A Vision of Fire: Book 1 of The EarthEnd Saga

I found it really well written, which I was expecting, and the story was twisty and hard to follow, which maybe some people would have a problem with, but it also made sense so I quite liked that aspect as well. The characters are very intriguing too, though some of the relationship aspect of it was a little too predictable, but there were still some interesting and unexpected turns even in that respite.
Something that I thought was very clear in the book, too, was the fact that it is one in a series and so not all will be resolved by the end of it. The main plot of the book was always being intercalated with scenes regarding the larger plot of the entire series, which I found thought provoking, and which now makes me almost regret having read it so quickly since now it will be a year before I'll know what happens next.
The main thing I was worried about actually was the main character which she had mentioned previously was partially based on herself, and when that happens it is not uncommon for the author to make the character a Mary Sue, but I found that was not at all the case.
I also liked the way many cultures were mentioned in a manner that seemed to a layman such as myself to be accurate, respectful, and easily comprehensible and relatable.
There were some things that I found myself squinting at because they were so out there, but this is after all sci-fi, so this is just related to my pure-mathematics based world views, which does not allow for the metaphysical, though it allows for some arguably even crazier stuff.
I have watched some things where she's talking about the book and its character and what were her and her co-writer's intent with this or that aspect, and I really do think it translated beautifully and was perfectly on point.

All in all, I found A Vision of Fire to be a pretty darn terrific debut novel.

I was eagerly awaiting this book. It was disappointing,confusing, and had no closure. Of course it is book one of a series. I will not purchase any more. Ms Anderson should take lessons from James Rollins if she is going to write books of this genre.

I THINK GILLIAN ANDERSON, IS A WONDERFUL ACTOR. I WATCHED EVERY XFILE. I THINK THIS BOOK NEEDED MAULTER, IN IT.
DO NOT USE THIS I WOULDN'T PUT HER DOWN FOR ANY REASON. I JUST COULDN'T GET INTO THE STORY.

Rather light fare. Starts out interesting if a little too familiar (secret group is collecting ancient artifacts) and then devolves into a mishmash of meta-physical nonsense. The protagonist, about whom we learn very little, is able to enter another physical plane and solve all the problems that were plaguing other characters, even though she has never been a believer in other planes or past-life regression. We learn that there is the aforementioned secret group, but nothing about their plans, their reason for existing, or even how many people are in this group. One artifact is mentioned, but we don't learn anything about the other pieces this group has collected. And then the ending comes along and it's so full of rainbow-and-puppy-dog happiness that you'll end up rolling your eyes.

So much is left unexplained that this feels more like half-a-book. Sure, you want to get people to read the sequels, but you shouldn't do it by not having things resolved. The only good thing I can say is that at least it's a quick read. It only took me a couple of hours.

A Vision of Fire (Earthend Saga #1) by Gillian Anderson and Jeff Rovin is a tense, intelligent and moving work of science and spiritual fiction that looks to be setting up a series on a massive storytelling scale.

Child psychologist Caitlin O'Hara receives a cryptic call from a friend to visit the daughter of India's Ambassador to the United Nations. The young girl has begun to have seizures of some sort and the Ambassador, embroiled in tense negotiations with Pakistan, cannot afford the publicity of his daughter's possible mental and emotional illness. Maanik, the young girl, is having visions and speaking languages she could not possibly know, appears to her parents to be possessed. Caitlin hypnotizes the girl and finds that Maanik is witnessing the end of the world. But is it Maanik or someone else inside of her?

Caitlin studies the visions and in doing so finds that there are multiple instances of teenagers across the globe having these visions. In Iran, a young man sets himself on fire. In Haiti, a young woman nearly drowns in seawater while she is standing on land. All have visions. All speak in foreign tongues that have no way of knowing.

In another part of the world an ancient artifact is unearthed and even animals are beginning to act strangely. A sense of impending doom upon everyone.

Caitlin must strive to unravel the mystery of what Maanik is seeing in her visions before the end of the world becomes a reality with India and Pakistan standing on the cusp of a nuclear war.

