Review of The Eclipsed

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Terry Kimble
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Review of The Eclipsed

Post by Terry Kimble »

[Following is a volunteer review of "The Eclipsed" by Dara Kent.]
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5 out of 5 stars
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The Eclipsed impressed upon me a “wow” factor that could easily cause me to spill too much information in this review! But this pertinent line from the book will remind me to tread lightly; “Sorry, I can only tell you so much. Oops, spoilers, can’t risk those.”

The author of this captivating book, Ava Wixx, is also known as Dara Kent. I am using Wixx for this review because it is presented in the copy I read.

In this spellbinding novel, we meet supernatural creatures called lunas who exist solely to record the essence of human souls leaving the body at death, ensuring that “all that should be is.” The protagonist is an inquisitive luna named Eighty-nine, who tells the story in the first person. Her best friend, a male luna named Six, is the plot's driving catalyst.

Another important non-human entity is a reaper (yes, as in grim reaper) who helps the souls move to their final destinations once the lunas record them.

Unbeknownst to humans, the universe operates within a strict order kept in place by creatures such as the lunas and reapers. If it is a human’s time to die, they must die at that fixed point in time, or the universe will experience a ‘reality rip’ that can end all existence. Keeping the universe going is not easy for lunas and reapers. Humans often attempt to save victims who are supposed to die, or feelings develop among the creatures for each other or toward humans. Saving the universe can become a very messy undertaking (pun intended)!

The Eclipsed sparks intellectual curiosity around death but is also entertaining and funny! It dabbles in traversing our multidimensional universe and time travel, which is exciting enough, but Wixx also manages to create full-bodied, engaging characters who plant roots in the reader's psyche! I pondered about them long after I set the book down.

The time-travel angle of the story caused the narration to repeat a few times. The first time it repeated, I thought it was an error, but I soon discovered that it was necessary for the characters to attempt to fix reality rips at fixed points in time. It also helped to answer some of the “whys” in the story. Wixx humorously quips in the book, “Thinking in tenses when time travel is involved is … not as easy as the authors of some of my favorite books make it seem.” Still, this author has managed it effortlessly!

I reveled in the narration’s fluency and adored the vibrant personality of the narrator, Eighty-nine! I found nothing to dislike about The Eclipsed. I hope there is a sequel! Although the book contains profanity, it is not overdone in the least.

Can the reality rips be restored, or will the universe disappear? Find out in this suspenseful, fun, engaging, and well-edited book that deserves 5 out of 5 stars! Due to its subject matter and some non-borderline expletives, I recommend this book for ages 16 and over.

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The Eclipsed
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Stephen Christopher 1
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Post by Stephen Christopher 1 »

Wow, Terry, I'm adding this to my list right now. What an amazing book this is. Time travel, grim reapers, and rips in the universe are right up my alley. Thanks for introducing me to this book. I love OBC for this exact reason.
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Terry Kimble
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Post by Terry Kimble »

Stephen Christopher 1 wrote: 04 Apr 2024, 20:14 Wow, Terry, I'm adding this to my list right now. What an amazing book this is. Time travel, grim reapers, and rips in the universe are right up my alley. Thanks for introducing me to this book. I love OBC for this exact reason.
Hi Stephen, I bet you will love this book! I kept saying, "Wow!" aloud throughout the story. I enjoyed the subject matter, suspense, and characters. This story would make a great movie or TV series! I enjoy OBC for the same reason. I have discovered some real gems :D
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Post by Sarah Zain »

This seems to be an exciting book. The subject of time travel guarantees a strong plot. Perhaps I do not like repetition, but as long as the story line is coherent, the book is worth reading. Great review Terry!
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Post by Claudia Angelucci »

Your engaging review truly does justice to what sounds like an incredible book. I'm intrigued by the lunas and the reapers, as I enjoy stories involving time travel and multiverse exploration. If the opportunity arises, I'd love to give this book a read. Great job, Terry, and thank you for your insight! All the best.
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Terry Kimble
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Post by Terry Kimble »

Sarah Zain wrote: 07 Apr 2024, 00:22 This seems to be an exciting book. The subject of time travel guarantees a strong plot. Perhaps I do not like repetition, but as long as the story line is coherent, the book is worth reading. Great review Terry!
Hi Sarah, I hope you can check out this one. The repetition does not restrict the narration's flow. Thank you for leaving your thoughts. :D
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Terry Kimble
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Post by Terry Kimble »

Claudia Angelucci wrote: 08 Apr 2024, 15:50 Your engaging review truly does justice to what sounds like an incredible book. I'm intrigued by the lunas and the reapers, as I enjoy stories involving time travel and multiverse exploration. If the opportunity arises, I'd love to give this book a read. Great job, Terry, and thank you for your insight! All the best.
Hi Claudia, I hope you get the opportunity to read this one. I truly enjoyed it! Who knew that the jobs of lunas and reapers could be so fascinating? Thank you for checking out the review and leaving your thoughts. :D
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Post by Gerry Steen »

I thank you for undertaking the task of writing this review. The lunas and reapers are interesting characters. Their managing of times to die and the souls of the dead is intriguing. This story will transport to the dark side. I will be captivated. You found a gem of a book. Thank you for this well-written review. :techie-studyinggray:
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Terry Kimble
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Post by Terry Kimble »

Gerry Steen wrote: 10 Apr 2024, 14:59 I thank you for undertaking the task of writing this review. The lunas and reapers are interesting characters. Their managing of times to die and the souls of the dead is intriguing. This story will transport to the dark side. I will be captivated. You found a gem of a book. Thank you for this well-written review. :techie-studyinggray:
Yes, it's a harrowing ,and often funny, trip to the dark side! :lol:
Thanks for checking out the review and leaving your thoughtful comment, Gerry! I hope you get the chance to read this one. I would love to know what you think of it.
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Post by Kristin Cowan »

This is such a unique concept. It is human nature to wonder what happens after death, so I enjoy hearing people’s theories. This is a fantastical but fun idea.
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Terry Kimble
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Post by Terry Kimble »

Kristin Cowan wrote: 12 Apr 2024, 21:11 This is such a unique concept. It is human nature to wonder what happens after death, so I enjoy hearing people’s theories. This is a fantastical but fun idea.
Hi Kristin. This book will be an interesting read for people who believe that someone or something is present to assist us in crossing over after death. It is a fun read that explores some curious concepts. Thanks for stopping by! :D
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Post by Cristiano Bellucci »

Thank you for your wonderful review, Terry. It seems a well crafted book, full of creativity and imagination. Thanks for the age review too.
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