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Publication Date: Feb 1, 2023
Publisher: Atmosphere Press
Genre: Fantasy/Sci Fi
ISBN: 978-1-63988-736-1
List Price: $22.99 USD Trade Paperback
Page Count: 596
Audience: Adult
The debut book in Varona’s promising fantasy series finds a young hero struggling to fulfill his duty after his mother is brutally murdered. Once a land full of rich history and profound potential, Eden is now cursed with the perpetual Darkness. Lady Eva, Eden’s monarch, has played a significant part in Eden’s previous rebirth. But now, it’s time for a change, a change that only Seth, the monarch’s younger son, can bring. When the monarch is killed by her older son, Seth knows he must prepare himself and fight to reclaim his nation back from the depth of the Darkness. Varona creates a vivid world, and his characters are authentic and fully-fleshed-out. Seth in particular is a winningly conventional hero who takes his responsibility very seriously. Lady Eva is a standout among the cast. The novel contains intricate details and descriptions of the fantasy world, but it’s the pair of Seth and Lady Eva, which is the major draw for readers here. Through their tender bond, Varona beautifully explores familial ties, mother-child relationship, duty, responsibility, and the longing for human connection. The first half of the story is paced leisurely, but from there onwards, the narrative turns plot-driven and action-packed, keeping the reader turning pages fast. An engrossing fantasy that offers a rewarding meditation on duty, responsibility, and on absorbing the burdens both generational and emotional burdens.
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Categories: Fanatsy
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