Redemption

A Novel of the Creation of Sumer

Fiction - Fantasy - Epic
324 Pages
Reviewed on 03/29/2022
Buy on Amazon

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Rabia Tanveer for Readers' Favorite

Redemption: A Novel of the Creation of Sumer is the fourth novel in The Alterran Legacy by Regina M Joseph. The Alterran planet was all but destroyed, and living underground was just not possible anymore. Anu’s enemies make his life hell. The only way for the people of Alterran to survive this chaos is by uploading their consciousness to the internet. However, Anu, EnLil, and EnKi are all stuck in the worse way possible. They need to make sure the Earthlings and Alterrans all survive, but with the hurdles in their way and the unforeseen challenges, the father and sons have to work harder and smarter than before to thwart Azazel and achieve their goals before everything is lost forever.

Although it is marketed as an epic fantasy, I will also recommend this novel to space opera fans. The concept is digitalizing the afterlife, of uploading consciousness on the internet, and the idea of how some of the most intelligent and advanced civilizations of Earth became the standard of advancement. The narrative is fast-paced and interesting. Author Regina M Joseph plays with emotions, the highs and lows of life, and the hope of finding a better future. She merges mystery with science fiction and fantasy to bring a nice potpourri of action and drama to keep readers wanting more. The characters are well-thought-out, developed, and given plenty of room to grow. The energy of the story is positive, even if the characters face trials that may seem beyond them at times. Anu, Enlil, and Enki have a very strange yet relatable relationship. They are equally smart, sharp and they butt heads, but not enough for them to hate each other. Instead of giving readers overwhelming technologies and concepts, the author keeps things simple and relatable. Loved it!

K.C. Finn

Redemption: A Novel of the Creation of Sumer is a work of fiction in the fantasy and adventure subgenres, and it forms the fourth novel of the Alterran Legacy series of books. It was penned by author Regina M Joseph and contains moderate fantasy violence so is therefore suitable for mature teen and adult audiences. Exploring a really interesting alternate history for Planet Earth that combines both fantasy and science fiction, we find both the Alterrans and Earthlings in a fight for survival as the linked fates of both species come to a head on a dying planet. En.Lil senses insurgents that will do anything to ensure their survival and threaten his plans to aid the Earthlings he has come to know.

I was very grateful for the appendix which delivered the summary of the previous books in this very interesting and insightful series, as that allowed me to jump into the suspense, action, and tensions of Redemption right away. Author Regina M Joseph delivers a superb fantasy epic with plenty of excitement and action for fans of the genre, but what really interested me especially were the political intricacies and the plans which the central characters had for the future of both races. It was interesting to see such tensions openly explored with the threat of survival or extinction looming over their heads, and the way it weaves into parallels with the ancient civilizations of humankind was very clever indeed. Overall, I would highly recommend Redemption and the Alterran Legacy series in general for fantasy fans everywhere.

Pikasho Deka

Redemption is the fourth book in the Alterran Legacy Series by Regina M. Joseph. En.Lil, son of Alterran leader Anu, acts upon his dreams of creating civilizations on Earth, beginning with the civilizations of Sumer and the Indus Valley. To support him in his plans, his late wife Alana's spirit is revived through a woman named Sud. Meanwhile, in Alterra, Anu faces enemies within his ranks as not everyone is content with the severity of Lil's punishment. Moreover, Lil's rival and the former protector of Khamlok, Azazel, is determined to thwart Lil every step of the way. As the Alterrans inch closer to uploading their consciousness on the internet, Anu, En.Lil, and his half-brother En.Ki must ensure the continued survival of the Alterrans and the burgeoning civilizations on Earth.

Through a delicious blend of fantasy and sci-fi, Regina M. Joseph's epic space opera saga keeps you on the edge of your seat with a combination of political intrigue, mystery, and plenty of thrills. Redemption is full of warring angels, conspiring immortals, and rulers who aren't afraid to go against the wishes of the universe. The plot moves at a blistering pace, filled with betrayals and reveals, alongside numerous twists and turns that make you turn the pages with eager anticipation of what's to come. The cast is quite big, and because of the epic nature of the story, most of the characters feel larger than life. I found Lil's dynamic with Azazel some of the most captivating parts of the tale. If you love epic sci-fi or fantasy sagas, I highly recommend Redemption.

Sheena Monnin

Redemption by Regina M. Joseph is a fast-paced story that will captivate and intrigue the reader. Set in distant, ancient worlds with a portal to Earth, En.Lil, Anu, Ama, and others disagree on matters pertaining to Earth and other worlds, who has the right to rule, and how ruling should be done. Virtual reality and earthly reality coexist in this action-filled story. Picking up at a crucial time in the series’ storyline, various factions of past power, current power, and would-be power work behind the scenes against each other for control. Mindpower and physical power engage in a cat-and-mouse game as the hour of reckoning moves closer. The story returns again and again to En.Lil as he attempts to make a peaceful existence for his people, while others seek to destroy him.

The writing style of Redemption by Regina M. Joseph is detailed and meticulous. The author weaves together details that captivate the senses: sight, sound, smell, and even touch. Very shortly into this book, I felt that I was in the worlds she described, that I could see the characters and hear the whispered voices and sounds of fighting. Each character is complex with motives running deep and backstories that peek into the light at just the right time to enlighten the reader. Creating a world that feels believable is a talent this author possesses. The author demonstrates the skill of showing what is happening rather than elaborate descriptions, which aids in the fast pace of the story. The plot is complex and layered with many characters leading and supporting the storyline. Readers of many genres could easily enjoy and appreciate this well-written story.

Steven Robson

Redemption, Book 4 in the Alterran Legacy series by Regina M. Joseph, spans a gulf etched by time and distance between two worlds, and inexorably connects the fates of both through natural disasters and genetics. The worlds in question are Alterra, populated by an advanced hominoid species, and Earth, at a time when humans lived basic subsistence lives. The result of this marriage is only limited by imagination, and the myriad possibilities that could spring forth contain some of the most provoking issues known. How each society deals with these issues is not only compelling reading but also carries dire consequences, where wrong decisions will lead to explosive finality for innocent victims. Hidden in the pages of Redemption may very well be a portent of our future. We all need to pay attention to this book.

Regina M. Joseph’s Redemption contains a wide mix of human drama, science fiction, mythology, cosmology, and even astrology. It can be successfully read as a stand-alone, especially once you read the well-considered Appendix which summarizes Books 1 to 3. I found the overall story to be quite interesting, filled with fascinating characters and many complex, believable relationships. There was a genuine reality to this story, especially concerning Azazel’s shifted alliances, and even Elinara’s drive towards a Matrix type existence, which given the circumstances of Alterra, may have appealed to many people. This book definitely contains something for everyone and many age-old issues we all mull over will once again be brought to the forefront of our minds as we consider our own Redemption.