REVIEWS
The First Genesis is the third book in Kipjo Ewers' The First series, in which a sinister immortal presence is brought forth from darkness and begins to enact a plan to dominate and subjugate the people of Earth. While this is happening, the political situation around the world is starting to spin out of control, with many super-powered individuals (EVOs) believing that their genetic superiority means they should be running the show. Though some EVOs still believe in keeping the peace, tensions now threaten to bubble over. Sophia Dennison a.k.a. Freedom may have once been the only super-powered contender, but now numerous beings around the globe exhibit similar--if not quite as powerful--abilities. But one person can't be in multiple places at once, and Sophia will need to work together with an international peacekeeping task force to prevent chaos from breaking out.
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If you thought you'd seen it all when it comes to superhero stories, think again. Ewers has built up a truly intriguing cast of characters, establishing a world where becoming a superhuman isn't always a choice--but becoming a superhero is. The lore of The First series is similar to the ongoing Wild Cards series (edited by George R. R. Martin), but at its heart beats a much different story. Ewers gives ample stage time to returning fan favorites while also opening up his saga in new and unpredictable directions. In particular, readers will be intrigued by outside forces (not to be named here, of course) that arrive during the book's later chapters and introduce an even greater level of conflict and drama. For science fiction fans looking to sink their teeth into a gritty, satisfying series, this comes highly recommended.
Reviewed by Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite
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Genesis by Kipjo Ewers is the third entry in The First Series and the first I am reading from this author. It is an absorbing and surprising narrative, enriched by strong elements of science fiction and political intrigue, and driven by a phenomenal conflict that culminates in the ultimate fight between good and evil. Sophia is a woman with unusual skills, and with the changes that have happened after the uprising, she is poised to champion a new era of freedom. But a cryptic message sent to the UN makes her a subject of controversy — while some think she is a threat, others see her as one to bring hope. Meanwhile, a deadly attack against humanity is in the making and an ancient evil returns, growing in strength by the hour and determined to dominate the world. Can humanity count on Sophia?
Genesis is a sumptuous story that is rife with originality, has a cast of compelling characters, and features a conflict of staggering proportions. This entry is characterized by a stimulating system of politics, humor and plot twists for superb entertainment. While this narrative contains so much material to fill up two books in a series, it manages to move the conflict deeper, allowing the central character to be fleshed out, and keeping the reader focused throughout the story. Kipjo Ewers’ confident prose mixed with the exciting dialogues make this a hard-to-put-down read. It is dense, it is intriguingly complicated and intelligently written. The protagonist — though not your ordinary heroine — feels real and convincing. There is great potential for entertainment in this entry and I am looking forward to reading the other books in the series.
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Reviewed by Red City Review (2018 Winner in the Romance)
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Fred falls into a deep depression after his wife is fatally struck by a car. Mary was his life. Without her, the apartment becomes a mess. Fred no longer watches what he eats, he gives up on working out, and can no longer sleep. Desperate to remedy his restless nights, Fred orders a life-size doll to hug tight in bed. Fred thinks he's losing his mind when the doll comes to life but is overjoyed to learn that his deceased wife has inhabited the doll. In her new form, Mary tries her best to help Fred get his life back on track. She prepares meals for him and urges him to go to the gym and socialize with friends. However, others can't interact with Mary in doll form the way Fred can, and they quickly become concerned about Fred's infatuation with the doll he calls his wife. Mary's stay ends abruptly when another spirit swoops in to inhabit the doll. Fred is once again heartbroken and must decide whether he is to succumb again to depression or carry on with his life as Mary wanted him to.
The unusual reunion of husband and wife that Ewers creates is imaginative and requires that one suspend all logic and reason. While reading Fred & Mary, you are like a fly on the wall witnessing an odd couple spend time together in their apartment, making love and reminiscing about old times. There are a handful of graphic sex scenes in this book, which won't be suitable for all readers, but this book is about much more than sex. Mary urges Fred to face what stands in his way and prevents him from moving forward with his life. She encourages him not only to live a healthier lifestyle but to mend his frayed relationships. Ewers' book highlights the importance of forgiveness and reminds readers that moving on doesn't mean forgetting one's past.
