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Editorial Reviews
Meet Dieter Resnick. Dieter is the sole child of an abusive single father, a perennial schoolyard brawler, and Ted Binion High's number one academic prospect. Dieter is terrified of staying poor. He has few friends and is absolutely obsessed with earning a college scholarship. He's also a latent mage--one of the few humans left that can bend the manaflows to their will.
Too bad no one told him. Now a boy is dead.
Meet Rei Acerba Bathory. Rei is a second year student at Elliot College, the premiere magical training academy in North America. She's also on an all-liquid diet. Rei acquired her odd speech and mannerisms living among her centuries-old kin--strange vampiric creatures that have carved out the Midwest as their playground. She can kill a man without blinking, but has a serious weakness for puppies. Thanks to a childhood spent living cloistered from the public, Rei knows little of modern society. She'd do well to make some friends, but her fellow trainees despise her. Rei is the first of her kind to be admitted, and many hope to make her the last.
Dieter was raised in the grimy outskirts of Las Vegas. Rei was homeschooled in a Chicago mansion. Both are on their way to Elliot College. Both believe the other is a creature of idle fantasy. In ten hours, they're going to be at the center of a war fought by shadow actors. In eleven hours, they're going to become a weft-pair, bound together by the most sacred spell in the magic canon. And in twelve hours? Well, in twelve hours, they've got to get to class...
Zero Sight is a full-length young adult fantasy novel, 107,000 words or about 350 pages.
B. Justin Shier and Team Astraeus are hard at work on Zero Sum, the second installment in the Zero Sight Series. It is scheduled for release in the fall of 2011.
Related Reviews
If you have liked The Magicians or other books I would consider "adult" Harry Potter styled books you will love this. It is interesting and action packed pretty much the whole way through. I am excited to see what the rest of the series turns out like but if it is anything like the first then it will be among my favorite series. It is set in America, sometime in the future, or maybe an alternative present day where the financial crisis cause more damage then the one we are currently facing. It has your typical fantasy start; poor boy, not too popular and he suddenly discovers he has powers he can't understand, if you read fantasy you can take it from there. However it is not over done, you don't feel like it is unimaginable, the main character is obviously intelligent and motivated from the very start, it's more a hard working kid got a lucky break (possibly unlucky) then a lost prince found working in someone's kitchen. The only downside is the series just came out, I would very much have liked to pick it up towards the end so I could read the whole series straight through.
I am not a young adult and the only real regret I have in reading this is the wait for book 2!
I tried out the available sample and then immediately after finishing it purchased the full ebook. Very entertaining!
I thoroughly enjoyed the read. Yes there were a few slow spots but only minimal ones and only a couple of errors in writing, which I tend to believe were more along the lines of typos. I mention that as I see a lot of complaints about editing for indie books, but you really don't need to worry about that with this one.
I was a little frustrated at first as some terms and things were not explained right away but I stuck with it and am glad I did because they were explained later on when the main character learned what they were too, which I thought was a neat trick. I enjoyed the writing style and the humor as well as the characterization. I could feel the differences in the characters.
I believe there is a synopsis of the book elsewhere so if you enjoy urban fantasy, magic that makes sense and a world that does seem as if it could be a hidden part of our own then you will enjoy this. Magic and vampires, and so much left to explore in the world, I am seriously looking forward to more!
I don't usually do reviews, but I wanted to add to the pot on this one. I also enjoyed the author's blog and agree with his take on publishing. This review is my way of showing support.
Thank you for sharing the story.
Keep writing, and hurry up with book 2!
I tried out the available sample and then immediately after finishing it purchased the full ebook. Very entertaining!
I thoroughly enjoyed the read. Yes there were a few slow spots but only minimal ones and only a couple of errors in writing, which I tend to believe were more along the lines of typos. I mention that as I see a lot of complaints about editing for indie books, but you really don't need to worry about that with this one.
I was a little frustrated at first as some terms and things were not explained right away but I stuck with it and am glad I did because they were explained later on when the main character learned what they were too, which I thought was a neat trick. I enjoyed the writing style and the humor as well as the characterization. I could feel the differences in the characters.
