Things Unseen

History student Aria Forsyth's studies lead her to dangerous questions about the Empire's origins. A mysterious man named Owen, impervious to the winter cold, further unravels the safety of the world she thought she knew. At first, Aria believes Owen is human. He says he's not. What if they're both wrong?

A moment's compassion draws her into a conflict between human and inhuman, natural and supernatural, and she begins to discover the secrets of the Empire, the Fae, and what it means to be human.

Amazon Reviewer: While I try not to judge a book by its cover, I have to admit that this was one book I was originally drawn to because of its cover. The juxtaposition of the urban scene and the fantasy creatures, combined with a title that hinted at a Christian worldview, made me take a second look and read the cover blurb. It looked like it might be worth taking a chance on, so I did. And I am very glad that I did.

This book is not an allegorical fantasy such as the Narnia books, nor is it the preachy sort of book that can only be appreciated if you share a Christian worldview. (Which I do, as it happens, but I loathe preachy novels!) It has the sort of applicability that one might find in a series like Lord of the Rings, where the author's world view is implicit rather than overt. If the reader happens to share that worldview, then that will add a deeper, richer level of enjoyment to the story. If not, it's still a well-written fantasy story.

I liked the author's treatment of the Fae in this novel. Unlike most fantasy non-humans, Brightley's Fae come across as truly alien despite their human-like appearance. Forget Tinkerbell; these Fae are more like the sidhe of Celtic folklore. I loved the interactions and communication struggles stemming from the cultural differences between the Fae and humankind. The story's human protagonist is extremely curious and impetuous--two traits which quickly land her in trouble. Some of her actions pushed at the boundaries of believability for me, but didn't quite cross over the line. (I live with two ADHD teens who have been known to act before thinking, or even give decisions a little forethought but act impulsively anyway, so that might be why.) The society is unsettling; I am old enough to realize how mutable memories can be, and how even supposedly well-known "facts" can seemingly change over time depending on a society's collectively shifting point of view. The magic in this story feels inherent to the story world. It's not "bippity boppety boo" magic, nor is it drawn from an outside source, but it's part of the natural laws of that world.

The end of the novel sets the stage for a sequel. I hope that's a promise that will be delivered on soon.

Amazon Reviewer: Brightley takes us into a world where the government was toppled a few decades prior. "Things are better" now, of course. Nobody has any reason to doubt that.

No reason that they understand, anyway...

And therein lies the problem within Aria's world. People believe in their government wholeheartedly. They have no doubts. The government protects them, keeps them happy, and makes their lives comfortable.

That is, as long as they're not too curious...

Unfortunately for Aria, she is. When she meets a man named Owen, one that very clearly doesn't seem to belong, she discovers that much of what she thought she knew was wrong. Not only is there more to the world than she thought,

There are more than just humans.

Owen isn't human. Rather, he's fae. He's stronger, faster, and older... older than any human, though he appears to be relatively young. He's also trying to save his entire society from the human government, which is trying to eradicate them... and they're doing a rather good job of it, too.

Aria finds herself drawn not only to Owen, but also to his cause, and soon she finds herself in a deadly battle with the human authorities and their experimental pets.

Brightley created a vivid world with vivid characters.

She took pieces from several different myths and legends in order to create the fae within these pages. These are not the fairies that you're accustomed to, with flitting wings and mischievous giggles. They're strong, they're rough around the edges, and I never saw a single wing flitting about.

Brightley did something different with their creation, and I strongly recommend that you discover the intricacies of the species of fae that she designed.

Amazon Reviewer: A fast-paced book that kept me turning pages till after midnight. Absolutely worth reading.The world that C.J. Brightley has built seamlessly combines reality with fantasy, is populated with human and fantasy characters, and plugged with problems with which we all can connect.

The very first pages put the reader in the middle of a conflict that will start the heroine on a journey where she and those around her will risk their lives, meet others, human and not so human, and find out things that will force them to question their core beliefs.

Additional fun for the history lovers: same as in Game of Thrones, try to figure out historical parallels

Several conventions in the fall (TBD), book launch of the second book in the series in June with a possible blog tour, email blast to fans, and local book signings