THUMOS RISING (Σ Book I) by Demitrios Lopez-a review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 15, 2024

“They said he was handsome,
but with alien features,
purple, pupil-less eyes…”

With the world of Ninivon on the brink of annihilation, Zeno finds himself pitted against a vampiric overlord from beyond the stars. The tyrant, wraithlike purple glowing from his eyes, is obsessed with one thing: unraveling the mystery of the Σ a primordial and otherworldly power. A power that has chosen Zeno as it’s champion.

But Zeno will not accept the power, terrified of what the Σ will make of him. Until he discovers that Alexandra, his childhood best friend, is leading a rebellion against the Vampire and his monsters. Then Zeno becomes the demigod he was destined to be and joins the fray. But the lines blur between his duty to save Ninivon and his desire to protect Alexandra, whose past is shadowed in secrecy.

Where dragons soar alongside futuristic spacecraft and magic intertwines with advanced technology, Thumos Rising chronicles Zeno’s quest to unlock the mystery of the only thing those with purple eyes fear: The Σ.

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REVIEW: THUMOS RISING is the first instalment in Demitrios Lopez’ adult Σ paranormal, fantasy, sci-fi series focusing on Ninivon warrior Zenosthenes ‘Zeno’ Andrea, and his rise to power as the Vessel of Thumos.

NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise including graphic violence, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from numerous omniscient third person perspectives (Zeno, Lysandros, Ghost, Vampire, Alexandra) following several back and forth timelines, THUMOS RISING focuses on a war between the Vampire and everyone else. The Vampire is determined to take control, annihilate every civilization, but never expected to come up against Zeno, a demi-god who has been chosen by an otherworldly power. More than ten years earlier, Zeno’s best friend Alexandra would be sent away for her protection, and in the ensuing years, would herself become a powerful warrior. Reconnecting years later, Zeno and Alexandra continue to profess their love but the Vampire is taking aim, separating our couple, once again. Fighting alongside Alexandra’s father Lysandros, Zeno would, at twenty six years of age, come into his powers, powers bestowed by an otherworldly Priestess. Family will be pitted against family, as Zeno is tasked with saving the world, becoming the ‘Truth’, the savior of men.

THUMOS RISING is an action-packed, multi-layered, exceedingly complex, and detailed story line using virtually every type of fictionalized creature from the supernatural to science fiction, and several others created for this tale. Using mashed-up words from Greek and Roman mythology, Latin and English, THUMOS RISING is a complicated tale of power and control, war and madness, as an alien priestess reveals the chosen to lead an offensive against the Vampire, and his army of the ‘undead’. There is an inordinate number of characters, worlds, peoples and names, and in this, the info-dumping is exorbitant, way beyond a simple or easy read-I could not fathom the pronunciation of many of the names and worlds. A well-written and elaborate yet convoluted and difficult read . THUMOS RISING ends on a cliff hanger-you have been warned.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy