Title: Dawn of the Thirteenth Order
Author: Linda Arena
Publisher: FriesenPress
ISBN: 978-1460261064
Pages: 328
Genre: Mystery / Thriller & Suspense
Reviewed by: Jack Chambers
Hollywood Book Reviews
There are some places on our world which hold an abundance of mystery. Places that for some, call to the scientific possibilities of the future, where things like time and space have no meaning. To others, they speak of long-thought dead magic, as our ancestors once practiced and for many that which still lives through the planet itself. Some even consider these places evidence of the paranormal or supernatural, where everything from ghosts and goblins to aliens and Bigfoot can be found in abundance.
One such place is Mt. Shasta, and in author Linda Arena’s Dawn of the Thirteenth Order, the famed location becomes the central hub of a galactic battle to save the Earth from certain doom. Powerful, god-like beings known was the Guardians have watched over the planet Earth and its inhabitants for millennia from within Mt. Shasta, but when the leader of the guardians has a disagreement about humanity’s worth and loyalty, the rogue guardian begins a mission to destroy all life on Earth once and for all. In an effort to stop his plans, the head Guardian hides two humans on a parallel earth, their memories of their life together lost along with their twin sons that they shared together. Through fate, they find each other on this parallel world and with the help of their band of survivors in an apocalyptic world, and with the help of the Guardians, they must foil the plot of shapeshifters and the rogue Guardian to save the world from utter destruction.
To say this book was layered and richly developed would be an understatement. The author did a wonderful job of finding new and unique ways of incorporating real-life lore and myth regarding Mt. Shasta and both the cosmic and magical properties often associated with it into the fictitious world that was crafted here. The rich character development and wide cast of characters made this story feel like an epic, and the themes the author touches upon, from the nature of humanity versus morality and the impact we have on the environment of our world, were deeply felt in the fabric of this narrative.
This is the perfect read for those who enjoy epic sci-fi and fantasy reads, especially those which incorporate thriller and mystery elements into the narrative. The emotional connections the author establishes between the reader and these characters, along with the unique mythology that is developed throughout the novel, made for an entertaining and profoundly moving commentary on the state of our world and our connection to the mysteries that surround us on a daily basis.
Captivating, engaging, and thoughtful in its delivery, author Linda Arena’s Dawn of the Thirteenth Order is a must-read sci-fi meets fantasy thriller readers are going to be hard pressed to put down. The rich dialogue and powerful imagery the author’s writing utilizes helps bring an almost cinematic quality to the writing style, and the twists and turns in the narrative will strike both heart-pounding and hopeful notes as the reader gets lost in this unique universe the author has crafted.