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A review by cassieyorke
Obsidian: Awakening by Sienna Frost
5.0
An unforgiving world of sun-blasted deserts. Two ruthless societies locked into a genocidal war that has lasted for generations. Grudges so old, so bitter, that it will take more than death to assuage them. There's one thing everyone agrees on, friends and enemies alike; this peninsula is only big enough for one of these races to survive.
Power. Fear. Revenge. Loyalty. Tradition. These forces move the world of Obsidian: Awakening.
A writer of lesser talent than Sienna Frost couldn't have crafted a Shakespearean epic like Obsidian in the first place, much less captured *me* with it. I fully admit that I tried reading Game of Thrones long before HBO got their hands on it and I really didn't enjoy it at all. My thing is heroic fantasy; my favorite series all center around a group of brave, intelligent heroes that challenge fate with pluck and sarcasm and prevail against all odds. They're driven by hope, optimism, valor, and cynical humor. So it goes without saying that Obsidian: Awakening is far outside anything I'd have normally picked up. But two important factors broke through my normal tastes and captured my attention:
1. I became friends with the author. I discovered someone who understood the impulses and abstract ideas that drove me as a writer, who sought out the same writerly challenges, who wasn't satisfied with writing anything less than monumental. To say that I respect her is an absurd understatement.
Most importantly for this review -
2. Obsidian's striking visual style. Soon after its original publication, Sienna Frost released an improved paperback edition, including powerful typography and loads of dazzling new art throughout most of the book. I'm not talking about a picture book. What I mean is that there's nothing that divides visuals from text. The book is one big work of art, and reading the book is a visual experience. This is brand new to me; I've never seen another book like this. Obsidian: Awakening has raised the bar by crafting a more beautiful book than I've ever seen from a traditional publisher, proving that indie authors can craft a more impressive book than a traditional author, both visually and in terms of literary merit. Trad books aren't this well written and they aren't this pretty. They're just inferior. I don't know any other way to say it. Obsidian has raised the bar, and more people really need to pay attention.
Again, this book's style is the opposite of what I normally enjoy, but it captured me despite myself and never let go. The writing, the visuals, the world building are all beautifully crafted, delivering an unforgettable reading experience. This is true professionalism.
Power. Fear. Revenge. Loyalty. Tradition. These forces move the world of Obsidian: Awakening.
A writer of lesser talent than Sienna Frost couldn't have crafted a Shakespearean epic like Obsidian in the first place, much less captured *me* with it. I fully admit that I tried reading Game of Thrones long before HBO got their hands on it and I really didn't enjoy it at all. My thing is heroic fantasy; my favorite series all center around a group of brave, intelligent heroes that challenge fate with pluck and sarcasm and prevail against all odds. They're driven by hope, optimism, valor, and cynical humor. So it goes without saying that Obsidian: Awakening is far outside anything I'd have normally picked up. But two important factors broke through my normal tastes and captured my attention:
1. I became friends with the author. I discovered someone who understood the impulses and abstract ideas that drove me as a writer, who sought out the same writerly challenges, who wasn't satisfied with writing anything less than monumental. To say that I respect her is an absurd understatement.
Most importantly for this review -
2. Obsidian's striking visual style. Soon after its original publication, Sienna Frost released an improved paperback edition, including powerful typography and loads of dazzling new art throughout most of the book. I'm not talking about a picture book. What I mean is that there's nothing that divides visuals from text. The book is one big work of art, and reading the book is a visual experience. This is brand new to me; I've never seen another book like this. Obsidian: Awakening has raised the bar by crafting a more beautiful book than I've ever seen from a traditional publisher, proving that indie authors can craft a more impressive book than a traditional author, both visually and in terms of literary merit. Trad books aren't this well written and they aren't this pretty. They're just inferior. I don't know any other way to say it. Obsidian has raised the bar, and more people really need to pay attention.
Again, this book's style is the opposite of what I normally enjoy, but it captured me despite myself and never let go. The writing, the visuals, the world building are all beautifully crafted, delivering an unforgettable reading experience. This is true professionalism.