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In the Shadow of the Luminaries
Memories remain foggy about events preceding the disaster. Gravity suddenly reversed, in a swath encircling the globe. Two-thirds of the world’s population fell victim to the cataclysm that followed, as flora, fauna, and loose debris were catapulted into the heavens.
Five hundred years later, the survivors of the inversion event have reclaimed much of what was lost, but the world is a very different place. Some live in the floating cities of the swath. Others remain earthbound on either side of the swath. The divergent factions blame each other, walking a fine line between cooperation and outright declarations of war. Through it all, questions remain about the origin of the swath and its mysterious purpose.
As a child, Valtteri Knox stumbled across the threshold between normal and reverse gravity. He was flung into the sky, and had the misfortune of being saved by the Aerish. Valtteri is an outsider, of no caste and no worth, but it was decided he should be raised by the navy and groomed as a tool to infiltrate the earthbound.
On his first mission as an adult, Valtteri is completely unprepared for what he encounters. He understood what it meant to be a pariah, but no one told him he was also Iridogen, one of those rare individuals with a genetic trait mentioned in fragments of pre-inversion history.
He’s determined to find answers, and expose a plot that could start a global war, but first he’ll need to find a way to survive in a world that doesn’t trust him.
Five hundred years later, the survivors of the inversion event have reclaimed much of what was lost, but the world is a very different place. Some live in the floating cities of the swath. Others remain earthbound on either side of the swath. The divergent factions blame each other, walking a fine line between cooperation and outright declarations of war. Through it all, questions remain about the origin of the swath and its mysterious purpose.
As a child, Valtteri Knox stumbled across the threshold between normal and reverse gravity. He was flung into the sky, and had the misfortune of being saved by the Aerish. Valtteri is an outsider, of no caste and no worth, but it was decided he should be raised by the navy and groomed as a tool to infiltrate the earthbound.
On his first mission as an adult, Valtteri is completely unprepared for what he encounters. He understood what it meant to be a pariah, but no one told him he was also Iridogen, one of those rare individuals with a genetic trait mentioned in fragments of pre-inversion history.
He’s determined to find answers, and expose a plot that could start a global war, but first he’ll need to find a way to survive in a world that doesn’t trust him.
- GenresScience Fiction
336 pages, Hardcover
First published September 28, 2023
22 people are currently reading
37 people want to read
About the author
Kallen Samuels
9 books7 followersKallen Samuels lives in the Rocky Mountains of Canada with his wife of over 30 years. It’s the perfect place for contemplative and creative thought. Kallen is one of those people who has dialogue running through his head all day long. Apparently that’s not the case for everyone (there have been studies), who knew? Well, those internal conversations come in handy when writing a novel. Eventually, some of those thoughts found their way to the page, and here we are, three novels in and more on the way.
When he’s not reading or writing, Kallen is baking sourdough bread or tending his latest batch of wine. Now if only he could perfect the art of cheese making — he’d have all the staples of life close at hand.
When he’s not reading or writing, Kallen is baking sourdough bread or tending his latest batch of wine. Now if only he could perfect the art of cheese making — he’d have all the staples of life close at hand.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
November 22, 2023
Set hundreds of years on a future Earth that has suffered a catastrophic but weird incident where a huge segment of the world has suffered from reverse half gravity. This segment is called The Swath where a group of humans called The Luminaries live on floating land called Tropostates. These Luminaries look down on the earthbound Tellusians who live on either side of the Swath as inferior beings to themselves and both races treat each other with paranoia and hostility.
