Review of The Kite Documents

[EBERE WRITES COCEPT]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Kite Documents" by E.B.Williams.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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The Kite Documents by E.B. Williams is a science-fantasy novel centered on the lives of humanoids Sheyla Dawes and Chipale Jackson. Sheyla, like every other human, wants to be loved, but in her case, people always seem hostile towards her unless she gives them the toth’ka to drink. So when Sheyla met Chip when she joined the kite club at her school, he was friendly to her, unlike other humans who pay no attention to her. Without giving him the toth'ka, Sheyla knew Chip must be a non-human like that, but Chip wasn’t having any of Sheyla’s talk about his origin. Sheyla was convinced of her assumption when Chip visited her home and drank their signature fruit juice mixed with toth'ka, and both went into a dream world together. This gave Sheyla another purpose, which is to ensure Chip becomes her harness mate. Chip had other plans, and thus he joined the U.S. Army, but unknown to him, he had already consumed a drink, which made it easy for him to be traced no matter where he went. How will Sheyla deal with her emotions towards Chip? Will Sheyla ever find solace and acceptance in a world so different from her own? How will Chip get awakened to his true identity? What awaits Chip and his hybrid family, and how will they navigate the complexities of their dual existence?  

The story centers on the life of Sheyla Dawes, a Daus living among humans on Earth. It shows how she struggles with her identity and abilities, as well as the challenges she faces with fitting into human society. The author explores the themes of loneliness, identity, survival, social dynamics, and the search for acceptance. For instance, Sheyla’s struggle to find her place in high school and her yearning for interactions with humans display a desire for belonging and acceptance. The plot of the book detailed her journey from a complete outcast to gradually discovering and understanding her own strength and identity. The character development is interesting as it shows the gradual process of development from high school teenagers to confident adults. The author develops the characters so expertly, especially Chipale and Sheyla, whose personal histories are intertwined. For instance, Sheyla’s lineage and her contribution to her colony show her important role in their survival and resurgence. Chipale character development helps give more insight into the human-Daus relationship and the complexities of their origin. The story line of the book is compelling, with exciting suspense that keeps the readers interested. The book addresses major issues such as prejudice and exploitation, as shown by humans' oppressive and aggressive acts towards the Daus people.   

The author’s writing style is commendable as it gives depth to the story, making the book exceptionally evocative and immersive. The story development is well-paced, allowing for deep character exploration. The tone employed in the book is delicately filed with a balance of melancholy and hope; the tone of the book reflects the inner and external struggles of the characters. The portrayal of the societal issues faced by Sheyla is both heartbreaking and enlightening, such as the ridicule and bullying she faced for her appearance and speech. Another commendable aspect of the book is the detailed world-building involved. The author did a good job of beautifully and vividly creating a believable and richly textured universe and its different terrains, blending the texture of fantasy with the familiar. This is seen in the description of the Daus language and cultural beliefs, which add more insight to Sheyla’s and her father's characters.  

There are certain flaws I find in the book, one of which is the repetitiveness of the same story being told over and over again. The back and forth created a break and made it hard to deeply immerse in the character’s story; sometimes the flow is broken from an uncompleted scene and then back to a previous scene. For example, when Chip and his unit in the army were faced by some attackers on their mission, the scene suddenly changed to Sheyla visiting Chip's auntie. Also, some characters do not have great depth, thus making it feel underdeveloped, and this can lead to a lack of emotional connection with certain aspects of the story. Additionally, certain aspects of the Daus culture are not well explored in greater detail. For example, the class distinction with the Daus community is mentioned but not fully developed, leaving the reader confused about these dynamics. This flaw, though minor, affects the overall reading experience, making certain sections less engaging.
 
The book is exceptionally well edited. I rate the book 4 out of 5 stars due to the few non-explorative flaws found in the book. I highly recommend this book to lovers of science fiction and fantasy or anyone seeking an emotionally resonant story.

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The Kite Documents
View: on Bookshelves

[Martin Shae]

The Kite Documents" by E.B. Williams is a science-fantasy novel that follows humanoids Sheyla Dawes and Chipale Jackson. Sheyla, who struggles with hostility from others unless they drink toth’ka, finds unexpected friendship with Chip at a kite club. When they share a dream world after drinking toth'ka together, Sheyla is convinced of Chip's non-human nature. As Chip joins the U.S. Army, unaware he's traceable due to toth’ka, questions arise about their relationship and his true identity. The novel explores their emotions, identity, and the complexities of their dual existence.

[Naushin Moledina]

The review of "The Kite Documents" by E.B. Williams praises the book's immersive science-fantasy world and compelling character development, particularly of Sheyla Dawes and Chipale Jackson. The reviewer appreciates the exploration of themes like identity, loneliness, and societal issues, alongside the vivid world-building and evocative writing style. Despite noting some repetitiveness and underdeveloped elements, the book is highly recommended for fans of science fiction and fantasy, earning a 4-star rating. Thank you for a great review!

[NetMassimo]

Despite the flaws you pointed out, overall, this novel seems engaging with some important themes developed. The mix of science fiction and fantasy elements makes it especially suitable for fans of those genres. Thank you for your great review!

[Idris Alooma]

Reviewer: The Kite Documents by E.B. Williams is a captivating science-fantasy novel with intriguing characters and a well-paced plot. The author skillfully explores themes of identity, acceptance, and societal issues. The world-building is immersive and the writing style is commendable. However, there were some repetitive moments and underdeveloped characters. Overall, I rate the book 4 out of 5 stars. It is a recommended read for fans of science fiction and fantasy. Evocative descriptions, brought scenes to life vividly.

[Boring Pigeon]

After reading the review for The Kite Documents by E.B. Williams, I must say it seems like a fascinating science-fantasy novel. The story focuses on Sheyla, a humanoid struggling with her identity and the challenges she faces in human society. The author explores themes of loneliness, acceptance, and identity, which sound captivating. The character development and world-building are commendable, adding depth to the story. Although there are some flaws in terms of repetitive storytelling and underdeveloped characters, it appears to be a good read overall. I would give it a solid four out of five stars. Compelling conflict, drove the story forward.

[Emmanuel Chima 3]

*The Kite Documents* by E.B. Williams offers a compelling blend of science fiction and fantasy, exploring themes of identity and acceptance through its richly developed characters and immersive world-building. While the narrative might occasionally struggle with repetitive elements and some underdeveloped aspects, it remains an engaging and thought-provoking read. Fans of the genre will likely find its emotional depth and imaginative setting rewarding.

[Nuella Joseph]

*The Kite Documents* by E.B. Williams seems like a compelling read with strong character development and imaginative world-building. The themes of identity and belonging sound intriguing, though I might find the repetitive storytelling a bit challenging. I'm curious about how the author explores the complex dynamics between humans and the Daus. It sounds like a thought-provoking blend of science fiction and fantasy.

[Ray Thompson]

This story had some really intense moments that kept me glued to the pages. The buildup was a little slow, but once it got going, it was hard to put down.