Synopsis:
In a secret laboratory hidden under the desert, a covert bioengineering project--codename "Exodus"--has discovered the gene responsible for the human soul.
Somewhere in the neon sprawl outside the nation's collapsing economic core, a group of renegade monks are on the verge of uncovering a secret that has eluded mankind for centuries.
In a glittering tower high above the urban decay, an ascendant U.S. Senator is found dead--an apparent, yet inexplicable, suicide.
And in the streets below, a young man races through an ultra modern metropolis on the verge of a violent revolution....closing in on the terrible truth behind Exodus--and one man's dark vision for the future of mankind.
Welcome to Tiber City.
My review:
Fast-paced, full of both action and tension, Kingdom tumbles the reader through a dystopian world both recognisable and yet immensely different.
At times the descriptions in this book were almost too intense, the scenes too graphic to bear. And yet this horror was never out of place with the world in which it was set, always there for a clear purpose. Its this imagery that really gives life to the book and propels the reader on in the hope that things might become better.
There was never a dull moment in this story. Events just kept coming, mirroring the fast-paced world in which the plot is set. At no point did I want to put the book down and pick it up another time. On the contrary, given the chance I was able to read half this book in one sitting.
Its not an easy read, but this is a boo which I thoroughly recommend to fans of dystopian worlds. I comes with only one warning though- this is not one for the young or the feint of heart!
Disclosure
of Material Connection: I received this book for review from the author. I was
not compensated nor was I required to write a positive review. The opinions I
have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal
Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements
and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Purchase
Links:
Kindle Edition: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0085DY50A/
Paperback Edition: http://www.amazon.com/Kingdom-Anderson-ODonnell/dp/0615553184/
I’m about to write something I never
thought I’d think, let alone type: With regard to publishing, particularly in
the digital era, it’s not just about the numbers.
I realize that, for some, this realization
might not be particularly earth shattering. But when I was researching whether
to self-publish, statistics were everywhere: Downloads. Amazon ranking. Page
views. Indie fairy tales with a six-figure ending. E-readers market share.
Decline in print sales.
Every one, it seemed, was talking about
devices and distribution, consumers and downloaders. But what about the
readers? In the mad dash for visibility and platform creation, some writers
seem to have forgotten that not only does our long-term success hinge on
cultivating relationships with readers—as opposed to consumers—but the stories
themselves depend on devoted readers.
Sexy
Statistics
There are a number of indie publishing
prophets tossing around a lot of sexy statistics. For example, did you hear
about Amanda Hocking’s deal? I bet you did, and hey, it’s one hell of a
deal—exactly the sort of fairy tale that can make toiling away in a dark, damp
basement seem worthwhile.
In fact, I have a confession to make: When
I first waded into the indie publishing waters, I thought that my number one
priority should be getting as many copies of KINGDOM onto as many e-readers as
possible. Free downloads—that was the ticket. And through Amazon KDP free days
and the like, 15,000 or so people downloaded KINGDOM. But lately I’ve been
wondering: how many actually read it? The most majority of downloaded copies
are probably languishing alongside a hundred or so similar freebies. The sheer
glut of content generated by these promotional giveaways is staggering; how
many books are being snagged then forgotten?
While these numbers might yield some sort
term gain, in the long run, our stories will suffer. After all, when a story
gets published, its not actually done; it’s just moving to the next stage in an
on-going creative process. By devouring their favorite stories, readers often
reveal elements of the characters and story that surprise even the author.
Literature needs to be discussed and dissected. It needs to be loved; it needs
to be loathed—visceral is always better than lukewarm. If your story is sitting
on an e-reader along with 100 other indie books, odds are this will never
happen.
Find
Your Readers
The fascination with numbers, rather than
readers, is understandable; the numbers are seductive, and all writers dream of
during their hobby into a profession. But it’s critical to not allow the
numbers to get in the way of engaging readers.
So what’s the antidote to all this? Rather
than focusing on numbers, let’s concentrate on finding as many ways to engage
readers as possible. This month, for example, I’m participating in the Book
Club Bash, where reading groups get together and dissect several new indie
novels, including my baby, KINGDOM. I’m thrilled, because events like Book Club
Bash are going to help authors distinguish themselves from the current glut of
indie authors chasing the numbers. Indie publishing is about building
relationships, reader by reader.
So the next time you come across those
headline grabbing indie statistics, take a deep breath. There are quite a
number of writers taking the self-publishing plunge at the moment, and the ones
who survive the inevitable culling will be the authors who ignore the numbers
and focus on what truly matters: the reader.
Action Reader's Action:
Help promote an indie author that you like.
Make a blog post, chat on twitter/facebook, or talk about their books with a friend
What do you think it means to be human?