Valtteri who was born a Tellusian but was adopted and brought up as a Luminary after he accidentally stumbled into the Swath is working for the Luminary Navy as a trainee intelligence officer. For his first assignment he is sent down to the ground in Tellusian territory to spy and find out what is happening with some mysterious movements. But as he progresses he soon discovers a scandal that could affect the world both Luminary and Tellusian plunging everyone into a massive war. This was a unique and imaginative read with great world building. The writing style flowed quite nicely and kept me intrigued in the story throughout. Probably one of the best books I’ve read this year
Valtteri who was born a Tellusian but was adopted and brought up as a Luminary after he accidentally stumbled into the Swath is working for the Luminary Navy as a trainee intelligence officer. For his first assignment he is sent down to the ground in Tellusian territory to spy and find out what is happening with some mysterious movements. But as he progresses he soon discovers a scandal that could affect the world both Luminary and Tellusian plunging everyone into a massive war. This was a unique and imaginative read with great world building. The writing style flowed quite nicely and kept me intrigued in the story throughout. Probably one of the best books I’ve read this year
June 30, 2025
In the Shadow of the Luminaries is a unique story set in an elaborate world. The story follows a character named Valtterri Knox. He is an orphan born in one society, who was raised in another. He is one of what is called an "Iridogen." There are a lot of questions from characters in the story about the Iridogen and their history. Apparently, the reader gradually learns through the story, some secrets of the world and about past atrocities are entangled with this genetic quality/inheritance. People that are Iridogen have two different colored eyes and possess other mysterious qualities. There are also animal counterparts, and they are somehow tied together. A lot of all this is not strongly elaborated upon by the end of the book, it remains a mystery the world in this book is slowly uncovering and seeking answers about. There is a lot of prejudice toward the Iridogen and this is something the main character does have to struggle with and overcome, in what is also a journey to find himself and more about who he is and where he comes from.
The opening part of the book includes some diagrams and pictures to describe the world of the book. I found them confusing, though after reading the book they made more sense to me. The world is complex, and I did feel like it could have been simplified without much negative consequence to the story. A glossary may have been helpful to refer to, to help understand the world.
There was something of a cataclysmic event, which resulted in a complicated gravity reversal, in the history of the world described in this novel. The whole going from "reverse half gravity to regular gravity" thing was still something that felt complicated to me at the end of the book. It's like sections of the world have normal gravity still though, and it all seemed a bit difficult to wrap my mind around.
The relationship between Valtterri and his adoptive father is an interesting one, and I found it particularly interesting the way it's described how he was driven to show him opposing and different opinions than those that were so prevalent in the world he was growing up in.
The tether tribes were interesting too. The discussion about how they were basically being fed fictions to keep them working for their Luminary overlords was something I couldn't help but reflect back on. They spend their lives believing and motivated by some elaborate lies that do seem plausible, and I think that would have been a good thing to build further upon in the story. The whole "hoisting" event reminded me of Cloud Atlas, which I thought was a very intriguing and thoughtful movie.
There are a couple votes at the end of the book that I felt were conducted prematurely without sufficient review of the presented evidence (that had only just been presented and were not analyzed) by those casting the votes. The sentence was also immediate and harsh and carried out in short order. I will say that I was hoping for more action toward the ending; it seemed the emphasis was more on setting up for future books in the series.
Not a light read. Best for someone looking to dedicate some real time to understanding the intricacies of the elaborate world. It's a different story, set in a unique world, if a complex one. If you like science fiction and you're looking for something to dig into for more than one book, this could definitely be for you; and I'm sure it's something unlike what you've read before.
The opening part of the book includes some diagrams and pictures to describe the world of the book. I found them confusing, though after reading the book they made more sense to me. The world is complex, and I did feel like it could have been simplified without much negative consequence to the story. A glossary may have been helpful to refer to, to help understand the world.
There was something of a cataclysmic event, which resulted in a complicated gravity reversal, in the history of the world described in this novel. The whole going from "reverse half gravity to regular gravity" thing was still something that felt complicated to me at the end of the book. It's like sections of the world have normal gravity still though, and it all seemed a bit difficult to wrap my mind around.
The relationship between Valtterri and his adoptive father is an interesting one, and I found it particularly interesting the way it's described how he was driven to show him opposing and different opinions than those that were so prevalent in the world he was growing up in.
The tether tribes were interesting too. The discussion about how they were basically being fed fictions to keep them working for their Luminary overlords was something I couldn't help but reflect back on. They spend their lives believing and motivated by some elaborate lies that do seem plausible, and I think that would have been a good thing to build further upon in the story. The whole "hoisting" event reminded me of Cloud Atlas, which I thought was a very intriguing and thoughtful movie.
There are a couple votes at the end of the book that I felt were conducted prematurely without sufficient review of the presented evidence (that had only just been presented and were not analyzed) by those casting the votes. The sentence was also immediate and harsh and carried out in short order. I will say that I was hoping for more action toward the ending; it seemed the emphasis was more on setting up for future books in the series.
Not a light read. Best for someone looking to dedicate some real time to understanding the intricacies of the elaborate world. It's a different story, set in a unique world, if a complex one. If you like science fiction and you're looking for something to dig into for more than one book, this could definitely be for you; and I'm sure it's something unlike what you've read before.
