A SPECTER’S JOURNEY opens with Jackie Clarke caught in a perilous gunfight trying to save his wife from her kidnappers. He endeavors into a sinister scheme, but his objective remains the same: save Melody. However, his mission is far from simple. The journey to be reunited with the one he loves spans across different names, lifetimes, and worlds. As his transcendent voyage continues, not only does he begin to question his own existence, he questions why he exists.
We get to know our protagonist as Walker when he’s in the Crafter’s Cosmos, one of the many worlds he’s encountered. This story is innovative in its concept: it takes what we know about the afterlife and turns it into a sci-fi escapade. Not only do we get to explore the far corners of the universe with Walker, we get to see what happens after someone dies and how their place in the afterlife is determined. What begins as a violent bloodbath turns into a redeeming adventure-of-sorts.
Unfortunately, the concept is the best part of the Odabas’ work. Most if not all of the characters are one-dimensional. Surprisingly, the character that shows the least amount of depth is our protagonist, Walker. Aside from finding his wife, the only other item on his agenda is having the uncanny ability to know what’s best for the group, and having them carry on accordingly. There’s nothing wrong with having a redeemable main character—but it becomes problematic when he sacrifices relatability for righteousness.
The story immerses you in an inconsistent narrative. There are laws and customs that exist without reason, and the rationale behind salvation comes down to actions being put into algorithms. However, the story does engage the reader at some points, particularly in the visualization of the different worlds. Some chapters overflow with vibrant descriptions and haunting imagery. The Inferno is a world that really stands out, the realm where the irredeemable go.
There are moments of passion in Walker’s struggle. We begin to see an overarching theme: “Man is nothing else but what he makes of himself.” Though any journey is what you make it, A SPECTER’S JOURNEY falls short. Don’t count on it being an enlightening experience
A SPECTER’S JOURNEY is a peculiar blend of sci-fi and existentialism—which produces an interesting result.
~ IndieReader.