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The Orpheus Files #1
Resonance
They called him Orpheus, because of what he can do with his voice. The vortex in the woods made him what he is, but it was Lingley Research Facility that trained him. They lied to him, used him, and then… he ran away. Six years later, the young man with the hypnotic voice is busking for loose change on the streets of Bristol. Does everything he can to stay hidden. Until Jack Tyler refuses to ignore him and invites him to sing with ‘Nothing In The Cage’.
Drawn together by forces they can’t quite understand, and fighting the very real threats closing in on all sides, the band has only just begun to unravel the tangled strings of ‘Operation Hades’. How deep does the vortex go? And if you hold it up to your ear, can you hear the song inside that holds it all together?
Are you ready? Are you listening?
Drawn together by forces they can’t quite understand, and fighting the very real threats closing in on all sides, the band has only just begun to unravel the tangled strings of ‘Operation Hades’. How deep does the vortex go? And if you hold it up to your ear, can you hear the song inside that holds it all together?
Are you ready? Are you listening?
- GenresScience FictionQueer
238 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 19, 2021
33 people want to read
About the author
Alice Ewens
7 books13 followersAlice Ewens is a storyteller and story collector, a certified worrier, queer fiction writer and poet, music nerd and wannabe rockstar. What might happen if Joan Jett and Stevie Nicks ran at each other really fast, then ate a lot of cake. Born in Medway, in the South-East of the UK in the mid-80s, Alice briefly attended Bath Spa University to study creative writing. It didn’t work out. She worked as a transport consultant engineer for 10 years but that stopped working out, too. She now lives in Bristol, in the South-West of the UK, with a husband and a cat, is an avid tea-drinker and a fan of a well-placed swear word. She now works part-time in marketing and devotes the rest of her time to artistic pining. Alice's work is often confessional and maximalist, peeling back the layers of society to peer at the goings-on beneath. She hopes you won’t hold this against her.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
June 25, 2022
This was my first book about music and I loved it! Very well written. I like the characters and the nuances, they are imperfectly perfect. My favourite trope, found family, is there and it's so beautifully written. It has characters from the LGBTQIA+ community, including the main character. But that is not central to the story, it's just who the characters are. The emotions and feelings of the characters are well defined and they feel visual. It is written in the modern times with the pandemic very much being a part of it. Put your physics gear on because that's there, a lot. Totally recommended.
June 24, 2022
I received a gifted copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review.
Resonance is a debut novel by Alice Ewens and was a fantastic debut! I would class this book as sci-fi due to the quantum physics and elemental forces included within the book. I don't read a lot of sci-fi but I thoroughly enjoyed this book!
Nate (the main character), is living on the streets after escaping from the Lingley Research Facility that trained and used him for their own benefits. Nate has a powerful voice which he achieved from a vortex in the woods many years before. Known as Orpheus because of his vocal abilities, Nate is trying his best to outrun the past and stay hidden from the people looking for him. After meeting Jack, the pair strike up a friendship. Jack wants to help Nate get off the streets as a busker. He invites him to join his band 'Nothing In the Cage' and that's where the book truly takes off.
This is such a unique and diverse read with likeable characters and an amazing plot! I don't want to go into more of the story as I don't want to spoil it for future readers, but I'm so glad u took a chance on this book!
The characters really make this book work - they're such a misfit group that have come together as a family, supporting, trusting and looking out for each other! Definitely give this a read, you won't be disappointed!
Resonance is a debut novel by Alice Ewens and was a fantastic debut! I would class this book as sci-fi due to the quantum physics and elemental forces included within the book. I don't read a lot of sci-fi but I thoroughly enjoyed this book!
Nate (the main character), is living on the streets after escaping from the Lingley Research Facility that trained and used him for their own benefits. Nate has a powerful voice which he achieved from a vortex in the woods many years before. Known as Orpheus because of his vocal abilities, Nate is trying his best to outrun the past and stay hidden from the people looking for him. After meeting Jack, the pair strike up a friendship. Jack wants to help Nate get off the streets as a busker. He invites him to join his band 'Nothing In the Cage' and that's where the book truly takes off.
This is such a unique and diverse read with likeable characters and an amazing plot! I don't want to go into more of the story as I don't want to spoil it for future readers, but I'm so glad u took a chance on this book!
The characters really make this book work - they're such a misfit group that have come together as a family, supporting, trusting and looking out for each other! Definitely give this a read, you won't be disappointed!
February 7, 2022
Alice Ewens' debut as a novelist follows young Nate, who carries a dark past and compels people to give him what money they have for a living. It isn't that he mugs them; rather, he uses his voice to make them want to do it. Such a powerful asset has had him on the run since he managed to escape the dark place that meant to use him as a weapon, six years ago. But now that he's finally found a home, a group of people with whom he knows he belongs, Nate's past is threatening to catch up with him.
