Paradoxon: Invitation of the Dying Love
$17.00
Paradoxon: Invitation of the Dying Love is the story of Rae, a girl born in the stratified city of Onze. A city ready to destroy itself. When she receives a cryptic invitation, Rae is united in a rocky companionship with four strangers. But only the mysterious paradox of a “dying love” can help them stay together and save the city they love. (417 pages)
Interested in book two? Check it out at Paradoxon: Letters of the Dying Love or save money with one of our Paradoxon Gift Bundles!
Paradoxon: Invitation of the Dying Love
"Are you sure this is the journey you want to take?"
Rae fled from the edge of the city. She was late. Already the rumble of the nightly riot had begun. But as she ran, she had no idea it would be for the last time…
Paradoxon: Invitation of the Dying Love is the story of a young woman named Rae, who was born in the stratified city of Onze, a city divided by physical boundaries and social status. For as long as Rae can remember, her life has revolved around the city’s terrifying nightly riots among the poorest of the poor. Lately, those riots have been getting worse.
When Rae receives a mysterious invitation from a man who calls himself the “Steward” to leave Onze for a promise of training that will help overcome the violence, Rae finds herself thrown together with four other young people, all perfect strangers, who share a desire to the city restored…and little else.
These five would-be companions form a tenuous bond to brave the harrowing journey but discover that only the age-old paradox of the Dying Love can help them overcome their own vast divides and bring peace to their divided city. That is, if the mysterious threat that dogs their steps doesn’t unravel them before they even begin...
Additional information
| Weight | 1.25 lbs |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 5.25 × 8 × .9375 in |
| Pages | 417 |
Jared (verified owner) –
Paradoxon is an adventure/fantasy light novel that really fills that need for quality stories that are uplifting (yet authentic), rewarding (but not burdensome), and interesting (without being more focused on “look at me!” writing skills than the characters and story at hand). This book amazes you when you least expect it. The most profound lessons are between the lines, but still right there at the surface.
My experience with the story (without getting into the plot) is that it’s poetic without being poetry. Paradoxon is intelligent art that doesn’t spoon feed lessons, and it stretches your perspective without esoteric high-mindedness. I would have preferred something like this in high school for analyzing deep literature, in that there’s more value to sift beneath the surface, but everything is approachable in today’s language. Often you have to back a century or more to find literature that illuminates human nature, because modern art either holds human nature too small, or hides its insights in too many other untruths. So old literature is great, but for readers today, Janice’s novel is real art, but it goes down like butter.
Charlene Giiles –
I loved how unpredictable this book is! I never knew what would happen next. Also, the characters were multidimensional, rather than the extremes of “good guys” and “bad guys.” I wish I could meet each of them in person!
Trish Martin –
I loved this book!!! Lots of plot twists and turns as five strangers on their own personal quests try to overcome their own particular struggles and work together to save the world they live in. Extremely well written, thought-provoking and very captivating. This is a very hard book to put down!!! It keeps you on the edge of your seat waiting to find out what happens next. I am anxiously waiting for Part 2!!
This is one of the best books I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading! For a first-time author, Janice has gone above and beyond with this compelling read. I highly recommend it!
Patricia Broome (verified owner) –
I absolutely loved reading Paradoxon: Invitation of the Dying Love. The way the characters and story-line were woven together reminded me of single threads in a fine piece of tapestry. For Janice to be a first-time author, I was extremely impressed with how much her writing style reminded me of George MacDonald, one of my favorites. There were definite surprises throughout the journey, and I am eagerly anticipating Part 2 of this very well written piece of literary art.
Maggie Elrod –
This book was fantastic! Grabs you right off the bat, fast-paced, surprising twists and turns, well developed characters – like I said, a fantastic book! Can’t wait for the next in the series.
Debbie (verified owner) –
When a book invites you into itself and you find yourself taking each step with every character and looking around every corner with them, it does what it is supposed to do. It hooks you. I’m ready for book two.
Deanna Karyn –
…There is so much truth in this book that is incredibly relevant and vital for the times we live in, and I cannot wait to read the second half!
Cheri Foster –
This book is really, REALLY good- I can’t wait to order the next.
It’s like Screwtape Letters meets Pilgrims Progress. Delightful.
Joy Crabtree –
Loved it! The story develops quickly to engage the reader. Then pulls you into the characters – identifying with or distrusting one character then another, only to change your mind back and forth as the story develops. The author keeps you off balance with the twists and revelations of depth of character and plot.
And best of all, before you realize it, you find the characters’ ‘training’ becomes your own.
My only regret – not having already purchased the sequel before finishing the first.
Danielle Baker (verified owner) –
Loved loved loved your book. It is a must read for all…
Abigail Wendt –
What an amazing story! The characters are so complex and so like us. The hope of something beyond and the change process is so compelling. Unraveling real truths through story this book rivals writings of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R Tolkien.
Rhonda –
Gripping. Paradoxon is a modern day Pilgrims Promise that rivals tales like Narnia. Challenging you to see deeper truths. I look forward to gifting this book to many friends.
Rachel Bradley –
“Love is your only guarantee, yet from it we most often flee, for it never comes as expected and rarely as wished for” (Invitation to the Dying Love, p. 401).
Even as a professional editor, I rarely encounter books as engaging, profound, and multifaceted as the Paradoxon stories. The five main characters are equally relatable with a unique past and wide range of depth. Readers are drawn into their mysterious quest where the stakes are high and the outcome is constantly in question.
Rae, Traice, Karyn, David, and Michelle meet for the first time as a result of an unexpected invitation they’ve received to travel as a group to the house of the elusive “Steward.” Each invitation holds the promise of an answer to the individual’s personal question. But how could the Steward even be aware of their private inquiries, let alone hold the answers to them? The group bands together to make the harrowing journey and form an unpredictable and tenuous bond that only the discovery of true love will preserve.
The Paradoxon books are an especially delightful adventure that spoke to me personally of the sacrificial love of my Savior, Jesus Christ, through the parable of the “Paradox” and his love for the people of Onze. It reaches through personal ambition and egocentric priorities to expose the truth that triumphant love requires one first to experience death to self. Through their challenges, mistakes, miscommunications, and close calls, the unlikely friends learn what unity can look like and that there is a unique kind of dying that ends in life.
These books were the best fictional reading experience I’ve ever had, and I’m greatly anticipating the opportunity to read through them again.
Meg Wilson –
This was truly a phenomenal book. The story was engaging, causing me to emotionally connect to the characters, rooting and caring for each of them as I read. I enjoyed the variety of personalities and the relatability with which the characters interacted with one another. It is rare that a fictional story causes me to reevaluate my own ways of thinking, but this book did just that. As I read, I was challenged on the ways that I view God and myself. I loved this book and absolutely recommend it!