The Path of the Heretic
The Beholder, Book #2
By Ivan Amberlake
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Scott
Let nothing more be said about the dryness of the angst-driven urban paranormal novel: Path of the Heretic is a fast-paced, action ridden novel that stimulates the senses, drives the emotions and takes you on a roller-coaster ride of a lifetime. Praise must be lauded to Ivan Amberlake for creating a rich, vivid tapestry of a novel that outshines his previous two books, The Beholder and Diary of the Gone. Following closely behind the groundwork laid out in The Beholder, The Path of the Heretic delves into the further exploits of Jason Walker and friends. Not as naïve as his previous self, Jason Walker starts the novel in a full out war between the forces of the Lightsighted and the Darksighted.
The pacing and plot of this novel are ingenious. Ivan Amberlake often weaves the same event from a different character’s viewpoint and the all-pervasive “sight” fascinates and entwines the reader with a Matrix like feel and tone. Told vividly and forcefully, Path of the Heretic focuses its tight plot about the imminent war between Light and Darkness, the quest for Emily, hither to now thought as lost, the testing of friendships, and betrayal. The pace starts off at a breakneck speed and there are few moments to get introspective on. Much more direct and driven than its predecessor, this novel doesn’t wistfully tell its tale; rather drilling its point at the reader. The novel doesn’t let up until the final chapter is spun.
Every epic tale needs strong antagonists to challenge the protagonist, and Path of the Heretic delivers. The young hero Jason Walker is put to the test by the nefarious Pariah and his Darksighted companions. Partially told from the villain’s point of view, the characters are no longer black and white, in the first book in the series. Shades of gray draw chiaroscuro light over the cast of the novel, and trust becomes a major theme, specifically on where to place it amongst the horrors of an overwhelming arc of sheer malevolence that threatens to consume all involved. Taking the viewpoints of Jason, Tyler, Damian, the Pariah, and others spins loops through the mind, and some characters are seen longer than others. Each carries with them a story, be it a full front and center performance, or merely a walk on cameo. The interaction between the characters are real and cognizant, believable and tangible in the scenarios they are placed in.
The writing is the true treat of the novel. Dancing and playing with the readers senses. It is terse and blunt at one moment, and eloquent and classy the next.
The first book, the beholder, was honestly one of the best books I’ve read and I can’t wait to read the second,