September 15, 2024
big concepts with some gaps
A sudden, seismic event alters the world. Five hundred years later, people have settled into this new existence with a vast array of characters and cultures, with political intrigue.
The premise of this world is very interesting. There’s no reason given, however, for how or why the event took place. There are also different factions or groups, including Chain Walkers. It took a while for me to determine Valetteri was the main character—in fact different characters came and went that had been away from the story for a while, so when they came back, I became confused.
My other issue is that the story could have used more descriptions. Going back to the Chain Walkers, they “walk” these massive chains that hold the floating cities together. Yet until they were introduced over halfway through the story, I didn’t even know the cities were chained in place—because details like these weren’t provided.
Another issue is that there is so much exposition. When a character says to another character. “As you know…” and launches into a long paragraph about details of their world, that’s a problem. And here is where I think the problem lies: it’s such a big concept and world that it felt as if the writer struggled how best to tell the story. If they had started with a cast of characters and summaries of certain info in the beginning, or some other way to layer a lot of information in a concise way outside of the actual story, it would have benefitted in the end.
I did like Valetteri and the Admiral. I liked the friars. And Nixon is a great antagonist. The writing (other than the exposition) is strong. I just wish the story had been told better.
A sudden, seismic event alters the world. Five hundred years later, people have settled into this new existence with a vast array of characters and cultures, with political intrigue.
The premise of this world is very interesting. There’s no reason given, however, for how or why the event took place. There are also different factions or groups, including Chain Walkers. It took a while for me to determine Valetteri was the main character—in fact different characters came and went that had been away from the story for a while, so when they came back, I became confused.
My other issue is that the story could have used more descriptions. Going back to the Chain Walkers, they “walk” these massive chains that hold the floating cities together. Yet until they were introduced over halfway through the story, I didn’t even know the cities were chained in place—because details like these weren’t provided.
Another issue is that there is so much exposition. When a character says to another character. “As you know…” and launches into a long paragraph about details of their world, that’s a problem. And here is where I think the problem lies: it’s such a big concept and world that it felt as if the writer struggled how best to tell the story. If they had started with a cast of characters and summaries of certain info in the beginning, or some other way to layer a lot of information in a concise way outside of the actual story, it would have benefitted in the end.
I did like Valetteri and the Admiral. I liked the friars. And Nixon is a great antagonist. The writing (other than the exposition) is strong. I just wish the story had been told better.
March 17, 2025
This is a difficult book to rate and review because there were elements I absolutely loved enough to give it five stars, yet some issues I found frustrating and deserving of fewer. I chose to settle in the middle.
This is the first book in a series and, as is frequently the case, it took a fair amount of chapters to introduce and develop characters to the point that I, as a reader, connected on an emotional level with any of them. I was halfway invested into the book before an interesting-enough plot developed to grab my attention. But by the last quarter of the book, I had a real liking for the main character and felt concern for his plight. One of the frustrating points for me was the great number of character names, city names, provinces, class groups, political parties, military ranks, and area designations mentioned throughout the book. I seriously struggled to picture who was talking, which group or party they fit into, and in what area of this fictional world he or she existed. Perhaps I should have kept a character list on hand and sketched out a world map to refer to. I recommend it.
I give the author credit for creating a unique world with bizarre and imaginative living conditions. It is not a repeat of so many popular adventures, but an unusual world with a particularly unusual race called the Iridogen. I would have to delve into book two to learn more about the Iridogen, but book one does a good job of introducing them and suggesting they play an important role in the rest of the series.
The very end of book one is not an unresolved cliffhanger, but it does leave curious questions unanswered and a threat of new world problems. Though this book isn't an easy one to push through at first, the story does develop into an intriguing adventure.
This is the first book in a series and, as is frequently the case, it took a fair amount of chapters to introduce and develop characters to the point that I, as a reader, connected on an emotional level with any of them. I was halfway invested into the book before an interesting-enough plot developed to grab my attention. But by the last quarter of the book, I had a real liking for the main character and felt concern for his plight. One of the frustrating points for me was the great number of character names, city names, provinces, class groups, political parties, military ranks, and area designations mentioned throughout the book. I seriously struggled to picture who was talking, which group or party they fit into, and in what area of this fictional world he or she existed. Perhaps I should have kept a character list on hand and sketched out a world map to refer to. I recommend it.