I went into this book blind, knowing only what Alice's snippets on Instagram had let on - and what a wonderful ride I found! Even though the start was a little harder for me to get through, because I had no clue whatsoever what was going on, as soon as I met Nate I was totally hooked. This book follows him as he struggles to choose between his happiness after so long, and staying safely on the run; as well as other characters who, in one way or another, are connected to Nate and his power. From Nate's ex-therapist Collins to police officer Costas, as well as band mate Jack, we get to hear about what's going on from a variety of people, which enriches the narrative. I loved seeing the same events through different lenses, as well as getting to hear so many voices! Difficult as it is to get that done right, Alice absolutely nailed it.
The characters grew on me really fast, too. There's Nate, the main character, for whom I couldn't help rooting; but there's also Jack, who finds him in the streets and invites him to join the band Nothing In The Cage, with all the other band members. NITC was the definition of a found family, and I loved how diverse and beautiful it was! There's Sadie, a fat bisexual drummer; Junk, a Greek bassist; Shins, an edgy guitarist who loves being deep almost as much as he loves getting high; and Jack himself, who has always thought he'd be content with a small, comfortable life after all the trouble he went through in foster care… Until he meets Nate. All in all, they're essentially a ragtag team of people who don't really belong in the mainstream narrative for different reasons, and I adore them. I think that Alice depicted exactly how it is for many people who are outcasts of sorts; as well as the strong bonds that are born from sharing the struggle of not fitting in. Oh, how I wish I could meet the band! Aside from them, Amphion and Costas were also really dear to me. Amphion, who has powers just like Nate, knows how it feels like to be left behind; she was a delight, and I loved that she wasn't used as a cheap plot device. Costas, who is Junk's older brother and a police officer, was extremely interesting, as he started realising that maybe he wasn't working for the good guys after all as the book progressed.
In regards to the pacing, the book picks up pace right from the start, plunging the reader right into the action. Although there were some bits in the first half that felt slower to me, overall I was kept on my tiptoes - specially towards the end, which I devoured in one sitting. Besides, the book ends with a cliffhanger the size of Australia… Which means we need book 2, Alice! Please!
A note on the plot, too! This book, as the cover hints, could be classified as sci-fi. Indeed, it shows that Alice has done her research, for the story relies on concepts from quantum physics, the string theory, and elemental forces. Without giving too much away, I'll simply mention that Nate and Amphion's powers aren't magical… Not quite. Although I'm far from well-versed in physics, I could follow these science bits perfectly, and I really appreciated the effort Alice made to make them both palatable, and accurate enough. Here's to her!
Overall, I would definitely recommend "Resonance. The Orpheus Files 1" to any lover of sci-fi, conspiracy theories, rock, and found families made of outcasts. Don't miss out on this one!
I went into this book blind, knowing only what Alice's snippets on Instagram had let on - and what a wonderful ride I found! Even though the start was a little harder for me to get through, because I had no clue whatsoever what was going on, as soon as I met Nate I was totally hooked. This book follows him as he struggles to choose between his happiness after so long, and staying safely on the run; as well as other characters who, in one way or another, are connected to Nate and his power. From Nate's ex-therapist Collins to police officer Costas, as well as band mate Jack, we get to hear about what's going on from a variety of people, which enriches the narrative. I loved seeing the same events through different lenses, as well as getting to hear so many voices! Difficult as it is to get that done right, Alice absolutely nailed it.
The characters grew on me really fast, too. There's Nate, the main character, for whom I couldn't help rooting; but there's also Jack, who finds him in the streets and invites him to join the band Nothing In The Cage, with all the other band members. NITC was the definition of a found family, and I loved how diverse and beautiful it was! There's Sadie, a fat bisexual drummer; Junk, a Greek bassist; Shins, an edgy guitarist who loves being deep almost as much as he loves getting high; and Jack himself, who has always thought he'd be content with a small, comfortable life after all the trouble he went through in foster care… Until he meets Nate. All in all, they're essentially a ragtag team of people who don't really belong in the mainstream narrative for different reasons, and I adore them. I think that Alice depicted exactly how it is for many people who are outcasts of sorts; as well as the strong bonds that are born from sharing the struggle of not fitting in. Oh, how I wish I could meet the band! Aside from them, Amphion and Costas were also really dear to me. Amphion, who has powers just like Nate, knows how it feels like to be left behind; she was a delight, and I loved that she wasn't used as a cheap plot device. Costas, who is Junk's older brother and a police officer, was extremely interesting, as he started realising that maybe he wasn't working for the good guys after all as the book progressed.
In regards to the pacing, the book picks up pace right from the start, plunging the reader right into the action. Although there were some bits in the first half that felt slower to me, overall I was kept on my tiptoes - specially towards the end, which I devoured in one sitting. Besides, the book ends with a cliffhanger the size of Australia… Which means we need book 2, Alice! Please!
A note on the plot, too! This book, as the cover hints, could be classified as sci-fi. Indeed, it shows that Alice has done her research, for the story relies on concepts from quantum physics, the string theory, and elemental forces. Without giving too much away, I'll simply mention that Nate and Amphion's powers aren't magical… Not quite. Although I'm far from well-versed in physics, I could follow these science bits perfectly, and I really appreciated the effort Alice made to make them both palatable, and accurate enough. Here's to her!
