Forecast by Aaron Ryan

A supernatural historical thriller that challenges the ideas of destiny and free will, Forecast by Aaron Ryan is an intriguing work of alternate history about one of the darkest days in modern America.

When Roland Bishop begins seeing flashes of the future after a freak accident, this New Jersey weatherman is pulled into a life of vigilante rescues for strangers and loved ones alike. However, after a disturbing vision of a hijacking and a massive terrorist attack in New York City, he must find a way to prevent his grim 9/11 prophecy from becoming reality. With the help of his British psychiatrist, who moonlights as a supportive and sassy sidekick, Roland takes on the sinister forces behind the imminent attack, and battles with the unflinching force of fate itself.

The book’s compelling premise is underpinned by a pulse-raising chapter countdown, with intense thematic explorations of personal responsibility, determinism, and the enduring weight of history, where the reader continually asks themselves what they would do in the same situation, making for a story that is at once gripping and relatable. The blunt nature of the narration can sometimes undercut the tension, and there is a lack of balance in telling vs. showing, as well as some repetitive language, but overall the novel is immersively engaging and thought-provoking.

Probing deeply into a devastating event that still has reverberations today, this imaginative work of science fiction is both a page-turning thriller and a reflective exploration of our shared history.

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