Book Summary and Reviews of Bellosio by John Shekleton

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Barry_E

Very Exhaustive
An intense fantasy that takes you to a new world somewhere around the year 2800. We find ourselves on an unknown planet named Bellosio and as one says things are " a changin". We all know change can cause a great deal of angst in some people (species included) and the inhabitants of Bellosio are no different. Leaders are getting older; the youth want change and of course there are all kinds of different species living there involved in the outcome of this great upheaval. The characters are presented in detail, and you should sit back to take in all the complexities of their wonderful personalities.

The flow of the story will require you to focus since there are many characters, subplots and terms. The author provides a thorough glossary of terms which aids in the reading since many terms are fantasy. This is not a light read.

Thank You to BookBrowse and Mo Keijuk Press for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Kevin H. (Littleton, CO)

Very Imaginative Fantasy Novel That Will Probably Mostly Appeal to Fans of the Genre
Bellosio by John Shekleton is not a book for the masses. This is a novel of epic worldbuilding fantasy that I imagine will appeal to readers of deep fantasy and science fiction. I am not one of those readers, but I enjoy trying books from all genres, and I have discovered many hidden gems and some of my favorite books as a result.

Unfortunately, I can't say this is one of them.

While I applaud Shekleton's genuinely impressive effort at worldbuilding, I found the heavy narration, multiple intricate plotlines, and difficult-to-pronounce words and names to be crushingly difficult to follow. I had trouble keeping up with the storyline from the very beginning, and while I did give the story a chance, I found my confusion lingering to the finish. To be very honest, if I hadn't promised a review, I'm not sure I would have made it to the end.

This novel didn't appeal to me personally. To be clear, I have little doubt that fans of this niche genre will probably love this story. But be aware of the gravity of it before you dive in. It's not an easy read.

Ann_H

Interesting Set of Characters and Religious Practices
After reading a few pages, I decided to forget the list of strange names and settings. I was able to enjoy reading the rest of the book getting the "big picture" of warring tribes and those wanting to be charge. I found myself comparing this book's theme to what is happening in today's political world. Oh, to have mind reading capacity and a staff that could be called into action in order to make things better.

Janine_S

A complex world
I received this book from BookBrowse for an honest and fair review. This is an intricate fantasy novel, well written and interesting. The planet Bellosio is on the brink of revolution. It's an advanced civilization but doubt has entered the picture. The planet has three different species: the Wati, the Crivien, and the Vidogs. Over time a hierarchical structure has emerged. The book opens to find Danaba, a Wati, who ascends the throne after her father's death but forces are working against her to steal her throne.

The book focuses on complex relationships and inserts characters who aren't explained until later - which made it difficult at times in reading. The planet's history is controlled by a divine being called "Cog, and the story is told within the context of the planets history. The forces of science and ancient religion clash along with the personal struggle for leadership

I found this a very difficult read. I'm not a lover of fantasy/sci-fi but I try to read from time to time to challenge myself. I was very challenged with this one. The world building overwhelmed; I got lost in the time elements. I think the writing was very good but I was more confused at the end than when I was when I started. I don't think the. Fantasy/ sci-fi genre is for me.

Tami_B

Hard to Get Through
Although the writing seemed ok, I struggled quite a bit with the various names and locations that were foreign to me and difficult to remember them in context of the story. This doesn't happen to me very often, but this book was quite challenging for this reason. I wish I could have gotten through the entire book, but it took too much effort to connect the dots. I may try again at some point, because I thought the plot was interesting. I will reserve any sort of public review outside of BookBrowse as I do not think it is fair to a good author to experience a poor review due to my personal preferences, particularly if I do not finish the book. Again, I may try this again, but even with making notes of names and locations, it seemed to take too much effort.

Mary_K

A World Built Wide but Not Deep
Bellosio: An Age of Miracles by John Skeleton is an expansive dive into a fictional world populated by numerous species and complex political landscapes. As someone who prefers character driven stories, I found this a difficult read. The perspective shifts constantly between multiple characters with no clear timeline, made the story hard to follow. The world Shekleton builds has some noticeable similarities to the Star Wars universe — the 'cog' bears a strong resemblance to the Force, and the 'cog devotees' fill a role similar to the Jedi. The various species are introduced with little backstory, which added to my confusion. Border's character arc was perhaps the most frustrating element. He undergoes the most significant transformation in the book, yet there is little convincing motivation behind his change. The book also ends without resolution, clearly setting up a series rather than telling a complete story. I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy expansive epic sci-fi world-building and aren't concerned with emotional character development.