I give the author credit for creating a unique world with bizarre and imaginative living conditions. It is not a repeat of so many popular adventures, but an unusual world with a particularly unusual race called the Iridogen. I would have to delve into book two to learn more about the Iridogen, but book one does a good job of introducing them and suggesting they play an important role in the rest of the series.
The very end of book one is not an unresolved cliffhanger, but it does leave curious questions unanswered and a threat of new world problems. Though this book isn't an easy one to push through at first, the story does develop into an intriguing adventure.
September 21, 2024
This is a highly complex read. There are numerous characters with unusual names which adds to the complexity.
The world building is exceptional. The author writes well and with a huge imagination takes the reader into a unique futuristic world which has split when gravity reversed 500 years earlier. This resulted in the divergent factions of the earthbound Tellusians who are in opposition to the 'elite' Luminaries living on floating Tropostates. They are often on the brink of war with each other. Political intrigue abounds and trust is negligible.
It becomes extremely interesting if you persevere and reach the main character, Valtteri Knox. His antagonist, Nixon is also well portrayed.
I particularly liked the emotional touch when the admiral, Quinto, finally admits that he has always loved and deeply cared for Valtteri but had not been able to show his love openly. The admiral had taken charge of Valtteri after Valtteri had been rescued as an earthbound child who had wondered across the threshold of normal and reverse gravity and had been flung into the sky. It had previously been decided that Valtteri would be used to infiltrate the earthbound once he reached adulthood. The Admiral warns Valtteri of this plot when the time comes and that he must trust no one … with good reason as it transpires.
There are many more interesting characters: Zyad Ocon, Queen Silvanus, the Tinkers, the Swathcomers and the Friars … all woven together to make a good sci-fi read.
This is the first book of a series, and the reason why and how gravity was suddenly reversed in the past may come to light in the sequels. I look forward to reading more from this author.
June 1, 2025
Highly Creative World Building
The most obvious aspect of “In the Shadows of the Luminaries” by Kallen Samuels is its highly creative, detailed, and unique world building with floating cities and earthbound regions. If you can get past the initial fantastic premise of the bizarre gravitation, the world and its political factions offer a rich background on which the plot unfolds. The scope and the level of detail made parts of the book complex, which can be both positive and negative, depending on a person’s taste in reading. Personally, I prefer hard science fiction, and the fantastical setting seems more appropriate for magical fantasy than science fiction. Too often, I found my suspension of disbelief broken, reminding me of the many science fiction movies that could have benefited from having a domain expert review the script for believability. (I realize that the book’s setting was so new and creative that there could be no domain expert, but I nevertheless occasionally got that feeling).
In general, the story was well told and readable. However, I found the initial chapters concerned with establishing the setting were too exposition heavy and thus tended to drag a little.
Valtteri Knox, the main protagonist, was interesting and relatable, and the threat of war was a major source of tension.
The vast majority of the dialogue was spot on, but I did notice a few places where it sounded more like info-dump exposition instead of natural speech.
While some readers will really like the book, it is not for everyone. For that reason, I give it a 4-star recommendation.
The most obvious aspect of “In the Shadows of the Luminaries” by Kallen Samuels is its highly creative, detailed, and unique world building with floating cities and earthbound regions. If you can get past the initial fantastic premise of the bizarre gravitation, the world and its political factions offer a rich background on which the plot unfolds. The scope and the level of detail made parts of the book complex, which can be both positive and negative, depending on a person’s taste in reading. Personally, I prefer hard science fiction, and the fantastical setting seems more appropriate for magical fantasy than science fiction. Too often, I found my suspension of disbelief broken, reminding me of the many science fiction movies that could have benefited from having a domain expert review the script for believability. (I realize that the book’s setting was so new and creative that there could be no domain expert, but I nevertheless occasionally got that feeling).
In general, the story was well told and readable. However, I found the initial chapters concerned with establishing the setting were too exposition heavy and thus tended to drag a little.
Valtteri Knox, the main protagonist, was interesting and relatable, and the threat of war was a major source of tension.
The vast majority of the dialogue was spot on, but I did notice a few places where it sounded more like info-dump exposition instead of natural speech.
While some readers will really like the book, it is not for everyone. For that reason, I give it a 4-star recommendation.
April 17, 2025
In the Shadow of the Luminaries introduces a unique world where gravity has inverted in parts of the earth due to a mysterious event 500 years ago. That description was one of the things that first attracted me to this book, and the development of this core idea through detailed worldbuilding was engaging. The mystery of how/why this happened provided the backdrop for a story of political intrigue, power struggles and impending war.
