Okay- so I’ve talked with my readers about posting book reviews. I didn’t forget about that. I just had some plate clearing to do. I have a handful I will get to, including the Legend of Tal series.
But I figured I would start with what I have most currently read.
My editor (Kevin Mclaughlin) mentioned this book to me when discussing comparable authors. Like a good little minion, I scurried off to take a look and bought a copy. Ive raced through book one and am working on Book2. It reminds me in some ways of Tad Williams Otherland series- where children get trapped in a VR universe. But this is definitely a YA/coming of age lighter and cleaner version of that kind of story (Tad’s isn’t dark— just denser:0…
The main character is a bed-ridden teen, with some undisclosed debilitating condition that — she’s been told many times– should have killed her a long time ago.
she wakes up in chapter 1 in Aandaara– a magic based universe where “travelers” as she is considered (people who are transported “in,” are not entirely unknown. She is welcomed, and accepted so there is definitely a strong “found family” vibe there. And she is accorded some status given her circumstances as a traveler.. as well as her gift for magic– so there is an element of chosen one evolving but I haven’t yet seen that part play out.. I’m guessing it factors in more in book two and onward in the series:)
One of my only issues is that she never seems to try and seek any of these people out, or try to understand how-why it is that she’s gotten there. She’s full health and almost unbelievably overpowered magically… but no one takes issue or delves into what might be the reason/cause… if it were me.. I would want to understand how I and others came to be in this world– IF ONLY to try and assure that it doesn’t get undone. She is very clear that this is her home now and that going back to a hospital bed with no friends etc around her is not what she would choose.
Also- in thinking about it– this leads me to the same grievance I always had with the harry potter books– for his terrible back story– he should have serious issues.. but… I get it. YA.. we overlook a lot. I’d like to see a HP goth version story.. and I loved the Magician series by Lev Grossman as a kind of adult version of the HP series– but– back to Siphon:)
As this is YA.. veering towards a middle-grade (10-18 age range IIRC).. this is less problematic in terms of plot development and genre expectation/norms(word?).
It’s an enjoyable read and is engaging with a variety of characters and stories that keep things moving along:) For those who aren’t familiar, this is considered progression fantasy, which is a kind of LITRPG (role playing game) story. so there are occasional game–style stats (she has magical skills that occasionally “level up” but they are rarely interspersed into the story itself and don’t interfere with the reading enjoyment.