Space opera with music-based magic. It’s like “Bards in Space!” “Simply Put, This is a Brilliant Book. Read it Now.” -Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words BlogEighteen year old recluse Sam van Oen lives with his aunt near Charleston, South Carolina. He takes online college courses, works in technical support, and tries not to remember the freak storm that killed his parents ten years ago. But never … parents ten years ago.
But never leaving the house fuels his anxiety and his hoarding brings up memories he doesn’t want to have. Just as Sam gathers courage to send in his application for college, away from home, the temperature drops and the sun goes dim. Ice forms in August, and a portal opens up in his fireplace. This time, Sam can’t run.
This time he’s sucked in.
Now Sam must survive in the Nether, the flourishing capital of ten alien species, home to thousands who can change the Symphony underlying the universe and alter reality. Sam’s anxiety attacks and fear of crowds transforms the Nether into a frightening, expansive city. To find his home again, Sam must learn to control the music inside him, while devastating voids threaten to destroy the Nether and everyone he has grown to love.
If you like epic fantasy, space opera and music-based magic, you’ll love this first book in William C. Tracy’s Dissolution Cycle. Download The Seeds of Dissolution today and discover the diverse cultures, genders, and alien species of an epic science fantasy!
The Dissolution Cycle (Epic Space Opera, LGBT):
Book 1: The Seeds of Dissolution
Book 2: Facets of the Nether (Forthcoming, May 2020)
Book 3: Fall of the Imperium (Forthcoming, July 2020)
There’s more adventure with Tales from the Dissolutionverse! These books can be read in any order:
Book 1: The Five Hive Plateau (Adventure, Alien contact) – FREE
Book 2: Tuning the Symphony (Coming of Age, Adventure)
Book 3: Merchants and Maji (Intrigue, Steampunk adventure)
Book 4: The Society of Two Houses (Sherlock Holmes-esque murder mystery)
Book 5: Journey to the Top of the Nether (Jules Verne-style adventure, kid-friendly)
Genres: Space Opera / Fantasy / Science Fiction / Steampunk / LGBT Bisexual Non Binary
Market: YA and New Adult
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Received as a review copy, this is an honest review. The day the sun vanishes, Sam’s life gets turned upside down when he gets sucked into a strange world. Even worse, the experience heightens his anxiety issues. Sam must master the odd music of the universe in order to understand the fate of his world, prevent a looming war and get back home… who Sam is as a person will be forever altered. Highly recommended.
Sam suffers from crippling anxiety ever since he lost his parents as a small child. As the story begins he is about to lose the aunt who raised him as well to a mysterious NOTHING. It nearly claims him too until he reaches out with a talent he didn’t know he had, grasps a stranger’s hand through a strange opening and is yanked into a whole new universe. Which is a shock, too.
This is a young adult tale of the importance of believing in yourself and the future, in the face of the huge challenges that life can throw at us. It turns out that very few beings, of ten different species, have the ability which Sam used to save himself. Here in the realm called Nether, those who have it work together for the good of all, and to train those with ability to do the same.
We meet the heroes of The Five Hive Plateau, the maji Rilan and Origon, as well as twins from another human planet, Eron and Iran, who also lost their family to an encroaching NOTHING. They gather allies to save the universe with their harmonic abilities, with or without the help of the Maji Council. It’s inspiring and thrilling. Highly recommended.
I love the story, I like the characters, I am encouraged by the use of gender neutral and the openness between the characters. The audio seems like it is told in an empty hallway, but otherwise it’s really good. I will be getting the next book in the series.
If you like Piers Anthony’s style then this story is for you. I enjoyed the difference between characters and the story plot with its own unique twist on the magic and worlds out there. Also the author does his own narrative in the audio and an enjoyable job of it too.
This was an enjoyable mixture of science fiction and fantasy. The top-notch world building and engaging characters made for a very entertaining read.
*I requested a free review copy of this book through StoryOrigin and am voluntarily leaving a review*
“This book took me longer to finished due to the type of letter. I know it sounds lame but I’m used to an specify type and this one had a different one and until I get used to it my reading was slowy. Anyway, the series has lots of potential but it’s not for me. I almost didn’t finish it but I wanted to give it try until the end. Again, it wasn’t bad but not what I like.”
The Seeds of Dissolution is such a unique book that I can honestly say I haven’t read anything like this.
Sam Van Oen lived his life on Earth as a recluse. He has crippling anxiety that keeps him from leaving the house scared that he’ll suffer a panic attack at any moment. However, when the sun disappears and his world turns to ice he discovers a portal opened in his living room. Now Sam has to find a way to navigate his fears and survive in a new world.
One of the things I really liked about this book was the magic element (I guess that’s what it would be called). I really liked that it was a Symphony and each house had their own ‘threads’ that they each were more powerful with and could change in the music.
An intriguing and unique world. This story captured me from the start. I enjoyed the concept and new world. Sometimes the story got a little slowed down and didn’t flow as well but overall it made for an interesting read.
Sam lives with his aunt and has Agoraphobia. Just as soon as he gets the courage to apply for college, the sun’s heat dims causing a global freeze. All of a sudden a portal opens in his house and sucks him in. He opens his eyes to a new world. What will he do? Survive somehow.