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Words of the Prophecy #1
The Second Coming
Travel to a future of blood sacrifice, demons, witchcraft, and an immoral God that has returned to reclaim his former dominion.
"Beautifully written, dark and eerie vision of an apocalyptic future" - New York Times Bestselling Author, Margaret Weis.
"David H. Burton is a dark new talent in the genre. This one will make you leave the lights on for a week!" - USA Today Bestseller, Cathy Clamp.
"Beautifully written, dark and eerie vision of an apocalyptic future" - New York Times Bestselling Author, Margaret Weis.
"David H. Burton is a dark new talent in the genre. This one will make you leave the lights on for a week!" - USA Today Bestseller, Cathy Clamp.
228 pages, ebook
First published February 1, 2010
3 people are currently reading
326 people want to read
About the author
David H. Burton
16 books172 followersAuthor, adoptive father of 3 boys, manager of chaos, science and technology geek, person of the queer persuasion, and purveyor of sacrilege.
See my web site for more info.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
July 30, 2011
Wow, I was really impressed by this debut novel!
In a post-apocalyptic world, 500 years after the earth shifted on its axis, dark magic, angels, demons, witches, and a cast of characters with hidden agendas flourished. Various religious beliefs come into conflict with each other, some loosely based on Christianity, some Native American, and others.
This complex and very dark story contained some common fantasy elements, yet managed to be fresh, original and exciting. The pace was relentless and the characters were in such precarious situations much of the time that they left me exhausted. This story satisfied my need for both fantasy and horror. There are some graphic scenes that may be disturbing to sensitive readers. Thankfully, there was no cliffhanger ending. The story was open-ended, yet felt complete.
Thanks to David Burton for giving me the opportunity to read this amazing story!
In a post-apocalyptic world, 500 years after the earth shifted on its axis, dark magic, angels, demons, witches, and a cast of characters with hidden agendas flourished. Various religious beliefs come into conflict with each other, some loosely based on Christianity, some Native American, and others.
This complex and very dark story contained some common fantasy elements, yet managed to be fresh, original and exciting. The pace was relentless and the characters were in such precarious situations much of the time that they left me exhausted. This story satisfied my need for both fantasy and horror. There are some graphic scenes that may be disturbing to sensitive readers. Thankfully, there was no cliffhanger ending. The story was open-ended, yet felt complete.
Thanks to David Burton for giving me the opportunity to read this amazing story!
June 18, 2010
Let me preface this review by saying that I rarely (and I mean very rarely) ever read the horror genre. I went through a phase, during my early teen years, where that's all I read. But I decided, quickly, that I preferred reading stories of more depth and complexity, stories that didn't patronize me, the reader, or insult my intelligence. Hence, I moved on to epic fantasy and other fantasy sub-genres and never looked back.
So I had many misgivings when this novel by David Burton won the poll for Book of the Month for June/July 2010 for the GoodReads Fantasy Book Club.
I survived reading The Second Coming with many winces at the cliches, the need for a good copy editor and the hope that the adage 'Show, don't tell' might have triumphed. The irrelevant sexual content and innuendo, so pervasive in this genre, distracted more than enticed. I never once felt the shock of horror or the thrill of suspense. Most of the time, when I wasn't nodding off, I just wanted to reach the end, or at least for the words to stop so I could move on to something more challenging and fulfilling.
Fantasy elements in this story are limited to necromancy, blood rites and other similar tropes of the horror genre. Supernatural entities, like demons, fallen angels and possessed mortals pervade. Towards the 'climactic' ending, the characters swapped souls like some people trade recipes or gossip. Sadly, by that point, I didn't care who ended up in what body. Or bodiless, like the poor loser in the musical chairs soul roulette.
I tried to overcome my prejudices with the horror genre, but I failed miserably with The Second Comaing.
So I had many misgivings when this novel by David Burton won the poll for Book of the Month for June/July 2010 for the GoodReads Fantasy Book Club.
I survived reading The Second Coming with many winces at the cliches, the need for a good copy editor and the hope that the adage 'Show, don't tell' might have triumphed. The irrelevant sexual content and innuendo, so pervasive in this genre, distracted more than enticed. I never once felt the shock of horror or the thrill of suspense. Most of the time, when I wasn't nodding off, I just wanted to reach the end, or at least for the words to stop so I could move on to something more challenging and fulfilling.
Fantasy elements in this story are limited to necromancy, blood rites and other similar tropes of the horror genre. Supernatural entities, like demons, fallen angels and possessed mortals pervade. Towards the 'climactic' ending, the characters swapped souls like some people trade recipes or gossip. Sadly, by that point, I didn't care who ended up in what body. Or bodiless, like the poor loser in the musical chairs soul roulette.
I tried to overcome my prejudices with the horror genre, but I failed miserably with The Second Comaing.
October 23, 2014
4.5 stars. I've read a fair amount of fantasy, adventure & horror over the years - enough that I don't often find something really new that I like. I did this time - it was both unique & thrilling.
An excellent dark fantasy or horror fantasy that sets the background in a post apocalyptic world based on our current one & the Christian myth, adds in some others, & stirs the mix into an intriguing mystery-adventure. It is not for the faint-hearted. All of the characters are flawed, most badly enough that they're not all that likable, but the reasons for this are revealed - slowly. Against my will, in many cases, I was drawn into sympathetic agreement with their plight & their actions. Revelations were logical, redemption plausible & plights were chilling. The action was well described & the scenery was awesome. Wow! What a trip!
Usually, if I don't like or can't identify with one of the main characters, I put a book down. I couldn't this time. The writing was too good & the plot too intriguing.
I was very surprised that a self-published novel (it is, isn't it?) read as if it were professionally edited. One of my biggest turn-offs is poor punctuation, logic flaws, rambling text & 'favorite lines'. (Pieces of text that don't quite fit, but are kept by the writer because they like them.) All of these are typical of self-published novels. I didn't find any here. The writing was tight - sometimes requiring close reading or I would miss an important point - Perfect! That's the way it should be, but often isn't, even in commercial publications.
As I write this, the book is available only in electronic format for a couple of bucks on Amazon (or write the author). I hope to see it in paper format, someday because it is complex enough that I wanted to flip back & forth a few times to double check names, which I find hard to do in electronic format. If it does come out in paper, I will buy it & likely re-read it when the sequel is released & I read that (hurry up & write, David!). Definitely a keeper & a book I'd like to add to my collection.
An excellent dark fantasy or horror fantasy that sets the background in a post apocalyptic world based on our current one & the Christian myth, adds in some others, & stirs the mix into an intriguing mystery-adventure. It is not for the faint-hearted. All of the characters are flawed, most badly enough that they're not all that likable, but the reasons for this are revealed - slowly. Against my will, in many cases, I was drawn into sympathetic agreement with their plight & their actions. Revelations were logical, redemption plausible & plights were chilling. The action was well described & the scenery was awesome. Wow! What a trip!
Usually, if I don't like or can't identify with one of the main characters, I put a book down. I couldn't this time. The writing was too good & the plot too intriguing.
I was very surprised that a self-published novel (it is, isn't it?) read as if it were professionally edited. One of my biggest turn-offs is poor punctuation, logic flaws, rambling text & 'favorite lines'. (Pieces of text that don't quite fit, but are kept by the writer because they like them.) All of these are typical of self-published novels. I didn't find any here. The writing was tight - sometimes requiring close reading or I would miss an important point - Perfect! That's the way it should be, but often isn't, even in commercial publications.
As I write this, the book is available only in electronic format for a couple of bucks on Amazon (or write the author). I hope to see it in paper format, someday because it is complex enough that I wanted to flip back & forth a few times to double check names, which I find hard to do in electronic format. If it does come out in paper, I will buy it & likely re-read it when the sequel is released & I read that (hurry up & write, David!). Definitely a keeper & a book I'd like to add to my collection.
