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A review by stephbookshine
Something Stirs by A.J. Austin
5.0
*I received a free copy of this book. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*
The Inner Lands: Something Stirs embodies all that is good in epic fantasy, made fresh and unique by the skillful world- and character-building by A. J. Austin.
Here are the chosen ones discovering their powers and going on a quest to save the world, but Austin brings that world to life around us, and makes us not only believe in his characters but deeply care about them and follow their fates as breathlessly as is our own lives depended on their success.
The enemies, in the form of the Grinth, are terrifying in appearance, behaviour and intelligence, and their links to Kallem are mysterious and unsettling.
The plot follows an epic battle for the Inner Lands between the human survivors of previous Grinth battles, and the creatures who have somehow breached their previously impenetrable safe haven. More than that though is the development of Sill and Kallem as they struggle with their inner and outer demons and learn the potential for good and evil within themselves as they try to decide which voice to follow. This is actually a story about people, memory, forgiveness, and finding out who we really are.
Even the side characters are distinct and fully-fleshed, with their own strengths and flaws, and I found myself as heavily invested in them as the main protagonists (especially my particular feathered favourite!).
This is an excellent start to a new fantasy series, and fans of books such as Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series will enjoy The Inner Lands. I can’t wait for the next in the series to find out what happens next!
People were beginning to appear through the dark and now Sill became aware of the sound of shouting and running feet.
Raffin stared up at her, bewildered and afraid. She turned away from him, unable to watch the red pouring from his brow. I did that, she thought. My best friend, my father, the quilt. It’s all my fault!
She began to back slowly away from the scene. The running feet were getting closer. How could she explain what had happened? She looked up at the hut one last time. Great plumes of smoke filed endlessly through the doorway and rose steadily up, staining the night sky.
Sill turned and ran.
– A. J. Austin, The Inner Lands: Something Stirs
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpress.com/2018/05/02/the-inner-lands-something-stirs-a-j-austin/
The Inner Lands: Something Stirs embodies all that is good in epic fantasy, made fresh and unique by the skillful world- and character-building by A. J. Austin.
Here are the chosen ones discovering their powers and going on a quest to save the world, but Austin brings that world to life around us, and makes us not only believe in his characters but deeply care about them and follow their fates as breathlessly as is our own lives depended on their success.
The enemies, in the form of the Grinth, are terrifying in appearance, behaviour and intelligence, and their links to Kallem are mysterious and unsettling.
The plot follows an epic battle for the Inner Lands between the human survivors of previous Grinth battles, and the creatures who have somehow breached their previously impenetrable safe haven. More than that though is the development of Sill and Kallem as they struggle with their inner and outer demons and learn the potential for good and evil within themselves as they try to decide which voice to follow. This is actually a story about people, memory, forgiveness, and finding out who we really are.
Even the side characters are distinct and fully-fleshed, with their own strengths and flaws, and I found myself as heavily invested in them as the main protagonists (especially my particular feathered favourite!).
This is an excellent start to a new fantasy series, and fans of books such as Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series will enjoy The Inner Lands. I can’t wait for the next in the series to find out what happens next!
People were beginning to appear through the dark and now Sill became aware of the sound of shouting and running feet.
Raffin stared up at her, bewildered and afraid. She turned away from him, unable to watch the red pouring from his brow. I did that, she thought. My best friend, my father, the quilt. It’s all my fault!
She began to back slowly away from the scene. The running feet were getting closer. How could she explain what had happened? She looked up at the hut one last time. Great plumes of smoke filed endlessly through the doorway and rose steadily up, staining the night sky.
Sill turned and ran.
– A. J. Austin, The Inner Lands: Something Stirs
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpress.com/2018/05/02/the-inner-lands-something-stirs-a-j-austin/