Tag Archives: Stuart Meczes

Book Review: The Rising (Hasea Chronicles #4) by Stuart Meczes

Posted in Book Reviews by

About the Book:

53330464

HASEA CHRONICLES BOOK IV

A world apart but united in their singular mission, the Guardians of Orion struggle for survival as they force their way across the brutal and unforgiving planet of Pandemonia.

Still tormented by the ever intensifying visions that plague his dreams, Alex is forced to endure his growing desperation and fear as his party continue their journey across the Dark Sea, led by the grizzled mercenary Zero and his band of misfits. At the same time, word of the Sorrowslayer spreads like wildfire across the world, shedding a final ray of light onto those who had already given up hope.

Meanwhile, Scarlett and her team of Guardians have found themselves caught in the clutches of the deranged Scorched Knight, Lilith. What she wants with them is unclear, but they know their only chance is escape…at whatever cost.

And hidden in the shadows something ancient stirs, waiting for everyone to play their part.

For the Rising is coming, and with it, the end of all things.

My Thoughts:

The Rising is Book 4 in the Chronicles of Hasea series and perhaps one of the darkest books in the series. The plot thickens in this book as Alex navigates the Dark Sea to find Gabriella and his father. The Guardians are forced to split up with Alex leading a few along with Zero and his band of misfits and Scarlet leading the rest.

The plot thickens in this book and pushes us towards a climax filled with sorrow and hope, betrayal and wonderment at the unexpected support received. Even though everything seems different in Pandemonia, so much is still relatable and the politics as well as woes of the residents are much the same as that on Earth.

I really like how the series started off quite simply in terms of the plot line but became darker and darker as the characters evolved and the plot thickened. It shows how much the author’s style of writing evolved in this journey with the characters. The reader follows the characters as they race against time, battling for survival. The story is fast-paced and intense with a few nail-biting moments that will keep the reader hooked and hoping for more.

The story ends on a high and of course paves the way for the final installment of the series. I truly loved this book, breezing through the series, through one book after the other and I am excited to read the last one. It is a bittersweet moment to realize that the series is almost at the end and I feel as though I have been through a lot with the characters, practically living a double life along-side them.

This series is a wonderful read in the fantasy fiction genre is definitely one of my favourite this year! Yes! I loved all the four books in the series and I cannot wait to know how the story concludes for everyone involved!

Book Review: The Veil (Hasea Chronicles #3) by Stuart Meczes

Posted in Book Reviews by

About the Book:

25990218

The Veil has finally been crossed.

Alex, Gabriella and the other Guardians of Orion have arrived in Fenodara, a beautiful Luminar city that acts as the last beacon of hope for a dying civilization – but also a place that hides a dark secret. Never before have they been so close to the Ageless war and witnessed the way it corrupts not only the fading world, but also those who live there.

Soon afterwards, a devastating attack on the city rips Orion apart. Broken and defeated, the Guardians are forced to separate and travel through the dark underbelly of Pandemonia in a desperate attempt to save those they love, and stop the forces of Hades before it is too late. However, the longer Alex spends in the dark and hostile world, the more a single fact becomes clear to him.

This is a journey they might never return from.

DILECTI SURGEMUS – SOCII POLLEMUS
(Chosen we rise – Allied we prevail)

My Thoughts:

As author Stuart Meczes rightly mentioned in his note at the start of this book, the story gets deeper and darker as it progresses. The Veil is the third book in the series and follows the events of the second book, leading the reader right into the story. In this book, we get to see different sides of each character and how they have changed over the course of the journey so far.

The author has done a wonderful job in describing Pandemonia and bringing it to life. This is a whole different world that our main characters now have to navigate. The author’s writing keeps getting better with each book and so does the suspense. This book will draw the reader in faster than the other two and is definitely unputdownable. I read it at a stretch over a few days, always feeling the need to read just one more page to know what happens next and this ended up in turning the pages until the very end.

In this book, we are rewarded with more insights into some of the Guardians and the bonds that they all share. It stems from shared experiences, love and a sense of belonging. I quite enjoyed the different points of view and even the way the story is told from Scarlet’s point of view once the Guardians are forced to split up. The first person point of view helps to understand the characters more and relate to them as they find their way through Pandemonia and all the pandemonium around!

