Blurb:
12-year-old Fezariu thought his mother died when he was little, but when his beloved stepfather dies the boy discovers she is alive and well - and working at the most famous brothel in all of Elenchera. When she cruelly rejects him it's more than he can bear, and he runs away to join a band of ruthless soldiers for hire. The Merelax Mercenaries will fight for anyone who can pay them, no matter the justice of the cause.
Fezariu grows up among the soldiers and becomes one of them. He thinks his time with the mercenaries has hardened him. But a campaign in his old home town pushes him too far, and he discovers what really happened to his mother. Maybe there are some things money shouldn't buy... and maybe it's time Fezariu took his revenge.
My Review:
All the years of work Mr. Brown did in creating the world of Elenchera are clearly evident when you read this story. It smacks of realism, yet contains just enough fantasy to make it entertaining. It’s a realm where the characters are at home, and you feel right at home with them.
A true journey of how one’s childhood can shape one’s life, and a revelation of what inner demons would drive a man to make the choices he did. Fezariu’s tale is one of love, betrayal, and loyalty played out over many years upon a vast canvas.
There is a bit more telling of Fezariu’s escapades than showing, so sometimes he comes off a bit flat. But that being said, it wasn’t enough for me to quit reading. And I believe that’s more of a personal preference. Wild Jessamine was a diamond in the rough, and the other supporting characters were well drawn and helped give the story a life of its own.
If you are a fan of epic fantasy, reading this beautifully edited book will be time well spent.
About the Author:
David Brown could be considered a fantasy fanatic, especially since he has spent the last 10 years developing a 47,000-year history for his fictional world of Elenchera. When converting his obsession into literary form, David commits himself to a rigorous writing and editing process before his work can meet his approval. Combined with the critical eye of his wife and a BA Honors in History and English, David's dedication leads him to his goal of inspiring readers through heartfelt stories and characters.
Although David is inspired primarily by fantasy fiction, he also finds his muse in the form of anime, world cinema, history, and biographies. His own books, Fezariu's Epiphany and the in-progress A World Apart, combine aspects from worlds both old and new into compelling tales of a world not soon forgotten., David himself certainly does not lack a spirit of adventure; in fact, he left his job in 2007 in order to spend a month traveling. Second only to meeting and marrying his wife, David counts this as one of the most amazing experiences of his life.
Links:
The Elencheran Chronicles
http://elenchera.com
The
World According to Dave
http://blog.elenchera.com
Twitter
http://blog.elenchera.com
http://twitter.com/elenchera
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/fezariu
http://www.facebook.com/fezariu
Goodreads Amazon B&N
Book Depository Indie Bound