The Truth Beyond the Sky

The Epic of Aravinda

By: Andrew M. Crusoe

Narrated by: Jeff Hays

Length: 8 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's Summary

An award-nominated mythic sci-fi adventure

Twelve years after his mother's disappearance, Zahn makes his annual hike up to Zikhara Peak to sleep above the clouds - only to be awoken by a monstrous roar. He watches as an extraordinary object thunders down from the sky and impacts onto the silvery beach below, changing the course of his young life forever.

The object is far more than a mere meteorite, and Zahn is swept up into an adventure to the galactic core. He encounters a stunning pilot, fifth-density creatures of light, and an ancient chthonic evil bent on consuming every star in the galaxy by tearing the fabric of space-time itself. Only the Tulari, a stone that can heal these fissures, offers any hope to Zahn and his new friends. Unfortunately, it's been missing for aeons.

The Truth Beyond the Sky is the first book in the Epic of Aravinda - a transcendental, sci-fi action-adventure series.

©2012-2014 Andrew M. Crusoe (P)2014 Andrew M. Crusoe

Not bad.

If you could sum up The Truth Beyond the Sky in three words, what would they be?

Straight forward SciFi.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

No real surprises there.

Have you listened to any of Jeff Hays’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This was the first book I had listened to that was read by Jeff Hays, but he did an amazing job. It really sounded like the characters were done with a full cast, not by a single person.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Well, that would be a spoiler.

When he travelled, he made sure to bring his towel

Would you try another book from Andrew M. Crusoe and/or Jeff Hays?

The narrator of the audio version made it feel more like a play than a novel. He was excellent in his reading, the different characters easily distinguishable in their dialogue. The addition of an occasional soundtrack was unexpected but definitely added to the experience. However, the slow speed of the narration only seemed to heighten the feeling of unreality and, by half way through, I was getting impatient to move on. Whether this was due to the reading or the book itself I'm unsure so would try another by Jeff Hays if the subject matter appealed.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

Predictable and sacarin sweet

Which character – as performed by Jeff Hays – was your favorite?

I didn't really like any of them. The main protagonists were just all too nice it felt totally false. A few outbursts of anger or fits of pique or nasty acts just because things were overwhelming would have been a refreshing change and infused more character

Could you see The Truth Beyond the Sky being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

To be honest, it already felt like a not very action packed series of Dr.Who episodes but without the excitement of Daleks: even down to the crystal grown, living octagonal spaceship which was bigger on the inside than it appeared from without.

Any additional comments?

I moved between ebook and audio and, whilst it was more convenient for me to listen, I think I might have enjoyed the book more had I simply read it. I am not in the target age range but feel that, even so, the whole was more directed at children than young adults. The overall concept was good but the story adventures and, especially, the main protagonists were unconvincing. More like gentle fairy tale myths than science fiction.

Amazing Narration

I listened to the audiobook version of this book and I would listen to any audiobook that Jeff Hays has narrated in the past or will narrate in the future. He either used technology to help with the various voices or he is absolutely amazing at voices, even the female voices sounded like actual people and not caricatures like so often happens with opposite gender voices. I seriously cannot say enough good things about the narration for this book.

I believe this book is targeted to slightly younger than me science fiction fans, so it skips over detailed descriptions of exactly how the technology works, which I appreciate. Although some people will likely argue that the way that is done is a copout, I liked it and felt that it made perfect sense for the story, and it kept the story from feeling bogged down by descriptions that would likely have bored me to tears.

I felt like the story moved along at a fairly fast pace, but it didn't feel unrealistically fast if that makes any sense. There was quite a bit of action, but a fair amount of "down" time too, so it didn't feel like the characters were just being bombarded with one thing after another. I guess I could say it was well balanced.

Overall I give this book 5 out of 5 stars and the narration 7 out of 5 stars because it was that good. I definitely recommend this book to sci-fi fans and if you have any interest in audiobooks at all, spring for the audio. You won't regret it.

Reviewed on Just Another Girl and Her Books blog.

