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Christina McMullen
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Past Life Strife (Rise of the Discordant Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Christina McMullen (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.1 out of 5 stars 61 ratings
Welcome to Blackbird, a small Midwest town with a big paranormal problem.

As an Observer, Seth is tasked with identifying lost souls. An unenviable job under normal circumstances, but the situation takes a turn for the worse when Blackbird’s Guardian calls it quits. With no one to take her place, Seth finds himself partnered with Desmond, a powerful and intimidating Warrior, who sees the downtrodden Observer as a liability.

Desmond’s fears are all but validated when a magical disturbance draws even more Discordant creatures to the area, including a deadly femme fatale from Seth’s past, and Bogie, a demon with a heart of gold and a tenuous grasp on the English language.

To save Blackbird (and eventually the world), the agents must set aside their differences and team up with a ragtag group of local mystics. Together, they might win the day, or they just might make things a whole lot worse.
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  1. Book 1 of 5
    Rise of the Discordant
  2. Print length
    163 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    November 18, 2014
  6. File size
    4.1 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Shop this series

 See full series
There are 5 books in this series.

From the Publisher

A teaser showing while this series has serious elements, it's quite humorous.
Rise of the Discordant, the complete 5 book series. Humorous cozy urban fantasy.
Rise of the Discordant box set cover

Also available in a complete series box set

Christina McMullen, Sci-fi and fantasy author, robot apologist
Welcome to the World of Vampires and Robots

Your next adventure awaits. Christina McMullen's science fiction and fantasy tales promise action, thrills, and the occasional romance, all with a sharp sense of humor peppered throughout. Find a new favorite today!

Other series and titles available:

  • Maxima City Talent Series (Multi-authored superhero satire)
  • The Eyes of the Sun Series (Action packed vampire science fiction)
  • Going Green (A satirical zombie apocalypse)

Now entering Blackbird, the small town with a big paranormal problem

Looking for a cozy urban fantasy in a small town setting?

Have you ever wondered if good vs evil was only the tip of the iceberg?

Tired of the same old supernatural beings doing the same old stuff they've always done?

Interested in deep philosophical issues overlain in lighthearted humor?

Want to hop into a different head every chapter?

Well then, I think you're going to like this series!

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00PUUJCUY
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 18, 2014
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 4.1 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 163 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 1 of 5 ‏ : ‎ Rise of the Discordant
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 out of 5 stars 61 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Christina McMullen

Christina McMullen

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Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Christina McMullen is a science fiction and fantasy author who just can't seem to keep humor from sneaking into everything she writes. When she's not writing (which is most of the time these days), she's either getting her butt kicked in Mario Kart or catering to the whims of a very small and very grouchy dog.

For updates and information on future releases, promos, and giveaways, please follow her on Twitter: http://twitter.com/mcmullenwrites

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
61 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this urban fantasy book to be a fun and engaging read with intriguing storytelling and fast-paced action. The characters are interesting, and the writing style is brilliant, with one customer noting how the prose draws readers in. They appreciate the unique background and consider it a wonderful start to the series.

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StorytellingEnjoymentCharacter developmentWriting stylePacingMystery contentStart to series
13 customers mention "Storytelling"13 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the storytelling of the book, finding it intriguing and fantastic, with one customer noting that the pages are packed with action.

"...Without spoiling anything, it was the most dramatic, coolest creature to appear...." Read more

"...Overall, the story was intriguing although there were times when I found it difficult to follow...." Read more

"...(Meannie!) Even though the pages are packed with action, there are enough pauses in the scenes to let you catch your breath and regroup..." Read more

"A great read with an interesting take on angels, demons, and everyone in between!..." Read more

11 customers mention "Enjoyment"11 positive0 negative

Customers find the book enjoyable, describing it as a fun urban fantasy that keeps readers engaged.

"...All in all, this is a great urban fantasy that I very much enjoyed. It's practically begging to be adapted into a TV series...." Read more

"A great read with an interesting take on angels, demons, and everyone in between!..." Read more

"...Past Life Strife is fun, fast, and unexpected, unless you've read some of McMullen's other works, and you know to expect the unexpected...." Read more

"...Her use of multiple Points of View and light humor make an enjoyable read that draws you in and keeps you turning pages...." Read more

10 customers mention "Character development"10 positive0 negative

Customers find the characters interesting, with one noting they are well written.

"...Likable characters and a ton of mythological creatures make for a great ride!..." Read more

"...And, there are plenty of problems to deal with. The characters feel real through their complex, multi-dimensional creation along with the..." Read more

"...Though a bit slow in places, I was drawn into this story and it's characters immediately. A wonderful start to a series." Read more

"...In Blackbird, magic resonates, drawing an array uniquely gifted aberrant characters, each with their own agenda...." Read more

8 customers mention "Writing style"8 positive0 negative

Customers praise the writing style of the book, with one customer noting how the prose draws readers in, while another mentions the author's effective use of detail.

