The Genesis of Seven
(The Empyrean Trilogy, #1)
By Sara M. Schaller
YA Fantasy, Paranormal
Hardcover, Paperback & ebook, 348 Pages
July 7, 2020 by Designs by Seraphim
Eighteen-year-old Jordan Conway has always wanted to help people, but helping seven archangels to achieve their divine duty was never quite what he had in mind…
When Jordan is entrusted by the head nun of his orphanage to deliver a mysterious backpack to a New York City address, he comes unexpectedly face-to-face with Archangel Gabriel. Their acquaintance fast uncovers a labyrinth of secrets that connect Jordan’s once-normal life to an ancient heavenly prophecy. Now, he must help Gabriel to reunite the archangels before evil forces grow too strong.
Soon, Jordan and Gabriel find themselves on a divine quest across the globe, while deep in the pits of Hell, Satan plots his return to earth. To gain control, however, Satan needs the powerful prophetic objects locked safe inside Jordan’s backpack—and the devil will stop at nothing to get what he wants.
With that notion threatening his only family and the safety of his newfound friends, Jordan must do whatever it takes to protect the ones he loves and help the archangels succeed. If that means sacrificing all he thought he knew to go to war with the devil himself? Bring it on.
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Excerpt…
“What are you doing?” I asked, sliding open the door.
I caught him off-guard. He jumped and quickly turned to face me.
“Nothing. Go back inside,” he replied, composing himself.
“Why?”
“Because I said so.”
“I’ve only known you for a short time, but now you decide to become secretive?”
Obviously guilty, he relented. “They have come with messages,” he said.
I wanted to laugh since “they” were several birds of prey perched along the railing. How could they possibly know to deliver a message? Gabriel turned to face them as I stepped onto the balcony. The eagle raised a warning cry.
“Don’t come any farther,” Gabriel warned. “Your presence will make them temperamental.”
“All right.” I planted my feet firmly in place and leaned against the door. “Would you care to explain what’s going on?”
He sighed. “I sent out a call last night, to my brothers. They were supposed to answer in person. Instead, they have sent these messengers.” He moved toward the bird closest to him, which happened to be a falcon, and untied the rolled-up paper from its leg. The bird immediately flew off.
Gabriel continued his progress down the line of birds, untying the pieces of paper as he went along. There was a hawk, an osprey, an owl, a crane, and the eagle. When each scroll of paper was freed, the bird took flight and departed.
As the last bird took to the sky, I released a deep breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. Gabriel’s frown conveyed these messages did not contain good sentiments.
“What do they say?”
He raised his head and looked at me. “They’re not coming.”
My review…
This was such an enjoyable book that I can’t wait to read the rest of the trilogy!
“The Genesis of Seven” is the first installment in Schaller’s series, The Empyrean Trilogy. I don’t read a lot of fantasy books. They really have to be something to catch my eye, and this one fits the bill! The story pulled me in from the beginning. I really enjoyed the multiple POVs. The action kept me actively engaged throughout the entire story.
I enjoyed watching Jordan’s character develop as the story unfolded. The writing is vividly detailed, and the world building is well done. While I’ve seen a few shows, I’ve never read a book about archangels and the fall of Lucifer. I really enjoyed the cover design (and the book jacket, too!). I can’t wait to read the rest of the series!
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy as part of Prism Blog Tours, but I wasn’t required to leave a positive review.
About Sara…
SARA M SCHALLER is a paralibrarian, publishing professional, and young adult author. She lives in Colorado with her mom, dad, brother, and four furry canine siblings. Sara loves the world of pop culture and the performing arts, so when she is not reading or writing, she is either watching movies and shows, attending conventions, or going out to see live performances. She likes to write stories for all ages in the fantasy genre, and her writing usually contains elements of speculative fiction and features a large cast of characters. Sara has a Bachelor’s degree in English, Art History, and Religious Studies from the University of Denver, and a Master’s degree in Publishing from Pace University. For five years, Sara worked as a graphic designer, and her creativity in design carries over into other areas of her life like writing. You can visit her online at www.saramschaller.com.
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Tour Schedule…
Tour Giveaway…
One winner will receive the following: a backpack to match the main character’s, a necklace to match the main character’s, a signed hardcover, a bookmark, a set of pins with a pen, and a passport with a sticker sheet featuring locations in the book.
Open internationally
Ends September 29, 2020
This is definitely a book I can get into and enjoy. Sounds intriguing. Look forward to reading it
It’s really good. I think you’ll enjoy it! Good luck.