The Boy who Lit up the Sky (The Two Moons of Rehnor, Book 1)

What an imaginative story!

As this genre is not my usual cup of tea, I had a little difficulty getting into the story at first. That and the main character of Senya, although starting out as a sympathetic little orphan, changes to an unlikeable street rat, and a brat in the Mishnese palace. However, he morphs into a likable, decent guy when he gets to the kingdom of his father's people.

Told from the viewpoint of several pivotal characters, sometimes seeing the same action through different eyes, the story is quite robust with loads of action and intrigue. However, parts seemed rushed, and subsequently, were momentarily confusing to me requiring re-reads of some areas. We are left with a definite cliffhanger. I am actually relieved that there are more books in the series already available for purchase so I can continue with the story immediately.

Not a bad first book. It felt a little rushed in places, but overall, good. Would like to read more to see where it goes.

In the first book of her The Two Moons of Rhenor series, Ms. Ay has created a whole new world. There are planets and moons we’ve never seen before, and kingdoms ruled by full-blooded people who make bad decisions. In an effort to unite two warring kingdoms, a marriage is arranged with the hopes of producing a king who will bring an end to war.

The result of this union is Senya, aka the boy who lit up the sky. He’s a beautiful baby with silver eyes that shine when he opens them and claws on his feet instead of toes. Senya’s mother dies in childbirth and his grandfather, the king of Mishnah, has Senya taken to a secret location, an orphan home run by the church, to protect him from the influence of his father, Sorkan, a karut from Karupatani.

While he is sequestered in the orphanage, Senya is cared for by Sister Meri, a woman who has suffered much, and she develops a deep affection for the baby. The more he is rejected by the other sisters, the more Meri loves him. As he grows, so do his powers and his beauty. His appearance attracts the unwanted attentions of the Father, the man overseeing the orphanage, and when the Father tries to force himself on Senya, the boy quickly dispatches the old priest, and he and Meri set out on their own. Senya grows up on the hard streets of Mishnah where he learns to depend on himself for his survival and develop his extraordinary powers.

Not only has the author created a this fabulously diverse new world, she has also invented names and places we’ve never heard before. The intricately woven story, held my attention from beginning to end and I look forward to delving into Part Two, My Enemy’s Son. I had the advantage of reading Meri, a sort of prequel to The Boy Who Lit U the Sky, so I knew Meri’s background and understood her motives. Ms. Ay has published several of these novelettes to enrich the reader’s experience and add depth to an already rich tapestry. I highly recommend the series to adults who love fantasy / science fiction stories.