The Oracle Year by Charles Soule

Posted on by Lashaan Balasingam @ Roars and Echoes

theoracleyearcoverTitle: The Oracle Year
Series: No
Author(s): Charles Soule
Publisher: Harper Perrenial
Format: ARC
Release Date: April 3th 2018
Pages: 416
Genre(s): Science-Fiction
ISBN13: 9780062686633

You know that conflicted mental state where you wonder if what is to come is a pleasant surprise or a complete disappointment? Just imagine when one of your favourite singer of all time decides to enter the movie business, or your favourite athlete wants to spice up his biography by fully actualizing themselves through music. It’s how I felt when I got my hands on Charles Soule’s The Oracle Year. Known as the best-selling comic book writer who gave us stories featuring She-Hulk, Daredevil, a classic story arc titled Death of Wolverine as well as many Star Wars comics from Marvel Comics, Charles Soule has now expanded his bibliography with a debut novel that is sure to keep readers hooked till the end.

What is The Oracle Year about? This is the story of Will Dando. Waking up one morning with exactly 108 predictions about the future, he decides to write them all down thinking that they somehow might be life-changing. He wasn’t wrong. With this newly-found knowledge, Will Dando emerges from the shadow and becomes the most powerful man in the world. Adopting the name Oracle for anonymity—I guess maybe the shadows might still be nice place to lurk around a little longer, and with the help of one of his close friends, he builds an impenetrable website through which he unveils his revelations slowly but surely. While some of his predictions seem harmless and mundane, Will Dando also holds some of the most staggering and powerful predictions that would, under the wrong hands, become lethal to the whole world’s survival. And we’re not just talking about surviving famine, we’re talking about everything imaginable that ranges from individual to societal spheres. So what does he do with it? Why, sale them, of course!

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It was nice to see how Charles Soule venture into the literary world was fluid and painless. At least he does a nice job making it seem like it. His writing style is clean and straight-forward. This helped tremendously in delivering a fast-paced addictive story that kicked things off in the most mysterious fashion possible. Multiple characters are introduced at first, giving the story a tentacular grasp on the world. Every single point of view seemed random and seperate, but remained connected by one thing: an intense interest in the Oracle. While their thoughts and feelings towards this mysterious figure varies greatly (from those who hate him with every fiber of their body to those who are curious beyond their mind about the entity), it is the fact that they ultimately cross paths along the way that makes this so enthralling.

The Oracle Year isn’t however just a story about a man and his power to predict the future. Charles Soule uses this premise to explore modern society as it is today with much more depth, only if you wish to read between the lines. From the examination of religion and the concept of God to the meticulous analysis of the dilemma that comes with the knowledge of great power, Will Dando doesn’t have it easy throughout this story as he learns that the 108 predictions he woke up with one morning aren’t going to leave him alone until he fully understands their real purpose. If there is any. While the story is littered with secondary characters that are a tad bit cookie-cut, they serve their purpose and help in progressing the story in the direction that Charles Soule wanted. And honestly, I’ll give him a pass for that just because I had a nice time with this debut novel. Now the real question is: Are you going to read it? Maybe one of his 108 predictions has the answer to it. Go find out. 🙂

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Thank you to HarperCollins Canada 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 Oracle Year?

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!

47 thoughts on “The Oracle Year by Charles Soule”

    1. Hahaahah that would have totally been something I would have said if you had reviewed it too. 🤣 I agree! I’m glad that it did work out so well too. It’s nothing easy, but at least it’s one less thing on your bucket list hahah 😀

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  5. Does this feel like a comic book turned into a prose, or was he able to leave that behind him?

    That is one thing I’m always concerned about when someone goes from one medium to another is that they will drag the wrong aspects of their previous medium to the new one. Most of the time having someone with multiple disciplines works for the best, but not always.

