Rise of the Savior: Acolyte of Truth is the prequel to Antoine Bonner's fantasy novel Rise of the Hearts. Despite being a prequel, Rise of the Savior also works seamlessly as a standalone novel. High school graduate Amanda finds herself at a crossroads when a freak accident transports her to the realm of her kundalini and transforms her into an acolyte of truth. Unbeknownst to Amanda, her six-year-old apathetic sister and child prodigy Saira is an acolyte of transcendence. Meanwhile, taking advantage of his son's terminal illness, the Deity of Death Chigaru converts Jaime, a man with a troubled life, into his acolyte. As circumstances put Amanda on Jaime's murderous path, she discerns that she must do everything she can to stop Jaime and save humanity's future.

Entertaining and wondrously imaginative, Antoine Bonner's fantasy odyssey is a thrilling ride from start to finish. Despite being unfamiliar with the earlier entry, I found Rise of the Savior: Acolyte of Truth to be a fulfilling story that has only stirred my intrigue for Antoine Bonner's series. It is a fast-paced adventure story set in a uniquely creative world with some quirky and likable characters. I found Jaime's contradictory nature of yin and yang fascinating and enjoyed Amanda and Saira's unique sisterly dynamic. The mysterious and powerful nature of the deities is another aspect that triggered my curiosity about the world, and I hope to see them fleshed out further in the sequels. I would recommend Rise of the Savior: Acolyte of Truth to fantasy fans.

Rise of the Savior: Acolyte of Truth by Antoine Bonner combines elements of coming-of-age with urban fantasy and science fiction to create an adventure that is exciting to follow. It follows eighteen-year-old Amanda who thinks she is a normal, ordinary girl with no big ambitions. She only dreams of leaving town for college, enhancing her karate skills, and connecting deeper with her sister. But she has the attention of a deity who has other plans for her after a car accident. The deity gifts her with unique skills, including the ability to detect lies and to summon guns from thin air. As an acolyte of truth, she is supposed to protect the world. But there is an acolyte of death, Jamie Connor, also gifted with the powers of darkness. Does Amanda stand any chance against him and his nefarious plan to rob children of their life forces?

Antoine Bonner has crafted an engaging story with characters that are well-developed and memorable. The protagonist might look like the typical hero in this kind of story—naïve and unassuming, someone who is unaware of her powers and who wakes up from an accident to find life incredibly different. But readers will enjoy her developmental curve and how she eventually takes charge and accepts her destiny. The villain is strong, cunning, and hard to defeat, which raises the odds for the young protagonist. It is the story of good vs evil, but the difference this novel makes from familiar tales is in the small details and the twists that the author introduces into the plot. Rise of the Savior: Acolyte of Truth is imaginative, fast-paced, and loaded with action. The characters are realistic, the writing gorgeous, and the world-building impeccably accomplished.

Rise of the Savior: Acolyte of Truth by Antoine Bonner is a clever, entertaining urban fantasy novel that will completely immerse you. Amanda is 18 years old, and the reluctant hero of this compelling story. As a young woman, her plans are to leave her home and head out for college, join karate competitions, and try to figure out Saira, her unconventional little sister, who is six. But her plans are interrupted when she is chosen to be the acolyte of truth by an ancient deity. Things start to shake up in her life. She lives through an auto accident, possessing the ability to call guns from nothing, and finds herself an instant lie detector, meaning that she can determine immediately if someone is lying to her or telling the truth. In addition to these things, the deity that rescued her wants her to use her powers to save the world, and Jamie Connor is first on the list. She is to defeat him, as he is an acolyte of death, and plans to rob the life force of children in order to save his own son who is dying. Amanda finds herself in a world of age-old deities and seemingly impenetrable acolytes, clandestine agencies, and dangerous entities. Is she a savior? She really wants no part of this, but Jamie zeroing in on her little sister Saira forces her to face her fears, find her strength, and fulfill her destiny.

Bonner is talented at worldbuilding and plot development, so there is a lot to unpack in this engrossing story. Even though this is a prequel to his first novel, it's also a standalone, which is refreshing. It's a work you can sink your teeth into for a complete read and has the feel and energy of a fast-paced screenplay. This author uses his clever imagination to create a story you can get caught up in, characters you care about, and fresh ideas. I like the idea that Amanda is somewhat unsure of herself, and that it takes her little sister being in jeopardy to show her what is at stake. Yes, the stakes are high, and you journey with Amanda to find out if she has what it takes to rise to the occasion. I like the main characters, and Jamie is intriguing, to say the least. Rise of the Savior: Acolyte of Truth by Antoine Bonner is the perfect vehicle for fantasy fans.