Reviews

Booklife Review

Editor's Pick: Petty inaugurates the “Series of Four Seasons” with this gripping story of ancient societies, deadly artifacts, and two estranged half-brothers, Orion and Eden, one of whom personifies death, and the other life. Eden tracks down Orion on the present-day Gulf Coast with the hope that Orion will join the artifact-hunting organization, the House of David, to help locate a dangerous artifact known as the Chains of Peter before it falls into the wrong hands. Usually, Eden’s missions don’t demand much interpersonal connection: “Get in. Get the artifact. Get out. Maybe kill a few guys in the process, I don’t know,” he muses. But enlisting Orion complicates matters as Eden pursues the Chains to prevent the mysterious Whiteface and his masked killers at Seditio, another ancient order, from using the Chains to bring on global destruction.

Petty’s story flows with purpose and power, immersing the reader in adventure, conspiracies, and crisp, vital action, all without relying on adventure-tale clichés. Writing compelling fight scenes can prove challenging for even the most experienced authors, but Petty demonstrates a sure hand, capturing violence and suspense with crisp clarity and inventive wit. That action, while rousing, is always tied to character. Petty is unafraid to be grisly in these scenes that highlight Eden’s acceptance of death through and willingness to kill to protect his brother and the people around him.

While the setpieces excite and reveal the novel’s relationships, at times the pace can seem too quick, as the story hurtles readers from one intense scene to another. The novel’s revelations, and the crucial connection between the half-brothers, might have greater impact with quieter moments, in which this agreeable cast can catch a breath and make sense of it all. The quest and the bloody, surprising, tinged-with-comedy action, though, is the draw here. Orion’s crash course introduction into Eden’s—and, now, possibly his—world is memorably wild. Maybe there will be more binding in spring.

Takeaway: The intense, bloody start to a promising thriller series of ancient artifacts and societies.

Great for fans of: Derek Landy’s Skulduggery Pleasant series, Tom Knox’s The Babylon Rite.

True Winter — A Series of Four Seasons, Book 1

"True Winter is one of the best books I have read to date!" — Kaila, Goodreads (★★★★★)

"Indiana Jones on acid. It's truly excellent." — Kate O'Shea (★★★★★)

"A dark, violent battle between good and evil that grabbed me from page one." — Jon, Goodreads (★★★★★)

"Confident, immersive, and resonant." — Joshua Logan, Goodreads (4.5/5)

"This book is nothing short of extraordinary!"— The Sassy Bookworm (★★★★★)

Indigo Spring — A Series of Four Seasons, Book 2

"Q.K. Petty can really write some horrifyingly fantastic villains." — alexa, Goodreads

"Even better than Book 1, which was fantastic!" — Melissa Cavanagh, Goodreads

"Each scene feels alive, each twist electrifying."— Lilith's Library, Goodreads

"Petty's prose sings with lyrical precision." — Kenneth McArthur, Goodreads

"There were some twists I didn't see coming." — Shauni, Goodreads

Dark Summer — A Series of Four Seasons, Book 3

"My personal favourite in the series." — Alex Lindfield, Goodreads

"An amazing joy ride of intensity." Amazon— Reader review

"Heartbreak, betrayal, and stakes that hit like a hammer." — Reader sentiment, Goodreads

Sweet Fall — A Series of Four Seasons, Book 4 (Finale)

"Petty sticks the landing." — Joshua Logan, Goodreads (★★★★★)

"A gripping, gut-wrenching finale that delivers on every level." — T M. Robertson, Goodreads

"A powerful and emotional conclusion to a memorable series." — Lilith's Library, Goodreads

"Q.K. Petty's writing is remarkable." — Kaila, Goodreads (★★★★★)