Gillian Anderson, yes that Gillian Anderson, Goddess to all fanboys across the world for her rendition of Scully on the X-Files; will be both applauded and skewered for daring to write her own novel. With a co-writer on board of course there will be those that question how much of the tale she actually wrote or is this another instance of using a celebrity name to sell a product. So if you see someone love this book or hate it based on Anderson's celebrity status then the truth is that they really didn't try to review it. They reviewed her and their perception of Gillian Anderson.

I fully admit that I love her as an actress and a personality. Full disclosure. But I'm not her to review Gillian Anderson, I'm here to review A Vision of Fire.

A Vision of Fire is an intelligent, ambitious novel of science and faith. Blending both superstition and psychology, it dares use both to bring answers to the mysteries it addresses. Are visions real? Is possession real? Are there powers and unexplained phenomenon in this world that we are unaware of and cannot protect ourselves from?

The book reads like an old HG Wells novel and I mean that in the best way. It explores and tantalizes, yet at times can move slowly. But it has too. Otherwise the reader would lose themselves in everything that is happening around them. The mood is consistently tense and you cannot help but get a little angry at Maanik's parents who keep her locked away as she seems to slowly go mad. Seeming to value the negative publicity over their daughter's welfare. The novel does, however, leave so many questions unanswered as it segues into a sequel. You are left with an unfinished story and that is something I found to be a negative.

Overall there is a very good story here and I am looking forward to the second book in the series. The only question is how grand will Anderson and Rovin make the tale, there is so much potential here.

I found this book, quite at random, through Audible and decided to give it a go since I was intrigued by Anderson writing a book. Now, as one might suspect when there's a tiny little name of another author in the corner, there are always questions about who did what. Anderson's been pretty open about it, and it sounds like she left most of the sci-fi stuff to Rovin and mostly contributed character stuff along with plot. At least, that's the impression created.

After finishing the book, I looked around at various critic reviews and most have been pretty harsh against the book. I think part of that is simply them sharpening their knives, ready to carve up an actor who is putting their name on a book. I get the cynicism, in a way. Through interviews, it seems like Anderson would like to make a movie based on the books and wants to play the character. So, you could see this as her creating a part for herself, and the whole project is part of that. But... I don't see anything necessarily damning about that. What writer doesn't, to an extent, write books for themselves to be a part of? Even if it's just in the act of writing it?

So, all that being said, I really enjoyed the book. Now, it has issues. It's not rocketing to my "best of" list. But I found it an enjoyable mystery. I know some reviewers are down on the fact that there's no antagonist here. A shadowy group of also exploring the central mystery of the book (though from a different angle) has the chance of producing an antagonist or two in future books. But, here, it's mostly Caitlyn against the mystery itself.

I think Anderson's reading of the book added a lot to it. She has a very relaxing voice, in some ways, but she's also very good at different accents and giving characters their own feel. For a book that does consist of a lot of talking between characters, that's a plus. I thought the role of the characters, and the global backdrop against which the story takes place, was really interesting and different. The story does do that thing wherein Western writers accept Eastern spiritual philosophy as totally true in a way you suspect they'd never just fully accept, say, Christianity. As an atheist, I have no "dog in the fight" either way. Just something I noted. In any case, I think it's fun to explore the metaphysical aspects of the mystery and it didn't bother me or annoy me or anything.

I will say, by the book's end it became hard imagining how it'd work on the screen. But I would go see the movie, just to see how someone could tackle it! Caitlyn feels very much like a role that Gillian Anderson could do wonders with. Though, I will say I did find the journey the character takes from skeptic to believer a bit abrupt. It's kind of the equivalent of Scully going from no believing in aliens to piloting an alien aircraft to rescue Mulder in the span of one episode in the X-files. Caitlyn does take some awfully big leaps here in logic, but to be fair it actually does make sense of the context of the story.

I'll definitely be checking out the second book.

Caitlin is a psychiatrist whose firm belief is in anything that is scientifically proven. Her faith is tested when thrown into a case that is unlike anything she has ever worked on. Realizing that her patient, Maanik, is linked to other cases of people having visions of fire and the end of the world from around the earth Caitlin is pushed to her limits. Is this just a new psychotic disorder or is this something out of our world?

