- Shopping Bag ( 0 items )
Want a NOOK? Explore Now
Paris and Alex Fox have a problem. The death of their parents in an accident left a plethora of unanswered questions. Were their parents murdered? Was their mother truly their mother? Where are the secrets their father may have hidden? More importantly, who are these phantom people called Shadows, and what do they want? Their lives and the lives of their two loved ones will depend upon answers.
DougWelch
Posted March 22, 2011
I would like to thank AmberKillian for the excellent review of my work. Painful as it is, it is a review like this that helps me become a better author. All I can say is that in a large novel such as this, the text is like a many tentacled monster, waiting in the wings to scream 'gotcha' at the most embarrassing moments. They were not only embarrassing, but dumb and unforgivable. Dumb because I knew better, and unforgivable because I made the same mistake over and over again. I apologize to any reader whose enjoyment of the novel was spoiled by my poor grammar editing. Rest assured, the revision is on its way.
However, I take issue with some of the comments. I hardly think a self-confessed 'grammar Nazi' is a poster child for the twenty something generation. In a country in which a clear majority of the twenty plus population can't supply correct answers to simple questions about geography, government, and science, it would not be unusual for someone to have a momentary lapse in memory as to not be able to correctly identify Marilyn Monroe. After all, she died more that fifty years ago. The reference to "soul mates' was simply to provide the definition of the term for those readers who might not have encounter it. As to 'facts', I searched the whole novel for the word, and I could not identify the 'facts' the reviewer was referring to. If she refers to the scene with the physics professor, do a search on Wikipedia for 'quantum computing' and you can satisfy your curiosity. Remember, this is a science fiction novel. Science fiction deals with the "what if". What if Einstein was correct in his published paper in which he coined the phrase 'spooky action at a distance'. Could it explain the totally impossible concept of mental telepathy? In the world of science fiction, space ships regularly violate the laws of physics by traveling faster that the speed of light. Am I not allowed to do the same with the mind? By the way, the picture depicted in the novel is real. It was published in Wired Magazine. (I don't remember the issue.)
As for pacing, I am an amateur author. I'm learning. The characters dragged me, kicking and screaming, to where they wanted to go.
Doug Welch, author of Shadow Games
46 out of 54 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted March 7, 2011
This book was a very good read. The only thing I would have changed would be the explicit sex scene. It was just as good without it. Leave some room for the imagination.
21 out of 26 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted January 1, 2012
This book is wonderful and amazing!! First off, who cares about some of the grammer mistakes Mr. Welch made, he is a new and rising author. It doesn't matter about the simple mistakes if you are spellbound by his wonderful creativity and imagination like I was! I will recommend this novel to everyone!! Thank you Mr. Welch for your amazing work of art!
19 out of 21 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.AmberKillian
Posted March 25, 2011
But between the author not being able to correctly use plural possessive (it's parents' death when both die, not parent's death), the fact that apparently the USA has 52 states (there is a line where he talks about the 'other 51 states'), a 20 something year old never having heard of soul mates, and the same 20 something year old not being able to identify a pic of Marilyn Monroe, it's a little hard to digest. I gave up after almost 700 pages. I cannot overlook consistently bad grammar, 'facts' that are simply wrong, and unbelievable ignorances on the part of the main characters. The story line is promising, but I kept waiting for it to get started. I am a self-professed grammar nazi, so I tend to cut authors some slack, because I know my standards are very high. However, there were just too many things that made me want to pull my hair out to continue reading it. Sorry. For the record, I am in my 20s, and have heard of soul mates and can identify Marilyn Monroe on sight. I think the majority of my peers would be able to say the same thing.
ETA: Mr.Welch, Thank you for replying! If it helps lessen the sting of my review any, I had to pick up the book again, because I wanted to find out what the characters were doing. I truly have become attached to Alex. The 'fact' I was referring to was the line where Paris (I believe) mentions the other 51 states, implying we have 52. :)
13 out of 28 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.I really enjoyed this story and the characters in it. It is quite a long book though, and there were a few times that the story dragged just a bit. All in all, my feeling is that Shadow Games is well worth the read if you enjoy the genre.
10 out of 11 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.8925869
Posted September 28, 2011
Well, If you like guys who act like guys, then you wont like the main character in this book. In the very beginning I almost thought there would be some kind of gross incest scene because he kept mentioning how pretty his twin sister was. The story line would be better if the ridiculous romance he ends up having with a very one dimensional character never happened. PLUS, if you like crying, well then this is the book for you since the sister cries at least every ten pages whether she needs to or not. I actually found myself skipping pages of repetitive crap (how many times was he going to indicate he was in the Army Rangers?). The dialogue between the brother and sister was also highly unbelievable. They conversed with the same amount of familiarity one would expect when you talk to your neighbor. If my brother spoke to me like that, I would literally punch him in the neck. Thankfully this book was free. I had hoped for so much more!
6 out of 8 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.horsyheaven
Posted August 24, 2011
I couldnt put this book down. I cant wait for your second book. Keep it going. The gramer mistakes were not so bad that you couldnt read through them.
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.zoyalynn
Posted August 13, 2011
The book would be great if I could beleive in the characters and thier diolog. The male character thought and spoke like a woman would. I know some pretty sensitive guys that are highly in touch with thier femanine side that wouldn't even begin to talk or think like this guy did in the book. I am not even sure I know gay guys that talk or think like this guy did. I also found it hard to beleive that a brother and sister would call each other bro, brother, sis, or sister in pretty much every conversation they have together and most times in every sentence they have to each other. I have siblings and I wouldn't, personally. The actual concept of the book and the sotry line is great, but like I said the conversational aspect was majorly lacking in my opinion.
