It is a very rare thing for me to find a book that moves me. I love stories, written and verbal, story time is the best time. My own father is one of those natural story tellers and time with my family is always spent laughing over tales. But because I have this saturation of stories while I love and appreciate many its so rare to find one that moves me so much I know it will stay with me forever. That is exactly how I feel about The Son Of Thestian.
{The Prince Jionathan is plagued by visions of death. With the King on his death-bed, and the tyrannical Queen in power, the Kingdom of Harmatia lies in peril. Fleeing the city in fear of his life, Jionathan is shadowed by Rufus Merle, a young, secretive magi tasked with bringing him home. Now, with the help of a fearsome sidhe warrior named Fae, they must traverse a dangerous faerie-wood together. Against bandits, faeries and cursed priestesses, these unlikely friends travel a path fraught with danger, not least from the blood-thirsty Night Patrol and the dark conspiracy that shrouds them. Inspired by Celtic Mythology and the Arthurian legends this epic tale explores the many forms of love, loss and fear, and follows five characters as they face their demons, both material and metaphysical and struggle to find their place in a darkening world.}
The sons of Thestian is the first book in a series called The Harmatia Cycle, and when I first got the book I was unsure of what to expect. I had the suggestion for the book as this epic fantasy, it had representations of people of color as well as different sexual orientations. It was alot of tall claims and I went into the book curious but with high expectations. Everything the book claims to have it does and then some. You dont get a onslaught of romances, though love is a heavy theme, romantic, familial, friendships. You get women bonding, men bonding and then a heavy mix of the in between.
You become invested in this journey Prince Jionathan and Rufus are taking, you want to know more about them, their families, their friends and the motivation behind the darkness their world faces. And its not just one struggle, one trial, one hard thing for them to over come. You see how this group of people over come many things, together and alone, and how those things shape the world and the minds of our heroes and anti heroes. Family bonds, friendship, disappointment and regret even depression are examined in this story and never in a dismissive or round about way. They face these things and many others head on.
I found I read this book like I do the classics. I didn't rush it or power read. I took my time with every word. I did little sections and processed everything as if I was trying to work through thicker language but that's not a struggle here. To me her writing is lyrical, it reads like something from another time yet its not hard to understand or in some old English you need a special translator for. It was really like reading a fairy tale, this classic story with Magic and intrigue. And for anyone having trouble with names, or imagining the way the journey unfolds there is a glossary of terms and people as well as a map on either end of the book to help you in your world building as you read.
Now i got the ebook first and before I finished it i ordered a physical copy. I was that invested in the story and its characters. This is a world I want to continue to learn about and watch grow and my collection will end up being a representation of that.
And i want to touch for a moment on the Author, M.E. Vaughan. She is a gem in every sense. I have never met an author who was so engaging with her audience, and is always willing to share her love for the world she has created. I love it so and It just makes the whole world more real for me because she does engage with you, on Tumblr and on Twitter. She will answer questions and share fan castings. Theres no shortage of interaction and content and it makes me love this story even more, like the world is ever growing. Lets face it we all still look for snippets of Harry Potter from J.K Rowling and love when she gives us new insight into a character. M.E. Vaughan gives us that same treatment but in real time and it cements the world building here for me.
But anyone who knows me knows theres two things that really matter when picking up a book. Did I care about the characters and do I want to know what happens next. And the answer to both is a very simple YES! With a tentative release date of 2016 for the next book, The Blood of the Delphi, I simply am on the edge of my seat. Anyone who likes series, fantasy, mystery and just an amazing enthralling read would really do well to give a read to The Sons of Thestian.
For more information-
The Harmatia Cycle Website
The Sons Of Thestian Goodreads
The Sons Of Thestian - Amazon {Where you can get a sample chapter to read!}
(Note:The images above are originally from The Harmatia Cycle Website)
Anyone in the market for a new epic adventure? Have any other stories of a similar epic fashion the rest of us should be reading as well?
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