Reviewed by Christian Sia for Readers' Favorite
In Fred & Mary by Kipjo Ewers, love, loss, and grief are transformed into an enticing paranormal romance that is as moving as it is emotionally captivating. His wife was killed in front of him and since then, he has been plunged into a kind of pain and restlessness that nothing seems to assuage. Mary had been the closest thing to Fred, and now that she’s gone, the void left in his heart is unbearable. Which is why he orders a life-size, customized doll to keep him company at night. This seems to take away some of his grief, except he notices that strange things are actually happening whenever he wakes up. While Fred questions his sanity, he can’t help wondering if his wife has come back. It’s interesting to find out.
The narrative is gripping and grimly realistic, even though it is riddled with elements of the paranormal. Fred is a compelling character, but one eaten up by grief, longing to reconnect with a reality that has completely left him. From the beginning of the narrative, we encounter someone who is unnecessarily agitated, someone who used to take control, but now is uncertain. The plot is well done, but it is the exploration of the psyche of the protagonist that gives depth and strength to the narrative. Fred & Mary is a story that eloquently depicts how loss and grief can drive a man to the edge of insanity. But, curiously, Kipjo Ewers succeeds in making it real, using suspense and a strong storytelling style to hold the attention of the reader throughout the narrative. It’s an engaging read.
In Eye of Ra, Kipjo Ewers’s prequel to The First, we meet Laurence Danjuma–a broken man, addicted to drugs after a painful knee injury. Desperate for money, he resolves to steal a valuable, ancient family heirloom–a golden, serpent-shaped staff with large gemstones–from his father’s apartment. When he tries to sell it at the pawn shop, he learns that it is not made of gold, nor any other known metal, at least not any metal known on this planet. United with the staff, Laurence discovers that he is the descendant of a race of alien superhumans that were revered as gods on earth. This discovery sends Laurence on a quest where he must face his destiny and not only redeem himself, but determine the fate of all mankind.
For most of the novel, Eye of Ra is fast-paced and hard to put down, but when we finally arrive on the Egyptian gods’ home planet, the story begins to drag a bit and there is too much description that doesn’t add sufficient texture to the world to justify the depth of the description. Sci-fi novels featuring black characters are invaluable, and Eye of Ra brings the plight of black Americans, ancient Egyptian religion, and mythology elegantly together to create this exciting addition to the genre. However, for better or worse, this book is not explicitly political and does not engage directly with the systemic oppression of African Americans. The novel also does not feature many significant female characters. Nonetheless, there should be a wide audience for this novel, which would be an excellent choice for young Percy Jackson fans to graduate to.
Reviewed By Sefina Hawke for Readers’ Favorite
Eye of Ra by Kipjo Ewers falls into the science fiction and fantasy genre. Eye of Ra follows Laurence Danjuma, a young man whose one wish was to create a better life for himself and his father. Unfortunately for Laurence Danjuma, fate rarely proves itself to be kind, which leaves Laurence Danjuma a broken man close to death. However, his family’s legacy awakens in his time of need to not only save his life, but to forever alter it. Laurence Danjuma is given an impossible legacy that leads him down roads that risk not only his own life, but the lives of many others.
Eye of Ra by Kipjo Ewers is a well written book. The plot line moves at a fast pace for most of the book and the characters are all well written. I particularly liked the way that Kipjo Ewers wrote the dialogue between characters - it always read like an actual conversation in that it flowed well and did not seem robotic. I really liked Laurence Danjuma as a main character because he was a regular guy with normal aspirations who was suddenly made into a hero type character. I believe that the way he responded to his legacy and destiny was realistic, and his choice made sense, based on his personality. All in all, I enjoyed reading about Laurence Danjuma in Eye of Ra by Kipjo Ewers.
Average, every day people have been turned into superheroes and supervillans as a seemingly out-of-this world virus spreads across the globe in Kipjo K. Ewers book series, The First. In the second book in the series, The First: EVO Uprising, governments come to realize the need for superhero teams on their side as EVOs are now being born naturally, and many are turning evil. Former Marine, Sergeant Abe Rogers, gets selected to lead the first United States team, but his team only consists of five supernaturals including himself. He seeks the help of Sophia Dennison, Earth’s original superhuman, to train his team, but she doesn’t want to be overly involved in the world war between heroes and villians. With a team of people that Rogers considers to be meer babies with superhuman powers – a team that is not ready to fight – he is forced to take all of them straight to ground zero as supernatural satanic worshippers tear Manhattan and other heroes to shreds. As the supernatural war continues to rage, the connections and emotional bonds between these superhero team members and even Ms. Dennison may surprise you while the supsenseful ferocious action will make your heart race and keep your mind on its mental toes. And, the final pages will leave you waiting with bated breath for more.