December 16, 2015
Update - 5.17.10: So, after attempting and not being able to finish this once before, the author kindly sent me an updated version, which I will admit was much better. There were still some grammatical and spelling errors, but they were not at all as distracting as they had been in the original edition.
I don't feel like I understood everything that happened in the story, and I think that a lot of that had to do with feeling that I was told rather than shown what happened. The end of the story brought together many different elements of the story, and for them all to come together, there had to be a lot of explanation. This is fine, but I don't feel like I understand all of it.
I personally didn't find this one scary, like others have said, and actually was hoping that it would be, especially a story which has more than a little bit of demonic possession. But, admittedly, I've read a good bit of horror, and might be a little bit desensitized. ;)
I did like the system of magic here, but again I was hoping for a bit more to be fleshed out. This will probably happen in later books, though.
I don't really feel like I understood the characters, but again this is probably something that will be enhanced and developed in later books in the series.
Overall, it was a good story... we'll have to see where it goes.
------------------------------------------------------
Original review 5.14.10:
I have to wonder if the copy of the book (or in this case the ebook) that I read is the same as what the other reviewers read. My reading experience with this one is vastly different from that of the other reviewers, and so I'm sitting here wondering if the edition that I downloaded was maybe a kind of ARC ebook.
The premise of this story was incredibly promising. I love post-apocalyptic stories, and stories that hint at a prophecy or the occult, etc. I also like supernatural stories, and dark, twisted and strange stories. All of these things piqued my interest and made me snag a free copy of this ebook when the author offered it. And it started out promising, but unfortunately, it just fell apart quickly for me and I couldn't actually finish it.
I really dislike giving up on books. I don't do it often, but there was just something (OK, quite a few things) that just didn't work for me. I don't want to seem like I'm ripping this book to shreds, but I do want to communicate the issues that I had truthfully.
The first, and main issue that I had was with the writing. This was what actually made me give up, and is also why I feel like the copy I read was different than what other reviewers read. If not, they are either extremely lenient, or I am extremely picky. I don't think that I'm extremely picky though, because I can overlook typos or grammatical errors if the story is good. But there were just too many errors and awkward sentences for me to overlook, and the story just didn't hold my attention enough for me to look past these.
For example, here are some lines that I cut directly from the ebook text that jumped out at me:
1) "They passed remnants of the old world as they traveled — the occasional stone foundation of what was likely someone’s home; larger stone buildings for which Paine had no idea its use; the occasional rusted pile of metal he knew to be cars; and even old bridges that collapsed into mounds of rubble." This is just awkwardly worded and doesn't make sense grammatically.
2) "He frowned. Her presence was getting more distant and his heart began to ache. He wallowed in it for a moment, trying to bare it, and then followed the others." Wrong word usage here, as it seems that it should have been "bear" as in "withstand", not "bare" as in "exposed".
3) "Animal skins stretched over crooked branches lay prostate in the sun." Again, wrong word usage. This should be "prostrate", not "prostate".
There are many more examples, such as using "wariness" instead of "weariness" when the context implies tiredness not watchfulness, etc, and this is just in the 44 pages I read.
The second issue that I had with the writing is that there was a kind of floatiness to the writing. That isn't a technical term, obviously, but that's the best way I know to describe it. There are italicized thoughts that aren't attributed to anyone, but maybe the reader can interpret and associate them on their own. The narration is 3rd person, and jumps around to different characters, sort of focusing on one while showing all, and maybe the thoughts are attributed to that character - but to me it seemed like they were just out there in the ether, as if it was a kind of collective thought that belonged to everyone and no-one at the same time. And, to add to the floatiness, the story moves around quite a lot, introducing new characters and scenes and situations without explaining anything about them or how they fit in the larger story. Granted, this probably all comes together in the end, but I'm just communicating my perception.
Futhermore, I didn't feel like I really knew or could identify with any of the characters. During the 44 pages I read, which is a quarter of the story, give or take, we followed Paine and his sister Lya a good amount of time, but I don't feel like I really learned anything about them. Rather I was told things that they did or did not do, or were able to do, or were doing, but I wasn't really shown anything.
All in all, I think that this was a promising premise, but I felt like there were a lot of ideas here that didn't really come together, and there were a lot of writing issues that distracted me from the larger story. I wish that I could give this a higher rating, honestly, but based on what I read, I just can't.
If I did read something like an ARC edition, I would be willing to give a cleaned up version another try. The idea was interesting, like I said, but I just couldn't see it through.
I don't feel like I understood everything that happened in the story, and I think that a lot of that had to do with feeling that I was told rather than shown what happened. The end of the story brought together many different elements of the story, and for them all to come together, there had to be a lot of explanation. This is fine, but I don't feel like I understand all of it.
I personally didn't find this one scary, like others have said, and actually was hoping that it would be, especially a story which has more than a little bit of demonic possession. But, admittedly, I've read a good bit of horror, and might be a little bit desensitized. ;)
I did like the system of magic here, but again I was hoping for a bit more to be fleshed out. This will probably happen in later books, though.
I don't really feel like I understood the characters, but again this is probably something that will be enhanced and developed in later books in the series.
Overall, it was a good story... we'll have to see where it goes.
------------------------------------------------------
Original review 5.14.10:
I have to wonder if the copy of the book (or in this case the ebook) that I read is the same as what the other reviewers read. My reading experience with this one is vastly different from that of the other reviewers, and so I'm sitting here wondering if the edition that I downloaded was maybe a kind of ARC ebook.
The premise of this story was incredibly promising. I love post-apocalyptic stories, and stories that hint at a prophecy or the occult, etc. I also like supernatural stories, and dark, twisted and strange stories. All of these things piqued my interest and made me snag a free copy of this ebook when the author offered it. And it started out promising, but unfortunately, it just fell apart quickly for me and I couldn't actually finish it.
I really dislike giving up on books. I don't do it often, but there was just something (OK, quite a few things) that just didn't work for me. I don't want to seem like I'm ripping this book to shreds, but I do want to communicate the issues that I had truthfully.
The first, and main issue that I had was with the writing. This was what actually made me give up, and is also why I feel like the copy I read was different than what other reviewers read. If not, they are either extremely lenient, or I am extremely picky. I don't think that I'm extremely picky though, because I can overlook typos or grammatical errors if the story is good. But there were just too many errors and awkward sentences for me to overlook, and the story just didn't hold my attention enough for me to look past these.
For example, here are some lines that I cut directly from the ebook text that jumped out at me:
1) "They passed remnants of the old world as they traveled — the occasional stone foundation of what was likely someone’s home; larger stone buildings for which Paine had no idea its use; the occasional rusted pile of metal he knew to be cars; and even old bridges that collapsed into mounds of rubble." This is just awkwardly worded and doesn't make sense grammatically.
2) "He frowned. Her presence was getting more distant and his heart began to ache. He wallowed in it for a moment, trying to bare it, and then followed the others." Wrong word usage here, as it seems that it should have been "bear" as in "withstand", not "bare" as in "exposed".
3) "Animal skins stretched over crooked branches lay prostate in the sun." Again, wrong word usage. This should be "prostrate", not "prostate".
There are many more examples, such as using "wariness" instead of "weariness" when the context implies tiredness not watchfulness, etc, and this is just in the 44 pages I read.
