Review: Intriguing, Action-Packed Premise With Some Flaws
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 01 14, 2013
The Arrival is an exciting book with a clever premise and likable characters.  The four heroines really define the word girl-power and stick together through any adversity.  After being transported to a mythical land after casting a spell to find their true loves they gamely adjust to the changes and work diligently to refine the mystical powers bestowed on them to save this new world they've entered.  Each heroine has unique talents and distinct personalities that set each apart and I admired their feistiness.  The four heroes of this story are chivalric and possess strength and charm and work hard to gain the affections of the women they immediately connect with.  While we spend some time with the boys, this is clearly a story about the heroines, with the heroes definitely in the secondary category.The world created is visually stimulating with amazing mythical creatures.  The heroes and heroines are truly heroic and have to unleash some potent powers to save the kingdom.  The action sequences are thrilling and lead to an exciting conclusion for the moment.There's a lot to like in this story but I did have some minor issues. There are a lot of main characters who the author makes sure get equal time and attention through constant head-hopping.  It was difficult at times figuring out who was talking since the perspective would shift suddenly.  The flow of the story was jarring because of this and there was a frantic feel as well. Those not fond of cliffhangers best be prepared to pull your hair out as this story ends right in the middle of a heartpounding action scene.  This left me screaming but excited for the next book.The Arrival was an entertaining story with well-written characters, a colorful world, and exciting action scenes that lay the groundwork for what promises to be a satisfying series.  This was my first book by Ms MacDonald but I'm intrigued enough by this work to try more from her.