Review: Impressed
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 03 20, 2012
I've already reviewed the first two books, and I can honestly say, this one shows so much growth by the author.Gone are the cliche's and the "I'm stuck, grab a book, point to something, work that into the plot" feeling.  Melissa's earlier talent is really starting to shine.I skimmed through several of the earlier reviews, and there are some excellent ones.It took me just over 2 days to finish the book, but I'm a very fast reader.  It was a good enough read, that I found myself picking up my Kindle to read every chance that I had, and even neglecting a few responsibilities.----------------------------  The basic plotBen makes a magic "worm hole transporter?" to take the entire city full of prisoners directly from one underground city into their city of destination - once there, anyone who can't be sealed with an oath vow is doomed to never leave the city again - which condemns almost everyone, including Chalice.Chalice is immediately whisked away to begin her princess duties - and her family and friends are sent down into the other side of the city away from her, because they don't have magic and aren't "good enough" to associate with on a daily basis.  This has been especially true since her father disappeared.Of course this really upsets/angers Chalice.  She is one of them, and has always been one of them.  The ways of the palace are strange and stifling.  But it isn't long before she learns to bend rules, circumvent "authority", and almost bullies her way to the top, making many angry in the process, and surely making quite a few enemies.  Besides, somewhere there is a traitor.  (Somebody needs to give her a copy of How to Win Friends and Influence People!)Many secrets are revealed to her (and Jeremiah), about the importance of the city and why there is such a strict separation of the two races of humans, and the history of the earth and the underground cities.  Many more questions are asked and not answered.She contacts her friends at sea to help them with their daring plan ... and then it is a guessing game, wondering whether Chalice and her people are gaining the upper hand, or whether it is all a trick by the wicked usurper King to lull them into a trap.Only one thing is certain, they must not let the fire beasts be brought to life by the new King and his minions.Only Chalice can free them.  Only Bunjab can control them.------------------------------------------------------------Most of the characters develop a great deal  during this book.  While I'm sure most would applaud Chalice for being a strong bull headed woman, I found this to be a quality that I did not admire.  This is probably due to my age and the fact that I have a daughter this age, and wouldn't want her being a bully.  Still, she is what she is, and the character is mostly consistent in her  presentation - and that is what is important.Jeremiah's maturity continues to impress me.  He has also grown as a character, and balances Chalice's impulsiveness.I would have loved to have seen a deeper relationship and trust between Chalice and Ben, and have her learn more about her father and siblings.  I would also have liked to see her developing relationships with those in the palace - her cousins, some of the guard, and others.  Because Chalice never really interacts with these characters, they remain little more than cardboard characters, and the palace a vacant and hollow feeling part of the book.On the other hand, there is a great deal of the book devoted to her clandestine meetings with Jeremiah.  I know that "romance" has become a big seller, but so many books and movies are "ruined" by over indulging the romance crowd.  These encounters are not juicy enough to appeal to this crowd, but are frequent enough to be clutter baggage rather than developing the story.  I am sure plenty would disagree with me on this point.  There are plenty out there that feel that romance is the only reason to read a book.Conversations are much improved.  I can actually "hear" many of them taking place.  Very few felt forced or robotic, as was common in the earlier books.  This made this book so much easier to fall in love with and to continue to come back to when it got to rough spots.Possibly the most glaring rough spots were the way "flashback memories" were handled.  The author would state the memory, then copy paste the memory in italics, and then explain the memory.  There was only once I felt this was slightly useful, and that is when she reminds us of a short scene that took place very early in the first book, where Bunjab shows us the empty caves where his friends once lived.All in all, it was a great book, and I look forward to seeing future books.  I've chatted briefly with Melissa and she seems eager to learn and develop as an author.  With her attitude, a willingness to learn, and brilliant ideas, she has most of  the tools to do well.  If she can gain an audience, she is sure to succeed.It is a great joy to me to see anyone develop and stretch their wings, either as an author, or one of my students.  I have enjoyed watching Melissa learning to use her wings - and hope to see her soaring soon.  I am delighted that Amazon and Kindle have allowed the first time author a chance to throw their hats into the ring and become published authors, and I applaud those willing to place themselves and their work up for dissection, ridicule, and examination.