Customer Reviews

Trion Rising (The Shadowside Trilogy, Book 1)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Oriannon Hightower loves her life on the bright side of the planet Corsita. Her father's place on the ruling council has granted her a life of luxury, not to mention the recognition that comes with her special ability to remember everything with stark clarity. Soon a new teacher named Jesmet arrives at her school carrying a mysterious and charming air about him as he reveals hidden truths to Oriannon and her friends. The powers that be are quick to dub Jesmet a faithbreaker and they banish him to the dark side of the planet, known as Shadowside. Oriannon suddenly feels compelled to follow Jesmet to Shadowside and the truth she discovers there will shatter everything she has been led to believe. The clock is ticking and Oriannon must find a way to clear Jesmet's name and save the innocent people of Shadowside from imminent destruction.

Trion Rising is a fun beginning to Robert Elmer's Shadowside Trilogy. Elmer graces the reader with tons of sci-fi elements that give this story a fresh and unique feel throughout. There's also plenty of action to go around as Oriannon and her friends consistently find ways to get themselves involved in mischievous activities.

Besides the sci-fi and action, Elmer has also brought us a creative retelling of the gospel story. Fans young and old alike will be challenged by the spiritual themes found here. Elements of hope, sacrifice, and redemption are clearly on display here and never seem forced or manufactured. Trion Rising is a young adult novel, but I would highly recommend it to readers of all ages who love sci-fi tales laced with strong spiritual truth.

Robert Elmer is a truly talented author, equally comfortable with tender adult fiction and creative youth science fiction. Trion Rising is the first book in The Shadowside Trilogy, his latest youth science fiction. With the same creative flair as The Pilgrim's Progress and Hind's Feet on High Places, Elmer's allegorical world will attract all ages.

Oriannon Hightower lives a comfortable life on the bright side of Corista. She only questions the rules and standards when she and her friend Margus are talking. When her father forbids her to remain friends with the boy because he isn't in their Class, Oriannon begins to question a little more. Then Jesmet comes to the school to teach music. His music, songs, and ideas are strange, beautiful, and dangerous. They go against everything she has ever been taught. But somehow they make sense. When she dares to stand up against the leadership of Corista, she finds herself running for her life and lost on the dark side of the planet. There she meets the people she was always told were animals and discovers a love that dwells in the heart and guides and protects even when disaster threatens. Oriannon must choose between tradition and what she knows is true of the cliff-dwelling people to save an entire nation and maybe her mentor, Jesmet.

Robert Elmer created a new world, new civilizations, new and old situations and brought the age-old battle between tradition and change into the story. Then, he added a special man who knew the heart of people to show them love and life. Sound familiar? This book is a great read. It will captivate youth who long for science fiction, fantasy worlds, and unique characters. And bring truth into the heart of the readers as they travel the journey with Oriannon, Margus, and Jesmet. I highly recommend it and am now eager to start book two in the trilogy, The Owling.

Trion Rising is the first book in Robert Elmer's Shadowside trilogy. Oriannon Hightower of the Nyssa Clan is daughter to an elite member of Corista's ruling assembly. As such, she's always obeyed her father and the Codex, which is Elmer's Bible for his fictional world. But when a new music teacher, Master Jesmet, arrives and teaches them a new way to look at things, the assembly panics, banishing the so-called Faithbreaker for his law-breaking ways.

Oriannon follows Master Jesmet to Shadowside and meets the Owling people who live there. She's always been taught nothing but animals live on the dark side of Corista, where the city's water supply comes from, but now that she knows the Owling people, she must do all she can to stop the assembly from destroying the Owlings.

I enjoyed the unique analogies Elmer uses to tell this tale. Corista's modern conveniences make the story of Jesus easier to relate to for teens growing up in a world closer resembling one with reporters, lev-scooters, ear buds, and stun batons. Oriannon is a relatable character who makes a lot of good choices but is big enough to ask for forgiveness when she makes wrong ones.

Recommended.

Be sure to check out the sequel The Owling (Shadowside Trilogy, The).