A truly wonderful book in the series, The Veil sets the tone for the rest of the book and I cannot wait to know what happens next. The ending is once again a cliff-hanger leaving the reader wanting for more and thus ensuring that we pick up the next book in the series! Fans of fantasy fiction with supernatural elements, magic and adventure will love this series!

Book Review: The Corruption (Hasea Chronicles #2) by Stuart Meczes

Posted in Book Reviews by

About the Book:

53330119

It’s been six months since Alex and Gabriella stood against The Sorrow and won. The Veil still stands uncrossed, and with every passing day the possibility of finding the person stolen from Alex alive diminishes. But after an influx of new Awakenings, the Alliance is being stretched to breaking point. A melancholic Sophia is acting mysteriously and Sage Faru has set the formidable task of gathering a team of Guardians willing to enter Pandemonia. Meanwhile the looming threat of a new, stronger SOS hides in the shadows.

But that is the least of Alex’s worries.

Something is growing inside of him. Something dark and vengeful that whispers in the silence. Something that plagues his dreams with visions of a horrifying apocalypse.

An apocalypse he will start.

As Gabriella struggles to hold everything together and Alex struggles not to fall apart, one thing becomes clear. Before they can cross the Veil and stand against Hades, Alex must first defeat his greatest enemy. Himself.

DILECTI SURGEMUS – SOCII POLLEMUS
(Chosen we rise – Allied we prevail)

My Thoughts:

The Corruption is the second book in the Hasea Chronicles and picks up six months after where the first book ends. This book is much more fast-paced and filled with suspense that will keep the reader hooked until the very end. The author has done an amazing job with world building and I absolutely love his style of writing, especially with the alternating points of view between Gabriella and Alex. This helps to provide their different perspectives as well as the story through each of their eyes. The opinions of the characters and how they view each event as well as how they take decisions are brought out through this.

This story focuses on the internal battles of the characters and while we are in a fantasy realm, the internal struggle to find one’s identity is something that we can all relate to. Alex, having defeated The Shadow now faces an internal struggle of good vs. evil as he tries to reconcile his darker side with the righteous one. I believe that the author handled this very well and even though it spans many chapters, the story telling makes it all worth the read!

This book has much more action and a strong focus on characters while giving the reader a sense of the developing world. Despite the introduction of many new characters, the author does each of them justice and I think they have enough space in the plot to carry it forward. At each stage, the reader is taken along on a journey that is darker than the first but with some light at the end of the tunnel.

Having read both books 1 and 2, I admit that I am a big fan of the Hasea Chronicles and am looking forward to entering The Veil along with Alex and Gabriella as well as all the others who join them in their quest.

Book Review: The Awakening (Hasea Chronicles #1) by Stuart Meczes

Posted in Book Reviews by

About the Book:

Alexander Eden is one unhappy teenager. A geeky, social pariah, he’s the victim of constant bullying at school. His home life isn’t much better with a stepfather who resents him and a half brother who is better than him at everything.

But that all changes the day the mysterious and beautiful Gabriella De Luca walks into his life. Everyone wants to know her, to be with her. But she is interested in Alex.
Because Alex is different.

Soon afterwards he is thrown into a world he never thought possible. A world where he and others like him are the last line of defense. A world where an ancient unspeakable evil lurks.
Evil which seeks to consume him.

DILECTI SURGEMUS – SOCII POLLEMUS
(Chosen we rise – Allied we prevail)

My Thoughts:

I really liked the premise of the book and the entire series. This of course led to me picking up the first book and giving it a try! I was immediately intrigued. At first, I was a little confused with the events that were unfolding, but as I read on, I fell in love with each of the characters and the whole world that the author created.

The story follows protagonist Alex as he struggles to navigate through high school while his step-brother, who is younger, is the perfect one who is popular, into sports and generally well-liked all around. The dynamics of the two brothers evolves as the story progresses and I love how they learn to trust one another and rely on each other.

Gabriella is interesting and mysterious, entering the story suddenly but taking stage by storm. I really enjoyed getting to know her and how her relationship with Alex evolves. There is a lot more than meets the eye and Alex is about to be thrown into a world that he did not expect as well as learn secrets and uncover truths that were very well hidden.

As the story builds, the first book focuses entirely on Alex and how he finds himself and his place in the world, makes friends and eventually ends up being someone everyone relies on. I have to admit, that this is just one side of the whole plot and am looking forward to Book 2 which hopefully helps to explain some of the mysteries and story lines kept open in Book 1.