First Song

Anthem of Infinity Series, Book 1

By: Blaise Corvin, Outspan Foster, Blaise Corvin - foreword

Narrated by: Ramon De Ocampo

It has been two years since the Shift - when most technology stopped working, and the laws of physics changed. Humanity has been brought to its knees. Like other survivors, Noah Henson has heard rumors of the Aelves. Among other guesses, predatory aliens seem as good as any other theory for what caused the Shift.

But for Noah, everything else takes second place to survival, sometimes even self-respect... or any sort of decency. Lawless, post-apocalypse America had forced Noah to make many difficult decisions, and he has never seemed to choose correctly. However, despite hating himself, he doesn't have the strength or the courage to change.

He will get a lucky break in a big way, through a mysterious orb with otherworldly power.

In time, perhaps Noah will find another path. And if he does die during the Shift, maybe it won't be the end of his story. Sometimes, another chance can be an opportunity for redemption.

©2018 Blaise Corvin (P)2019 Tantor

It takes a surprising turn

I was genuinely surprised by this book. At first I expected an admittedly well written, but by-the-books post apocalyptic adventure. Boy was I wrong.. Well, not about it being well written anyway. Starting with an unlikable character, dragging him through bad situations, and exposing every character flaw was a unique way to start off the book compared to others in the genre.

It made me wonder who I'm supposed to root for honestly. The likeable mentor that singlehandedly cracked our protagonists shell open was a good touch. I ended up liking him just as much as the main character, which in turn, made me identify with him in a way.

The book then takes a drastic, and completely unexpected turn that changed this book from your typical post apocalyptic romp backdropped by a revenge motivator, into 20 year plan, headed by one of the most determined guys I've ever heard. I'd prefer not to say exactly what it is, but you'll know it when you hear it. If you've ever read "A gift of time" you'll get it. Trust me when I say, it does not detract from the story at all.

The sheer amount of effort our boy goes through is staggering. It's an interesting ride the whole way through. I suggest giving this book a chance.

Unreal yet oh so real!

OMG what a book! I enjoyed this book immensely! It made me cry and it gave me hope. At first I wanted to hate the MC for his cowardice but deep down I could not. I am not entirely certain how I would have responded give a similar circumstance. I think the real possibility of a similar situation improbable. Yet while I listened They made me believe it could. I wholeheartedly recommend this book. Well done Mr. Corbin and Mr. Foster.

Wow!

This is one of the best books I have listened to since joining audible. I laughed and cried in a 10 minute span. I storyline and descriptions in this book held me captive until 3am just to finish it in a single sitting. I was not able to put it down! Please, you must continue this series!

worth the credit and the slow start

make it through the first three hours and it's well worth it. Great book. the first three hours are a bit slow but it sets up the book and sets the tone for the drive the character has throughout the rest of the story

Fun book despite how it starts

Stick with this book because it is actually a really great read with interesting characters who act the way you’d expect. No stereotypical idiots who stumble through every situation. It starts out with many plot devices I hate, but it actually utilized them well and isn’t one of those crushing despair stories that authors like to write now. Definitely one of my favorites!

Number two please

I really encourage anyone on the fence to go ahead a get this one. Push the confirm button, it’s worth it.

First song

This also takes a while before the litrpg elements come into play and that part is slow throughout. What it is slow in that regards somewhat makes up for the plot and story. 4.3 star

FS won't be the last in this series you read

I have to say this was a weird book for me, in fact, I kinda think it was a first. I am always going to be truthful about things and I have to admit that when the book first started I wasn’t a fan. The writing was good, but I really hated the entire apocalyptic setting. The MC, who pretty much lived out the embodiment of the name worm that was given to him by some raiders wasn’t someone I cared about. I actually hoped he’d die, and I actually thought that he would since he very clearly was not the dude on the book’s cover. I enjoy bleak, but I don’t enjoy weak or whiny and that was what worm was, he was a punk.
SO, I don’t want to hit you with spoilers, but I will say that the book makes for a huge change part way in, and the Worm turns. Yes, I went there. Worm then sort of becomes Noah, the guy he should have been all along. And in that instance the entire tone of the book shifts. Worm dries up in the sun and Noah takes his place. Noah is a take no BS kinda guy who sets about taking care of business. See, he can do things to prevent the events that created worm and crushed humanity in a punked out apocalypse from being quite so harsh because of a little thing called . . . ah, ah, spoilers. (Maybe add in the tardis sound just as a hint maybe let it run about 5 seconds). Anyway, Noah very calculatingly implements a 20 year plan to help prep and prepare for an invasion of alien beings called Aelves. No these guys are tougher, faste, and stronger than humans, they can perform magic, and they like to eat humans. So baddies all around. I have to say that it is the building aspect that I truly loved so much. The planning, the prep, the sacrifice, that is the stuff I am a sucker for and I loved it. My favorite part of the book was the scheming baby, you’ll know it when you get there. That was the best. And, when we finally return to the apocalypse I actually found myself looking forward to it. That was when the book really hit 3rd gear and started moving because I was admittedly in need of some action.
So, while the book might have started off a little slow with an unlikable character (for me, and I have to say I really don’t believe that we were ever supposed to LIKE Worm. Sympathize? Yeah, but not like.) He was cowardly and did some reprehensible stuff like going along with the slave trade. So, I really had no empathy for the dude, but once he transformed himself from a spineless wimp into a determined Noah I was cheering him on all the way.

The aelves seem to make some pretty good villains, and I highly anticipate more of them in book 2, because Noah has a bond with one of the higher ups that he is going to have to deal with at some point.

Corvin and Foster do an admirable job here tag teaming this piece of writing. I know I generally praise James Hunter for how well he meshes his writing with his partners so flawlessly, but I have to say that the pair here did a seamless job, and that I would be hard pressed to pick who did what or whose voice it was that we were really hearing. I honestly think that Corvin gave Foster his head, and allowed him just go crazy and if that is the case it was a wise move. It totally worked, and it is awesome to see a collaboration come together a well as this.

Ramon De Ocampo’s narration took me a little while t get used to, he was new to me, and I had to settle in and really listen, and I have to say that he grew on me the longer we went. I appreciated his voice, and the acting that he put into it. Everyone stood out as individual characters, and I never wondered who was speaking. The only thing I wish that he had done was to give the Aelves a distinctive accent. That would have really made them stand out to me, much in the way that all dwarves are Scottish sounding (even though I hate that trope). I kept going to Londo Mollari from Babylon Five, and how Peter Jurassic worked so hard to create a distinctive accent for his race, and then no other Centauri that appeared on the show ever used it. I would have really liked to have had something to say that it was an aelf speaking before I ever heard the character’s race mentioned. Otherwise, great job, and I look forward to more from him.

Overall, even though I was not a fan of the first part of the book just because I didn’t like Worm I think that it worked in making me hate him, because I liked him a lot by the end, and anticipated the Aelves attacking. Final score, 8.5.

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great apocalypse

absolutley love the story, nice to see a main character from the area I call home as well. love the preapoclypse story going into the events leading to the end of life as we know it. cannot wait for the next in the series

a good listen

overall this was really good and had me wondering what was going to happen next at some points