This is a Great Story

This is a great story. There’s not too much in the way of hard-core techie sci-fi, and definitely an amazing adventure for all. Myth, fantasy, a little transcendental regrouping and one amazing ship along with a host of interesting forms of life; some are “down-to-earth” though not from earth at all and some are, well, quite evil, and then there are those intriguing minor creatures that fill a scene or are only hinted about and all create the basis for “The Truth Beyond the Sky: The Epic of Aravinda.”

So who wouldn’t want a spaceship that is alive, or the chance to explore space? What would you do if an alien asked you for help? Ahhhh, you think you know but at the moment of truth would you open up your heart and hands to save another in need? From planets far, far away these opportunities, or dilemmas as you might see them, and many more are presented to one young man who sets out to save his planet, his family, and maybe even himself.

It’s not really a coming of age story, but more finding out the truth about oneself and what one is capable of achieving. The protagonist has suffered a horrible loss and is haunted by strange and often terrible nightmares, also he has only known space through a telescope and then he’s confronted with the reality of the galaxy and all that lives there. The descriptive scenes captivate the imagination and one truly feels a part of the story.

The Truth Beyond the Sky has a rather fast but even pace that is easily followed and the narrator gives an incredible performance. There’s nothing choppy, just smooth sailing throughout the ocean of space….ok the characters might have to fight their way through some amazing battle scenes but the narrator just keeps a great flow and his voices are perfect.

I truly enjoyed it and think others will too.

My thanks to the author, Andrew Crusoe, for providing this audiobook for me to review. It was a pleasure to listen to and I look forward to the next installment in the series.

Audiobook provided for review by the author.

Please find this complete review and many others at audiobookreviewer dot com

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A Rollicking Romp Around the Galaxy

This rollicking romp around the galaxy is fast paced fun. Very well produced and performed. Action packed while uplifting. A nice job of world building in the first of a series. Hope to see the rest of them on Audible.

A Quantum Story

This was one of the best quantum physics tale I have listened to. Unfortunately the sound quality was abysmal. Luckily I had the Kindle version to understand. I will try to download it again. But loved the storyline.

Best Sci-Fi Novel I’ve Read!

The Truth Beyond the Sky is literally the best science fiction novel I’ve ever bought because I could not stop listening to it! Not only was it fun and very engaging, but it also inspired me in my own life to create more and live more! I can’t wait for more science fiction adventures to come from Andrew Crusoe—definitely 5 stars!

Great YA story.

What made the experience of listening to The Truth Beyond the Sky the most enjoyable?

The voices and character attitudes were very well done.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I loved Novaca. Not sure what he even classifies as, but he was such a great addition to the story.

What does Jeff Hays bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Jeff Hayes bring the story to life in a way that reading it alone can't.

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

No extreme reactions for me, but there were some suspenseful moments.

Any additional comments?

My kids, preteens, really enjoyed this story and said they wished it were a movie. Great imaginative worlds.

The Truth Beyond the Sky

I got this book free throuh Bookbub. The story was interesting and emotion based. However, the scientific technology just didn't come across as believable. Having said that, I give credit where credit is due, there is an article out that gives Andrew Crusoecredit for touting a sceintific theory that at the time was unheard of--not so in 2016. So KUDOS to Mr. Crusoe for getting the facts right years before hand. But emotion dictates the pace of the story. Emotion isn't a bad thing but emotion doesn't carry the weight of believability. I just couldn't get deeply invested in the storyline.

This won't keep me from reading another Andrew Crusoe story, which is what I am getting read to do. So I am going to jump right into AMBROSIA, the tentative name for book 3, and I will be back with my review. Here's to better, but always honest reviews. HAPPY READING! -- Randy Wood

Not my favorite.

Not my cup of tea. A little too much fantasy and not enough science for my taste. Maybe the author is leaving a little too much to the imagination. Narration was good, character voices were easy to distinguish and female characters were not distracting. Sound effects were a little distracting, maybe because I'm not used to it. Story was intriguing but simple. Overall not bad.