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3.58 AVERAGE
3.58 AVERAGE
A portal fantasy gets combined with first contact sci-fi and space opera in this soup of subgenres that Tracy deftly navigates to create a powerful experience. Following in the steps of a human character thrown into a society of allied aliens that appears on the brink of crumbling, readers get to experience a science fantasy adventure that is wonderful from the beginning to the end. The magic system is based upon the notion that the universe has music behind it that some people can sense and modify–but at a cost over time. The characters are compelling, diverse, and complex. The relationships build slowly in believable fashion. I savored this one over the course of about a week, and then immediately grabbed the next one.
I tried so hard to love this book. I expected to, based on the description. Yet, I had to FORCE myself to finish it. There were so many areas that left me baffled, as in no clue what the author was attempting to relay to us. At other times it was very hard to figure out who was even speaking. The action was good, and I did enjoy the overall premise. The world building saved the entire thing for me. 3.5
Hello folks! I'll be using this space to provide some updates for when the sequel will be released! If you want some more to read while you're waiting, check out the four side-novellas I already have out. You can read them in any order, and each one will give you a little more insight into the Dissolutionverse...
Tuning the Symphony
Merchants and Maji
The Society of Two Houses
Journey to the Top of the Nether
August 4th, 2021: Been a while since I did one of these, but I'm very pleased to announce that my first anthology, Distant Gardens, is released! My stories include one in the Dissolutionverse and one in a new universe. There are eight other stories as well, by my fellow authors!
April 21st 2021: The audiobook for Tales of the Dissolutionverse is released on Audible! Go check it out!
February 11th 2021: The audiobooks for Facets of the Nether and Fall of the Imperium are now available on Audible! In addition, The Seeds of Dissolution is available on Chirp, Kobo, Nook, Google Books, and more with updated audio and better voice acting. Check it out!
January 6th 2021: It's been a while since the last update, but I can happily say the audiobooks for Facets of the Nether and Fall of the Imperium have been released! You can find them on Chirp, Kobo, Nook, Google Books, and anywhere else you consume audiobooks. They will be available shortly on Audible as well, but it's taking longer than usual to approve them.
August 25th 2020: Book 3, Fall of the Imperium is out! Time to go finish up the trilogy. What lies in store for Sam, Enos, and Inas?
July 23rd 2020: The cover for book 3, Fall of the Imperium, has been revealed! Mark your calendars for August 25th and the release of the last book of the trilogy!
June 24th 2020: Book 2, Facets of the Nether is released! Go out and get it, people! I'm hoping to finish up Fall of the Imperium in 2-3 weeks, and that one will be released in August to finish out the trilogy.
May 13 2020: The Kickstarter is finished and the covers and illustrations are funded. Thanks to everyone who helped this project. In other news, I've finished the last draft of Facets of the Nether (book 2) and the planned release date is June 23rd! Now on to another round of edits on book 3, planned for August 2020...
April 08 2020: The Kickstarter for books 2 and 3 of The Seeds of Dissolution is live! You can get the books early, become a character in the story, or have a special Dissolutionverse story written just for you. Check out the link here:
https://kickstarter.com/projects/spacewizard/the-dissolution-cycle-books-2-and-3-science-fantasy-lgbtq
February 18 2020: Draft 4 of book two is complete! This fixes the last bits of feedback, as well as some consistencies I noticed while writing the third book. That means it's back to book 3, to start making large structural changes based on my writing group feedback. The Kickstarter is still a go for April!
January 15 2020: I'm finished with draft 2 of book three in the Seeds of Dissolution timeline! Going back now to make some small changes based on feedback in book two. I plan to release these in May and July of 2020, with a Kickstarter running in April. You can the first copies of the books as well as some cool swag by backing! The titles are as follows:
The Seeds of Dissolution (Book 1)
Facets of the Nether (Book 2)
Fall of the Imperium (Book 3)
October 8 2019: Starting on the first draft of book three in the Seeds of Dissolution timeline! I'm planning to release books 2 and 3 close together in 2020.
July 31 2019: The audiobook is now out! So if you like to listen to your books instead of read them, go try it out!
April 26 2019: I finished the second draft of the sequel last week! Currently it's going out to my first batch of alpha readers, and I know a lot of places I need to tidy things up. I should be starting the next draft soon, and will probably start outlining the third book soon.
Feb 20, 2019: If you want a story to tide you over until the sequel comes out, how about a novelette about Origon's past? You can get it for free right here! BookHip.com/PAHQDG
Jan 09, 2019: Well, the first very, very rough draft is done! There are a lot of things I need to go back and improve, and I need to add another layer of emotional reaction and scene detail (two things I always fall short on in first drafts). However, the bulk of the words are in place, and that's what matter. Currently it's clocking in at a little over 80,000 words, but I'm guessing it will be about 100,000 after I finish revisions. There are a lot of places I need to flesh out. I'm really excited to share this with you, so I'll be putting in sneak peeks in my monthly newsletter. If you want to sign up (and get a free short story too) head on over to http://williamctracy.com/ and sign up!
