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The Forever Gate Compendium Edition (2013)

by Isaac Hooke(Favorite Author)

3.6 of 5 Votes: 5

ISBN

1484910907 (ISBN13: 9781484910900)

languge

English

genre

Fantasy

publisher

Createspace

review 1: Better than competing books with average 4.7 star ratings* This review contains no spoilers. *This novel has about as much to do with the Matrix as Star Wars has to do with Star Trek because there's actors with prosthetics on their heads in it.There's a multitude of good things to say about The Forever Gate, such as that it's far better than competing books in this genre (yes, including those with average ratings of 4.7 stars), and it's worth far more than it costs to buy in the Kindle store. This is the first indie novel I have ever read, and this is the first novel that I have ever been inspired to write a review for. If you're looking for a reason to own a Kindle, The Forever Gate is it. Again, disregard the reviews that try to compare it to the Matrix: it's as similar ... moreto the Matrix as Harry Potter's Quidditch is to The Wheel of Time's Battle of Dumai's Wells. This is a unique work.The writing is exceptional, in that it conveys just the right balance of action, emotion and plot, while catching the reader in a tight net woven of suspense. Hooke's indefatigable concentration is remarkable, and he continually manages to compel the reader, always filling the pages with excellence and intrigue.This story will inspire a gamut of emotions in you, as it did for me, from sheer joy and captivation, to excitement, all the way to bringing you to the brink (or over the brink) of tears. You will FEEL as you read. You will find yourself laughing out loud, sometimes at the deftly woven humor, sometimes at the fantastic twists and turns the plot takes. You'll feel sorrow for those who experience trials and traumas, and you'll feel exhilaration for the victories. You'll hate the villains and cheer for the heroes and heroines.There were times in this book that I felt anxious about the life of the main character. Only a great story can make one worry about a fictional character. The fact that Hooke can do all this speaks volumes about his capacity as a storyteller, easily catapulting him into that realm that is the exclusive abode of the best Fantasy/Science Fiction writers.I've become a fan, and truly hope there will be future books in The Forever Gate series, which will likely become a Fantasy/Science Fiction classic. The Forever Gate displays the same passion for character progression and sheer greatness of story as the classics, and the characters are swept away on a surprising journey.It's sort of like going out to a formal dinner at an expensive Italian restaurant: The opening chapters draw you in and fire you for what's to come, like quaffing a fine aperitivo and downing a plate of antipasti with fresh caviar and crispy bruschetta. The meat of The Forever Gate is like a grand first and second course of gourmet fettucine all'amatriciana and split lobster paired with a side of rosemary foccacia and perfectly aged red wine. The glorious and unexpected ending is like a delicious dessert of torta di cioccolato bianco followed by a shot of limoncello digestivo. Such a feast is best enjoyed in good company, and I can think of no better company than Isaac Hooke's characters in The Forever Gate.The author leaves one wishing for The Forever Gate to go on forever... It's really that good.Beautifully done, Mr. Hooke!
review 2: I grabbed this from the Amazon Kindle lending library, because the premise sounded interesting. It started out good, and suddenly I felt like I was reading a rip-off of several other sci-fi books/movies. While disappointed, I continued reading it, since I didn't have any other books handy. What a great decision! While the story certainly shares elements of other, more familiar books/movies, it goes off in an entirely different direction. I don't want to give anything away, so I won't go into much detail, you'll have to read it yourself. Well-written, good characters, strong story! less

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