Review: Fantasy at it's Best! YA on up!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 06 20, 2014
Danger, conflict and an adventurous search for answers in a world filled with fantastical beings, kings, and magic. What better way to snag the attention of the daring inner child in all of us who dreams of living large in a world that just begs for us to conquer it? Crimson & Cream by C. M. Skiera is a surefire magnetic for reluctant YA readers.A ragtag group of orphaned boys have banded together to become a family surviving in the bleakest of times, the odds stacked against them. Twins, Jetsam and Flotsam think and act like one, but a moment of hesitation will forever shatter their bond and force Jetsam to grow into the leader and adventurer he was meant to be. Jetsam begins a quest to discover the answers to his parents’ deaths, and discover his true heritage. With his sidekick, a stray terrier named Tramp, Jetsam sets out on the adventure of his life through a land both beautiful and deadly.C.M. Skiera holds nothing back as he builds his fantasy world from the caves on up as he pulls the reader through the rabbit hole and we fall into his tale. Unafraid to color darkness and pain into his story, Mr. Skiera has created a realm of possibility, daring and heroic characters that one would be proud to call a friend. He writes with a crisp style and vivid detail, until one smells the dank tunnels and gropes blindly through the dark along with his characters. Evil is evil, ominous and larger than life, but Jetsam and his “family” demonstrate that loyalty and love go a long way. Absolutely wonderful reading and the perfect cornerstone for a new fantasy trilogy!