g36 's review for:

Warriors of Wing and Flame by Sara B. Larson

3.25

adventurous emotional tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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The Sisters of Shadow and Light duology by Sara B Larson is a good story if you can stick with it.  Containing Strange the Dreamer vibes with parallel universes and blind prejudice, it is its own story though and unique.  But before we ride into the land of the Paladins and Gryphons, we must first go over the rules for you uninitiated:

 

Rule #1: No telling them they have an ugly baby. The writer put themselves into the story; they put a lot of work into it and truly believe in it and its merits. Who am I to tell them they created an ugly baby? So even if I am disappointed in it, I will not be cruel and a hater, but will be honest without being mean. On the reverse side, it has to be REALLY AWESOME to earn a 5-star rating.  Don’t want to cheapen the rating system by giving out too many 5-star ratings; they have to be earned by gum!

Rule #2: No spoilers! You would not want me in a theater telling you what was going to happen next or expose a pivotal point before you get to experience it for yourself, so why would it be okay to tell you an important part of the story and ruin it for you? Not cool and won't happen.

Rule #3: If it is a series, I will review the entire series instead of each individual book. I may state that one book or part of the story arc is better than another, or that it started off slow and picked up or the reverse, but will review the whole instead of each separate part. This is partly due to my own laziness, but also to provide my opinion on the entire story. Using the movie metaphor again, you wouldn't review half a movie and then come back and review the second half separately, that would be silly. I will review the entire story, regardless if it is a duology, trilogy, or more.

Rule #4: and most importantly, take my review with a grain of salt. Read the story for yourself and make your own decisions. I am only giving my opinion and I may not be as impressed with it as you or you may think I am totally out of my mind and wonder if I read the same story as you. You always have the right to ignore what I write or disagree with me. 

 

Using an analogy of proxemics or social distancing zones, think of the interaction of the author and the story told as individuals and the proximity they are allowed into the readers personal space based on how well the reader enjoyed the book.  The extent a person enjoys a book is based not only on the story but the writing style.  The two are interlocked and equal in importance.  A very strong story can be “ruined” by poor writing and adversely, a rather weak story can be bolstered by a more appealing writing style.  

 

As in proxemics, the books an individual “allows” into their different zones is completely unique based upon the reader’s own personality and reading preferences.  Also, like interpersonal relationship proxemics, it can show a lot about the reader themselves in the proxemics of the books they choose and why, the specific writing style preferred or the type of story one gravitates towards.  

 

Here is how I classify, based on Proxemics, the “distance of space” zones a reader gives a book:  

Intimate Space: a very rare number of books can make it into the “intimate space” where the story and the telling totally absorb the reader.  The book is kind of like a very close family member or lover.  The reader has a strong connection to the story and are emotionally invested in it.  The story is so well written it touches the soul of the reader. The reader can’t wait to see how it turns out but is sad that it is concluded and feels a loss almost grieve when they finish it.  Often these will be rated 4.5 or 5. 

Personal Space: most books we are drawn to tend to be in the “personal space” zone.  These stories are like close friends.  We enjoy them and have minor emotional investment in them but not to the extent as with the “intimate” ones.  These are enjoyable stories that draw the reader in and keep them involved throughout. We are sorry to see the finale of these books or series, but don’t feel an emptiness as is felt with the conclusion of stories we allow into our intimate space zone.  These books, in the personal space zone, are often rated as 3.5 to 4.5.  

Social Space: Stories in the “social space” are okay but not very impressive. Often a story will be in the “social range” because it did not live up to expectations and was found somewhat lacking due to storyline or writing style. Sometimes a story will end up in this zone due to not being what was expected or how it was described in the summary.  Disappointingly, the expectations of the reader are not met.  It is not judged by the reader as a “bad” attempt, just not up to expected standards or anything to get enthusiastic about.  Often these books will rate a 2 to low 3 as the reader found it to be mediocre. 

Public Space: if a book finds itself in the readers “public space”, often it will end up a DNF.  The writing is horrid or the story is not worthwhile, whatever the reason, the book does not hold the readers interests and is grossly disappointing. If the reader does persevere and read it to its entirety, the rating will be lucky to reach a 2.

 

This duology by Sara B. Larson was in my “social space” zone of books.  I really enjoyed the story itself; I was a little disappointed in the writing style. To me her style was somewhat dry and didn’t truly embrace me.  

 

But before we delve into the actual overall review, let’s introduce a few concepts and the major players:

Brief Glossary

Paladins: race of beings possessing different types of magic and have glowing blue eyes from the parallel world of Visimperum.  Greatly hated by humans they had been driven out of the world years earlier.

Rasaka: monsters or creatures that live in Visimperum and attack the Paladins; sometimes they escape through the gate to Vanalis to wreak all sorts of havoc.

Visimperum: the world of the Paladins and the rasaka

Vanalis: the Paladian name for the world where the humans live

Citadel: the large castle in Vanalis where the Paladins had resided before being chased back to Visimperum.  It is protected by a large hedge that surrounds it isolating the small family that resides inside while preventing anybody from entering. 