"...The prose draws you right in, as does the unique take on religions..." Read more

"A unique writing style, an unexpected setting, and an interesting plot. What more do you need to keep the pages turning until the end?..." Read more

"...Every twist is this story is simply brilliant writing. Absolutely fantastic storytelling!..." Read more

"“Past Life Strife” is a superbly written story, quickly engaging, beginning with a backdrop of the tainted world at large, then introduced to the..." Read more

6 customers mention "Pacing"6 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the pacing of the book, describing it as a fast-paced page turner, with one customer noting it's not rushed or skimpy.

"...Even though the pages are packed with action, there are enough pauses in the scenes to let you catch your breath and regroup so you can look forward..." Read more

"“Past Life Strife” is a superbly written story, quickly engaging, beginning with a backdrop of the tainted world at large, then introduced to the..." Read more

"...Past Life Strife is fun, fast, and unexpected, unless you've read some of McMullen's other works, and you know to expect the unexpected...." Read more

"...I liked it a lot. I breezed through it due to the solid pacing and writing. Interested in reading more in this world. Heartily recommend." Read more

5 customers mention "Mystery content"5 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the mystery content of the book, with one customer highlighting its unique background and another noting its whimsical elements.

"...Without spoiling anything, it was the most dramatic, coolest creature to appear...." Read more

"...Each main character has their own unique voice, their own unique background, and their own way of doing things...." Read more

"...Abounding with clever metaphors and whimsy. And easy book for me to recommend, first in the Discordant series." Read more

"...Believe the hype - Bogie is a unique and memorable character that I imagine was as much fun to write as he is to read...." Read more

5 customers mention "Start to series"5 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy this book as a wonderful start to the series, with one customer describing it as a solid beginning to an urban fantasy series.

"...A wonderful start to a series." Read more

"...It is the beginning of an amazing series...." Read more

"A great beginning to a series I have already purchased the remainder of. I'm all in, as they say...." Read more

"A really fun read! A solid beginning to an urban fantasy series with a couple of interesting twists that I'm not going to reveal in order not to..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Chris J
    5.0 out of 5 stars Highly entertaining start to a series
    Reviewed in the United States on December 17, 2018
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    (Mild Spoilers) Past Life Strife hit all the right notes for me. The prose draws you right in, as does the unique take on religions (the 'Creator' can take the form of any deity it pleases, including a couple of amusing pop-culture references). Likable characters and a ton of mythological creatures make for a great ride! I devoured it in two sittings, and it would've been one if it hadn't been for work.

    If you're reading this, you've probably read the synopsis, so in short the city of Blackbird is under siege by the forces of the (chaotic) Discordant, and it's up to the Order (and their allies) to keep things in line. The memorable characters include our protagonist Seth, a reincarnated martyr; Des, a warrior of Order (who, rightly or wrongly I pictured as Peter Mensah) who is connected to him by mysterious means; a trio of witches (color-coded by hair for easy recognition! I liked Betty best of the three for no reason I can adequately explain); and an affable demon called Bogie (after Humphrey Bogart, though his name may induce chuckles from British types.) They have to learn to work together, and while most of them come across generally good-natured, they're capable of acting straight-up cold blooded, which adds an intriguing dimension to their personalities.

    And then there are the creatures! Sirens and pixies and werewolves (oh my!) The angel, teased throughout the book, fired up my imagination most when it finally arrived. Without spoiling anything, it was the most dramatic, coolest creature to appear.

    All in all, this is a great urban fantasy that I very much enjoyed. It's practically begging to be adapted into a TV series. Best of all, it's first in a series! Two thumbs up.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Jerome A Klobutcher
    4.0 out of 5 stars Unusual read for me!
    Reviewed in the United States on August 6, 2018
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I don't believe I've ever read anything close to Past Life Strife. Since I haven't, it took me awhile to understand the roles of the characters. It also took me a few sentences, even a couple of paragraphs, in each chapter to figure out which character's point of view was being portrayed. That was another first for me. Don't get me wrong, it was a distraction, but not that much of a distraction.
    Overall, the story was intriguing although there were times when I found it difficult to follow. Some of that may be due to syntax but it may have also been due to certain characters representing things that didn't seem usual to me.
    Somewhere along in the read I found myself trying to figure out who I might be like if I were in the story. You might find yourself wondering the same thing if you begin to read Past Life Strife.
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  • Kat Caffee
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fun, light read leaving you wanting more
    Reviewed in the United States on February 24, 2015
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    A unique writing style, an unexpected setting, and an interesting plot. What more do you need to keep the pages turning until the end? When the cast of characters is introduced, this appeared to be a fairly straight forward tale, and then the twits, turns, and double backs began. There are so many elements all skillfully woven together picking one out to say "that's it! That's what makes this stand out" is impossible.

