A jilted lover kills herself after learning that she can’t have the man she desires most. A target of bullies is granted magical powers to seek revenge from a strange, otherworldly entity. The angel of death watches in the wings, taking interest in order to stop a terrible and inevitable fate. An invading force known as The Loons is coming to consume and extinguish the Earth across all dimensions. All of these happenings intertwine and knot together to create an action-packed story of death, rebirth, identity, and destiny, with all of humanity hanging in the balance.

An unlikely hero is born and reborn in order to be spiritually prepared for the lonely and necessary work that must be done in order to save all that will be and has ever been. At the center of this story are Azrael, the angel of death himself, and a tragic boy kept under his watch. Through several lifetimes, the boy has been known as Vincent StCloude, Jonathan Shadowski, and even the dark and mysterious Hatmanshadow. His journey from victim to reluctant hero takes many twists and turns, offering him the power to make changes but not ever quite following the trajectory he would expect. Every blessing seems to carry a curse with it for him, but each setback and struggle merely prepares him for doing battle with the deadly and dangerous Loon Army. Coming to terms with what is required of him and the fractured sense of identity that comes with living multiple lives, Vincent learns to trust those close to him and make full use of his gifts in order to ensure the continued safety of the only world he knows.

Steeped in the supernatural and with elements of science fiction and the occult, this fantasy story examines the dark side of seeking revenge and the strange ways in which redemption can offer itself. The characters are memorable, and even when the story takes more introspective turns and delays its climax, the small and mundane actions of finding a good song on the radio or decompressing after work go a great distance to strongly define and add texture to the protagonist. The general tone of the story is a bit gothic. Even with Vincent and Azrael’s noble mission and the sacrifices they make, the themes and settings lean toward the darker side of things. Even the good guys often deal with significant chips on their shoulders.

When the action does get rolling, it has plenty to offer fans of martial arts, action movies, and popular science fiction and fantasy works. The contrast of paces within the story makes each conflict kinetic and memorable, not just entertaining the reader but also surprising them with unexpected developments and twists. Many of the key plot details and events in Vincent’s life turn a more typical hero’s journey into something that innovates and feels fresh even to seasoned readers of the genre. Content to explain enough to keep the story from feeling confusing but not inundate the audience with an excessive amount of details, this story is addictive and ensures a captive audience all the way to its cinematic conclusion.

Return to USR Home