Totally intrigued by the idea. Cephrael's Hand by @melissagmcphail #fantasy #bookreview

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Cephrael's Hand

A Pattern of Shadow & Light Book One
Cover links to Amazon.com

Written by Melissa McPhail




Genre: Fantasy


Book Synopsis


In Alorin...three hundred years after the genocidal Adept Wars, the realm is dying, and the blessed Adept race dies with it. One man holds the secret to reverting this decline: Bjorn van Gelderan, a dangerous and enigmatic man whose shocking betrayal three centuries past earned him a traitor's brand. It is the Adept Vestal Raine D'Lacourte's mission to learn what Bjorn knows in the hope of salvaging his race. But first he'll have to find him...

In the kingdom of Dannym...the young Prince Ean val Lorian faces a tenuous future as the last living heir to the coveted Eagle Throne. When his blood-brother is slain during a failed assassination, Ean embarks on a desperate hunt for the man responsible. Yet his advisors have their own agendas, and his quest for vengeance leads him ever deeper into a sinuous plot masterminded by a mysterious and powerful man, the one they call First Lord...

In the Nadori desert...tormented by the missing pieces of his life, a soldier named Trell heads off to uncover the truth of his shadowed past. But when disaster places him in the debt of Wildlings sworn to the First Lord, Trell begins to suspect a deadlier, darker secret motivating them.

Linda's Review


Let me preface by saying that I was totally intrigued by the idea of this story and couldn't wait to sink my teeth into it!

What I liked: The characters are all beautifully written and well developed. The story has originality, an imaginative landscape, and a nice conceptual design. Once you are in it's flow the tale is indeed a wonderful escapism from the daily grind. I especially appreciated "Trell of the tides", a man on his journey through life unable to recall his past. The "Wildling Races" included Shades, Healers, Zanthers & Espials all with an array of abilities and formidable appearances.

What daunted me: Unfortunately, it took one third of the book to get in tune with the vast number of characters and their cumbersome names. If you are not patient by nature, this might dissuade you from enjoying the fantastical adventures that they encounter along the way. I encourage you to read on, and equate this novel to the legendary racehorse Secretariat. Although he was slow out of the gate, he never failed to Wow the crowds with an incredibly strong finish!

Review Disclaimer: Book was provided free of charge in exchange for an honest review.

Content Disclaimer: Some Mature and Sexual situations, however not overly graphic.

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