Lowder creates an awe inspiring world in the first novel of this series. This world is a mix of medieval and the fantastical. It melds brilliantly in order to create a uniquely new and solidly built world as a backdrop for this awesome novel. It also has all of the usual elements of a fantasy tale – magic, war, fantastical creatures, character names that you’ve never seen before and will never see again, etc – but Lowder puts these all together with a twist. Through this tale he brings to light the importance of stories to spark the imagination in those of all ages, which is true not only in the story but in the world as a whole. It’s all about the power of the written word – something we experience every time we read but rarely, if ever, find as the subject matter for a series. Lowder also develops an intricate history of the land that is presented in the way of the bard. It is so captivatingly real that you feel yourself traveling through time with the storyteller.
The main characters in this novel are quite well developed. I enjoyed that they all started together only to travel on a few separate journeys. Yet, at the same time you have the feeling that they will be reunited in the future. By following their separate trials and challenges you get to know a great deal about the characters, the land in which they live, and the challenges that they face. I love that none of the characters are intrinsically good or evil. They all had their choice. They could choose which whisper to follow. None were forced. The battle of willpower was interesting to see, and the choice was left to each and every character: to fight for good, to fight for evil, to do nothing.
This novel was a brilliant escape from reality that kept me wrapped up in its brilliantly fabricated world with equally amazing characters. This is definitely a series that I’ll be following closely throughout.
Please note that I received this novel free of charge from the author in exchange for an honest review
(reviewed 20 days after purchase)