Overall, I would definitely recommend "Resonance. The Orpheus Files 1" to any lover of sci-fi, conspiracy theories, rock, and found families made of outcasts. Don't miss out on this one!
June 28, 2021
Resonance is the type of book you want all of your friends to read with you, so you can talk about it like you do your favorite tv shows. "Can you believe that Nate did that?" "Oh my gosh, I didn't see that coming!" All of the water cooler talk!
I picked up this book by happenstance after the author posted a couple of intriguing photos and snippets on Instagram thinking, I have some free time. Well, that 'free time' turned into 'free everything else up time' so I can read this book !
Set in current times, I was thinking it was going to be a book about the pandemic, and while it takes place during the quarantine and some of that impacts the storyline, it's not about that at all. It's just one of the many things in the book that makes it feel so real. Little droplets of information like "Only 10 people could attend the funeral" were things that really hit home.
I don't like to talk plots in my review - read the description if you want to know what it's about. I want to tell you how it made me feel. First, it's hard for me to believe this is an indie book. The writing is absolutely so well done, and it will suck you in and you won't even feel like you're reading. The storyline was so meticulously thought-out and executed flawlessly, like a high stakes miniseries unfolding before my eyes.
When the author described the feelings of being near the vortex or what happens when Nate sings, it was so well done, it had me doing a double-take. Did I just read that sentence twice? I felt like I was experiencing what the characters were at the same time. And the characters!! There is so much diversity in the book that I really appreciated. And diversity that didn't define the characters, it just added to the richness of the book.
This story is about music. How music connects us and makes us feel things in a way nothing else makes us feel. It is so much more than that, but it's also just that simple. Read this book and let it resonate with you. Then call me so we can talk about it!
I picked up this book by happenstance after the author posted a couple of intriguing photos and snippets on Instagram thinking, I have some free time. Well, that 'free time' turned into 'free everything else up time' so I can read this book !
Set in current times, I was thinking it was going to be a book about the pandemic, and while it takes place during the quarantine and some of that impacts the storyline, it's not about that at all. It's just one of the many things in the book that makes it feel so real. Little droplets of information like "Only 10 people could attend the funeral" were things that really hit home.
I don't like to talk plots in my review - read the description if you want to know what it's about. I want to tell you how it made me feel. First, it's hard for me to believe this is an indie book. The writing is absolutely so well done, and it will suck you in and you won't even feel like you're reading. The storyline was so meticulously thought-out and executed flawlessly, like a high stakes miniseries unfolding before my eyes.
When the author described the feelings of being near the vortex or what happens when Nate sings, it was so well done, it had me doing a double-take. Did I just read that sentence twice? I felt like I was experiencing what the characters were at the same time. And the characters!! There is so much diversity in the book that I really appreciated. And diversity that didn't define the characters, it just added to the richness of the book.
This story is about music. How music connects us and makes us feel things in a way nothing else makes us feel. It is so much more than that, but it's also just that simple. Read this book and let it resonate with you. Then call me so we can talk about it!
September 9, 2021
Music, science, 'powers', secret airbase with weird stuff going on. Perfection!
This book sucked me in from the start. Ewens has a way of describing everything with such depth and clarity that I felt like I was there with the characters, every step of the way, connected to each of them, relating to them in some way, heartstrings tugged, emotions triggered. Every scene played out like a movie in my head, and speaking of movies... this book would make an AMAZING movie or TV series by the way Netflix/Amazon, just in case you're reading!
I literally clutched at my chest reading this and the ending...!
Go read it. Go read it NOW.
This book sucked me in from the start. Ewens has a way of describing everything with such depth and clarity that I felt like I was there with the characters, every step of the way, connected to each of them, relating to them in some way, heartstrings tugged, emotions triggered. Every scene played out like a movie in my head, and speaking of movies... this book would make an AMAZING movie or TV series by the way Netflix/Amazon, just in case you're reading!
I literally clutched at my chest reading this and the ending...!
Go read it. Go read it NOW.
August 12, 2023
Having escaped a secretive research facility, Nate is on the run with his past fast catching up to him. But his found family of musical outcasts aren't about to let him fight this battle alone. Blending Sci-Fi and Contemporary genres, Resonance offers a lovely blend of mystery and escapism. Engaging characters plus an interesting conspiracy meant I really enjoyed this first instalment of The Orpheus Files, and the cliffhanger at the ending left me excited to begin Dissonance.
October 10, 2022
Five stars is given with great respect and admiration not just to this book but to the author too. I am not a Sci fi/fantasy reader in anyway but was sucked into Ewens' world through her deeply developed and likeable, and vivid characters. Upon reading the first in this incredible series, I was not disappointed. I couldn't wait to get to bed every night to read it and while it haunts my dreams and lingers in me all day, I couldn't put it down and wouldn't even try. Obsessed is the better word. Addicted too. And thoroughly entertained another. Nate, Jack, Sadie, Junk, Shins and Amphion stole my anti Sci fi heart and pushed me into the vortex from which I am never coming out. Eagerly awaiting the next book which I will devour like the vortex devoured - spoiler!
