The Cult of Yex Saga

Part I: Second Cataclysm

By: Jason F. Smith, C. Parker Garlitz

Narrated by: Steve Carlson

Length: 10 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's Summary

In Second Cataclysm, Jason F. Smith and C. Parker Garlitz have launched a revolution in epic high fantasy. Four brave heroes from the desert city of Demon's Bluff find themselves in a desperate race to foil the reemergence of the ancient Cult of Yex. Cael, Needle, Brynn, and Mallet discover that their destinies are inextricably intertwined and the future of their world is in mortal peril. When a massive prophesied earthquake rips their hometown, the heroes are swept into a relentless struggle against the secretive and pernicious Cult.

The Cult of Yex Saga shatters the mold of traditional epic fantasy, elevating it to new heights of storytelling sophistication. The Cult of Yex Saga is an exquisite blend of magic and high fantasy told in the exciting style of a thriller: mystery, suspense, and fast-paced action. The exciting new fantasy world is filled with compelling characters, atmospheric settings and terrifying villains. Don't start reading unless you are planning to lose sleep and skip work. The more layers of the cult's diabolical scheme you uncover, the more you begin to comprehend the far-reaching depths of their nefarious plot. From the captivating first page to the heart-stopping climax, the masterfully woven plot will compel you to keep the pages turning. Brace yourself: The Cult of Yex Saga is unlike any fantasy series you have ever read.

©2014 C. Parker Garlitz & Jason F. Smith (P)2015 C. Parker Garlitz & Jason F. Smith

Wow, I was totally engrossed...

I was leary about purchasing this book just because of the cover art. I thought it would be cheesy and for kids. I'm glad I went ahead and bought it though. I was totally engrossed in the story. I won't give any spoilers, lets just say I was really suprised. Especially since I googled the book, found the authors web page, and learned that the authors use "Beta Readers" and I can only guess that they must self publish, not that there is anything wrong with that. I have over 700 fantasy titles in my library and this one is probably in the top 50 of them, at least if categorized by "Epic Fantasy". I understand that there are going to be 7 books in this series. I can't wait for the next book, which I believe should come out April or May 2015. The narrator was really great. I've never listened to this narrator before and he did an excellent job. However, he did mispronounce some words and that was a little irritating.

Enjoyable intro to series

Easy and entertaining story. Enjoyed the leaps around in time to know what was happening with other characters. It was done well so I didn't lose any threads as I was listening.

The story lost marks for being a bit standard : our young heroes have each lost one or both parents before their family's secret duty could be passed on and they are destined to save the world from evil.
What saved it was fun, likeable characters and a good paced story. I will be picking up the second book to find out what happened to them. Now that characters are established, I am hopeful authors will flex the settings and situations uniquely to really hook my interest.

The narrator did a fine job. He has a great story telling voice, though I'd swear he called one of the characters "Carl" a couple of times. If it was just him reading, I would have given a higher mark for narration. Unfortunately, there is an uncredited female narrator. Her voice upsets the mood considerably, taking your imagination out of the world of the story. She sounds a bit nervous. It doesn't help that her lines are histories and commentary outside the action of the story. I think the production director should have opted for one reader for sure.

Tl;Dr good, not great, story; well paced story; likeable characters; was entertained but not wowed. Good enough to pick up book 2 tho.