Rainbow Reviews

BOOK BLURB:
Becket Merriday is on the trail of a killer who is murdering beautiful young men in the small town of Irenic. What he discovers an ancient race of immortal beings hunted by an incredibly powerful adversary: the angel Mastema. Soon, Beck and his partner, Sean Logan, find themselves at the center of a deadly supernatural war.

BOOK REVIEW:
This is a dark fantasy, so uniquely beautiful in its horror and alluring in its pain that you’ll be unable to put this book down. The world Crow has created from the brilliant sun to the depths of empty darkness combine with the fantasy and history of Gods, Angels, Demons, and the ultimate balance of good and evil. The subtle and nuanced writing with beautifully lyrical prose read like a fantasy, yet the tangible evil and fear within almost mock the lovely, moving and descriptive writing of such deeds. This is an incredible story that I read twice before even attempting to write a review and will likely read many more times in the future.

Due to the complexity of the plot and the inability to write a review without discussing any spoilers, there will be no discussion about individual elements ~ although I truly wish I could. The story begins impressively with its vivid setting and lushly dark atmosphere threaded with secrets and pain, but soon turns mesmerizing as the journey moves fluidly across time and space. The plot is intricately wrapped in fantasy, theory, faith, and reality as they combine to create a world unbelievable and yet so richly alive, the dream becomes the truth. Each additional layer of complexity to the already complicated story line never overwhelmed, but enhanced the depth and texture of the tale.

Each subtle and nuanced detail is important, creating a different experience each telling. The emotional upheaval the story takes is almost never ending, unafraid of starting high and cresting upon that level only to plunge into the darkness time and time again. There are no limits, no safety nets, and no rules that are set within this story. Everything is questionable, changeable and fragile. This inherent uneasiness keeps you on edge, waiting to see where the author will go next, what terror and horror is in store in the name of love or hatred. The interchangeable and repeated use of such terms, love and hatred, epitomize the necessity of both emotions and the resulting actions in their honor.

The various characters, a rather large and veritable cast, enhanced the story at every turn. The depth of each person from Sean, Catherine, and Frank to Mastema, Tamiel, and Zefira was surprising. There were almost no missteps in characterization, each essential to the story and surprising with their purpose and intent. Beck, as the hero, is a stunning character from his overwhelming anger to his desperate cling to humanity. His need to love and be loved is emotional and moving, as is his voracious denial and avoidance. Beck’s progression within the story could have been enough for a wonderful tale, but in combination with a fascinating plot, this story easily elevates itself. From the beginning priest to the last Nephilim, every character’s presence is felt within the pages and its own addition to the tale important.

However, for all the raving about the story I have done there were some definite problems. None of these will detract from the story, hopefully, nor should they scare a novice reader away. The story’s twists and turns with heart racing emotions and actions are almost too much at times. The author never just offers information; instead she makes the reader work for every clue, every inference, and every subtle hint. While this works especially well in combination with many elements of the story, some are over done and simply cause unnecessary confusion and work. Several background elements to the various characters could have easily been offered within a simple context without the slow dropping of hints and cut off conversation and not affected either the tone, pace, or impact of the story. Especially with the maze like plot building at the beginning, the flow and cohesiveness of the tale would have benefited from a few of the more mundane details freely offered.

Additionally, as a name holds power several of the characters used more than one name and thus the mixing of multiple names could be confusing if not paying strict attention to who is who. There are also continuity errors that occur, some noticeable and some subtler. Even so, the revelations certainly do not stop ever within the book. If you think you’ve figured out the truth, think again and start reading the book from the beginning. Chances are you missed something. The last hundred pages especially involve so many twists and turns and detailed scenarios that you want to be sure to read this book in one sitting if possible, but the fast pace and fascinating topic will keep you glued to the story.

There are literary aspects that could keep scholars entranced for ages, from the overwhelming theme of light versus darkness, to God and faith, revenge and forgiveness, and even men versus Angels. However absorbing these themes may be, this tale is still a love story. Violent, gory, and beautiful in its terrifying horror, the theme of love is never far away. This may not be for everyone, but for those that enjoy an absorbing edgy story that you won’t be able to put down and keep you guessing, I highly recommend this story. The ending is satisfying, if not simple, and the hint of a sequel will have you almost sorry the story ends.

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