November 6, 2022
I read this back in August, but the feelings I had for this novel are still fresh. (Sorry this took so long to write, Alice Ewens!)
Resonance (The Orpheus Files #1) is about Nate, one of the people tested on and lied to at Lingley Research Facility, finally finding freedom when he runs away. Six years later, he's hiding from those who've been hunting for him, playing guitar and using his voice to make people leave him money in his guitar case just to survive. He's done a good job at hiding and getting money from people without issue. Until he uses his hypnotic voice on Jack, who refuses to ignore Nate's talent. Or the fact that his money disappears and there's a lapse in his memory every time he sees him.
The blurb on the back of the book puts it perfectly: "A love song to the magic and importance of music. Stranger Things if they were twenty-somethings in a rock band." - Author T. Bishop.
Alice's writing is captivating and her storytelling is just perfection. She knows how to evoke emotions so well (THAT ENDING OHMYLORDDD). A lot of authors have the issue of telling, not showing. But not Alice. Her writing is rich with description, but not in an overwhelming sense. She gives just enough detail to allow the reader to fill in the blanks while unraveling the character's internal and external struggles. Even the side character's have depth and substance to them. They all have a reason to be in the novel, and not just for the sake of pushing the plot forward, but actual reasons that align with getting Nate and Jack's story from point A to point B.
Of all the things I can rave about, my favorite was reading how Nate and Jack go from enemies to friends to lovers, and love even more how they complement one another so well. And the banter between them and Sadie and Junk and everyone... I ate that uppppppppppppppppp. I am a sucker for well-written, healthy relationships, what can I say!
And I think it's just the easily fascinated American side of me speaking, because I love the differences in the way we would say things here in the USA verses England (I.E. Busking = street performer.) Don't come for me LOL
In short: this was a five star read for me and I can't wait to see what the second book will bring for the characters!
Resonance (The Orpheus Files #1) is about Nate, one of the people tested on and lied to at Lingley Research Facility, finally finding freedom when he runs away. Six years later, he's hiding from those who've been hunting for him, playing guitar and using his voice to make people leave him money in his guitar case just to survive. He's done a good job at hiding and getting money from people without issue. Until he uses his hypnotic voice on Jack, who refuses to ignore Nate's talent. Or the fact that his money disappears and there's a lapse in his memory every time he sees him.
The blurb on the back of the book puts it perfectly: "A love song to the magic and importance of music. Stranger Things if they were twenty-somethings in a rock band." - Author T. Bishop.
Alice's writing is captivating and her storytelling is just perfection. She knows how to evoke emotions so well (THAT ENDING OHMYLORDDD). A lot of authors have the issue of telling, not showing. But not Alice. Her writing is rich with description, but not in an overwhelming sense. She gives just enough detail to allow the reader to fill in the blanks while unraveling the character's internal and external struggles. Even the side character's have depth and substance to them. They all have a reason to be in the novel, and not just for the sake of pushing the plot forward, but actual reasons that align with getting Nate and Jack's story from point A to point B.
Of all the things I can rave about, my favorite was reading how Nate and Jack go from enemies to friends to lovers, and love even more how they complement one another so well. And the banter between them and Sadie and Junk and everyone... I ate that uppppppppppppppppp. I am a sucker for well-written, healthy relationships, what can I say!
And I think it's just the easily fascinated American side of me speaking, because I love the differences in the way we would say things here in the USA verses England (I.E. Busking = street performer.) Don't come for me LOL
In short: this was a five star read for me and I can't wait to see what the second book will bring for the characters!
August 14, 2021
Resonance: The Orpheus Files Book 1, by Alice Ewens, is an exquisitely crafted story about friendship, love and music. It’s also about a vortex in the woods, a dodgy research facility and a rock band.
The characters are relatable, they’re flawed and totally awesome, are beautifully interwoven and their personalities explode off the pages, teaching about the true meaning of stepping up for those you care about.
I particularly loved kick ass and spirited Sadie. Alice portrays a young woman who’s not afraid of who and what she is, right down to the smallest details of things larger-than-life girls face every day.
The book is crammed with wonderful scenes, and my favourites were those around Nate and Jack, when Jack discovered Nate’s ruse and drew him into his life and into their band, Nothing in the Cage.
As the story progressed, it became a white knuckle ride. I was holding on for dear life and then Shins said something ridiculously hilarious slap bang in the middle of a really tense scene which made me laugh out loud (on the train at rush hour), releasing the sheer angst of the moment.
I anticipated a cliff hanger ending, but wow! There’s so much more to the vortex which has dominated Nate and Amphion’s lives. Love, laughter, anxiety and a touch of sadness, every human emotion was woven into this imaginative, well researched, interesting and beautifully written story. This book gripped tight and I didn’t want it to end. Now I need answers. And I want more Costas and Shins and Amphion. Ah hell, I want more of everything!
