Category Archives: Book Review

Book Review: Dawn of Steam: First Light by Jeffrey Cook

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Dawn of Steam: First Light by Jeffrey Cook

A Steampunk Novel published February 27th 2014 through CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

Summary:

 Dawn of Steam is essentially about the preparations and flight of a dirigible full of travelers who are trying to find a northern path from the Atlantic to the Pacific.They attempt to prove or disprove the convictions and claims in Dr. Bowe’s journal of his own journey. The travelers are made up of hunters, fighters, a map maker and journalist, women, and the insatiable adventurer Sam Bowe, who “seems to thrill in living in the spur of the moment, and throwing herself into danger and excitement.” (page 294). Their journey is best described in the last part of the novel, on pg 295, “It is a difficult path, and many skills are required, including good guides, gifts for the native peoples – and ideally someone who speaks or can learn their tongues – and some talent for river navigation, but the entire way can be traveled without need of airships. That we did so under great duress, and still in excellent time is only more testament to the company you have collected here.”

Keywords:

Steampunk, Travel, Journey, Journals, Dirigible, Airship, Mechanical Creature, Gun Fights, Social Norms

My Review:

To preface my review I must state that I had never before read a book written in the “epistolary” style embraced by Jeffrey Cook in his novel, Dawn of Steam: First Light. This means that the main character narrates through journal entries and letters. He writes these to his fiancee back home about their journey. At first mention of what epistolary meant (a novel written as a series of documents, according to Wikipedia), I was highly skeptical that this technique would be engrossing for the reader. After reading the novel in its entirety, I am unconvinced that this style of writing can ever fully grab the reader’s attention and fully convey excitement. This style lent itself to multiple issues, the first of which was the lengthy descriptions of characters and pieces of equipment (such as how to re-load a rifle on page 53). The letter writer, Gregory Conan Watts, completely describes a person, sometimes spending pages and pages in his descriptions, instead of letting the character’s personality come through the pages of the novel organically as in a regular novel. The character descriptions were so long, I thought Watts was being obsessive or compulsive in his need to over-describe every character.

The epistolary format contains multiple forms of documents and Jeffrey Cook included journal entries, letters, and newspaper clippings. I enjoyed having the variety, however, some thoughts were repeated in different forms of documents, such as how Sir James loses (Watts suspects on purpose) during card games. This might be a redundancy by the author by accident or perhaps is an acknowledgement that our narrator does not remember he has already written about this event, which is altogether quite clever though unnecessary for the reader to have to take note of twice.

As epistolary is written after the fact, any action is not entirely exciting, as it has already occurred and there is no surprise to the writer, only the description of that past surprise. I thoroughly missed being in the middle of an action sequence throughout the novel, even as Cook was able to give me some of that anxiety for the characters with several action sequences involving fight scenes. Cook gives Watts the ability to describe the action scene of the fight in such a way to completely capture my interest, for at least that part, until the bulk of the narration of their experiences on their journey begin again. Truly, the book could have started with the second part, American Colonies The Civilized West, after 90 pages of description that can be summed up by the words, “they prepared for their journey.” At that point, I did not even have a full grasp of the characters, even with the pages of description, because I had not seen them in action and couldn’t quite  put a visual to any one of them.

Even the humorous parts are dulled by the style of writing as it was ‘written’  in the early 1800’s, as such will happen when you are true to your narrator’s own writing style. I applaud Jeffrey Cook for staying so true to the time period, but I was not pleased as a reader to have to wade through the word-glutted sentences and the staunchly level tone of the writer. I wanted emotion and reaction, but I got this instead, “I will acknowledge that, expecting no such thing and quite tense in anticipation of gaining another voyager among our company, and one of such note, I was quite unready for such a thing, and startled in such a manner as to greatly amuse everyone about, and sending my chair tumbling backwards – with myself, sadly, still in residence.” (page 56). Many of the novel’s sentences are structured like this, long and comma-riddled and difficult to follow. This was another way in which the reader was hampered in connecting to the characters and the story.

Any big reveals were rendered into normalcy by Watts. When I wanted excitement, he told me that one of the main characters was actually a woman, but in such a way that it was not scandalized. I want the scandal. I want the big eruption of truth. As a reader, I want to be excited about what I’m reading.

