So, I’ve been sleeping pretty well this past week, so it took me a bit of doing to finish this one off. Additionally, since I was enjoying it, and it is a “blink” book… I’m not sure the term applies as well to books as it does to movies. In movies, I think of that as the– you have to pay attention– types.. or you miss something important. There are some movies/shows where you can duck out and grab a drink, or check messages etc. And you return to whatever is happening without much of a lapse. Then there are t hose where if you turn away, you come back and are like– wait… what’s going on here? What did I miss? How did they end up on a ledge overlooking a massive canyon? How did they get from- let’s do this thing.. to– we’re all in the pits of hell:)

You get the idea:)  Well, listening to books follows that same kind of formula. There are a number of books that I have listened to, a bit — out of sequence– so to speak… but i knew enough of the surrounding pieces for things to make sense. Not so with Jareth’s Eye. I had a number of those– wait.. I thought she was still on the boat? Who is this guy? And how is she about to get married? — like BIG what did I miss moments, and often in small numbers of page spaces.

Anyway- so this is the main premise of the book. And I only have one or two– umm… wait.. what.. moments:)

The story mainly follows two main characters (and so far- they are definitely not intended love interests… so big bonus there:) Sume– who is concerned about her missing brother– who sent money home regularly– until recently. The family is poor, although we later learn some of the circumstances around that. Her mother is dead, having committed suicide when she was young, and the father raising three children. There is Sume, a sister (whose name I forget, that’s on me:) and a brother Oji (spelling?), who is missing. She dreams of escaping, and even has a plan– when her nephew Dai (about 10, I think) gets caught stealing. and she agrees to servitude on the merchant’s ship in exchange for the boy’s punishment. A nice twist on the usual “call to action.” A call to action that is a – save the cat/nephew moment:)

Her adventures continue  from there, where she wins over Berg (ship’s steward?) as well as the captain himself. Through it all, her primary goal is to find her missing brother, or find out what happened to him.

Now, the other thread, and the  two kind of criss-cross with each other nicely (I’m  sucker for this style:). Kefier, who has been Oji’s mentee/apprentice, in some kind of mercenary/guild-contact work that we immediately understand is a little on the shady side. Kefier was some kind of orphan and Oji rescued him from some bad situation (prison? or something, I don’t recall the  specifics– only the general gist:).

Kefier gets approached by  their boss (or he approaches?)– with the offer of a major score that would allow him to buy some land and live a ‘normal life.’ (my description here). But things don’t go according to plan and something is decidedly hinky. In fact, it looks like it was some kind of setup/trap.. If he succeeded (could see this supernatural demonic thing) it would tell his patron something. if not– then he’d be devoured just like all the previous “bribed” volunteers who have been fed to the thing.

Needless to say, things go sideways FAST. Kefier goes back to the patron, furious (no spoilers), and ultimately– flees with a guild-bounty on his head.  Sorry- I don’t want to give anything away. It really is worth the  read.

So, Sume is searching for her brother. And Kefier is on the  run. It isn’t too long  before you see how their stories connect, as both of them have unexpected circumstances put them on the run or out of luck.

Along the way  there are dangerous boat crossings, an enchanted/cursed island I should probably go and read again, necromancers trying to revive ancient demons and spawning mini’s  from the various leftover bits– which are growing into grotesque monstrosities that some people believe they can control and use for their own purposes.

In the backdrop there are regional politics and threats of war, imperialistic elements but underneath it, is the story of how the everyday people are affected by  large-scale events.

This is well-worth the  read– doubly so because this is an indie/hybrid author who deserves more attention:)  I already have  book2 and it’s next on my reading list;)