The second issue that I had with the writing is that there was a kind of floatiness to the writing. That isn't a technical term, obviously, but that's the best way I know to describe it. There are italicized thoughts that aren't attributed to anyone, but maybe the reader can interpret and associate them on their own. The narration is 3rd person, and jumps around to different characters, sort of focusing on one while showing all, and maybe the thoughts are attributed to that character - but to me it seemed like they were just out there in the ether, as if it was a kind of collective thought that belonged to everyone and no-one at the same time. And, to add to the floatiness, the story moves around quite a lot, introducing new characters and scenes and situations without explaining anything about them or how they fit in the larger story. Granted, this probably all comes together in the end, but I'm just communicating my perception.
Futhermore, I didn't feel like I really knew or could identify with any of the characters. During the 44 pages I read, which is a quarter of the story, give or take, we followed Paine and his sister Lya a good amount of time, but I don't feel like I really learned anything about them. Rather I was told things that they did or did not do, or were able to do, or were doing, but I wasn't really shown anything.
All in all, I think that this was a promising premise, but I felt like there were a lot of ideas here that didn't really come together, and there were a lot of writing issues that distracted me from the larger story. I wish that I could give this a higher rating, honestly, but based on what I read, I just can't.
If I did read something like an ARC edition, I would be willing to give a cleaned up version another try. The idea was interesting, like I said, but I just couldn't see it through.
April 16, 2010
3.5 stars. Excellent debut novel. I am a big fan of interesting world-building and the author has created a very imaginative, very unique world that I hope to be able to explore further in future novels. Add to that a dark (or should I say very dark) and complex plot peopled with unusual characters and you have the makings of a great read. Not your typical fantasy by a long shot. Well worth a look. Recommended!!!
Read
February 28, 2010"Beautifully written, dark and eerie vision of an apocalyptic future" - New York Times Bestselling Author, Margaret Weis
"David H. Burton is a dark new talent in the genre. This one will make you leave the lights on for a week!" - USA Today Bestseller, Cathy Clamp.
"David H. Burton is a dark new talent in the genre. This one will make you leave the lights on for a week!" - USA Today Bestseller, Cathy Clamp.
April 29, 2010
WOW!!!! There are many words to describe this book. Excelent, Powerful, Exciting, Thrilling, etc... The story was creatively written, I felt like I was at the scene and experienceing everything around me as I read.
Most Fantasy reads it takes a couple of chapters to get into the book before the story picks up and runs but not this story - it captures you by the time your done with the 1st page.
Paine and Lya's story is awsome. There is so many things that happen in this story that it would take too long to explain but take my word for it. The story is well worth the read.
All the characters were created wonderfully, some of my favorites were Diarmuid and Brahm, and of course my favorite WOLF was FANG.
If you like a fantasy story with every immaginal paranormal creature in it whether they are good or evil than this is the book to read. Witchery, Sorcerery, phantoms, ghost, souls, ghouls, angels, demons, romance, etc... it has it all.
I look forward to the next book in this new series.
Most Fantasy reads it takes a couple of chapters to get into the book before the story picks up and runs but not this story - it captures you by the time your done with the 1st page.
Paine and Lya's story is awsome. There is so many things that happen in this story that it would take too long to explain but take my word for it. The story is well worth the read.
All the characters were created wonderfully, some of my favorites were Diarmuid and Brahm, and of course my favorite WOLF was FANG.
If you like a fantasy story with every immaginal paranormal creature in it whether they are good or evil than this is the book to read. Witchery, Sorcerery, phantoms, ghost, souls, ghouls, angels, demons, romance, etc... it has it all.
I look forward to the next book in this new series.
July 1, 2010
2.5
So - where to start?
Well, let me start by saying that I'm not sure this is a book I would've picked up on my own - but it won the groupread vote, and it seemed interesting enough to give it a go.
Pros:
* It was competently written. I didn't find myself groaning or rolling my eyes at any egregiously bad grammar or anything - not that my grammar's the best, but I've read some really badly written stuff, and this was well-written.
* The pacing was pretty good. I didn't feel like it really dragged at any particular point. That said, I had a hard time following the passing of time, as we followed the different character sets and you'd get day by day stuff with one group, and weeks would pass with another.
* I like morally ambiguous sorts of things. I like playing with notion of what is and isn't moral - though there wasn't as much of that in this story as there were even ostensibly 'good' characters who would sometimes do, or have done, bad things in the past. I prefer the former, but the latter works, too.
* The action was handled well and well-written.
* The fluid sexuality was pretty cool. I liked how it was mostly handled kind of matter of factly.
* I liked the general premise of the book - that the shifting of the axis 'cause a post-apolocalyptic world which released forces which had previously been contained. It explains why these things 'happened' in the past, but don't happen now, and how they could happen again. And since all the 2012 stuff talks about axis shifts, it's something which, at least, is in the collective unconscious of modern day people.
Cons:
* Too many sets of characters. We never spent enough time with any particular character or group of characters to truly "get to know them" as it were. The one character you're with the whole time - Paine - kind of went wonky at the end.
* There were too many different types of beings, and the different natures weren't really explained that well. I first thought the Firstborn were Fey type things, but then we had a different race who were the Sidhe - and it never explained where the Sidhe fit in between the Firstborn and humans. Where does Pan fit in? He's a god in the story - but it's not really explained where the gods fit in - only that they're there. Where are they in the hierarchy of demons, angels, Firstborn, Sidhe, Nymphs, Obek, etc?
Perhaps there were just too many different mythos trying to be fit in to one system.
* The blood magic and soul magic was interesting - but I would've liked for there to be more types of magic. It bothered me that every spells or summons or whatever required someone or something to die. I'm sure the 'being bothered' is part of the point, but I would've liked there to have been different types of magic. I mean, we have so many different types of beings - why not different sources of magic and/or power?
* The part with Fang creating the staff sort of lost my sympathy with the book. Funny how I can deal with such from humans, but not animals - or something posing as an animal, or half animal, or whatever.
* When everything came together at the end, I had a hard time following what, exactly, was going on. Actually, I sort of had that problem throughout the whole book as we flipped back and forth between places and peoples. I kept getting Brahm confused with Diarmiud, but was ok when she was Orenda. Don't know why...
* Mostly, I just didn't relate to any of the characters deeply enough. I felt distant from the whole thing - like I was watching something, instead of being a part of it. I never care as much what happens when this is the case.
I did like Paine, mostly, but didn't like the ending.
* Speaking of ending, I didn't like how things weren't really resolved in this story. I like continuous stories, where the threads of a continuation are woven into the story - but I'm less enthralled with semi-cliffhanger type endings where nothing is really resolved. I'm not sure I care enough to really find out what happens.
** ETA: I was very disappointed in the reveal that the head honchos of the Confederacy (i.e. the Church in Inquisition mode) were really demons. I think it would've been much more effective if the hypocrisy and bs and wickedness was purely human in invention. I thought that the commentary on religious hypocrisy is, obviously, relevant to our own lives - but by making them demons in disguise, it's like giving it an out, and blunting the critique. If Umbridge taught us anything, it's that the wickedness that ordinary people can do in the name of righteousness can be so much more profoundly awful than that which is done by demons or forces of "evil".
Anyway, it did have it's pros and cons. I'm probably a bit harsher on the cons, but I always am. It wasn't a bad read, but it wasn't un-put-downable, either. I was reading this mostly while waiting during jury duty, and I could only read a few chapters at a time, and then I'd find something else to do for awhile, then come back to the book.
Parts where interesting, but, overall, I think maybe there's just too much going on at once, too many threads to follow... and it didn't frighten me or keep me in suspence. I was disgusted at times, sad at times, and it was even erotic at times... but it was not nail-biting, or edge-of-the-seat reading... and for a book which is more plot based and big battley type thing, it should be.
So - where to start?
Well, let me start by saying that I'm not sure this is a book I would've picked up on my own - but it won the groupread vote, and it seemed interesting enough to give it a go.
Pros:
* It was competently written. I didn't find myself groaning or rolling my eyes at any egregiously bad grammar or anything - not that my grammar's the best, but I've read some really badly written stuff, and this was well-written.