I have some confessions to make-I only read this book because of Gillian Anderson. I have always been in love with Agent Scully even though The X-Files gave me nightmares when I was a kid, so I haven't really been up to date on the TV show but I knew of her because my parents loved the show. I also don't usually like scientific alien books; they usually lose me in the scientific aspect leaving me wanting in the alien part of the story but feeling completely unsatisfied. This book was the complete opposite of that. I am completely happy that I wanted to read this book because of Agent Scully, as I know Anderson, because I think I have found one of my favorite book series to date. As well because of this book I have started to binge watch The X-Files-partly because of Anderson, but mainly because after reading this book I want to immerse myself in alien lore, no matter what form.

The first few chapters had me worried when I realized that there were going to be many scientific parts of the story. I am not one for scientific anything, so I tend to stay away from it. But I stuck through it-I wanted to believe that the story would hook me and make me want to finish it, no matter how many words I would have to look up. I loved Caitlin, and she reminds me of Scully so much from X-Files-which doesn't really surprise me but I have to say it was a nice touch. One thing that I really liked too was Caitlin's romance with Ben. It wasn't a dominant part of the story but it was there, meaning, you were always rooting for them to get together but you never fully realized it until the characters did. Anderson and Rovin wrote an intriguing book, and I cannot wait for the rest of the series. Their writing style is a scientific one that keeps you entertained and on the edge of your seats.

Caitlin O’Hara is a child psychologist and a mother. Her long time friend (Ben) asks her to help on an unusual case, and one that requires the greatest discretion possible. She meets with Maanik who witnessed the recent assassination attempt on her father (India’s ambassador to the UN). Tensions are running high between Pakistan and India, so Maanik and her family have to put up a strong front of family bliss and strength. However, Maanik is practically uncommunicative when Caitlin meets her, pssibly suffering from some trauma. Caitlin works on this assumption until she hears of other similar, odd cases from other countries. Soon, the story is taking off in unexpected directions, full of mystery and action.

I thoroughly enjoyed 3/4 of this book. Caitlin is a well formed character with strengths and weaknesses. I especially enjoyed her relationship to her son (who is deaf). She’s detailed and determined in her job, but doesn’t always have the lightest touch with adults. Also, her love life is nonexistent for much of the book (giving a few mixed signals to a potential boyfriend). For much of the book, she relies on facts – things she experiences directly and things that repeat predictably (even if she doesn’t understand why they happen). But then towards the end she starts making intuitive leaps – like big, big leaps. In fact, the ending of the book is a huge, superhero with a cape leaping over tall buildings leap. It was a complete change in pacing for the book and a break in character from the established very logical Caitlin. For those two reasons, I can’t say I loved this book. I quite enjoyed 3/4 of it though.

The book did pull in bits and pieces from Norse mythology and Vodou, which was an interesting mix. For the most part, I liked it. Running parallel to these elements was a large-scale, well-funded conspiracy of unknown agents. I expect there will be more about them in the next book in the series. members of this conspiracy had small parts throughout the book, but for the most part, they seemed to be in the know as to what was going on world-wide.

So, back to the ending. things got loose and weird towards the end. It was too much too fast. SPOILER ALERT There was some gene memory thing going on – memories past down through the generations. And then we get aliens. Yep. END SPOILER ALERT. I think Book 1 could have ended a little earlier, and some of this extra not so well explained stuff could have been put into Book 2 and made better use of.

Over all, it was an interesting read. I would recommend waiting til Book 2 comes out so that you don’t have to wait around wondering what you missed in the ending of Book 1 and can jump into Book 2 right away where (hopefully) everything is explained.

Narration: Gillian Anderson did a great job narrating. Of course, I pictured her as Caitlin, but no harm in that. She pulled off the various accents well and had a variety of voices for children, men, and women.

Caitlin O’Hara is a child psychologist and a mother. Her long time friend (Ben) asks her to help on an unusual case, and one that requires the greatest discretion possible. She meets with Maanik who witnessed the recent assassination attempt on her father (India’s ambassador to the UN). Tensions are running high between Pakistan and India, so Maanik and her family have to put up a strong front of family bliss and strength. However, Maanik is practically uncommunicative when Caitlin meets her, pssibly suffering from some trauma. Caitlin works on this assumption until she hears of other similar, odd cases from other countries. Soon, the story is taking off in unexpected directions, full of mystery and action.

