Exodus in Blush


Fiction - Fantasy - Epic
317 Pages
Reviewed on 08/06/2018
Buy on Amazon

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Author Biography

In second grade I wrote my first book, my addition to the Digimon series. I showed my teacher and she told me I couldn't write for other author's stories. I asked her what I was supposed to do then. "Write your own," she said.

I don't write commercial fiction. I've never believed in wasting time and hopefully I don't come off too pretentious when I say, if you're not writing with the intention of creating something new, dismantling tropes and giving an audience a perspective they never expected to empathize with, then why are you writing at all?

I'm also not in the business of glorifying myself before my work, which I've been told is a horrible financial strategy. Don't worry about where I grew up or who my parents were; I promise it's pretty boring. Just think of me as an overgrown amoeba who learned to type.

That being said, inspirations are important. Here are mine: Death Note, Dark Souls series, anything by Neil Gaiman, Steven Universe, Final Fantasy, Game of Thrones, Avatar the Last Airbender, Lord of the Rings, Spiderman, Attack on Titan, Tokyo Ghoul, Saga, Teen Titans, Naruto, Devil May Cry, Black Panther, Full Metal Alchemist, other cool stuff.

If you read all this, well, I'm very flattered. :)

    Book Review

Reviewed by Divine Zape for Readers' Favorite

Conspiracy, magic, and a world threatened by a powerful enemy are some of the aspects that make Exodus in Blush by Nicholas Rem a must-read for fans of epic fantasy. The story is set against the backdrop of an imaginary period in humanity’s evolution, a state known as the Davlacé, “a tranquil age meant only for understanding…” Humanity had once been slaughtered by a man named the Hummingbird, a man able to alter matter in powerful ways. Although he retreated after the destruction, there are eight humans that manifest skills similar to his; they are called the Cardinals, and they have created colonies to preserve what was left of humanity. Now there are rumors of the return of the Hummingbird. One of the Cardinals, Sakil, is worried that humanity might become complacent and worship the Cardinals instead of rebuilding their society and seeking ways to free themselves from impending danger. He knows something must be done, and it must be done quickly before the Hummingbird’s imminent return. He is about to provoke a revolution, but does he have what it takes to sustain it? Can he lead humanity to overcome the Hummingbird without relying on the Cardinals?

This is a tale with a conflict of epic proportions, a beautifully imagined story with great appeal to fans of fantasy. Nicholas Rem creates a world where people believe in power and where they adore their heroes — they can place the Cardinals on the level of gods — and this is the premise of the conflict, because one of the gifted ones wants humanity to rediscover their power, to find solutions to problems without relying on the Cardinals. The narrative is done in exquisite prose, with scenes that are skillfully written and focused, capturing great details. The use of subplots and the shifts in scenes and plot lines create a sense of suspense and compels readers to keep on turning the pages. Exodus in Blush is a great achievement, a fantasy tale with strong philosophical questions; skillfully written and utterly engrossing.

Ruffina Oserio

Exodus in Blush by Nicholas Rem is an epic fantasy with a gripping plot and a conflict of staggering proportions. The Hummingbird is an incredibly gifted man who once used his gift of altering matter to destroy an entire civilization. He vanishes as eight equally gifted individuals with signs of his power surface — they are called the Cardinals, and the people adore them, placing all their hope in them. But Sakil, the one under the shadow of a bloodthirsty demi-god, is determined to show humanity that they can beat the Hummingbird and he devices an ingenious plan to get the Cardinals directly involved in the fight. But does he know what he is getting into and is he prepared for what lies ahead?

You’ll love the characters — Sakil, Ira, Kevin, Jay, and a host of others. The author creates interesting names for people and important groups, like the Tide. The writing is exotic, gorgeous, and enjoyable, and the author has a turn of phrase that brings a strong sense of originality into the narrative. World building is impeccable and the reader has powerful visuals of locales and vivid images of elements of the setting. The dialogues are not forced, and I loved the fact that the author uses them sparingly, confident in the power of his prose. The humor is unique and it reflects the world of the characters. Nicholas Rem writes scenes that are focused and creates a striking balance in the narrative. The characters feel real, have depth, and each of them plays an enviable role in the story. Exodus in Blush is engaging, cinematic, and a delightful read.

