Noah Martin was a normal man with an average life. He lived in an apartment with three roommates, loved his parents, and worked a decent job at The Socca Bar and Lounge as the bartender, where he faced the typical issues that come with the job, like a lecherous and vindictive boss and skeevy patrons.

However, things take a turn for the chaotic at the bar after he locks eyes with a mysterious woman…

Philosopher, yoga instructor, and religious teacher Swami Satchidananda Saraswati once said,  “When you become the master of your mind, you are master of everything...” and while the journey has just begun for protagonist Noah Martin, this quote proves nonetheless true in the first entry of Ray Clifford Martinez II’s series Echoes of the Hapnu: Mind Vault

The story's rich world-building was seamlessly woven through Noah’s perspective, allowing us to get a sense of his character how this future landscape and plot works.

Mind Vault's unique magic system, PSI (which gives the characters abilities like telepathy or memory reading), is one of the most intriguing aspects of the plot. I felt that this innate ability was cleverly juxtaposed against the backdrop of the story's advanced technology. Martinez explores a fascinating dynamic where advancements that are meant to elevate humanity, inadvertently hinders the innate abilities of certain individuals...a conflict rarely seen in this genre. The pervasive network infrastructure seems to disrupt the flow of psychic energy, creating compelling challenges for those who wield it. Despite access to technology that can extend the lives of the characters, whenever one of them is grievously injured or worse, the gravity of that situation remains present and never lessened.

The way the characters use their innate abilities throughout the novel is exciting and innovative in ways not often seen in this genre. Action scenes can typically be very messy to imagine but Martinez's narration, written in crisp prose, flows naturally without becoming overly verbose. Characterization however, is Mind Vault's greatest strengths. The author is great at establishing the characters and their motivations while maintaining a strong element of suspense and mystery. Noah Martin is a great audience surrogate character to have in this type of sci-fi adventure. He’s knowledgeable enough about the world around him for world-building purposes, but can maintains an air of vulnerability when he is caught off-guard or surprised. 

Martinez masterfully gives each character their own unique voice in ways that never bleeds into each other's, even with the presence of mind-warping abilities.

With its strong writing, likable characters, engaging plot, impressive world-building, great mind-melting abilities, and beautiful illustrations throughout, Echoes of the Hapnu: Mind Vault leaves a great impression and a strong start to a new series, earning a Neuro-shard enhanced recommendation from me. ★★★★★ – Elijah B. (Explore Authors Magazine)