Quite simply, one of the best books I have read in years. Whether you love sci-fi, fantasy, magic, mystery, romance, queer fiction, all or none of the above, I highly recommend this book to anyone who simply loves to pick up a book and lose themselves in the pages.
The characters are relatable, they’re flawed and totally awesome, are beautifully interwoven and their personalities explode off the pages, teaching about the true meaning of stepping up for those you care about.
I particularly loved kick ass and spirited Sadie. Alice portrays a young woman who’s not afraid of who and what she is, right down to the smallest details of things larger-than-life girls face every day.
The book is crammed with wonderful scenes, and my favourites were those around Nate and Jack, when Jack discovered Nate’s ruse and drew him into his life and into their band, Nothing in the Cage.
As the story progressed, it became a white knuckle ride. I was holding on for dear life and then Shins said something ridiculously hilarious slap bang in the middle of a really tense scene which made me laugh out loud (on the train at rush hour), releasing the sheer angst of the moment.
I anticipated a cliff hanger ending, but wow! There’s so much more to the vortex which has dominated Nate and Amphion’s lives. Love, laughter, anxiety and a touch of sadness, every human emotion was woven into this imaginative, well researched, interesting and beautifully written story. This book gripped tight and I didn’t want it to end. Now I need answers. And I want more Costas and Shins and Amphion. Ah hell, I want more of everything!
Quite simply, one of the best books I have read in years. Whether you love sci-fi, fantasy, magic, mystery, romance, queer fiction, all or none of the above, I highly recommend this book to anyone who simply loves to pick up a book and lose themselves in the pages.
November 1, 2022
I'd been curious to read this book for a while and I'm happy I gave it a chance.
A queer cast, found family and poweful music: how could I not fall in love with this story?
Narrated from different POVs, the story takes form in just a few pages, immersing the reader into the world and the characters right away. I don't usually read sci-fi but the plot was very easy to follow and character-driven. The writing is beautiful and the descriptions so real, it felt like I was there, with Nate, Jack, Sadie and the others all along.
I'll be looking forward to book 2 and I need more of Amphion in the sequel, please!
A queer cast, found family and poweful music: how could I not fall in love with this story?
Narrated from different POVs, the story takes form in just a few pages, immersing the reader into the world and the characters right away. I don't usually read sci-fi but the plot was very easy to follow and character-driven. The writing is beautiful and the descriptions so real, it felt like I was there, with Nate, Jack, Sadie and the others all along.
I'll be looking forward to book 2 and I need more of Amphion in the sequel, please!
August 13, 2022
Gonna state right here that Resonance by Alice Ewens is joining the list of my favourite books ever. When do we get the sequel, I demand?
Deep in a forest lurks the Vortex, an incomprehensible energy reaching out in snippets of time, kinetic movement and lonely longing. On the edge sits a secret facility, torturing two young people whose voices interact with the vortex. One is about to escape.
Found family is a common trope and not easy to pull off, but this mad bunch of misfits rocks, literally. Shins made me laugh out loud.
Deftly weaving scientific experimentation, morality, abuse and identity, the narrative sings, spinning its song around the heart.
Instead of rehashing the same material, TV and film should snap this up.
Deep in a forest lurks the Vortex, an incomprehensible energy reaching out in snippets of time, kinetic movement and lonely longing. On the edge sits a secret facility, torturing two young people whose voices interact with the vortex. One is about to escape.
Found family is a common trope and not easy to pull off, but this mad bunch of misfits rocks, literally. Shins made me laugh out loud.
Deftly weaving scientific experimentation, morality, abuse and identity, the narrative sings, spinning its song around the heart.
Instead of rehashing the same material, TV and film should snap this up.
April 16, 2023
Guys! This book is SO GOOD.
I try to give self-published books a chance, even though I've never read one that I thought was good enough to recommend...until now.
The description of Stranger Things meets Grunge Band is spot on. You've got a guy with strange powers who escapes from a secret government facility and ends up meeting a guy named Jack and joining Jack's grunge band. Besides Nate and Jack, there are two other POV characters that we spend a lot of time with, an employee of the facility and a detective/government official. I will say that I wish there had been a little more time spent with Nate while he was with Jack and the band. I loved their dynamic and the comic relief that they brought. But the story is really about the mystery of the vortex and how Nate fits into that, so it's much bigger than just Nate and the band.
The ending really pulls everything together, while also perfectly setting up the second book. I really can't say enough good things about this story. Go read it!
I try to give self-published books a chance, even though I've never read one that I thought was good enough to recommend...until now.
The description of Stranger Things meets Grunge Band is spot on. You've got a guy with strange powers who escapes from a secret government facility and ends up meeting a guy named Jack and joining Jack's grunge band. Besides Nate and Jack, there are two other POV characters that we spend a lot of time with, an employee of the facility and a detective/government official. I will say that I wish there had been a little more time spent with Nate while he was with Jack and the band. I loved their dynamic and the comic relief that they brought. But the story is really about the mystery of the vortex and how Nate fits into that, so it's much bigger than just Nate and the band.