At times, Watts graced the reader with true gems, “While he dressed up perfectly well, though nothing out of the ordinary, since he is always quite formal, Elliot Toomes and parties go together something like oil and water; they can coexist in the same rough location without ever actually blending.” (page 85). Even Miss Penn, on page 156, had a nice turn of phrase, “Sometimes an animal in a cage or trap, unable to get out, will try to pull things in.” My absolute favorite sentence, though, would have to be on pages 78-79, when Watts writes, “…the man must once have been some kind of explorer who went so far from home as to get a feel for such adventures before his mind began to fill in the darker corners of the map.”

Regarding the physical book and format, I felt that since the entire novel was made up of documents, the appearance of the book should reflect those documents. The newspaper articles should have looked like newspaper articles, perhaps ripped out of their columns. The letters should have been ink blotted and in a readable but cursive style, such as the tease on the back of the book jacket. Also, Watts mentions photos he sends with his letters. I would like to see them and think it would add greatly to the novel’s authenticity for them to be included. There were only several grammatical errors within the script and I think these could be masked within the font as mistakes by the writer. Or even spelling errors, such as “Spainish” on page 171. I attributed this error to our narrator and not the author of the novel.

I am not entirely familiar with Steampunk as a genre and what elements and rules make up any book under that category. To me, though, this steampunk novel had an element that appeared to be gratuitiously placed to make it more reminiscent of the genre, such as the Ornithopter – a mechanical beast with part of the mind of a woman or a dog. This concept seems entirely out of place with the staunch historical accuracy of the book, lending to it a sense of unreality.

Although I came to love the character Sam Bowe, I was not pleased with the way Watts described her. He continually chastises her unladylike behavior and dress, again and again. I understand this was the attitude at the time, but I feel that it is shoved in my face over and over. Cook redeems himself as the author by giving her such a heroic and epic quality but does not reveal much about her that is charming or endearing to the reader. Cook sidesteps the issue of resentment toward a ‘lady’ saving the men but I feel that the resentment is still there in the fact that Watts stresses her unseemliness in comportment. But Watts and Cook don’t stop at chastising Sam as Watts continually chastises any women in the book who don’t conform to the societal standards of the time and praises those that do. Follows are some examples:

–  “…I shall hope this letter is not too disturbing or graphic for a young woman’s sensibilities…” (pg 230)

– “Apparently expecting such a thing, and willing to put up with aiding in terrible behavior for a woman, I noticed Miss Penn tugging upon Samantha’s dress hem sufficient to catch her attention…” (page 166).

– “I know it is unseemly, and I shall hope this letter is not widely circulated at home, save what parts of it are more of adventure and less of controversy….” (page 244). When referring to Miss Bowe wearing men’s pants when navigating.

– “…for perhaps if she truly has such a gift for the manly pursuit of artifice, certainly well beyond my own understanding, then perhaps some part of her mind is entirely unsuited for womanly pursuits.” (page 97).

In fact, Sam Bowe, when thought of as a man is “.. the fading and handsome, if youthful, man.” but when thought of as a woman, she is described as an, “…undignified woman.” (page 164).

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction and the epistolary writing style, steampunk, or the Luminaries by Eleanor Catton.

This novel was published through CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform on 2/27/14 and is available on Amazon here.

TLDR Star Rating: 3.00

Links for more information:

Goodreads

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Book Review: The Moment Before by Suzy Vitello

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The Moment Before by Suzy Vitello

A Young Adult Novel published January 14th 2014 by Diversion Books

 

Summary:

 Popular Sabine and Broody Brady are Irish twins, born 11 months apart. After Sabine dies, Brady is thrust from her sister’s shadow into a world full of drama, complication, and lies. Brady must find out what really happened to her sister before she died and Brady discovers more about herself along the way.

Keywords:

Teens, Drama, Death, Popularity, Complicated, Angst, Daughters, Irish Twins, Family, Drugs and Alcohol, Finding Yourself, Grief

My Review:

This may be a young adult fiction novel but it is not your typical angsty teen book. Though there are sex, drugs, alcohol, and death, they are dealt with in an adult and masterful way. It is almost as if this is not a work of fiction but an atypical and insightful diary-esque book. I felt, immediately, in touch with the main character as she narrated.

