The Amarisian Prophecies

Review 1

"I'll start by saying that I'm not a big fantasy fan, but I do love young adult fiction and I found this story to be very engaging! I was blown away by the imagination of the author - incredibly creative! There are a lot of characters with names that were unfamiliar to me but she wove them into the story well so that by the climax I had a clear picture of who was who. And, there's a directory that can be used as a reference. It reminds readers of each character's role and tells the origin of their name."

Review 2

"My 13 year old son loved this book. He's into Percy Jackson and he said this has a great story with really interesting characters. He's recommended it to his friends."

Review 3

What worked:

The evil Queen Sathariel controls Amaria with her dark magic but she’s worried the Yasha Prophecy will arise and end her reign. She decides to have all boys killed or imprisoned when they come of age to prevent the Chosen from appearing. This creates a captivating conflict for readers. They’ll follow the prophecy coming to pass despite the queen’s efforts but the author includes some uncertainties within the prophecy itself. The Chosen will have four defenders transported through the Thura Gate but the prophecy says one of them might be turned to the dark side, thus allowing Sathariel to remain in power. The queen’s demise isn’t explicitly foretold in the prophecy which leaves doubt as to exactly how the conflict will be resolved.

The four kids transported into this mystical world come from all walks of life so readers should be able to connect with at least one of them. Nadia’s parents suffer from substance abuse and she maintains a kind heart despite the dismal conditions in her London neighborhood. Afsana comes from a refugee camp on the Turkish border with Syria. Yibanathi has moved from Sydney, Australia, hoping to find a town more accepting of a rich black kid who likes to surf. Finally, Min-Ji is an obsessed gamer living in Seoul, South Korea, who suffers from anxiety attacks. All four of the kids have been treated differently by society and their experiences are necessary to bring change in Amaria.

The issue of religious tolerance is a major part of the plot. Sathariel’s arrival in Amaria alienates different factions in the realm and their concepts of a supreme being vary. As a result, the people/creatures have been isolated within their own regions and tensions rise when they interact. However, Nadia and her friends realize the groups’ beliefs are very similar but the names they use for their gods are the main difference. The kids must find a way to unite the vastly diverse sides if they have any chance of stopping Sathariel.

What didn’t work as well:

The book introduces many points of view early on which makes it more challenging to immediately connect with the characters. There are seven different setting changes in the first few chapters as the author introduces the Chosen, the four kids transported into the world to defend him, the antagonist, and the divine interpreters awaiting the arise of the Yasha Prophecy. The changes are clearly defined, which helps, and the events and settings become more focused once the characters come together.

The Final Verdict:

Faith is the true power. The adventure is entertaining although there are missed opportunities where the author might have added twists to create suspense. Stories with prophecies and inexperienced heroes are always engaging and I recommend you give this one a shot.

Review 4

Which line stood out from all the others in the book?

Today is the new dawning, the Reckoning is over. The Yasha Prophecy has been fulfilled.

General Summary for Context:

Four ordinary teens from Earth suddenly find themselves catapulted into a fantasy world where they and only they can help find the Chosen One and restore order out of chaos for the new world.

Concise Review:

A cross between a teen Game of Thrones and Lord of the Rings, this YA fantasy is well written with interesting characters that come alive on the pages, and a fantastical setting that had an Earthly feel, yet was populated with a myriad of fascinating creatures. The four teens that were sent to Amaris to help find the Chosen One and imprison Sathariel had unique personalities as well as unique names. I could tell them apart from the off, while gleaning bits of their back story along the way made me increasingly more invested in them.

A captivating adventure which had me intrigued to see where it would end up. I wasn’t disappointed, the story had a more than satisfactory ending. I look forward to the next installment!

General Thoughts on the Novel:

This novel is a great stand-alone, though the ending does hint at further adventures. An enjoyable read!