Duality II Leads to Challenge of the Gods!

Duality II: Travels of a Twin Soul,
Search for the Oracle
by David W. Cupples
PublishAmerica
131 Pages

Please check out my review for David W. Cupples first book, Duality: Travels of a Twin Soul: The Atlantean Adventure. Although the two books can easily be read separately, starting with the first adventure provides added incentive to proceed on to second in this series, Duality II: Travels of a Twin Soul: Search for the Oracle.

I admit that I’m not an ardent fan of fantasy; however, David Cupples goes an extra step in creating his fantasy world for readers that I really appreciate. He uses the character, aptly named the Librarian, who sets the stage at the beginning of each book, explaining a little bit about the two characters who, together, are the “Soul” of the story, and then invites us into the adventure about to be told.

In Search for the Oracle the time period is present-day and we learn that Chris and Mike are the main characters. Interestingly, the Librarian discusses the void in each of the young men as that possibly being a result of each boy’s seemingly being more interested in boys rather than girls. So, both Chris and Mike had chosen homosexuality and the initial contact between the two was based upon that mutual attraction. However, it is not long after they first meet each other, that they receive a letter “to both of them as if one” indicating that they are needed at once!

The Duality represents twin souls in two bodies born as the son to Apollo and together they are given special powers and knowledge so that they might win the quest given them. As memories start to come forward over the 10,000 years since they had last been together, they have their first visitor, Ganymedes (Gan), who will travel with them on their journey, that is, with his first action being to merge two amulets that each wore and the young men found themselves in an entirely different place! And now it was necessary that they reach toward their immortal rather than mortal selves in order to proceed. A drink from the waters of Amrita was necessary to restore all memories!

It was during their sleep, after drinking, that they came to remember how they were born, one individual, but with two bodies. It is only then that they realize that the reason for the “void” each felt was because they were, in essence, one soul! In order to prepare for their journey, Chris, Mike and Gan were magically returned to the age of 13 and made to look like a Native American, an East Indian, and a young man from the Mediterranean area.

The quest for which the Duality was needed was then shared: The Oracle of Delphi, a medium through which mortal men could consult the gods, had been presumably captured. This spirit would transfer itself from one to the next of the mortal women chosen to act as the sitting Oracle. It was discovered that the spirit that was the true Oracle was being held in Tartarus, an underworld abyss that housed the souls of only the most wicked of the dead (p. 62)

Getting into...and out...of the place where the Delphic Oracle was their goal, if it please the gods! But...were they on a wild goose chase? For, before it was all over, the Duality challenged the gods!

Cupples once again proves his great storytelling skills as he takes readers back into ancient times of Apollo and Artemis, Zeus et.al. His writing is characteristic of the period and his research shows a clear understanding of the Greek mythology that provides the underlying support to his own tales. Fantasy lovers will get caught up in this tale of honor and valor – for the Twin Soul becomes Twin Souls!

Enjoy!

G. A. Bixler
IP Book Reviewer

Fantasy - Based Upon Greek Mythology!

Duality: Travels of a Twin Soul,
The Atlantean Adventure
by David W. Cupples
PublishAmerica
ISBN: 1-4137-2855-3
113 pages

In the world of magic, mystery, and mystics, the storyteller of the fantasy into which we are taken is sometimes more important than the story. “Delightful” was my first thought in reading the Prologue and then throughout Duality: Travels of a Twin Soul, The Atlantean Adventure. David Cupples is a storyteller who has carved his niche into fantasy fiction with his first book!

My trips in fantasy preferably have been futuristic—I’ve been a long-time Trekkie who enjoyed the thought of “beaming down” to a distant planet somewhere in the galaxy. Perhaps it was because I understood who Captain Kirk, Spock and other characters were by what jobs they portrayed, as opposed to what species they were. Cupples has solved my trepidation into the land of fantasy by providing the character, The Librarian. For those of us who like to know the “who, what, when and where’s” of the story, The Librarian speaks to us from time to time to ensure we know the answers to our questions. I really loved this and did not find it the least bit intrusive to the tale.

Needless to say, I was totally prepared to understand that one of the main characters, Troy, was a centaur. Wisely, I had already checked the internet before starting to read, but was pleased to have The Librarian explain not only what a centaur was but then I learned that the centaur had been created through the merging of a horse and his rider through magic and sorcery! Thus, I felt totally free to travel to Atlantis, knowing that I wouldn’t get lost in a strange new world. Now, that is why I call David Cupples a talented storyteller! Duality is an adventure story for the young and old. I was pleasantly surprised that nobody was murdered—even the Darklord! David Cupples has given us an exciting story without the violence seen so much today!

What happens when the world is threatened by the supernatural power that comes through magic and sorcery? When those who have such powers constantly choose and strive to expand the limits of those powers? Do those who use their power for good always win? Or will the Darklord and his followers actually do everything in their power to destroy the world?

Anyone who loves fantasies knows about Atlantis, a wonderful place of fantasy and mystery. The Darklord, however, has done his usual and has turned a vast part of Atlantis into a desert, badlands where nothing can grow and no bird or beast can live. This place can no longer be called wondrous and no people can survive there anymore. Additionally, a sorcerer, in testing his own power has succeeded in leaving his human form and travels as energy wherever he wants, creating breaches into many other dimensions. It is into this unstable world that the gods have sent one of their own—child of Apollo.

Alan and Troy is the main character. Yes, Alan and Troy have one soul with two bodies. Each provided with special powers and strength, which together, will provide what was needed to save Atlantis.

Early in their life Alan and Troy had found each other and grew up being best of friends, with no inkling that their birth had been foretold, that they were truly one person, and that they were destined for a great quest. They knew they had special gifts from the gods, but Alan’s gift for hunting became most important as, by the age of 15, he was providing much of the meat killed for the village. It had been through the wandering and hunting that Alan first met Troy who lived in a secret place that was filled with creatures such as him. But the elders of Alan’s village did not condone this relationship and began to have Alan followed to see what mischief he and his friend got into.

And, as a normal young boy, Alan did get in trouble. His decision to place one of his followers, naked and shackled, in front of the temple of Zeus, was mischievous and his intent was not to dishonor the god. However, the village elders use the desecration to banish him permanently. Ah, but, Apollo had already come to Alan and told him his punishment from the gods was to go on a great quest into the badlands, thus reducing the impact of the elders judgment.

Alan and Troy knew one thing and one thing only—they were embarking on a great adventure!

Troy makes the decision where to go on the first day as they enter the secret homelands where he was from. There they meet the leader of the group—only to learn how he himself had opposed the Darklord and had been the first centaur created, when the Darklord punished him by merging him with his horse. The gods had saved his life, but had added great wings to his form, by which he could not fly, but by which he was to learn. Making gifts of weaponry to Alan and Troy, he sent them on to the badlands.

I recommend that you travel on into the badlands—and into other dimensions—with our two heroes and those they meet along the way. I promise you’ll enjoy sharing in their quest!

G. A. Bixler
IP Book Reviewer