Vitello has such a way of bending a sentence into a beautiful structure that is almost, but not quite, out of reach for understanding. Phrases seem thrown together, such as “Into the growing awkward I say…” (page 50) but they blow me away with their tight structure. Even the dialogue is spot on, “That’s not fair for me, I realize. You have to make mistakes in order to grow. But I’m begging you. Pleading with you. Do not fall in that murky well right now. Now now.” (page 185). Vitello is able to tell me exactly what the main character is feeling and seeing. Her descriptions pack a punch that stays true to each of the characters, defining their complexities: “Mom called her my manic-panic girl. Me? Brady-brooder.” (page 14).

It was refreshing to have the plot thrown in my face in the first few pages so I knew exactly what I was getting into, but I couldn’t just sit tight for the ride because there were layers to the plot that the author expertly revealed in pits and pats.

I absolutely fell in love with Brady’s voice. “The tickle of this feels like a secret I’m sharing with my sister, like back when we were little girls sneaking into each other’s rooms at night to munch on candy under the blankets.” (page 15). Most of the time the author utilizes abrupt and short sentences that feel halting at first but then begin to worm their way into the voice of the character. She is a teenager with a teenager’s voice. But she is not just any teen. She is insightful and charismatic. She is real and emotional. She connects to her unseen audience through her fears and realizations. I love how Brady describes other people around her. “Why am I even friends with this girl? The way she glows with satisfaction when the world matches up to her sense of order and the way things should be.” (page 187) These are the same flaws I saw in Martha and Brady was able to voice them with such eloquence. I could listen to Brady all day.

Who wouldn’t like a book that mentions bacon maple bars?.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys movies with the environment of Clueless or the clever dialogue in the movie Brick.

 

This novel was published by Diversion Books on 1/14/14 and is available on Amazon here.

TLDR Star Rating: 4.75

 

Links for more information:

On the web: http://www.suzyvitello.com/books/the-moment-before/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18701765-the-moment-before

Blog: http://www.suzyvitello.com/suzys-blog/

Book Review: Unicorn Battle Squad by Kirsten Alene

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Unicorn Battle Squad by Kirsten Alene

A Bizarr0 Fiction/Fantasy novel published 10/1/12 by Eraserhead Press

 

Summary:

There is a world where horses can be transformed into Unicorns and where an ordinary boy can be transformed into a Unicorn Rider. Carl is only a boy when his father disappears, leaving in his stead a scrawny horse named Yury. Together Yury and Carl must ready themselves for a war that threatens City 21, their home. Carl turns from lowly clerk to fledgling Unicorn Rider, battling through initiation tests, the Theklanian army, and his feelings for one important Theklanian Princess.

 

Keywords:

Unicorn Riders, Bizarro Fiction, Battle, Other-worldly, A Boy and His Horse, Adventure, Capture, Escape

My Review:

At the first mention of ‘unicorns,’ I expected a fantasy tale full of magical creatures and wondrous realms but Kirsten Alene, the author of Unicorn Battle Squad, has a different take on what is meant by that word. Alene’s imagination is one that is not fastened down by fantasy literature stereotypes and she is able to create a world full of uniquely defined characteristics. Unicorns are not quite a magical creature but are the steeds of the Riders. Unicorns are horses that have been modified and outfitted for war, hence the battle-ready horn usually identified with a unicorn.

In what might have been a dystopian novel, Kirsten Alene instead focusses the book on something different, Unicorn Riders. Thank you for breaking from the end of the world, life-is-awful typical dystopian novels nowadays to give us something unique, while still giving us that bleak and sad world we seem to crave. The ironic view of the world, such as the kidnapper’s request, not for as much money as possible, but just to pay the bills created during the kidnapping, made me laugh.

Alene’s world is so familiar and yet so different. She only shows us a small portion, through the story of Carl and Yury, which is entirely aggravating because I never cared about Carl. Carl was only the instrument in which the author could spout wonderful phrases of prose. These descriptions were so beautiful and some of the dialogue so captivating, such as on page 55, ‘“Being a Unicorn Rider is about fighting in adverse circumstances, impaired by impossible handicaps, working in the most dire, hopeless conditions, overcoming the absurd unfairness of odds!”’ However, all these descriptions eventually piled upon themselves until they overshadowed any sort of plot in the novel. I found myself skimming hurriedly over the words in order to find the meaning of the story and to look for growth in the characters. I was left wanting. Alene does not dish out a beautiful or clever plot like she can dish out the beautiful and thought-provoking descriptions. Carl, the main character, has very little personality and does not win any favors with the reader. I have more sympathy and more in common with Yury, the horse turned Unicorn..

