Review: the secret branch
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 07 16, 2012
This is why prima facie is not enough (in and of itself).  Things can look one way and actually be another.  But, one cannot make accurate assessments in cases veiled in secrecy.  Nor when ears are shut due to (what appears to be) overwhelming evidence.I liked the author voice - though I did find some was clunky related to dialogue and telling details.  Though was not substantial enough to ruin pacing.I particularly liked the ending wherein things did not just get wrapped in a pretty bow.  It would have seemed too contrived and taken away from tale.  I can imagine it was not easy to write anything other than a fairytale ending and I give props to author for vision in not doing so.  Real life is, well, real.  And the ending made the tale more believable to this reader.This is a nice short to introduce reader to author ability.  I would read a longer work.Christine