* The pacing was pretty good. I didn't feel like it really dragged at any particular point. That said, I had a hard time following the passing of time, as we followed the different character sets and you'd get day by day stuff with one group, and weeks would pass with another.
* I like morally ambiguous sorts of things. I like playing with notion of what is and isn't moral - though there wasn't as much of that in this story as there were even ostensibly 'good' characters who would sometimes do, or have done, bad things in the past. I prefer the former, but the latter works, too.
* The action was handled well and well-written.
* The fluid sexuality was pretty cool. I liked how it was mostly handled kind of matter of factly.
* I liked the general premise of the book - that the shifting of the axis 'cause a post-apolocalyptic world which released forces which had previously been contained. It explains why these things 'happened' in the past, but don't happen now, and how they could happen again. And since all the 2012 stuff talks about axis shifts, it's something which, at least, is in the collective unconscious of modern day people.
Cons:
* Too many sets of characters. We never spent enough time with any particular character or group of characters to truly "get to know them" as it were. The one character you're with the whole time - Paine - kind of went wonky at the end.
* There were too many different types of beings, and the different natures weren't really explained that well. I first thought the Firstborn were Fey type things, but then we had a different race who were the Sidhe - and it never explained where the Sidhe fit in between the Firstborn and humans. Where does Pan fit in? He's a god in the story - but it's not really explained where the gods fit in - only that they're there. Where are they in the hierarchy of demons, angels, Firstborn, Sidhe, Nymphs, Obek, etc?
Perhaps there were just too many different mythos trying to be fit in to one system.
* The blood magic and soul magic was interesting - but I would've liked for there to be more types of magic. It bothered me that every spells or summons or whatever required someone or something to die. I'm sure the 'being bothered' is part of the point, but I would've liked there to have been different types of magic. I mean, we have so many different types of beings - why not different sources of magic and/or power?
* The part with Fang creating the staff sort of lost my sympathy with the book. Funny how I can deal with such from humans, but not animals - or something posing as an animal, or half animal, or whatever.
* When everything came together at the end, I had a hard time following what, exactly, was going on. Actually, I sort of had that problem throughout the whole book as we flipped back and forth between places and peoples. I kept getting Brahm confused with Diarmiud, but was ok when she was Orenda. Don't know why...
* Mostly, I just didn't relate to any of the characters deeply enough. I felt distant from the whole thing - like I was watching something, instead of being a part of it. I never care as much what happens when this is the case.
I did like Paine, mostly, but didn't like the ending.
* Speaking of ending, I didn't like how things weren't really resolved in this story. I like continuous stories, where the threads of a continuation are woven into the story - but I'm less enthralled with semi-cliffhanger type endings where nothing is really resolved. I'm not sure I care enough to really find out what happens.
** ETA: I was very disappointed in the reveal that the head honchos of the Confederacy (i.e. the Church in Inquisition mode) were really demons. I think it would've been much more effective if the hypocrisy and bs and wickedness was purely human in invention. I thought that the commentary on religious hypocrisy is, obviously, relevant to our own lives - but by making them demons in disguise, it's like giving it an out, and blunting the critique. If Umbridge taught us anything, it's that the wickedness that ordinary people can do in the name of righteousness can be so much more profoundly awful than that which is done by demons or forces of "evil".
Anyway, it did have it's pros and cons. I'm probably a bit harsher on the cons, but I always am. It wasn't a bad read, but it wasn't un-put-downable, either. I was reading this mostly while waiting during jury duty, and I could only read a few chapters at a time, and then I'd find something else to do for awhile, then come back to the book.
Parts where interesting, but, overall, I think maybe there's just too much going on at once, too many threads to follow... and it didn't frighten me or keep me in suspence. I was disgusted at times, sad at times, and it was even erotic at times... but it was not nail-biting, or edge-of-the-seat reading... and for a book which is more plot based and big battley type thing, it should be.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 23, 2015
This was a very impressive first book by a small press author. I was pleasantly surprised.
Sure, it was a bit erratic at times. The tenses seemed to switch up and the time flow was confusing. The story didn't always flow smoothly from event to event, as time shifted differently for the different character sets.
There was also a lot of backstory. Repeat: a LOT. Good backstory, I'll give him that. Very intriguing stuff. I just felt overwhelmed with it all at some points. It was hard to keep the characters straight as the narrative bounced around so much, and to keep the proper backstories to the proper characters. Perhaps this could have been solved by extending the work to a longer volume, or series of volumes. Then there would have been more room for character building and gradual backstory development.
That said, I very much like the method of telling the backstory as the present story happens. David did this without heavy use of flashbacks, which can be something of a cheat. I loved the real in depth histories to all the characters, it just seemed that I needed a map to keep up with them all.
I love the premise of the book. 500 years in our post apocalyptic future, where technology is gone and magic is back. The dead have power and demons are back. I enjoyed the way David brought the religions of the world together to cope with the happening that wiped out our civilization, and the way it has developed. The biblical references and interpretations were quite intriguing.
I did have trouble as well with the multitude of strange new races of people. Or more accurately, old races that are now back due to the world shifting on its axis. Between Little Doe's tribe, the Firstborn, the Revenants, the Nymphs, the Lastborn, the Sidhe, and the Obek, I was often having to stop and retrace who was of what race and aligned with which others. There was also the fact that many were of mixed races, so mapping that all out in my head took a bit of effort. Again, this is a lot of great information and worldbuilding, but the book's shortness made it seem a bit jumbled.
Would I recommend stretching this book out a few hundred pages to make the worldbuilding smoother? Not so much. That might help, but I like David's brevity. He's trying to pack a great story in a shorter format, which is a relief to those that are accustomed to huge bricks for fantasy novels. He certainly doesn't drag anything out. But maybe it might have worked better to be a bit more gradual about the histories and backstories, even if it meant giving some of that in future volumes.
All in all, this was a satisfying read with dark concepts that pushed the envelope of moral beliefs of human history. I'm looking forward to future volumes.
Sure, it was a bit erratic at times. The tenses seemed to switch up and the time flow was confusing. The story didn't always flow smoothly from event to event, as time shifted differently for the different character sets.
There was also a lot of backstory. Repeat: a LOT. Good backstory, I'll give him that. Very intriguing stuff. I just felt overwhelmed with it all at some points. It was hard to keep the characters straight as the narrative bounced around so much, and to keep the proper backstories to the proper characters. Perhaps this could have been solved by extending the work to a longer volume, or series of volumes. Then there would have been more room for character building and gradual backstory development.
That said, I very much like the method of telling the backstory as the present story happens. David did this without heavy use of flashbacks, which can be something of a cheat. I loved the real in depth histories to all the characters, it just seemed that I needed a map to keep up with them all.
I love the premise of the book. 500 years in our post apocalyptic future, where technology is gone and magic is back. The dead have power and demons are back. I enjoyed the way David brought the religions of the world together to cope with the happening that wiped out our civilization, and the way it has developed. The biblical references and interpretations were quite intriguing.
I did have trouble as well with the multitude of strange new races of people. Or more accurately, old races that are now back due to the world shifting on its axis. Between Little Doe's tribe, the Firstborn, the Revenants, the Nymphs, the Lastborn, the Sidhe, and the Obek, I was often having to stop and retrace who was of what race and aligned with which others. There was also the fact that many were of mixed races, so mapping that all out in my head took a bit of effort. Again, this is a lot of great information and worldbuilding, but the book's shortness made it seem a bit jumbled.