Jakla: somebody who steals and absorbs the power of a Paladin by drinking their blood enhancing their own powers

 

Residents of the Citadel:

Cinnia: the mother of Zuhra & Inara, a very cold withdrawn woman who shows little affection towards her daughters since her husband disappeared the night her youngest daughter was born.

Zuhra: the elder sister who though half-paladin like her younger sister, does not exhibit the Paladin powers or tell-tale glowing blue eyes

Inara: the younger sister who exhibits her paladin heritage with the way she can coax plants to grow, but exhibits behavior much like autism in that she is very withdrawn into herself and quite infrequently has lucid periods of time 

Sami: the maid/ caretaker at the Citadel; she is more of the mother figure for Zuhr and Inara than their own mother. 

Halvor: a young man that shows up at the Citadel, a student of the paladin, he is making a pilgrimage to the last known residence of the Paladins before they were forced back into their own world.  

 

From Visimperum:

Ederra: the head of the Paladian counsel

General Adelric: the leader of the battalion who has taken Raidon, Loukas & Charmaine under his protective wing

Raidon:  a healer who comes to Zuhra’s aid 

Loukas: friend of Raidon’s who ends up helping Inara, due to his unique magic is somewhat of an outcast from the Paladins 

Charmaine: the friend of Loukas and Raidon who possesses a widely desired strong magic but her allegiance to her friends kept her from abandoning them for a better position.

 

Getting through the first 150 pages of the first book was a challenge for me and took perseverance to slog through it without abandoning it. This one of the reasons I was disappointed in it.  The first part Ms. Larson went into excruciating detail building the atmosphere and world, introducing the characters and dynamics. Not really sure this part is necessary to the story to the extent of the detail and number of pages that went into it.  I believe she could have completed this part in about fifty pages and not lose any of the atmosphere.  Introducing the characters, showing how they are all isolated from the outside world.  The citadel they reside in, which was built by the Paladins, a race of magical beings from another dimension, cut-off from the rest of the village by a large magical hedge that surrounds the grounds not allowing anybody to enter or exit. Inside the Citadel is the gateway to the other world, Visimperum, where the Paladins reside. Inara and Zuhra are both half Paladin, from their father. Inara, the younger sister, exhibits the Paladin trait of magical glowing blue eyes but is trapped within herself. Zuhra, the older sister is totally devoted to her younger sister, but too meek to stand up to their mother. Zuhra, although half-paladin too, exhibits no Paladin powers or physical traits (glowing eyes). Their mother is extremely bitter, cold and cruel since the day Inara was born and her husband disappeared. Sami, the caretaker/maid is the glue that holds the family together. These four people are the only ones who reside in the Citadel for about fifteen years until Halvor, a young man, is able to enter and is trapped within the Citadel with them. The story only really takes off in the second part when Inara opens the gate and Zuhra is pulled (literally) into Visimperum.  This is where the story becomes interesting and really draws the reader in to where it is difficult to find a stopping point.  Here Ms. Larson really begins to show her abilities in crafting the story and keeping the attention of the reader.  Switching back and forth from the POV of Zuhra and Inara, the reader is shown what is going on and the dynamics as the sisters and the people around them attempt to once again open the gate from the side they are on so they can be reunited.  Zuhra, in Visimperum meets not only her father but her grandparents, as well as Raidon, Charmaine and Loukas and their gryphons which is their main mode of transportation. Here she learns about her heritage and the Paladian people as well as the hidden paladian power she possesses.  Both sides face some difficulties but ultimately the gate is reopened and Zuhra returns only to find her sister being attacked by a Jackla who steals her power and then escapes.  Raidon, Loukas, Charmaine and a couple other Paladins come through the gate into the Citadel before the gate closes once again to stop the Jakla.  

The second book, Warriors of Wing & Flame picks up in the chase to stop the Jakla. The second book is better than the first in that the story moved at a good pace and there was enough going on to keep it interesting.  The characters were established and the worldbuilding complete, so it was mainly the story being told.  And she told it well in keeping it interesting.  

There were some problems with it.  A large issue I have is when a character knowingly and intentionally does something really stupid that obviously will cause risks to themselves and others.  Or when they keep secrets unnecessarily posing a threat by withholding the information.  I always just want to reach into the story and slap the character and tell them to “Knock it off!  Quit being a dolt!”.  In this story it occurred a couple times where bad decisions were made and secrets kept that obviously had severe consequences.  Of course, they were remorseful afterwards…too late!!!  You done screwed up and there are no take-backs!!!  But other than that, it was an interesting if not completely predictable story.  It did have some twists that were unexpected, but the romance and the ultimate outcome was not a surprise and was tidy. 

Overall, other than taking too long for the world building and character development at the beginning of the first book, Ms. Larson wrote a very interesting and adventurous story.  Her storytelling style was not what I would consider very “intimate” but more as if she is relating a story third person to a large group. It does not feel as if she is telling me the story directly as some writers do.  In the interaction of the story and the storytelling, this is one of those books where the story was really good but the writing style was disappointing to me.  Not bad, but not a style I was really “taken with” that is why this is more in the “personal Space” for me, great story/unsatisfying style.  In her defense, Ms. Larson did keep me interested throughout the entire saga.  I plan on reading other works of hers in the near future.  I would recommend this series with the warning to stay with it through the first section, it does get much better after that, promise.