Shatter (The Children of Man, #1)
Growing up during the chaos of the Nabosian War, Faela Durante and her entire generation never knew what it meant to live in a time of peace. Though the war ended years ago, the devastation has not. Every decision, no matter how seemingly insignificant, has a consequence and some consequences can never be predicted. But some are foretold.
Less than a year ago, Faela, the first Tereskan mind healer in generations, disappeared from her family home in Finalaran scared and pregnant. Hunted and living as an outcast, Faela searches for a legend that might be her only hope of gaining atonement and returning to her son. When her journey collides with two strangers and a prophecy, she must choose between trusting those around her or accomplishing her mission. Haunted by her past, the consequences of Faela’s choices will endanger more than her own fate.Growing up during the chaos of the Nabosian War, Faela Durante and her entire generation never knew what it meant to live in a time of peace. Though the war ended years ago, the devastation has not. Every decision, no matter how seemingly insignificant, has a consequence and some consequences can never be predicted. But some are foretold.
Less than a year ago, Faela, the first Tereskan mind healer in generations, disappeared from her family home in Finalaran scared and pregnant. Hunted and living as an outcast, Faela searches for a legend that might be her only hope of gaining atonement and returning to her son. When her journey collides with two strangers and a prophecy, she must choose between trusting those around her or accomplishing her mission. Haunted by her past, the consequences of Faela’s choices will endanger more than her own fate.
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Well worth the read!,
I really enjoyed this book!
It has a lot of different threads, which draw together to form a tightly woven narrative with a rich mythology–leaving the author room to expand on in some prequels…
There is a complex magic system which is handled very well. This is one of the points I look for when reading fantasy (obviously…), because if it’s done poorly the suspension of disbelief can fall through.
Moreover, it helps to take a look at the maps which come with the book, as the world is a key element, as this also has the elements of a travel narrative–akin to LOTR, as places are key to the story. The places here have distinct, well-constructed atmospheres. Plus, I LOVE pub names…
One of the things I particularly enjoyed is the dialogue. Each of her characters has a distinct voice which lends more credibility to the dialogue–I can hear their voices clearly, aided through the syntax and the diction.
All the technicalities aside, I was drawn in by the characters and really connected with them, particularly due to their interactions and relationships.
The book ends with desperation, with heartbreak, but it really fits with one of the major themes of the novel, which is brokenness. Each of the main characters, in some way, is broken, and I figure *crosses fingers* that the trilogy is about redemption.
Anyway, pick this up and enjoy!
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|A very good beginning,
I’m a fantasy lover, and I downloaded this book because it was tagged fantasy, and it was a freebie. When I do that, I don’t have many expectations, as sometimes I couln’t ever finish some books.
This time, however, I’ve been lucky and I find a little gem. “Fantasy” means that the author avoids the limits and boundaries of the real world, having the more difficult task to build an environment that actually makes sense, plus a good story and characters.
When it happens, I usually can’t put down the book, and that’s what happened with “Shatter”. It’s a very good first book, my only disappointment is that the second one isn’t available yet. I’ll be looking forward to it.
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|Shatter,
When I begin reading a book, I can usually tell within the first few chapters whether or not I will like the book, and it comes down to this: Do I care enough about the characters to keep reading?
The characters in “Shatter”, and especially their interactions with each other, are very realistic and drew me in. Once I got to know the characters, I was anxious to find out more about them, see more of their interactions, and even see some of them meet painful ends.
In addition to such deep and memorable characters, the world of “Shatter” is a character in of itself. “Shatter” contains a system of magic that quickly makes sense and is fun to see in action. The geography of the world is also well fleshed out, and it makes traveling with the characters feel like a trip through real landscapes instead of the generic fantasy terrain prevalent in many of the books where I didn’t make it to chapter three.
I would recommend “Shatter” to any of my friends that are fans of fantasy fiction.
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