I thoroughly enjoyed 3/4 of this book. Caitlin is a well formed character with strengths and weaknesses. I especially enjoyed her relationship to her son (who is deaf). She’s detailed and determined in her job, but doesn’t always have the lightest touch with adults. Also, her love life is nonexistent for much of the book (giving a few mixed signals to a potential boyfriend). For much of the book, she relies on facts – things she experiences directly and things that repeat predictably (even if she doesn’t understand why they happen). But then towards the end she starts making intuitive leaps – like big, big leaps. In fact, the ending of the book is a huge, superhero with a cape leaping over tall buildings leap. It was a complete change in pacing for the book and a break in character from the established very logical Caitlin. For those two reasons, I can’t say I loved this book. I quite enjoyed 3/4 of it though.

The book did pull in bits and pieces from Norse mythology and Vodou, which was an interesting mix. For the most part, I liked it. Running parallel to these elements was a large-scale, well-funded conspiracy of unknown agents. I expect there will be more about them in the next book in the series. members of this conspiracy had small parts throughout the book, but for the most part, they seemed to be in the know as to what was going on world-wide.

So, back to the ending. things got loose and weird towards the end. It was too much too fast. SPOILER ALERT There was some gene memory thing going on – memories past down through the generations. And then we get aliens. Yep. END SPOILER ALERT. I think Book 1 could have ended a little earlier, and some of this extra not so well explained stuff could have been put into Book 2 and made better use of.

Over all, it was an interesting read. I would recommend waiting til Book 2 comes out so that you don’t have to wait around wondering what you missed in the ending of Book 1 and can jump into Book 2 right away where (hopefully) everything is explained.

Narration: Gillian Anderson did a great job narrating. Of course, I pictured her as Caitlin, but no harm in that. She pulled off the various accents well and had a variety of voices for children, men, and women.

This is a review of the audio book production only.
Narrator/author Gillian Anderson has a very pleasant voice, but this is a reading, not a performance. And, she reads this in about the most laid-back style I have ever heard. Imagine a female hypnotist.
The ebbs and flows of the story - not just characterizations and gender differences - can be communicated by various speech techniques, none of which are evident here. Luckily I can use my media player's speed control to listen to this on Fast speed. Else, I would be lulled to sleep, despite my inherent interest in this type of story.

After reading all the mixed reviews for A Vision of Fire, I wasn't sure if I wanted to read it or not. But I downloaded and read the first chapter on my Kindle, and it caught me. I was pleased to find the book very well-written with good pacing, interesting and believable characters, realistic dialog, and a workable plot. I had it figured out about halfway through but found the rest of the ride enjoyable. I really liked the characters and emphasized with them, and am already looking forward to the next in the series. For those who have said that the ending is confusing, this is a multi-book series as suggested by the secondary title (Book One of the Earthend Saga). This one wraps up it story nicely, with plenty of loose ends for the next book to catch onto. I'm already looking forward to it.

This review contains spoilers!

“Every fictional character is based on someone,” says Jacob, the son of the book’s protagonist, Caitlin O’Hara.
I would say this very accurately explains why Caitlin and Ben, the main characters in Gillian Anderson’s book “A Vision of Fire" have a relationship that bears many parallels to what we’ve read or heard about Anderson and David Duchovny over the decades. Anyone who has read or seen their interviews together or apart will recognize these similarities easily.

I’m not going to focus on the book’s plot, just the relationship aspect and history of the two characters with Anderson and Duchovny. There are other parallels, too, between what we know of Anderson and what we see in the main character, Caitlin, but a few include an unplanned pregnancy, her approach to motherhood, her history of panic attacks, and the fact she named a main character after her deceased brother. What I get about Anderson as an author is that she writes about what she knows and cares about and has put a lot of herself into the main character.

Caitlin is a medical doctor and a child psychologist and Ben is a linguist who works for the UN. Ben asks for Caitlin’s help regarding a bizarre situation involving the child of a UN ambassador. We learn that Caitlin considers Ben an “old friend.” They’ve actually known each other since college, but did not become “firm friends (until) 9 years ago.” (The timeline in terms of how long they have known each other (20 years) with when they reconnected fits that of Anderson and Duchovny.)

