The Promise of the Child by Tom Toner

Posted on by Lashaan Balasingam @ Roars and Echoes

PromiseOfTheChild_Updated_Cover_rgbTitle: The Promise of the Child
Series: The Amaranthine Spectrum #1
Author(s): Tom Toner
Publisher: Night Shade Books
Format: Paperback
Release Date: October 11th 2016
Pages: 484
Genre(s): Science-Fiction
ISBN13: 9781597808552

It has been a long time since my mind was challenged this way. Debut novels are often riddled with characters who are easy to cling onto, stories that pave the way for us to follow and settings that are so vivid that your imagination doesn’t need to suffer to visualize it all. The first book of a trilogy usually sets up the narrative and teases the bigger picture slowly but surely, but Tom Toner had other plans for us. With a multi-layered imagination that seems out of control, the author of The Promise of the Child brings us a space opera that seems to envelop countless numbers of creatures, stories and generations.

The scope of this book is immense and is definitely not suited for everyone. The level of complexity in the scheming is insane, and I’m going to straight out admit that I was completely lost for a good portion of the book. While reading, I tried really hard to see where things were headed and why there was so much exposition that left me completely clueless. In order to appreciate the depth of this series, note-taking is almost a necessity as the very premise of the story envisions a universe that has never been brought to life like this before. In fact, I strongly recommend making use of the glossary and to give this series your undivided attention as the mere deviation of thought will leave you floating in limbo.

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It is almost impossible to truly summarize this story, but it is safe to say that it takes place in a far away future where mankind has evolved into dozens of different creatures and inhabit distant worlds all around the galaxy. Following a couple of character’s adventure—notably Lycaste, Corphuso, Ghaldezuel and Sotiris—readers are thrown into a universe where immortality is sought by some, but so is salvation and purpose by others. Each of their stories might seem completely unconnected, but The Promise of the Child is only out to set the pieces in motion for the eventual interconnectivity that is tremendously wished for by readers. As you fight the compelling desire to succumb and quit at the mere sight of this story’s intricate and unfathomable vision, it is the boundless freedom embraced by Tom Toner to create this refreshing and original universe that will keep you going until you finally start piecing things together.

The Promise of the Child is not a story that can be taken lightly. It is a leviathan that requires your whole mind and body to be ready and committed. It will drown you in its world-building, and require you to learn to swim as fast as humanly possible in order to survive. For Tom Toner to dish out such an epic science fiction is incredible, and only readers who are ready to sit down and read what his mind has elaborated will find reward in going through this story. Flashbacks and dreams play an essential role in understanding certain events, but ultimately, the adventure doesn’t end with The Promise of the Child. Putting on your most heavy-duty armour might be necessary to trudge your way through this beauty, but it is important to not give up and to get to the end to see how complex this universe is. Even re-reading this novel might prove to be even more gratifying with details so easy to miss. Of course, there’s also the option of robbing Tom Toner’s notes, but that would just ruin the fun of solving this galactic enigma for yourself.

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Thank you to Skyhorse Publishing and Tom Toner for sending me a copy for review!

MY OVERALL RATING: ★★★★☆

Have you read it yet? Do you plan to?

What do you think about The Promise of the Child?

Share your thoughts with me!

Till next time,

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Published by Lashaan Balasingam @ Roars and Echoes

Reader. Reviewer. Researcher. Criminology Ph.D. Candidate. Montreal, Quebec (Canada). Want to know more? Connect with him!

34 thoughts on “The Promise of the Child by Tom Toner”

  4. Sounds like this is the Space Opera version of Erikson’s “Malazan Book of the Fallen” fantasy series.

    Glad you had such a good time with this. I also look forward to what you continue to think of it as future books are released 🙂

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  5. Ah, I love when books challenge the reader! Sometimes I simply do not want to be spoon fed. This sounds like a complex and rewarding experience that leaves you feeling as if you have accomplished something! I will be keeping this on my radar. Unfortunately, I cannot go longer than 15 minutes without distraction right now, so I would be lost 😂 Fab review Lashaan!

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    1. Absolutely! I love challenges in any form they come. I was glad that this was so different from all the books that come out nowadays. I didn’t however expect it to be so confusing at first, so it’s definitely worth reading it slowly, taking notes and all that stuff you’d do for a school assignment! 🤣 Ahhh, I totally understand. Hopefully if you ever do give it a shot you’ll enjoy it! Thanks for reading Danielle! 😀

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    1. It is indeed quite rare that anyone makes use of a glossary since you usually understand what’s going on by reading the story, but this one would definitely require the glossary, or at least thorough notes, to fully visualize and understand things. Thanks for reading, Evelina! 🙂

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  9. Wow what a great review!! This sounds so good, but I think I might be slightly intimidated by how challenging it might be. One of those books you have to be in the mood for and read when you’re home alone and have no distractions I guess.

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    1. Thanks Dani! I’m glad to hear your interest in it and hope that it won’t turn into a DNF 50 pages in!!! It does have an awesome cover, doesn’t it? 😀 Can’t wait to try the sequel myself. P.S. Cover is just as awesome! 😛

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  15. Wow… hehehhe im not sure what all that density is about but it must serve the story, right? You don’t mention the end (except the achievement of getting to it) but the end makes all that world building pay off, right?! This sounds like an Asimov wanna be and that’s not a bad thing a thing all! ♥️

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    1. After a couple 50-100 pages, things become much more coherent and easier to follow. The end just makes things much more exciting in terms of where the author will go and how things will continue to connect. I’d draw parallels to the whole Malazan Empire series (based on what I know) more than Asimov, but I can see what you mean though. And I can definitely use more “new” Asimov’esque stories. Big ideas are amazing to see unfold. 😀

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