KAYE TROUT'S BOOK REVIEWS 1

I specialize in reviewing Print-On-Demand (POD) published books for my website and Midwest Book Review. Please query for a review by email to hgunther234@hotmail.com.

Tuesday, March 06, 2007

THE RAVEN by John Lawson

Publish America, Baltimore
www.PublishAmerica.com
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: Very Good
ISBN: 1424143802, 24.95 pounds, 618 pp.


Sorry to say, but fantasy is not one of my favorite genres, particularly with its unpronounceable names and made-up languages. Please take this into consideration when reading my review. The back cover tells us:

"Guiromelans is a knight, a sacred paladin, seeking nothing more than to obey the commandments of God. But when God betrays him and allows a hells-condemned witch to defeat him in battle, he is forced to reexamine his faith. What did he do to merit such disgrace? What can he do to atone for his sins?

"Facing challenges both of the flesh and of the soul, Guiromelans begins a pilgrimage across the known world. In search of redemption and forgiveness, he discovers the true meaning of God’s will. The Raven is the sequel to John Lawson’s first novel, Witch Ember."

The Ravens are a superior class of knights, sworn to a strict code of conduct. In Witch Ember, Guiromelans betrayed the trust of a lady in need (a breach of ethical code) because she was a witch, and did so as the Medians demanded the death of all witches.

Most of this long novel deals with Guiromelans’ bloody encounters with all kinds of opponents–sorcerers, Norsemen, pirates, centaurs . . . to name a few. Most of the characters in the story live lives of constant struggle, yet continue on.

The Raven is a fast-paced, unpredictable read and if you’re a fantasy lover, I’m certain it will appeal to you. John is a good writer and it’s quite evident that he take pleasure in the writing process.

Reviewed by Kaye Trout - March 6, 2007

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home