Caitlin and Ben became close right after her son’s birth. Duchovny and Anderson also became close during the filming I Want to Believe, which is also when she became pregnant with her last child. Caitlin has almost no contact with the child’s father and sent word to him of her pregnancy. (Caitlin’s negative characterization of his personality fits seems a blend of her past relationships and fits one of the few things Anderson has said about her second husband.)

Throughout the book, Caitlin and Ben spend a lot of time smiling, kidding around, telling each other jokes, gazing—yes, gazing—at each other, and gently touching one another while supposedly in the friend zone.

When we first see them together, they are meeting for breakfast to discuss the situation with the ambassador’s daughter. (Duchovny and Anderson have said they meet for breakfast and it has also been reported by others). However, their conversation immediately goes to their personal lives. Caitlin asks about Ben’s most recent relationship and we learn that he and Marina broke up. Caitlin makes a joke about Ben pouring coffee on Marina and he says, “With her, it was tea. She had a tea press.” (Given we’re told almost nothing about his ex, that we are told this detail was odd and made me think of Duchovny’s ex-wife, Tea Leoni).

We don’t find out what happened in Caitlin and Ben’s past but Ben mentions how he’s “never actually asked (her) out.” She tells him that she doesn’t want to screw up the “perfect” thing they have going by making things “deep and messy.” She tells him, “Events, yes. Dates, no.” He tells her the “past doesn’t need to inform the future” and tells her “the friend zone doesn’t exist after 40.” It’s all pretty light and jovial the way it goes down. We also learn from a text exchange with her younger sister that Caitlin doesn’t date much or have success dating and just went out on a “dud” of a date. (This also sounds like Anderson).

In another conversation, Ben asks Caitlin if she’s dating anyone and she asks why the conversation between the two of them always comes back to that. We never learn what happened in their past, but it is implied that despite never having gone on a date, that they had an intense and/or sexual relationship. (Isn’t that interesting? Sounds kind of familiar, doesn’t it? And it’s completely unclear how two people who never dated and weren’t close friends until more recently had such an intense relationship back in the day.) Anyway, Caitlin implies that Ben is someone who never wanted a commitment and Ben assures her that he wants the same stability as everyone else. The only thing we learn about their past is the analogy Caitlin later uses to describe it:

“Maybe it was because their history was like a circus act. Sometimes they were hanging from the same trapeze, sometimes they were on the opposite side of the tent, and sometimes they were plummeting toward the net. Their relationship wasn’t exactly something to hold on to. Still, she was glad to see him standing before her when she went back into the apartment. He had a warm smile—a relaxed smile…” (It was interesting to me that it was an analogy of two performers).

Despite trying to friend zone him, Caitlin later puts the moves on Ben when he walks her home. “He put his arm around her…She hadn’t realized that she had been curling into Ben’s side. He pulled his arm away but not completely, leaving his hand on her back and they strolled to the subway entrance.” (The description reminds me of many videos and pictures of Duchovny and Anderson at the Paley Center, Comic Con, and various red carpets).

On August 22, 2015, Duchovny received a tweet asking him his favorite thing to do on a Sunday. He misread the question as asking him his favorite thing to do on the subway. This was his reply: “I read that as subway not Sunday and I like to read over other people’s shoulders.” So does Ben.

“The train intercom chimed and she heard the old, familiar recording. ‘Stand clear of the closing doors.’ Ben was looking down at someone’s tablet over her shoulder, reading whatever she was reading. He gave her a half smile but didn’t look up, intent on finishing the page before the passenger scrolled to the next.”

“(Caitlin) focused on Ben’s face as he held on beside her—that sweet, studious, heartbreaker face all in one. The face that had been with her through some of the worst events she had ever experienced.” (The worst events of her past are never explained or why he was there to witness them.) She “reached up to Ben’s now-stubbled cheek” and “gently pulled his head down and kissed him. He did not mind the interruption. To the contrary, it was something he’d been waiting patiently for—not just tonight but since he first laid eyes on her. He gave her his fullest attention and suddenly they were sheltered in complete and quiet privacy. Their lips felt like fire and water and air all in one—until the train jolted and they bumped noses and laughed. But only for a moment, because Ben pulled her in close with one arm and kissed her twenty years deep.”

