Heart of Veridon

by Tim Akers

Book Overview

The first novel in Tim Akers' captivating steampunk-noir series, The Burn Cycle.

Captain-turned-criminal Jacob Burn is the unlikely survivor of two zepliner crashes. The first destroyed his career as a pilot, disgracing his nobleman father and ending his life of privilege. But the second threatens to destroy Burn's whole world-Veridon, an ancient terraced city reborn through The Church of the Algorithm's recent advances in mechanics,...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1625671784
• ISBN13: 9781625671783
• Release Date: April 2016
• Publisher: Jabberwocky Literary Agency, Inc.
• Length: 300 Pages
• Weight: 0.97 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Veridon, Book One. The flavor of Pulp Fantasy has not tasted this rich in a long time.

Jacob Burn is the fallen son of a noble founding family within the ancient city of Veridon. Where once he brushed shoulders with the elite social classes, now he mingles with the criminals. Jacob was on the "Glory of Day" zepliner when it crashed. He had been handed a strange artifact, a Cog, from a former acquaintance just before it happened. In the aftermath, Jacob is the only survivor. If not for the biotics within him, Jacob would be dead. Should still be dead! However, unknown to Jacob, the bionics within his chest are not what he believes they are. Jacob had gone into the Academy to become a Pilot. It should have been a Pilot Engine placed within him. He is about to learn otherwise. The city of Veridon is mainly comprised of machinery. The technology which makes up the city comes from up the river. Pieces often float down the river and they are salvaged. The people of Veridon cannot create the brilliant technologies they find, but they have learned to use them. A couple of years ago an expedition had been sent up the river to find the source. None returned ... until now. The only thing brought back is the Cog, on the zepliner that ends up falling from the sky. And something has followed the Cog back to Veridon. Jacob finds himself on the run. The Badge (law), Council and Church are all trying to either possess Jacob or kill him. Friends and family abandon and/or betray him. At the center of it all is an angel. A sentient technological creation in the form of a metal angel, seeking the return of the Cog. The Council has split between the old Families and the Young Seats. Each side yearns for control of the Cog, and Jacob if they can get hold of him. As an array of machines, two-faced friends, and strange creatures pursue Jacob, he must stay one step ahead as he tries to figure out what the Cog is, who and what HE is, and how to live long enough to see tomorrow. ***** FIVE STARS! This is the first of a trilogy and I wish that I could get my hands on the next two books quickly. I did not simply read this book, I all but inhaled it. I could not read fast enough to see what would happen next. Twists and surprises lurk behind every corner, keeping me on the edge of my seat. The flavor of Pulp Fantasy has not tasted this rich in a long time. Recommended! ***** Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

Akers Keeps the Octane On High and Never Lets Off the Gas

Heart of Veridon immediately caught my interest because of its Crime Noir and Steampunk themes, which it more than lives up to. Jacob Burn born into one of the founding families of Veridon is a cyborg of sorts with mechanical parts surgically implanted in his body in addition to his eerie silver eyes, which mark him as a zepliner pilot with the ability to standup to a lot of physical damage. Zepliner pilot is a very prestigious position for any citizen of Veridon as it take years of study and dozens of surgeries. Yet Burn failed as a pilot and turned to a life of crime for lack of motivation to do otherwise than drink. The noir style works well with wonderful dialogue and sequencing. From the first chapter Akers keeps the octane on high and never lets off the gas. The quick paced Heart of Veridon is very action oriented with Jacob getting into some kind of scrap every other page. He is able to get out of all it only to fall into the next trap or barging somewhere he knows nothing good will come out of. Yet he soldiers on to find out the truth. Still you have to get 200 pages in before you even begin to know what is going on and the motivations behind everything Jacob has been tossed into, which are pretty intricate. Jacob is helped out by a mysterious Anansi named Wilson. Akers creation of the Anansi species was impressively cool and original. They are a cross of humans and spiders, but don't call them spidermen or bugs. I'm very curious about their culture as you only meet Wilson, but there is obviously a lot more to them. The female lead, Emily, needed more fleshing out earlier on as she comes off a bit sidekick-ish. Akers was clearly trying to make her the strong-willed type, but it didn't really pan out that well and she came off bit as the damsel-in-distress who kept putting herself in danger in the first place. Her actions in one particular scene towards the end seemed unneeded and very impetuous given her nature throughout the rest of the narrative. Akers knows how a spin a tale with depth, complexity, and a bit of humor. There are are a lot of interesting aspects including the mysterious Church of the Algorithm and a mechanical Angel who means business along with aristocratic echelon intent on selfishness, which always means a good time. Heart of Veridon had me enrapt with the pulp style story and characters until the last page. There is a lot left to this world to explore and I hope Akers gets the chance to tell those tales.

Excellent Steampunk Novel

This was an excellent book and a good example of the growing steampunk subgenre. Akers successfully created a complex and believable civilization, as well as a mystery grounded in dark conspiracies, religious dogma and political machinations. Jacob is a perfect flawed hero, whose personal journey is compelling and surprising in turn.

The New Noird

Heart of Veridon is a wonderfully mixture of urban fantasy, steampunk, and crime-noir, and Akers hits the tones perfectly. It's full of haunting imagery, set pieces in a very compelling plot. I kept thinking the entire time I was reading it what a great Alex Proyas film it would make. I hope, now that the publisher has changed hands, the new Solaris will sign the sequel up ASAP. Because although the book is a stand-alone, I really want to know more about this fascinating world.

Riveting

Tim Akers pulls you into the chased life of Jacob Burn, failed pilot, fallen noble, and flawed hero as he tries to avoid his pursuers while solving the mystery of a strange artifact. While hunted, Burn takes quite a beating, but keeps his attitude and delivers some blows as well. Using quick prose and short bursts of imagery, Akers paints a vivid picture of multi-layered Veridon. An ancient city that is grudgingly giving way to spiritual-mechanized "progress". As Burn discovers the complexities of his relationship to his friends, family, the church, and society in his alternative world ... we, as readers, inevitably, can make reflections about our own. Heart of Veridon is an engaging thriller that is intricate enough to savor more than once.