K.J. Simmill

It had only been four years since the Hummingbird's last slaughter, and now rumours of his return are circling, cutting through the communities just as his own Blush does through those he wishes to destroy. There was another rumor too, one that states the Hummingbird mutated a select few, turning them into Cardinals, but this is not a rumor everyone agrees with. Just as 'the truth' is to be revealed, news spreads of the Hummingbird's return, a return marked by a massacre. Davlacé had been almost peaceful until the accusation of the Cardinals' origin emerges, then one turns rogue, massacring all in his path, and starting a change in the people's view of these gifted ones that - in line with the Hummingbird's return - spells trouble. People will need to unite; even if their short-term objectives differ, they need to uncover the truth and it may not be what it seems.

Exodus in Blush is Nicholas Rem's epic fantasy, perhaps with a touch of anime inspiration. It is filled with manipulation, questions, and subplots as well as world and character building. It is easy to lose yourself in the world created, where detail is paid to things from commerce to social status and fickle-minded opinions. Colorful writing with vivid details help you envisage every scene as they unfold and you'll find yourself eager to unravel the truth behind everything. There are characters you'll love, motives you'll question, surprising twists, and enough intrigue to keep you turning the pages. There are many layers and much depth to the book, making it bound to satisfy lovers of the epic fantasy genre.

K.C. Finn

Exodus in Blush is a mid-length fantasy novel by author Nicholas Rem. Focusing on a strong gods and monsters theme, the novel’s central character is Sakil, who is given the powers of a bloodthirsty god in order to do right by humanity. Meanwhile, our villain comes in the form of the dangerous Hummingbird, a man with Thanos-like powers to deconstruct and rebuild any matter, and the Hummingbird has his sights set on murdering entire civilizations. As an answer to this, the Cardinals were created, a set of saviors who could collectively balance Hummingbird’s powers and though the villain slips away, Sakil knows that Hummingbird will return. As humanity becomes complacent under the protection of its Cardinals, Sakil seeks the chance to use his powers to give the humans their own skills for the future war that’s coming.

An initial warning about Exodus in Blush is that the violence and language are extreme enough, in my opinion, that the book veered very much towards fantasy horror. For me, that was an excellent experience, and I enjoyed the no-holds-barred approach to storytelling which Nicholas Rem possesses. Sometimes shocking, sometimes sad, but always entertaining, Exodus in Blush takes a standard ‘fate of the world’ story to a much darker level with its highly lavish descriptions. The concept of the Cardinals, and particularly humanity’s reliant attitude to them, was very well crafted, and I felt very much for Sakil’s predicament, despite some of the more sinister and rough aspects to his character.

Liz Konkel

Exodus in Blush by Nicholas Rem begins with the death of the Escort which changes the world for the worse. The Hummingbird has used his destructive abilities to slaughter people while the few with power - called the Cardinals - begin to rise, giving people hope again. Sakil sees this as an opportunity like no other, but he has a limited time frame as the Hummingbird is set to return and, if he doesn't act quickly, the Cardinals will rule over humans. Meanwhile, Kevin is sent into a panic when Jay disappears, which coincides with the abduction of Paradox. Jay discovers secrets within the Echoes while Eleanor is determined to fight back, no matter the price.

Nicholas Rem blends together several perspectives in this action-packed fantasy, exploring the idea of humanity. Violence is seen throughout with most of it described as graphic and bloody, but it's never over the top. Each of the characters seems to have an agenda that goes against the other characters, specifically Sakil who has this ultimate plan he's working towards. The pasts of the characters are important, used as the foundation of what shapes them while also providing context to their current situations in the present. Most of the background seems to stem from the specific moments around when the Escort was killed. This not only sets up the disease that ravages the people but also the violence that overcame the world, while also setting the tone for the story, giving it a dark backdrop and an almost melancholy feeling.

This world comes to life, completely immersing you in the lives of these characters and the battle they're fighting. Rem has fun jargon that dives right into the world with terms like the Doubt, the Tide, the Echoes, and the Blush. Each plays a key role in the world. Rem provides layers to the characters which give a better understanding of them. The characters are intriguing, especially the one called Paradox, whose name alone speaks volumes about the role he plays in how the story progresses. Exodus in Blush has magic, violence, and danger in an action-packed fantasy about the fight for survival and humanity.