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Relentless, The Dominion Trilogy Series #1 Click title to read excerpt or buy from CBD.com By Robin Parrish / Bethany Reviewed by Gail Welborn Journalist Robin Parrish, founder and editor-in-chief of Infuze Magazine, explodes onto the fiction writing scene with an impossible-to-put-down debut thriller-book one of three in the Dominion Trilogy. Relentless first appeared on the Infuze Web site in serialized chapters before popular demand brought it into print in 2006. I understood why when I read the first sentence. "Collin Boyd stepped off the Metro bus on his way to work, and across the street he saw himself strolling down the sidewalk." With the hook in place, Parrish helps readers step through the "looking glass" like Alice did in Wonderland, where a suspense-filled, mind-bending pursuit continues non-stop. The story is set in Los Angeles among ordinary people, except for those who have been shifted, or as they say in the book-transformed. Boyd, feels paranoid, disoriented, and confused, after seeing his reflection in a storefront window, and learns he's become Grant Borrows. Boyd now inhabits a new lean, athletic body. The bald patch on his head and horn-rimmed glasses are a thing of the past. He's dressed in smart, stylish, well-fitting clothes and he carries hundred dollar bills in his wallet, along with Borrows' identification and keys. He also discovers a strange, mysterious ring on his hand which won't come off. When a barefooted, petite-brunette, dressed in T-shirt and jeans, gives a wolf whistle of appreciation behind him, he manages a stunned, "Huh?" then realizes his voice has changed, too. Soon, Borrows meets others who share his fate of being one of the "transformed," and he becomes part of their group. They call themselves, The Loci, meaning nucleus. Each member has a unique, amazing ability, such as moving faster than the eye can see, making people see things that aren't there, or lifting objects without touching them, but Grant's new powers rises far above theirs. In the quest to learn more about his powers, he discovers he must control them, or they will destroy him and the world around him. Borrows, called "The Bringer" and the group seek to find out how were transformed and why they were gifted with paranormal abilities. During their search they meet evil men intent on Borrows' and the others' destruction. With an unrelenting pace that only gathers momentum throughout the book, Parrish uses a reluctant hero, a spiritual quest, and the theme of telekinesis, moving objects with the mind, coupled with a cast of well-developed characters to tell a brilliant, imaginative story. The account includes government cover-ups, conspiracies, secret organizations, ancient mysteries and sword-wielding assassins caught in the vortex of world-changing events where the ordinary becomes the extraordinary A Christian theme develops with the story. Don't miss this one! Fearless, book two, was released July 2007, and book three is planned for release in summer of 2008.

About Gail Welborn

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Relentless, The Dominion Trilogy Series #1 Click title to read excerpt or buy from CBD.com By Robin Parrish Reviewed by Karri Compton Was it relentless? I knew Robin Parrish was an author to watch for quite some time. His serialized novels, which have appeared on his hip, artistic website Infuze Magazine displayed excellent fiction writing and a flair for sci-fi. So I'm thrilled to say I finally got my grubby hands on a copy of his debut novel from Bethany House Publishers. Colin Boyd lives a solitary existence. Boring job, normal clothing. All of this changes in an instant when Colin sees himself walking across the street. Only when he passes by a shop window does he notice his outward features have changed dramatically. It's like he has switched bodies with someone else, but his thoughts are still his own. The novel explores the "why" of this Shift. His new persona is Grant Borrows, a man with unique talents and abilities that seem all too natural after a while. We find later that many others have experienced the same Shift Grant has. Some have secluded themselves from the world to find out the meaning of it all. They bring Grant into their confidence, thinking he is the answer to some sort of ancient prophecy. Regardless, Grant has to find out who he really is. Is he destined to be more than a mediocre man? He is no longer who he thinks he is, but is he who others think he is? Yes, the plot turned and hid and revealed and mystified more times than I could count. Yes, I became engrossed in Colin/Grant's search for answers to life's meaning. But was it relentless? Hmm. Well, the fight/bomb/fleeing scenes were, without doubt. Still, some things niggled at me and took me out of that "fictive bubble" or "suspension of disbelief" that the reader is supposed to stay in. I kept thinking, "This part is just like Lord of the Rings/Alias and the Rimbaldi mystery/X-Men, etc." I often couldn't focus on the story because sections of it sounded so much like something else. If I had to compare Relentless to other works, I'd have to say it's more like Koontz than Dekker. But really, Parrish has his own style. I've heard people compare him to Ingermanson, but I don't see that at all. However, I don't read much sci-fi, so perhaps I'm not the best one to comment. All in all, I enjoyed the book and felt it was well-written. The book's end definitely set the stage for something else, namely the second in the Dominion series-Fearless-due out July of this year. I look forward to the continuation of this saga.

