Out of Nowhere

The Immortal Vagabond Healer, Book 1

By: Patrick LeClerc

Narrated by: Christopher Harbour

Healer Sean Danet is immortal - a fact he has cloaked for centuries, behind enemy lines and now a paramedic’s uniform. Having forgotten most of his distant past, he has finally found peace - and love.

But there are some things you cannot escape, however much distance you put behind you.

When Sean heals the wrong man, he uncovers a lethal enemy who holds all the cards. And this time he can’t run. It’s time to stand and fight, for himself, for his friends, for the woman he loves. It’s time, finally, for Sean to face his past - and choose a future.

A story of love, of battle, and of facing your true self when there’s nowhere left to hide.

©2016 Michael Gallant (P)2019 Michael Gallant

Needs to be a movie!!!!

Hot damn! That was one hell of a book! Could not have been better in any way! I could listen to this book on repeat and I don't usually like to read/listen to a book more than once or twice. Now, my only complaint is that this book is not a movie, because it needs to be. It could be so cool and amazing! I can't find the words to say how amazing this book and the narration was! Both author and narrator have a new #1 fan! So many laughs, incredible story line, excellent narration! Love, love, love this book!

Who's the vagabond healer? Even he doesn't know.

Out of Nowhere by Patrick LeClerc received quite a bit of attention this past year as it was first selected as one of the ten finalists in SPFBO4 (Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off) from the batch of 300 entries. It then further went on to receive some negative reviews that were mostly concerned with issues of sexism, racism and general bigotry. Finally, LeClerc consistently responded to each criticism for his book with class and respect, along with a willingness to re-work his book to soften or remove some of the more troubling parts. I wasn’t sure how the book would seem to me – as the well-received finalist or as the trigger-filled one – but I went in ready for the worst (or the best).

The first section of the book was overwhelmingly dominated with scenes from an ambulance, chock full of the lingo used by an ambulance crew in the throes of an emergency call. Everything seemed very authentic (based on my next to my non-existent experience in that environment), but it was almost too much at times. I understand that we had to set the foundation that Sean Danet (our MC) was exceptionally qualified in his role on the crew, and it also allowed us to glimpse him using small amounts of his healing powers. Unfortunately, the immersive effect with its use of medical jargon and rapid-fire dialogue left my head spinning.

I want to take a side-bar to address the harshest criticisms that I have heard for the book, namely the type of banter that goes on with Sean and the other emergency workers. I have seen responses from the author that he was trying to depict accurately the type of relationships that are common in this occupation. For my take, I can easily see how this would be a trigger for those who are sensitive to issues of intolerance. Clearly this will not be a book for everyone. With that being said, it felt like nearly all of the “insults” that were thrown were mutually accepted and tolerated (not to mention thrown right back). Honestly, the jibes felt like they were “in good fun”, and we eventually see through some of their later actions that these characters genuinely care for each other (their crass words notwithstanding).

Perhaps the one aspect of the story that kept me from giving it a higher score is the “insta-love” that occurs between Sean and Sarah. I found myself rolling my eyes throughout this whole arc of the story. Sex just hours after you met, especially for an awkward bookish woman? A guy who is perhaps hundreds of years old and she is the best he has ever met? The only one he has told his secrets to? And, while he was painted to be a remarkable guy (with healing hands among other skills), she seemed willing to do anything with and for him, even at great risk to herself. So much of this story line seemed somewhat silly or implausible.

I definitely enjoyed the mystery element to the story: who is after Sean, and what might it reveal about his past? This was a slow reveal and it was done well. In fact, Sean himself is on a path of self-discovery right along with the reader. For me, the best elements of the story are where we experience Sean’s morality and how it keeps him focused. It is also interesting to see how a several hundred-year-old man perceived our modern world.

As mentioned, the book is full of possible triggers, but it is an entertaining read for those who can get past those. I especially recommend this book for anyone who has experience in the emergency services. A final thank you to the author for sending me a copy of the audiobook in return for my fair and honest review.

New author to me

Both the author and narrator were new to me but this book had me hooked about fifteen minutes into it. I love the banter back and forth between coworkers, the flashbacks of his life showing how old he really could be, and the fact that even though if he showed his gift he could be as ginny pig he still used it to help people without getting caught. It was filled with action and romance and on the run adventure and I really enjoyed it.

story was good

narrator was great. story was good. I was not disappointed. I recommend the book. some language was a little rough for no good reason.

Immortal EMT

Sean Danet is an immortal healer who works as a paramedic. His job is the perfect cover for the fact that he can heal. However, when he heals the wrong man, his life is changed, and not for the better. Instead, a centuries-old feud is reawakened and Sean is in a fight for his life.

Sean enlists the help of an English professor named Sara in order to try to find out who this mysterious stranger is and what he wants with Sean. Sean starts to have feelings for Sara, which only complicates things for him. Sean also enlists the help of his medic partners, Monique and Pete. All of the characters really come to life as the story progresses.

I enjoyed the first part of the book because I am an EMT. I could really relate to the tales of life on an ambulance crew, with the frequent flyers, blood, guts and pain. Some reviewers have said that Mr. LeClerc is sexist and that his remarks about women are irrelevant to the book. Having worked in this environment, the humor that we employ is probably off-putting to others, but it is a realistic mechanism that is prevalent in the EMS world.

I especially enjoyed the banter and interaction of the medics with the macho guys in the fire service. This is another realistic aspect that those of us who work there will recognize and enjoy. Mr. Leclerc's descriptions of the medical incidents in the book are perfect and I appreciate his attention to those details.

This book provides a great interaction of medieval times with the fencing and dueling, ancient family feuds, urban fantasy elements in Sean's abilities, the growing romance between Sean and Sara and great dialogue. The book moves at a fast pace and the author does a great job in moving the story along.

The narrator, Christopher Harbour, does a great job and really added a lot to my enjoyment of the book. His pacing, inflections, accents and enthusiasm are perfect. I could envision all of the action throughout the book, both because of the writing and the narration. I hope that Mr. LeClerc continues to write books because he is a natural storyteller. I will definitely be looking for more books that he writes.

I was given the chance to listen to this book by the narrator/author/publisher and chose to review it.