The Shattered Radiant by Luca Ottonello | Book Review | Gillian Reads
- gillianyoung
- 5 hours ago
- 4 min read
As both a writer and a reader, I’m always excited to find new authors and review the latest releases.
This fantasy adventure weaves tension, suspense, and humour into an enjoyable globetrotting exploration.
I was kindly invited by LiterallyPR to review the first instalment in the Shattered Saga, and as a huge fan of fantasy and adventure, I was delighted to accept.
If you enjoy stories with action, humour, mystery and science fiction, then this might just be the book for you.
@dr_luca_ottonello
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AUTHOR BIO
Luca Ottonello is a globally experienced storyteller, archaeologist, and digital creator whose work bridges history, science and speculative fiction. Having lived and worked across multiple countries, he brings a uniquely international perspective to his writing, shaped by years of immersion in diverse cultures and historical landscapes.
His professional journey spans education, law, administration and archaeology. These experiences provided him with a deep understanding of human systems, structures and the ways in which societies function and evolve.
Luca later specialised in archaeology, focusing on reconstructing ancient environments through advanced 3D technologies. He holds a Master’s degree in Field Archaeology and a PhD in Digital Archaeology and Game Design, in which he explored the intersection of immersive storytelling, historical reconstruction, and interactive systems.
Alongside his academic and professional work, Luca has developed games, systems and experimental technologies driven by a long-standing fascination with how worlds – both real and imagined – are built and experienced.
BOOK BLURB
Not for the faint-hearted, The Shattered Radiant catapults you into the ancient past, only to drag you unceremoniously back to the present. Along for the ride: a reckless looter…ahem, archaeologist, a possessed cat, and a mysterious killer chasing the very same prize as our so-called hero.
This is an adventure book, thriller, mystery, sci-fi epic, and an introduction to fantasy all rolled into one, with a splash of piracy setting sail here and there. You will be outraged, spooked, and you may well hate the protagonist as much as the cat does. If you’re ready for a globetrotting race across Syria, the USA, Egypt, Zambia, the Caribbean, Russia, and beyond, this is a non-stop journey you won’t want to miss.
But be warned: once you begin, you may not be able to stop… at least, not until the cat lets you.
MY REVIEW
The Shattered Radiant is a fast-paced story full of action and adventure, featuring a wonderfully eccentric cast of characters that includes Dr Artemis Stark (an unorthodox Indiana Jones-type adventurer), Bandit (a cat possessed by a slave girl from AD 200), and Nicola Tesla (a professor and the illegitimate son of the famous inventor, Nikola Tesla).
The story takes the reader on a sweeping adventure from the USA to Scotland, Africa, Russia, and Tibet. There is never a dull moment, especially when an eight-foot zombie pirate called Blackbeard is close on the characters' heels.
The Shattered Radiant blends history, legend, mysterious secret orders, and priceless, powerful artefacts that wield unthinkable power. With a mixture like this, what's not to like?
There were, however, a number of typos throughout the book, which I found a little distracting. I feel that a thorough edit would easily remedy this and allow the story to shine even more.
I love the cover, although my first impression was that this might be a children's book, largely because of the cutesy cat on the front. However, I wouldn't recommend it for younger readers as it contains adult themes throughout.
That said, The Shattered Radiant was an enjoyable read and a strong introduction to The Shattered Saga, which I'm sure will be an exciting series.
Thank you, Luca Ottonello and LiterallyPR, for gifting me a copy in exchange for my honest review.
COMING UP NEXT...
Death Wore Sunglasses. The next in the Glass Ceiling Club Cozy Mystery series, by Maree Church.
Here's a little taster of what's to come.
"Following an aborted vacation in Venice, members of the Glass Ceiling Club head to the Amalfi Coast for some peace, quiet, and sunshine. But Chiara Chandler, aka a magnet for murder, upends their plans when a young American woman is murdered the night before Chiara is to meet with her. The murder sets off a series of events that draw them into a sinister plot in which the sins of the past threaten the course of current events."
WIP UPDATE
I've had to put editing my supernatural thriller on hold for a little while because my dad wasn't well and needed looking after. Thankfully, he's now getting stronger, which means I can get back to working on my manuscript.
Before I dive back in, I've made myself a handy editing checklist covering everything from tightening sentences and cutting filler words to removing unnecessary dialogue tags and double emphasis. What can I say? I'm a devil for lists! They help keep me on track—especially as my memory is so rubbish!
Thank you for joining me today, and until next time…
Happy reading!