Official Review: First Earth by Cami Murdock Jensen
- Erin Dydek
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Official Review: First Earth by Cami Murdock Jensen
Lost in a world of chronic pain, 16-year-old Agnes Ann Cavanagh hides behind the shame of the hideous scars that mar her face. Blind to her miraculous survival of the accident that killed her father, she chooses to remain isolated in her self-hatred. When an idolized professor offers her a unique internship, she is beyond excited, until she realizes that opportunity will force her to step outside her comfort zone.
Agnes is soon to discover that the ancient tablet she’s supposed to translate is a pathway to a whole new world where magicians are on the brink of extinction. An evil necromancer threatens to enslave the people of First Earth and any other earths she can get her hands on. A hidden power lies dormant within the self-loathing teen, but Agnes will have to learn to accept herself to embrace the life she was meant to live.
First Earth, by Cami Murdock Jensen, is a well-paced science-fiction fantasy novel with hard-hitting themes. Full of magic, suspense, and epic battle sequences, it will thrill readers young and old alike. This first book in the Arch Mage series is told from the first-person perspective of the main character, Agnes, and is high-spirited and energetic in its tone.
Jensen does a marvelous job setting up Agnes’s situation and starting with intense action within the first few chapters. The details of the new world were woven gracefully into the plot without disturbing the pacing, which made for smooth sailing through the story. I never felt like the plot was dragging even with character introductions and developments. Instead, the suspense of discovering the hidden talent with Agnes and how she might be able to use that power kept me glued to the pages.
My favorite part of the novel was the character growth of Agnes. Saving the world from a powerful enemy was an engaging plot but cheering on Agnes as she learned to accept who she was played a larger role in winning my favor. The friends and allies that Agnes gains also challenge and encourage her in different ways. Agnes was an inspirational character that had to look inside, admit her flaws, and change her attitude to succeed. Chronic nerve pain and nausea caused by her medication were also obstacles that plagued her during her journey.
I find myself hard-pressed to think of anything I didn’t like about this book. From the stylistic writing to the refreshing themes, this book gave me nothing but positive feelings. A couple of minor errors found their way into the final copy but not enough to make me doubt professional editing. I confidently award First Earth a glowing 4 out of 4. With no swearing, sexual content, or overly graphic scenes, this book would be appropriate for all audiences. Those who love coming-of-age novels with magic, fantasy creatures, travel between worlds, and substance should find something to love within the Arch Mage series. I eagerly look forward to the next installment!
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First Earth
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Thanks for your kind words! I really enjoyed Agnes and she had a wonderful supporting set of characters as well. Hope you get a chance to read the book!Reader5698 wrote: ↑07 Jan 2020, 22:35 Thank for your great review. This really makes me want to pick up the book. I love fantasy novels that trevel between different worlds, and Agnes sounds like a compelling and inspiring character.
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SomeoneInTheWorld wrote: ↑08 Jan 2020, 06:21 This book sounds so amazing in so many ways! I'm definitely going to enjoy reading it. Thanks for your great review!
Thanks for your complements! I hope you enjoy the book as much as I did!
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I guess I'll explore the fantasy world together with Agnes.
Amazing review!

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