    Each main character has their own unique voice, their own unique background, and their own way of doing things. Each has a job to fill, and in doing so they show how perfectly imperfect they are. I love it when a book turns things on its head, and this book does a beautiful job of doing just that. The final twist at the end had me laughing, and applauding Christina as well as groaning because it's going to be a while before the next installment comes out. (Meannie!)

    Even though the pages are packed with action, there are enough pauses in the scenes to let you catch your breath and regroup so you can look forward to the next round of problems to pop up. And, there are plenty of problems to deal with. The characters feel real through their complex, multi-dimensional creation along with the interactions they have among themselves. The setting has so much potential, I'm looking forward to rereading this one to see if anything else surfaces since I've read it once already.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Marie Krepps
    4.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful start to a series.
    Reviewed in the United States on December 6, 2015
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    A great read with an interesting take on angels, demons, and everyone in between! Though a bit slow in places, I was drawn into this story and it's characters immediately. A wonderful start to a series.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Susan
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great Story!
    Reviewed in the United States on August 22, 2018
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    It’s unbelievable that I’ve owned this book for over a year and waited this long to read it! It is the beginning of an amazing series. Our main character, Seth, is an agent of Order, his position as Observer means he is constantly bombarded with the emotions of the people around him. This empath trait gives him the ability to find those in danger of losing their souls and therefore susceptible to the various Discordant that populate the small city of Blackbird. Along with the Guardian, Abbey, they seem to be losing the battle. In fact, Abbey decides she’s had all she can take of the devastation and bleakness surrounding the once-booming city and decides to cycle (death is seldom true death in McMullen’s world, just a reincarnation of sorts through cycling). Abbey’s choice seems to be a catalyst for an infestation of Discordant - vampires, pixies, demons, and even a siren attempt to take up residence. With all these minions of Chaos, how will Seth ever be able to restore balance?
    “You got banished for being banished?” The new warrior asks the demon, Bogie. Desmond is a Warrior for Order and had at one time saved Bogie’s life by banishing him back to Chaos, but they didn’t want him either. What’s a lowly demon supposed to do? Every twist is this story is simply brilliant writing. Absolutely fantastic storytelling! And then there’s the Angels – well I’ll just say it’s unique and adds another layer of intrigue. All the characters we meet in this first book have some baggage they need to come to terms with. There is plenty of action, suspense, and mystery. I am relieved that I have the box set of this series on my kindle so I can continue with this amazing story. Highly Recommended!
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Julia
    5.0 out of 5 stars Chaotic
    Reviewed in Australia on September 23, 2017
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    This novel builds a great world that could pass for urban fantasy based around the opposing forces of Order and Chaos. The book thrusts the reader into the lives of two agents for Order introducing the concepts for each identity and the driving power they weild together whilst fighting against the myriad of diverse identities of the demons of Chaos. Chaos runs the gamut of demons including vamps, succubae, and sirens to name a few.

    This is a fine read and I'm directly on to the next book.
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  • richard
    4.0 out of 5 stars (And then there's that angel...)
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 2, 2015
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Seth has been an Observer for less than two hundred years (still wet behind the ears really) and the events about to engulf him in the Midwestern town of Blackbird may be more than an inexperienced supernatural can handle. First Abbey, his Guardian, suddenly quits; then Amara, the love of his life (or rather, of his former life as a mortal, hence the book's title) shows up again after an absence of a century and a half - and she's very bad news, believe me. Meanwhile, and most worryingly of all, there has been a resurgence in Discordant activity in the area...

    The Discordant - vampires, demons, sprites, harpies, witches and far worse - are the representatives of Chaos and what attracts them are 'lost' souls, ordinary humans sunk in despondency. There's been a lot of that, too, in Blackbird in recent decades: once prosperous, by the turn of the millennium it was already in full decline and the Discordant hordes have been homing in on the prevailing gloom in ever-increasing numbers. Holding them at bay - just - are the forces of Order. Order's Observers, Guardians and Warriors are supernaturals too, but humans lifted out of the Cycle of ordinary mortal experience, the endless round of birth, life, death and rebirth. This is a worldwide, perhaps universal, battle - not a struggle between good and evil though, but between Order and Chaos, harmony and discord.

    It's a good read too - the clear-as-day prose moves along smartly, and with a nice turn of phrase here and there: "...he left me just enough bippity to keep the humans from knowin' my true form, but no boppity boo for anything else..." That was Bogie by the way, one of the more likeable demons you're likely to meet reading urban fantasy; and here he is again a few pages later: "...'Shut up!' Louise snapped, tilting her head to the side, which made her look a lot like a dog who just heard his favorite squeaky toy..." All the characters are similarly well-drawn and one thing I particularly liked is that each chapter is written, first-person, from the viewpoint of one of three of them (Seth, Des or, yes, Bogie) so you get a slight overlap and glimpse some of the action through two different pairs of eyes - nicely done.

    'Past Life Strife' is the first of a series and, on this evidence, I'd say there's more than enough boppity boo left to make the rest as entertaining (you definitely get the feeling that the battle for Blackbird has only just begun).
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