Sep 13, 2018: I'm about 5000 words into the sequel, and starting to get back into the story. It's great to be writing these characters again. You're going to see some different points of view in this one...
Tuning the Symphony
Merchants and Maji
The Society of Two Houses
Journey to the Top of the Nether
August 4th, 2021: Been a while since I did one of these, but I'm very pleased to announce that my first anthology, Distant Gardens, is released! My stories include one in the Dissolutionverse and one in a new universe. There are eight other stories as well, by my fellow authors!
April 21st 2021: The audiobook for Tales of the Dissolutionverse is released on Audible! Go check it out!
February 11th 2021: The audiobooks for Facets of the Nether and Fall of the Imperium are now available on Audible! In addition, The Seeds of Dissolution is available on Chirp, Kobo, Nook, Google Books, and more with updated audio and better voice acting. Check it out!
January 6th 2021: It's been a while since the last update, but I can happily say the audiobooks for Facets of the Nether and Fall of the Imperium have been released! You can find them on Chirp, Kobo, Nook, Google Books, and anywhere else you consume audiobooks. They will be available shortly on Audible as well, but it's taking longer than usual to approve them.
August 25th 2020: Book 3, Fall of the Imperium is out! Time to go finish up the trilogy. What lies in store for Sam, Enos, and Inas?
July 23rd 2020: The cover for book 3, Fall of the Imperium, has been revealed! Mark your calendars for August 25th and the release of the last book of the trilogy!
June 24th 2020: Book 2, Facets of the Nether is released! Go out and get it, people! I'm hoping to finish up Fall of the Imperium in 2-3 weeks, and that one will be released in August to finish out the trilogy.
May 13 2020: The Kickstarter is finished and the covers and illustrations are funded. Thanks to everyone who helped this project. In other news, I've finished the last draft of Facets of the Nether (book 2) and the planned release date is June 23rd! Now on to another round of edits on book 3, planned for August 2020...
April 08 2020: The Kickstarter for books 2 and 3 of The Seeds of Dissolution is live! You can get the books early, become a character in the story, or have a special Dissolutionverse story written just for you. Check out the link here:
https://kickstarter.com/projects/spacewizard/the-dissolution-cycle-books-2-and-3-science-fantasy-lgbtq
February 18 2020: Draft 4 of book two is complete! This fixes the last bits of feedback, as well as some consistencies I noticed while writing the third book. That means it's back to book 3, to start making large structural changes based on my writing group feedback. The Kickstarter is still a go for April!
January 15 2020: I'm finished with draft 2 of book three in the Seeds of Dissolution timeline! Going back now to make some small changes based on feedback in book two. I plan to release these in May and July of 2020, with a Kickstarter running in April. You can the first copies of the books as well as some cool swag by backing! The titles are as follows:
The Seeds of Dissolution (Book 1)
Facets of the Nether (Book 2)
Fall of the Imperium (Book 3)
October 8 2019: Starting on the first draft of book three in the Seeds of Dissolution timeline! I'm planning to release books 2 and 3 close together in 2020.
July 31 2019: The audiobook is now out! So if you like to listen to your books instead of read them, go try it out!
April 26 2019: I finished the second draft of the sequel last week! Currently it's going out to my first batch of alpha readers, and I know a lot of places I need to tidy things up. I should be starting the next draft soon, and will probably start outlining the third book soon.
Feb 20, 2019: If you want a story to tide you over until the sequel comes out, how about a novelette about Origon's past? You can get it for free right here! BookHip.com/PAHQDG
Jan 09, 2019: Well, the first very, very rough draft is done! There are a lot of things I need to go back and improve, and I need to add another layer of emotional reaction and scene detail (two things I always fall short on in first drafts). However, the bulk of the words are in place, and that's what matter. Currently it's clocking in at a little over 80,000 words, but I'm guessing it will be about 100,000 after I finish revisions. There are a lot of places I need to flesh out. I'm really excited to share this with you, so I'll be putting in sneak peeks in my monthly newsletter. If you want to sign up (and get a free short story too) head on over to http://williamctracy.com/ and sign up!
Sep 13, 2018: I'm about 5000 words into the sequel, and starting to get back into the story. It's great to be writing these characters again. You're going to see some different points of view in this one...
I “read” this (started with good intentions, but from about 50% skimmed, skipping parts) for book club, didn’t enjoy / get into it at all sadly.
I really wanted to love this book. I definitely liked it. It's so well written, incredibly immersive and I enjoyed the characters and exquisite world building. Major kudos for LGBTQ characters of all species who are real and nuanced and fascinating. My only qualm is that it was a conscious effort to keep reading at times, and I found myself skimming over too much, especially parts in the POV of the maji. I don't feel doing that affected my understanding of the plot or the storyline, so I think perhaps it could have been a little tighter in places.
It's a fantastic mix of science fantasy a la Robert Silverberg's Lord Valentine's Castle, one of my all time favorite books (so big it could have been three or four books, but, hey, that's epic fantasy, right?). Seeds of Dissolution is a really good read, and may end up being someone's favorite book. Sam's reveal in the last third of the book is one of those OH HOLY CRAP moments that I live for. And the magic system is brilliant! A music-based magic system just thrilled the hell out of me. Recommended, just be prepared to give it your full attention.