Would I recommend stretching this book out a few hundred pages to make the worldbuilding smoother? Not so much. That might help, but I like David's brevity. He's trying to pack a great story in a shorter format, which is a relief to those that are accustomed to huge bricks for fantasy novels. He certainly doesn't drag anything out. But maybe it might have worked better to be a bit more gradual about the histories and backstories, even if it meant giving some of that in future volumes.
All in all, this was a satisfying read with dark concepts that pushed the envelope of moral beliefs of human history. I'm looking forward to future volumes.
April 19, 2010
The language of David H. Burton in this story was at times poetic, and at time prophetic. The words, always descriptive would one minute make me feel like I was there, a part of the action, and then the next drive home an image so bluntly that I would be shocked out of my flight into fantasy. It was an amazing ride.
The characters were deep, all rich with back stories, driven by differing motives, while omitting just enough to keep me on edge constantly wanting to know more about them. My only even semi-criticism, and maybe just my own failing rather, was with the vast multitude of characters. There were so many names, and often secondary names given to the same characters. Add to that the connections between the characters which kept developing, plus all of the names of the creatures, and they were at times hard for me to follow. Again, I say me, maybe another reader would have no problem with this at all. It did not distract me though from the enjoyment of reading Second Coming. It is just no easy read, and I would guess no easy write. As an author, I am in awe of Burton’s craft, his abilities to create such a tale. I would love to know if he had all of the twists and turns plotted out before writing it, or if a story such as this one just came from him imagination as he wrote.
The paranormal elements were again a combination of old and original, and the magic was dead on and amazing even to one who has read novels in the genre. But always, it remained gritty, dark, edgy and yet I found myself praying for things to work out in certain characters no matter what they did or how they transgressed!
The world building in Second Coming was amazingly original and absolutely believable for an apocalyptic world. The setting was a new world over renamed places I know of in my own world. The mentions of old ways tie it all together with the new, creating a viable existence. The writing conventions were well thought out, well written and always made the setting easily seen in the mind’s eye.
To say the plot was layered would be a grave understatement. Talk about a mix. Burton intermixed flawlessly myth, the Bible, and his new take on them both allowing for more than one hero and villain, and therefore a multitude of conflicts and possible resolutions. Only once the layers started to really overlap, I found myself wishing, hoping, guessing… As a paranormal writer, I can only imagine that this extent of world-building can only come from a great amount of research, of thought and of planning. It leaves definitely leaves you thinking… If my review seems vague, I am sorry. But, with this book, I dare say too much lest I spoil any of it.
The characters were deep, all rich with back stories, driven by differing motives, while omitting just enough to keep me on edge constantly wanting to know more about them. My only even semi-criticism, and maybe just my own failing rather, was with the vast multitude of characters. There were so many names, and often secondary names given to the same characters. Add to that the connections between the characters which kept developing, plus all of the names of the creatures, and they were at times hard for me to follow. Again, I say me, maybe another reader would have no problem with this at all. It did not distract me though from the enjoyment of reading Second Coming. It is just no easy read, and I would guess no easy write. As an author, I am in awe of Burton’s craft, his abilities to create such a tale. I would love to know if he had all of the twists and turns plotted out before writing it, or if a story such as this one just came from him imagination as he wrote.
The paranormal elements were again a combination of old and original, and the magic was dead on and amazing even to one who has read novels in the genre. But always, it remained gritty, dark, edgy and yet I found myself praying for things to work out in certain characters no matter what they did or how they transgressed!
The world building in Second Coming was amazingly original and absolutely believable for an apocalyptic world. The setting was a new world over renamed places I know of in my own world. The mentions of old ways tie it all together with the new, creating a viable existence. The writing conventions were well thought out, well written and always made the setting easily seen in the mind’s eye.
To say the plot was layered would be a grave understatement. Talk about a mix. Burton intermixed flawlessly myth, the Bible, and his new take on them both allowing for more than one hero and villain, and therefore a multitude of conflicts and possible resolutions. Only once the layers started to really overlap, I found myself wishing, hoping, guessing… As a paranormal writer, I can only imagine that this extent of world-building can only come from a great amount of research, of thought and of planning. It leaves definitely leaves you thinking… If my review seems vague, I am sorry. But, with this book, I dare say too much lest I spoil any of it.
July 19, 2010
This book was amazingly vivid with a plot that was deep and complex. The characters were vibrant and I found myself immersed almost immediately in the story. I enjoyed the religious overtones along with the paranormal aspects. This is book one of a series so I can understand the loose ends left at the end but I felt a bit disappointed with the last chapter enough to bring the rating down from a 5 to a 4.
Spoilers in the remainder of the review:
I really loved this book. The characters are amazing and I wanted to delve deeper into each one. The author made them real for me.
One problem I had was with the character Brahm. I adored her. In the first portion of the book, the author described her as dark-skinned but then followed it up with a description of her skin being the color of buttermilk. I dont really think of buttermilk as dark so I imagined a cup of well creamed coffee although that left some questions as to how I should envision her. Was she of African descent or American Indian or Middle Eastern? Then in the last part of the book, her description changed to calling her black. Which is totally different from buttermilk as a color. It put a halt to the movie that was playing in my head (which I have to say the author did a wonderful job of crafting) so that I could reconfigure how I saw a main character.
Another issue was with the ending. I wanted something stronger which at least hinted at what was to come and where we were headed in this. I also felt there were many plot points that were unanswered but since this is the first in a series, I hope to find my answers in the next books.
I felt discouraged from continuing on further in the series because many of the characters that I wanted to follow into further books were killed in the last chapter. It left less of a pull toward continuing although the writing is good enough that I want more.
I feel like all I did here was point out the bad when by far this would have been a 5 star read or even 5+ stars if I had not been so disappointed with the last chapter. This world the author created is amazing and I want to see more of it!
Spoilers in the remainder of the review:
I really loved this book. The characters are amazing and I wanted to delve deeper into each one. The author made them real for me.
One problem I had was with the character Brahm. I adored her. In the first portion of the book, the author described her as dark-skinned but then followed it up with a description of her skin being the color of buttermilk. I dont really think of buttermilk as dark so I imagined a cup of well creamed coffee although that left some questions as to how I should envision her. Was she of African descent or American Indian or Middle Eastern? Then in the last part of the book, her description changed to calling her black. Which is totally different from buttermilk as a color. It put a halt to the movie that was playing in my head (which I have to say the author did a wonderful job of crafting) so that I could reconfigure how I saw a main character.
Another issue was with the ending. I wanted something stronger which at least hinted at what was to come and where we were headed in this. I also felt there were many plot points that were unanswered but since this is the first in a series, I hope to find my answers in the next books.
I felt discouraged from continuing on further in the series because many of the characters that I wanted to follow into further books were killed in the last chapter. It left less of a pull toward continuing although the writing is good enough that I want more.
I feel like all I did here was point out the bad when by far this would have been a 5 star read or even 5+ stars if I had not been so disappointed with the last chapter. This world the author created is amazing and I want to see more of it!
May 15, 2010
Began reading this on the recommendation of the author. I easily see the seeds of an epic tale within this book, even without seeing the "#1" in the subtitle. Unfortunately, like many fantasy novels of this type, I was disappointed by the incompleteness of the story. The book doesn't quite stand alone ... it seems to rely on the words not yet offered to the reader in the following books. The ending is not quite a cliffhanger, but close enough. In the end I found myself more interested in the world between the Preface and First Chapter rather than the relatively disposable cast of characters we're introduced to in the course of this part-novel. Overall, I liked this book, but am still considering whether I liked it enough to continue the story cycle.
June 27, 2010
I did not finish this book. I just couldn't read any more. I did not buy the premise -- that somehow the earth shifting on its axis caused some kind of upheaval that made witches and religious zealots. The writing was pedestrian, the characters were paper cutouts. I couldn't relate to any of them. The one woman was a kind of mysterious demon/witch whose motives were unfathomable to me. Another woman was a fighter type. The cultures were not clear. The sexual innuendos were icky. The tension and impending fight were not tense and the reasons for fighting totally unclear.