The First EVO Uprising is filled with powerful scenes that elicit anxiety bubbling up within you as you grow attached to each and every superhero Kipjo Ewers shares with you. He has a way with expressing their deepest individual essences that easily draws you in. Be prepared though as there is a good deal of graphic violence and foul language within the story. But, Ewers interweaves the depth of friendship, love, and a powerful sense of team in a way that reminds you, the reader, that good will somehow always prevail over evil. He even brings into play snippets of unexpected humor as well as unexpected personal challenges for the characters. Reading The First: EVO Uprising can open your mind and heart to the value of respecting one’s skills, powers, and wisdom no matter his or her age, gender, or history. Kipjo Ewer did a superhero job in making The First EVO Uprising a powerfully entertaining sci-fi thriller.
Reviewed by Ray Simmons for Readers' Favorite
There are so many tales and novels out there about meta-humans. I have read or watched most of them. The best of these tales are awesome, but since I read so many such tales I often find myself disappointed. Yet, I keep buying them as I look for that diamond in the mountain of coal. The First: EVO Uprising is the brightest diamond I have found in a long time. The writing is superb. The characters are diverse and very easy to love or hate. I was particularly impressed by the descriptions of military life. Abraham Rogers could have been my Drill Sergeant.
I'm a little in awe of Kipjo Ewers; he has put a totally new spin on the action packed meta-human genre and he has done it with the craft and finesse of more well known writers such as Stephen King or Tom Clancy. The First: EVO Uprising is at its core the age old battle between good and evil, but with a complexity of characters and elevation of consequences that keeps you turning pages. I loved Sophia. She is the first and most powerful; the source of all the powers the other meta-humans have. Kipjo Ewers describes and shows what she can do beautifully, and trust me, she can do a lot. But at the end of the day, she is as human and unfulfilled as most of us. I want to describe and tell you everything I love about this book, but I can't do that. So trust me. Buy this book.
Reviewed by Anne Boling for Readers' Favorite:
The First: Alternate Collection Destruction Cover by Kipjo Ewers starts out with a bang. Convicted murderer Dr. Sophia Dennison continues to proclaim her innocence. The state of Texas executes her but she didn't stay dead; with a sudden gasp she came back to life. What ensued was mass chaos. Dennison broke loose from the restraints that had her strapped to the table. The guards tried to stop her but to no avail; she was out of control. With incredible strength that she had no idea she possessed, Dennison escaped the prison. Her body took on changes; she was growing; what was happening to her body? FBI Agent Mark Armitage is on the scene investigating the incident.
Author Kipjo Ewers has created an amazing tale falling under the genres of intrigue, action, adventure, sci-fi and fantasy. The plot is ingenious, imaginative, original and fast-paced with lots of twists and turns to keep the reader turning the pages. The dialogue is well done; it is natural, at times humorous, and very engaging. Part of the fun of this book was watching Sophia discover and explore her new powers. The author does an amazing job of demonstrating the emotions of a death row inmate such as the scene where Sophia is saying good-bye to two of the other inmates. The descriptions are well done, allowing the reader to visualize the scenes. I suspect this is book one in a new series. Let's hope so for the author has created a superhero that will intrigue readers.
Reviewed by Lit Amri for Readers' Favorite:
The First is a supernatural fiction by Kipjo Ewers that follows the story of Sophia Dennison, a convicted murderer sentenced to death by lethal injection in a Houston facility. A shaken FBI agent Mark Armitage watches the security video where Sophia is miraculously resurrected with an added superhuman strength. Causing terrifying havoc and injuring several guards, she is gunned down and dies for the second time. However, Armitage again witnesses her eerie revival, smashing through concrete walls and tearing open steel doors before breaking free from the facility. On the run, Sophia Dennison will learn more about her new ability, the truth about her convicted crime, and the real foes in her life.
When the diminutive Sophia went through some sort of "growth spurt" after she was gunned down, the words She Hulk comes to mind. The First is certainly a refreshing concept regarding a female protagonist as the first actual superhuman. I am a fan of strong female characters, so to have Sophia Dennison as a female superhuman is a delight. Ewers definitely gives a freshness and visceral vibrancy to his female lead. The storyline is interesting and adrenaline-pumping, as if I was reading a superhero comic book turn into an exciting supernatural thriller. The pace of the story is fast, which is an added bonus to plot.
Ewers also has a knack for vivid storytelling. His prose is straightforward yet has subtle grace, "Fear was the rider that kept her moving; images of what happened at Mountain View flashed before her eyes forcing her to move faster and faster." All in all, an enjoyable novel for supernatural, sci-fi, and comic book fans.
