Review: Fantastic Fantasy
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 09 21, 2011
On Dark Shores: The Lady by JA Clement is an enthralling page-turner and I adored the book.  The marvellous story sucked me in from page one and the way the author weaves her narrative elements together, I believe she may be the literary child of Charles Dickens and Ursula K. le Guin.In the town of Scarlock, a series of events are unfolding on a course to collide with unforeseen consequences.  The thief Nereia and her sister Mary, the moneylender Copeland and his enforcer Blakey, the fence Mickel seem to be headed toward the mysterious forces surrounding the Mother of the Shantari.Sometimes you find a book that is such a delight to read, you don't want to pry your eyes away from the page; On Dark Shores: The Lady is such a book.  You fall in this world of fantasy from the first word, swept along by a wave of mystery, struggle, fear and appealingly genuine characters.  The author serves you a world you can almost smell and taste and hear, where people act from hidden motives, spite, desperation, honour, duty and even cruelty.  There is an entrancing spell woven from every fibre, with characters scheming revenge or thievery, manipulating for their own ends, fighting to escape and survive.  But still, a certain thread of hope or fate winds a subtle touch through the book to elevate any grim or bleak ambience, giving the plot a radiating spark.The only bad thing about this novel is that it ended too soon, but as it is the first in a series I can look forward to more.  The end left tantalising questions still pending and I'm salivating to read the next instalment.  Lucky for me, there was a sneak peek at the next part tucked away at the end of the book.On Dark Shores: The Lady is one of the best fantasy books I've read in a while, and I recommend you beg, borrow or buy this book.  You won't be disappointed.