The Left Hand of God

By: Paul Hoffman

Narrated by: Steve West

Paul Hoffman's novel of astonishing scope and imagination, featuring a darkly gifted teenage boy at the center of a brutal holy war, grabs the reader from its incredible opening lines and refuses to let go. The Left Hand of God is the first novel in an epic, ambitious trilogy that will prove irresistible to the readers who have turned the Inheritance Cycle, Twilight, and the His Dark Materials series into publishing phenomena.

The Left Hand of God is the story of sixteen-year-old Thomas Cale, who has grown up imprisoned at the Sanctuary of the Redeemers, a fortress run by a secretive sect of warrior monks in a distant, dystopian past. He is one of thousands of boys who train all day in hand-to-hand combat, in preparation for a holy war that only the High Priests know is now imminent. He has no reason to think he's special, no idea there's another world outside the compound's walls, and no hope for a life any different from the one he already knows.

And then, Cale opens a door.

What follows is a daring escape, an unlikely alliance, a desperate pursuit, a journey of incredible discovery, and an adventure the likes of which Cale could never possibly have imagined, culminating in Cale's astonishing realization that he alone has the power to save his world- or to destroy it.

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slow at first.

it started off slow and I thought I was going to have to struggle to get through it. but it is a story that builds in its excitement and action. a lot of obvious Boy Meets Girl. but it does try not to overdo it

Compelling storyline that goes its own way.

Very happy to listen to an interesting story that strays from the tried and true. Not quite as dark as much of the new adult fantasy reads, this book still has a sense of realism of character and emotion drawing upon some of the uglier parts of the human condition (Sorry to say "human condition" in a review, but it fits).

The story is told by an abstract, somewhat snarky omniscient narrator (a bit like a college professor)--which I kind of enjoyed (although the narrator's influence/presence waxes and wanes throughout the book).

The story follows the life and trials of a young boy who you are introduced to as an acolyte in a fanatical religious compound.

The story is creative and engaging and kept me captivated from start to finish.

An enjoyable read

I struggled about halfway through this book but the last couple of chapters did make up for it. I didn't really enjoy the main character or his romance but the politics and military aspects I did enjoy.

Felt a connection with protagonist

It was good! It had a good mix of story development and action. It was you classic under dog story with an anti-hero as the protagonist. I highly recommend that you give it a listen!

Enjoyed every minute

I enjoyed every minute. There are very few books I can say that about. I am surprised more people have not read it. I guess I like books on the extreme ends of mood. I like very optimistic books or books where whatever you do it is the wrong thing. Robin Hobb and Orson Scott Card often write books like the later. This has the flavor of something Hobb and George R. R. Martin might write together. One phrase from the book goes " The solution to every problem is always another problem."

The books starts out with some kids who have never known there parents and are being raised in a monastery where they are beaten, starved and told they are sinners. A typical meal on a good day would be dead man's feet. Rats are considered a delicacy.

The main character is a trained killer. There are several intense moments and you will feel them.

If you liked Gargoyle, I believe you will like this. If you like Card, Hobb or Martin you will like this. I have a new favorite author.