Troy wakes up, unsure of how he got in an all-white room. Then a voice in his head tells him that the only way out is to run. From room to room, Troy and his Conduit (an equally trapped girl named Victoria) have to figure out his escape. With ample tension and frenetic pacing, Parrish delivers a rousing ride. While the book is too short, and the conclusion feels abrupt, the overall effort is highly entertaining. 

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Disgusted with the unconstrained violence of his world, decorated war veteran Nolan Gray embarks on a quest to show people a better way, waging a one-man war on evil. This fight, however, will cost Gray more than he expects. With this, his sixth novel, Parrish examines what it means to be heroic and how quickly the lines of morality blur to justify one’s own ends. Although tepid in spots, this is easily Parrish’s best work yet.  

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Maia Peters is no stranger to the paranormal, but heightened activity leads her latest investigation beyond the veil of life itself. Although fictional, Parrish’s work spurs thought about paranormal activity and—more importantly—the nature of the human soul. Dialogue (especially theological dialogue) is notoriously tricky to write, and while Parrish doesn’t quite capture its nuances, he makes a better effort than most to avoid sounding heavy-handed or forced. An entertaining read from a burgeoning author. 

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NASA sends four astronauts to Mars but when they return, every single person and animal on Earth has disappeared. As the crew unravels this mystery they realize that something else is happening, and perhaps they aren’t as alone as they first thought. Parrish has devised a good concept, but relies too heavily on exposition to tell his story, and the execution falls a bit flat. An enjoyable read, but Parrish hasn’t hit his stride quite yet. 

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In this, the third book of the Dominion Trilogy, the story of Grant Borrows comes to a violent, world-changing conclusion. It’s obvious Parrish had the endgame in mind from the beginning (at least conceptually) of the trilogy and he deserves kudos for allowing the story to resolve itself without tying up every single loose end. This trilogy of books, while not quite capturing the epic feel they strove for, still manages to tell an engrossing tale.

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The second installment of the Dominion Trilogy sees Parrish's writing improve: less filler, tighter exposition, and more natural flow. The story barrels toward part three as the scale turns global and the tension smartly builds towards the climax/cliffhanger. Parrish has something not every author does: the ability to tell stories. Aside from a few quirky mechanics in his writing (that should smooth over time), this book continues what will hopefully be a long and enjoyable career.  

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A book long in the making, Relentless was first released as a weekly online serial under the name The Prodigy. In one instant, a man finds himself in a new body with a new identity. As he searches for answers, he finds himself in the center of a conspiracy that stretches back thousands of years. Parrish has thoughtfully developed his idea and characters, and has made this book the first of a trilogy. An enjoyable excursion.

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