Reviewed by Vincent Dublado for Readers' Favorite:
The author who brought you The First presents his latest offering: Help! I'm a Superhero! This is the first installment in a new series by Kipjo K. Ewers, one that will bring you into a world of virtual reality in the tradition of Tron and Ready Player One. This story introduces you to Superia, an MMO virtual player who decides to call it quits and leave the virtual game for good. When you have a reputation for getting kicked out of leagues and your attitude rubs people the wrong way, it seems to be the only sensible choice. She falls asleep in her final gameplay, only to wake up in a newly upgraded platform with a different timeline. This new platform offers a limitless universe but the catch is there are no superheroes. Will Superia be tempted to sign up? And if her objective is to win by any means necessary, does it matter whether she makes a difference or not?
Help! I’m a Superhero! is a perfect illustration of modern-day escapism, especially for the younger generation, and it has plenty of enjoyable pop culture name-dropping. The narrative is generously splashed with expletives just for kicks. Bored with the old MMO game and all that superhero stuff, cyber-sexing, and shunning the meaning of team-player, it's possible that readers might find Superia’s character off-putting and hard to relate to initially. However, Ewers writes with such a depth of love for the virtual world that reading it feels like a digital archive of pop culture mementos, and I would be happy to sign up on his gaming platform. You don’t have to be a nerd to enjoy this story, and it provides a thrilling ride from cover to cover.
Reviewed by JC Minnaar for Readers' Favorite:
The Elf and the LARP by Kipjo K. Ewers is set in the magical Kingdom of Ferrin. Faylinn, a young farm girl, wakes up to an ordinary morning of farm chores and selling produce at the marketplace. On her way home she is saved from a sinister situation by a man clad in a warrior’s armor, Mace Excelsior, who dares to criticize her elf “outfit”. A heated exchange between the two ensues, resulting in them going their separate ways, Faylinn to her home and Mace Excelsior to find a spot with decent cell reception. Mace, however, finds himself in a near-death situation, leaving him with the stark realization that this may no longer be just another LARPing event. Ever wonder what you would do if you suddenly arrived in a magical kingdom? Experience the trials and tribulations first-hand alongside Mace Excelsior and Faylinn Winteren!
Kipjo K. Ewers’s The Elf and the LARP tells a humorous story of an ordinary human transported to an extraordinary world filled with elves, dwarves, dragons, satyresses, and all manner of magical creatures. I couldn’t help but fall in love with the sassy and strong-willed Faylinn with her rich accent, and Mace Excelsior, an American LARPer with his array of pop culture references in a world completely alien to him. The Kingdom of Ferrin is brought to life through vivid characterization and fantastic world-building. A well-paced and wonderful introduction to an elf struggling with her daily life and a LARPer trying to find out why he isn’t in the world he knew only moments ago.
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Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers' Favorite:
War of Mortal Gods is the first book of Kipjo K. Ewers' epic fantasy EVO Universe Presentation. Thracian royalty Prince Merc and Princess Attea's attempts to arrest Earth's hero Freedom, a.k.a. Sophia Dennison, almost ends in disaster as Sophia threatens to go supernova. But the timely arrival of the Anunnakian cousins -- Lawrence Danjuma, Bastet, and Anubis -- prevents the catastrophe, and Sophia willingly surrenders herself in exchange for her daughter's life. Finding a lack of options, Sophia is forced to defend herself in front of the Dominion Council after being wrongfully implicated on false charges. Meanwhile, Lord Horus revives his wife Sekhmet to carry out his plans of conquering the universe. The Eyes of Ra, Lawrence, must now heed Amun-Ra's warnings and return to Earth once again to identify the puppetmaster.
Sex, violence, and powerful beings vying for power, War of Mortal Gods feels like a high fantasy version of Game of Thrones with superhumans and demi-gods. With a fast-paced plot filled with action, drama, and political intrigue, author Kipjo K. Ewers' galaxy-spanning epic entertains you from start to finish. The cast of characters is quite large, but every POV character gets a decent amount of page time to make an impact. You instantly start rooting for Sophia, Lawrence, and his cousins, but the antagonists -- Merc, Attea, High Regions Nelron, Horus, and Sekhmet -- feel similarly compelling. The action scenes are described vividly, and they paint quite visceral imagery. If you enjoy epic fantasy worlds filled with action and drama, grab yourself a copy of War of Mortal Gods.