I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

Lone celestial being Azrael goes in search of the means of stopping a threat that can destroy the universe itself in author Joseph A. Schiller’s “Upon the Arrival of Dawn”.

The Synopsis

A darkness grows, threatening the delicate fabric of the Universe. An ominous cloud spreads, bringing an increasing imbalance across the Cosmos. Essences bent on wickedness and ultimate destruction are violently stripping the Energy of Life from innocent terrestrial creatures, bringing Existence to the very brink of collapse. Only one Celestial essence boldly accepts the calling to seek out the source of the encroaching evil and restore Harmony once again to Existence. Azrael, humble servant of Eternity, offspring of Existence, will stop at nothing to protect the Universe, mortal and immortal alike. 

The Review

This was such a well-developed and engaging story. The author did a brilliant job of crafting a unique and imaginative narrative. The balance between the “terrestrial and non-terrestrial planes) was a great way of capturing a unique setting. The almost cinematic and artistic style of writing the author utilized here made the story feel almost dreamlike, and an added depth of morality and themes of existence itself conjured up similar imagery as Neil Gaiman’s “The Sandman”.

The heart of the narrative was very character driven, which was ironic given the main characters represented celestial beings who had forgone a true sense of self before the events of the narrative. The evolution of Azrael in particular was great to see, as the cosmic battles and mythos the author developed for him balanced well with the more personal growth the character saw, especially when meeting the Earthbound Johanna.

The Verdict

Mind-bending, thought-provoking, and engaging, author Joseph A. Schiller’s “Upon the Arrival of Dawn” is a must-read fantasy and sci-fi novel. The breathtaking imagery used in the narrative to help bring these cosmic beings and settings to life and the balance struck between this and the more intimate and “human” moments allowed readers to connect to both the protagonist and the narrative simultaneously. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

About the Author

I have always, for as long as I can remember, found a creative outlet with the written word.  From as early as elementary school I have enjoyed writing short fictional stories.  In the 6th grade I was blessed to be able to take a creative writing class as an elective.  It was during that course that my confidence, interest, and exploration of writing really took off.  It was during my freshman year of college that I made my first attempt to write a novel.  Unfortunately, that work was lost when the desktop I had at the time crashed.  It took me a few years before the inspiration returned.  Once it did, though, I grabbed ahold of it, and have held on tight ever since.

My opinion of my writing is nearly identical to that of my artwork.  I do not write for the purpose of pleasing others.  I will be perfectly happy if I am the only person that ultimately reads my stories.  Like my artwork, my written works are an extension of who I am.  In the end, if some find my stories entertaining, then it is icing on the cake.

When reading for pleasure I tend to have a fairly varied set of interests ranging from fiction to non-fiction, novel’s to essays.  However, my literary interests when writing are almost entirely fiction based.

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