Can I start off with the fact that I think this cover is phenomenal? I can't even take how beautiful & well designed it is. It was what made me pick up this book in the first place- I was like, "whoa, dat cover is- whoa"
Bravo!
First read by Thomas Locke (which is a pen name for the bestselling author Davis Bunn), and one of my first adventures into fantasy land, since I read the Lord Of The Rings- I'll say about a decade ago.
I confess, the reason for my lack of fantasy reading is largely due to the heavy presence of witchcraft that normally accompanies the genre.
For me, I don't feel as though a fantasy book gives a person license to go all occultic, black magic wielding, necromancy creepster on me. Perhaps I will one day write a blog post on that subject, but for now, suffice to say there is a fine line, and I don't believe fantasy fiction should be a guide in black magic 101- that people in real life try to replicate- but I shall rest my case and get back to the review at hand.
PLOT:
From the first page, I was drawn in & carried along with the story pretty well. There was hardly a moment of in-depth explanation (which I often find authors doing for the first three or four chapters, arg) in chapter one, instead I was plunged into the MC's life, without a big backstory- which I personally enjoyed.
The pace was not what I would consider fast, but neither was it slow. Rather, it resembled a string of explosions and their subsequent aftermaths. So, in a sense, with all the mini explosions, the book felt at times a tad bit anticlimactic- but then again, there really wasn't a way around that, given the type of conquest-type plot.
Also, given the fact that Emissary is book one in a trilogy, I clearly don't have the full perspective on the plot, where it begins and ends- at this point I have the foundation of book one- without the buildup or conclusion of two or three.
Locke has a way of writing fantasy much as Tolkien would- and in a way where you feel as though the book was either written a century ago, or the author has honed their skill in which their writing & voice feels so very authentically...distant land and not contemporary.
MAGIC:
Given that this is a fantasy book, the use of magic is a given. There are mage's, wizards and a telepathic race known as the Ashanta. With the fantasy genre, the question is not if magic will be used, it is more who uses it, how and why. If the magic is used with good intent & for the uplifting/liberation of others, it is good. If used with evil intent, it is dark- so magic is usually representing a metaphorical melting pot of good vs. evil.
There are glowing orbs that hold energy from the currents which surge below the earth's surface, that create shifts in nature, heal, destroy or repair, etc etc.
In mage school, students are instructed on how to weave spells & learn how to craft magic- pretty basic look at it- not in depth.
There were some witches who attack Hyam- pretty grotesque and creepy, kinda left my skin feeling funny afterwards, ya know that kinda stuff? Yeah.
Overall, the magic in this book didn't lead the reader down a witchcraft type dark or twisted path. Magic was a thing. It was used. There's that.
VIOLENCE:
This being a book with battles and the attempted conquering of a deathly foe, you can imagine Lord Of The Rings type bloodshed and the like. Battles, killing, blood, a dead army of shrieking ghosts- you get the point.
SEXUAL CONTENT:
Not much. A miniscule amount of romance between Hyam & Joelle.
The witches were sexually perverse & in your face, but for only a scene.
CONCLUSION:
I would give this book a 2 star rating. I most certainly didn't hate it, but neither did I love it.
For me, I have to feel as though the character's hearts are not hidden or non-existent to the reader- there must be an emotional connection for me to fully enjoy the book. In Emissary, I felt there was a heavy informational download, epic battles, unique characters & looming challenges- but no real emotion. Correction- there was a scene or two I empathised with, but not many. So, while the writing was beautiful and the plot well crafted- it didn't make the cut for me,
personally.
Also, I felt as though the villain was entirely underdeveloped. I'm not a fan of the author focusing entirely on the bad guy, but honestly, I didn't know what Hyam and all the good guys were fighting against for the whole story. Some crimson orb-wielding, mystical wizard with seemingly ultimate power...but who was he? Where'd he come from? I had so many questions regarding the crimson wizard and why he was the ultimate big bad guy, but I came out pretty slim in the answers department. Then again, this is a trilogy, so I cannot go full circle and count all the eggs before they're hatched, so to speak. I look forward to having a more well rounded and educated opinion on this series, but for now, with the information at hand, these are my thoughts.
I'd recommend this book for ages 16+ (granted, not all 16 year old's are ready for the content in this book, that is loosely based on where I was as a 16 year old. Some would dig it at 15, some not even at 20- so keep in mind this is an approximately based recommend :)
I hear Emissary is under review for becoming a film! How exciting would that be?
Have you read Emissary? What were your thoughts? Share them in the comments below!
The witches were sexually perverse & in your face, but for only a scene.
CONCLUSION:
I would give this book a 2 star rating. I most certainly didn't hate it, but neither did I love it.
For me, I have to feel as though the character's hearts are not hidden or non-existent to the reader- there must be an emotional connection for me to fully enjoy the book. In Emissary, I felt there was a heavy informational download, epic battles, unique characters & looming challenges- but no real emotion. Correction- there was a scene or two I empathised with, but not many. So, while the writing was beautiful and the plot well crafted- it didn't make the cut for me,
personally.
Also, I felt as though the villain was entirely underdeveloped. I'm not a fan of the author focusing entirely on the bad guy, but honestly, I didn't know what Hyam and all the good guys were fighting against for the whole story. Some crimson orb-wielding, mystical wizard with seemingly ultimate power...but who was he? Where'd he come from? I had so many questions regarding the crimson wizard and why he was the ultimate big bad guy, but I came out pretty slim in the answers department. Then again, this is a trilogy, so I cannot go full circle and count all the eggs before they're hatched, so to speak. I look forward to having a more well rounded and educated opinion on this series, but for now, with the information at hand, these are my thoughts.
I'd recommend this book for ages 16+ (granted, not all 16 year old's are ready for the content in this book, that is loosely based on where I was as a 16 year old. Some would dig it at 15, some not even at 20- so keep in mind this is an approximately based recommend :)
I hear Emissary is under review for becoming a film! How exciting would that be?
Have you read Emissary? What were your thoughts? Share them in the comments below!
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