Thursday 30 May 2019

Relics of Andromeda: Song of Ancients ~ Review


Title: Relics of Andromeda: Volume 1 - Song of Ancients
Author: Jonathan Michael Erickson

Genre: Science Fiction
Themes: Temptation, friendship, politics, technology.
Rating: 5 Stars



Synopsis:


AN EPIC TALE SPANNING CIVILIZATIONS AND CENTURIES 


Anka has believed the stories since childhood: the alien relics bring ruin and madness. Ancient pieces of technology that seem to have minds of their own, the relics interface with human psychology, granting the power to bend space and time—and often inducing psychosis. When the colonists of Andromeda first discovered the relics, long before Anka was born, humanity was plunged into chaos.

Now Anka is carrying a relic in her pack, tasked with securing the object before it can do any harm. She and her companions set out across the desert by foot, marching towards the distant city— even as the relic begins to whisper in her mind...





Review:

Intro:


After a pretty big fiction reading slump, I came across Relics of Andromeda: Song of Ancients, on the Prolific Works website (formerly known as Instafreebie.)

As soon as I read the synopsis, which promised ancient relics and strange civilizations, I was hooked. Book 1 of this series is fast-paced, taking place in the Andromeda Galaxy, on planets D'harma (where humans have now settled) and Shoal (the home planet of a shapeshifting alien race.)



Characters:

The main protagonist, Anka was by far my favourite character. Her strength of will and determination to set things right had me admiring her from the start. I related to her genuine feelings of uncertainty when faced with many profound changes to her life.

Anka's companions, Trevor and Tamreh each brought their own different strengths and flaws to the table. Trevor is a steadfast friend with an endless sense of compassion that burns bright in his soul. Tamreh, on the other hand, was confusing to me. At first, I liked her, a daring shaman, intent to break the rules. However, as the story advanced and she became more reckless, I found myself wishing she would disappear.



Story:


The main story is told through third-person narration, though it centres mainly on Anka's point of view and how she deals with each new obstacle that stands in her way to returning an ancient relic named Osiris.
I liked how the main storyline was combined with brief interludes from other points of view, helping to add depth to Andromeda's history of human population. 

Overall, the story flowed well and drew me in at each turn, delivering action, unconventional relationships and alliances, and plenty of nail-biting tension.



Author: Jonathan Miahcel Erickson

Other Things I Liked:

The author builds up vivid scenes that I could imagine as if I were holidaying in a faraway land and being given a tour. There's a truly beautiful imagination at work here.

I also loved the relics themselves, which seem to possess their own unique consciousness. They were fascinating to read about and I even found myself wanting to protect them from Anka's foes.

It's fascinating to see how one person has imagined humankind might live their lives one day, part of an intimate technological network that spans across galaxies.



Dislikes?

I don't think there was anything I honestly disliked, bat Tamreh's occasional recklessness as it left her friends in dire circumstances.



Favourite Quote?


'It is when you feel most confident in the nature of things that you risk betrayal by harsh, inscrutable reality.'

I think this quote is particularly relevant in modern times, what with the general population being so divided by extremes in political opinion.



Would You Recommend?


I would definitely recommend this book and I can't wait to read the sequel. If you love science fiction, then this book is for you.

I'm rating it 5 stars.







Sunday 26 May 2019

Identity Reclaimed: An Original Poem


Hi all, the following poem was written just now, as a celebration of finally feeling more comfortable in my own skin.


As of March 2018, having been transitioning from female to male through the use of hormone therapy, I realized that my personal gender dysphoria stemmed from certain childhood moments that have left their own scars.



Since early 2018, I began to detransition, a process that although considered rare by many, is actually more common than you would think. As a controversial subject, people like me are hidden from the general public and rarely discussed in the mainstream media.


This poem represents the end of one confusing journey and the beginning of a journey back to my true self.







The following poem is a brief look at how I now feel about my true, female-born identity.



I look in the mirror,
What do I see?
A young woman- sad,
As frail as can be.
I look in the mirror,
At what I’ve become.
Obsessed with identity-
Comfortably numb.
I look in the mirror,
And it’s there that I find-
I was always a woman,
Merely in a bind.
I look in the mirror,
See softness regained.
Past trauma explored,
And realized pain.
I look in the mirror,
And I gasp in relief-
That I did not commit-
To my transition belief.
I look in the mirror,
And I start to smile.
The worst is far from over,
No longer in denial.

I look in the mirror,
And see no strife.
Who is this carefree lady-
I’ve waited to meet all my life?



Thank you for reading this short poem. I know the subject of gender identity is a touchy one right now and do apologize if anyone took offence. However, my intention is only to share my own personal truth and to show that sometimes, gender dysphoria stems from other issues, such as past trauma, or as a feature of other mental conditions.



















Gender dysphoria, in itself, is a mental state, where the sufferer feels extreme distress in regards to their birth sex. This may be due to social factors or past abuse. I truly believe that the first port of call, before considering hormones and surgery, should be to establish why the individual has developed gender dysphoria. That way, any other pre-existing issues can be ruled out.
I hope my words have at least given you pause with regards to this particular subject. It is important for us to think back when we consider such major life-changing decisions as we can't see how they will affect us in the future until that future is lived. Thank you for reading my post. I hope you have a wonderful week. Dax. xoxo


Tuesday 21 May 2019

12 Rules For Life: An Antidote to Chaos: Review

12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos by Jordan B. Peterson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars






I loved this book so much!


Despite the lies spread in the media about Peterson, he's a very down to earth, logical-thinking man with a caring attitude toward other people. His 12 Rules for Life was an insightful read that discussed various ways to improve your own personal life, instead of focusing on the melodrama being spread throughout the world.








One of the rules that held my attention most was about putting your own house in order before judging others. None of us is perfect: I'm certainly not and there's plenty of room for me to improve myself. By making more positive and responsible decisions in our own lives, a ripple effect is created. Consequently, if we spread negativity, then a similar ripple effect is created, pushing more negativity into the world at large.


I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who is genuinely feeling lost amidst the news scandals and societal upheaval currently going on.


My favourite read of 2019 so far. :)


View all my previous goodreads reviews