Blog Archives
The Crystal Crux Series: Beautiful
In The Crystal Crux Series: Beautiful, the final installment of Allen Werner’s epic fantasy series, readers are whisked into a world where destiny, power, and personal struggles intertwine. This narrative follows the journey of Pero de Alava, who, in a climactic revelation, finds his long-lost bride, signaling a turn in the tide of events. The story masterfully interweaves various plotlines, from Anthea’s battle against Sinibaldus’s poisonous machinations with the help of the Bellerophon Crystal to the grief-driven quest of Francis Whitehall across Italy.
Werner crafts a rich tapestry of characters and conflicts, with Cambio Sartore’s desperate search for his sister Gisele, who finds herself in a precarious situation with Tomas. Meanwhile, the ominous presence of Ophis, the black dragon, adds a layer of impending doom as it seeks the fifth Bellerophon Crystal for dark purposes. The book deftly balances these multiple threads, creating a sense of urgency and suspense.
The novel’s strength lies in its character development, particularly that of Pero de Alava. His internal struggles and growth are portrayed with a delicate touch, making him a relatable and compelling protagonist. His journey, marked by themes of redemption and responsibility, encapsulates the novel’s exploration of personal growth against a backdrop of external chaos. The narrative invites readers to ponder deeper questions about family, power, and the individual’s impact on destiny. While the novel features an ensemble cast, each navigating their distinct challenges, there is a sense of cohesion in how their stories intersect. Some characters may feel familiar, fitting into classic archetypes, but each contributes to the novel’s rich narrative tapestry.
Despite its brevity, The Crystal Crux: Beautiful maintains a balance of suspense, romance, and fantasy elements, making it an engaging read. Allen Werner’s skill in weaving these diverse storylines into a coherent and captivating conclusion is commendable, offering a satisfying closure to this imaginative series.
Pages: 150 | ASIN : B0CM2C8JG3
Utopia Falling: A Darkness Rises
Utopia Falling: A Darkness Rises, by R. C. Vielee, offers a riveting journey through a dystopian fantasy world, intricately woven with themes of resilience, the eternal struggle between light and darkness, and the immense sacrifices necessary for the survival of entire worlds. Set in the aftermath of Earth’s Great Destruction, the novel introduces us to Tartica, a society that has emerged as a beacon of free love and harmony with nature. However, beneath its utopian veneer, Tartica grapples with the corrupting influence of power and the erosion of its once-cherished values.
At the heart of the narrative is Reyne, a humble farmer whose yearning for a simple life with Mithany is shattered by the looming threat of assassins from the menacing realm of Evidar. Reyne’s character is masterfully crafted, embodying the journey from naivety to a pivotal force within Tartica. His internal struggles and unexpected responsibilities resonate deeply, offering a compelling portrait of a relatable hero thrust into extraordinary circumstances. The novel explores the dichotomy between Reyne’s longing for simplicity and the complex destiny awaiting him, enriched by the depiction of Tartica’s leaders. Once virtuous, these figures succumb to dark desires, illustrating the fragile nature of goodness when confronted with deceit and ambition. This theme of moral decay is counterbalanced by the narrative arc of the Devil’s Blacksmith in Evidar, a character shrouded in mystery and manipulation. His relentless quest for power, even at the cost of others’ well-being, paints a morally ambiguous picture of an antagonist driven by a distorted vision of salvation.
Utopia Falling: A Darkness Rises is a mesmerizing tale that skillfully intertwines love, betrayal, and the exploration of alternate realms. The novel’s pace and world-building are both accessible and engaging, making it a standout addition to the dystopian fantasy genre. With its richly developed characters and intricate plot, R. C. Vielee’s creation is not just a story of a clash between utopia and darkness; it is an examination of the limits of freedom and the enduring power of the human spirit in the face of overwhelming odds.
Pages: 414 | ASIN : B0CBNKCGG2
Inner Monsters
ASCENT follows Ellie, Josh, and Sam into a realm of otherworldly dangers, as they grapple with external threats and inner demons. What were some things you wanted to explore in this book that were different from book one?
I wanted a closer look at the world they were trapped by. I wanted to extend the lore and continue to develop the characters. How would Josh adapt to life after the Circle? How would Ellie’s life be affected now she actually had people she cared about? How far was Sam prepared to go to learn more about this phenomena? Darker characters also came into play, those who had adapted in their own way to live with this curse. There was a lot to do.
Were there any challenges you faced in ensuring ASCENT stood out from the first book?
I wanted ASCENT to have that same driving force as the LIT. That becomes challenging when the story needs exposition to grow, so you need to plant seeds of information as the story progresses. Some explained, some implied and others, shown. LIT was a lot more linear than ASCENT. Keeping the three main protagonists front and centre felt more of a challenge, but I am happy that they all were able to hold their own as major characters.
How do the otherworldly creatures in ASCENT reflect or contrast with the themes you wanted to address in the story?
Some people deal with darkness by embracing it. By allowing themselves to become part of it instead of fighting against it. It’s a survival technique and we all have our reasons for adapting the way we do. As the Leviathans Ascend to a higher level of being, so do their Conduits. Another concept I thought was intriguing was how do Ellie, Josh, and Sam react to camaraderie for the first time in their lives. Now they have had a taste of friendship, how does that affect the life of misery that their inner monsters need to keep them in. Does it breed hope? Trust? Resilience? All these things need to be stripped from the Conduit to make it truly a vessel the Leviathan can use. Friendship and support are dangerous.
