Review: Delicious shades of gray...
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 07 29, 2011
So I've read Knight of the Living Dead and enjoyed it. I've read The Dragon Bone Flute and LOVED it. Therefore, I was very much excited, and cautious, about reading First Chosen. I've enjoyed the stories that he has written so far, but what if a book, not mention a book in a series, just doesn't read as well as the stories? Silly me, I shouldn't have worried...This is a complex story in a complex world, and I love it. It took a bit to get used to the names and the labels for the various characters but things got easier as I moved along in the story. If it gets too complex for you, the reader, I encourage you to stick with it, because the payoff is worth it. The characters are well written, with equally well written motivations. Good and evil in this world, as in the real world, are not as black and white as some would want it to be. A 'good' person could find herself drawn into the world of shadows (or as some would put it, the world of evil), but for perfectly acceptable reasons. The protagonist, Julianna, is the kind of strong female who I'd like to see more often, particularly since "strong female characters" have sadly become cliched lately. She is sympathetic, and even as she takes what some would perceive as a dark and even evil path in her journey, I would personally say that I'd take the same path if I had gone through what she had gone through.The world, characters, gods, etc end up very well fleshed out, and I can't wait to read the next book. Once again I was drawn in to M. Todd Gallowglas' story. He is passionate about this book, and it shows. Well done, Michael!