Official Review: Divine by L.C. Davis, Jr
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krismags
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Official Review: Divine by L.C. Davis, Jr
[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Divine" by L.C. Davis, Jr.]
2 out of 4 stars
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This book follows the coming of age of Prince Royal, the youngest son of King Vagrath. The nation is founded on the tenets of war, and the king’s sons are expected to represent the kingdom bravely in battle. However, Royal is plagued by weakness after his near death as an infant. He instead turns his mind to scholarly pursuits, and his older brothers torment him for this perceived weakness. But Royal is more like his warlord father than anyone realizes, and he has a plan to regain his rightful place among his father’s sons.
Despite his careful planning, Royal must be cautious. King Vagrath’s court is ruled by treachery, and his family holds more secrets than he realizes. On the eve of his birthday and apparent triumph over his brothers’ scheming, a secret is revealed to Royal that is greater than he ever could have imagined. Now he must decide how to proceed in a suddenly unfamiliar world. His decisions will not only determine the fate of the kingdom, but also his own survival.
Despite the sometimes dark and gothic plotline, this first novel by L.C. Davis Jr is entertaining, examining the relationships of families bound more by blood than emotional ties. The novel poses the question of how far one will go to obtain power or exact revenge, even when it may result in sacrifices beyond imagining. In addition, the power of a mother’s love for her children plays an important role in the ultimate fates of the characters. There are a few startling twists that elevate the book beyond the simple fantasy storyline that is initially presented to the reader.
While I like a story that can surprise me, I would have liked a bit more development of some of the plot twists, and a more complex reaction from the protagonist than simple acceptance when the family’s secrets are finally revealed. The author could have spent more time developing the characters and the plot, even at the expense of lengthening the book. I was disappointed in how straightforward the character’s emotions were, and their reliance on one feeling at a time made it hard to relate to the characters in a more realistic way. In my opinion, some additional complexity would significantly increase my enjoyment of the novel as a whole.
Overall, I would give this book 2 out of 4 stars. While it was a good read, and the author had some good ideas, it could have used some more time spent on fleshing out the story. I would consider this a simple young adult read, although readers should be aware that it can be almost crude in the descriptions of fighting. I probably would not put this book on a list to reread, but it was enjoyable and an acceptable debut.
******
Divine
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes | on Smashwords
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2 out of 4 stars
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This book follows the coming of age of Prince Royal, the youngest son of King Vagrath. The nation is founded on the tenets of war, and the king’s sons are expected to represent the kingdom bravely in battle. However, Royal is plagued by weakness after his near death as an infant. He instead turns his mind to scholarly pursuits, and his older brothers torment him for this perceived weakness. But Royal is more like his warlord father than anyone realizes, and he has a plan to regain his rightful place among his father’s sons.
Despite his careful planning, Royal must be cautious. King Vagrath’s court is ruled by treachery, and his family holds more secrets than he realizes. On the eve of his birthday and apparent triumph over his brothers’ scheming, a secret is revealed to Royal that is greater than he ever could have imagined. Now he must decide how to proceed in a suddenly unfamiliar world. His decisions will not only determine the fate of the kingdom, but also his own survival.
Despite the sometimes dark and gothic plotline, this first novel by L.C. Davis Jr is entertaining, examining the relationships of families bound more by blood than emotional ties. The novel poses the question of how far one will go to obtain power or exact revenge, even when it may result in sacrifices beyond imagining. In addition, the power of a mother’s love for her children plays an important role in the ultimate fates of the characters. There are a few startling twists that elevate the book beyond the simple fantasy storyline that is initially presented to the reader.
While I like a story that can surprise me, I would have liked a bit more development of some of the plot twists, and a more complex reaction from the protagonist than simple acceptance when the family’s secrets are finally revealed. The author could have spent more time developing the characters and the plot, even at the expense of lengthening the book. I was disappointed in how straightforward the character’s emotions were, and their reliance on one feeling at a time made it hard to relate to the characters in a more realistic way. In my opinion, some additional complexity would significantly increase my enjoyment of the novel as a whole.
Overall, I would give this book 2 out of 4 stars. While it was a good read, and the author had some good ideas, it could have used some more time spent on fleshing out the story. I would consider this a simple young adult read, although readers should be aware that it can be almost crude in the descriptions of fighting. I probably would not put this book on a list to reread, but it was enjoyable and an acceptable debut.
******
Divine
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes | on Smashwords
Like krismags's review? Post a comment saying so!
Latest Review: "Love to Believe" by Lisa Ricard Claro
