Hey, readers! Sorry it’s been a while since the last review, but my new Kindle Fire’s power cord broke. One of the prongs just broke right off. I don’t want anyone to take that as a review of the Kindle. You can read my Kindle review here if you really want to know what I think about the Kindle Fire. The cord got stuck under the recliner, where the power surge plug is, and I plopped down a lot harder in the chair than I should have and it popped the power cord to the side, and ripped that metal prong right out of it. So my Kindle was completely out of charge when that happened, so I haven’t had any notes (Yes, I make notes on the Kindle while I read, neat feature!) to write reviews from or to read. The new power cord has come, the Kindle Fire is now fully charged, and I’ll be back to posting reviews you can trust tomorrow morning, with S. Gail Seymour’s book, MOROAICA. Looking forward to it.
In the meantime, I want you to check out this project and philanthropic endeavor:
There’s a group called “Gone Reading” who have created an online store where they sell literary-related items with all the proceeds going to their project. The website says, “Gone Reading International donates 100% of after-tax profits to fund new reading libraries and other literacy projects in the developing world.”
It’s a wonderful endeavor to expand reading and the love of reading to those less fortunate who otherwise might not be exposed to it. But it’s more than that, because reading and knowing how to read is the beginning of being able to communicate with the rest of the world, which is a chance for kids to get out of poverty, to take jobs they otherwise couldn’t do, and to help grow and improve educationally. Reading is crucial for these developments to happen, and this project helps make that happen.
On the more frivolous but nonetheless important side, imagine growing up without your favorite book or your ability to read. Imagine not having your imagination run away with you as you become the character in an action adventure book for kids. Imagine not being transported away to a fairytale land of fantasy for a moment, to escape the humdrum of life. Think of how much kids who don’t have access or money to buy books at bookstores. Think of kids who don’t have access to a library or even if they did have access, might not be able to enter it for one reason or another. Think of a life without your favorite childhood stories read to you by your parents, big brother or sister or babysitter.
This is book two in a series of epic fantasy novels, incorporating some of the best fantasy elements of humans, elves, dragons and other mythical and mystical beings. Fortunately, one doesn’t have to read book one of the series in order to understand and enjoy book two, but I do think it would likely help. I picked this up for review and haven’t read book one yet, but I do feel I’m missing a little bit by not knowing all the characters and back story well. However, it’s absolutely not necessary for the enjoyment of the story.
The author, however, does a good job of filling us in. The first part of the book recaps where the universe and characters have been. It’s a bit expositional, so it’s best not to judge the entire novel by the first few chapters, because it does pick up pace even more later.
That said, the first chapters are a bit tough to follow in that it bounces around a little in time. In one chapter, we’re told a character died, then in the next chapter, we go back a little in time and see how that character died, without any indication that we’ve shifted gears except for a chapter change. Each chapter tells the story of one of the characters, mostly in an omniscient point of view, but focusing on that particular character, so it does work, even if it’s a tad awkward in the beginning.
Plot of Legends of Marithia: Darkness Rising, by Peter Koevari
As with many epic fantasy novels, this one has a prophecy. We begin early in the book to see that the wheels of motion have started spinning on the fulfillment of this prophecy, when a child is born from a mix of a sorceress and a vampire, a mating that is illegal and punishable by death (vampires can peacefully co-exist, but there is a ‘racism’ issue with the people and the vampires in this story). The child has to witness the cruel murder of her parents and she strikes a deal with the ruler of the underworld and thus the prophecy is set in motion.
A caste system with a king and a jealous prince who wants his father’s crown exists in this universe, and a rival in love with the princess is cast to bring about conclusion of the prophecy. This results in the prince seeking to destroy him before he can succumb to or fulfill his fate. The once peaceful Marithia erupts in war.
The castle lies in runs. The knight from the prophecy is in cahoots with and spellbound by the dragons (and I have to say, I loved the dragons in this book!), and Shindar, the demon of the underworld, has been waiting for centuries to exact his revenge (which is another good story I would have liked to read more about so I’m hoping it’s in part one of this series!)
I won’t say anything more about the plot, as to not give away any spoilers, but basically, the rest goes about seeing how the prophecy plays out and trying to set right what once went wrong.
Characterization in Legends of Marithia: Darkness Rising, by Peter Koevari
I had a hard time connecting with some of the characters. I could view them from a distance, but it was difficult for me to get inside of them and feel something for them. In part, this is because of the writing style. It’s very expositional.
The dialogue is a bit stilted. There are instances where the characters talk too much, in a manner not consistent with normal dialogue from real people. It felt as though sometimes the author was trying to tell the story through the dialogue, instead of just letting the characters talk to each other as a means to get to know them. Also, paragraph breaks in dialogue would have made some of the longer speeches easier to read.
Writing Style in Legends of Marithia: Darkness Rising, by Peter Koevari
I like the writing style in general. It’s super fast-paced. You won’t find a single page where things aren’t moving along quickly. I found that, unlike a lot of books I’ve been reading recently, I didn’t feel a desire to skim and skip ahead to get to some action. Unfortunately, because it was mostly expositional (a lot of telling and not enough showing), I didn’t get as deeply involved in the story as I would have liked. The author tells us a lot of things, but I would have preferred him to show it to us as it played out.