The ending really pulls everything together, while also perfectly setting up the second book. I really can't say enough good things about this story. Go read it!
July 4, 2021
Holy wow
This book is phenomenal.
I couldn't put it down.
2 nights in a row I stayed up reading into the small hours of the morning because I just had to devour it.
I honestly cannot believe this is an indie published book. This 100% deserves to be picked up by a publishing house and shot out of a confetti cannon at the world. (but only if Alice the author wants that 😉 )
This is my dream kind of read.
Multi-faceted, multi-layered, magical realism at its finest. Intricate intimate relationships, deep and complex characters, LGBTQ+ representation in the most easy natural beautiful way.
I WANT THE NEXT BOOK NOW. And I can't stand that it's not available yet! I am now so invested in the characters and I desperately want to know more! I know so much, don't get me wrong, Alice doesn't leave you feeling empty or wanting, she leaves you WANTING!
I am going to recommend this to everyone.
Read it. You will NOT regret it.
Thank you Alice. Please write book 2 soooooon!!!!!
This book is phenomenal.
I couldn't put it down.
2 nights in a row I stayed up reading into the small hours of the morning because I just had to devour it.
I honestly cannot believe this is an indie published book. This 100% deserves to be picked up by a publishing house and shot out of a confetti cannon at the world. (but only if Alice the author wants that 😉 )
This is my dream kind of read.
Multi-faceted, multi-layered, magical realism at its finest. Intricate intimate relationships, deep and complex characters, LGBTQ+ representation in the most easy natural beautiful way.
I WANT THE NEXT BOOK NOW. And I can't stand that it's not available yet! I am now so invested in the characters and I desperately want to know more! I know so much, don't get me wrong, Alice doesn't leave you feeling empty or wanting, she leaves you WANTING!
I am going to recommend this to everyone.
Read it. You will NOT regret it.
Thank you Alice. Please write book 2 soooooon!!!!!
April 1, 2022
Stranger Things meets Empire Records
I won this book in a giveaway. All opinions are my own.
"Music is the sound gravity makes when it falls in love."
This debut novel was wonderfully written and is a great story. "That's how it feels being around you. Like magnets and lightning."Though not typically a genre that I read, I find that I was still able to enjoy the story, especially its creativity. There were some unexpected laugh-out-loud moments for me ( "He's a walking frown." ) which I always appreciate, especially when things get dark. "A shipwreck, a point of stillness at the center of his own hurricane."
Book vibes/ buzz words:
Music
Stranger Things
Sci-Fi
Mystery
Found Family
Mad Scientist
Friendship
Love
Acceptance
loyalty
Sacrifice
misunderstood
emo
If I had to choose a soundtrack or artist to listen to while reading this book, I would choose Bon Iver!
I won this book in a giveaway. All opinions are my own.
"Music is the sound gravity makes when it falls in love."
This debut novel was wonderfully written and is a great story. "That's how it feels being around you. Like magnets and lightning."Though not typically a genre that I read, I find that I was still able to enjoy the story, especially its creativity. There were some unexpected laugh-out-loud moments for me ( "He's a walking frown." ) which I always appreciate, especially when things get dark. "A shipwreck, a point of stillness at the center of his own hurricane."
Book vibes/ buzz words:
Music
Stranger Things
Sci-Fi
Mystery
Found Family
Mad Scientist
Friendship
Love
Acceptance
loyalty
Sacrifice
misunderstood
emo
If I had to choose a soundtrack or artist to listen to while reading this book, I would choose Bon Iver!
March 3, 2023
An unusual and captivating read
Resonance is a compelling sci-fi thriller that packs a punch: a well-crafted and diverse mix of characters; a journey of identity, found family and love; a mystery bound up in theoretical-physics; struggles with power, authority, morality ... and more.
We begin at Lingley Research Facility, an off-map secret ex-military installation. Dr Collins, a psychologist, begins introducing us to two kids, Orpheus and Amphion, who possess unusual vocal abilities. There’s some weird s**t going on: the kids are being maintained for ‘scientific’ experimentation by some shady characters, and, beyond the labs, a forest hollow appears to hide some mysterious energy.
That’s sufficient intro ... you’re on your own now. Dive in and enjoy the ride!
Resonance is a compelling sci-fi thriller that packs a punch: a well-crafted and diverse mix of characters; a journey of identity, found family and love; a mystery bound up in theoretical-physics; struggles with power, authority, morality ... and more.
We begin at Lingley Research Facility, an off-map secret ex-military installation. Dr Collins, a psychologist, begins introducing us to two kids, Orpheus and Amphion, who possess unusual vocal abilities. There’s some weird s**t going on: the kids are being maintained for ‘scientific’ experimentation by some shady characters, and, beyond the labs, a forest hollow appears to hide some mysterious energy.
That’s sufficient intro ... you’re on your own now. Dive in and enjoy the ride!
