Hopebreaker

3.8
94 Reviews
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Introduction:
In the world of Altadas, there are no more human births. The Regime is replacing the unborn with demons, while the Resistance is trying to destroy a drug called Hope that the demons need to survive.Between these two warring factions lies Jacob, a man who profits from smuggling contraceptive amulets into the city of Blackout. He cares little about the Great Iron War, but a chance capture, and an even more accidental rescue, embroils him in a plot to starve the Regime from power.When Hope is an enemy, Jacob finds it harder than he thought to remain indifferent. When the Resistance opts to field its experimental landship, the Hopebreaker, the world may find that one victory does not win a war.RUNNING TIME ⇒ 5hrs. and 48mins.©2020 Dean F. Wilson (P)2020 Blue Heron Audio
Added on:
July 04 2023
Author:
Dean F. Wilson
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OnGoing
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Hopebreaker Reviews (94)

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Aditi

December 18 2014

<i>“Science fiction is the most important literature in the history of the world, because it's the history of ideas, the history of our civilization birthing itself. ...Science fiction is central to everything we've ever done, and people who make fun of science fiction writers don't know what they're talking about.” </i><br /> ----Ray Bradbury, <i>American novelist, short story writer, essayist, playwright, screenwriter and poet </i><br /><br />Well I'm not a big fan of science-fiction books, but Bradbury's striking words are not only true but it's spectacular! Dean F. Wilson, an Irish author, is one hell of a gem in this vast ocean of science-fiction writers. His new steampunk book, <i>Hopebreaker</i> which happens to be the first book in the <i>The Great Iron War</i> series. The tale is about a different world in some other galaxy where human race has stopped reproducing and the demon has started to arise. But a war rises between two factions because of a drug, called <i>Hopebreaker</i>.<br /><br /><b>Synopsis: </b><br /><i>In the world of Altadas, there are no more human births. The Regime is replacing the unborn with demons, while the Resistance is trying to destroy a drug called Hope that the demons need to survive.<br />Between these two warring factions lies Jacob, a man who profits from smuggling contraceptive amulets into the city of Blackout. He cares little about the Great Iron War, but a chance capture, and an even more accidental rescue, embroils him in a plot to starve the Regime from power.<br />When Hope is an enemy, Jacob finds it harder than he thought to remain indifferent. When the Resistance opts to field its experimental landship, the Hopebreaker, the world may find that one victory does not win a war. </i><br /><br />This is a story that takes us beyond all barriers of science and fantasy and lands us on a land where there is not only stuffs to explore and enlighten our minds but also there are tons of adventure, danger and too much Hope! Hope is a drug that keeps demons alive and human race has completely wiped out from that typical world. Caught in between two factions- Regime and Resistance, Jacob is a guy who just makes money by smuggling the drug. Eventually Jacob gets tangles in the war of two factions and there's huge decision he has to make to save the humanity of his world.<br /><br />The storyline is absolutely fantastic. Wilson not only has spun it brilliantly but has also weave it much love and compassion. Not only that he adds a sense of humor on his plot, so maybe the book deals with some deep and <br />enigmatic topics, still there are lots of moments that make us feel lighthearted! The plot is one hell of a roller coaster rides of adrenaline rushing moments, thought-provoking ideas backed up by some strong scientific logic. <br /><br />I've always loved reading his books, though there were few shortcomings like Altadas's back story was not strong enough for us to fall for it's recent developments, Jacob's narration felt like very disoriented and scattered! That's what I felt, though I may be wrong. Otherwise, the character development is striking and strong and these characters had enough depth to pull us into their story. <br /><br />Anyways if you enjoy a good a dystopian story, then go for this book, and since the author left us with some pretty huge cliffhangers, I'll be looking out for his next book in this series. <br /><br /><b>Verdict: </b> <i>Dean F. Wilson has done it again, after his The Children of Telm series. Hopebreaker series is engrossing and pretty thrilling! Science fiction fans don't miss this book at all! </i><br /><br /><b>Courtesy: </b> <i>Thanks to the author, Dean F. Wilson, for providing me with a copy of his book, in return for an honest review. </i>

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hal

December 10 2014

Actual rating: 2.5 stars<br />I received an ebook copy of this in exchange for an honest review<br /><br />Hopebreaker had an interesting concept, but I don't think that it was as executed as well as it could have been. <br /><br />Firstly, I couldn't connect with any of the characters. Jacob, for instance, could have been a very complex character character, but instead he was bland and not very interesting. Taberah also had the potential to be a three-dimensional character, but instead was kind of boring. I also didn't like that one character suddenly became a villain in the middle of the story. It was abrupt and didn't make any sense. Don't even get me started on the very forced and unrealistic romance between Jacob and Taberah. They literally sleep with each other after knowing each other for a day. Gross. Insta-love at its finest.<br /><br />The ending was also very abrupt and totally a cliffhanger. I'm guessing there's probably a sequel. But unfortunately, I don't think I'll read it.<br /><br />I also noticed a few grammatical errors like using "who's fortune" (page 181) instead of "whose fortune". But whatever, grammar is a minor thing.<br /><br />The main issue I had with Hopebreaker was that I was so incredibly bored reading it. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />

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Dianne

December 12 2014

Oh, Shiny! Another hidden gem to hoard! Set in an action-packed Steampunk world, <b>Hopebreaker</b> by Dean F. Wilson is a blend of science fiction, fantasy, adventure and just plain great reading!<br>In a world fueled by metal, steam and the lives of mankind, one does what they must to survive. Jacob is a smuggler, dealing in, of all things, contraceptive amulets, a highly priced and hard to get commodity in a world where humans are not allowed to birth other humans, where the unborn are traded off for a demon to be born. The Regime has a chokehold on the world of Altadas, and their absolute power and control are the only thing that matters. Where there is an oppressive leadership, there will be rebels, fighting to free the masses. In Altadas, the Resistance is the underground faction that is attempting to bring down the demons by snuffing their lives at the very source of their sustenance. Ironically named Hope, it is the food that ensures the demons lives, and without it, they will crumble.<br> <br>The soldiers of the resistance have reluctantly saved Jacob from certain death. Is it his ability to blend into the shadows they need? His talent at smuggling? Whatever he has that they want, Jacob wants no part of, until one beautiful and fierce warrior opens his eyes to the reality of the world he lives in and shows him there is more to life than his simple pleasures.<br><br>Heavy topics, heavy tensions, heavy action, all tempered by the creative talents of Dean F. Wilson. Mr. Wilson adds attitude, humor and fabulous banter and dialogue between his characters. I mean, seriously, should I be laughing while his world is being destroyed? Speaking of Mr. Wilson’s world, it feels stark, bleak and beaten down, but he leaves enough room for the light at the end of the tunnel as his heroes embark on a mission to save Altadas and the human race.<br><br>I love characters with snark, they feel real to me, because what better way to deal with constant danger than humor? The action is rapid-fire, I felt I was in tunnels, rushing through blood-soaked halls, my heart raced at the fear of being discovered and, at one point, I swear I could smell one of the foul rooms. When Hopebreaker arrived? I could hear the music, feel the last ditch effort and hoped for the best! But is the war over?<br><br>No matter what you normally read, <b>Hopebreaker</b> is going to suck you in like water through a straw and leave you ready to go to war against the demons, but next time, I want to drive <b>Hopebreaker</b>!<br><br>I received this copy from Dean F. Wilson in exchange for my honest review.<br><br>Series: The Great Iron War - Book 1<br>Publication Date: December 15, 2014<br>Publisher: Dioscuri Press<br>Genre: Steampunk Fantasy/Scifi<br>Print Length: 191 pages<br>Available from: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hopebreaker-Great-Iron-War-Book-ebook/dp/B00QO2FQ52/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1418613125&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=hopebreaker" rel="nofollow noopener">Amazon</a><br>Reviewed for: <a href="http://tometender.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">http://tometender.blogspot.com</a><br><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VzWcuxwzgIg/VCiZSxUyvmI/AAAAAAAAfb0/Zeysvfwdgos/s1600/June%2BHeader%2Bw%2Bhttp.jpg" rel="nofollow noopener"> <img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1411946937i/11303744._SX540_.jpg" height="250" width="400" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"> </a><br>