(Okay, the 20 years deep thing was like WHOA! It made me think of what we saw with Duchovny and Anderson flirting like crazy at the X-Files 20 year reunion panel events.)

“Many long kisses later” they get to her apartment and Caitlin invites him up. But first they do some work on the case involving the ambassador’s daughter. But “when she turned back to Ben, his focus had changed. He was sitting there looking at her, not at her analytical avatar, and he was sitting very still.”

Caitlin mentions how it “worries (her) to rely on someone emotionally.” He tells her that’s what people do and chuckles that she said he’s “got a problem with commitment.” She says that she never said that and he said “not with words.” She says, “maybe we have complementary problems” then “stepped to him, gently pushing his shoulders back and draping a leg over his lap to straddle him. Her back was to the table edge, her body molded into his.” He whispers that “even a crazy fit is a fit.”

“She held her lips to his and they breathed together, deeply, as he laid his hands on her lower back and pulled her in tight. Ben was right: it was a crazy fit. But at the moment, it was a fit.”

The next day Caitlin jumps on a plane to take off to another country. Ben accuses her of “running away” and she tells him that “last night (she understood) what could be possible with (him).”

I’d be interested to know if Caitlin jumping on a plane is meant to represent Anderson’s frequent world travels...

Jeff Rovin has paired with other top book entries on my reading list so this new series with Gillian Anderson baited my curiosity. It does NOT let down in the audible edition voiced by Gillian. I found myself taking every available second from airplane to traveling to events at my destination plugged into my phone wanting to find out just where the storyline would drive me. Excellent piece of writing and I am ordering the audible edition of the second book today on prime day and awaiting all future editions!

X-files fans across the world, rejoice!

With A Vision of Fire, Gillian Anderson has written a science fiction novel including just the right amount of homage to her eerie investigations as Dana Scully. Co-written with Jeff Rovin, the book is the first novel in what promises to be a supernatural and apocalyptic series called EarthEnd.

UN translator Ben contacts child psychiatrist Claire out of desperation–something strange has happened to the Indian ambassador’s daughter. The Indian Ambassador just survived an assassination attempt, and his daughter’s condition is now distracting him from crucial peace talks, as India and Pakistan edge closer to war. Claire, who goes where the trauma takes her, sees the young girl, Maanik, and knows immediately that her bizarre behavior isn’t PTSD. As the world moves towards war, a few young people across the globe seem possessed.

Could it be trauma, ghosts, aliens, seizures, past lives? Is there any difference between a traumatic event that I feel or a traumatic event that you feel? And is all this mystical stuff misplaced in a science fiction novel, as there might really be some sort of global conspiracy seeking contact with an alien race? What is really going on here?

This is a quick read, as you’ll find yourself skimming frantically through pages, looking for solutions. But brace yourself, as this is only the first book of a series, and the conclusion here is a promise for more answers in the next book.

Having received an advance copy via a Goodreads giveaway, A VISION OF FIRE sparked my interest from the very first page and continued to fan the flames with the well-written, fast-paced story. Fortunately, the epilogue suggest that not ALL the fires have been completely extinguished… and that the blazes will continue in future books…

While this wasn't horrible, it also wasn't great. An unusual, ancient artifact is found, and it clearly linked to some odd occurrences that happen.

Then the whole story is centered on Maanik Pawar, the daughter of an Indian diplomat with the U.N. Maanik suddenly starts acting in an unusual way. She is speaking in another language and appears to be going through some horrific event. Dr. Caitlin O'Hara, a child psychologist, is asked by her old friend, Ben, to come an help the young girl. Caitlin learns of two similar cases in other parts of the world. She flies to both of the cases and tries to hypnotize them, but one refuses and the other dies before the hypnosis can take place. She flies back and hypnotizes Maanik some more. There is some more hypnosis, and there is some more hypnosis. Then it is magically fixed. It was kind of like Dreamscape with Dennis Quad with no evil villains, or the lost souls in the movie Poltergeist without the evil preacher.

