A Shadow On The Land

Good beginning to a series

It’s been years since I read fantasy, but I remember there being a slow build as the author develops the world. This book is the same way. It is Book 1 in a series. The setting of the stage, so to speak, is to be expected. I only preface this review by saying that in case someone only reads a couple of chapters and doesn’t want to continue. I urge them to continue because the payoff is worth it. There is considerable time used in establishing who the characters are and the world they are in before the event occurs that triggers the plot.

The prophecy that states Bjorn is supposed to rule the kingdom comes with resistance. The current king doesn’t want to give up his throne, so he seeks to kill Bjorn and those who will help him.

For people who enjoy fantasy, this will be a hit. World building is excellent. You feel like you are truly there. The characters are well developed. I especially like Weinolf since he struggles between staying true to his father (the current king) and the thought that Bjorn really might be the best ruler for the land. Stuff like that is intriguing to me. Even at the end of the book, I found the current king’s thoughts and actions surprisingly intriguing as well, though I can’t say what those are since that would spoil the ending.

A side quest takes Nicar in an adventure (of sorts) where he finds out that human sacrifices are being made to appease Voden. (I apologize if I spelled that wrong. I listened to the book so am not sure of the exact spelling.) Voden stands in sharp contrast to God. In fact, Nicar ends up finding a Bible that was long ago forgotten. I enjoyed this religious angle a lot, and I figure it will factor into a larger role as the series progresses.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fantasy and Christian fiction.