SPSFC4 Review: The Winds of Change by Sam Paisley
Blurb:
Destiny, personal responsibility, what the future holds – common concerns for anyone graduating high school. But usually not because of a cosmic war between timeless beings where you’re the central player.
As the end of school quickly approaches, and Cooper Bailey watches his perfect world slip away, his only concern is savouring every last minute of his high school career. For his best friend, Reid Patterson, graduation is a doorway to the future, where his discipline and focus will finally allow him to meet his true potential.
When a mysterious mirror-masked man begs for their help to stop a dangerous heretic, Cooper and Reid find themselves thrust into unknown worlds, wrestling with a destiny as old as time itself. As the truths about their roles in the universe unfold, and enemies disguise themselves as allies, their only hope is to trust each other - and learn fast!
Far from home and in mortal peril, Cooper and Reid attempt to hone their newfound abilities and come to grips with their purpose for being.
Inspired by classic and modern science fiction and fantasy, and drawing upon timeless themes of destiny and personal responsibility, The Elements of Time is a series written for anyone who loves an escape into a rich and deep world. With references to Star Wars (the Original Trilogy), Avatar: The Last Bender, Stargate SG-1, Supernatural, and much more, The Elements of Time: The Winds of Change is fun action-adventure, with it’s own unique magic system, and themes that touch what it means to grow up and take on the challenges of life
The Elements of Time - Book 1: The Winds of Change
For more story information, behind the scenes details, and additional content visit Elements of Time
Review:
This book really surprised me when I began reading it. First, the setting is 90’s somewhere in the US, and the MC’s are two best friends in High School. One, Cooper is a jock, star player on the school’s baseball team, champion of his slightly nerdy best friend, Reid. They seem like an odd pair, but the friendship is genuine, and Cooper always has Reid’s back.
Reid is long suffering of his friend’s dismissal of preparing for college, and the applications that require attention, as they won’t fill themselves out. Especially since Cooper has the final game of the season against their arch rival coming up. But when things spiral out of control from Cooper’s misdirected school spirit, detention looms.
After the tongue lashing from the principal the Cooper received, he and Reid make their way home. But it’s dark.. and someone has followed them… This is where things begin happening, and the way the story unfolded was really interesting. It was unlike anything I was expecting a sci fi novel to encompass.
First, there are strong undercurrents of Greek mythology throughout. Heroic deeds, champions, gods manipulating the worlds they are playing with, and the “lowers” who believe they are worshipping benevolent deities. They are anything but!
The means of going from place to place is through portals, but there are only so many means and entities who can do so. And not everybody is who they seem to be.
One of the things I found that hit me as I was reading, was that this could be a script for a John Hughes movie. The kids are just trying to live their lives, they’re misunderstood or marginalized, and the adults are messing with everybody. And the gods, the Keepers, are are immortal and have been playing games with every lesser being they’ve encountered, are quite vain, bored, and don’t want to share the universe with such lowly beings.
There are trials which have to be successfully completed, alliances forged, and the boys are unsure of those who have sworn to protect them from the Keepers. Especially when one of those helping is the daughter of one.
It’s a wonderful sci-fantasy type story, showing the indomitable strength of true friendship, and the adversities that can be overcome by believing in yourself, and having the fortitude to do the hard things. Which is saving humanity from annihilation. Simple task, right? Read it to find out just what our young heroes face, and who is really controlling their destinies.
Guest Reviewer Bio:
My name is Vivian Cicero, and I am one of the judges for the SFF Insiders SPSFC4 team. I will be posting guest reviews of the titles I’ve selected to read for the competition. I’m an alpha/beta/ARC reader, as well.