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    1. Nop. Although, it could probably be turned into a nice graphic novel if someone desired, but otherwise it felt like a thriller with the writing style he had. It doesn’t have a lot of details and sticks to its main ideas throughout the whole story. But what’s cool is that ideas that you see in superheroes (like the whole “powers” thing and all the pros/cons that come with them) are explored here too, but differently.

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    1. Aww man, thank you so much! Occasionally my brain decides to go wild with its metaphors, but when it’s appreciated like that by you, I sort of blush (not that my skin tone allows it though) hahah Thank you so much for reading! 😀

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    1. Oh, you know. It’s how it works. What you don’t find yourself, I find it for you. And then you pick it up and read it. 😀 😀 😀 I’m glad that it piqued your curiosity though, and hopefully you’ll enjoy it when you get the chance to try it out yourself! 😀 Thank you so much! 😀

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  10. Great review for this book Lashaan, it sounds like a really interesting concept to explore and base don your review the author certainly goes deeper into the issue than just the surface of a man who can predict the future. I will say Will’s decision to sell his prophecies makes sense to me, it’s what I’d probably do if I could see into the future! 😀
    I’m glad this debut didn’t disappoint you either, especially considering how it seems like this author is already a big name in the comic book world. 🙂
    Again great review. ❤

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    1. Thank you so much Beth! Yep, the author makes sure to cover all the pros and cons of being someone who can predict the future. And I can totally see why you’d do the same hahaha So much $$$$ to spend on books! Right?! HAhahah

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  13. It’s easy to forget that a lot of comic book writers are also novelists (and in many case actually started there) and I’ve always had the intention of looking into checking those things out.

    A most excellent review as always my friend and you’ve certainly piqued my interest, I’ve been enjoying Soule’s Daredevil run so this debut novel might be worth a go.

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    1. I know, right? I haven’t explored them enough since I quickly associate them to those comic book novelizations, and I’m not too sure those would be something I’d enjoy.

      Thanks man, it was really nice to see what Charles Soule was able to write up, and even more satisfying that it wasn’t a disaster at all! It might indeed be worth giving a shot.

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  14. Well, this sounds intriguing! It only recently occurred to me how horrible it would be to be able to see into the future. How could you enjoy any of you life when you know something awful is coming, and that you probably can’t even do anything to stop it? Also, if you know how everything is going to turn out, then what’s the point in taking any kind of action, if everything is determined anyway? Yeah, it’s one super power I would pass on.

    Thanks! You’re always recommending things I’ve not really encountered before 🙂

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    1. I know, right? Sort of like knowing when you’ll die. How stressful would that be?! At least this character decided to explore all the possibilities that presented itself to him with his newly-found knowledge. It made for some interesting angles to explore, and in the end, a pretty cool story!

      It is my pleasure! Thanks for always stopping by. It really makes me happy! ❤

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      1. That’s okay! I love your posts. I actually have a book on my TBR right now called The Immortalists, which I believe is about 3 people who learn when they are going to die when they are quite young and then how that info affects how they live their lives. Sure to be an interesting read! (whenever I get to it. It’s quite long).

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  17. Great review I can’t believe I hadn’t heard of this before. Haven’t even seen the cover and I don’t think I could miss that.

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  18. So great that it was such a seamless entry into the literary world 😀 And even if it’s littered with a few too many cookie-cutter characters, it’s really great that they all advanced the plot and that this was so enthralling overall. Amazing review!

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  19. I’m so glad you enjoyed this Lashaan! It would be hard for me to review a book where a writer hero disappointed… it sounds like an amazing transition too as there is this comic book quality to the premise… but I love that there is this multiple POVs going on. Cookie cutter characters are okay some with that format. Seriously you are persuading me to read this book! I need a TBR list for books that Lashaan has persuaded me to read… 🤩

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    1. Thanks Dani! You saw that comic book vibe in the premise too huh? I’m glad it turned out to be a nice political scifi thriller. Hahah you probably already have one that you just didn’t name it after me. 😉 How’s your experience with The Way of Kings so far? Or have you paused that adventure? 😀

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