It's a fantastic mix of science fantasy a la Robert Silverberg's Lord Valentine's Castle, one of my all time favorite books (so big it could have been three or four books, but, hey, that's epic fantasy, right?). Seeds of Dissolution is a really good read, and may end up being someone's favorite book. Sam's reveal in the last third of the book is one of those OH HOLY CRAP moments that I live for. And the magic system is brilliant! A music-based magic system just thrilled the hell out of me. Recommended, just be prepared to give it your full attention.
I received a free copy of this novel as an ARC from Book Sirens.
The Seeds of Dissolution is an isekai, albeit a Western one. The story starts when Sam, a young man with anxiety, getting sucked through a portal to a system of planets called the Nexus. Sam’s anxiety was presented well. Although he got some help through magic and meditation, it didn’t just disappear. I'm also glad he didn’t become overpowered, which happens distressingly often in isekai.
However, there were some ways his character could have been improved. Sam didn’t show much shock at the difference in technological levels between Earth and the Nexus. The Nexus doesn’t have devices like smartphones or computers, which would have helped the characters at certain points in the plot. It’s also mentioned in the first chapter that he was planning on taking online courses, so it’s not like he’s inept with technology. I know a lot of young people use technology to cope with mental issues such as anxiety, so Sam’s lack of awkwardness over this loss felt inauthentic to me. Not a whole lot of Sam’s backstory was given, either. The audience learns little about Sam’s life before he ends up in the Imperium.
Besides that, I only have a few quibbles, such as a spelling error I found on one page and an awkward simile on another. The book provided a good framework for how the magic system and the worlds work while setting up some story threads for the next two books. I can’t wait to read the sequel.
The Seeds of Dissolution is an isekai, albeit a Western one. The story starts when Sam, a young man with anxiety, getting sucked through a portal to a system of planets called the Nexus. Sam’s anxiety was presented well. Although he got some help through magic and meditation, it didn’t just disappear. I'm also glad he didn’t become overpowered, which happens distressingly often in isekai.
However, there were some ways his character could have been improved. Sam didn’t show much shock at the difference in technological levels between Earth and the Nexus. The Nexus doesn’t have devices like smartphones or computers, which would have helped the characters at certain points in the plot. It’s also mentioned in the first chapter that he was planning on taking online courses, so it’s not like he’s inept with technology. I know a lot of young people use technology to cope with mental issues such as anxiety, so Sam’s lack of awkwardness over this loss felt inauthentic to me. Not a whole lot of Sam’s backstory was given, either. The audience learns little about Sam’s life before he ends up in the Imperium.
Besides that, I only have a few quibbles, such as a spelling error I found on one page and an awkward simile on another. The book provided a good framework for how the magic system and the worlds work while setting up some story threads for the next two books. I can’t wait to read the sequel.
This book is exactly how science fantasy should be written. The world-building is absolutely stunning, with rich varied species, a unique magic system, and fantastic characters. The layers of the world are expertly drawn and the level of nuance with which the characters interact with and relate to the world is impressive.
I love, love, love Sam. I might be biased, but I’ve rarely seen anxiety/agoraphobia rep written so well, and I just loved him. Every time he was down and then picked himself back up I was cheering. And that’s the other thing I have to say about this book, as far as writing diverse characters, it hits the nail on the head. Non-binary characters everywhere, a gender fluid character, bisexual main character, and a polyamorous relationship. And it all just exists beautifully together. So, please world, give me more SFF like this.
The best part of this book is how many moving pieces there are. Everything is happening at once, and you can feel it coming to a head, but there’s nothing you can do. The tension is fantastic, and that ending, wowie. I am so excited for the second book (seriously, can I have it now? No? Well, fine, I’ll go read some of the other books in the universe, while I wait patiently).
Anyway, I could probably rave about this book all night, but seriously, just go read it. If you love epic fantasy, want some more space opera and are looking to get lost in a unique magic system. Just buy this book.
To read more reviews like this one, check out my website:
https://www.cheyannealepka.com/chey-s-reviews
I love, love, love Sam. I might be biased, but I’ve rarely seen anxiety/agoraphobia rep written so well, and I just loved him. Every time he was down and then picked himself back up I was cheering. And that’s the other thing I have to say about this book, as far as writing diverse characters, it hits the nail on the head. Non-binary characters everywhere, a gender fluid character, bisexual main character, and a polyamorous relationship. And it all just exists beautifully together. So, please world, give me more SFF like this.
The best part of this book is how many moving pieces there are. Everything is happening at once, and you can feel it coming to a head, but there’s nothing you can do. The tension is fantastic, and that ending, wowie. I am so excited for the second book (seriously, can I have it now? No? Well, fine, I’ll go read some of the other books in the universe, while I wait patiently).
Anyway, I could probably rave about this book all night, but seriously, just go read it. If you love epic fantasy, want some more space opera and are looking to get lost in a unique magic system. Just buy this book.
To read more reviews like this one, check out my website:
https://www.cheyannealepka.com/chey-s-reviews