The main protagonist, Valterri Knox, is an orphan raised by a Navy admiral, as he navigates the political arena and uncovers his heritage amidst a backdrop of impending war between different factions.
This is neatly balanced with the more personal struggles of Valterri and his nemesis, Nixon, who is spoilt and privileged, believing himself automatically superior because of his hereditary status and hates the way Valterri refuses to acknowledge that and continues to stand up to him.
There is plenty of action, as well as quieter, more reflective moments in Valterri’s journey of self-discovery, learning about the world outside and the world within in equal measure.
The dialogue didn’t always flow as naturally as I would have liked, and a bit too much exposition delivered this way which, with a healthy bit of cutting could have improved the pace a little.
The repeated use a of a particular ‘secret phrase’ really hooked me in and the reveal of its meaning was satisfying.
Overall, if you like a story with a strong sci-fi premise, emotional character development set amid immersive worldbuilding, this is highly recommended.
The main protagonist, Valterri Knox, is an orphan raised by a Navy admiral, as he navigates the political arena and uncovers his heritage amidst a backdrop of impending war between different factions.
This is neatly balanced with the more personal struggles of Valterri and his nemesis, Nixon, who is spoilt and privileged, believing himself automatically superior because of his hereditary status and hates the way Valterri refuses to acknowledge that and continues to stand up to him.
There is plenty of action, as well as quieter, more reflective moments in Valterri’s journey of self-discovery, learning about the world outside and the world within in equal measure.
The dialogue didn’t always flow as naturally as I would have liked, and a bit too much exposition delivered this way which, with a healthy bit of cutting could have improved the pace a little.
The repeated use a of a particular ‘secret phrase’ really hooked me in and the reveal of its meaning was satisfying.
Overall, if you like a story with a strong sci-fi premise, emotional character development set amid immersive worldbuilding, this is highly recommended.
September 22, 2024
In the Shadow of the Luminaries is book 1 of the States of Inversion. It presents a unique world where 500 years ago a mysterious event caused gravity to invert in parts of the world. There are many descriptions of the state of the world and the different states of gravity, but I'll admit that I struggled to picture it. Even so, there is impressive world building with many different communities and cultures on the brink of war.
The main character is Valterri Knox who is unique in many ways. The book follows his adventures and misadventures as he uncovers more about his heritage, his employer, and the injustices in the world. Although the inversion occurred 500 years ago, the world is still at a loss as to what caused it, and this is the central mystery of the series.
There is a lot of dialogue and exposition is often delivered through dialogue. Characters also relay information we already know which slows down the pace. As such, it was an interesting read for me but not a quick one.
The main character is Valterri Knox who is unique in many ways. The book follows his adventures and misadventures as he uncovers more about his heritage, his employer, and the injustices in the world. Although the inversion occurred 500 years ago, the world is still at a loss as to what caused it, and this is the central mystery of the series.
There is a lot of dialogue and exposition is often delivered through dialogue. Characters also relay information we already know which slows down the pace. As such, it was an interesting read for me but not a quick one.
September 15, 2024
A topsy-turvy world…
In the future if you need me I will be in the Southern Kingdom! I am not much of a sci-fi fan, but I found the cover and the book description enticing so I thought I’d give Miss Samuels new book a try. I’m glad I did.
You’ll love Valtteri Knox, Queen Silvanus, the Unified Northern Collective and the Tinkers, the Swathcomers and the Friar’s
The Author has done a phenomenal job of creating an engaging world that is both well thought out and realistic.
While sometimes a little stilted the dialogue was for the most part understandable and helped to move the story forward. And this is the second book I found whose premise has to do with the gravity or rather the reverse gravity of a future earth.
I’ll pay the author the ultimate compliment… I look forward to reading book 2 in the series!
If you’re looking for engaging Science Fiction… Look no further!
In the future if you need me I will be in the Southern Kingdom! I am not much of a sci-fi fan, but I found the cover and the book description enticing so I thought I’d give Miss Samuels new book a try. I’m glad I did.
You’ll love Valtteri Knox, Queen Silvanus, the Unified Northern Collective and the Tinkers, the Swathcomers and the Friar’s
The Author has done a phenomenal job of creating an engaging world that is both well thought out and realistic.
While sometimes a little stilted the dialogue was for the most part understandable and helped to move the story forward. And this is the second book I found whose premise has to do with the gravity or rather the reverse gravity of a future earth.
