The Apostate

Rating:
Summary: A SOLID START
Review: AS A FAN OF SO MANY AUTHORS IN THIS GENRE I HAPPENED TO GET AN E-MAIL FROM A YOUNG AUTHOR NAMED PAUL LONARDO.HE APOLOGIZED FOR SOLICITING ME BUT THOUGHT I MIGHT LIKE HIS NEW BOOK.I HAD NO PROBLEM WITH HIS APPROACH AND FOUND IT KIND OF NEAT TO LOOK INTO HIS FIRST NOVEL.I THEN PURCHASED IT THROUGH AMAZON.COM AND WOW!. PAUL CAN WRITE! MY FRIENDS.THIS IS A GREAT STORY THROUGHOUT.A GOOD FEEL FOR CHARACTERS AND MOVES QUICK.JUST TO CHECK I "PUSHED" IT ON MY WIFE AND FAMILY AND THEY READ IT IN UNDER 3 DAYS!HAD THE CHANCE TO MEET THE AUTHOR IN A BOOK SIGNING AT THE EMERALD SQUARE MALL AND HE IS AS GENUINE AS THIS STORY! THUMBS UP!

Rating:
Summary: Excellent supernatural thriller
Review: Chris has been fostered at the Crowley boot camp since he turned seven. At sixteen, he is finally ready to run away because his foster father is an abusive person who works Chris and the other children to the point of exhaustion. All he has left of his mother is a picture of her when she somehow communicates with him when he is troubled; her advice is always accurate. When he reaches Caldera New Mexico, she no longer transmits to him.

Caldera is a strange and frightening city that has an alarming growth rate. Julian, an environmentalist for Project Earth, has scientific proof that alarms him. At the same time psychiatrist Saney finds evidence that frightens her as she sees too many people suffering from bad dreams and psychoses than any other place she has encountered. These two individuals along with Chris connect with one another to find the cause of the problems at Caldera and attempt to stop them if they can even if they are supernatural in nature.

Anyone who likes a supernatural thriller similar to the "Left Behind" series will want to read THE APOSTATE. Unlike the "Left Behind" series this novel is more subtle and the supernatural elements more covert. The story line is very entertaining and enriching while the protagonists are people like the neighbors next door, caring and helpful when called upon in need.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: How Not To Write Book
Review: Dark and Demented. Paul Lonardo's first novel is a tightly wound nightmare that unravels in a horrific frenzy. Lonardo understands how to create believable characters and narrowly pull them through some intense scenes. The Apostate possesses the feel of a classic horror novel.

The Apostate is the story Good v. Evil. It touches on the Second Coming of Christ and the devil among us. There is Chris, an orphan adopted into an abusive family. This boy knows he cannot live another minute and escaping becomes his only option. When he finds himself holed up in the big city of Caldera working for an evil baker, he can only wonder if running again makes sense. Then there is Julian, who is sent to Caldera to conduct an environmental study. Julian is plagued by past haunts. The people he is closest to always seem to wind up dead. Can his imaginary friend be responsible, or deep down, does Julian know he must be the one killing those around him? Saney, a psychiatrist who moves her small practice to Caldera, is overwhelmed with patients experiencing bizarre nightmares. Maybe she lends credibility to the tales because her own reoccurring nightmares of the tree-monster are so intense.

Aside from the fact there are no churches in Caldera, there are harboring under the city streets, millions of vicious rats and perhaps one beast with a few devout followers, responsible for everything evil taking place in Caldera, New Mexico . . .

Lonardo writes crisp narrative and full of genuine dialogue. Apparent talent allows Lonardo to pace his story with intensifying suspense and a climax that pulls in all the pieces of the mysterious and evil puzzle. I know Paul Lonardo has more novels in the works. I, for one, will be looking forward to them . . . and losing a few more nights of sleep.

--Phillip Tomasso III, author of Third Ring & Tenth House

Rating:
Summary: Read The Apostate For Yourself; You will Not Be Disappointed
Review: I am not usually one to read reviews of books before reading them. And this is the first time that I have ever written a review myself. However, I am doing so now for two reasons. The first is to let readers know that, as many reviewers have pointed out, Paul Lonardo's The Apostate is an exciting novel to read. It is a page turner in the classic sense of the word, but it also offers something more. It is a terrifying and
thought-provoking ride into a dark place of the human soul. The other reason I am writing this review is to let May 13's reviewer know that this is not the place to grind personal axes, and tell untruths about a truly excellent novel. I say read this book for yourself, and you too will be an instant fan of The Apostate and it's author.

Rating:
Summary: "new twist on an old theme"
Review: I just finished reading "The Apostate". I've read 100's of books from the horror/sci-fi/fantasy genre. This one was refreshingly different; although a quick read. Lonardo did a magnificent job of mixing psychology and environment, with a Faustian twist. The characters, good and bad, are believable, and I found myself devouring the book in one evening. I thoroughly enjoy his writing style, although he needs to fire his proofreader. The ending still has me perplexed; but that's a good thing. If you're looking for something exciting to read, that hasn't already been beat to death; this book is for you. I look forward to his second book.

Rating:
Summary: The author has promise but this book needs a better editor
Review: It's clear that Lonardo has talent and promise, but The Apostate is not what I would call a stunning first novel. The story line is intriguing, but the novel overall suffers from some very common "first-time-author" problems that Lonardo could have cleared up with a few more writing classes or a good editor. For example, at times he's got the subtlety of a sledgehammer--"Chris" turns out to be Christ? Wow, I never saw that coming! And Saney the psychiatrist? Oh, I get it, Sane-y, Sane!--and at other times he's got much better control, as in Julian who is named after the "last pagan emperor" of Rome, known as Julian the Apostate (subtle, but meaningful). Some of the dialogue is good, while other parts are clumsy and amateur-ish (for example, when Julian finally decides to declare his love for Saney, he says "I've been running from people my whole life" (okay, good so far) "I have avoided forming lasting connections" (sorry, nobody talks like that)). The Apostate is a quick read and an enjoyable story. If you're not too picky about the occasionally poor writing and plot holes so big you could drive a truck through, then you'll probably really like this book.

Rating:
Summary: The Apostate
Review: It's clear that Lonardo has talent and promise, but The Apostate is not what I would call a stunning first novel. The story line is intriguing, but the novel overall suffers from some very common "first-time-author" problems that Lonardo could have cleared up with a few more writing classes or a good editor. For example, at times he's got the subtlety of a sledgehammer--"Chris" turns out to be Christ? Wow, I never saw that coming! And Saney the psychiatrist? Oh, I get it, Sane-y, Sane!--and at other times he's got much better control, as in Julian who is named after the "last pagan emperor" of Rome, known as Julian the Apostate (subtle, but meaningful). Some of the dialogue is good, while other parts are clumsy and amateur-ish (for example, when Julian finally decides to declare his love for Saney, he says "I've been running from people my whole life" (okay, good so far) "I have avoided forming lasting connections" (sorry, nobody talks like that)). The Apostate is a quick read and an enjoyable story. If you're not too picky about the occasionally poor writing and plot holes so big you could drive a truck through, then you'll probably really like this book.

Rating:
Summary: The Apostate
Review: This is the worst book I have ever read. I found it very hard to read. I have a signed edition of this book and have met the author. I wish I hadn't walked into Walden Books on this day, I bought it on impulse and wish I hadn't...