Review by KDJ -- The Sparrow by Denna M. Davis

KDJ · Post by **KDJ** » 03 May 2019, 16:33

[Following is a volunteer review of "The Sparrow" by Denna M. Davis.]

4 out of 4 stars

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“The journey may take several different roads, but the destination remains the same,” these words are told to Amanda by her wise grandmother while helping guide her towards destiny. Amanda learns of a beautiful, mystical world of fantasy and the role she must play in it. Prophecy of the Ha’ankor has been passed down for generations. The Earthborn savior the unique and brightly pigmented Emajian peoples eagerly await. Is Amanda this savior?

Once she arrives on the wonderous and sprawling planet of Emaji, she follows the directions of a mysterious note written to her by Shia, leader of the Egud. Escorted by a handsome stranger who can’t seem to take his eyes off her, she begins a journey filled with excitement, adventure, and perils she never dreamt of. Believed to be Ha’ankor, can Amanda prove herself to be the hero the Emajian people are waiting for? Working with the Emajian people, can she defeat the evil leader, Zorn, before he enslaves the peoples of this wonderful utopian society? Will she follow a destiny if it leads her into the arms of Solomon?

Emaji Nation: The Sparrow by Denna M. Davis is book one in this creative series. With her first foray into juvenile fiction of magic and fantasy, Davis expertly guides readers through the colorful world of imagination she has built. Originally released in September of 2011, the 2nd edition, (which is the edition I read) was re-released in May 2018. The Sparrow is independently published by the author using the create space platform. The cover art, created by Nathalia Suellen, is charming and colorful. Together with the imaginative writing of Davis, it creates a paperback I consider worthy of the $11.99 Amazon price. The author continues this narrative in book two entitled Emaji Nation: The Harrow.

With several wonderfully well written and unique characters to progress the plot, the Emaji Nation series has the potential to become a great saga. This engaging and intricately plotted novel is fast-paced at times. Davis uses distinctly vivid colors and patterns to describe both the people and creatures that inhabit the world she has built. Most characters I encounter while reading immediately captures my attention, along with the landscape and creatures. I felt each character could have their own story in the future.

Yitsha’s ambition and anger made for an unexpected amalgamation. Her prideful scheming and conspiring actions cemented my ardent dislike of her. Nevertheless, scenes with Yitsha and Nitsivah, or that mention her daughter especially piqued my curiosity about Yitsha’s background. Yitsha’s hatred appears in such a visceral and tangible way, I can only guess at what could cause such a rift.

Rasha is yet another disturbing character that delivers. Rarely in a tangible form, she is an evil that balances the good of a loving Ema(God). Not choosing to be worshipped as a deity, she quietly orchestrates her devilish plans using Zorn and others as puppets to be manipulated from the shadowy realm she inhabits. Although she has minimal scenes throughout the novel, her mere presence is so ominous, it gives me shivers.

In contrast, Rose, Amanda's grandmother, is an extremely likable and vivid character. Although her appearance magically alters on the Emajian planet, being the only earthly familial connection Amanda has, she works to help teach and guide her through this surreal situation. Each instance Rose speaks in her quirky slangy pigeon, she offers sage advice or an interesting and charming quip that quickly endears her to readers. Rose’s reactions and manner of speech remind me of homespun characters I have read in James Baldwin novels.

I enjoyed the progressive romance of Amanda and Solomon throughout this novel. While awkward in the beginning, it slowly builds to a strong connection towards the second half.
It is hard for Amanda to fathom what Solomon so clearly knows from their initial meeting, she is his soul mate. Solomon never wavers from this belief, which makes rooting for these two all the more easy. Amanda grows into a courageous and strong young woman leading up to her journey of discovery. One can imagine the wonderful and strange powers awakened within her afterward. Meanwhile, Solomon finds his own path to assist Amanda with the daunting task of saving Emaji from Zorn.

Davis has a great ability in her writing creating ominous foreshadowing, while not overwhelming readers in it nonstop. For instance, there is no secret that Zorn and his followers are a looming threat to Emaji, but while reading I felt ambivalence to this menacing danger. At times both urgent and negligible to the upcoming war with Zorn.

There is a clear underlying current of wonderfully written tension for a battle to begin. Farmers continue to labor in the fields, children continue their education, and the Egud continues to argue over ways to govern the people. While the Shamar continue preparations for the inevitable war, day to day life continues. Davis conveys this in a subtly dramatic way that readers like myself enjoy. Also, her descriptive use of stark contrast to juxtapose the bustling and vibrant city of Mehita to the oppressive darkness of the forbidden plains controlled by Zorn is apt.

Although I enjoyed reading this novel very much, there were infrequent moments I will mention that I feel would have made reading better. I found rare instances of grammatical error, including missing spaces between words and punctuation (185) and an instance where thought was not italicized, and it seemed like it was dialogue to me, but it in no way impedes the narrative. Having very few errors I believe it professionally edited. On a side note, I absolutely wish there was a world map included. Seeing the lands lain out would add to the immersion for readers.

I happily give Emaji Nation: The Sparrow, Book One 4 out of 4 stars. I recommend it to young adult and adult readers that are fans of The Last Airbender and Harry Potter series’. Even sci-fi fans of the Stargate series may enjoy this book. If you do not enjoy magic and fantasy stories you may want to skip this series. Also, while not graphic, there are sparse mentions of a possible sexual assault. If you are sensitive to this subject matter, please read with caution. If you decide to read Emaji Nation: The Sparrow I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

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The Sparrow
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Prisallen · Post by **Prisallen** » 23 May 2019, 12:49

I read this book as well and I agree with your assessment. I loved her descriptions. Thank you for a very thorough review of it!

BuzzingQuill · Post by **BuzzingQuill** » 02 Jun 2019, 06:23

You did a great job outlining the reasons you loved the book, I didn't enjoy it as much as you did, but I do find myself agreeing with some points you made. Anyway, great review!

KDJ · Post by **KDJ** » 06 Jun 2019, 19:43

Prisallen wrote: ↑23 May 2019, 12:49 I read this book as well and I agree with your assessment. I loved her descriptions. Thank you for a very thorough review of it!

Thank you for reading my review. I enjoyed reading The Sparrow, I want to read the next one in the series also.

KDJ · Post by **KDJ** » 06 Jun 2019, 19:50

BuzzingQuill wrote: ↑02 Jun 2019, 06:23 You did a great job outlining the reasons you loved the book, I didn't enjoy it as much as you did, but I do find myself agreeing with some points you made. Anyway, great review!

Thank you for reading my review. I know this one isn't for everyone, but I really enjoyed it. I am hoping that the next novel in the series is written similarly. Because it is a YA novel, I sometimes expect a little campiness, I guess. Lol