Review: A Sweeping Epic - Worth the Read!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 07 20, 2014
I have been on a major fantasy kick as of late, but Lashway's novel definitely stands out as having a whole lot of potential. The novel starts a bit slow, but the author has a way of building tension and painting beautiful scenes that stick in the reader's memory. The friendship between Merek and Thorald is genuine and well-crafted, and none of the events seem contrived, with the exception of their initial meeting, which seems oddly reminiscent of Lord of the Rings. In fact, there are a number of moments that seem inspired by other fantasy series, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, as the source material from which he drew some of the inspiration is from George R.R. Martin, Tolkien, Pratchett, Goodkind, and Jordan.The content is unique and wonderfully written, and achieved with the sort of truly epic feel that defines great fantasy series. Unfortunately, there is a noticeable need for editing, which would have made the entire experience of reading it a lot more enjoyable. I think Lashway has quite a bit of potential, and I will certainly be following up and read more of his stuff, but I hope he takes a bit more time and polishes the content in the future. His ability to craft a story is undeniable, and he seems to have a solid foothold in the genre.