Williams pulls you along swiftly into the ride, and keeps the pace going steady throughout. This is a world in some ways like ours but in many not. The exploration of the world is done by experience rather than exposition, and the author does good here. We follow 3 characters, Antarna, Cal, and Zanth. While each have their unique pasts, they come together. While the story moved along swiftly, something was missing for me. I did not connect with the characters and didn’t care so much for their cares as the story progressed.

Review: This novel jumps right through your front door, grabs a chicken leg from your plate, and steals your booze. Antarna (lol, I really don't know where they come up with these names), trained as an elite vegetarian sword fighter with past life regression issues, refuses to kill. She slaps men around with ease and climbs dangerous mountains on a whim so as to release her anger. She spies on mages with her cling serpent and discovers a calamity in the making. Ho-hum, all in a days work. See Antarna is not a believable character as the development is scant. She just suddenly sits in your lap, spits in your face and you are expected to like it.

Despite the lack of Antarna's development, Cal is a pretty good dood to follow. He is complex and simple at the same time. You follow his thinking process in logical progression, and it is comfortable. His responses to life, although somewhat predictable, are unique to his predicament. He is a character you root for, and that my friends, is hard writing to execute. Also, the quest into the deep dark forest has some great beasts and crazy wildlife / flora coupled with a magic system that is unique and varied.

I am glad I gave this booky a chance although I have a feeling that in successive novels Antarna will have almost super human ability while man-crushing on Cal and saving bugs. It is going to suck.

Perils of the Past by Kane Williams is such a good story. I totally recommend everyone to read this book as fast as they can because it's really good and the characters are fantastic and the storyline is immaculate.