The Truth Against The World is an ingenious blend of genres - part quest fantasy, part futuristic dystopian thriller, with a lot of Celtic mythology thrown in. I was seduced by the beautiful cover and intriguing synopsis - I’m very glad I decided to check it out.

In Near Future America, society is crumbling as powerful factions pit ordinary people against one another. Shane Riordan is an Irish soldier with an unusual past, who is on a mission to protect his young friend Georgie. She suffered a nervous breakdown when her college professor lover plagiarised the book she created for him out of Shane’s folk stories, which became an international bestseller and led to a hugely popular video game which is now being used to recruit players to Alt Right causes. Breaking her out of captivity in a psychiatric institution, he agrees to escort her on a journey to the other side of the country to confront her ex and reclaim her art, but with unknown enemies hunting them, will Shane’s warrior skills be enough?

I don’t know much about Irish history and legends, but this cleverly blends them into an exciting adventure story with two very sympathetic lead characters whose unbreakable bond of friendship happily remains platonic. The world building was believable enough to be frightening - the breakdown of law, politics driven by religious fundamentalists, brainwashing of the masses by secret corporate-funded manipulators - this is exactly where the US is heading, and the various technological advances suggest that it’s only set a decade or less into the future. It’s grim, with some brutal and sometimes gory violence, but not actually depressing, with some wonderful minor characters who help our heroes on their way, and I liked the unexpected ending.

I couldn’t get into this one at all. Sounded like something I would like but it didn’t connect with me.

This dystopian mystery truly surprised me. The Truth Against the World follows Shane and Georgie. Shane, an Irishman with a questionable past, is completely dedicated to his friend Georgie, an imaginative young woman who struggles with depression. After trusting the wrong man, (who then steals the novel she had painstakingly written), Georgie suffers a break down and is institutionalized. While this is happening, America is falling apart. Violence is a daily occurrence, and the country is nearing civil war, as every faction fights for what it deems the right cause. Amidst the chaos, Shane and Georgie attempt to confront the man who had wronged her, and end up encountering a much larger conspiracy.

This is a total mishmash of genres, in the best way. Mainly a dystopian thriller, but intriguing bits of fantasy and Celtic mythology are inserted. I was not prepared for them, and was so pleasantly surprised. The depiction of a terrifying near future America was evocative. This world is dark and dangerous. Not someplace I'd like to be. The characterization in this novel is also topnotch. Shane: fantastic hero. I really enjoyed the slow reveal of his past throughout the story. And you truly feel for Georgie. With Shane's help, she's conquering her demons, and her inner strength really comes out towards the end of the novel. I loved that their relationship was truly one of friendship, no romance thrown in. The people that they met along their journey were also fully realized, even if you only meet them briefly. This novel was unexpected, poignant and well written. Would recommend, though be prepared for a bit of gore.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Possibly the best book I have read this year. Grand mix of apocalyptic end of world urban fantasy, myth, and gunplay. Shane Riordan liberates Georgie O'Halloran from an insane asylum and they embark on a road trip through warring US militias to reclaim Georgie's manuscript that has become a world-wide best seller under her old lover's name. It's great.

Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for the early read.

This was my first David Corbett book and he lives up to the hype. This book was great and I highly recommend checking it out!

The book is set in part fantasy, quests, Irish folklore and part apocalyptic.
Is it still a thriller? Most definitely.
The book is set in the near future in the United States and has two main characters, Georgie O'Halloran a wonderful and talented writer.and her friend and protector Shane Riordan who will stop at nothing to help her.
The Truth Against The World is very thought provoking and will definitely make you sit and smell the rose's.

