The Circle was over.
Ellie, Josh, and Sam’s world is growing, expanding with people who suffer the same bane as themselves.
The cloistered Ellie must emerge from the shadows. The young Josh must learn to live with the beast that walks beside him. And Sam plays a duplicitous game to learn about the demonic phenomena that have destroyed all their lives.
The enigmatic Mika, with his Pantheon of Conduits each with their own curse, is searching for a legend of evil - the ancient blight and the one who restrains it.
But something has changed… Another evil is emerging and the Leviathans are moving closer into our world. A vile, unthinkable truce might be needed between Conduit and monster as both become the hunted.
Ascent, the 2nd book in the LIT trilogy.
Chelamah’s rightly jolted by beholding the depths of darkness the Pantheon is dabbling with, but Pantheon leaders Jason and Mika have grand, horrifying plans—including Jason’s wish to become the conduit for the most powerful Leviathan of all. Lit introduced Anthony’s world through the perspective of three relatable survivors, adults Ellie and Sam and eight-year-old Josh, who faced lives with leviathans bound to their souls—and eager to kill for them. That trio returns in this sequel, though the shift in focus to Pantheon politics and plotting rather than the heroes’ discovery of leviathans means this entry—dense with grimoires, Circles, oculi, and much more—is not ideal for readers new to the series.
Anthony’s sure handed treatment of trauma ensures that scenes with the returning cast feel tender and urgent, especially as Josh is separated from Ellie, their individual leviathans continue stalking them, and Sam accepts an invitation to meet the Pantheon. Ellie’s strength powers the narrative and a potent climax, even as, this time, the story spends much more time in dark minds and dark realms, parsing the rules of Leviathans and surveying carnage, torture, and attacks by beasts with massive teeth. Ascent is more raw, wrenching, and complex than its predecessor, sometimes moving slowly, suited for lovers of immersive and mind-bending horror.
Takeaway: This epic horror sequel bites deeper and nastier than the first.
Comparable Titles: Mike Carey’s Felix Castor series, Scott Sigler’s Nocturnal.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A-
If you haven’t already read Lit, you should read our take on the first book of this series. And if you have read the book Lit, it is time for you to read the spoiler-free plot of Ascent.
ASCENT – The LIT Series Book 2 starts with Kaylee, a woman running from some evil. She knew that this was her fate all along but her husband changed her world with his optimism. Now her husband was also being held by these evil creatures and Kaylee wanted to fight this evil and save her husband, but she felt hopeless because she had not much choice as to whom she could save and how.
Chelamah knows that Marco is in a world worse than hell where he can’t die, as death is a blessing there. But she has a unique power no one ever has: To call the monster within her that will dominate her and bring Marco his salvation, death. Chelemah knew that after killing Marco, the monster, Wraith would return from that wicked place.
Wraith goes to the wicked world and kills Marco, who was being played with by one of the Leviathans. But here comes the twist: Instead of Wraith returning to the real world, Chelamah is transferred into the wicked world. Will she be able to leave that wicked place or will Leviathans ultimately harm her?
Josh, Ellie, and Sam are back into the real world after suffering in the place worse than hell. But their test isn’t over yet since the world is expanding with people having the same fate as them. Will Josh, Ellie and Sam be able to live normally? What does fate have in store for Chelamah? What will Kaylee choose: Her husband, her life, or someone else’s? Read Ascent to find out more!
Ascent is the riveting second installment in Mark Anthony’s trilogy. This dark fantasy novel plunges readers into an enigmatic world teeming with otherworldly creatures. This tale of courage and resilience is brought to life by the intertwined journeys of three central figures: Ellie, Josh, and Sam.
From the onset, Anthony catapults readers into the heart of the action. Building on the foundational lore laid out in the first book, “Ascent” takes no detours, drawing readers immediately into the thick of a world under siege. As Ellie, Josh, and Sam navigate the encroaching perils, Anthony’s evocative prose ensnares the reader, engendering a palpable sense of the terror that envelops this trio.
One of the book’s strengths lies in its ability to weave character development seamlessly with fast-paced action. As we delve further into the story, we not only witness the external chaos but are privy to the internal battles each character faces. Their responses to these nightmarish events afford us an intimate understanding of their complexities and fortitude.
Anthony crafts scenes that leap off the page. His vivid portrayals of the monstrous entities are particularly striking, invoking images so lucid they will linger in one’s mind long after the book is set down. This clarity of vision amplifies the suspense.
Ascent possesses a harmonious blend of character progression, atmospheric world-building, and high-octane action. The meticulous attention to detail, coupled with a hauntingly intriguing premise, solidifies this installment as a tour de force in its genre.