I’ll pay the author the ultimate compliment… I look forward to reading book 2 in the series!
If you’re looking for engaging Science Fiction… Look no further!
October 1, 2023
An interesting story, focused on the politics and machinations of the Luminaries, this country’s leaders. Hereditary predatory positions, they have ruled as a council for generations. But there is more to their relations than on the surface - hidden communities, plots to seize power, and attempts to gain complete control.
Valtteri Is an orphan., from another part of the world. Raised by the Navy's admiral, he becomes an operative, thrust into the machinations between families, countries, and cultures. Valtteri’s goal is to find out where he is from, but it turns out to be far more complicated.
The book starts quickly, and action is consistent through much of it. Bit slow in the middle, but pace picks up for a good finale.
The one part that does not seem to belong is the inversion of gravity. It's there and plays a role in the world building, but not clear how it fits.
Valtteri Is an orphan., from another part of the world. Raised by the Navy's admiral, he becomes an operative, thrust into the machinations between families, countries, and cultures. Valtteri’s goal is to find out where he is from, but it turns out to be far more complicated.
The book starts quickly, and action is consistent through much of it. Bit slow in the middle, but pace picks up for a good finale.
The one part that does not seem to belong is the inversion of gravity. It's there and plays a role in the world building, but not clear how it fits.
January 16, 2025
In the Shadow of the Luminaries (States of Inversion Book 1) by Kallen Samuels is
a unique idea where gravity is reversed, and society struggles to deal with this bizarre phenomenon. To cope, society transitions into a cloud-city like for society’s elites, called Luminaries, who attempt to keep their communities thriving while battling political their opponents.
The characters—Nixon Ocon and Quinto Soren, are convincing and compelling. The pair are politically and militarily charged characters who have to juggle the struggles of a calamity-society.
The book is one part global story and one part personal struggle. In the Shadow of the Luminaries has a clean pace, with a fresh idea that I haven’t read before. The dialogue is believable, the struggles are innovative, and the story is well structured. If you’re looking for a new type of dystopian book, give book 1 a try.
a unique idea where gravity is reversed, and society struggles to deal with this bizarre phenomenon. To cope, society transitions into a cloud-city like for society’s elites, called Luminaries, who attempt to keep their communities thriving while battling political their opponents.
The characters—Nixon Ocon and Quinto Soren, are convincing and compelling. The pair are politically and militarily charged characters who have to juggle the struggles of a calamity-society.
The book is one part global story and one part personal struggle. In the Shadow of the Luminaries has a clean pace, with a fresh idea that I haven’t read before. The dialogue is believable, the struggles are innovative, and the story is well structured. If you’re looking for a new type of dystopian book, give book 1 a try.
September 2, 2025
A Bold Vision of Inverted Worlds
In the Shadows of the Luminaries by Kallen Samuels offers an imaginative setting where gravity itself has been reshaped, giving rise to floating cities, fractured factions, and political intrigue. The depth of world-building is remarkable, though at times the heavy exposition can slow the pacing and make certain details harder to follow. Valtteri Knox emerges as a compelling protagonist, navigating mysteries of identity, heritage, and looming war, supported by a cast of vivid allies and adversaries. While some dialogue leans into info-dumps and the complexity may not suit every reader, the novel stands out for its originality, ambition, and the sheer creativity of its premise. It is a richly crafted beginning to the States of Inversion series, especially rewarding for those who enjoy expansive, thought-provoking science fiction.
In the Shadows of the Luminaries by Kallen Samuels offers an imaginative setting where gravity itself has been reshaped, giving rise to floating cities, fractured factions, and political intrigue. The depth of world-building is remarkable, though at times the heavy exposition can slow the pacing and make certain details harder to follow. Valtteri Knox emerges as a compelling protagonist, navigating mysteries of identity, heritage, and looming war, supported by a cast of vivid allies and adversaries. While some dialogue leans into info-dumps and the complexity may not suit every reader, the novel stands out for its originality, ambition, and the sheer creativity of its premise. It is a richly crafted beginning to the States of Inversion series, especially rewarding for those who enjoy expansive, thought-provoking science fiction.
October 3, 2023
Following his successful Leviticus trilogy, Samuels has done it again with an engaging story set in a weird and wonderful new Earth reality. His characters are well-fleshed out and the pace is exciting. The story takes a lot of twists and turns and leaves you wanting more. A sequel is to follow and it will be a joy to re-enter the amazing world the author has created and see where the story takes his characters next. If you’ve never been a big sci-fi fan, I encourage you to read this author as he creates marvellous and interesting worlds to explore from your armchair.