March 18, 2022
This is not my typical go-to genre. While I found the story interesting it didn’t overly wow me. It’s definitely a me deal because of the genre (as mentioned before).
So while the story didn’t overly wow me it wasn’t terrible either. That’s why I gave it 3 stars.
So while the story didn’t overly wow me it wasn’t terrible either. That’s why I gave it 3 stars.
September 3, 2021
This was a book with multiple layers which kept me completely hooked from beginning to end.
January 6, 2026
A Wholly Original Story – Intimate in a World Full of Noise
I learned of this series through Instagram, where I follow author Alice Ewens. There, Ewens posted flash-fic scenarios with her characters. In these tiny snippets, I was sucked in by the clever banter between her characters and went on to order Resonance (The Orpheus Files Book 1) to learn if the engaging social media snapshots represented the brilliance of the book. They did.
Resonance introduces the reader to a cast of twenty-somethings who form around her main character, Orpheus (also called Nate). The story begins with Nate as a teen, a prisoner at Lingley Research Facility, who has a remarkable ability – the full details are teased out over time – in that his voice carries with it a hypnotic power. This strange ability is also related to a phenomenon in the woods at the edge of the military base where he is held, a vortex of unknown origin and terrifying energy. Nate is one of two teens who “resonate” with the vortex. He is tested, tortured, and abused. He’s nothing more than a lab rat. He’s alone – but growing stronger. And then Nate escapes.
The author delivers us into Nate’s life six years later, providing a brief overview of what happened between then and now. This is where Ewens begins to introduce the “supporting” cast of characters, although I would argue that some are more in line with secondary main characters. The first of these is Jack – a bass player in a local rock band (Nothing In The Cage). There is a nice build-up of back-and-forth between Nate and Jack before Nate meets the rest of the band: Shins, Sadie, and Junk (a roadie of sorts). The melding of the group is not necessarily seamless, but when they finally come together – with Nate singing over his Fender Strat – the result is not only rock and roll magic, it’s wildly dangerous. It’s uncontrollable energy. The authorities at Lingley are still looking for Nate, and with the band, Nate stepped right into the spotlight.
There are multiple points of views (POVs) provided in this book, and they’re easy to follow. It helps shape the story from different perspectives: Nate, Jack, a psychiatrist with regrets, and an officer of the law with a brother in trouble. Ewens, however, doesn’t rely on these many POVs to shore up backstory or plotline. Instead, these other character lenses allow the reader to feel the emotion and the complexity of what is happening around Nate. A life – even one mostly spent as a captive on a military base – touches many. Everything is connected.
Each character is meticulously crafted and believable. As a reader, you become invested in seeing this eclectic band of not-quite misfits win – just let them win for once! Although Jack was certainly a secondary character I connected with, Shins was a standout. Shins will surprise you.
A side note: The second teen who was held prisoner on the base with Nate is Amphion. Ewens did a marvelous job with that character arc in this book. It was not one I would have imagined, but it worked and produced a satisfying outcome.
Ewens’ writing demonstrates how to create a plotline that keeps the reader inside the story without resorting to pages of scene or character descriptions. With several lines, the reader can “see” what they are reading. Ewens does not slip into purple prose and easily gets her point across.
I think this must have been challenging as there are many scenes with non-human “beings” (real, imagined, and remembered), and Ewens needed to convey these creatures succinctly to keep the story flowing. I believe she did. For example, her conveyance of what it was like to interact with a “gas mask hazmat-suit-wearing shadow-like creature” helped me create a picture in my head: Like a TV show you are trying to tune into through white noise, or maybe even more accurately, like Star Wars’ Princess Leia asking Obi-Wan for help in R2D2’s projection. (But, in this case, the “projection” definitely interacted with the characters.)
To call Resonance complex does not do it justice. It is an intricately woven tale, with moments of bombastic battles and tight, almost desperate, intimacy. There is some slight steam, and it’s delivered perfectly. The author struck a balance between on-page and off-page physical interactions. Ewens respectfully revealed her characters’ needs.
Resonance inspires the reader to think about bigger concepts. What do we not yet know? Do scientists and governments have a right to people with unique abilities – for the greater good? How do we protect them? How do we leverage them – should we? How do we protect the “rest of us”? Does more of life live in the gray area than in black and white? What has science not yet revealed – or is it already there, and our brains are too small to see it? That’s just the tip of the iceberg introduced in Ewens’ book.
Ewens’ writing is flawless – not once was I pulled from the story. The plot is solid and designed to propel the reader forward, not stumbling, but eager to know what is coming next, how the band of friends will navigate the hell thrown at them, and how Nate, the young man with the extraordinary voice, will not only survive, but claw his way to a life of love, friendship, and acceptance. The ending leads the reader through a resolution that, although sad, is acceptable. It makes sense. Then author Ewens throws in an unexpected twist. Perfect.
While this book contains elements of fantasy, it bumps up against sci-fi, too. If forced, I’d categorize it as a new adult urban fantasy. However, lines often blur between categories these days. I would not want to pigeonhole this fabulous read.
