I received a copy of this book for free and am leaving this review
voluntarily.
What is the nature of the multiverse? Well, you never know what is going to
happen next. You never know who you are going to meet. You never know who your
enemies might be; even a little old lady in an elevator can be very dangerous.
The book "Josh and Sen" tells the story of an unlikely pair of
characters who have different goals but are forced to work together. There is
some violence in the story, but the reader cannot help but laugh now and then.
The humor in the story is a tad not unlike that of Douglas Adams’ style. One
should read carefully to get it.
I will admit, at the opening of this story, I almost set the book aside. The
prologue was loaded with jargon and big words I didn't understand, and I was
confused with what this book was about. I didn't stop reading and as I got into
the first chapter, things became clearer. Following the opening, Josh and Sen
quickly became a book that I didn't want to put down, and I read it in a couple
of days.
Terran, Joshua Tanner, has had a spotty past, but he is working hard to get
his life together and be able to be with his daughter, Sophie, again. Working
to be responsible, he studies to be an attorney. While riding an elevator, he
begins hearing a voice in his head warning him he is about to be attacked by an
old woman on an elevator. It turns out the voice is correct when the old woman
pulls out a knife from her shopping bag and goes after josh in that small
space.
Josh is no stranger to fighting and, thanks to the use of his briefcase, he
defends himself, and he stops the old woman's relentless attack by beating her
to death with the valise that saved his life.
Senyak Marztanak fails his grandfather's examinations to gain his family's
ruling seat. Zenyak, his grandfather, strips Sen of his immortality and starts
him in a re-training program, administered by himself.
Josh and Sen are joined in the multiverse by Karma and have to work together
to achieve their individual goals.
All the while, the Oblivion comes closer, threatening to end everything.
While Josh and Sen, along with Zenyak, are the center of the story, I
enjoyed the immortal characters the two protagonists meet along the way. None
of them behaved as one expects as they, and we meet them. Zenyak challenges the
protagonists to gain their powers and abilities by performing tasks. Some tasks
include defeating dangerous enemies, other tasks allow the pair to meet
immortal figures who are not at all as they are portrayed in mythology and
literature. This brought an interesting dimension to the book that fascinated
me.
My favorite point of plot is how the characters face some impossible odds as
they go on their various quests, but they use their observations to adapt to
the various obstacles in their way. The author's video gaming influence is
apparent in that, after each success, the protagonists experience they get a
report on the increase of their abilities in a very gaming sort of way. They
grow stronger as they complete tasks and acquire items.
My takeaway from this book is, no matter how weird life can seem, it can
always get weirder - take nothing for granted!
After my initial confusion at the very beginning of the story, once I
settled in, I found Josh and Sen an enjoyable read that mixes fantasy with
science fiction in a satisfying way. The characters are interesting, and the
story unfolds by ramping up the tension and then giving release. The story is
full of twists and turns and the solutions to problems are not always obvious.
We get a look at the thought processes of the protagonists that add depth to
the story. This is the first installment of a series, and I can only think that
the stakes are going to continue to rise as the character's challenges become
more difficult. I recommend this story for its straight to the point approach
after a rather confusing introduction that almost didn't hook me. Your milage
may vary.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
He has trained in several fields of martial arts over the year, including
Tae Kwon Do, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Older now, he would rather be surfing,
snowboarding, and skating when he is brave enough!
Most importantly, he is the proud father of four amazing children: Indigo,
Tristan, Kireina, and Nina. They even text him sometimes. He is also the lucky
owner of the world's cutest chihuahua, Rosie.
Well, there it is...
Qapla!