About Karri Compton View this review and more at: www.kcreviews.blogspot.com

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Relentless, The Dominion Trilogy Series #1 Click title to read excerpt or buy from CBD.com By Robin Parrish / Bethany House Publishers Reviewed by Kevin Lucia Robin Parrish's first outing is a work of impressive complexity. We wake up every single day and see the same face in the mirror. Every day, same life, same job, same face. For some, this is a comforting reality - stability, consistency, an anchor securing one's place in the world. It's a reassurance to be able to wake up in the morning and know who we are, and what we're meant to be. One day, as Colin Boyd is waiting to get on the bus to go to work, he has all of that ripped away as he looks across the street, and unbelievably sees himself, walking to work. When Colin frantically whirls to inspect himself in a store window and sees a stranger looking back at him, that reassurance of identity, of knowing who you are is stripped away, as everything he knows and loves is taken from him. He is now Grant Borrows, a man who is mysteriously wealthy, with no past, no present, no purpose, no identity…and marked for death. His only clues to what has happened to him: a mysterious girl with a penchant for showing up and vanishing without a trace, giving him cryptic advice and going around barefoot; a scientist and his assistant involved in a secret government project; several people who apparently want him dead, and the ornate, ancient looking ring on his finger that will not come off, no matter what he does. Eventually, Colin - now Grant - encounters an enclave of people just like him; people who have been Shifted, and have lost the lives they used to lead, just like him. As Grant digs deeper and deeper into the mystery of what has happened to him, it becomes clear that whatever happens next, it is only the tip of an iceberg of secrets and prophecies, as a foretold destiny hurtles towards Grant - wanted or not. His family was not what it seemed to be, and even those who share his fate are uncertain what role he will play in the days to come. And then there is The Keeper, a mysterious, invisible hand moving Grant and his fellow life-orphans around like chess pieces on a cosmic chessboard. What draconian plan does he have for the world, and why did he create a virtual army of super beings? To defend the world against something horrible..or to take it over for himself? Robin Parrish's first outing is a work of impressive complexity. He blends together multiple plotlines and narratives, laying clues and leads in all the right spots, revealing things in some places, orchestrating surprises around all the right corners, and deftly slipping other things just out of view. The story is rich in plotting detail, and the pacing frenetic. Those who love action will enjoy this read, and it would translate well to the big screen. You can easily imagine Harrison Ford in the role of Grant, running frantically from scene to scene as he did in Frantic or The Fugitive; or even Dennis Quaid playing an unlikely hero who wants nothing more than to be left alone. However, the pace could slow down a little in some parts and provide some room for more character development. Grant and his fellows have flashes, but while Parrish handles the action sequences and intricate plotting well, he comes up a little short in developing his key characters, in my opinion. Grant switches too easily between wanting to be left alone and raging over what's happened to him, and in some cases the nuances and emotional depth of the characters feels somewhat flat and underdeveloped. Also a disappointment was the "dirty cop" character, Detective Drexel. Overweight, boorish, loud and overbearing as well as being sold out to the enemy - haven't we seen that too many times before? Better if the detective had been written as cool, calm, determined and moral ...and then play the switcharoo, like Gary Sinise's character in Ransom. All in all, Relentless is a good, solid read. You'll get caught up in the action and the frenzy, and pulled into trying to decipher what has happened to Grant and just what The Dominion is. This is a creative and imaginative tale; one that should have mainstream appeal. Relentless also marks a bold new direction for Christian fiction; in the tradition of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, this is a complete work of fiction. However, it is edifying for the Christian reader to enjoy, and exciting enough for all to read. Parrish grabs you by the neck at the end with a surprise twist that delivers much promise for its sequel, Fearless, which will be out June of 2007.

About Kevin Lucia