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Liis

December 14 2014

First of all I would like to mention that Hopebreaker is a steampunk novel. The only thing I “know” of steampunk is the fashion accessories which can be very popular among the gothic growd. Needless to say, I was very excited to approach Dean on Goodreads and offer to review his novel.<br />Isn’t the cover already so fresh and unique? I love it!<br /><br />I started reading Hopebreaker and I realized why I love reading so much. In every book there exist sentences that stop me in my tracks and thrill me. Their simple yet genius meaning makes me so happy. Only a couple of pages into the novel I came across a sentence in Hopebreaker that did exactly that-<br /><br /> “In prison, words could still fit through the bars” Dean F. Wilson<br /><br />The dialogue is so very entertaining and flows very naturally.<br /><br />Before reading I was a bit worried whether I would be able to get into the whole theme, as .. you know… steampunk! Meaning gogs, and tech and turning iron wheels and robust machinery. In Estonia the old water towers are still present next to the railway stations where old trains running on steam would have got their water. Doesn’t sound super-sexy. But in a way it IS!!! So, yes, I stalled with picking up the book. On Sunday I thought- now or never, baby!<br /><br />I started and I couldn’t put the story down. I finished reading this book a few hours later and I was very satisfied in how great my choice of Sunday PM entertainment had turned out to be!<br /><br />Don’t be fooled- this is by no means “a boy’s book” only. This is totally and very much enjoyable by female audience as well. Don’t let the tank on the book cover scare you away!<br /><br />I also found it very agreeable as to how the book ended. I know there will be a second one (and hopefully a third one?) and I can’t wait to read more! Sometimes the first book ends and it just, you know, ends. You don’t really miss or yearn for more because .. you know… it’s finished/caput/done with the theme, the characters and the whole idea. But The Great Iron War will stick to my mind for some time yet!<br /><br />There wasn’t an overpowering amount of place descriptions (which some of us don’t like- yawn!) but there was exactly enough to feed my imagination’s greedy belly. I have those pictures in my head of the desert, of the characters. Of the cities and demons, the trains and landships. I do suggest you look up pictures from Google for steampunk. A feast for eyes and a guaranteed enhancement for your reading experience! Who knows, you might even get a pair of them goggles!

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Rob Slaven

January 25 2015

I received this book free for review from the author or publisher in exchange for an honest review. Despite the coolness of receiving a free book, I’m absolutely candid about it below because I believe authors and readers will benefit most from honest reviews rather than vacuous 5-star reviews.<br /><br />The nutshell view on this one is... well, rather filled with definite articles and nouns. "The Regime" is at war with "The Order" and "The Resistance". The Regime makes the drug "Hope" that is required for their existence while the other two groups are working to destroy their production capacity.<br /><br />On the positive side, the book really gets down to business. It's not encumbered by much of anything in the way of nuance but the descriptions still manage to leave you feeling rather gritty as if YOU'VE been traipsing about in the desert for several days. The author has also, with great efficiency of words, managed to cobble together a fairly complex milieu of settings that made me feel as if I'd missed out on some previous book or five and needed to catch up.<br /><br />To the negative, all this brevity does have a price. During many of the action sequences I found myself flipping back and forth through pages trying to figure out what in the world had just happened. Plots and characters seem to change directions with little hope of the reader understanding why they do so and the reader is left to either accept that or just shrug in despair.<br /><br />In summary, this book is the literary equivalent of a Conan the Barbarian film. Things are going to happen. You're going to enjoy them. You're not going to understand why they happened. But you will enjoy them if you can get past the idea that they just don't make connected sense.<br /><br />PS: I hope my review was helpful. If it was not, then please let me know what I left out that you’d want to know. I always aim to improve.

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Jonel

December 23 2014

The well-developed plot of this novel made it a joy to read. Wilson’s complex story was easy to get into, all aspects being presented in a progressive &amp; full-fledged manner that allows you complete access to this world. At the same time, this story is fun and easy to read. Wilson has penned a tale that takes you far from the everyday, allowing you to escape reality for a while. Creativity, imagination, and captivating topics all combine to make this a fantastic novel.<br /><br />Wilson has filled this story with well-developed characters that you will form strong opinions about, be they for or against the individual. I really enjoyed not only getting to know the individuals that we meet throughout this tale, but also the hardships that they face. The different ways in which the characters deal with the same situation make them all the more real and believable.<br /><br />This novel was a fantastic starting point for Wilson’s new series. I finished this novel fully invested in the story and dying to know what happens next. <br /><br />Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this work in exchange for an honest review.

