebration comes something else!
24 year old, Ashia had eventually found happiness, though at a very high cost. She pinched herself to check that it wasn’t a dream, then relaxed. Her eyes told her everything was calm, as it should be. Her eyes deceived her. Her mind sensed something else. She heard a familiar voice inside her mind. The voice told her to look beyond… To seek her destiny as the ‘Shison’… Beyond the void…
A perilous quest of danger, discovery and deliverance. A story where two periods of time and three worlds collide. In a not too future world, the fate of mankind has never been more threatened. The answer lies in one young woman, some long-lost ancient Samurai relics and sacrifice - Who will pay the price?
My biography is one of my published books. It's called THE GOLDEN THREAD. So, I will use this place to tell you why I write.
I left school without an English qualification. Unable to string two sentences together. It’s fair to say that I hated writing. I couldn’t see the point. I couldn’t see the beauty. The beauty that lies in words. And the power. Words are so powerful. They can bring about change. They influence. But how did I change?
Ten years after leaving school I read about Jesus. Not for the first time, but the words that I read came alive. This man Jesus felt real. So, I stepped into a relationship with Him. He came into my life and transformed my mind.
Within a year I was writing rap songs, songs with a message. The words would just fall into my head. Sometimes in bed or just walking the dog. Like a blockage had been removed.
The cover of each of my books, tell you that I am the author of the work. However, that is not strictly true. All of the words written are inspired and given to me by God. I see myself simply as a conduit, a messenger and His instrument to be used.
Though I nearly didn’t start writing books at all…
My mother died in 2011 and when we were sorting through her possessions, we found the start of a story that she had been writing. It was her life story. She hadn’t written very much at all, but it was enough to inspire me to do the same, but I didn’t.
Two years later I was still procrastinating about it. So, in 2013 I happened to mention in passing to a friend that I was thinking of writing a book. I suppose deep down I was seeking some encouragement, but that is not what I received. Instead my friend said, “You could never be an Author. An Author writes 3,600 words an hour. You could never do that, so you could never be an Author.”
I thought to myself, “He’s right, I could never be an Author.”
It was like a curse, a mental blockage. I don’t know if that was my friends intention, but that is what happened. Though, something kept gnawing away at me. My mother was inspiring me, fighting back against the curse.
It took another two years, but in 2015, I eventually published my first book, my biography. I called it The Golden Thread, but you will have to read the book to find out why. I had published a book, but still I struggled to call myself an Author and so my writing stopped, with the exception of the odd poem or two.
Then in July 2018 I was sat in a large Christian festival, with thousands of people around me. I had been waiting for a kidney transplant for two and a half years and I was angry with God. In the midst of the crowded room and drowned out by the sound, I cried out to God. “What am I supposed to be doing with my life, I feel rejected, discarded and worthless.”
Then I felt God speak back to me, it was so clear, “Brendan, I haven’t finished with you yet. You still have tools and skills that I want you to use, so use them.” Later on at the same festival someone prayed for me and I had confirmation. God was telling me to write. This was the skill and tools that He wanted me to use.
I returned home determined to write. I had planned to write a teen fiction novel of some sort. First though, I had gathered a small pile of teen fiction books to read. I had the idea that these would inspire me, but as I chose the first book, God spoke to me again. “Brendan, you don’t need to read these books. You have the tools and skills and I want you to use them.”
Then the words of my friend returned to me, “You could never be an Author… have to write 3,600 words an hour… you can’t do that.”
Was that right? Did I believe that? I decided to find out for myself and asked Google. I was rather shocked and surprised to read that most authors will write about 1,000 words a day and Stephen King, an amazing author, will write 2,000. I decided that 1,000 words was easily achievable. I also then realised, all tho
If you want to read a fast moving, thought provoking novel that mixes fantasy, the spiritual world and a dystopian future then read on. This book is a fitting sequel to the Invasion of the Mimics and follows the quest of Ashia as she seeks to fulfill her destiny and save the world from the clutches of Abaddon, the ruler of the Dark Underworld as he tries to become master of the earth. The current story, set in the 23rd century is cleverly interwoven with 13th century Japan where the great Masumane, a Samurai warrior forges 5 blades which are now needed to save the world. The story moves quickly as Ashia is helped by the other "sixers", the spirit of her dead brother and the Elafrians who come from a kind of Elsyian afterlife. The narrative is interspersed with deadly battles, violent deaths, tales of love and friendship and mankind's need for a spiritual meaning in this life. As any good book should do, it doesn't provide all the answers and leaves the reader with the urge to ponder on many of the issues raised within it. It is easy to read and hard to put down.
When a book that I have already enjoyed sees a sequel come into being then my anticipation mounts. Will this latest offering be as good as the first? Could it even be better? Or will it disappoint and be a damp squid?
