Review
"Soil-Man is a rare combination of fine (sometimes incandescent) writing, high-speed action, violence, gore, humor, erudition and philosophical point-scoring. It's horror that will appeal to the intelligent and educated. It's cinematic on the outside and introspective within."
Mark Clements
Award winning author of "Lorelei" and "The Land of Nod"
"This novel is righteous in every sense of the word. Not for faint hearts or weak stomachs, 'Soil-Man' will appeal to strong-willed clear-eyed seekers of truth
--if they're out there."
Jennifer Silva Redmond
Editor, "Sea of Cortez Review"
"As a human being, Oz Monroe inspires me as a woman and as an artist. As a book, Soil-Man evokes emotion, inspires thought, and keeps me coming back for more. It is the only work of fiction I am recommending this year."
M. Elisabeth Howell
Author of "Evening Light"
~Reviewed By K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite~
"Soil-Man is an intellectual horror novel by author Oz Monroe and the first book in the Symphony series. When a fallen angel lands in the life of Jon Aesop, things turned out far more violent and grotesque than he could possibly expect. When his family is brutally tortured and then killed,Jon vows to seek out his wife's soul. The abomination Var is also on a journey, one which is fuelled by a ravenous desire for vengeance. The stories of these two powerful characters play out in a world where different kinds of angels wage war behind the scenes of humanity, and the search for the truth about the afterlife drives readers to the very end of the tale.
Monroe's work is conceptually astounding, taking the tried and tested angel lore and mythology and giving it a gruesome new twist. Readers will need to be prepared for excessive violence throughout the tale, but this dark fantasy horror story will certainly be worth the gore-fest. I found Jon's character to be particularly compelling, both practical and emotional, and intrinsically human. It's necessary to have a protagonist that you can believe in amid the supernatural wonders of this tale, and Jon's story really grounds the whole narrative and brings realism to it. There's plenty of humour, action, and adventure too,along with a finale that will really leave you thinking about life,death, and everything in between. I'd highly recommend Soil-Man for adult fantasy fans looking for a dark and compelling new read."
~Reviewed By Tracy A. Fischer for Readers' Favorite~
"Wow! Just, wow! That's exactly what I thought when I finished reading Soil-Man: Symphony Book One by debut author Oz Monroe. This book is an epic beginning to what should be, by all accounts, an absolutely fantastic new series. Follow the story of Jon Aesop as he struggles to make sense of his world after what appears to be an angel tortures and kills his family. Formerly a man without religious belief, Jon must now suspend his previous disbelief in order to find his wife's soul.Fighting through bands of murderous angels to meet his goal, Jon seeks answers to the afterlife that he suspended long ago. And when he meets up with Var, an angel abomination, one who has existed for centuries -obsessed with revenge, hunting from the shadows - what they discover together in hell will change everything, forever.
I loved Soil-Man: Symphony Book One. Loved. It. How's that for a review? Well, it's truly how I felt about author Oz Monroe's fantastic new book. Unique, creative, edge of your seat adventure are just a few ways that I could describe this book, but in many ways, Soil-Man is indescribable. It's very rare for me to find a book that I find to be areal original. I'm a voracious reader, and it seems that many books follow similar templates, similar story lines. But Oz Monroe has managed to move away from that and he provides his readers with a plot line that they will not have read before. His scene setting skills are simply second to none, his characterizations are vivid, and his overall storytelling skills are superb. Any reader who likes a good book of supernatural fiction, or just a great work of fiction in general, should absolutely read Soil-Man as soon as they possibly can. I, for one,cannot wait to read more from the incredibly promising new author, Oz Monroe, as soon as possible, and hope that he is deep into the second book of this series. If it's anything like Soil-Man, it will be a book that is not to be missed!"
About the Author
Oz Monroe is an author, entertainer, and out spoken advocate for independent publishing. After dropping out of high school at age16, Oz made his living as a juggler and fire eater, eventually deciding to pursue further education in theology, philosophy, and astrophysics.
Currently Oz resides on a ranch in the Sierra Nevada foothills with his wife and four children. He is an active member of MENSA, and a passionate proponent of Humanism and critical thinking.
His"Throw Oz Under the Bus Blog Challenge" has been known to cover topics both bawdy and brainy.
You can follow him at
Ozmonroe.com
&
Facebook.com/ozmonroe.author
