“A Dream of Ice” by Gillian Anderson and Jeff Rovin (Simon & Schuster, 2016)

Gillian Anderson and Jeff Rovin are back with the second book of the EarthEnd Saga, A Dream of Ice. The stakes have been raised to a whole new level. While tensions are heating up in the world, a mystical link has been discovered with an ancient civilization known as Galderkhaan.

Renowned child psychologist Caitlin O’Hara is now part of this mystical link that stretches back through time and is not exactly understood. But with it Caitlin is able to help these children now, healing their minds and severing their links with this past world. And yet as she is helping those in need, she can sense that there is someone watching her; someone who is linked with Galderkhaan. And this someone is also after her son.

Meanwhile Mikel Jasso, an unusual character who works for a mysterious, clandestine organization and is always used to getting results, is in Antarctica. He knows the power and importance of the mysterious artifacts that appear to be part of this ancient lost world known as Galderkhaan. In a crevasse in this frozen land, he goes down deeper, sensing something important is down there. What he finds will change the world forever.

A Dream of Ice presents the two plots of Caitlin O’Hara and Mikel Jasso on separate tangents that will ultimately be linked. Caitlin’s storyline starts off interesting but stagnates a little, while Mikel’s continues to get more and more interesting. The second book in the series is a little weaker than the first, but continues to open up the world and the complex plot, making the reader wonder where it’s going to go next in the third book in the series, due out September 2016.

Originally written on March 24, 2016 ©Alex C. Telander.

To purchase a copy of A Dream of Ice from Amazon, and help support BookBanter, click HERE.

“A Vision of Fire” by Gillian Anderson and Jeff Rovin (Simon & Schuster, 2015)

Apparently working on The X-Files for a significant portion of her adult life has rubbed off on Gillian Anderson, the actress who plays Special Agent Dana Scully on the show, as she has turned to writing books recently of a definite supernatural vein. A Vision of Fire is a science fiction thriller and the first book in the EarthEnd Saga co-authored with New York Times bestselling author Jeff Rovin.

Caitlin O’Hara is a renowned child psychologist who is asked to quietly and secretly help Maanik, the daughter of India’s Ambassador. The teenager has begun speaking in tongues, having strange fits, and powerful visions. Caitlin begins working with the girl, thinking a lot of her stress and actions are due to a recent assassination attempt on the girl’s father’s life. Meanwhile, India’s ambassador is wrapped up in escalating tensions between India and Pakistan.

But then more kids around the world start acting in a similar manner. Caitlin travels to Haiti to investigate a girl who appears to be drowning on dry land. An Iranian boy inexplicably sets himself on fire. And then animals from rats in New York City to birds in South America are starting to act out of the ordinary which is somehow related to what’s happening to the kids.

Gillian Anderson and Jeff Rovin have created a compelling work of science fiction that immediately sucks the reader in and keeps their curiosity clock ticking. Caitlin O’Hara is a fully rounded character who has to juggle her own life and a son who is partially deaf, which makes her feel all the more real and relatable. At the end a big reveal is made that leaves the reader wondering where the sequel is going to go.

And for those wanting to go all the way for the full immersive experience the audiobook is ready by Gillian Anderson, featuring her sultry voice that we have all come to know so well through The X-Files.

Originally written on March 24, 2016 ©Alex C. Telander.

To purchase a copy of A Vision of Fire from Amazon, and help support BookBanter, click HERE.