Review of Beating Death (resubmission)

Anshika Kanan · Post by **Anshika Kanan** » 07 Jul 2024, 05:04

Wow! A book that combines science and magic has got to be good. I will add this to my reading wish list.

Post by **Rajaee R** » 07 Jul 2024, 11:34

Wow! This book touches different areas and talks about a lot of things. I am looking forward to reading this thrilling combination of science and magic someday.
Thanks for the review.

Post by **Priya Murugesan** » 13 Jul 2024, 06:32

Anshika Kanan wrote: ↑07 Jul 2024, 05:04 Wow! A book that combines science and magic has got to be good. I will add this to my reading wish list.

Try this book and share your review!

Chi Chiu Michael Mak · Post by **Chi Chiu Michael Mak** » 30 May 2025, 23:39

Priya Murugesan wrote: ↑09 Jun 2024, 11:51 [Following is a volunteer review of "Beating Death (resubmission)" by Sean O'Banion.]

5 out of 5 stars
Share This Review

Beating Death (resubmission) by Sean O’Banion

This thriller mystery book has a very unique combination of science and magic. In the first chapter, we are introduced to Robert O'Banion, the main protagonist and narrator. He possesses the ability to fly, like a bird. But the irony is that he is very scared of heights. Thus, the author's sense of humor can be witnessed right from the start. Rob is met by three women, Jolie, Emily, and Greta, who are revealed to be witches. They pursue Rob for some mysterious reasons. Later, many interesting characters are introduced, such as Dan, Abe, Alicia, Daphne, Doris, and Maria, all connected through the element of magic. Rob is then hit by various mishaps and is overwhelmed by them. He tries to overcome them with the help of his friends. Will he come out of his troubles successfully? Why do the women pursue him? What is the role of science and magic in this story? These questions are dealt with in the rest of the story.

Rob's interesting past is shown in the first half of the book. His personality and accomplishments are revealed slowly in each chapter, which made me view him in a new light. As the story unfolds, new information about each character is disclosed, and the plot thickens with numerous twists. The entire picture is uncovered as each mystery unfolds and each puzzle piece fits. This kind of storytelling is very gripping and exciting.

This novel is written in first-person narrative. I loved the author's conversational style of storytelling. Each chapter contains numerous subtitles, which initially seemed odd to me, but later on, I started to appreciate them. The flow of the story travels back and forth between the past and the present. Sometimes, while reading, the book felt like the journal of a superhero. It touches on a range of subjects like war, science, technology, witchcraft, spirituality, and humanity. The author talks about Agent Orange, the Vietnam War, the Twin Towers, and Area 51. He shares his opinion about the violation of Native American rights. Many Navy scenes were present in the book, and I learned the meaning of the terms pollywog and shellback. The prison narrations were quite interesting. I adored the heartwarming bond between Rob and Shadow.

"I’ll bet if they could show the actual smells of war, people might stop watching war shows, playing the games, or stop glorifying war altogether."

The above sentence intrigued me a lot. I have always felt that war is over-glorified and people should know the real truth and the ugly face of the war. I was also charmed by the definitions of hell and heaven, good and bad energy, and angel and demon. It resonated with me very well.

As the author warns on the first page, a lot of profanity is found in the book. The author's writing style is humorous, and he even incorporates comedy into serious scenes. As it is the first part of the series, the book doesn't have a definite ending. It offers a brief introduction to nanotechnology and wormholes, which might be further explored in the second book in this series. It builds all the suspense needed for the second part, and I would love to delve into the magical scientific world in the next book and learn what happens to Rob.

Towards the end of the book, many repetitions can be found. Some scenes are narrated repeatedly by the characters, which some readers might not like.

The editing is incredible. The book is riveting, and I enjoyed reading it. So, for the above reasons, I rate it 5 out of 5 stars.

******
Beating Death (resubmission)
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

I never knew Beating Death had a book 1. Seems like the 3 witches used to be antagonists pursuing the main character Robert.

Post by **Priya Murugesan** » 31 May 2025, 01:20

Chi Chiu Michael Mak wrote: ↑30 May 2025, 23:39
Priya Murugesan wrote: ↑09 Jun 2024, 11:51 [Following is a volunteer review of "Beating Death (resubmission)" by Sean O'Banion.]

5 out of 5 stars
Share This Review

Beating Death (resubmission) by Sean O’Banion

This thriller mystery book has a very unique combination of science and magic. In the first chapter, we are introduced to Robert O'Banion, the main protagonist and narrator. He possesses the ability to fly, like a bird. But the irony is that he is very scared of heights. Thus, the author's sense of humor can be witnessed right from the start. Rob is met by three women, Jolie, Emily, and Greta, who are revealed to be witches. They pursue Rob for some mysterious reasons. Later, many interesting characters are introduced, such as Dan, Abe, Alicia, Daphne, Doris, and Maria, all connected through the element of magic. Rob is then hit by various mishaps and is overwhelmed by them. He tries to overcome them with the help of his friends. Will he come out of his troubles successfully? Why do the women pursue him? What is the role of science and magic in this story? These questions are dealt with in the rest of the story.

Rob's interesting past is shown in the first half of the book. His personality and accomplishments are revealed slowly in each chapter, which made me view him in a new light. As the story unfolds, new information about each character is disclosed, and the plot thickens with numerous twists. The entire picture is uncovered as each mystery unfolds and each puzzle piece fits. This kind of storytelling is very gripping and exciting.

This novel is written in first-person narrative. I loved the author's conversational style of storytelling. Each chapter contains numerous subtitles, which initially seemed odd to me, but later on, I started to appreciate them. The flow of the story travels back and forth between the past and the present. Sometimes, while reading, the book felt like the journal of a superhero. It touches on a range of subjects like war, science, technology, witchcraft, spirituality, and humanity. The author talks about Agent Orange, the Vietnam War, the Twin Towers, and Area 51. He shares his opinion about the violation of Native American rights. Many Navy scenes were present in the book, and I learned the meaning of the terms pollywog and shellback. The prison narrations were quite interesting. I adored the heartwarming bond between Rob and Shadow.

"I’ll bet if they could show the actual smells of war, people might stop watching war shows, playing the games, or stop glorifying war altogether."

The above sentence intrigued me a lot. I have always felt that war is over-glorified and people should know the real truth and the ugly face of the war. I was also charmed by the definitions of hell and heaven, good and bad energy, and angel and demon. It resonated with me very well.

As the author warns on the first page, a lot of profanity is found in the book. The author's writing style is humorous, and he even incorporates comedy into serious scenes. As it is the first part of the series, the book doesn't have a definite ending. It offers a brief introduction to nanotechnology and wormholes, which might be further explored in the second book in this series. It builds all the suspense needed for the second part, and I would love to delve into the magical scientific world in the next book and learn what happens to Rob.

Towards the end of the book, many repetitions can be found. Some scenes are narrated repeatedly by the characters, which some readers might not like.

The editing is incredible. The book is riveting, and I enjoyed reading it. So, for the above reasons, I rate it 5 out of 5 stars.

******
Beating Death (resubmission)
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

I never knew Beating Death had a book 1. Seems like the 3 witches used to be antagonists pursuing the main character Robert.

Thanks for reading my review!

Post by **Seetha E** » Yesterday, 06:15

I've read about the themes in bits and pieces. It will be great to explore all from the author's POV. The excerpt about war from the book hit me, too. The book seems so relevant in so many ways, just from your review. I hope to get a chance with this book in the near future. Thank you, for your comprehensive review.

Etimbuk Eshiet · Post by **Etimbuk Eshiet** » Yesterday, 07:30

This review really brings the book to life! I like how the mix of science, magic, and humor is emphasized, especially with a protagonist who can fly but fears heights—that’s both ironic and memorable. The reviewer’s breakdown of the themes and character development makes the book sound deeply layered and entertaining. I’m especially intrigued by the blend of real-world history with fantastical elements. It sounds like a gripping read!