Trion Rising was a well written book that moved at a very steady pace. The characters were interesting and easy to relate to. The story follows Oriannon, a smart, "obedient" daughter and student as she meets Jesmet, a new teacher at school. Jesmet stirs things up at the school and eventually Oriannon must decide if she believes in what he is teaching and if she is going to take a stand for what is right. There is non-stop adventure along with a very interesting and exciting story line - you won't want to put the book down until you've read the last page!
The story seems to urge readers to think for themselves. Don't do something or believe in something just because you are told to or "that's the way it's always been". Seek the truth, seek answers and understanding that are real to you.
Though the book never uses the words "Jesus" or "God" the symbolism is apparent. Many events from the Bible are rewritten/modernized in the book (there is a David vs. Goliath like story, the Prodigal Son, and a few more). I like how it is done here because I think it helps teens relate those Biblical stories to events that happen in their everyday life. The Codex is the "bible" on this planet and the issue of people adding man's own thoughts or ideas to what is written in the Bible is a prevalent one. Many of the adults resemble pharisees while the kids and people from another village are the true followers/believers.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the rest of the series. My 13 year old son read it as well and really liked it. I found the setting to be interesting and the author described it well enough so I could form a mental picture but not in so much detail I got bored reading it. The characters were easy to relate to and the story had me hooked from the beginning. I highly suggest Trion Rising - it is a fun read that I think boys and girls ages 9 - 15 will love!
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(Posted for my 15 year old son)

Trion Rising is the story of Oriannon, a girl who lives on Corista, a planet with three moons. She lives a normal life on the Brightside, until her new music teacher arrives with stories and music from the Shadowside. Oriannon is pressed to spy on her new music teacher, Jesmet. But Jesmet is not what he seems, and certainly not what the Elders think he is.

Trion Rising was a good book filled with surprising twists. When I began reading this book I found myself looking through the eyes of a normal teenage girl with the ability of perfect memory. I could feel the emotions and see the area around the character throughout the story. Also, the world was designed well and I felt I knew where everything was placed. This is a good read and well worth the time spent.

I'm actually posting this review for my fifteen year old daughter, who just finished reading this book. So without further ado, here is her review of Trion Rising.


Trion Rising tells the story of Oriannon Hightower of Nyssa. She is the daughter of one of the respected elders of Corista. She also seems to be a magnet for trouble. Only trouble of her own doing. Along comes the substitute music teacher who teaches his students, including Oriannon, to play from the soul. But the teacher's unorthodox teachings grab bad attention from the elders who believe his teaching goes against the code they live by. It goes against the Codex, a sacred book with instructions from the Maker. Oriannon feels that the Elders have been unfair to their teacher, Jesmet. But it takes a trip to the Shadowlands, and friendships in that land to show Oriannon that perhaps the people of Corista, though they follow the Codex, are only going through the motions. She figures out that just like she plays her instrument from the soul, her devotion to following the Maker's instructions, lain down in the Codex, should be the same. And that is what Jesmet has been teaching the whole time.

This book is one of the best sci-fi books I've read. And I'll say I've read quite a few. Robert Elmer's creativity brings a completely different world into view, but you can still identify with the characters and situations. Of course, they've also got some pretty sweet gadgets to help them out!

Besides all that, Elmer has brought into the story the message of salvation. But it's not only a message to non believers. Elmer shows Christ's unfailing love. It's not something that is just said but the actual emotion is shown in this book. Yes, we know Christ's love for us, or we wouldn't be able to say with assurance that one day we'll be in Heaven rejoicing in him. But sometimes God may seem impersonal, cold and distant to SOME people, instead of who He wants to be: a father and friend to you. Though Trion Rising is a fictionalized telling of Christ's sacrifice, I believed every bit of emotion to be true. And there is NO WAY anybody can read this book and not be touched. Believer and non-believer alike. It's a fun book to read with a great message. I give it a five out of five, or ten out of ten.

"Trion Rising" has a cool premise: What if Jesus never came to earth, but instead visited another planet? Didn't Bill Myers do something similar in a novel called "Eli"? Still, this book is written for a teen fantasy audience.

I love how the author, Robert Elmer, opens the novel with an argument on board a rocketing space pod. We connect with the characters immediately and find ourselves aboard the spacecraft in the midst of the action. Oriannon is a strong, level-headed heroine, and a good role model for our female fantasy fans. Margus captured my loyalty right away as the roguish, comical hero a la Han Solo.

I highly recommend this engaging work of science fiction to both teens and adults.