There's a lot happening in this book. The political climate is frightening as well as the probable Civil War. We follow Shane and Georgina throughout the story. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

A propulsive, sprightly thriller that turns its own pages, "The Truth Against the World," by David Corbett, a wonderful stylist, might well sit uneasily with the reader as it entertains. The principal plotline is that of a young woman who has been robbed of the bestselling book she wrote, and then embarks on a fraught road trip across America to seek justice. The journey rocks with danger because this is yet another dystopic novel, with the United States in the grip of fascists and lawlessness rife, so our heroine is fortunate to have a knight in shining armor, a sweet-talking, sweet-singing Irishman. No plot spoilers here but for this reader, the Irish hero reveals himself quickly to be outside the thriller genre, a twist that colored my read. The author is a master of action, the dialogue sparkles, and the near-future world is atmospherically drawn. All in all, I can recommend The Truth Against the World as a speedy, enjoyable read, but it does come with a cross-genre warning.

I have always enjoyed David Corbett’s writing style. This book was the best one yet. Such an interesting story. Can’t wait to see what he writes next.

I thoroughly enjoyed this genre-bending novel. Part dystopian, part Irish folklore, with a ton of action. The overall plot was a bit thin, but the world building was excellent and I loved the characters. I also appreciated the pronunciation key for some of the Irish words.

This was a very different sort of read for me. I liked the characters, some good, some not so good, some pretty bad. What surprised me most was the state of the world based on a video game. It's very close to what is happening today, everyone stuck on their phones or tablets playing violent warlike videogames that look and sound so very real! Are people smart enough to differentiate reality from fantasy? How can society as a whole allow this to continue? After reading David's book, one wonders. Thanks for a well written, quick read. Got me to thinking?!?!
Thanks Net Galley for sharing this Kindle read.

This book was gripping from beginning to end. Set in an apocalyptic world that becomes all too recognizable, the story entwines not only a suspenseful journey but ancient Irish myths that keeps you pondering long after you've finished reading it.

I loved the characters as well as the plot. Each character was memorable in his/her own right, and again kept me thinking of our acceptance of others' differences and judgments.

It may be too dark for some, and those who don't wish to have tradition and belief in politics and religion examined should not read it.

I'm not sure how to review this book. It was not at all what I was expecting based on the description. It starts off slow, but never really picks up speed, slowed down by multiple flashbacks and alternate stories. I spent most of my time trying to figure out what was going on and never really engaged with any of the characters. It may just be me but can't recommend this one.

Thanks to NetGalley and Swell Media for an advanced reader copy.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC, in which I am providing my honest review!

I thought this was a pretty good read. It started off alittle slow for me but I powered through tell the end! It did read better towards the middle but I will say, you must be prepared for the book to read slowly in parts (flasebacks) but it will pick up! All I will say, is the book does have profanity and adult sexual situations, so if you’re "sensitive" to those things this may not be a "good" book for you. Personally, those things do not bother me, so I was able to get through this book with no problems. I recommend giving this book a read!!

This is really not my genre. Typically, I read mysteries, crime novels, and thrillers. I found myself losing interest in the content. It seems to be a near future dystopian book, as well as a love story. Author David Corbett has obviously put a lot of effort into the creation of this story, and his style of character and plot development are atypical, but curious. I don't think it would be fair for me to write a review about this book. Similarly, I don't want not to rate this work, but it seems I have to in order to submit a minimal comment about it. I simply don't have the background in this genre to provide a fair rating.

“The Truth Against the World” is a compelling genre bending blend of historical fantasy/modern science fiction. Set in a dystopian version of the United States, the story weaves in frightening themes of civil war amongst average civilians, political chaos and corruption, corporations in control, and religious rule that is bleak and thought provoking- hinting at a dramatized version of what future America could look like. I’ve never read a book that had this setting or that wove old world legend and mythology with a futurist dystopia. Quite a unique read.

This is well written, but I am not a fan of this genre but think others will love it. I am confused by it at times.

I’ve been wondering when I would meet a contender for My Book of The Year - not many have moved me in the first half, but at last here’s one. The Truth Against The World is an ingenious blend of genres - part quest fantasy, part futuristic dystopian thriller, with a load of Celtic mythology thrown in. I don’t often read ARCs from new authors these days, but received an invitation from the publisher to download this, and was seduced by the beautiful cover and intriguing synopsis - I’m very glad I decided to check it out. I’m shocked that at the time of writing, two weeks post publication, this only has five GoodReads reviews, as it deserves many more readers.