If I could give this book more than five stars, I would. Congratulations to author Alice Ewens on an excellent first installment in her series. I’ve already downloaded the second book, Dissonance.
I learned of this series through Instagram, where I follow author Alice Ewens. There, Ewens posted flash-fic scenarios with her characters. In these tiny snippets, I was sucked in by the clever banter between her characters and went on to order Resonance (The Orpheus Files Book 1) to learn if the engaging social media snapshots represented the brilliance of the book. They did.
Resonance introduces the reader to a cast of twenty-somethings who form around her main character, Orpheus (also called Nate). The story begins with Nate as a teen, a prisoner at Lingley Research Facility, who has a remarkable ability – the full details are teased out over time – in that his voice carries with it a hypnotic power. This strange ability is also related to a phenomenon in the woods at the edge of the military base where he is held, a vortex of unknown origin and terrifying energy. Nate is one of two teens who “resonate” with the vortex. He is tested, tortured, and abused. He’s nothing more than a lab rat. He’s alone – but growing stronger. And then Nate escapes.
The author delivers us into Nate’s life six years later, providing a brief overview of what happened between then and now. This is where Ewens begins to introduce the “supporting” cast of characters, although I would argue that some are more in line with secondary main characters. The first of these is Jack – a bass player in a local rock band (Nothing In The Cage). There is a nice build-up of back-and-forth between Nate and Jack before Nate meets the rest of the band: Shins, Sadie, and Junk (a roadie of sorts). The melding of the group is not necessarily seamless, but when they finally come together – with Nate singing over his Fender Strat – the result is not only rock and roll magic, it’s wildly dangerous. It’s uncontrollable energy. The authorities at Lingley are still looking for Nate, and with the band, Nate stepped right into the spotlight.
There are multiple points of views (POVs) provided in this book, and they’re easy to follow. It helps shape the story from different perspectives: Nate, Jack, a psychiatrist with regrets, and an officer of the law with a brother in trouble. Ewens, however, doesn’t rely on these many POVs to shore up backstory or plotline. Instead, these other character lenses allow the reader to feel the emotion and the complexity of what is happening around Nate. A life – even one mostly spent as a captive on a military base – touches many. Everything is connected.
Each character is meticulously crafted and believable. As a reader, you become invested in seeing this eclectic band of not-quite misfits win – just let them win for once! Although Jack was certainly a secondary character I connected with, Shins was a standout. Shins will surprise you.
A side note: The second teen who was held prisoner on the base with Nate is Amphion. Ewens did a marvelous job with that character arc in this book. It was not one I would have imagined, but it worked and produced a satisfying outcome.
Ewens’ writing demonstrates how to create a plotline that keeps the reader inside the story without resorting to pages of scene or character descriptions. With several lines, the reader can “see” what they are reading. Ewens does not slip into purple prose and easily gets her point across.
I think this must have been challenging as there are many scenes with non-human “beings” (real, imagined, and remembered), and Ewens needed to convey these creatures succinctly to keep the story flowing. I believe she did. For example, her conveyance of what it was like to interact with a “gas mask hazmat-suit-wearing shadow-like creature” helped me create a picture in my head: Like a TV show you are trying to tune into through white noise, or maybe even more accurately, like Star Wars’ Princess Leia asking Obi-Wan for help in R2D2’s projection. (But, in this case, the “projection” definitely interacted with the characters.)
To call Resonance complex does not do it justice. It is an intricately woven tale, with moments of bombastic battles and tight, almost desperate, intimacy. There is some slight steam, and it’s delivered perfectly. The author struck a balance between on-page and off-page physical interactions. Ewens respectfully revealed her characters’ needs.
Resonance inspires the reader to think about bigger concepts. What do we not yet know? Do scientists and governments have a right to people with unique abilities – for the greater good? How do we protect them? How do we leverage them – should we? How do we protect the “rest of us”? Does more of life live in the gray area than in black and white? What has science not yet revealed – or is it already there, and our brains are too small to see it? That’s just the tip of the iceberg introduced in Ewens’ book.
Ewens’ writing is flawless – not once was I pulled from the story. The plot is solid and designed to propel the reader forward, not stumbling, but eager to know what is coming next, how the band of friends will navigate the hell thrown at them, and how Nate, the young man with the extraordinary voice, will not only survive, but claw his way to a life of love, friendship, and acceptance. The ending leads the reader through a resolution that, although sad, is acceptable. It makes sense. Then author Ewens throws in an unexpected twist. Perfect.
While this book contains elements of fantasy, it bumps up against sci-fi, too. If forced, I’d categorize it as a new adult urban fantasy. However, lines often blur between categories these days. I would not want to pigeonhole this fabulous read.
If I could give this book more than five stars, I would. Congratulations to author Alice Ewens on an excellent first installment in her series. I’ve already downloaded the second book, Dissonance.
May 18, 2024
A richly woven story with likeable, well-developed characters. Loved the "found family" vibe and the attention to detail in the writing
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