Review: Fantastic , enthralling read!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 01 19, 2013
4.5 out of 5 stars![...]So, as I'm sure you know, I love to read.  I'd like to say that I read a lot of different genres and have a broad spectrum of reading material in my bookcases.  Truth is, sadly, I don't.  So, when I was introduced to a book titled Renhala, I read the description and knew it was something I had to read.  Fantasy and magic was not something I normally read...no particular reason, really.  Holy hell, I am so glad I found this book.... I was hooked on Renhala from the very first page.We meet Kailey in the beginning recuperating, both physically and mentally, from an attack.  An attack that she still can't make sense of.  She's certain her attacker wasn't exactly human...but surely she must be mistaken, right?  In her quest to return to normalcy, her paths cross with an interesting man named Gunthreon.  Gunthreon will show Kailey what her true nature is, and he will introduce her to Renhala...an alternate realm she never knew existed.  Now, she not only has to learn all she can about Renhala and the creatures and beings that inhabit it, but that she must aid in saving it.  Along the way, Kailey meets some amazing and endearing creatures that she learns not to fear but instead, to love.  She also meets two interesting men who will both make a play for her affections.Kailey is a kick-ass heroine.  She is developed so well that I feel like I could pick up the phone and invite her over for a glass of wine.  She's spunky, intelligent and has a dry sense of humor that I absolutely ADORE!  I mean really, how can you not love a gal who isn't above sticking her tongue out at someone when they are acting a fool?  She's snarky but delivers her snark with affection and pulls it off every time.  Love her!This story was amazing.  The creatures Ms. Lutchen has created are so vivid in my mind that I feel as though they are right beside me.  Her descriptions of the settings, objects, landscapes and characters are truly a gift given to the reader.  There are evil creatures called meeples that are described so richly that I won't soon forget their evilness...even if they do sorta look like fluffy bunnies.  The characters the Kailey befriends along the way are creatures I wish were real.  My personal favorite is Bu....a big, hairy, smelly, sorta scary beast that has a heart of gold who speaks like a child and will protect Kailey with his own life if it were to come to it. Then there's Conner and Ladimer, the two men who suddenly appear in her life and who both want a place in her heart.  Each of them have amazing qualities that make it so hard for Kailey, as well as the reader, to decide who her choice should be.  The relationship that touched me the most, however, was the relationship between Kailey and her mother.  I am actually tearing up as I type this recalling their story. It is just beautiful.All of that being said, what I found most remarkable was the way Ms. Lutchen told the story.  Never once did I feel lost and not understanding of what was going on within the story.  We learned about Renhala and all of the creatures and problems right along with Kailey.  Not only did Gunthreon teach her what everything was along the way, but he taught me as well.  I really appreciated that characteristic of the book. Even if I read a section and was starting to feel a "huh?" coming on, it would be within the next sentence that things were explained and the idea became clear.  I can only imagine how difficult a task it must be, from a writing standpoint, to be able to accomplish that.I feel so lucky to have found this book and I hope that even if fantasy isn't necessarily your thing, you'll give this book a try.  I'm certain you will love Renhala and what Ms. Lutchen has created as much as I did! Thank you, Amy Joy, for sharing the gift of your imagination with us and I will be eagerly (notice I didn't say patiently haha!) waiting for the next book!