I believe there is a synopsis of the book elsewhere so if you enjoy urban fantasy, magic that makes sense and a world that does seem as if it could be a hidden part of our own then you will enjoy this. Magic and vampires, and so much left to explore in the world, I am seriously looking forward to more!
I don't usually do reviews, but I wanted to add to the pot on this one. I also enjoyed the author's blog and agree with his take on publishing. This review is my way of showing support.
Thank you for sharing the story.
Keep writing, and hurry up with book 2!
Surprisingly good, great style, but Author has some space to improve.
I have been hunting worthwhile new fantasy ever since I finished reading the worthwhile old ones, and it's very hard to find. I thought this would be another typically shallow magician flick.
I would first like to explain why I gave this product 4 stars and not 5: I think that despite some really great and unique elements in the book, there is room for improvement, which is only to be expected for a first novel. I love the style, the fact that the hero is a science nerd. The entire narrative was transformed by how well characterised the hero was. Tha action is fast-paced, the descriptions well written etc... it's well done as a whole. The bits that stick out are the narrative which really feels genuine, and some fun characters, as well as an interesting if not groundshatteringly original magical system (similar to the magic seen in Lackey's Valdemar universe). Once again, what sealed the deal for me, made me enjoy this enormously, was how well the character-centered viewpoint described the action.
This said, as has been mentioned in other reviews, I wish there was a bit more "world-building time". I love all passages in Rothfuss's The Name of the Wind where we discover the University that the hero Kvothe attends to, and I think that the novel could seriously have benefitted some extra space for defining the magic used by the Magi, the different things about vampires and international mage organisations etc, as well as space to define the friendships between the main character and his friends. After three months at the university, we have no information whatsoever on his friendship with some of his flatmates, and have to take their interactions in our stride and make clumsy assumptions about them. In the same way, the attitude all characters have with the Dean is surprising because nothing has been shown about these relationships. etc, etc, etc.
It's a real shame in my opinion because if there was more written about the time spent in the uni/school/colledge/whatever, this book would have gone from originally written and very good to amazing and great. This said, I will be watching what Shier does in the future very closely: this book has a certain solodity and reality of character that I found tragically weak in the acclaimed Magicians by Grossman, and entirely inexistant in 95% of fantasy novels. I feel very selfish when I wish this author treated medecine as a hobby rather than writing, to focus on creating happiness rather than healh, making life worth living and not simply lived etc :P. (Pompous ending ftw)
I would first like to explain why I gave this product 4 stars and not 5: I think that despite some really great and unique elements in the book, there is room for improvement, which is only to be expected for a first novel. I love the style, the fact that the hero is a science nerd. The entire narrative was transformed by how well characterised the hero was. Tha action is fast-paced, the descriptions well written etc... it's well done as a whole. The bits that stick out are the narrative which really feels genuine, and some fun characters, as well as an interesting if not groundshatteringly original magical system (similar to the magic seen in Lackey's Valdemar universe). Once again, what sealed the deal for me, made me enjoy this enormously, was how well the character-centered viewpoint described the action.
This said, as has been mentioned in other reviews, I wish there was a bit more "world-building time". I love all passages in Rothfuss's The Name of the Wind where we discover the University that the hero Kvothe attends to, and I think that the novel could seriously have benefitted some extra space for defining the magic used by the Magi, the different things about vampires and international mage organisations etc, as well as space to define the friendships between the main character and his friends. After three months at the university, we have no information whatsoever on his friendship with some of his flatmates, and have to take their interactions in our stride and make clumsy assumptions about them. In the same way, the attitude all characters have with the Dean is surprising because nothing has been shown about these relationships. etc, etc, etc.
It's a real shame in my opinion because if there was more written about the time spent in the uni/school/colledge/whatever, this book would have gone from originally written and very good to amazing and great. This said, I will be watching what Shier does in the future very closely: this book has a certain solodity and reality of character that I found tragically weak in the acclaimed Magicians by Grossman, and entirely inexistant in 95% of fantasy novels. I feel very selfish when I wish this author treated medecine as a hobby rather than writing, to focus on creating happiness rather than healh, making life worth living and not simply lived etc :P. (Pompous ending ftw)
The humor and sarcasm of the main character as well as the way fantasy blends into mythology is great. I am a huge fantasy and sci-fi reader and I can't wait for the next book to come out.
