Heather’s Bookshelf: Gods of Sound
Author: QM Schaffer
Released: 02/02/21
Genre: YA Fantasy
“Cameron sat cross-legged on the floor, his mind spinning, wondering if the was truly going insane. He spotted a small piece of pie crust under the table. He plucked it off the ground and slipped it into his mouth.”
“Gods of Sound” introduces Cameron Foster, a middle schooler who is a bit of a loner. Cam has few friends and even less resources, living in a house many of the neighborhood kids think is haunted due to the decrepit status. His one outlet is his skill with a guitar and the generosity of those who notice his talent to develop it.
Cameron is approached by a mysterious young woman dressed in leather and riding a motorcycle. She helps him get away from some bullies and befriends him. Soon, she treats him to a behind the scenes visit to a concert headlined by a couple of very famous faces. His love of music and talent for the guitar quickly become apparent as he appears in his school’s talent show.
After the concert, Cameron’s world begins to change. The girl in leather brings him to a mysterious location where he is introduced to a special guitar with an even more mysterious power. The woman he thought was his mother passes away and he’s left in foster care. He ends up living at the same mysterious compound with several other gifted kids and young adults. Why are they all there, how were they chosen, and what are they meant to do moving forward?
Trigger Warning: animal violence, insinuations of abuse
Overall, I enjoyed this story. The concept of the guitars and what brings these kids all together was very different and interesting. I found the protagonist, Cameron, both endearing and irritating depending on his interactions with those around him. I enjoyed how his background was revealed and found the pacing of the story to build in a way that kept me reading. I also liked the different personalities of his new friends and how each stood out on their own. The revelation at the end was also unexpected and revealed in a way that seemed organic. However, the ending tied into the revelation seemed quite rushed and unfinished. I wish there was a little more development of this portion of the book in order to tie it in to the character arc that was so pronounced throughout the rest of the story.
I received a copy of this story in exchange of a fair and honest review.
OVERALL REVIEW:
A story about a young man, rock n’ roll, and a mission based on hidden powers and new friendships. The ending seemed rushed and felt incomplete.
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Check out my interview with QM Schaffer
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