May 22, 2010
Free Download from author for review
Thanks go out to the author, David H Burton, for bringing his self-published novel to my attention.
Due to a not-yet-fully-explained catastrophe, the Earth is knocked off it's axis, unleashing things that were better kept hidden. Ghouls, demons, dark angels, Firstborns, Lastborns, Obeks, Imps... all crawled to the surface to fight for control under an immoral God.
Some of the surviving humans turned to witchery and the occult; learned how to summon spells; create blood oaths; Soul Run; and command the dead. Some turned to the Church of Ascension and the Confederation - which bred a new age Witch Hunt.
Burton's eBook is a face paced, dark, apocalyptic tale that's bursting at the seams. Packed with loads of action, it promises to never bore you, and always keep you guessing. A very ambitious first novel that, while fully functioning as a stand alone story, teases the reader as only a book destined for sequels can.
I admit to being slightly confused throughout most of the story. Burton may have bit off more than he could chew when it comes to maintaining such a heavily charactered plot-line. I lost count only a few chapters in, and found myself forgetting, and at times even confusing, the different people and their alliances and backgrounds. This would be easily remedied, though, with the aid of a notebook - I recommend outlining the characters and their storylines if you do not think you can finish this book in one sitting.
He does a great job of pacing the subplots as characters that began at different points of the novels move towards one another, and those that began together move apart. Though, once they all converged in the much awaited finale, I found the pacing was thrown off and a bit scattered when I needed it structured the most.
Some of the characters suffer from extreme cases of what I call "internal thinking". It's where the author italicizes what a character is thinking, so you know it is being processed internally. While I don't have issues with the technique itself, Burton overuses it to the point where different characters get different symbols placed before and after their internal thinking as a way for us to differentiate who is doing the thinking. In the end, I found it to be more of a crutch or gimmick than a useful technique.
One thing that surprised me was the amount of sexual innuendoes and practices that the author was able to cram within the plots. At times, it fit the need of the moment, and at others just seemed so random and out of place that it distracted me from what was actually taking place. I do have to give Burton credit though, his characters exhibit a wide variety of sexual preferences, which (as distracting as I found it) was really quite refreshing.
Certainly not to be missed by fans of dark fantasy, witches, demons, and all things good vs. evil. Suspension of belief and reality are a must.
Thanks go out to the author, David H Burton, for bringing his self-published novel to my attention.
Due to a not-yet-fully-explained catastrophe, the Earth is knocked off it's axis, unleashing things that were better kept hidden. Ghouls, demons, dark angels, Firstborns, Lastborns, Obeks, Imps... all crawled to the surface to fight for control under an immoral God.
Some of the surviving humans turned to witchery and the occult; learned how to summon spells; create blood oaths; Soul Run; and command the dead. Some turned to the Church of Ascension and the Confederation - which bred a new age Witch Hunt.
Burton's eBook is a face paced, dark, apocalyptic tale that's bursting at the seams. Packed with loads of action, it promises to never bore you, and always keep you guessing. A very ambitious first novel that, while fully functioning as a stand alone story, teases the reader as only a book destined for sequels can.
I admit to being slightly confused throughout most of the story. Burton may have bit off more than he could chew when it comes to maintaining such a heavily charactered plot-line. I lost count only a few chapters in, and found myself forgetting, and at times even confusing, the different people and their alliances and backgrounds. This would be easily remedied, though, with the aid of a notebook - I recommend outlining the characters and their storylines if you do not think you can finish this book in one sitting.
He does a great job of pacing the subplots as characters that began at different points of the novels move towards one another, and those that began together move apart. Though, once they all converged in the much awaited finale, I found the pacing was thrown off and a bit scattered when I needed it structured the most.
Some of the characters suffer from extreme cases of what I call "internal thinking". It's where the author italicizes what a character is thinking, so you know it is being processed internally. While I don't have issues with the technique itself, Burton overuses it to the point where different characters get different symbols placed before and after their internal thinking as a way for us to differentiate who is doing the thinking. In the end, I found it to be more of a crutch or gimmick than a useful technique.
One thing that surprised me was the amount of sexual innuendoes and practices that the author was able to cram within the plots. At times, it fit the need of the moment, and at others just seemed so random and out of place that it distracted me from what was actually taking place. I do have to give Burton credit though, his characters exhibit a wide variety of sexual preferences, which (as distracting as I found it) was really quite refreshing.
Certainly not to be missed by fans of dark fantasy, witches, demons, and all things good vs. evil. Suspension of belief and reality are a must.
September 7, 2011
I read the $0.99 promotional edition.
For $0.99 I can put up with a fair number of copyediting issues, and I did.
For the book itself, I have mixed feelings. The writing was uneven--in parts really good, in parts Worst Of Hack Fantasy.
It's post-apocalyptic fantasy, but there doesn't seem to be much point to the post-apocalyptic part. Maybe later in the series it will matter that this world of magical powers had a technological past, but in the first book it's largely irrelevant.
A little ways in, it looked like it was heading off into horror, but it stopped just short, which is just fine by me because I don't like horror. I guess it's about as horror-y as The Stand.
I liked that what started out looking like Battle of Good vs. Evil turned out to be less clear. I have mixed feelings about there being no real good guys among the central characters. On the one hand, it certainly makes for a less trite cast of characters. On the other hand, I like to be able to root for someone, and by the end of the book there was pretty much just one person left who was still both alive and sympathetic.
I'm not going to go out of my way to seek out the rest of the series but would probably read it if it were put in front of me.
For $0.99 I can put up with a fair number of copyediting issues, and I did.
For the book itself, I have mixed feelings. The writing was uneven--in parts really good, in parts Worst Of Hack Fantasy.
It's post-apocalyptic fantasy, but there doesn't seem to be much point to the post-apocalyptic part. Maybe later in the series it will matter that this world of magical powers had a technological past, but in the first book it's largely irrelevant.
A little ways in, it looked like it was heading off into horror, but it stopped just short, which is just fine by me because I don't like horror. I guess it's about as horror-y as The Stand.
I liked that what started out looking like Battle of Good vs. Evil turned out to be less clear. I have mixed feelings about there being no real good guys among the central characters. On the one hand, it certainly makes for a less trite cast of characters. On the other hand, I like to be able to root for someone, and by the end of the book there was pretty much just one person left who was still both alive and sympathetic.
I'm not going to go out of my way to seek out the rest of the series but would probably read it if it were put in front of me.
July 5, 2010
The Second Coming (Words of the Prophecy) is the first book in a series. It takes place in a world based on our own but altered by an apocalyptic event that melds other realities with our own. David H. Burton does a nice job of weaving a dark and sometimes horrifying world in which magic functions and variations on elder races walk the world. The author uses a large cast of characters who wield dark magic, nature magic, and other forms of magic to tell an intriguing tale that includes an interesting variation on the Church and the title event of the book.
At times I found myself both attracted to and repulsed by the main characters as details about their origins and motivations were revealed. There are layers to this world and the characters in it that I believe have not yet been revealed. I have expectations that subsequent volumes will unveil these depths.
Dark fantasy is likely not everyone's cup of tea and most times is not mine, but I definitely liked this book.
At times I found myself both attracted to and repulsed by the main characters as details about their origins and motivations were revealed. There are layers to this world and the characters in it that I believe have not yet been revealed. I have expectations that subsequent volumes will unveil these depths.
Dark fantasy is likely not everyone's cup of tea and most times is not mine, but I definitely liked this book.
May 31, 2010
I finished this one scratching my head. Let me begin by saying that this is NOT the type of book that I would normally choose. I can not say that it was bad because I really did want to finish it.