At times, even the descriptions would bore me with their redundancy and she overly-repeated the phrase ‘roared with laughter’ as if neither the characters nor the author had any other imaginative response to Carl and his actions.

I would recommend this novel to anyone who enjoyed the irony of the world in A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket, the random intense imaginations of Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll or any of the other Eraserhead Press Bizarro Fiction novels.

 

This novel was published by Eraserhead Press on 10/1/12 and is available on Amazon here.

TLDR Star Rating: 3

 

Links for more information:

On the web: http://kirstenalene.com/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4419714.Kirsten_Alene

Book Review: Sunrise Meets the Star by Victoria Bastedo

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Sunrise Meets the Star by Victoria Bastedo

a Fantasy novel released on 3/14/14 by CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

Summary:

Verone was a peasant but he had been educated and was intelligent. For this reason and the attitude of the town toward them, Verone and his mother lived on the edge of the quiet out of the way town until his mother passed away. Verone’s life working as a laborer was flung upside down when the loud-spoken dark-haired man Antaries arrived with his group of travelers. They had come for Verone and he would journey back with them through thick and thin to fulfill the strange requirements of a will left by his father’s partner.

Verone is at first led by curiosity and the chance to see the world, but soon realizes he always wanted to cast off the peasant life’s burden for greater things like adventure, friends, and family. He found all of these in his journey with Antaries,  the solicitor and his son, the two guards, and later the girl turned thief turned companion. In the end the journey will bring them all to places they hadn’t imagined.

keywords: Journey, Prince and the Pauper, friendship, class distinctions, ‘a’ names, two halves of a whole, prophesy/legacy, Peasant

My Review:

Victoria Bastedo excels at creating characters and growing them through a novel. Sunrise Meets the Star is the second novel I have read by this author and I am delighted with her ability to realistically and immediately pull me into her characters. In this novel, she introduces the main character, Aldeveron, right away and gives me a complete physical description without just telling me. She shows me that Aldeveron is very light skinned (so much that he gets sunburned) and that he has red hair and is strong because he is a laborer. She implies that he is soft-spoken and has settled into the routine of his life, accepting his low station and birth, until his journey because of the Will. Throughout the novel, Bastedo grows Aldeveron into the leader he must be to claim his rightful place in society.

Berlin is “a man with several sides, and his sense of nobility was skewed, and yet he had a loyalty for those he traveled with…” (pg. 163, according to Verone’s thoughts). Throughout the novel, Berlin undergoes as much of a change of character as Aldeveron and the relationship between these two is quite fascinating to behold. Bastedo does not immediately resolve the conflict between them that was created through class distinctions, she maintains the realism of persona throughout the novel, allowing Berlin to slowly and almost unwillingly see Aldeveron in a new light even though he persists in calling Verone a ‘peasant’ over and over. The verbal abuse Berlin throws at Verone is not unsettling for the reader because Bastedo has made Berlin a real person, with conflicted thoughts and feelings that erupt even as his temper does at the traveling party having to ‘succor’ a peasant.

There is a moment in the novel that struck me as a turning point in the relationship between Berlin and Aldeveron and it involved a hat. I applaud Bastedo for being able to hold her characters to their behaviors while at the same time having them show their conflicted and complicated interiors. But as Chickory puts it, Aldeveron has a way of “winning people over.”

The only issue I had with the characters was being overwhelmed by all of them almost at the same time. The travel party of the two guards, the father and son duo, and the leader were thrown at me all at once, which makes sense in that they were traveling together. However, this overfilled my mind and I was not able to sort out the characters between themselves for several chapters and wished that each of the companions could have been especially recognized for me to understand them one by one. However, once I got to know them I felt like I could accurately predict how they would respond in any given situation because they were described so well.

Bastedo has several instances of simply amazing dialogue that absolutely brings the characters to life. One of my favorites was when the innkeeper is speaking to Cicado as she is upset, “Seen a lot of hard at my inn,” the man said. “Mop up, Girl.” (Pg. 121). Another fantastic example of a well-crafted sentence that shows the depth of intelligence in Bastedo’s main character Verone is when he muses in chapter 11 that, “I don’t know the rules of the world that created his opinions.” (referring to Berlin)

