INSIGHT, a 426-page young adult high fantasy is Terron
James’ debut novel and the first installment of four in the Beholders series. James
has masterfully crafted the mystical land
of Appernysia, a world
brimming with rich history and magic that an audience of all types will find
delight in discovering. Readers will be impressed and fascinated by James’
meticulous narrative and detailed maps of Appernysia. The maps, as well as some
amazing concept art not appearing in the book, can be viewed at: http://terronjames.blogspot.com/p/world-of-appernysia.html
Synopsis:
Rumors are surging through Appernysia that a Beholder has
been born, the first wielder of True Sight in over a millennium. Seventeen-year-old
Lon Marcs discovers he has been blessed—or cursed—with this gift. He cannot
control the power of True Sight and feels it killing him with each passing day.
He realizes that the only people who might possess the knowledge to save his
life are the sworn enemies of his king. To obtain their help, Lon would have to
journey into exile, leaving behind his village, family, and beloved Kaylen. Although
this is the hardest decision Lon has ever made, it is only the first of many
that will test his strength and challenge his interpretation of right and
wrong. (synopsis by Jolly Fish Press)
INSIGHT was released June 1, 2013 through Jolly
Fish Press.
Watch the book trailer on Youtube!
My review of INSIGHT:
INSIGHT, Terrons James’ first story in his young adult “Beholders”
fantasy series, gripped my interest from the first page. His fantastical
world
of Appernysia (complete with detailed maps and a glossary of terms), and
the main character's dilemmas, was like a cross
between Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings and the BBC’s miniseries, Merlin,
both of
which I love. Though the first third of the book flowed at a leisurely
pace, taking
time to introduce the reader to the main character, Lon, and his
background and
trials, it really picked up in the second portion of the story, making
INSIGHT a page-turner. I itched to learn what would happen next in Lon’s
quest
to control his new-found powers in perceiving and utilizing the
invisible essences
of nature. As he’s drawn into enemy territory and forced to become one
of them,
Lon is torn and confused over who he is and who he needs to become in
order to save
his life and the lives of those he loves. James' descriptions of
settings, weapons and events are fascinating, allowing the reader to
really picture the scenes in great detail, but that in no way slow the
story. Of course, I was completely hooked by
the end of the book and eagerly looking forward to the next installments
in the
“Beholders” series, especially with James leaving the reader with a hint
of events that will unfold in the next books. Well done, Terron James!
Find INSIGHT at:
About the author:
Find INSIGHT at:
Or order it from any other bookstore!
About the author:
Born in the wrong age, Terron James continually fantasizes
of shining steel, majestic stone architecture, thundering cavalry rushes, and
opportunities to prove his honor. James is an English teacher and a member and
recent president of the Tooele Chapter of the League of Utah Writers. He
currently lives in Tooele, Utah, with his wife and four kids.
Follow Terron James on:
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Nice, get 'em hooked young. :-) Page count surprises me just a bit for YA, but in a good way.
ReplyDeleteThe book length surprised me too, but I trust it's good enough to keep a young readers' interest throughout the entire story. I haven't read it yet, but I'm looking forward to it. I'm a little behind in my stories, however, with working on my own as well, so it might be a month or so before I get a chance to read INSIGHT.
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