In Near Future America, society is crumbling as powerful factions pit ordinary people against one another. Shane Riordan is an Irish soldier with an unusual past, who is on a mission to protect his young friend Georgie. She suffered a nervous breakdown when her college professor lover plagiarised the book she created for him out of Shane’s folk stories, which became an international bestseller and led to a hugely popular video game which is now being used to recruit players to Alt Right causes. Breaking her out of captivity in a psychiatric institution, he agrees to escort her on a journey to the other side of the country to confront her ex and reclaim her art, but with unknown enemies hunting them, will Shane’s warrior skills be enough?

I don’t know much about Irish history and legends, but this cleverly blends them into an exciting adventure story with two very sympathetic lead characters whose unbreakable bond of friendship happily remains platonic. The world building was believable enough to be frightening - the breakdown of law, politics driven by religious fundamentalists, brainwashing of the masses by secret corporate-funded manipulators - this is exactly where the US is heading, and the various technological advances suggest that it’s only set a decade or less into the future. It’s grim, with some brutal and sometimes gory violence, but not actually depressing, with some wonderful minor characters who help our heroes on their way, and I liked the unexpected ending. My only complaint is the present tense throughout: it’s rare for me to give 5 stars in this case but I’m making an exception because the storytelling is just that good.

Thanks to NetGalley and Swell Media for the ARC. I am posting this honest review voluntarily.
The Truth Against The World is available now.

Looking for a read that will challenge you and scare you to your core? Help yourself to this amazing read by David Corbett. In a dystopian not-so-distant future, a reincarnated Irish hero assumes the role of protector to a young woman who has crafted a revolutionary book. Intended as a gift, the book is co-opted by her ex-lover and turned into a recruiting tool for shadowy conservative forces intent on destroying the existing social fabric and raising a new order at the expense of everyone else. Part odyssey, part a race against time, The Truth Against the World examines contemporary themes and topics in the light of ancient myths and legends. Oisin, cursed and destined to die and return repeatedly until he learns his lesson, is ever thwarted by his own nature.

I need to read this again to hold all the strands of the story together as Corbett takes us from the present into legend and back repeatedly. Most difficulty I had? The formatting from the Net Galley download was so wonky -- paragraphing, chapter divisions, dialogue -- that it was nearly impossible to process the narrative without really working at it. That said, I loved the concept and the story, but I hated all the betrayals!

A heartwrenching, innovative literary fantasy that combines elements of Celtic mythology and history and a gut-wrenching look at a dystopian and divided America set in the near future. The country is on the verge of civil war. The landscape is aflame, littered with burning or ruined buildings, damaged vehicles, and the dead. Rioters hold different ideas for what they want in the future, and the country is heading towards anarchy or a hardline theocracy.

Georgie O'Halloran is confined to a mental institution. She had written a book chronicling Celtic legends and decorated it with beautiful illustrations. She gave it as a gift to an older man, who was her professor and lover. He left her without warning and published the book to fame and success under his name. His deception and plagiarism sent Georgie into a deep depression.
Furthermore, the book became the source for a video game. The game heightened the actions of the dissenting factions against the government and law and order. Gangs wandered the streets with guns, knives and homemade weapons. Their opposition used advanced technology to track dissenters.

Shane Riordan has acted as Georgie's guardian and trusted friend. Shane is a former soldier, a veteran of many combats and has an encyclopedic fund of knowledge. He had told her many stories based on Celtic history and folklore. When Georgie included his legends in her book, she was unaware that he was under an ancient curse and was describing events in which he participated and remembered.

Shane breaks Georgie out of imprisonment, and they embark on a quest. They travel cross-country to California to track down the man who stole her book. It took me a while to get into the rhythm and narrative style, but I gradually was immersed in the story. Part quest, part mystery, legend and supernatural, it heads to a powerful conclusion.

The publication date was June 1st. Its author, David Corbett, has won many literary awards and critical acclaim. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this compelling, imaginative read. 3.5 Stars.