6 out of 7 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted May 22, 2012
This is a really good and fast paced book. I enjoy finding new authors and their work. Watching them grow and their books become highly sought after is very rewarding. I find it amusing to read a negative review by someone who is unable to spell, use correct punctuation and the ability to use correct capitalization is clearly beyond them. I would encourage readers to take into account the reviewer ability to compose a review before condeming a new author. Many, many veteran writers have misspelled or misused words. After all, we all make mistakes, that's why there are erasers on pencils.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted August 12, 2011
I truly loved the premise of this book, but couldn't help noticing that the writing left something to be desired. It lacked a certain maturity and depth. I truly hope the sequels will bring depths to Mr. Welch's writing that are not seen here. I am looking forward to learning more about the People and how they interact with Normals. Mr. Welch, please keep writing... just leave off some of the "dears" and "darlings".
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.1of5
Posted May 26, 2011
I was quite disappointed with Shadow Games. The author's few good ideas are swamped by his unnecessary repetition. And I was frankly offended by the porn passage he slips into the second half - jarringly gratuitous and out of place in the relation to the rest of the book.
The synopsis was promising - a young man, Paris Fox, and his sister Alexandra are reunited on the sad occasion of their parents' tragic deaths. The twins' connection to each other is strong, and mysterious powers are evoked in them in the face of outside evil forces. They meet another brother/sister pair under odd but pleasant circumstances, and each of them falls in love with their opposite counterpart. As the mystery of the threatening powers attacking them becomes clearer, Paris' ability to counteract them develops. But this is the point at which the author begins repeating themes and plot points, to the point of tedium.
The last chapters are most unsatisfying - where the author had tried to build detail upon detail in developing the story, the ending grows more and more vague. Paris undergoes something deep and wrenching, but little is explained except his agony. He develops new powers that are unexplained - a "Deus ex machina" that concludes the book with a "Wait... what?" of epic proportion. And then it ends. Abruptly.
The plot and story-telling here is on the level of juvenile fiction. But the sex scene makes that unworkable. I can't figure out who the audience for Shadow Games might be, but I don't recommend it for anyone. For me it was the worst kind of read - just enough to keep me going, but a denouement that left me angry at the author, and angry with myself for reading all the way to the end. I kept hoping it would redeem itself. Silly me.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.mbcrandell
Posted January 29, 2011
The author did a good job developing his story, keeping the reader engaged and had a good ending. Kudos on your original idea and to developing it! Other than a few slow spots and some grammatical errors, this book is well written. Mr. Welch, I'll be waiting to see what you come up with next and looking forward to it!
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.BrutSB
Posted September 21, 2011
Good idea for a plot. The dialog between the characters was juvenile. The sex /love scenes were PAINFUL. Could have been written by a teen a young teen. Skimmed thru alot of it. Didnt enjoy much of it
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted August 29, 2011
This book has it all. Suspence, romance, mystery, and invisable men. READ IT NOW!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted August 5, 2012
I really loved the overall story and theme. I just didnt like the whole love-at-first-sight thing. ( sorry, im a skeptic. Lol ) also, the scenes where they kept declaring their love were really cheesy, repetitive, and flat. I also must agree that Paris seemed too emotional and mushy at times... which is what i would expect perhaps from a female narrator, but rarely a male.
BUT...... i would definitley recommend this book because of the intriguing mystery and thriller aspects. If one can overlook the slightly weak love subplot, one can find the book a very enjoyable and exciting read.
The author certaintly deserves credit and a high five for the incredible mystery aspect. And just for the record, Paris's ignorance of Marilyn Monroe and the concept of soulmates did not bother me in the least. In fact, it rather made me appriciate him as a three-dimensional chararacter who has valid ignorance.
----- kay
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted July 8, 2012
I enjoyed the book, immensely! My only complaint is that the author made Paris and Ceasar, a little too sensitive and unreal, as well as too well spoken. Alex was much more down to earth.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted May 22, 2012
Good storyline, novel concept. This book takes you on an extraordinary journey that bewitches your imagination. It's an unpredictable page turner. Once i started reading it was nearly impossible for me to put down. I highly recommend this book!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Holly4b21
Posted January 13, 2012
This book could have definitely used more editing and polish, but that aside, I have to give the author credit for how well these characters pulled you into the story. It was a great read and I honestly hated to put it down. It was a very well developed story and each of the characters really came alive throughout the pages. The sex scenes were a little too graphic in description for the novel, but I guess it was from the guy's point of view; it's not how a lot of us girls (who are probably most of the readers for this genre) would describe or like to read about a love scene. Sometimes less is more. That aside, I will watch this author and keep reading to see how he develops. Thanks for the free book! So far so good!
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted October 4, 2011
This story was very poorly written and cheesy I couldn't even finish it all the way though. I skipped to the end to find out what happened and then deleted it from my library. Not one I would recommend.
2 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.TC_Murphy
Posted September 29, 2011
I really enjoyed this book. I knew all the areas spoke of in this book and didnt have any trouble at all picturing the scenery. The storyline was very different but I like different. Great to read something new. Thanks for the great read.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
Overview
Paris and Alex Fox have a problem. The death of their parents in an accident left a plethora of unanswered questions. Were their parents murdered? Was their mother truly their mother? Where are the secrets their father may have hidden? More importantly, who are these phantom people called Shadows, and what do they want? Their lives and the lives of their two loved ones will depend upon answers.