Tuesday, September 8, 2015

BLOG TOUR: The Maze--The Lost Labyrinth by Jason Brannon

 photo The Maze banner_zpsp8enzl5b.jpg

About the Book:
Title: The Maze
Author: Jason Brannon
Publisher: Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas
Pages: 186
Genre: Christian Suspense/Fantasy
Format: Paperback/Kindle/Audiobook

 photo The Maze 2_zpsvrbw1hxu.jpg

Synopsis: A near death experience transports Jamie Burroughs into The Maze, a realm built by angels and demons and filled with traps and riddles for those haunted by their mistakes.

For Jamie, The Maze becomes a terrifying journey through a world of darkness where his soul and the lives of those he loves hangs in the balance. With his family in danger and his soul in peril, Jamie is forced to reevaluate the kind of man he truly is as he struggles to escape The Maze before it’s too late.

For More Information
The Maze is available at Amazon.
Pick up your copy at Barnes & Noble.
Watch the trailer at YouTube.
Discuss this book at PUYB Virtual Book Club at Goodreads.

Review: There is more to this book than meets the eye at first read. It seems like your average horror/suspense/fantasy novel if you only take it at face value. However, if you read it with an eye toward the allegorical (think Pilgrim's Progress), it becomes a very different story--one that applies to us all.


Each of us is less than perfect, and we are constantly battling our sinful nature. This story shows that even the "smallest" sin can have unexpected consequences in our lives and in the lives of others. There is always hope for a way out, though--and in this case, that hope is God.

This is my first experience with this author, and I was very impressed with his descriptive turns of phrase, and the emotion that flowed through the entire story. HIGHLY recommending this one!

Rating: Four stars

Book Excerpt:
The maze was complex and mysterious, and like snowflakes, no two mazes were identical. Each labyrinth was built from the blueprint of a man's life and tailored to fit his soul. Sins and virtues alike were included in the architecture. Yet, in this case, the transgressions were far more plentiful.
The cobblestone steps lay covered in thick tangles of thorny vines. The air stank of decay and decadence; the hallways were encrusted with black ice and sin. Angels roamed the hallways with hammers and chisels, feverishly writing on the walls. Some carved instructions for the tortured soul who would soon find himself trapped inside. Others planted clues for his escape. Demons skulked in the darker places and searched for hiding places to deploy traps. Others sharpened weapons.
Only two outcomes awaited the man who would soon be imprisoned within the walls of the maze. The angels hoped for redemption. The demons hoped for death.
Men had stumbled in the darkness of the maze before and given up their souls willingly in order to escape. Others solved the puzzles within, realized the true potential of this place, and became new creatures. Transformation was the key to freedom from this particular prison. However, some never figured that out and stumbled in darkness forever.
Asterion had a special role to play. Inside these twisting, turning passageways, he was the law. Neither angel nor demon had a stronghold here. The decision to escape the maze or wander in darkness belonged entirely to the lost soul. The choice couldn't be forced. The demons, however, always looked for an advantage. Often times they cheated, going outside the maze to find a way to gain the upper hand. The moment the minotaur heard flute song, he knew what they had done.
They had called for reinforcements, and The Piper had finally arrived.
Asterion watched as imps hefted pickaxes, pushed carts filled with rock, raised new walls, set snares, and consulted the blueprint for the labyrinth to make sure all of the appropriate sins would be included in the architecture. Conviction or destruction of the heart depended on that more than anything else. As they worked, Asterion heard them snickering to themselves. The demons thought they were clever calling in The Piper. What the demons didn't realize was that the angels snickered too. Prayers were being offered up by the faithful, and their prayers were being heard.
The war had begun.

Book Trailer:


About The Author
 photo Jason Brannon_zps25yxmowt.jpg Jason Brannon is the author of numerous short story collections, novellas, and novels. He has seen more than 100 short stories published in various venues. His short fiction has been compiled in collections like Puzzles of Flesh, The Machinery of Infinity, and Five Days on the Banks of the Acheron. His most recent books include The Cage, Winds of Change, The Misunderstood and Other Misfit Horrors, and The Order of the Bull. Numerous titles have also been translated into German by Basilisk Verlag. 

For More Information
Visit Jason Brannon’s website.
Connect with Jason on Facebook and Twitter.
Find out more about Jason at Goodreads.

No comments: