“Parts of the Book Came Alive Like a Movie.”

Sliding Beneath the Surface

The St. Augustine Trilogy: Book I

Young adult, paranormal & historical.

A review posted on Amazon & Goodreads by Alena from Nevada.

”Overall I found the book quite interesting with the paranormal aspect as well as the historical fiction. For me … the author notes in the back showed the research that was put into the book that made it partly what it became.

“I’m not usually particularly fond of first person books, which is a bit ironic since the majority of the books on my shelf are written in first person, I believe that Dillon did quite a good job at not only writing in first person, but capturing the voice of the character.

“In my creative writing class we talk a lot about characters and different point of view, and there are a few scenes in which Jeff will say that he doesn’t understand what’s happening, or how something is happening, but it is. Or he will have trouble explaining something that he is currently seeing, and since the story is told from his point of view, we understand that in our shoes, it would probably be just as bad. Along with that we also get a sense of his emotions, how he feels about Carla or his thoughts about Lobo. Something we don’t usually get with third person point of views (I’m saying usually because I know some people that can).

“The story of a teenage boy who all of a sudden gets thrown into the supernatural and it forced with unbelievable choices (trying not to spoil anything) over the course of a short amount of time is an interesting concept. The people that he encounters and the events that unfold before him create a nice image, and in parts of the book I could see the words form into pictures, and those parts of the book came alive like a movie.

“I like the switch between dialogue and summary (referring to what I’m learning in school and applying it to the real world). Since it is written in first person, Jeff and easily summarize what it happening instead of them all speaking about it, or Dillon having to describe the place. Hearing the thoughts of the character rather than reading the description, at least for this book (series?), was not only the smart move, but the right one. I don’t think I would have been able to read it in third person (even though it’s my preference).

“… it was very interesting and once I finished it I nodded my head thinking, “that was pretty good, Dillon.” The way time flowed was nicely done, the events that unfolded were described nicely, and the end matched with the middle very well.”

To see the full review on Amazon, click here.