Review: Enjoyable Read
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 03 30, 2013
I am not a huge reader in the fantasy department but lately for whatever reason, I have found myself accepting more and more review requests to read in that genre. Of course, I always go into it slightly hesitant but always with hopes that I will get pulled into the story and really like what I am reading.James did a pretty good job with the world building, something that for me is always a must, especially in this genre. You have to know what is going on around the characters. Where they live, what their world is like, if not, I feel like I never truly grasp the whole story and usually end up feeling lost or confused along the way. I didn't feel that way with this one, which was very nice. I felt I had a pretty firm grasp on the storyline and world that James had created. Nothing was ever dumped on the reader and was told with just the right amount of info at any given time of the different realms, their history, wars, economy and past.This story is told through two point of views, Roxanne (Roxy) who if a Helian princess and a Protector of her realm and then Jasmine (Jazz), who lives in Arcan and has no idea who her parents are or even where she is really from. The different realms all have a different control over the elements (fire, air, water and earth) and neither really get along all the well with the other. There are old prejudices and animosity between them all in one form or another for the most part.I liked that we got the two very different point of views from the girls. It helped grasp the concept of how life was different in the realms, the people, the atmosphere and even the way they looked at each other.I wish I could say I connected better to one girl over the other but I really didn't. Not in a bad way, just one didn't really stand out more to me than the other. I found myself liking both girls but not really loving either but I think this may have more to do with me and my lack of really loving the genre more than anything else.Overall this was a good read and there was a lot going on, especially towards the end of the story, definitely leaving it wide open for the sequel. I think those that really love fantasy will really enjoy this one. It just maybe wasn't quite for me.