Thrillers & Suspense
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Truth of the Divine: A Novel (Noumena, 2)
USA TODAY BESTSELLER
Truth of the Divine is the latest alternate-history first-contact novel in the Noumena series from the instant New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times bestselling author Lindsay Ellis.
The human race is at a crossroads; we know that we are not alone, but details about the alien presence on Earth are still being withheld from the public. As the political climate grows more unstable, the world is forced to consider the ramifications of granting human rights to nonhuman persons. How do you define "person" in the first place?
Cora Sabino not only serves as the full-time communication intermediary between the alien entity Ampersand and his government chaperones but also shares a mysterious bond with him that is both painful and intimate in ways neither of them could have anticipated. Despite this, Ampersand is still keen on keeping secrets, even from Cora, which backfires on them both when investigative journalist Kaveh Mazandarani, a close colleague of Cora's unscrupulous estranged father, witnesses far more of Ampersand's machinations than anyone was meant to see.
Since Cora has no choice but to trust Kaveh, the two must work together to prove to a fearful world that intelligent, conscious beings should be considered persons, no matter how horrifying, powerful, or malicious they may seem. Making this case is hard enough when the public doesn't know what it's dealing with―and it will only become harder when a mysterious flash illuminates the sky, marking the arrival of an agent of chaos that will light an already-unstable world on fire.
With a voice completely her own and more than a million YouTube subscribers, Lindsay Ellis deepens her realistic exploration of the reality of a planet faced with the presence of extraterrestrial intelligence, probing the essential questions of humanity and decency, and the boundaries of the human mind.
While asking the question of what constitutes a "person," Ellis also examines what makes a monster.
Truth of the Divine is the latest alternate-history first-contact novel in the Noumena series from the instant New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times bestselling author Lindsay Ellis.
The human race is at a crossroads; we know that we are not alone, but details about the alien presence on Earth are still being withheld from the public. As the political climate grows more unstable, the world is forced to consider the ramifications of granting human rights to nonhuman persons. How do you define "person" in the first place?
Cora Sabino not only serves as the full-time communication intermediary between the alien entity Ampersand and his government chaperones but also shares a mysterious bond with him that is both painful and intimate in ways neither of them could have anticipated. Despite this, Ampersand is still keen on keeping secrets, even from Cora, which backfires on them both when investigative journalist Kaveh Mazandarani, a close colleague of Cora's unscrupulous estranged father, witnesses far more of Ampersand's machinations than anyone was meant to see.
Since Cora has no choice but to trust Kaveh, the two must work together to prove to a fearful world that intelligent, conscious beings should be considered persons, no matter how horrifying, powerful, or malicious they may seem. Making this case is hard enough when the public doesn't know what it's dealing with―and it will only become harder when a mysterious flash illuminates the sky, marking the arrival of an agent of chaos that will light an already-unstable world on fire.
With a voice completely her own and more than a million YouTube subscribers, Lindsay Ellis deepens her realistic exploration of the reality of a planet faced with the presence of extraterrestrial intelligence, probing the essential questions of humanity and decency, and the boundaries of the human mind.
While asking the question of what constitutes a "person," Ellis also examines what makes a monster.
Editorial Reviews
Praise for Truth of the Divine:
"Ellis continues to use her sharp, mid-2000s, first-contact series to delve into serious topics both personal and political." ―Booklist
"Ellis draws skillful parallels between her science-fictional politics and real world issues, gracefully navigating the difficult topics of discrimination, violent extremism, mental health, and addiction. This thought-provoking novel will linger long in readers' minds." ―Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"The rare second book in a series that improves the first in hindsight, alternately thrilling and gut-wrenching, Truth of the Divine will put your expectations in its crosshairs and then nuke them from orbit. From aliens with inscrutable motives, to conniving bureaucrats and armed hate groups, you really get the sense that this is what a first contact scenario would actually look like. And I don't mean that in a good way." ―Jason Pargin, New York Times bestselling author of John Dies at the End
Praise for Lindsay Ellis and Axiom's End:
"Axiom's End is somehow deeply aware of not just what it is to be human, but what it is to be any intelligent species. It's as real as any first-contact story I have ever read. Wonderfully plotted and paced, the adventure never lets up, and neither does the insight." ―Hank Green, #1 New York Times bestselling author of An Absolutely Remarkable Thing
"So much fun. Lindsay Ellis's experience as one of our sharpest cultural observers gives Axiom's End an edge of realism that makes it both cutting and compelling. Close encounters have a whole new look."
―John Scalzi, New York Times bestselling author and Hugo Award winner
"Axiom's End is eerily plausible and wildly entertaining. An alternate history that fully delivers on its premise." ―Caitlin Doughty, New York Times Bestselling Author and Mortician
"Lindsay Ellis's storytelling is what good science fiction should be: smart but heartfelt, full of profound ideas delivered with a sense of humanity. Axiom's End is engaging precisely because it is about something all of us have experienced: That moment when you grow up enough to realize that the universe is more wondrous―and dangerous than you could ever have imagined."
―Jason Pargin, New York Times bestselling author
"Axiom's End: if you enjoy first contact tales, alien cultures, inexplicable found families, beautiful chaos and elegantly constructed stories." ―Seanan McGuire, New York Times bestselling author and Hugo Award Winner
"Suspenseful and inventive, but also funny and full of ac...
