Review: Ancient Memories
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 11 27, 2013
Book Five of the popular Lodestone science fiction series begins with an unlikely partnership. Keris of the olive-skinned Kelanni and scruffy, bearded Alexander McCann of the hu-man race both seek a stolen sphere in the ruins of Gal-Mador. The sphere has been taken from an archive room and it may hold the key to understanding history and protecting the future. A darkly manipulative being named Ash may have tampered with their true history. Zemira, a Kelanni of ancient times, keeps the history of her day with her audiovisual logs shown through the sphere. Zemira and her explorer group land on the planet's shore but they find their way into the forest. Part of this strange planet with two suns will been conquered but not without a heartbreaking loss. Mark Whiteway in The Conquered Shore takes us back in time to understand the origins of the ancient Kelanni.As the story progresses, Zemira comes upon a group of creatures who are enigmatic and innocent. The Chandara have six-legs, three-fingers and a hard shell. Their survival depends on their connection with the forest. But Zemira and her Kelanni explorers must clear the land and plant food if they are to survive. The forest has a brilliant red, purple and gold canopy of leaves. "The forest seemed aflame with fire that did not consume it." When the Kelanni explorers go deep into the forest, something rustles and a black mass appears. The danger is suddenly real.The Conquered Shore by Mark Whiteway continues the compelling, adventure fantasy of the Lodestone series. Zemira's character was the heart of the story for me. She is brave and she has been trained as a warrior but she also feels the emotions of loss, grief and guilt when the battle is over. The story goes back and forth throughout time without confusion. The magnetic power of the lodestone is present. But new scientific powers emerge along with ancient memories.