October 5, 2023
I was totally captivated by this story. The world building was immersive and the whole concept was incredibly unique. I loved all the different worlds and I am eager to learn more about them in future books. The characters were well developed and authentic. The main characters growth and self discovery is relatable and added a lot of depth to the story. Overall excellent read and I’m excited to read more!
Highly recommend to fantasy readers and anyone looking to read something with a interesting and thought provoking concept!
Highly recommend to fantasy readers and anyone looking to read something with a interesting and thought provoking concept!
August 22, 2024
Excellent, creative world building and solid prose style make it 4 stars. Complex political situations set up well. Down side - I expected the hero, Valetteri, to be more quick witted than he was. Sometimes he was praised for qualities that weren’t apparent to me. He’s a nice enough guy, he just seemed a bit ordinary, though he did strengthen as he faced challenges. In part he was supposed to be naïve, but I felt he should have been more aware of his world than he was, even at the start.
October 4, 2023
This is a decent read. I thought the world building was great and the characters interesting. I felt the ending was a bit rushed but it leaves the reader wanting more so it was a good place to stop. It's definitely a new take on the world-ending trope. Overall, I enjoyed the read, but I'm not sure I'll read the next one.
October 19, 2023
I hadn't read any of Kallen Samuel's books before, so I basically went into this book with no expectations. I found the idea of this story really interesting and well written. The twists and turns in his plot are quick paced and lead you through so many wonderful levels of the book. I found this book really unique and enjoyable.
December 27, 2023
Samuels has built a fascinating future world. The world building is fantastic. His main hero is an outcast, but a person someone like me can relate to. Our hero wants to find out more about his self, and doesn't everyone? This is the first book in a series and I am curious to find out more. I think other people will want to find out too.
October 1, 2023
An intriguing story. Gravity on earth has reversed, there’s danger and chaos. How will people survive. Outstanding, can’t wait for the next one.
October 22, 2023
Good start!
Good characters! Good story line! This will be a series to keep an eye on!
Good characters! Good story line! This will be a series to keep an eye on!
December 4, 2023
In The Shadow Of The Luminaries intricately weaves the agendas of those in power with the pursuit of self discovery. The novel successfully draws readers in from the outset, skillfully introducing the enigmatic Luminaries and the protagonist, Valtteri, without overwhelming the reader with information.
The novel excels in creating a vivid and authentic world through elements like originally designed martial arts, driven missionaries, and advanced technologies. The aviation theme enhances the cinematic quality, reminiscent of action scenes in classics like ‘Pearl Harbor' and 'Top Gun'.
Valtteri's character, akin to Ender in 'Ender's Game,' adds depth to the story, as he navigates the challenges of being an outcast - a blight eye in Aerial military training. The exploration of his nemesis’ - Nixon’s - perspective further enriches the narrative, adding layers to Valtteri’s motive.
Nevertheless, the use of multiple points of view engages with the reader on a deeper level, akin to the approach in ‘The Departed’. Despite minor considerations, the novel earns its 5-star rating with a page-turning plot, well-developed characters, and a unique world.
In summary, readers who appreciate post apocalyptic science fiction set in an oppressive societal systems, drawing parallels with works like ‘Dune’, will find 'In The Shadow Of The Luminaries' a captivating and immersive experience.
The novel excels in creating a vivid and authentic world through elements like originally designed martial arts, driven missionaries, and advanced technologies. The aviation theme enhances the cinematic quality, reminiscent of action scenes in classics like ‘Pearl Harbor' and 'Top Gun'.
Valtteri's character, akin to Ender in 'Ender's Game,' adds depth to the story, as he navigates the challenges of being an outcast - a blight eye in Aerial military training. The exploration of his nemesis’ - Nixon’s - perspective further enriches the narrative, adding layers to Valtteri’s motive.
Nevertheless, the use of multiple points of view engages with the reader on a deeper level, akin to the approach in ‘The Departed’. Despite minor considerations, the novel earns its 5-star rating with a page-turning plot, well-developed characters, and a unique world.
In summary, readers who appreciate post apocalyptic science fiction set in an oppressive societal systems, drawing parallels with works like ‘Dune’, will find 'In The Shadow Of The Luminaries' a captivating and immersive experience.
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