I'm struggling to write this review simply because I am really unsure of what happened in the story. Did the good triumph over the evil? Each character was possesed with some sort of demon or special power, so I was never able to determine who was really good and well, the bad seemed to be really bad. Maybe that is the distinction.
I'm presuming if you are into this genre of books then you would enjoy it very much. I did not want to stop reading and believe me, I have stopped reading more books than I care to remember.
I understand that this is the first of a series and I might be tempted to pick up the next book hoping to try to figure out what the heck is going on.
I'm struggling to write this review simply because I am really unsure of what happened in the story. Did the good triumph over the evil? Each character was possesed with some sort of demon or special power, so I was never able to determine who was really good and well, the bad seemed to be really bad. Maybe that is the distinction.
I'm presuming if you are into this genre of books then you would enjoy it very much. I did not want to stop reading and believe me, I have stopped reading more books than I care to remember.
I understand that this is the first of a series and I might be tempted to pick up the next book hoping to try to figure out what the heck is going on.
December 21, 2010
Fans of films like The Prophecy and Legion will eat this up like pudding on Christmas day. Also, it doesn’t hurt that the guy on the cover kind of has a “Jonathan Rhys Meyers as creepy priest” vibe going on ;-) If you like a story that has Fallen Angels, demonic plots, the Spear of Destiny, summoning demons, witches, and more, you’ll enjoy this book very much. The book has shades of Buffy and Supernatural and Burton’s writing has echoes of Douglas Clegg but in terms of plot, it’s most comparable to Sara Douglass’ Crucible series.
June 8, 2010
A complete do not put down book. I am not one for this kind of genre, but this was a great read. I am anxious for words of prophecy book 2 to see what happens next. My favorite character was Brahm.
February 1, 2015
Set in a post-apocalyptic earth, The Second Coming is the introduction to an ‘in progress’ series named Words of the Prophecy. Centuries after the Earth shifted on its axis nearly wiping out mankind and unleashing all manner of dark and otherworldly creatures, a long-prophesied event has occurred, one that threatens the remainder of humanity.
Burton has provided a suitably dark world for the reader to explore and he paints it innovatively. There is a real play with mythology and religious history and prophecy. Instead of being completely inventive, the author has used existing lore to cleverly fashion new possibilities. Additionally, the author never attempted to create the blinding (and sometimes boring) light of goodness in any of his creation. The best one could hope for was a grey or darker and this is an approach I can really appreciate.
The characters were hopelessly flawed and even the main protagonists could not be easily cast in the hero role. Again, this is an aspect of a story I can enjoy as I like temptation and struggle. In this story, there are probably three main characters which meet as three disparate story lines eventually intertwine. It’s a fairly typical story mechanism but it does allow us to explore each of these characters in detail as progress on their own journey. There are also several secondary characters which add interest and sometimes smaller story arcs to compliment the main plot. In fact, the overall web of characters in this novel becomes quite complex with all manner of intersecting relationships being revealed over the course of the plot.
The plot, although derived from familiar elements, has a feel that was quite unfamiliar. The unified church of the new world has ties with all kinds of practices otherwise seen as pagan. The evangelical church of the former U.S.A. is viewed as somehow sinister and similarly contradictory in its practices. Elf-like creatures seem to be biblical in origin and the wild and harsh gods of nature do not necessarily represent evil – although everything demands a price. Sometimes, this alien territory was confusing and I wasn’t sure I always understood all the connections being made. Several elements of the tale, I felt, were left incomplete by the end of the book. Given that this was to be a series, I can’t hold this against the author. It’s likely these are to be played out in future volumes.
The prose flows very well and I often found myself picturing various scenes of despair vividly. The story line starts slowly but completes in a rush of pounding action and several fairly dizzying changes in one of the main characters. I’m still not certain that I completely followed the development of Paine, especially towards the end of the book. What he was, what he became was a little confusing in the end, but the author had chosen to make his origins and his destiny quite complex. It will be quite interesting to see how he plays out in subsequent novels.
I have read David H. Burton before and have thus far enjoyed all his stories. He manages to present a world I want to explore, characters I want to follow and story lines that remain interesting and The Second Coming is no exception. I would recommend this to all who like their fantasies dark and desperate.
Burton has provided a suitably dark world for the reader to explore and he paints it innovatively. There is a real play with mythology and religious history and prophecy. Instead of being completely inventive, the author has used existing lore to cleverly fashion new possibilities. Additionally, the author never attempted to create the blinding (and sometimes boring) light of goodness in any of his creation. The best one could hope for was a grey or darker and this is an approach I can really appreciate.
The characters were hopelessly flawed and even the main protagonists could not be easily cast in the hero role. Again, this is an aspect of a story I can enjoy as I like temptation and struggle. In this story, there are probably three main characters which meet as three disparate story lines eventually intertwine. It’s a fairly typical story mechanism but it does allow us to explore each of these characters in detail as progress on their own journey. There are also several secondary characters which add interest and sometimes smaller story arcs to compliment the main plot. In fact, the overall web of characters in this novel becomes quite complex with all manner of intersecting relationships being revealed over the course of the plot.
The plot, although derived from familiar elements, has a feel that was quite unfamiliar. The unified church of the new world has ties with all kinds of practices otherwise seen as pagan. The evangelical church of the former U.S.A. is viewed as somehow sinister and similarly contradictory in its practices. Elf-like creatures seem to be biblical in origin and the wild and harsh gods of nature do not necessarily represent evil – although everything demands a price. Sometimes, this alien territory was confusing and I wasn’t sure I always understood all the connections being made. Several elements of the tale, I felt, were left incomplete by the end of the book. Given that this was to be a series, I can’t hold this against the author. It’s likely these are to be played out in future volumes.
The prose flows very well and I often found myself picturing various scenes of despair vividly. The story line starts slowly but completes in a rush of pounding action and several fairly dizzying changes in one of the main characters. I’m still not certain that I completely followed the development of Paine, especially towards the end of the book. What he was, what he became was a little confusing in the end, but the author had chosen to make his origins and his destiny quite complex. It will be quite interesting to see how he plays out in subsequent novels.
I have read David H. Burton before and have thus far enjoyed all his stories. He manages to present a world I want to explore, characters I want to follow and story lines that remain interesting and The Second Coming is no exception. I would recommend this to all who like their fantasies dark and desperate.
February 12, 2011
David Burton has quickly become one of my favorite authors. Why? His writing is exactly what I look for: something DIFFERENT. Yes, yes, I enjoy the sappy romance novels, the intellectual histories, and the various best sellers that I read; but, I also love it when I find a story that flies in the face of conventional thought. The Second Coming certainly qualifies as "unconventional."
Burton's ability to create a world with the written word astounds me. In The Second Coming, the earth has shifted on its axis; this catastrophic event resulted in the release of beings that have not roamed the earth in ages, and civilization as it was known is no more. There are demons, necromancers, Soul Runners, and more. Oh, but the fun does not end there in this fast paced ride.
There's Paine and Lya, a more interesting set of twins you will never meet; Brahm, a Soul Runner who actually has two souls in her body; John, a heretic and perhaps not quite what he seems; and many other characters who play fascinating roles as the story unfolds. Nothing is ever as you think it will be. This book will have you racing through the pages just to find out what will happen next, and how the characters will respond to each introduction and new event. Oh, and did I mention that the lines between good and evil may not be so clear cut?
This book is a great read for anyone who likes to shake things up a bit. If you are easily offended by (or even defensive about) the role of religion, you should steer clear of this book, because, believe me, this book will offend you. However, if you enjoy a challenge to convention, read this book; I think you'll find it as intriguing as I did.
