Review of The Eclipsed
Posted: 16 Mar 2024, 08:48
[Following is a volunteer review of "The Eclipsed" by Dara Kent.]
The Eclipsed impressed upon me a “wow” factor that could easily cause me to spill too much information in this review! But this pertinent line from the book will remind me to tread lightly; “Sorry, I can only tell you so much. Oops, spoilers, can’t risk those.”
The author of this captivating book, Ava Wixx, is also known as Dara Kent. I am using Wixx for this review because it is presented in the copy I read.
In this spellbinding novel, we meet supernatural creatures called lunas who exist solely to record the essence of human souls leaving the body at death, ensuring that “all that should be is.” The protagonist is an inquisitive luna named Eighty-nine, who tells the story in the first person. Her best friend, a male luna named Six, is the plot's driving catalyst.
Another important non-human entity is a reaper (yes, as in grim reaper) who helps the souls move to their final destinations once the lunas record them.
Unbeknownst to humans, the universe operates within a strict order kept in place by creatures such as the lunas and reapers. If it is a human’s time to die, they must die at that fixed point in time, or the universe will experience a ‘reality rip’ that can end all existence. Keeping the universe going is not easy for lunas and reapers. Humans often attempt to save victims who are supposed to die, or feelings develop among the creatures for each other or toward humans. Saving the universe can become a very messy undertaking (pun intended)!
The Eclipsed sparks intellectual curiosity around death but is also entertaining and funny! It dabbles in traversing our multidimensional universe and time travel, which is exciting enough, but Wixx also manages to create full-bodied, engaging characters who plant roots in the reader's psyche! I pondered about them long after I set the book down.
The time-travel angle of the story caused the narration to repeat a few times. The first time it repeated, I thought it was an error, but I soon discovered that it was necessary for the characters to attempt to fix reality rips at fixed points in time. It also helped to answer some of the “whys” in the story. Wixx humorously quips in the book, “Thinking in tenses when time travel is involved is … not as easy as the authors of some of my favorite books make it seem.” Still, this author has managed it effortlessly!
I reveled in the narration’s fluency and adored the vibrant personality of the narrator, Eighty-nine! I found nothing to dislike about The Eclipsed. I hope there is a sequel! Although the book contains profanity, it is not overdone in the least.
Can the reality rips be restored, or will the universe disappear? Find out in this suspenseful, fun, engaging, and well-edited book that deserves 5 out of 5 stars! Due to its subject matter and some non-borderline expletives, I recommend this book for ages 16 and over.
******
The Eclipsed
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes | on Smashwords
The Eclipsed impressed upon me a “wow” factor that could easily cause me to spill too much information in this review! But this pertinent line from the book will remind me to tread lightly; “Sorry, I can only tell you so much. Oops, spoilers, can’t risk those.”
The author of this captivating book, Ava Wixx, is also known as Dara Kent. I am using Wixx for this review because it is presented in the copy I read.
In this spellbinding novel, we meet supernatural creatures called lunas who exist solely to record the essence of human souls leaving the body at death, ensuring that “all that should be is.” The protagonist is an inquisitive luna named Eighty-nine, who tells the story in the first person. Her best friend, a male luna named Six, is the plot's driving catalyst.
Another important non-human entity is a reaper (yes, as in grim reaper) who helps the souls move to their final destinations once the lunas record them.
Unbeknownst to humans, the universe operates within a strict order kept in place by creatures such as the lunas and reapers. If it is a human’s time to die, they must die at that fixed point in time, or the universe will experience a ‘reality rip’ that can end all existence. Keeping the universe going is not easy for lunas and reapers. Humans often attempt to save victims who are supposed to die, or feelings develop among the creatures for each other or toward humans. Saving the universe can become a very messy undertaking (pun intended)!
The Eclipsed sparks intellectual curiosity around death but is also entertaining and funny! It dabbles in traversing our multidimensional universe and time travel, which is exciting enough, but Wixx also manages to create full-bodied, engaging characters who plant roots in the reader's psyche! I pondered about them long after I set the book down.
The time-travel angle of the story caused the narration to repeat a few times. The first time it repeated, I thought it was an error, but I soon discovered that it was necessary for the characters to attempt to fix reality rips at fixed points in time. It also helped to answer some of the “whys” in the story. Wixx humorously quips in the book, “Thinking in tenses when time travel is involved is … not as easy as the authors of some of my favorite books make it seem.” Still, this author has managed it effortlessly!
I reveled in the narration’s fluency and adored the vibrant personality of the narrator, Eighty-nine! I found nothing to dislike about The Eclipsed. I hope there is a sequel! Although the book contains profanity, it is not overdone in the least.
Can the reality rips be restored, or will the universe disappear? Find out in this suspenseful, fun, engaging, and well-edited book that deserves 5 out of 5 stars! Due to its subject matter and some non-borderline expletives, I recommend this book for ages 16 and over.
******
The Eclipsed
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes | on Smashwords
