Relentless (Dominion Trilogy) [Paperback]

Robin Parrish (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 443 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House (July 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764202804
• ISBN-13: 978-0764202803
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (113 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,424,767 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

"Robin Parrish is a keen-eyed, passionate pop cultural savant, whose writing is as incisive and insightful as it is entertaining."
- Allan Heinberg, Executive Producer, Grey's Anatomy

Robin Parrish wants to take you on a ride.

A wild ride -- which is exactly what you're in for when you pick up one of his books. And he's adamant that it will never be the same kind of experience twice.

Robin's stories mix, mingle, and meld various genres together to create thoroughly original suspense/thrillers. His Dominion Trilogy, for example, mashed up superhero action, secret societies, ancient myths, and an apocalyptic setting to create an entirely new take on the classic "hero's journey." Offworld mixed science fiction and an end-of-the-world scenario with high-octane action. Nightmare, his 2010 novel, is a spine-tingling examination of the world of the paranormal, paired with can't-put-it-down mystery. He describes his 2011 novel, Vigilante, as a story about a man who sets out to do something that no one has ever done before.

Always pushing the envelope, ever on the edge of where modern storytelling is going, Robin Parrish will gladly and unapologetically tell you that he's an entertainer, a weaver of stories that ignite the mind and delight the heart. Defying labels and refusing pigeonholes, his imagination is fueled by the possibilities of asking "What if...?", and as anyone who's read his work knows, he has a very big imagination. Readers will be happy to know that he has an endless supply of wild stories with enormous scope, that are still yet to come.

As a journalist, Robin has worked for About.com, CMCentral.com (RIP), INFUZEmag.com (also RIP), PopCultureGeek.com, b5media, SplashPress Media, and many more. His writing has been printed in numerous magazines and newspapers.

His influences as a novelist range from television and film storytellers like Joss Whedon and J.J. Abrams, to masters of the modern myth like J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis. Akin to Philip K. Dick's search for the meaning of identity, most of what Robin writes about boils down to his own ponderings and examinations of just what this thing we call "existence" really is.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

147 of 151 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Unique Mix, July 28, 2006

By 

Eric Wilson "novelist" (Nashville, TN United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Relentless (Dominion Trilogy #1) (Hardcover)

With high expectations, but very little advance knowledge of the plot, I opened "Relentless"--and held on for the ride.

The world of young man is completely Shifted when he stands on one side of the street and sees himself walking along the other. He has switched identities, or jumped bodies, or entered a parallel universe...He's not sure which. Soon after, he discovers his new name is Grant Borrows, he is wearing a ring which cannot be removed, and he is running for his life while trying to make sense of the mayhem swirling around him.

While wholly original, "Relentless" starts with a Phillip K. Dick type opening, then draws inspiration from "X-Men" and "The Lord of the Rings." These elements are both strengths and weaknesses. The setting starts in the real streets of L.A., then moves into a realm of swordmen, villains, and superhuman skills. Sometimes, it seems the story is trying to accomplish too much--hurried romances and belief-stretching escapes from speeding cars. Throughout, I kept thinking this would make a fantastic graphic novel.

Parrish is a skilled writer, using strong verbs and prose to convey his tale. Although some of the relational aspects seemed to need more depth, he unfolds the story with great mastery and presents more than one surprise, while unveiling a uniquely spiritual premise. At its core, the story is one an identity crisis: Who am I? Deep down, in my soul, who am I really? And what is my purpose?

This is one of the better amalgams I've seen of suspense and fantasy. And it's only the first in a trilogy, which means we have more great stories to come.

69 of 71 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting Premise, July 27, 2006

By 

Backfist (Carmel, IN USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Relentless (Dominion Trilogy #1) (Hardcover)

The concept of a synchronized "shift" of two peoples' consciousness is fascinating. The initial third of the book details the resulting confusion well. Then . . . ? The book "shifts" into a reluctant superhero story. The third act finally heats things up, but the ending felt rushed and unsatisfying. While this is the first book of a trilogy, there is too little explaination for the appearance and motivation of the "bad guy".

I wish I could rate this higher, but based on the description I expected more of thriller than a fantasy.

48 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars It Was Great - Or Was It?, August 17, 2006

By 

T.E. George "Tim George" (Pensacola FL) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Relentless (Dominion Trilogy #1) (Hardcover)

This is the most mixed review I have ever written. Mixed because part of me loved Relentless. It is fast paced, tight, and builds to its conclusion (or cliffhanger, well, relentlessly.

But then again, there is much I didn't like. There is so little original about this story under the skin. Parish throws in everything from a Darth Vader/Luke Skywalker plot with Grant Borrows and his longed presumed dead father to as another reviewer has mentioned, a X-Men type mansion.

As much as I like Parish's writing (and his mentor, Ted Dekker), Parish does little to develop character. The one thought I kept having as I read this book was, "Wow - this would make a great movie." But I wanted it to be a great book first and in my opinion it is not.

Is it a good read? Oh yeah! And, I will read the sequels. But is this a great book? Not really.