IA: Initiate

De: John Darryl Winston

Narrado por: John Darryl Winston, Marquette Winston

Everyone has secrets.... What if you didn’t know your own?

One young man with latent supernatural abilities plus one street gang hell-bent on recruiting him equals...IA: Initiate.

The most important thing in the world to 13-year-old orphan "Naz" Andersen is keeping his little sister safe from the streets of a Chicago/Detroit-like urban ghetto known as the Exclave. Naz tries to stay out of the way at his foster parents' home, but he walks in his sleep. He is unable to keep the fact that he hears voices from his therapist. He attempts to go unnoticed at school and in the streets of the Exclave but attracts the attention of friends and bullies alike.

Naz is ordinary, or so he thinks. He harbors a secret of which he is unaware. A seemingly random act of gang violence propels Naz on a path that leads to discoveries about his supernatural abilities, abilities that will ultimately decide whether he lives or dies. Now he must navigate his turbulent surroundings and face the full force of the world around him. The only way he can survive is to discover the supernatural world within.

©2016, 2017 John Darryl Winston (P)2017 John Darryl Winston

Initiated and captivated

If you could sum up IA: Initiate in three words, what would they be?

Though provoking and inspirational

What did you like best about this story?

Developing the characters and history without turning it into a comic book.

What does John Darryl Winston and Marquette Winston bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

A little more personality inflection

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I did ponder over the dark history the youngsters had to go through.

Any additional comments?

The author starts a strong story set in an accurately trending vision of the future. His characters are well developed with idiosyncrasies that make them real. He captures the good kids in a bad neighborhood under bad circumstances very well. This involved and excellent amount of detail many new authors overlook. The author doesn't just launch this idea like a comic book hero, but builds it realistically and hints at a plausible scientific possibility behind the powers. I look forward to the next book.

Brilliant!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Absolutely. I enjoyed the story as an ebook before, but this audiobook offers it in a whole new dimension.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I love Meri. Her spunk and care for her brother are to die for.

Which character – as performed by John Darryl Winston and Marquette Winston – was your favorite?

Also Meri, and for the same reasons. ;)

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I was especially hooked when Naz was learning about his abilities on IA's campus.

Very Intriguing Setup!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would definitely recommend this audiobook! It was my very first, and I don't know if I could have had a better "initiation." I love the way John and Marquette Winston played off each other; their personal bond really lent weight and emotional depth to Naz and Meri.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Though Naz is the star, I'd say Meri was my absolute favorite. Her tone and snappiness are very much like my own, and I love the way she grounds Naz. Many great heroes have that one person who keeps them tethered to reality; for Naz, that's definitely little Meri.

Have you listened to any of John Darryl Winston and Marquette Winston ’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This was my very first audiobook. It definitely will not be my last!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I truly wanted--and tried--to consume the book in one sitting. Unfortunately, life barged in, but I was quick to come back and finish. The story draws you in, and you just don't want to leave the world the Winstons so expertly craft with their readings.

Any additional comments?

I found this audiobook to be a delight. It's enthralling and immersive, and you really fall in love with the characters of Naz and Meri. This was an intriguing story and an excellent reading performance. I can't recommend this enough, and I'm looking forward to the next installment!

Awesome Audiobook

I love the story of Naz and Meri and both readers brought the story to life. I'm reading the second book in the series Boss right now and I loving that one as well.

All good!

What did you love best about IA: Initiate?

I love the pacing, how Winston took his time with the story and the introduction of characters. There's no need to rush into action scenes as with most literature today, and as a result, as the book progresses the story is richer and the characters are better developed. I love how the backstory is phased in which also gives the story depth. The chess scene and the maze scene are both riveting could have gone even longer. The theme and message of the power of the mind were also huge. And Meri is absolutely adorable.

What other book might you compare IA: Initiate to and why?

Definitely, Harry Potter with the pacing, coming of age, and hero's journey. Maybe the Percy Jackson books as well.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

You will believe in the power of the mind to move mountains.

Any additional comments?

I read the book before I listened to the audiobook, and it was good. But the author and Marquette Winston do a good job of bringing and connecting the intended emotions along with the characters which I think is extremely powerful.