The Fractured Prism

The Prism Files, Book 1

By: Brendan Noble

Narrated by: Luke Matthew Simon

Length: 7 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's summary

One test determines your place in society. One chance to prove your worth. But it's all a lie.

Ivan is a fighter. He's never been afraid to do whatever it takes to protect the people he loves, even if it means putting himself in danger. And as a rebel Militia leader code-named Coyote, that's a daily occurrence.

Five years ago, Ivan failed the Prism Test and became a Red, a slave on the lowest level of the color-coded class system. But he knows the truth. Nothing matters but your family's loyalty to the People's Front government. And the Militia is the only family he's ever needed.

But when he risks his life to save a princess named Julia, Ivan's life as he knows it is shattered. Thrown into a palace where slave-traders and royals with their eyes on the throne lurk around every corner, he must now protect a new family: The royal family.

In Julia, Ivan sees his first real hope to end the Prism. But as tensions spike and secrets rise to the surface, their unlikely relationship will be tested. With the fate of their country and everyone they love on the line, will they be pushed together or torn apart? In the end, everything will rest on Ivan’s choice.

Keep Coyote and abandon Julia, or sacrifice everything he's ever known to stay by her side.

The Prism Files continue with book two: Crimson Reigns.

©2019 Brendan Noble (P)2019 Brendan Noble

trust, honor,betrayal and hope

the story was well crafted and the narration is extraordinary. This is a love story "sort of " in the time of a dark dystopia, a tale of princess and a shabby knight who lives by a code of the highest standard; All woven together to keep the suspense building from the first page to the last and leaving the listener wanting to continue. Hopefully it does in the sequel.

Captivating Dystopian Romantic Adventure!

An intense and compelling story of revolution against a socialistic government that oppresses its citizens based on the colors of the Prism. A young militia from the red sector, lowest level of the spectrum, rescue a princess and the suspense begins. The great combination of complex characters, social interactions, young love, deceit, betrayal, and tragedy make for a very exciting series. I'm looking forward to the next book. I received an advance copy and am happy to leave my honest review. Enjoy!

Great read, looks to be a good series

The Fractured Prism (The Prism Files, #1), my first read from author Brendan Noble. Well-written, entertaining read. I’ll be reading more from this author! Better yet since this is the first book in a multi-book series that I look forward to reading. I was been given an Audible copy of this book & am voluntarily reading & reviewing it. Luke Matthew Simon’s factual narration style adds to the book's enjoyment. Up next, The Prism Files, Book 2. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).

Red rising revisited?

For anyone that has read the Pierce Brown series, you will see a strong resemblance in this story. A color caste system with the reds at the bottom fighting to gain their rights back as those in power treat them as little more than slaves. However, instead of a red’s purposeful infiltration of the higher colors, this starts off as an accident and is set in a “dystopian” style American. Only one thing didn’t fully make sense to why it was in the story line, and felt more like filler, but generally a good story. I feel like somethings could have been further explored, like more details about the Prism.

Interestingly riveting & dramatically suspenseful

First of I wanna make mention that i was given a chance to enjoy this book as a gift imo for a solid honest review. A gift because mein this is one helluva an intriguing post-war torn nation now sort of a medieval/ steam punk kind of monarchy if i could visualize it correctly. 😂😁

Overall I believe this novel was made pretty well done. Although a bit clueless or possibly a slow start mixed into an already set off event. You find yourself immersed into a world where basically You are at the bottom of the food chain, a slave cast amongst a society of Pro-royalty and loyalists alike ruling over through a cast system which discriminates upon the lower class as nothing more than slaves, disposable toys and tools alike.A Scourged group in soiety.
And from early on you walk along the journey of a home brewed and grown I would say social activist group who wants change though a terrorist group who feels they should be considered free people, equals. So they truly are freedom fighters in a cause to crush the "Prism System" which dictates your lifelong status even though given by birth right some who are well off like royalty or elitists groups who garnish themselves as upper class tend to opt out and live their lives as gods something nearing a sort of nazi like scorn for the lower classes. Or at least thats what i feel is being vaguely shown. I wouldnt be surprised as there's this I'd consider it an unspoken but well know supposed fact that the royal s are the pure above all else and that they are the only one deserving of a Life worth living.

So if you've taken time to read my review then you have a basic intro summary of what Ivan code name "Cayote" is fighting against and for to change the lives of the many struggling "Red Tags" and other minority low level coloured tags who live too scared yet oblivious to system which basically enslaved their lives into a norm their too busy trying to stay afloat in. Though a twist would and will sooner rather than later changevgis fate while falling into a romance so unexpected and a choice of whether to change and abandon his underground identity or assume his new one while fighting himself living his new life which he could accomplish so much in the little time he suddenly gained an in invissible shallow upgrade while still being a red tagged baned existence.

Performance wise, I suspect reading via kindle or hard copy you wouldn't necessarily feel a slight struggle getting into it the story at the start. The audio version i feel the narrator could have been idk maybe a bit more into his roll. He seemingly sounded flat and dull though this was from the initial first chapters. This monotone like voice would occasionally change and sound as realistic and other moments i'd find it sort of hard to feel each chara ter change.
Character growth etc. is pretty evident though at times the story seems cliche for example big shot daughter falls in love with body guard..
I will admit though once invested you will be wanting to know ore and more as the suspense builds though a few funny moments. I'll give this a solid 9/10.

I hope that you the new readers or fans to be give it a neutral once over. I'm honestly looking forward to reading book two or a possible series because in a lot of many ways, this makes you cognizant of real day life face with orrupted governments/politicians and the upper class vs the lower class man and woman all fighting for better though living ordianary lives and the many mini wars, insurgencies and descriminiation, hatred and more. I guess ask yourself this question.... who are you really? Are you a red or are you a white or are you one of the middle region li ing your lives not caring. Or are you Cayote or possibly Ivan. I hope you enjoy his journey because i know i have, this is my honest opinion & review😁

This was an amazing find.

