Re-birth, by Cristoph A. T., is the story of Anessa’s reincarnation on the world of Anfang. She was murdered on Earth, only to find herself a baby on Anfang and unsure of what’s going on. Through Anessa’s eyes, we learn about the world, people and gods of Anfang.

In reading Re-birth, I was introduced to a new world, new people, and new gods. I felt that they were well-rounded characters, even the minor ones that we didn’t see very much of. Christoph A. T. did a great job of showing us the world of Anfang through the eyes of someone who’s never been on this world. It was odd to start with a character who has just been born and can talk. But Anessa’s parents’ reaction works well for what’s going on.

This feels like an epic fantasy novel with a deep backstory that begs to be explored, but the novel is short and leaves readers wanting more. I got invested in the characters and the stories pretty early and then just as we get to some juicy stuff, the story ends. The first-person perspective worked well for this dramatic story, though there were parts where we were in someone else’s head, there were times where I found myself wishing I knew what other characters were thinking and feeling.

Re-birth tells a compelling story with intriguing characters in a well-conceived fantasy world. I can tell the author put a lot of thought into the world and readers who enjoy fantasy worlds that feel lived-in and intricate will enjoy this novel. I enjoyed the story and I’m desperate to read book two as this one left me wanting more.

Pages: 290 | ASIN: B0BHVG5ZB6