A Touch of Light

This is an awesome book! Started out a bit slow, but picked up the pace. With an intriguing plot it got easier to read about Prince Adrian, Nasha from the clans, Lynn the warrior; and their fight against the Madness.
I’m looking forward to the next part of this story.

This is an awesome book! Started out a bit slow, but picked up the pace. With an intriguing plot it got easier to read about Prince Adrian, Nasha from the clans, Lynn the warrior; and their fight against the Madness.
I’m looking forward to the next part of this story.

This represents a promising introduction to a new world. Not one of trite over used images but it is one of good and evil battling against each other often within a single person. The characters are well developed and memorable. Right actions for wrong reasons wrong actions for right reasons. Nothing is simple or comprised of a single layer. A very interesting read which I look forward to continuing.

In his debut, Thiago Abdalla spins the magnificent fantasy world of Avarin, full of political and religious strife. It is a land where the dead are seen as unclean and never to be mentioned. It is a land on the brink of war to fight the Madness that threatens to unleash evil amongst the clans and the Domain. It is a land that is facing: death.

A little slow to get into the meat of the story, it quickly picks up and you are thrown into the lives of the three main characters: Prince Adrian, Nasha, and Lynn the warrior. Their character development was fantastic. You really feel their struggles and fights against the death that is spreading. There are a whole other cast of characters, so many it is hard to wrap your mind around them, but I am hoping that with the continuing saga, they will become old hat and beloved or hated as they are intended to be.

Stay tuned...Abdalla looks to be another epic fantasy author that many will love for years to come!

Thank you to The Alterian Press and NetGalley for the digital ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.

Rich world building and a large cast of characters will 9/10 get a fantasy reader’s attention. Add in an interesting plot line with zombie-ish creatures and I fell in love. Definitely worth the read

This book starts with royalty steeped in their religion that allows their conquests of others for their gain.
The kings favored son, Jovu now dead [but not allowed mourned] from attempting to get something for the King & slaughtering villages of innocents until killed. His brother Adrian with more ethics is supposed to fill Jovus place but never his shoes. His foreign princess bride to be, Myrra, his sole rock & balm, though his father does not care for her. Their religion is dedicated to a Seraph [angel] & part of their take is to treat the dead as unclean & enemy, there is no allowance to talk of the dead & this is hard on Adrian to behave like this towards thoughts of his brother. He wants to know why his brother attacked the clans & what he was sent to find by his father who is a regular papa Lannister type. This is a fast paced and each chapter so far of three throws you with another group rollercoaster ride where you have to accept soon they will merge but each intriguing with what information you can glean From the first three until it toggles back to the first characters then next chapter on things start to merge. Telling a tale from three different characters & perspectives & areas. A plight of madness that creates possessed homicidal lunatics from average citizens that massacre innocent people has arisen in the areas controlled by those of the Seraph religion striking fear in all. The thought basis of the religion is exemplified in this " man had tainted the Seraph’s perfect world with death, driving Her away, and now had to prove their faith, remove the unworthy, cleanse Immeria, and expand Her Domain so that She may return, bringing the Promised Dawn." which no doubt was bastardized into something else by the followers. Certain noble families in particular & the highest level being the King shave been granted long life. Adrian's father has lived for centuries, though considered young Adrian for at least two centuries & the same or more of Jovu before he was killed. There is something in his blood line that makes that so. This book is more of a thriller than most high fantasy & extremely good at that with a touch of GOT like intrigue. Definitely am waiting for the next to come out

I really enjoyed the detailed world-building and I can see how the author put a lot of effort into crafting this book. There's political intrigue too which I absolutely LOVE in fantasy books. There's not much to be said for other aspects of the story. I'm a bit picky with the writing style when it comes to books but this one didn't bother me as much and I don't really have much to criticize so overall this book is a good 4/5.

This fantasy world was difficult for me to follow in regards to terms and customs at first, but it drew me in and I began to identify with the main characters. There are actually many main characters, though, and I still do not know how they all relate to each other. There will clearly be more to follow, but I'm not certain that the characters I have been cheering on are even the good guys. I have a sneaking suspicion that at least one is going to be the villain in the next book. Even so, there is an incredibly rich world created, with beautiful imagery, unique cultures and quirky customs. There is so much wonderful imagination come to life within this story!

This book is epic. It is high fantasy, with a fabulous world, and much magic with esoteric limits. I love it.

The three protagonists, Adrian the second son of the ruler of the Domain, Nasha, a newly received clansman, and Lynn a failing Sentinel are compelling characters. The world is ruled by power, underpinned by religion, with opposing belief systems. There are zombie like creatures, as threats, political intrigue, old and new alliances - so much to explore.

Each protagonist is based in a different belief system which is well realized and complex but believable. The three different perspectives add a lot to the story. The fight and battle scenes are visceral and detailed, but perhaps not for the faint hearted.

World building is excellent and promising. This is a series to anticipate.and I am looking forward to the next instalment of this complex, detailed and intriguing series.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #ATouchOfLight