There are minor grammatical errors throughout, mostly missing commas and minor copy editing issues. For an indie published (self-published) book, the writing and editing were better than most I’ve read, and the minor errors I came across didn’t jolt me out of the enjoyment of the book.
Overall Opinion of Legends of Marithia: Darkness Rising, by Peter Koevari
Overall, I very much enjoyed this book. I like a good fantasy novel now and then, and this one kept my interest. I found I want to get to know the characters better and it was easy enough to slip into the universe and live in it while reading. The pacing is good, keeping my interest. The writing is good, though it has a little room for improvement, as does the editing. Overall, it’s a quality read and one I would recommend to anyone who enjoys fantasy.
There is a lot going on in this book, so you do have to keep up with it, but if you like dragons, elves, unicorns, gods and goddesses, demons, and magic, this book has some good elements of all those things. It’s entertaining and long enough to be worth the money for that entertainment.
Now, I’m doing things backwards, but I already purchased the first book in the series and will be reviewing it as soon as I finish it, because I want to know more about Marithia and the people in it.
As a clear channeler and automatic writer, Rev. Dr. Deborah Simpson is the author of several inspirational and spiritual books including her bestselling metaphysical book, The Constellation of Omens, incorporating world predictions and signs of the end times. An ordained minister and spiritualist, Dr. Simpson has made appearances on various radio shows such as Paranormal Palace Radio, The Mortal Vampire, The Mix Talk and PairaNormal providing live, on-air psychic readings. As host of D’s Roundtable Radio Show she has given her callers psychic advice on the air and discussed paranormal phenomena.
Dr. Simpson has been described as the poet of our generation. With a critically acclaimed, unique writing style, her verse has been scrupulously compared to our celebrated greats of yore. If you relish the works of Keats, Shelley, Poe, Dickinson, e.e. Cummings and Hemingway, Rev. Deborah’s work is sure to captivate your literary senses. Her metaphysical works have been compared to such world famous psychics as Edgar Cayce and Nostradamus.
It’s rare today to find an author who does nothing but write for a living. Do you have a ‘real’ job other than writing, and if so, what is it? What are some other jobs you’ve had in your life?
Deborah Simpson: Excellent question and you couldn’t be more right. Aside from being a writer, I am also an ordained minister and spiritualist so I do work in the paranormal field as well as aiding persons on a daily basis. And, aside from that, I am a full-time paralegal. Most do not know that I spent 13 years of my life bartending part-time and I’ve worked many odds-and-ends jobs such as being a cashier in food stores, retail stores and I have even had my hand in working in a major fast food chain.
Have you always wanted to be a writer?
Deborah Simpson: I never actually thought about being a writer, although I’ve been writing since the age of 9 on a daily basis to satisfy my passion for writing. Being a published author was an avenue that I was talked into doing by others who had read my work.
What compels you to be a writer?
Deborah Simpson: Without sounding cliché, what compels me to write is what compels living creatures to breathe.
Are you currently working on any writing projects our readers should watch for release soon?
Deborah Simpson: Yes. I am currently working on another metaphysical novel, Divination alongside a self-help book entitled Hardboiled Egg.
How did you feel the day you held the copy of your first book in your hands?
Deborah Simpson: It was a nostalgic experience. It was a huge personal accomplishment and at the same time, one of the most humbling experiences I have experienced.
What inspires you and motivates you to write the very most?
Deborah Simpson: When I receive a comment from a reader telling me how my work has changed their life, I believe that is all the motivation I will ever need.
What one thing are you the most proud of in your life?
Deborah Simpson: Without a doubt, my beautiful son.
Hey, let’s get morbid. When they write your obituary, what do you hope they will say about your book/s and writing? What do you hope they will say about you?
Deborah Simpson: Cute question. Quite honestly, although I haven’t thought about it, off the cuff I would say the only thing I hope for is that my writing had enough of an impact to be talked of at all. What do I hope they will say about me? For those that knew me to say they loved me.
Thinking about your writing career, is there anything you’d go back and do differently now that you have been published?
Deborah Simpson: Honestly? I wouldn’t change a thing. It was and is who I am. If I could do anything differently, I would have been sacrificing too much.
What is your main goal or purpose you would like to see accomplished by or with your writing?
Deborah Simpson: I have but one goal: May my words today fall unexpectedly graciously upon the ears, within the minds and throughout the hearts of them, so that but one may be touched by needed hope or faith or strength that before was misplaced in their life; and may the seeds these words plant today grow into vines that they may continue their crusade upon the ears, within the minds and throughout the hearts of them, so that but one more may be touched.
How has having a book or being published in a book changed your life?
Deborah Simpson: I am now responsible for every single word I have ever uttered in print. It has changed my life drastically.
It’s said that the editing process of publishing a novel with a publisher is can be grueling and often more difficult than actually writing the story. Do you think this is true for you? How did you feel about editing your masterpiece?
Deborah Simpson: Out of all of the editing projects on my books, I think the most grueling was with The Constellation of Omens. Three months of editing. I believe I was reciting the book in my sleep. It is much more difficult than writing. I would agree 1000%.
Now that you are a published author, does it feel differently than you had imagined?
Deborah Simpson: Oh yes. On the one hand, it’s a huge personal accomplishment just as I imagined, however on the other hand, it brings so much more responsibility than I ever could have thought.
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