Review: From "Red Adept Reviews"
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 11 8, 2010
Plot/Storyline: 4 3/4 StarsI enjoyed this novella from its opening chapter to its gripping end, which left me wanting more, as all good stories do. As just a fantasy tale, it provided plenty of entertainment. However, I found further enjoyment on another level.I found this novella to be an interesting metaphor for religion in the `real world', both historical and present. One faction is fighting for the right to worship and follow their own gods, while the other faction is fighting to spread their "religion" (although it's never called that in the book) and force the first faction into submission. The biggest difference was that in the book, the gods' existences are undisputed. By that, I mean that no one is saying they don't exist. They do. They are evident and visit certain people. Therefore, it was more of a war between the gods than a war between people; although it was the people who suffered.However, it did appear that the people had some free choice. They chose which gods to worship, how to wage war, or even whether to not wage war. The gods didn't force them, just nudged them a little.The novella is mainly about Lucia, the main character, her interactions with the black god and her country at war. Upon reading the first chapters with this information, I developed a real empathy for her and her people. Amazingly, the author managed to turn that completely around with just a short section told from the viewpoint of the other faction. I went from empathising with the first faction to being horrified at their actions. What a difference viewpoint can make!My only criticism stems from the dreams that Lucia experiences. Afterward, she has trouble telling reality from the dreams, but she eventually is able to divine truth. Unfortunately, one dream toward the end is so vivid that I got a bit confused for awhile, making me stumble a bit in the reading process.Although this is a "prelude" for a future series, I found it to be complete with a satisfying ending. There is even a little romance thrown in for good measure.Character Development: 5 StarsFor the format, the characters were sufficiently well developed. I assume the author will be developing them further in his first book of the series, but this was a great introduction to them.I enjoyed Lucia very much. I hope that in the full book more is disclosed regarding her childhood.Lucia's brother is the "messiah" of his country. I was treated to a small taste of what he felt about his "calling." This is another character that would be fun to see developed further.Writing Style: 5 StarsThe writing style of this novella immediately put me at ease in the setting. The opening chapter is told from the viewpoint of a child, and the voice was perfect. The descriptions were rich and vibrant.*This review is from a Review Copy provided by the author.