Disclaimer: I'm a friend of the author. But, aside from that, I've got no incentive to misrepresent the book. I feel that would be doing him a disservice anyway.
The book was just a great deal of fun to read. The main characters were developed well (and in appropriate fashion for their 'role' in the novel), and they are just as fun as the fantasy world they represent.
The story itself is really interesting, too. It is a clever play on some contemporary issues that we're all familiar with, but kind of thrust into an alternate reality. It has all of the elements necessary to make it a truly immersive fantasy experience--main characters with fun personalities, mystery, politics (well--this part is essentially developing as book one comes to a close), and a growing list of supporting characters that bring the rest of the world to life.
The book was just a great deal of fun to read. The main characters were developed well (and in appropriate fashion for their 'role' in the novel), and they are just as fun as the fantasy world they represent.
The story itself is really interesting, too. It is a clever play on some contemporary issues that we're all familiar with, but kind of thrust into an alternate reality. It has all of the elements necessary to make it a truly immersive fantasy experience--main characters with fun personalities, mystery, politics (well--this part is essentially developing as book one comes to a close), and a growing list of supporting characters that bring the rest of the world to life.
Recommended by Amazon based upon my reading habits, bought it and read it straight through which is a problem for work because I didn't finish until 4:00 AM. Great characters and a fun premise. The only problem I see is that there are no other books in the series yet and the author says he is going to medical school. Bummer. If he were only writing I could hope for a new book every few months like the Galaxy Unknown series by de Prima.
Awaiting the next book in the series!!
This is not typically the type of book I read so it took me a couple chapters to get into it, now I am awaiting the rest of the series!!
Interesting well written spin on a old concept
Downloaded the book a couple of days ago, didn't want to put it down. I am always culling the kindle books in a neverending search for something good to read. I found it with this book. It is a little disappointing to find that it is book one of an unknown number, and the others have not been written. However, that is about the only bad thing I have against this book. The book finds a young budding mage, who learns of his power, travels to a school, and the trials / tribulations that occur. However, be aware this is a far more adult book than Harry Potter or other fantasy young adult books. The book takes place in our world, slightly fast fowarded. Becasue of that there is no world building needed, it is already there with a few minor modifications and some conspiracy thrown in. The main character is well written and his motivations and emotions for the most part flow well with the book. I liked the world magic concept, it was internally consistant, and the book had a new take on vampires.
My one complaint / glaring issue that bogged me down though, was the magic "weft" spell. Normally I do not mind mind book explinations such as, there is no explination "its magic". I acknowledge that it is a fanstay book, but the weft concept, delivery and execution seemed stilted and force fed. The spell occured and somehow, the character was unaware even though it was his spell. The effect of the weft joining seemed to be somewhere between a powerboost and an emotion transfer, but not really and it was never explained. And there were wierd thoughts and emotions the main charcter experienced that might have been due to the weft, but weren't really followed through. I don't want to take away the enjoyment of reading the book, so I won't go into specifics. But it just bugged me throughout the book.
Overall, like I said it was a great book. Enjoyed the whole thing, I highly recommend it. For its price its a great deal.
My one complaint / glaring issue that bogged me down though, was the magic "weft" spell. Normally I do not mind mind book explinations such as, there is no explination "its magic". I acknowledge that it is a fanstay book, but the weft concept, delivery and execution seemed stilted and force fed. The spell occured and somehow, the character was unaware even though it was his spell. The effect of the weft joining seemed to be somewhere between a powerboost and an emotion transfer, but not really and it was never explained. And there were wierd thoughts and emotions the main charcter experienced that might have been due to the weft, but weren't really followed through. I don't want to take away the enjoyment of reading the book, so I won't go into specifics. But it just bugged me throughout the book.
Overall, like I said it was a great book. Enjoyed the whole thing, I highly recommend it. For its price its a great deal.
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