Review by beaatm_ -- Herai by Aaron D Key
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beaatm_
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Review by beaatm_ -- Herai by Aaron D Key
[Following is a volunteer review of "Herai" by Aaron D Key.]
4 out of 4 stars
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Herai by Aaron D. Key is a story that proves even only one person can have a crucial impact on their reality. It enables us to view for ourselves how circumstances and the people around us may shape our personality and behaviour. With well-written characters and a complex plot, Herai has become one of my favourite novels.
The immortals enjoy fiddling with our world, testing how slight shifts might change the course of events. One of them is the narrator of these two stories. Both of them share setting and characters. However, one person is alive only in one of them. This small difference causes an outburst that changes the direction of the action completely.
The protagonists live in an underground city. Since most of them have never been to the outside world, this desire to discover it becomes a turning point in the development of the plot. There are mysteries to solve, criminals to find, tasks to complete, wars to avoid, etc.
Firstly, I would like to emphasise how original the idea is. This narration method is something I had never seen before. By having two parallel realities you can truly understand the characters. This makes them extremely deep and enables you to sympathise with them. Also, the use of a two-sided narrator gives the reader a voice in the story. Overall, it was fascinating to see how slight variations in the protagonists' lives changed their personalities and their actions. On the same line, I liked how the plot was carried. Even though both narrations could be separated and still make sense, one is enriched by the other.
Also, the presence of homosexuality between them was another positive aspect worth mentioning. Since the lack of inclusion is alarming, even more in fictional books, it is refreshing to see it treated with respect and without it constituting the main plot.
Another aspect I found enjoyable was the setting. More precisely, the descriptions of the outside world. The view of their surroundings is incredibly influenced by their previous experiences. They live in an underground city where sunlight is unattainable. Therefore, the surface is a strange place. It is described as extraordinary and fairytale-like. It is fascinating to read these passages, where a world we know so well seems like a foreign place.
However, there were a few aspects I did not like. The role of women is one of them since the interventions of the female gender could be counted easily. The few women and girls present were always secondary characters. Also, it can become slightly difficult to distinguish between each narration, as they share characters. Even so, it should not be any hassle.
To sum up, I found the lecture of this novel greatly entertaining. Despite having some aspects I did not like, the book was incredibly good. It was very well-written, with a complex plot and developed characters. Consequently, I rate it with a 4 out of 4 stars as there was almost nothing to object. I would recommend it. Also, I believe it appropriate for almost everyone, but the complexity of the text should be taken into account.
******
Herai
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
4 out of 4 stars
Share This Review
Herai by Aaron D. Key is a story that proves even only one person can have a crucial impact on their reality. It enables us to view for ourselves how circumstances and the people around us may shape our personality and behaviour. With well-written characters and a complex plot, Herai has become one of my favourite novels.
The immortals enjoy fiddling with our world, testing how slight shifts might change the course of events. One of them is the narrator of these two stories. Both of them share setting and characters. However, one person is alive only in one of them. This small difference causes an outburst that changes the direction of the action completely.
The protagonists live in an underground city. Since most of them have never been to the outside world, this desire to discover it becomes a turning point in the development of the plot. There are mysteries to solve, criminals to find, tasks to complete, wars to avoid, etc.
Firstly, I would like to emphasise how original the idea is. This narration method is something I had never seen before. By having two parallel realities you can truly understand the characters. This makes them extremely deep and enables you to sympathise with them. Also, the use of a two-sided narrator gives the reader a voice in the story. Overall, it was fascinating to see how slight variations in the protagonists' lives changed their personalities and their actions. On the same line, I liked how the plot was carried. Even though both narrations could be separated and still make sense, one is enriched by the other.
Also, the presence of homosexuality between them was another positive aspect worth mentioning. Since the lack of inclusion is alarming, even more in fictional books, it is refreshing to see it treated with respect and without it constituting the main plot.
Another aspect I found enjoyable was the setting. More precisely, the descriptions of the outside world. The view of their surroundings is incredibly influenced by their previous experiences. They live in an underground city where sunlight is unattainable. Therefore, the surface is a strange place. It is described as extraordinary and fairytale-like. It is fascinating to read these passages, where a world we know so well seems like a foreign place.
However, there were a few aspects I did not like. The role of women is one of them since the interventions of the female gender could be counted easily. The few women and girls present were always secondary characters. Also, it can become slightly difficult to distinguish between each narration, as they share characters. Even so, it should not be any hassle.
To sum up, I found the lecture of this novel greatly entertaining. Despite having some aspects I did not like, the book was incredibly good. It was very well-written, with a complex plot and developed characters. Consequently, I rate it with a 4 out of 4 stars as there was almost nothing to object. I would recommend it. Also, I believe it appropriate for almost everyone, but the complexity of the text should be taken into account.
******
Herai
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Man Mission by Eytan Uliel
