Review of Hall Of Skulls
Posted: 03 Jul 2021, 23:54
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Hall Of Skulls" by Jamie Eubanks.]
Hall of Skulls by Jamie Eubanks is an incredible science fiction adventure. The main character, Kai, is a young man who lives among the Mokuteki people on the planet of Churi. Hundreds of years ago, the Mokuteki people had become gentle and passive due to their reliance on technology and peaceful daily lives. This changed when the planet was attacked by an aggressive race known as the Thrakens. The Mokuteki barely won the battle, saving their planet, and imposing bans on technology to make sure that their people never grew weak again. In the present day, Kai has been chosen to become the new captain of Churi, but only once he completes the Kezrado. The Kezrado is a four-stage test that must be passed in order to rule, and it is known to be one of the most challenging undertakings in existence. Kai’s Kezrado begins with his soul mate, Asher, being abducted and sent to the planet occupied by the Thrakens. Kai must go on a high-stakes journey through time and space to save his partner, facing challenges at every turn and trying to prove his ability to be the new leader of Churi.
When novels are set on another planet, I often find that it is hard to maintain a balance of having enough world-building to fully immerse the reader into the setting, but not having so much exposition that the plot is lost to endless descriptions. I thought that this novel maintained that balance perfectly. The setting was developed beautifully, and the use of time travel further served to enrich the historical context of the world and its characters. The history of Churi was so uniquely and thoroughly developed that I would absolutely love the opportunity to read more novels set in this world.
The characters were also very well developed. The author made it easy to picture what the Mokuteki people were like, especially through highlighting the differences of those living in the past and those living in the present. I really enjoyed the imagery of Kai using the hairs standing on the top of his ears (called “kips”) to sense the movements in his surroundings. The personalities of each character stood out in a way that made them unique individuals but also made their actions realistic and understandable. The dialogue was also realistic, enriching the story and the development of the characters.
My favorite thing about this novel was how unique and creative the plot was. The planet of Churi and the Mokuteki people were different from any group that I have read about, but even though they were so different, they were still relatable. The description of the Kezrado was distinct and enthralling. The way that the time portals were used was fascinating, leading to plot twists that I did not see coming and that lasted all the way to the very last chapter. All the technology that was utilized was well explained, and the quest that Kai went on was riveting from start to finish. The book seemed professionally edited, with only one or two minor errors that did not detract from my reading experience. I do not have any complaints about this novel, and I can’t think of a single negative aspect to mention.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. The world-building and the cast of characters were wonderfully unique and creative, and the plot was captivating from start to finish. I would recommend this novel to fans of science fiction and fantasy, especially those who seek a novel with a high-stakes quest that brings new worlds, species, and concepts to the genre.
******
Hall Of Skulls
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Hall of Skulls by Jamie Eubanks is an incredible science fiction adventure. The main character, Kai, is a young man who lives among the Mokuteki people on the planet of Churi. Hundreds of years ago, the Mokuteki people had become gentle and passive due to their reliance on technology and peaceful daily lives. This changed when the planet was attacked by an aggressive race known as the Thrakens. The Mokuteki barely won the battle, saving their planet, and imposing bans on technology to make sure that their people never grew weak again. In the present day, Kai has been chosen to become the new captain of Churi, but only once he completes the Kezrado. The Kezrado is a four-stage test that must be passed in order to rule, and it is known to be one of the most challenging undertakings in existence. Kai’s Kezrado begins with his soul mate, Asher, being abducted and sent to the planet occupied by the Thrakens. Kai must go on a high-stakes journey through time and space to save his partner, facing challenges at every turn and trying to prove his ability to be the new leader of Churi.
When novels are set on another planet, I often find that it is hard to maintain a balance of having enough world-building to fully immerse the reader into the setting, but not having so much exposition that the plot is lost to endless descriptions. I thought that this novel maintained that balance perfectly. The setting was developed beautifully, and the use of time travel further served to enrich the historical context of the world and its characters. The history of Churi was so uniquely and thoroughly developed that I would absolutely love the opportunity to read more novels set in this world.
The characters were also very well developed. The author made it easy to picture what the Mokuteki people were like, especially through highlighting the differences of those living in the past and those living in the present. I really enjoyed the imagery of Kai using the hairs standing on the top of his ears (called “kips”) to sense the movements in his surroundings. The personalities of each character stood out in a way that made them unique individuals but also made their actions realistic and understandable. The dialogue was also realistic, enriching the story and the development of the characters.
My favorite thing about this novel was how unique and creative the plot was. The planet of Churi and the Mokuteki people were different from any group that I have read about, but even though they were so different, they were still relatable. The description of the Kezrado was distinct and enthralling. The way that the time portals were used was fascinating, leading to plot twists that I did not see coming and that lasted all the way to the very last chapter. All the technology that was utilized was well explained, and the quest that Kai went on was riveting from start to finish. The book seemed professionally edited, with only one or two minor errors that did not detract from my reading experience. I do not have any complaints about this novel, and I can’t think of a single negative aspect to mention.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. The world-building and the cast of characters were wonderfully unique and creative, and the plot was captivating from start to finish. I would recommend this novel to fans of science fiction and fantasy, especially those who seek a novel with a high-stakes quest that brings new worlds, species, and concepts to the genre.
******
Hall Of Skulls
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Regardless of my puzzlement, thank you for your great review!