Not only character descriptions and dialogue, but scenery descriptions were wonderfully captured by Bastedo. When Verone first reacts to arriving in Easthaven, Bastedo describes what he says in a lengthy list, overwhelming us just as Verone is being overwhelmed, “They had bright clothes, bright food, and strange and tinkling items of art, jewelry, rattling cards, horses adorned with shiny headpieces, shoes with ribbons, pretty girls smooth as velvet, refined men that rivaled Berlin, books and storefronts and…” (ch. 20, pg. 185)

The setting was quite believable with only minor instances of deviations, such as ‘mowing’ grass. Spelling/grammar/word choice also only contained minor errors. There were a few missing commas where a natural pause would occur but this novel had a high readability. The main issue I had with the writing style/word choice was the lack of definition in many cases on who was speaking or performing an action, where the author would refer to ‘he’ and ‘him’ in the same sentence for two distinct persons. For example, on pg. 131, “he managed to convince him.”

The mechanics I most enjoyed were the chosen names for places and people. They fit into the world Bastedo had created while still being pronounceable. My favorites were Aldeverone, Cicada, Berlin, Antaries, Chickory, Fractin, Patifica, Pequesterey, Wendland… Basically all of them.

This fantasy novel was not too much in your face about the morals of the story, instead integrating them so well into the plot that I did not realize there were so many treasures embedded until the end rolled around and I was finished. Bastedo eloquently deals with class distinctions, her characters transcend these boundaries as they become friends. Berlin judges Aldeveron as a peasant of unequal class, even though the distinctions are not as they seem for he has been educated, is intelligent and displays exemplary character, fighting skills, and humility during their journey. Berlin learns that he can’t always judge a book by its cover.

The one thing I wish the author would have done differently was to integrate the meat of the plot earlier in the novel, giving us a peak into the main mystery before the ending action. There was enough to move the story along and me with it but I felt that the plot was lacking in luster until the author made the big mystery reveal towards the end. The reveal was clever and I could see in hindsight that it had been integrated into the story as far as the first few pages but I would have liked to know that sooner on in my reading.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys adventure novels with a taste for more humble times (i.e. horses as transportation and a distinct class system)

This novel was published by the author on 3/28/11 and re-released on 3/14/14  and is available on Amazon here.

TLDR Star rating: 3.75

Links for more information:

on the web: http://freevalleypublishing.com/featured-authors/victoria-bastedo/

blog:http://snovalleyhobbit.wordpress.com/

blog: https://victoriabastedo.wordpress.com/

Book Review: Review of Pickled Apocalypse of Pancake Island from bizarre Eraserhead Press

by in Author Thursdays, Book Review, Local Authors and tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Gaston Glew is a pickle and Fanny W. Fod is a pancake. From the very beginning, the reader can tell this book will be bizarre. This story was everything I have and have not imagined about pickles and pancakes. The writing style was curt and to the point and the author spared no details when it came to sticky subjects such as suicide, death, murder, and sex but he did provide a strange perspective: that of a pickle. This pickle was not just any pickle. It was a sad pickle. Did the author choose a phallic vegetable on purpose? Pickles do come with their own associations and prejudices.

As I read the story, I felt like I could smell and taste the sickly sweetness of the maple syrup and the briny sourness of the pickled pancakes and it totally grossed me out! Cameron Pierce effectively captured all my senses in relation to pickles and pancakes, unusual subjects. Pierce has imagined every nook and cranny of these two subjects and then mashed them together in an uncommon storyline that is so bizarre I don’t know what to think. Pierce was able to capture a different perspective with his edible characters, translating death, sadness, and happiness into tangible shaped concepts.

The plot was straightforward, to find Happiness (as a pickle) but the plot seemed wandering and mildly purposeless. I thought the story got a little chatty with the author’s own musings on the subjects of happiness and sadness with too much emphasis placed on the characters’ thoughts and feelings. However, Pierce wrote a wonderfully imaginative story about what could and would happen if pickles and pancakes were alive in a world where unequivocal certainties are not complete realities on Pancake Island.

Pierce’s writing style reminded me of the curiosity of The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry mixed with the emotional wanderings of The Missing Piece Meets the Big O by Shel Silverstein.

 

Would I recommend this book?

This book is different. If you are not willing to read something bizarre, then I would not recommend this book. Also, the detailed sex scene might be overwhelming for certain readers (even when it’s between two made-up characters: a pickle and a pancake). I enjoyed the book, it gave me some ideas for my own unusual fiction. Also, the author is highly imaginative and I appreciated reading the book just for the odd tidbits of imagination.