The Invasion of the Mimics, the first book, was a well written boys’ own story with two young men on a desperate journey to escape and overcome certain doom and destruction. That tale was epic and saw a magnificent climax. So it sets the bar high.
Let me say from the outset, this new book, is a worthy successor with the immediate twist of a lead heroine and she starts with one mamma of a bad hair do day. It quickly exposes a shocking truth. The peace Aisha’s brother died to win is fragile. The Mimics were but the forerunner to another and far more sinister threat. This time danger can leap from the shadows where safety once was and rip the life out of an unsuspecting victim without warning. Who is next? How can anyone win?
As before this gripping yarn has a gallop speed worthy of the charge of the Light Brigade. Yet never is character or suspense sacrificed for light matters as this book gives convincing drama and flows along with some resonating deep questions of value and purpose. Indeed, there is a veritable chorus of voices punctuating this plausible sci-fi, repeating the demand of what defines us as worthy human beings.
The legends of History come to life and ask where are we headed – to oblivion or to valour? The inner battle for identity and the all-important definition of self-worth permeate the narrative as our heroine is plunged into a quest for priceless heirlooms that make the finding of Excalibur seem dull by comparison.
All too soon the fight to the death is on and the odds against peace and victory this time are even greater. The rising enemy has a dimension that is ruthless and relentless and how our heroine fights is as vital as whom she fights and timing is everything. In fact, what their known world once took for granted and what seemed archaic to the inhabitants of this created world are all turned upside down, inside out and almost back to front. Nothing is as it first seemed.
Who or what do you put your ultimate trust in? How does the Pneuma work and will it guide you safely home and where is that or rather who is there? How connected are we by blood and belonging and who matters most to us? Much of the sorrow and suffering we too encounter are explored with some of the later chapters showing all too clearly how the vicious will use tools to rob, kill and destroy without qualm or conscience. Enduring hope is rooted in destiny, legacy.
What radiates through all of this most for me is the simple love that underpins inner being. The potential this has to help the heroine undo or unlock the failings of the past is a key dynamic in this good book. Redemption and eternal destiny cannot be cheap options. A light read maybe. A satisfying read yes but there’s way more here if you dare to read with an open heart. This could be life changing!
Brendan Conboy's 'Legacy of the mimics' is a wordy novel full of tension, intrigue and deception. It requires close attention to follow the story. Each chapter starts with notable quotes that set the incidents in that chapter such as - 'Once you believe things are permanent, you are trapped in a world without doors.' - Genesis P. Orridge. The story line reminds me as a Christian of the salvation plan of God for humans. There is Masamune, the father of Ketsueki, whose blood is powerful and his life being sacrificed will lead to eternity. This causes Masamune physical pain and mental anguish making me think how God felt to part with His Son. The writer also presents Mortemus, Skia and Fontias, on the other hand who want to destroy humans and take over their world. There are relevant themes such as remorse and repentance seen in the character of Akiono, for example.Fear is potrayed as the greatest weapon used against the followers of Masamune. I enjoyed the parallels that are comparable to Christian concepts such as the power in the name of Ehio, the trinity, etc. Chapter 26 quote made me smile:'Will you walk into my parlour? said a spider to the fly. The events in this chapter point out the fact that when you are near your goal,the enemy strikes. If you enjoy fantasy, thrillers, action and adventure such as ' Lord of the Rings', this is the book for you. It's worth its 5 stars.
I loved the Invasion of the Mimics which was a fascinating concept full of allegorical snippets and strong characters. In this sequel, the author asks the question 'what next?' so often abandoned by writers in this genre. He answers by moving us away from sci fi into a full-blown supernatural thriller. Even so, Sci-fi fans will be pleased with the pnema-powered suits, weaponry and the gripping storyline.
If you are wanting a neat Narnia-esque allegory then you won't find one here. As with the first book, the allegorical tones are dotted throughout and different characters take on different elements of this. Each central member of the team have their own challenges in overcoming their own demons and actual demons! The author's portrayal of the supernatural was very powerful, the demonic beings were realistically terrifying and their sweeping rise in the aftermath of the mimics was convincing.
The book has a refreshing focus on Japan and Samurai legends, rather than a Judaeo-Christian centrality. This may feel uncomfortable for some who had expected a continuation of Christian themes, yet I think if you get into the spirit of it and accept it for what it is - fantasy - then the concept is very powerful. Perhaps the difficulty might lie in the fact that the previous book was so very believable as a projected possible future (and had undertones of a forgotten Christ as a historical figure) whereas this leans on acts of salvation – through blood sacrifice for example – rather than the person of Christ. Even so, I enjoyed it, and there is plenty of food for thought in this story. The plot line is riveting and complex, the storytelling is excellent and themes of sacrifice and love are strongly drawn out in the story's climax.
One possible improvement would be the development of Ashia as a character: she didn't feel quite as compelling as Gideon in the previous book. But the other characters were very strong, particularly some of the minor ones.