"Ellis continues to use her sharp, mid-2000s, first-contact series to delve into serious topics both personal and political." ―Booklist
"Ellis draws skillful parallels between her science-fictional politics and real world issues, gracefully navigating the difficult topics of discrimination, violent extremism, mental health, and addiction. This thought-provoking novel will linger long in readers' minds." ―Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"The rare second book in a series that improves the first in hindsight, alternately thrilling and gut-wrenching, Truth of the Divine will put your expectations in its crosshairs and then nuke them from orbit. From aliens with inscrutable motives, to conniving bureaucrats and armed hate groups, you really get the sense that this is what a first contact scenario would actually look like. And I don't mean that in a good way." ―Jason Pargin, New York Times bestselling author of John Dies at the End
Praise for Lindsay Ellis and Axiom's End:
"Axiom's End is somehow deeply aware of not just what it is to be human, but what it is to be any intelligent species. It's as real as any first-contact story I have ever read. Wonderfully plotted and paced, the adventure never lets up, and neither does the insight." ―Hank Green, #1 New York Times bestselling author of An Absolutely Remarkable Thing
"So much fun. Lindsay Ellis's experience as one of our sharpest cultural observers gives Axiom's End an edge of realism that makes it both cutting and compelling. Close encounters have a whole new look."
―John Scalzi, New York Times bestselling author and Hugo Award winner
"Axiom's End is eerily plausible and wildly entertaining. An alternate history that fully delivers on its premise." ―Caitlin Doughty, New York Times Bestselling Author and Mortician
"Lindsay Ellis's storytelling is what good science fiction should be: smart but heartfelt, full of profound ideas delivered with a sense of humanity. Axiom's End is engaging precisely because it is about something all of us have experienced: That moment when you grow up enough to realize that the universe is more wondrous―and dangerous than you could ever have imagined."
―Jason Pargin, New York Times bestselling author
"Axiom's End: if you enjoy first contact tales, alien cultures, inexplicable found families, beautiful chaos and elegantly constructed stories." ―Seanan McGuire, New York Times bestselling author and Hugo Award Winner
"Suspenseful and inventive, but also funny and full of ac...
Readers Top Reviews
Samantha StarlingCri
I bought a copy of her first book and really liked it but wasn't entralled by it. This one however is much darker and overall more mature. Her writing has also improved so much! It read likes very good fiction instead of something a YouTuber I really like wrote. I'd give the first honestly a 3 and this one a 4.5!
Meghann H.
While I did very much enjoy “Axoim’s End”, I do agree with reviewers who say this book is even stronger than the first. I feel like Lindsay Ellis really hit her stride in this book and it makes me really excited for the future of this series. While reading, I was thoroughly engaged and the story didn’t hit any lulls like AE did. I also really enjoyed the character development and I especially liked seeing how Cora’s psyche morphed as the plot progressed. The addition of Kaveh was much needed and his perspective added a lot of depth to the themes being explored. All in all, I highly recommend “Truth of the Divine” and I’ll be impatiently waiting for book 3!
Vanessa
In Truth of the Divine, we meet Cora Sabino working as an official communication intermediary between alien Ampersand and the US government. The events of Axiom’s End have resulted in her being newly diagnosed with PTSD and struggling to manage her symptoms without access to treatment. Although citizens of Earth are now aware of the presence of ETI’s (intelligent extraterrestrials), the government continues to withhold details causing further turmoil in an already unstable political climate. As Cora’s relationship with Ampersand becomes more fraught, they are forced to work alongside investigative journalist Kaveh Mazandarani after he stumbles upon suspicious activities late one night. Together they attempt to change the escalating narrative surrounding what constitutes personhood as the decision to deny rights to ETI’s has serious implications for human rights as well. This second chapter of the Noumena series takes a serious tonal shift and delves heavily into the effects of trauma and the toll it takes on a person’s health, not only for Cora but also for Ampersand. I highly recommend reading the Author’s note at the beginning of the novel for content warnings before getting into the story. Some things I loved: - New character, Nikola. For me this character brought a lot of levity to some otherwise dark subject matter. - How the story is delivered. Interspersed within the narrative of the book are news articles or an exchange of emails which for me really elevates the story and creates a greater sense of the world. - Focus on mental health. In my experience, F/SF doesn’t generally dwell much on the trauma characters face and the real tole it takes on a person. While I like to see more discussion of mental health in F/SF, I did have to put the book down briefly at times because there was a lot to process emotionally. Some things I’m not sure about: - Cora’s mom and siblings are barely mentioned. I get that she’s upset with her mom and needs space after the events of the first novel, but it’s weird to me that she doesn’t account for them at all before making a pretty staggering decision in the final chapters. - This book is told in duel perspective, leaning heavily towards Kaveh. Functionally, I understand the need to spend more time with him; he is largely moving the plot forward while Cora struggles with her mental health. Regardless, I really missed Cora’s character; but I guess she’s really not that person anymore. - Cora’s relationship with Kaveh. This is something that I’m still processing and can’t really get into without spoilers. I really enjoyed Truth of the Divine and highly recommend the Noumena series overall. I’m thankful to have experienced this book early as an e-arc with NetGalley and I absolutely went and bought myself a hard copy as well. All opinions are my own.
MarciaJason
As much as I loved the 1st book Axiom's End, I disliked Truth of the Divine. Way too much political and personal agendas!! Storyline was haphazard and boring at the same time. Everything that made the first book enjoyable was mostly missing here. Too many pseudofacts, too much detailed suffering and angst. and what's with all the name changing?? BOOO! I'll keep the 1st book and discard this one..
This book was the most thorough unpacking of self destructive tendencies I've ever seen in fiction. A few things in it felt way too familiar, there's a disturbingly accurate account of how hard it can be to talk about bad thoughts and feelings. There was also refreshingly honest commentary on how difficult mental help is to access without money. Plot and character drama wise, the story is fast paced and compelling. I burned through this on a single Saturday and now I feel like I need to go contemplate my existence.