Can you share a hint about what readers might expect in the trilogy’s conclusion?
Although the end of the trilogy, it is not necessarily the end of the LIT universe. Remember, this has happened for centuries so the possibilities are endless in regards to place, time, and person. A hint? It is a War. Bad things happen in Wars. People are lost, people are betrayed and bitter. The Conduits can’t hide in the shadows any longer, they are being steered towards a battle where death is the nicest thing that can happen to them.
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Ellie, Josh, and Sam’s world is growing, expanding with people who suffer the same bane as themselves.
The cloistered Ellie must emerge from the shadows. The young Josh must learn to live with the beast that walks beside him. And Sam plays a duplicitous game to learn about the demonic phenomena that have destroyed all their lives.
The enigmatic Mika, with his Pantheon of Conduits each with their own curse, is searching for a legend of evil – the ancient blight and the one who restrains it.
But something has changed…another evil is emerging and the Leviathans are moving closer into our world. A vile, unthinkable truce might be needed between Conduit and monster as both become the hunted.
ASCENT, the 2nd book in the LIT trilogy.
Pantheon: The Phantom
Pantheon: The Phantom is Joshua Landeros’s second book in the Pantheon series. It is a sweeping fantasy epic that manages to carry on the first book’s story while expanding its world and bringing in enjoyable new characters.
The book is set in Landeros’s world of Avah and follows its people as they come to terms with the events of the first book and struggle to recover from the Hollow Wars. Just as people were hoping things were calming down, a new threat, the Pact of Ram has, arisen. As this new threat rises every allied nation is called to combat it. But who is really behind this new threat, and who can be trusted?
While this may be a conflict that spans nations, Landeros makes the wise choice of focusing his narrative on the everyday people dragged into it. The Phantom primarily focuses on Palkan Sowell, his daughter Athaliah and the rest of their people as they are pulled into a conflict they want nothing to do with.
The book features a diverse range of characters, and Landeros excels at fleshing them out. As in his earlier works, Landeros focuses on characters from all sides of the conflict, emphasizing their motivations, whether political, religious or purely self-preserving. While at first, the lines between good and evil seem clear cut, over time, it becomes increasingly clear that not everyone can be trusted, and even the heroes might have to get their hands dirty.
This is still a sweeping epic, however. When Landeros isn’t focusing on his individual characters, he is writing massive battles that often follow several different perspectives at once. While his writing is excellent across the board, Landeros’s writing is at its best when he is in the thick of battle. His battles are bloody, violent, and well-paced.
The pacing, in general, is excellent. Landeros deftly manages the balancing act of fleshing out the world he has created, forming deep characters, and keeping the pacing brisk. While his characters are enjoyable enough that I would have liked to spend more time with them, Landeros makes the wise choice to keep the plot moving ever onward.
The world-building is excellent here. Landeros has created his own world and filled it with different nations, races, and peoples, all with their own in-depth histories. Thankfully Landeros avoids too much exposition, and the reader gets to learn about his world in an organic way rather than being bogged down in lengthy explanations and exposition. If you’re a fan of fantasy epics, exciting battle scenes, or political intrigue, The Phantom is the book for you. While it might be a good idea to start with the first book if you want to follow everything, as a newbie Landeros made me feel welcome and I was never too lost. Highly recommended.
Pages: 313 | ASIN : B096L6QJT9
Pantheon
Pantheon is the first of a two-part novel by Joshua Landeros. It takes place in the world of Avah, which has known peace for a generation after the devastating Hollow Wars. However, when a chieftain of the Midland Plains on the continent of Sebel tracks down bandits who’d raided his village’s crops, he finds hints of a conspiracy and a heretical cult that are plotting to overturn the peaceful world order. The story is told through the eyes of the chieftain’s daughter Athalia as she travels around Sebel and through Yaphet Orinse, an orphan raised by the venerable Asum of Giganato Shrine, who has seen disturbing visions of war.
Among Pantheon’s highlights is Landeros’ impressive world-building. He gives us enough information about Avah and Sebel that it feels like a real place without overwhelming the reader with a deluge of unneeded history and geography. He’s especially good at letting the reader know that there’s more to the world than what we see – for instance, Yaphet is close to the Asum of Giganato but not a member of the inner circle of the shrine the Asum leads, meaning that he and the reader have an almost but not quite insiders’ view of this part of the story.
The plot moves at a moderate pace. Much of the novel is spent accompanying Athalia on her travels and Yaphet in his training. These chapters make the reader invested in these characters’ lives. Still, Landeros regularly gives us a glimpse of the larger story, so no chapter is wasted space, and the reader always feels like he’s progressing. Landeros’ prose is serviceable; there are no Shakespearean turns of phrase, but it’s never awkward or unclear, either, and he excels at describing the action. However, readers should be aware that the novel does end on a cliffhanger, so those wanting the complete story will need to continue to the second novel.
Pantheon is a captivating dark fantasy novel that immerses the reader into a new world without feeling overwhelmed. The exciting adventure that the two protagonists undertake will give readers a feeling of horror as they encounter strange and dangerous beasts, and at times there is a sense of the more significant danger brewing under the surface as the delicate balance of peace is being disrupted.
Pages: 268 | ASIN : B088SY6PF4
LITERARY TITAN 