Ascent, the second book of the Lit trilogy by Mark Anthony, takes us back into the reeling lives of Ellie, Sam and Josh. Josh goes to stay with family and struggles with his frustrations and to contain his Monster Dog. The relationship between Ellie and Josh, and the developing circumstances with Josh's family, were anxiety-provoking and emotive. Josh meets a man who links into the paranormal dark world and adds another mystical layer of depth to the saga.
Sam comes to the forefront in Ascent, embarking on a journey that uncovers the ancient lineage of Conduits and Leviathans and the rules that govern the interactions of the two worlds. Sam's journey reveals some deliciously evil characters and realm of Conduits and Devotees. Mika, a Conduit with a bloodthirsty desire for power, threatens the existence that Sam, Ellie and Josh have built around themselves. Deliberate changes are made in the fabric that weaves the two dimensions together, and there is a crescendo of plot lines racing to meet each other. The levels of complexity in the characters and story line cannot be understated.
In complete justice to the genre, the horror scenes were next-level frightening and impressively creative. I found myself shamefully excited when another torture-filled scene arrived. The combination of psychological thrill and inescapable gore heightened the suspense, and made for such a nail-biting experience. New fears unlocked!
The story exploded into action from every angle, every chapter drew me deeper in and kept me completely riveted, The alignment of vulnerability, desperation, strength and humanity that was thread in Anthony's first book Lit, continued through in Ascent, expanding into unpredictable territory that absolutely complimented the story. Another masterful roller-coaster I have to steady myself from. I cannot wait for the final book of the trilogy.
I do not recommend reading Ascent at night, but I highly recommend you read it. It was bone-chilling at times and is the perfect paranormal novel to read over the weekend. It isn’t horror per se; it is more suspense, and I loved that. I felt terrible for Ellie. I felt like she was the one who struggled the most with her predicament. Josh was pretty much trying to ignore it all, but Sam was the one that commands the attention of readers. He was fighting tooth and nail for his freedom and to get revenge for what his life had become. Mika, on the other hand, was lost to the darkness and thrived in it. His arc was the most interesting even though he was the antagonist.
Mark Anthony's narrative style was fantastic. The descriptions were realistic, the pace was fast, and the characters were interesting. The imagery blew me away, and the overall feel of the story was fantastic. The world-building was out of this world, and I cannot praise it enough!
Ascent is a work of fiction in the paranormal, dark fantasy, and adventure subgenres, and forms the second novel of The Lit Series. The work is best suited to mature adult readers owing to the presence of graphic violence and explicit language throughout. Penned by author Mark Anthony, we pick up the action right where book one left off, with the Circle disbanded and our three central figures reeling from the damage done to them and the horrors and trials of the journey ahead. As Sam begins a dangerous quest for knowledge on the dark forces and Leviathans that cause unspeakable damage to him, Josh, Ellie, and the world beyond, another sinister threat is already brewing in the shadows.
Author Mark Anthony writes with a passion for dark suspense and chilling moments, and that enthusiasm seeps into every atmospheric corner of this action-packed and utterly chilling read. I loved the initial concept of the Leviathans and their need for Conduits, and it can be a hard thing to expand on that and amp up the danger for a mid-trilogy book, but I felt that the new ideas building onto the existing world lore were suitably dangerous and very high stakes indeed. I loved the dialogue work and narrative presentation put into Mika and his dark quest, in stark contrast to characters like Ellie, who are just trying to survive. Overall, fans of an ensemble cast and a sweeping, cinematic paranormal style will be sure to adore Ascent and the Lit Trilogy in general, and I for one, can’t wait to see how it ends.
Ascent is a work of fiction in the paranormal, dark fantasy, and adventure subgenres, and forms the second novel of The Lit Series. The work is best suited to mature adult readers owing to the presence of graphic violence and explicit language throughout. Penned by author Mark Anthony, we pick up the action right where book one left off, with the Circle disbanded and our three central figures reeling from the damage done to them and the horrors and trials of the journey ahead. As Sam begins a dangerous quest for knowledge on the dark forces and Leviathans that cause unspeakable damage to him, Josh, Ellie, and the world beyond, another sinister threat is already brewing in the shadows.
Author Mark Anthony writes with a passion for dark suspense and chilling moments, and that enthusiasm seeps into every atmospheric corner of this action-packed and utterly chilling read. I loved the initial concept of the Leviathans and their need for Conduits, and it can be a hard thing to expand on that and amp up the danger for a mid-trilogy book, but I felt that the new ideas building onto the existing world lore were suitably dangerous and very high stakes indeed. I loved the dialogue work and narrative presentation put into Mika and his dark quest, in stark contrast to characters like Ellie, who are just trying to survive. Overall, fans of an ensemble cast and a sweeping, cinematic paranormal style will be sure to adore Ascent and the Lit Trilogy in general, and I for one, can’t wait to see how it ends.
