A.R.R - Questing For Uberjoy by Konrad Ventana

Questing for Berjoy: Book Three of the Post-Lux Trilogy by Konrad Ventana

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Blurb From Goodreads

They called her " berjoy," but her real name was Joycelyn Eberhard. She was a finalist in the Miss Teen Idaho beauty pageant, but now she's gone missing-in China, no less. Her fianc, Orion, worried when she signed up for the Peace Corps, but he never expected something like this. Her disappearance is shattering to him, so he has no choice but to head overseas and search for the woman he loves.

His search takes him to the remote Himalaya Mountains in Nepal and Tibet, where getting help from local authorities is not as easy as he would have hoped. He is forced to seek assistance elsewhere, from intrepid special operations mercenaries and unorthodox mountaineering guides. Soon, Orion's search targets not only his fianc, but the meaning of life itself.

Set in the mountains of China-where earth meets sky in more ways than one-Questing for berjoy is a quest for love. It is also a quest for meaning, as Eastern culture surrounds heroic Orion and teaches him more about himself than any experience in America. One moment philosophical and the next filled with danger, it is a story that could change your life and send you on your own quest for mountaintop enlightenment.

My Review

I wasn't sure if not reading the first two books would be an issue but after reading it I think you could easily pick this up without the previous two. Orion is our main character and sets out to rescue his beloved Joycelyn (Uberjoy) who has been taken along with other teachers and children by some "soldiers" whilst caught in the middle of a political war. During his journey to find her he gets some help from some unusual characters along the way and embarks on a journey of self discovery and personal depths.

I was on the fence with this one as I tend to find it difficult to get on with books that are set out of my comfort zone but the story sounded really good. For me there was too much on a philosophical level then mixed with pretty graphic murders, brutality and war casualties and I know for some this can go together and make for good reading but it just doesn't do it for me. I did find the personal recall of a young boys trauma and fight for life quite touching but otherwise it just wasn't for me.

I also had an issue with our hero when he began his journey and there was an incident with himself and an item of his beloveds undergarment, that put him off on a bad sted with me although some people may be able to identify with it I found it weird and really had no place in the start of Orions journey.

I was also left with some questions and puzzled about how some of the characters came into touch with Orion and knew about the situation but had little to do with the actual rescue mission. Then there is how the story came to end and had I loved and got on with all the philosophical stuff I wouldn't have been happy with the ending but I do know that some people love that kind of ending so I would say if you like a mixed bag give it a shot. 2/5 for me, thanks to the author for the chance to read this and review it. Available on Amazon in all formats (paperback, hardback and kindle).

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