Burton's ability to create a world with the written word astounds me. In The Second Coming, the earth has shifted on its axis; this catastrophic event resulted in the release of beings that have not roamed the earth in ages, and civilization as it was known is no more. There are demons, necromancers, Soul Runners, and more. Oh, but the fun does not end there in this fast paced ride.
There's Paine and Lya, a more interesting set of twins you will never meet; Brahm, a Soul Runner who actually has two souls in her body; John, a heretic and perhaps not quite what he seems; and many other characters who play fascinating roles as the story unfolds. Nothing is ever as you think it will be. This book will have you racing through the pages just to find out what will happen next, and how the characters will respond to each introduction and new event. Oh, and did I mention that the lines between good and evil may not be so clear cut?
This book is a great read for anyone who likes to shake things up a bit. If you are easily offended by (or even defensive about) the role of religion, you should steer clear of this book, because, believe me, this book will offend you. However, if you enjoy a challenge to convention, read this book; I think you'll find it as intriguing as I did.
June 22, 2010
Are you ready? Really? You may want to sit down while reading the book....you may be shocked at times...
If you are a reader who prefers to stick with christian fiction or wholesome stories then I suggest that you stay VERY FAR AWAY from this one. I'll say right now that I don't think you'd like it. I read everything as some of you may have noticed; not much offends me...so if you're a reader like me then I would recommend checking this one out.
I enjoyed the STORY and think that David did an excellent job with it. There are lots of aspects to The Second Coming that would probably send a devout christian to church to say a prayer...I like controversial books and subject just because they shake things up. Well...David really shook it up. I could see people arguing and debating over some of the stuff contained within the lines of the book.
Now, there are several characters to keep up with; if you pay attention it's easy. It's also fascinating to find out HOW they relate to each other. Let's see...the author has managed to include every being, creature, or supernatural you can think of but this is certainly not a walk through the amusement park.
Overall, I thought it was good. It kept my interest and had my mind reeling at times over some of the content. (a female Pope people!) Check out the "About The Book" section to get an idea of the story line and decide if this one is right for you.
If you are a reader who prefers to stick with christian fiction or wholesome stories then I suggest that you stay VERY FAR AWAY from this one. I'll say right now that I don't think you'd like it. I read everything as some of you may have noticed; not much offends me...so if you're a reader like me then I would recommend checking this one out.
I enjoyed the STORY and think that David did an excellent job with it. There are lots of aspects to The Second Coming that would probably send a devout christian to church to say a prayer...I like controversial books and subject just because they shake things up. Well...David really shook it up. I could see people arguing and debating over some of the stuff contained within the lines of the book.
Now, there are several characters to keep up with; if you pay attention it's easy. It's also fascinating to find out HOW they relate to each other. Let's see...the author has managed to include every being, creature, or supernatural you can think of but this is certainly not a walk through the amusement park.
Overall, I thought it was good. It kept my interest and had my mind reeling at times over some of the content. (a female Pope people!) Check out the "About The Book" section to get an idea of the story line and decide if this one is right for you.
March 23, 2011
This was the first novel I read from the author. There are a lot of characters in the book. Initially, I was concerned that with so many characters the story could become disjointed. But as I continued with the story the characters slowly flowed together and their connections revealed over time.
The author does a good job of establishing the environment of the story. I truly had a sense of a medieval-type atmosphere that the world now exists in. I'm not one for stories with heavy religious themes, but it served this novel well as a critical component of the story. I especially enjoyed the whole concept of control and manipulation of souls in the story.
This story requires paying attention to keep track of the numerous characters, but it is well worth it. By the middle of the novel I had a pretty good understanding of each character and what motivated them.
Overall, this was a well done story and I would recommend it to anyone interested in a fantasy tell dotted with religious themes.
The author does a good job of establishing the environment of the story. I truly had a sense of a medieval-type atmosphere that the world now exists in. I'm not one for stories with heavy religious themes, but it served this novel well as a critical component of the story. I especially enjoyed the whole concept of control and manipulation of souls in the story.
This story requires paying attention to keep track of the numerous characters, but it is well worth it. By the middle of the novel I had a pretty good understanding of each character and what motivated them.
Overall, this was a well done story and I would recommend it to anyone interested in a fantasy tell dotted with religious themes.
May 10, 2010
I have way too many books in the TBR pile, but after seeing this in the Fantasy Book Club, and reading the excerpt on smashwords, I had to buy and download the rest of it and read it straight away. I was a little worried when I noticed the word "dark" used in almost every review of this book, I have no idea what "dark fantasy" meant, so I was psyching myself for major trauma/gore, but now that I've finished it I'm glad there was no need for the worry.
So, there was a lot I liked about this book - none of the characters are very likeable, I didn't know who were evil/going to "turn" evil, it featured a mix of mythological creatures who are not normally associated with each other, and I really liked that I didn't know which way the story was going and couldn't wait to find out :P
An exciting, original story. 4 stars.
So, there was a lot I liked about this book - none of the characters are very likeable, I didn't know who were evil/going to "turn" evil, it featured a mix of mythological creatures who are not normally associated with each other, and I really liked that I didn't know which way the story was going and couldn't wait to find out :P
An exciting, original story. 4 stars.
July 18, 2010
David Burton's THE SECOND COMING is a beautifully written novel. Burton's post apocalyptic world is so fully realized and so well described I almost felt like I was standing there with Brahm, Paine, Lya, and the rest of them. I loved the way Burton blended Native Americans and their mythologies into the story.
My favorite character is Friar John. I spent most of the book wanting to know his secret. It's a biggie, but I won't spoil it for you.
Burton is a master storyteller. Creating worlds and touring the reader through them like a pro. It's hard to believe this is a debut novel. To think that his work is only going to get better... I can't wait for the next one.
David McAfee,
Author of 33 A.D., Saying Goodbye to the Sun, and GRUBS
My favorite character is Friar John. I spent most of the book wanting to know his secret. It's a biggie, but I won't spoil it for you.
Burton is a master storyteller. Creating worlds and touring the reader through them like a pro. It's hard to believe this is a debut novel. To think that his work is only going to get better... I can't wait for the next one.
David McAfee,
Author of 33 A.D., Saying Goodbye to the Sun, and GRUBS
May 10, 2010
As someone who has stuck almost exclusively to non fiction books, I was not sure how much I would enjoy this book. Well after finishing the book I can say it just an amazing book. You literally felt as if you were transported to another world with such great details paid to the descriptive elements of the book. This respect for detail from Mr Burton really played a key role in why the book was able to draw you in so deep. Add to this a plethora of unique and diverse characters plus a plot that is multi-layered and you have a real winner here. Even better is that this is the first book in a series. I for one will be buying the next book as soon as it is released.
August 1, 2013
One of those odd books wherein the author has the capability of putting together writing that is technically outstanding but storyline-wise is confusing and difficult to follow. I felt that there might have been a plot here that I might be interested in but I couldn't follow it well enough to really figure out what was going on. It seems that the author has written a number of books though - perhaps I'll try another selection further down the line and see if it fulfills some of the promise I see here.
May 31, 2010
Fantastic book! Very highly recommended, and I can't wait for the sequel. I usually don't like fantasy as much as sci-fi/horror, but I'm always a sucker for post-apocalyptic stories, especially when The Church isn't the good guys.
Better characterization than I've come to expect from Major Published Authors, an engaging plot and a setting that is intriguing and thoughtful.
Better characterization than I've come to expect from Major Published Authors, an engaging plot and a setting that is intriguing and thoughtful.
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June 23, 2010**This one is currently "on hold," as I went off and left it at home (not intentionally) when I departed for other states for work! What I read, I enjoyed, though.**
October 7, 2010
Read my review as part of Read All Over's 31 Days of Halloween extravaganza
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