Review of Spirit of the Plain

[Rajnee Varma]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Spirit of the Plain" by B. Marcus Walker.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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Spirit of the Plain The Unnamed Book 1 by B. Marcus Walker is a fantasy novel set in the fictitious continent of Nordunia. In the middle of the continent lies a cursed forest, the Forest Plain, surrounded by the countries of Lykania, Lachland, the Kotolonian Empire, and Taztosia. The story revolves around the three main characters belonging to different cultures. Collier, after witnessing the brutal killings of his family by the soldiers of the empire, fled to his father’s clan of the Yurbo people, where he was accepted with trepidation and hostility. Ashlyn, a young acolyte who was under training to become a burja or a witch, was prophesied to break the curse of the forest and free the spirit that haunted the plain. Tate, a lykan and a descendant of the rulers of Lykania, was in exile and a fugitive. The goal of his life was to free Lykania from the invaders of Taztosia.

Equally important as the magic in the story is the political aspect that illustrates the colonization of a less developed country, the hunger for power, the faulty system of election in the name of democracy, problems of law and order, and the issue of lykan immigrants. The lykans are fierce, wolf-like creatures, enormous in size—savage enough to hunt and eat raw flesh, but civilized enough to be musicians and workers. They enjoy smoking pipes and are capable of working as cheap labor on farms, mines, and shops. They display emotions similar to humans.

The author has very skillfully crafted the characters; no character appears to be insignificant or neglected. Ashlyn is an innocent girl sold to the magicians, having no control over her life. Collier is shown to be a man of weak character, selfish and emotionally detached. He lives for revenge—to gather supporters and return to power in his hometown of Grayhaven. It is overwhelming to read about the world of magic, the ranks of magicians, and the ‘Spirit Talkers.’ The stories related to the enchanted forest, the detailed descriptions of the Yurbo people’s culture, and their encounters with the lykans keep the reader captivated. The map of the continent helps the reader better understand the story.

It is a gripping saga of the coexistence and relationship between the human race, the lykan, and the spirits. The author has given equal weightage to events and emotions, to the minutest details. However, the language is not simple. There are tongue-twisting names and words with unusual spellings, like ‘fourtenight,’ ‘phaye,’ ‘Lykan' instead of ‘Lycan,’ ‘greeoh,’ and ‘daishiki.’ Some scenes are unsettling, and some parts of the narration use crude language, although suitable to the culture of the lykan, who are not human. Overall, it is an interesting read and a captivating story. However, the editing is very poor, and I noticed too many typos to ignore. For this reason, I rate the book 4 out of 5 stars.

The book touches on some meaningful themes like immigration, cheap labor, and fair elections. The Lykan songs are good and full of emotions. The story demands close attention to details and a good memory to keep track of the numerous characters and events to fully enjoy the story. I would recommend the book to people who like fantasy and magic-based long stories. It is the first book in a trilogy but can be enjoyed as a standalone book.

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Spirit of the Plain
View: on Bookshelves

[Kibet Hillary]

The unusual, tongue-twisting names would definitely be fun to read, but the most important aspect is that the book addresses themes such as greed for power and also democracy itself. These themes, undoubtedly, make the book relatable. Many thanks for the review, @Rajnee Varma.