Review Detail

Dreadlands by Jaime Engle

The Story:
At the height of each lunar cycle the ferine take over the land. When Arud and his sister, Lykke, are thrown into a journey, they must reach the City before the next full moon. But the way is full of perils and secrets.

The Characters:
The characters are well described and we have a clear sense of whether each person is good or evil and exactly what they deem as important. The dialogue between the many characters is enjoyable. There are clear reasons for the growth in Arud’s capabilities and these changes are incorporated into the story well. The Author juggles her minor characters with ease, though ultimately an emotion connection to the main characters and antagonist is missing. The nuances and subtle relationships between Vang and Arud, and some of the other minor characters hold the reader’s attention.

The World:
A well-executed concept of two foe, but the Author has striven to add detail. We get a clear sense of what daily life is like for Arud and his family; the food, the clothing, the speech, and the respect younger people show toward their elders. We see how the ferine affect this world. The separate areas are defined and easy to envisage.

The Readability:
The Author’s style is easy to read though occasionally the sentence starts became repetitive. The dialogue is a strength as are the relationships between several of the characters. The plot is full of twists that are well thought-out and proof of the effort put into the world building, but some of the plot threads attained a repetitive feel as the story unfolded—largely due the lack of emotional connection to the characters. The ending is satisfying.
This copy is edited and professionally set out.

Final Verdict:
A well thought-out fantasy world for younger readers.