This was long and drawn out for no apparent reason except to make a sequel. So we have a powerful artifact which is apparently causing all of this. You only know this because they are in the same story. No lines are drawn between Maanik and the artifact. In fact, the three people could have just been mentioned, and a report on the internet or the TV would have been sufficient to provide the information that was discovered in this story.

Then in the epilogue, which is all about the artifact, you are set up for the sequel. I would actually call this a long drawn out prologue for the real story, which has only been hinted at in this book. I believe the real story has yet to be told. I would also hazard a guess that if you gave this book a pass that you wouldn't be missing anything if you went straight into book 2.

I got this from my Overdrive library.

It took awhile for the story to get interesting, I know the scenery needs to be set but this story took a while and after that, it took off. It's good, something to read when you just want something different than normal genres.

A mysterious phenomenon is plaguing 3 young adults. Journey to find the possible paranormal cause & what is a secret society's artifacts have in common. Looking forward to the reading the next installment.

Gilliam did not disappoint! This was the best book I've read in a long time. Great details, characters and lots of plots and twists. Cannot wait for the next one to come out in December! Definitely recommend reading it, so hard to put down!

Children all over the globe seem to be affected by something. Dead languages, strange artifacts, energy currents. All moving towards something not recognized.
A good start. Let's see what happens next.

[This review is based on an advanced reader's copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.]

I’ll just say this straight away: A Vision Of Fire was a novel I really wanted to enjoy far more than I actually did. That’s not to say the book is all bad, but given Gillian Anderson’s creative pedigree I had expected a lot more. (She’s Dana Scully for cripe’s sake, of The X-Files fame, and was recently promoted to series regular for the next season of Hannibal, which, if you’re not watching, you really should be!)

What I discovered was a story that was more like brain candy. It was fun when I was reading it, even if the prose was pretty basic and unengaged, but it was also easy to put down. And when I wasn’t reading A Vision of Fire, I wasn’t thinking a lot about it either. There wasn’t enough meat in the execution of the premise for me to chew on in the off-hours, and the characters didn’t have enough depth to make them compelling enough for me to fully invest in them.

Despite the psychological trauma of Maanik, daughter of an ambassador seeking a truce over border rivalries between India, Pakistan, and Kashmir, and an assassination attempt on the ambassador, the sense of danger is minimal. Her psychiatrist, Caitlin, never feels too out of her element or threatened by the minimalistic forces against her, and nobody really questions her motivations too intensely, particularly at times when it seems like it should be well deserved. There’s a shadowy group, known conveniently enough as The Group, whose inclusion in the proceedings is negligible at best beyond the theft of a rock in the novel’s opening sequence. Even the rock itself feels like a rather inconsequential and disconnected MacGuffin for large swathes of the story. Even half-way through the book I was still hoping for some degree of clarity as to what one side of the story had to do with another, and the ending ultimately failed to clarify or provide satisfactory closure in even broad terms. Propping up the entire construct with fairly hollow characters did little to help.

One thing that I did like, though, were the moments of psychiatric care and the segments between patient and healer. Although some of the elements became too swamped in woo for my tastes, other points worked well, such as Caitlin’s observations of changes in behavior and posture of those around her, which caused her to adapt and change her own tactics in communication. Those types of shifts were handled well and struck me as being nicely thought out. Some of the symptoms that were being manifested by Maanik and others presented an intriguing mystery and some terrific scares.

While I didn’t find the central cast and ancillary characters to be particularly well-drawn or charismatic enough to merit much attention, I rather enjoyed Caitlin’s relationship with her son, Jacob, who is partially deaf and has a love of cooking. Their connectedness and sort-of shared telepathic (for lack of a better word) shorthand that can exist as a result of strong parental-child bonding was heartwarming, and helped speak to the strength of mental health and well-being that informs Caitlin’s role in both her life and her profession. This relationship was one of the book’s stronger aspects, in fact.

Although I give Anderson and Rovin plenty of credit for taking a rather interesting spin on the doomsday scenario, one that calls into question the when and where of their apocalypse at hand, the different elements they’ve strung together fail to merge successfully or provide a worthwhile resolution. A Vision of Fire is ultimately a science-fiction book that eschews science almost entirely, opting instead to present the story through nonsensical mysticism and kooky spirituality, while the plot is built atop at least two too many contrivances.