Wild-born

The Psionic series is a pentalogy revolving around a highly detailed world of humans and Psionics. Psionics refer to people who have acquired extra mental capacities such as telekinesis, mind control and a whole range of completely original abilities too.

The Pentalogy follows the story of Adrian Howell who coincidentally shares the name of the author. (Henceforth if I refer to Howell I mean the author and Adrian, the character.) Adrian is just about thirteen years old in Book One: Wild-Born although because of his size most people think he is a lot younger. Throughout his younger years things just happened around him. Things fell off walls and shelves. Because it had always happened he thought it was normal. Until he went camping and show more people started to call him weird.

Imbued with curiosity and the imagination of a young child he starts to experiment. Nothing really comes of it until he has an accident. Lying in hospital recuperating his returns, out of boredom, to his experiments. For reasons he can’t explain he simply can make things happen. Weakly at first he manipulates his environment. Then, out of hospital, his experiments become more ambitious to the delight of his younger sister, Cat.

Adrian has absolutely no idea the consequences of this sudden power, but he is about to find out. He is tortured by headaches more painful than he has ever known. Then one night, a storm blows in and upsets the entirety of his life as he has known it.

Howell’s YA Urban Fantasy has enough gore, conspiracy and heart to appeal to the maturer reader also. It is set within our world but there is a secret undercurrent of warring factions and Psionics in hiding from various threats. Between the spaces of reality a whole world exists where anything is possible. A man with nightmares so powerful it shakes the very ground and warps anything near him; a entire underground operation that captures and tortures psionics to death or insanity, and an unlikely family that find and save each other.

There are many characters that populate just the first book, but each is rendered in such detail and with such empathy that regardless if they are a main character or a side character holding the door open for them on their way out, they feel as real and as tangible as anybody else.

The real action starts when the source of Adrian’s headaches is explained. His whole world is turned upside down and a touching journey begins to bring his sister back to him. Howell maintains the pace without tiring the reader. Each setting is created with the same level of literary skill as the characters making for an entirely vivid read without getting too bogged down in the details.

The Psionic series is entirely self-published by Howell and to date it is the best produced e-book I have seen. Not even a typo has managed to escape the author’s notice. It really is a pleasure to read a book that has had so much care taken over it. show less

A teenage boy discovers he can move objects with his thoughts. This is just a parlor trick to him until one night his house is broken in to and his parents killed. He sends his younger sister running and, as he is about to face his killer, he is rescued and wisked away into the night by a man who can control his thoughts. So begins the journey....

A good read, fast and unbelievable (as it should be for its genre).

I was given this book in exchange for an honest review.

If you are a fan of paranormal books, this is for you. You are grabbed from the first chapter and end up wanting to jump to the next book right away. The author does a great job with the storyline and development. I look forward to reading more from this author.

Story synopsis: Adrian Howell is a normal 12 year old with a pesky sister, Cat. However, normality leaves his life when he finds that he has the power to use telekinesis to move objects and people. His use of telekinesis brings time to the attention of Angels, Guardians and a paramilitary group, the Wolves. After his parents are killed by a berserker, and his sister Cat is lost he meets Cindy, who saves him, and Alia, who he must save.

Review: This is an interesting introductory book in a series. Characters are fairly well developed, and the author does a good job of getting the reader to identify with the ‘good guys’. It is intriguing enough to make me want to continue in the series, particularly to see if Adrian can find and save show more his sister.
Author information: Adrian Howell is the author of the Psionic series, and lends his name to the main character in these books. Details of the author’s life remain a mystery ~ as intended. For more information, go to http://www.adrianhowellbooks.uphero.com/.

Early reviewer for LibraryThing show less

Amazon Description:
When young Adrian Howell discovers he possesses powerful telekinetic abilities, he is plunged into a sinister world of warring paranormal factions and terrifying government organizations. Adrian must discover what really happened to his missing sister. But to do this, he will first have to find his place among fugitives like himself, and protect the life of a deeply scarred child who can speak only through her mind... a child who will change Adrian's life forever.
(Wild-born is the first book of Adrian Howell's PSIONIC Pentalogy)

Read all five books of Adrian Howell's PSIONIC Pentalogy in order:

Book One: Wild-born
Book Two: The Tower
Book Three: Lesser Gods
Book Four: The Quest
Book Five: Guardian Angel

Genre: Young Adult, show more Paranormal, Urban Fantasy
(Recommended for readers aged 13 and above.)

Opinions:
Nearing his thirteenth birthday, Adrian discovers that he has special abilities; he's telekinetic. An attack on his family by an evil force sends his world spinning as he discovers who he is and how to survive. (I am beyond the age of thirteen, so I can't really review the book as such.)

Narration: First person – Adrian

Character Development: Adrian has a good heart and tries to do the right thing. He is still a kid after all and makes mistakes. He soon learns there are consequences for his mistakes, and they can sometimes involve those around him. His actions reflect those of both a child and an adult. He can be impulsive and rebellious, which usually causes him trouble. On the other hand, he can be respectful and considerate at a level beyond what can be expected for his age. Adrian gives the books a voice and sometimes addresses the reader in the prose. Another interesting character is Alia - also gifted but with a different power. She is younger than Adrian and has had a traumatic childhood before being rescued. This makes her have a hard time expressing herself like a normal child would. I would have liked to have seen a little bit more development on this front by the end of the book. Although I admit, her character did grow within the book. I would have also liked to seen more background with Ralph.

Plot Development/Flow: Judging by the age of the characters and therefore the intended audience, the book might be a little slow pace for its length. The story set up for things that would happen later. There are actions scenes periodically throughout the book, but there are also down times when we learn more about the characters (and what's happening around them.) The story ends well, but definitely leaves off for the next book to pick up.

Standalone or Part of a Series: First book in the Psionic Pentalogy show less

A lot happens to Adrian, and I guess it is a warning if you really had telekinetic powers what might happen.