The Weight Of Night (The Progeny) [Kindle Edition]

CL Stegall (Author)

Book Description

For the Special Edition version of this novel click here.

When her mother is taken from her in a terrible accident, Alexis finds herself facing some previously unknown truths. Her best friend, Keats, is her only confidante when she is faced with an apparent stalker who claims that Alexis’ entire life is built around a lie. Alexis is suddenly thrown into a whirlwind world of danger and secret agendas, of demigods and deities.

When a brutal, self-righteous god decides that Alexis is his best hope for retrieving an ancient artifact, she finds herself on the self-discovery journey of a lifetime - tracking a killer and a kidnapper - and facing conniving and dangerous foes along the way.

She will have to come to grips with who she truly is and just what she might be capable of if she is to survive long enough to save the one person in the world for whom she cares most.

Ancient Greek mythology comes to life in this unique coming-of-age tale that spans the globe and the heart of a girl who only wants to be normal. But, just what is normal in a world like this?

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

CL Stegall is an ex-military geek who has seen his fair share of the world from nearly every angle and loved every minute of it. He began writing short stories at the age of fourteen and has not stopped since. He now resides in Dallas with his irrepressible Wife and two dogs who think they run the joint.

Product Details

• File Size: 247 KB
• Print Length: 302 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1456575856
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: Dark Red Press (January 25, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B004LB5BNA
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Not Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #508,504 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Remarkable Mix of the Modern & the Mythological March 1, 2011

By Brian Fatah Steele

Format:Kindle Edition

As an author of horror fiction and urban fantasy that often deals with ancient myths, cultural legends and religious lore, I went into Stegall's first novel with certain expectations. I was thrilled to discover he had created a rich, contemporary world saturated with a mythos he had made uniquely his own. His twist on the familiar Greek Pantheon remains similar enough for us to recognize, but with his addition of "The Progeny," he has added an alternative element. While one might be inclined to compare these children with those penned by Rick Riordan, one only has to read a few chapters to see the astounding differences.

Stegall's book can just barely be classified as a YA novel. Unlike the somewaht well-adjusted adolescents populating The Percy Jackson books, The Progeny found in "The Weight Of Night" are mostly flawed, violent, insane or simply dead. Enter into this our Alexis and her friend Keats, who must deal with murdered family members, sociopathic demigods, back-stabbing humans and various other daily torments. As Alexis digs deeper into her heritage, she finds greater control over her growing abilities only to face ever growing horrors opposing her.

However, it's not all bloodshed and madness. Stegall manages to weave equal parts action, romance, humor and philosophy into his tale, none of which feels forced or heavy-handed. The only reason this tale doesn't receive a full 5 Stars from me is due to the age of the characters, that magical edge of 18, that lets this books slide back into the YA category. I think if Stegall had matured the protagonists a few years into college he could have achieved a properly brutal Urban Fantasy novel.

Regardless, "The Weight Of Night" is an excellent piece of Post-Mythic fiction that I highly recommend to any fans from authors as diverse as Neil Gaiman to Garth Nix.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Brillaintly conceived and well executed. April 24, 2012

By Takeda

Format:Kindle Edition

I did not know a lot about this author before reading the book. I read his story in 4pocalypse and really enjoyed it, so I decided to check this out. Not knowing anything about it I had no preconceptions and for that I am glad because I was able to just open up and really enjoy the story, and enjoy it I did.

I don't know if this is technically YA or not, I don't know if it really matters anyway because it is a great story regardless of your age. Two eighteen year old kids, inseparable from early childhood find a true coming of age story of not just becoming adults but of becoming demigods. Based in Greek mythology, the story centers on Alexis who experiences tragedy after tragedy and emerges on the other side a demigoddess who fights for vengeance, fights for love, and ultimately fights for all of us. A story packed with action, humor, love, and no small amount of learning, this is a book that should satisfy most readers. Brilliantly conceived and well written, this is book that should continue to gain popularity as word gets out.

There are many things that struck me as I read it that really made me enjoy the book. First, it is well written. The author has an unique narrative style with interesting word choices used in unconventional ways. Somewhere between formal literature and a more conversational style, once I got the hang of it I really enjoyed it. The dialog was really good, witty and engaging, and reminiscent of how I would sit around and talk to my friends. At no point was the story boring. The pacing was relentless, nonstop action.

The concept of this story is just brilliant. The Hellenic pantheon is an often used plot device and it seems even more so recently. Yet, he manages to keep it fresh and take it in some exciting new directions. He first chose some unconventional gods which proves his mastery of the subject and made it much more interesting than another story about Zeus or Poseidon. There is great detail about lineage and familial relationships among the gods and how he fit his characters into it that again proves his understanding of the subject. Overall, the world building in this book was excellent.

I really loved the main characters of Alexis and Keats. I loved their characterization and their chemistry with each other. The romance was a little obvious but well executed and enjoyable to read. The facial expressions and witty banter really help to make these characters come alive and made the story that much more engaging. I look forward to reading about them again. It is known that this book is the first of a trilogy and I cannot wait for more. There are a number of unanswered questions and whole lot more mythology to explore so there is more than enough material for a trilogy.

If I had any complaint about the book, it is that it was too short and the pacing a bit too fast. I like a good action story but I think there was a lot more that could have been explored. I think some parts were just kind of glossed over or assumed to work out in favor of the plot. The transition from small town teenager to what the characters turn into was a little jarring. It seemed unrealistic to me (I know, strange thing to say about a post mythic story) that the characters just dove in like they did. I would have liked a few more pages here or there to explain why certain things happened the way they did.

But that is me just being nit-picky and it did not detract in any way from my overall enjoyment of the story. It was a fantastic story, well written, and definitely well worth the read. I will be eagerly anticipating the next installment.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Read!!! January 7, 2013

By Ylwrztx

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I loved this book! It grabbed me from the start and kept me interested. I absoulutely loved the relationship between Alexis and Keats and the ending was fabulous! I can't wait to read the next book in the series. :o)

More About the Author

C.L. Stegall is the author of Paranormal and Urban Fantasy, Young Adult and Sci-Fi novels and short stories. He is the C.E.O. and co-Founder of Dark Red Press, an independent publishing company. He spent ten years in the U.S. Army, as both an engineer and a linguist for Military Intelligence. He has worked side-by-side with most of the alphabet groups.

He is also the editor (and contributor) to the post-apocalyptic novella collection, 4POCALYPSE - Four Tales Of A Dark Future.

His latest novel, the first in his Valence Of Infinity series, is "The Blood of Others."

What's being said about "The Blood of Others" -

"The Blood of Others takes the reader through the amazing life of Paris as she grows from homeless orphan to one of the elite in an underground vampire society. Full of intrigue, love, and betrayal, it's a unique and fantastic addition to vampire lore." - O. M. Grey, Amazon Gothic Romance best selling author of Avalon Revisited