I had never heard of this author or book before but I'm so glad I found it. I loved the story, characters and all around performance. I just finished it and there is not a complaint at all other than wanting the next book to read right now. Perfect.

A Fantastic Alternate History Adventure

Brendan's writing catches you and throws you back in to itself, over the span of sever listening breaks. The main character's inner self is relatable, and the plot is fun and exhilarating.

Luke Simon does a wonderful job differing his speech to invoke different characters. You can tell who is talking nearly immediately, and only enhances the experience.

Thank You to both.

Loved this!

This book was amazing! I was a little confused for the first few pages and I really didn't think I was going to be able to get into this. But once I figured out who was who, it all made perfect sense. I am really looking forward to reading the next book. It is a fascinating and entertaining look at what socialism could mean. I also really enjoyed the romance aspect of the book. Normally, I get bored with the mushy stuff pretty quickly but with this book I would find myself stupidly grinning and thinking, Awwww!!! Oh, and the narrator.. his girl voices (Especially when the girls were drunk), cracked me up! But he really did a good job with this book. I highly recommend!

This book was given to me at my request. I am providing a voluntary and honest review.

Dive into a Dark Alternate America, And Find Hope

In a fascinating twist on American political history, a group that is Socialist in the way the Nazis were (cough not at all really, cough) have taken control after one of the many Civil Wars that took America apart. By a ‘completely impartial’ (assume that these words drip with sarcasm) oral, written and physical exam known as The Prism, every sixteen-year-old is classified into a color that defines their worth to society: Purple, blue, green, orange, yellow. Or red. Reds are a waste of resources. Socially detrimental. Not intellectually or morally able to make their own decisions.
Or so the system tells them.

In a powerful and disturbing twist on current events, we’re reminded that any system can be made evil if that’s the will of those who control it. Reds are owned by the government and the big companies that still exist. Life is barely worth living. And when you don’t have much to lose, you’re not afraid to fight. That’s what the Reds are doing. They’ve formed a militia. They’re shaking up the system at its foundations.
This particular story is set in what was Saint Paul, and across town is a world away. In a painfully ironic twist, there are Royals on American soil again. Some of the best connected families back in the turmoil of the civil wars made deals to make the positions of power in the city hereditary. They are now Whites; exempt from the Prism and on top forever.
But even in their ranks, there are calls for change.

It’s quite the world to get dumped into.
Into this world, the writer has dropped Ivan. Code name: Coyote. He’s a Red boy in a world that doesn’t give a damn about him or his. And he aims to change that. He hates what he has to do in the world he was born into. Fighting. Putting down opponents. Taking out threats and leaving dead friends behind. But he’s damn good at it.

The story is told through Ivan’s eyes, and his quietly dangerous, obliquely snarky voice is the perfect match for the world he lives in. He’s a soldier, but he’s also a prank-puller, a brother, and a caretaker. He’s like a desert wolf in true: get in his way and he’ll take a chunk out of you, because he has pups and a pack to protect.
Through one of Fate’s little tricks, a White ends up in his pack: Julia, third daughter of a Royal. She’s a good representation of someone with privilege trying to use her position for the best: ignorant of many things but eager to learn. Drawing moral lines that she doesn’t realize other people don’t get the luxury of walking.

Both main characters have intricate internal lives, and it was fun watching them figure out how and if they fit. I did feel the other characters suffered a little for the focus, especially the antagonists. They tended to fall into classic archetypes once you got out of the main character’s immediate circle: the Mentor, the Father, the Adversary, etc. But it was a well-crafted and believable city, which I could picture fairly well. And the dystopian speeches given by political figures in the cast were nothing less than chilling.

While there’s a lot to love in this work, there’s one big issue: agonizingly on the nose dialogue. Lines like ‘I never knew there was someone like you’ and ‘I have no choices’ tend to bang the reader over the head with the point of each scene. I found that a little grating, but I could get around it. It’s the perfect read for college-age, but as a well-read thirty-something I found myself thinking ‘wow, that could have been put more subtly.’ The scene setting is evocative and powerful. If the writer can do some work on dialogue, this work will really get to be something great.
I would like to see the work get one more pass for typos, but hey, we could all use that, right?
There is a subplot with a painfully obvious jerk of an arranged-marriage suitor that felt a bit forced for me, but the rest of the story is fascinating. It’s a little bleak in the end, but we’re left with the impression of the dark before the dawn. The sun is coming.

Loved it from the front page to the last!

Wow, just wow!! What an excellent start to an (I'm sure) awesome series. The story isn't new to it's genre but who cares when there is plenty of action, intrigue and some romance thrown in for good measure! 

I adore Ivan, he's such a well balanced guy. Tough, full of a need for justice with deep emotions. I don't care what people think, but seeing a big strong man weep over such horrible experiences pulls on the heart strings and makes me root for him even more. :-) Julia is precious. She's just finding her place in the world as the 3rd Princess in line to the throne. A throne she absolutely does not want. Without that burden she is actually able to better connect with the downtrodden and to make real waves with the public. 

The world building and descriptions were on point. The narration was good too. He could plod a little but it was by no means distracting. And oh my gosh his nasally voice for 1 of the main antagonists was hilarious! :-D 

What did I think of the ending? Well, I started up until 5:30am because I just couldn't stop. :-o I'm soo happy the 2nd book is out and can't wait to read it! =)


My star ratings include these 5 elements:

1★ story line
1★ engaging characters
1★ use of world building/descriptions
1★ the ending
1★ narration or editing

"I was given this free review copy/audiobook at *MY* request and have voluntarily left this review."