Book Review: Mistress of the Dancing Bones by Thomas Alexander

by in Author Thursdays, Book Review

Thomas Alexander’s world in Mistress of the Dancing Bones is one where magic is realistic and woven organically throughout the story. The setting and the characters are so much a part of the landscape that I do not question their existence but instead ache as they thrust themselves into danger and am giddy when any trickles of romance play out. The characters were distinctive and robust and became increasingly intriguing to me as the web of relationships and allegiances was revealed, like a world shrouded in mist that becomes clear piece by piece as the mist drifts away. As I read through to the end of the novel, I realized I did not want to let go of the story. Reading a good book such as this one is like being on a sugar high, the visualization of the action and emotional attachment to the characters is so intense that when the lines of plot are smoothed out and the last word has been consumed, you are left feeling empty and disappointed that you were not there with Ashia – the Mistress of the Dancing Bones and main character – throughout her adventures. The next best thing is to continue on with her when the next part of her journey is revealed in the second novel.

Book Review: Reviewing the Romance

by in Book Review


I, like many others, love a good book. I love a good book with a good story. I especially love a good book with a good story about young love. That’s one of my favorites. But many books portray love as simple or easy or falling perfectly in place in both persons’ lives. This is exceedingly comfortable and reassuring to read, even whilst knowing that life does not follow the same footsteps as those made by authors everywhere. I, however, like to indulge inner fantasies now and then and read one of those so-called cheesy romance novels. At least in this genre, you get what you pay for, a romance. Most of the books I read involve romance of a sort, even as the main story line! Yet, they label themselves young adult, fantasy, adventure, etc. Many books and movies that I can recall (correct me I dare you) contains a romance. It is almost a shock to realize something you just read or watched is only about the bond between father and son. This is not as true regarding less mainstream films, but when just referring to the “blockbuster” hits, you get the romance. Disney? Romance. Anime? Romance. J-Lo? Romance.

I digress. I wanted to share a review I wrote for a talented writer, Victoria Bastedo and her published novel, Dear Miklos:


Dear Miklos by Victoria Bastedo opens up in the midst of a benign story; one young lady’s interest in a faraway but not forgotten Grecian young man who once saved her life. As the reader, my curiosity is piqued by the potential in this relationship but the author tears away my attention and presents me with an altogether more promising prospect, the mysterious hulking giant who threatens her life! I knew Therese would travel to meet up with her former friend and future ? I knew the mysterious man trailing her would eventually catch up. I knew she would find herself in a whirlwind of hospitable Greeks and the handsome yet down to earth Miklos. I did not know the pace of the action would pick up with the speed of a racing boat and crash together with finality that could only end in one place, the inevitable and much longed-for ending of any worthy romance novel.

To purchase this novel:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1934912476/ref=cm_cr_mts_prod_img

For more on the author, Victoria Bastedo:
http://freevalleypublishing.com/featured-authors/victoria-bastedo/

Book Review: Secret Order of the Overworld

by in Author Thursdays, Book Review | 7 Comments

I’m amassing my collection of locally authored, signed editions of various novels. I am now working through reading them and have been pleasantly surprised thus far by what I’ve read. The first book I read was a fantasy novel by Kennedy J. Quinn. You can purchase the novel here: Buy it Now.

This book brings to mind an idea of spirituality that you would not come across in the midst of a typical religious philosophy. There is oneness and a sense of peace that must be attained during the outbreak of a power struggle between two forces. The author drives this overarching plot with clear motivations and a realistic sense of morality among the main characters. As you read, you become engrossed in the organic flow of time and the eloquently revealed back-story. The politics of this world, of the Overworld and of the Underneath are integrated into the action so that you understand entirely what is going on, how it came to pass, and why it continues to speed down a seemingly predestined path. I did not have to take a breather from the meat of the story in order to understand how each character fit into the power struggle. The only part that broke my concentration was the free usage of proper nouns in the building of a fantastical world.

But what is it really about? From the Lulu description:

“Gabrell and his beloved Majeska are pulled into a power struggle between a Sisterhood using Visionary prowess to punish Overling men’s corruption in the secret realm Underneath, and the desire to follow the Catalyst to the peace prophesied by the Predecessors for the Overworld. This edition includes Book One, UNDERNEATH and Book Two, OVERCAME.”

To get more tantalizing bits from the author, check out her blog at http://sherijkennedyriverside.wordpress.com/contact-us/