Review: Vivid language to set your imagination on fire
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 09 6, 2010
Since getting a Kindle I've made a conscious effort to branch out from my normal genres, reading books I wouldn't have given a second glance in the past.  This was one such instance.  The last book in the fantasy genre I remember reading was at least twenty years ago.  Given that I'm not sure how to evaluate the story or the fantasy world created within the book against others in the genre.  All I can say is I enjoyed the story and find it impressive that anyone has the imagination to create a world so different from ours, yet vivid and internally consistent.However there are two things about "The Rykel Saga" that any avid reader would be able to judge and should appreciate.  The first is the vivid descriptions.  In a world unlike our own I need all the visualization help I can get.  Kephart's ability to paint her fantasy world in words is amazing.The other item I both appreciated and found intriguing was the use of language.  Subtle changes in syntax from the norm and the use of obscure words act as continual reminders that the world you're observing is foreign.  Some of those words may not in be in your vocabulary (they weren't in mine) but typically the meaning was apparent from context.  If you're reading on a Kindle you'll find almost all are in the built in dictionary.  Grab the opportunity for a little vocabulary building as you read like I did.