The Ascendants

Threadweavers, Book 1

De: Jazza Brooks

Narrado por: Helen Keeley, Jazza Brooks

On a distant mining colony, Samantha Weaver is in line for a promotion, and is working hard to have hope for the future.

She came to this desolate place to give her sickly brother Aiden a better life, but is it really better? Sometimes she wonders how best to help him, and if they made the right decision.

Their mundane existence is blown apart from the moment the monstrous creatures breach the mines. The colony descends into chaos. All the workers are trapped, abandoned by the very administrators who once drove them to exhaustion.

Together, Sam and Aiden must fight their way through blood-stained hallways, where every shadow hides claws and every move could be their last.

The walls are breached. The colony is lost. Survival is all that's left.

When the legendary Starborn warriors arrive, the survivors dare to hope. But these newcomers are not intent on rescue. Whatever they came for—it’s worth more than every survivor begging for salvation.

From acclaimed artist and creator Jazza (Josiah) Brooks comes a relentless, pulse-pounding story of monsters, mystery, and the devastating price of protecting the ones you love.

©2025 QPI Media Pty. Ltd. (P)2025 QPI Media Pty. Ltd.

can't wait foe the next one

The only disappointing thing is that now I have to wait for the next one! Gripping from the first page, I was so intrigued with this world and the lives within it. I listened to the audiobook and it was amazing, especially the prolonged. Almost too creepy but I'm glad I kept going.

I thought the story line was paced very well, and held my interest throughout. Also the voice work was very good.

I felt the story was unique and believable and the character description and development was very good.

a mostly-enjoyable start

I had a hard time properly rating this book. Overall, I think it was very enjoyable to read. I experienced it as an audiobook, and the performances were quite good. By the end I felt connected to and in full support of the characters. But if you asked me at half way and three fourths of the way I would have given it lower stars. This is primarily due to one factor, the story is endlessly devastating. Each turn, each new reveal is more destruction, death, and loss of hope. It could have done with some space to breathe, some levity, or even just some small wins. I think Jazza has some serious writing chops though. And he will continue to do great thing as he grows his skill, and I'm committed to the crew that made it out now. I'll have to read the next one. Well done Jazza, this is a solid novel, a solid start, and a helluva debut. To you I say, "Gizhii!"

Blown Away!

I have been a fan of Jazza’s you tube channel for the last few years. I have seen in some of his posted videos the world-building and storytelling that goes into his visual art making. Well, and vice versa.

I was nervous but also curious when he previewed his work on his first novel. I was prepared to be disappointed. I didn’t want to be disappointed, but surely there are limits to this man’s talents. And sure, I imagine there are some limits, but not in this novel!

Seriously, I can’t believe it is his first novel! It is tigh. It is innovative. It blends genres—S/F, horror, fantasy. It is visceral in its violence and gore. It is deeply sensitive in its relationships Sam and Aiden are tight siblings, not without their issues but still deeply connected and weathimering a horrific alien swarm storm!

The world building is tight and engaging. It is complicated and detailed but not overburdened with exposition. I am eager for the next installment. I am deeply invested in these characters.

Okay, so Jazza can illustrate and he can write. But dang it! He can also perform. Sure, voice acting his own animations probably helped build those skills, but I am blown away by the diversity and developedness of his talents! This is a premium audio book (series!), and I cannot believe it is his first one!

Yeah, yeah…I am full of gush! And it is not lost on me that part of his immense talent is the capacity to work with others, to “dabble and dive” but also to reflect on his needs, find qualified helpers, and really process their advice. And heck if he ain’t generous in his gratitude and acknowledgments, too!

I am not just a fan boy. I am a tenured professor with a background in adapting literature for the stage, and a particular interest is n the challenges of staging genre fiction (a.k.a. paraliterature). When I say I am blown away by the start of this series, I am speaking em from a lot of experience with speculative fiction literature and the performance of it. I am 60 years old and impressed af with Jazza’s work and his profile.

This book is worth investing your attention. Be advised, though—Jazza is skilled with thick description of gore and the unsettling. If bugs and body horror ain’t your thing, you might want to give this one a pass. But if you can stomach such horrors, I think you will be impressed with how artfully presented and incorporated those scary details are. It all serves the plot and the world-building; it’s never just thrill seeking sensationalism.

I was already a Jazza fan; now I am a Jazza fanatic!

incredibly strong debut

I was quite happy with this book. I found Jazza's prose to be vivid and descriptive but not overly verbose or declarative. His character voice stands out well in narration; I thought the scenes from the little girl's perspective were very good, as well as Sam and Aiden's contrasting personalities in some scenes.
The world building is strong, but Brooks never spends time getting lost in the expositionary weeds. he's definitely taken the advice of "show, don't tell". He's also done it in a way that's left me with more questions than answers (in a good way)
Also, I love when authors narrate their own books. it feels so authentic. Great voice work as well for a first-timer
This dude just produces absolute artistic gold in any medium, I swear.
Second book when??