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A review by graff_fuller
Heroes & Harbingers by A.R.K. Horton
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.25
I truly apologize to the author, who was SO kind to give me an eArc for her book. When I got it...I started it immediately, but for some reason...I set it down. It wasn't because I didn't like it...but because I am an EXTREME Mood Reader. I'm like a dog with a rabbit at it's sent. I get distracted ALL the time.
Today, I restarted the book...and I read it all day...and LOVED it. Better late, than never (hopefully).
On my first read, I'd gotten to Chapter 7 and was hooked. So...when I picked up the book for this second time...I didn't start where I left off, but restarted it...so that in my review...I'd be able to remember it truthfully.
I loved the main characters. At some points of the book, the main protagoinist shifted (at least that is how I read it).
It starts with Ms Sirin. We see that she's the character that her family dismisses for the more likeable/lovable sister. Because of the type of magic user she is...she is Death's messenger (in this world, she is seeking love, but because of her "nature", she's not been successful (though she thought she had, in the past). BUT, she has found a love...her class at the school that she teaches at.
Then we are introduced to another protagonist (though at the beginning we feel he may be an antagoinst...at least to Ms. Sirin) in Mr. Finn. The misunderstood warrior/hero type. He's an immortal, but life just sucks under the realm of the Council of Pantheons). Finn is cowled to a certain degree, but he's still got a little trixter still in him.
When we first meet him...he's not in a good place. He seems to be making all the people he shouldn't be making mad, pissed off. It's like his gift.
Then we meet Bree. Oh, I really like Bree. She reminds me of my youngest daughter. She is SO smart, but sometimes her smartness, gets her in trouble with authority. Aha.
Suffice it to say...this story has lots of twists and turns. Some that I could see coming, and other that knocked me off my feet (in a good way).
In my case, my emotions for these three characters kept building. Even when one (or more) of them made mistakes (that I wouldn't have made), I didn't get mad...I gained empathy for their immediate plight...and kept wanting to read the story and where it was taking me. I was hooked.
Authority is a big story beat. We all answer to it in our own lives, but not ALL authority is righteous. Sometimes, we have to find the "rightness" within ourselves...and be willing to suffer the consequences under the UNJUST authority before us...for the right reasons.
Oh, another thing that I really liked within this story, was that inconsequential characters at the beginning...were not left without consequence. They were relavent to the overall story...it just took time for the characters/reader to figure it out. I liked that.
Knowing that this is a series, softened the blow...that EVERYTHING didn't find the "perfect" conclusion. There is SO much more to explore in this world that ARK Horton has created...and I'm in. I want to KNOW more about these beloved characters.
Lastly, another piece of wisdom that I gained/relearned was...don't always judge another off the first impression. Granted, most people...over time TELL you who they are (don't be an idiot), but a first bad impression doesn't make for a bad person. Ms. Sirin learned that. Mr. Finn learned that and so did Bree.
I also would like to say that I learned that AGAIN. None of us are perfect. We have good days and bad days. We screw up and we make up. True friends see through this and find the good in the other.
I hope that the author will be able to overlook my weaknesses in NOT abiding to the agreement made to read this book BEFORE it was released. That's on me. I own up to it, but am SO glad that I got to it, today. The lessons learned within this story will stick with me (even an old codger of 57 years old). Thank you for a fun romp of a story. I look forward to more of the Secrets of Pantheon.
Today, I restarted the book...and I read it all day...and LOVED it. Better late, than never (hopefully).
On my first read, I'd gotten to Chapter 7 and was hooked. So...when I picked up the book for this second time...I didn't start where I left off, but restarted it...so that in my review...I'd be able to remember it truthfully.
I loved the main characters. At some points of the book, the main protagoinist shifted (at least that is how I read it).
It starts with Ms Sirin. We see that she's the character that her family dismisses for the more likeable/lovable sister. Because of the type of magic user she is...she is Death's messenger (in this world, she is seeking love, but because of her "nature", she's not been successful (though she thought she had, in the past). BUT, she has found a love...her class at the school that she teaches at.
Then we are introduced to another protagonist (though at the beginning we feel he may be an antagoinst...at least to Ms. Sirin) in Mr. Finn. The misunderstood warrior/hero type. He's an immortal, but life just sucks under the realm of the Council of Pantheons). Finn is cowled to a certain degree, but he's still got a little trixter still in him.
When we first meet him...he's not in a good place. He seems to be making all the people he shouldn't be making mad, pissed off. It's like his gift.
Then we meet Bree. Oh, I really like Bree. She reminds me of my youngest daughter. She is SO smart, but sometimes her smartness, gets her in trouble with authority. Aha.
Suffice it to say...this story has lots of twists and turns. Some that I could see coming, and other that knocked me off my feet (in a good way).
In my case, my emotions for these three characters kept building. Even when one (or more) of them made mistakes (that I wouldn't have made), I didn't get mad...I gained empathy for their immediate plight...and kept wanting to read the story and where it was taking me. I was hooked.
Authority is a big story beat. We all answer to it in our own lives, but not ALL authority is righteous. Sometimes, we have to find the "rightness" within ourselves...and be willing to suffer the consequences under the UNJUST authority before us...for the right reasons.
Oh, another thing that I really liked within this story, was that inconsequential characters at the beginning...were not left without consequence. They were relavent to the overall story...it just took time for the characters/reader to figure it out. I liked that.
Knowing that this is a series, softened the blow...that EVERYTHING didn't find the "perfect" conclusion. There is SO much more to explore in this world that ARK Horton has created...and I'm in. I want to KNOW more about these beloved characters.
Lastly, another piece of wisdom that I gained/relearned was...don't always judge another off the first impression. Granted, most people...over time TELL you who they are (don't be an idiot), but a first bad impression doesn't make for a bad person. Ms. Sirin learned that. Mr. Finn learned that and so did Bree.
I also would like to say that I learned that AGAIN. None of us are perfect. We have good days and bad days. We screw up and we make up. True friends see through this and find the good in the other.
I hope that the author will be able to overlook my weaknesses in NOT abiding to the agreement made to read this book BEFORE it was released. That's on me. I own up to it, but am SO glad that I got to it, today. The lessons learned within this story will stick with me (even an old codger of 57 years old). Thank you for a fun romp of a story. I look forward to more of the Secrets of Pantheon.