Review: evocative imagery and clear description
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 05 4, 2013
With evocative imagery and clear description, author Tessa Stockton takes us to a world where the sun rises in a cloudless sky every day and there is never drought, thanks to the songstress, Aria.  But then, one day she stutters in her song and everything changes.Aria was a simple, sweet girl who didn't seem strong enough to do the tasks eventually given her.  She was focused and pure, was never to marry and would live her life to sing to the Sacred One.  That she begins to question things makes her an enemy of the state, and that she believes her behavior is the cause of the destruction of her land is a heavy burden of guilt to bear.The Il Bora is a fallen angel, follower of the serpent and tasked with Aria's destruction.  But he, too, begins to question and he, too, doesn't discharge his duty as charged.  Instead he gets to know Aria, and he falls in love.The change from idyllic to dark is rapid and frightening for Aria.  Everything she believes and understand changes.  I admired her fortitude for stepping up to do what needs to be done, no matter her fear and worry.  She is stronger than she appears.The Il Bora never felt evil, despite his origins (and his master).  There was never a question that he'd do what was right which, had he been written differently, might have made the conflict stronger.Still, Wind's Aria is an eloquently written fantasy that had enough story to have been a much longer work. I think, had there been just a few more pages,  it would have better met its potential, as some parts felt a bit rushed.I did truly admire the author's writing skills, though, and would be most willing to read work by her again.