The Traveler (Abridged): The First Novel of 'The Fourth Realm' Trilogy Audiobook

A world that exists in the shadows of our own. A conflict we will never see. One woman stands between those determined to control history and those who will risk their lives for freedom. Maya is hiding in plain sight in London. The twenty-six-year-old has abandoned the dangerous obligations pressed upon her by her father, and chosen instead to live a normal life. But Maya comes from a long line of people who call themselves Harlequins—a fierce group of warriors willing to sacrifice their lives to protect a select few known as Travelers. Gabriel and Michael Corrigan are brothers living in Los Angeles. Since childhood, the young men have been shaped by stories that their late father was a Traveler, one of a small band of prophets who have vastly influenced the course of history. Travelers are able to attain pure enlightenment, and have for centuries ushered change into the world. Gabriel and Michael, who may have inherited their father’s gifts, have always protected themselves by living “off the Grid”—that is, invisible to the real-life surveillance networks that monitor people in our modern society. Summoned by her ailing father, Maya is told of the existence of the brothers. The Corrigans are in severe danger, stalked by powerful men known as the Tabula—ruthless mercenaries who have hunted Travelers for generations. This group is determined to inflict order on the world by controlling it, and they view Travelers as an intolerable threat. As Maya races to California to protect the brothers, she is reluctantly pulled back into the cold and solitary Harlequin existence. A colossal battle looms—one that will reveal not only the identities of Gabriel and Michael Corrigan but also a secret history of our time. Moving from the back alleys of Prague to the heart of Los Angeles, from the high deserts of Arizona to a guarded research facility in New York, The Traveler explores a parallel world that exists alongside our own. John Twelve Hawks’s stunningly suspenseful debut is an international publishing sensation that marks the arrival of a major new talent.

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"This was recommended to me by a stranger at B&N. It sat on my shelf for almost a year before I pulled it out and read it. When I did, I could not put it down. Parts of it are quite violent and disturbing--especially all the stuff about how we are being tracked and watched and in some ways controlled by those in power with scanners and cameras and microchips. The futuristic society has parts that are not so futuristic as they seem as much of it is really happening. John Twelve Hawks talks about how much of what he writes about sounds like sci fi but is based in reality. There are travelers--they can go to other realms and they move among us, are seen as very wise, become gurus or spiritual leaders because of their advanced knowledge of the universe and its many layers. Then there are the people who want to control everything--they have scientists and money and high-level people in their pocket. They are the "bad guys." Then there are the handful of people who are born into a life of service protecting the travelers. They have a secret society and lots of clever ways to live off the grid in order to avoid being tracked (and killed) and bringing the bad guys to the traveler. When a traveler is in another realm, his body remains behind and appears for all intents and purposes to be dead. That aspect of it reminded me a lot of The Matrix...plus when in the other realms, if they die there, their "real" body dies as well. The female character who kicks butt--she is one of the ones charged with protecting the travelers--reminds me of the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. She was raised to be a guardian. She is clever and resourceful...wears many disguises, knows how to fool the grid, carries a sword and knows how to pack disassembled weapons for air flight. Her life requires her to be cold and to avoid relationships and feeling. Of course, that all becomes quite difficult as the story unfolds. She's one of the "good guys." The final book in the series was a bit disappointing in how it was all wrapped up--but I still loved the journey! With each book, I could not wait to read the next one. HIGHLY ADDICTIVE!"

— Cindy (5 out of 5 stars)