Book cover found on the internet.

Ok, so my brother has been nagging me to post on the website. Apparently he feels sad he is the only doing work.

I would argue that I haven’t read anything lately, hence the lack of posts. However, that would be a lie. Rather, I have not read anything remarkable. Do not expect much from this review.

The book is entitled A Turn of Light. The author is Julie E. Czerneda. My overall assessment: it is good with a rating of 8 out 10.

A Turn of Light is a very traditional fantasy novel. The world has been entirely and competently created in a mix of monstrous and magical creatures, swords and wild elements. It has a pioneer/settler vibe in a world that is not stuck in mediaeval fantasy land. Elsewhere in the world tracks are being laid for trains while distant large cities are busy with politics, learning and religion. Our story, however takes place in the wild lands at the very edge of the inhabited land. I liked the way the author incorporated magic into Marrowdell. I also feel the connection between the magical world of the Verge and the physical world of Marrowdell were nicely woven together.

The story is restricted to the small valley village of some eight homes and few interconnected families. Yet there remains a greater sense of world beyond the sheltered wilderness. The village and its inhabitants are important characters. They generally get along, yet each has its own personality and faults.

When boiled to its basic components, the story is a coming of age for a protagonist Jenn Nalynn. She is not an orphan, but has a loving and capable family: father, older sister and visiting Aunt. I like that the family is involved in Jenn’s life and she in turn is a part of theirs. This is not a story of an isolated individual setting out on their quest. This is adventure found in the shadowed nooks of the valley and the Verge overlapping it.

To shake things up there are also two newly arrived strangers. They add different points of view and a connection to the world beyond that helps to transform Jenn’s world view.

My biggest complaint is the length. The story in paperback is 800 pages. There is a lot of description, a lot of slow character building, a lot of words. It is slowly paced, plodding even. As much as the author works to weave different threads of story together, the narrative is long.

Close-up of the cover – there is not a lot of image choices on the internet.

Still, the story is solid. The characters are reasonable. The world itself is beautiful crafted, making it the best part. Over all it was good.