Twilight of the Past: A Rift in Time [Paperback]

Michael Parziale (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 15, 2006

Twilight of the Past: A Rift in Time revolves around Newl Rift as he attempts to unravel the truth about a mysterious war ripping his world apart. Confusion spreads as missile attacks are launched on both warring countries from an unknown source, plunging Newl into a journey of exploration that will change his world forever. In order to save his homeland, Gutra De, from certain destruction, Newl must force himself to trust new friends and unlikely allies. During an investigation in the northern country of Melis, Newl is ambushed and almost killed if not for sudden help from complete strangers. But all is not well for Newl. He now suffers from nightmares about a new love in his life and a possible betrayal from a friend. Newl's inner and outer struggle takes him to places, and to meet people, he never thought possible.

Product Details

• Paperback: 236 pages
• Publisher: Nightengale Press (January 15, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1933449195
• ISBN-13: 978-1933449197
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,259,811 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2.0 out of 5 stars Reviewed by Sarra Borne, June 28, 2007

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Front Street Reviews www.frontstreetreviews.com - See all my reviews

This review is from: Twilight of the Past: A Rift in Time (Paperback)

Twilight of the Past is the first in a science-fiction series by debut author Michael Parziale. In it he introduces the reader to the world of Aldurea, which is embroiled in an ongoing and epic battle between two major powers. The protagonist, Newl Rift, is the leader of the Guntra De who is at war with the Spero. The war has been going on long enough that new technologies have emerged, including fabulous communications and anti-missile systems.



With very little preparation Newl sets off on a quest to discover the truth about himself and the truth about the war. In a typical boy meets girl story, the second half of the book consists of Newl attempting to save his love interest from certain death at the hands of the Spero, all the while fighting off doubts about the trustworthiness of his lady love.



This book reads like a computer game. Newl sets off on random quests for no apparent reason; other than perhaps a mysterious stranger says that he should. He conveniently suffers from amnesia so there is no real explanation of his past. The narrative isn't very cohesive, the author jumps between present and past tense often in the same paragraph. The ending is left completely on a cliffhanger with only the promise of book two.



This book suffers from one of the latest trends in publishing - where an unfinished story is marketed as book one of a trilogy or series. It used to be that books were released as series' when they were simply too huge to be a single novel (i.e. Robert Jordan "The Wheel of Time", J.R.R Tolkien "The Lord of the Rings") now publishers are cutting stand-alone novels into parts and calling them trilogies. Twilight of the Past at only 224 pages is certainly not huge and it leaves the reader wondering just how many $15 episodes they are going to be forced to purchase to find out what happens next.