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Andy Peloquin

December 16 2014

The moment I opened the book, I was hooked. The villain was set up immediately, with just enough of a hint to make you fear him without really telling you why. I love a good mystery like that, so it helped me to want to read more.<br /><br />My interest began to wane a bit in Chapter 2, and I was forcing myself to read by Chapter 3. The book was written well overall--very few typos, the occasional phrase I would never use, etc. There is a good amount of information given to keep you interested in wanting to know more, but without a huge info dump.<br /><br />My main issue with this book was with the lack of description. The author uses the word "war wagon", but without telling us what it looked like, how big it was, etc. The main character spends a lot of time in this "war wagon", but I have no idea what it was. I thought it was a tank at first, but the description makes it seem WAY too big. Basically, I could only picture the immediate surroundings of the character, which made it hard to put myself in his world.<br /><br />The writing was a bit erratic and jerky at time. The sentences were all TECHNICALLY correct, but the flow just wasn't there for me. The structure was very "UK-ish", which made it hard for me to read.<br /><br />It tends to move quickly--sometimes too quickly, in my opinion. You get a lot of story, but without really getting a feel for the characters. The main character--Jacob--started off good, but I liked him less and less as the story went on. He's too cool (unrealistically so), and never experiences a moment of fear. His only "weakness" is his love of money, and the author goes out of his way to emphasize that WAY too much. At the end of the book, I strongly disliked the main character, and not in a way that would make me want to keep reading.<br /><br />That being said, the diversity of the characters was pretty good. Some were a bit clichéd--the general with the walrus moustache, the predictable bad guy, etc.--but overall the characters were interesting. They could have used a bit more fleshing out, as it made me hard to care when they died or were in pain.<br /><br />I give it a four-star rating because it was pretty well written and the story was interesting, but had the characters been more relatable, it would have gotten a five-star review!

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Koeur

March 05 2015

<a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" href="https://koeur.wordpress.com/2015/03/05/review-hopebreaker-by-dean-f-wilson/">https://koeur.wordpress.com/2015/03/0...</a><br /><br />Publisher: Dioscuri<br /><br />Publishing Date: December 2014<br /><br />ISBN: 9781909356092 <br /><br />Genre: Fantasy<br /><br />Rating: 3.8/5<br /><br />Publisher Description: In the world of Altadas, there are no more human births. The Regime is replacing the unborn with demons, while the Resistance is trying to destroy a drug called Hope that the demons need to survive.<br /><br />Review: Jason is a smuggler with a smartass bent, living by the skin of his teeth under the crushing Demon Regime. When he gets caught moving contraceptive jewels for the Order, events rapidly cascade into chaos. <br /><br />Some reviewers were confused about the story line progression, brevity and what one reviewer deemed as being “insta-love” between Jacob and Tabs. I didn’t read that at all. I thought it was well written, flowed wonderfully and the characters built and developed very well within the confines of a fast pace. In fact this was brilliantly executed. There was no insta-love or love at all. Tabs has her reasons for banging Jacob so soon. A little bit feral for sure but mostly calculated. She continually iterates that people have their uses when others within the Order would rather see them banished. She is trying to win a war and resources are scarce. Jacob is a conniving smuggler with a heart of gold. He is growing attached to Whistler and Tabs as the story evolves but is not smitten in any way. <br /><br />Connecting the dots is not too hard and gives the reader imaginative license. Take for instance the characters are never really physically described. Yeah she has long hair, or wears tight, distracting leather pants but you really have no idea what they look like. Everyone has their own ideas about what characters resemble, even when described. So why waste time on it? I pictured Teller as a fat, greasy dude with stringy hair and bad teeth. The actions of the characters render them physically. <br /><br />

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Pablo Padilla

December 15 2014

Ignorance was bliss until Jacob's eyes were flung open by a lovely warrior, who showed him the cruetly and sheer brutality of the world he inhabits. A talented thief and full of heroism, Jacob will struggle with the forces of rebellion to overthrow the Regime, a untempered shadow, that conquers the human world an inhibits them from being born.<br /><br />Hopebreaker is my first adventure in steampunk writing fiction. Before such adventure I had been introduced into Miyazaki's Howl's Moving Castle, and must say this epic fantasy dystopian sub-genre is delightful to read. Wilson's imagination is outstanding in how he intertwined reality and fantasy to deliver an adventure in an easy read, pounded with action, humor, and of course: hope.<br /><br />This books it the first of many that will take place in the world of Atladas. I can only foresee how candid this epic adventure will be in the months to come.

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Joel

November 19 2020

I received my copy of this book for free from the author which has no bearing on my review.<br /><br />This was a dystopian sci-fi novel that introduces a world where human babies are no longer born. Instead, women now give birth to demons, which are generally indistinguishable from humans until such time as they rise up and take control of the humans in cruel and unusual ways.<br /><br />Unless, that is, a woman is wearing a special amulet that allows them to freely enjoy sex without risk of an otherworldly demon using her vagina as a magic portal to be summoned to our world.<br /><br />The world is a bit strange, and the characters are bland. The writing itself is nothing special and there are some odd metaphors floated around. I was neither thoroughly engaged nor completely repulsed, so it was just an okay read for me. I'll read more from the author, but not interested in continuing this series.<br /><br />2 out of 5 stars.