Spotlight: Souls of Astraeus by Jeramy Goble
About the book:
Death was a bummer. Well, not for Akal. A death on Earth only meant a birth into the multiverse. It did for him, anyway. Just when he thought he was checking out and taking his last breath, he was standing… on an island. In space. With a pretty tree and bench on it. There was a little breeze, too. But, where was it coming from?
Countless star systems, galaxies and universes stood before Akal but their numbers couldn’t rival the amount of questions he had. He knew all the answers were out there somewhere, but they wouldn’t do him any good if he didn’t know where to start. Slowly but surely, through tribulations across a myriad of experiences, Akal starts to piece together what had happened to him, as well as his wife. His one true love across all of existence.
His wife’s fate was just the tip of an iceberg of multiversal manipulation and deranged hate for the weak and vulnerable. Akal’s wife was not weak, but she was definitely vulnerable. Akal seethed and seeped with regret at his inaction before his transformation, but never strayed too far from his personal goal of making up for it. There had been a dark and grotesque exploitation of people going on since time seemingly began, and Akal planned to stop it.
Before long, Akal was dodging gunfire from the United States Army in 1877, sailing and fighting in space millennia later, and dodging the razor-sharp wings of assassins high in the skies of Kestrellia. The quests seemed unending but were absolutely necessary in the name of getting information. He dared someone to stop him.
Akal is quickly humbled, however. He is humbled numerous times in countless physical and emotional ways by friends and by the multiverse. Only when he learns that the power of patience and joy of learning outweigh any abilities or powers, does he start to reap the rewards of true strength and understanding.
As insignificant as any single creature may be within the context of the multiverse, Akal eventually discovers how that margin can be narrowed by a single act. How he and others like him live their lives may show us how to more thoroughly live our one.
Souls of Astraeus is a distinct and engaging science fiction and fantasy adventure that redefines the role of the hero and the hero’s motives, without cynicism or naivete. Souls of Astraeus shows us that knowledge and love can be attained by everyone without having to sell their souls.
Want to read the first chapter? Find it here! | Find the book on Goodreads and on Amazon | Visit the official website.
Be sure to also check out the beautiful illustrations.
About the author:
I’m a Navy brat, and a very thankful one. Why? I’ve been able to live in many of the United States, live overseas and travel extensively. That’s great and all, and while some people jump at the opportunity to say, “Oh yeah? Well, I’ve been to, [insert cosmopolitan location here],” I jump at the opportunity to enjoy being aware of others.
As I grew up, moving here or there every few years, having to make new friends, and hearing different languages, it made me hold my family as close to my heart as possible and never let go. I learned from an early age that there are few people you can truly depend on and that are there for you always. I am remarkably fortunate to have had, and still have that.
In addition to being able to understand what family is, I was constantly exposed to different cultures, political ideologies and the entire faith spectrum. I always knew I was one, of many. Some folks were like me, others weren’t, and it was fun to learn about them.. which in turn, breeds genuine respect.
These thoughts are what lend most to Souls of Astraeus. Like I say on the last page of the book, I hope you might find something to identify with and enjoy.
Beyond that, I’m originally from North Carolina. After graduating from high school in 1998, I spent a few years earning and wasting money. From 2000 to 2004, I attended Brevard College, also in North Carolina, where I received a degree in music. When I have time, I compose, build computers, and play games ranging from tabletops, to cards, to miniatures and MMOs. When I got married, I arranged Luke’s Binary Sunset theme from Star Wars, for brass quintet, for my wife to walk down the aisle to. Why? Because Star Wars rocks. So does Star Trek.
In closing, I have far too many animals in the house, and enjoy long walks in the mountains.
