Review of Sinkhole, Land of Jonrah series - book 1
Posted: 12 Jan 2024, 11:47
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Sinkhole, Land of Jonrah series - book 1" by C.S. Zahn.]
After a mysterious sinkhole appears in Lake Wales and sucks in only Alecyn Johnsenn’s house in the street, hundreds of people were evacuated for safety. Alecyn, who was a nurse, was declared missing in the eyes of the public. What everyone didn't know was that this sinkhole that appeared was a gateway that transported the nurse and her cat into a different world called Jonrah. Jonrah was a place filled with ferocious beasts and had a powerful being, The Silence, who desired to rule over everyone through the ungodly use of magical powers known as the song. As Alecyn is trying to make sense of reality and stay alive, she meets some citizens of Jonrah who are friendly and intend to help. You will discover if that was a success and if Alecyn discovers why she was brought to Jonrah as you read this book.
This story was captivating from the start. I was hooked by the mysterious disappearance of Alecyn and was kind of relieved when I discovered she was alive and well. The story progressed steadily as Alecyn and her new friend Madeleine were running towards safety. The story was also told from the perspective of Jerad, an inhabitant of Jonrah. He was a seasoned warrior and set out to protect the newcomer, Alecyn, based on an ancient prophecy. It made a clear narrative as the two perspectives were only building on a singular timeline, and that provided a wholesome understanding.
I truly enjoyed the structure of this book. The world-building of Jonrah was properly defined, and I understood all the major happenings in it. That made introducing the non-human races and all the chimera-like beings that the followers of The Silence created not come as a surprise. The characters in this story were also well developed and very relatable. As Alecyn was a nurse, she couldn't help but try to offer help whenever she saw someone in pain. I was impressed that even Eevee, her cat, remained her loyal companion and was not just left in the background. All these made for an engaging plot that clearly holds potential for expansion into more stories in this series. This author clearly has a wide imagination and a gift for storytelling, and I commend that.
An area where this book might benefit is the description. Sometimes, I found it difficult to fully understand what was happening. When a healer, Aoife, was found playing a harp in the middle of the night, I thought she was a spiritual being that suddenly appeared in Fearnot town. It was later that I got to understand that she was the blacksmith’s wife. Another round of editing would also benefit this book, as I discovered some sloppy errors. Because of all these, I deduct a star from its otherwise perfect rating, earning "Sinkhole: Land of Jonrah Series (Book 1)" only 4 out of 5. Regardless, this was a really great book with an amazing story that would be enjoyed by lovers of fantasy and adventure.
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Sinkhole, Land of Jonrah series - book 1
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
After a mysterious sinkhole appears in Lake Wales and sucks in only Alecyn Johnsenn’s house in the street, hundreds of people were evacuated for safety. Alecyn, who was a nurse, was declared missing in the eyes of the public. What everyone didn't know was that this sinkhole that appeared was a gateway that transported the nurse and her cat into a different world called Jonrah. Jonrah was a place filled with ferocious beasts and had a powerful being, The Silence, who desired to rule over everyone through the ungodly use of magical powers known as the song. As Alecyn is trying to make sense of reality and stay alive, she meets some citizens of Jonrah who are friendly and intend to help. You will discover if that was a success and if Alecyn discovers why she was brought to Jonrah as you read this book.
This story was captivating from the start. I was hooked by the mysterious disappearance of Alecyn and was kind of relieved when I discovered she was alive and well. The story progressed steadily as Alecyn and her new friend Madeleine were running towards safety. The story was also told from the perspective of Jerad, an inhabitant of Jonrah. He was a seasoned warrior and set out to protect the newcomer, Alecyn, based on an ancient prophecy. It made a clear narrative as the two perspectives were only building on a singular timeline, and that provided a wholesome understanding.
I truly enjoyed the structure of this book. The world-building of Jonrah was properly defined, and I understood all the major happenings in it. That made introducing the non-human races and all the chimera-like beings that the followers of The Silence created not come as a surprise. The characters in this story were also well developed and very relatable. As Alecyn was a nurse, she couldn't help but try to offer help whenever she saw someone in pain. I was impressed that even Eevee, her cat, remained her loyal companion and was not just left in the background. All these made for an engaging plot that clearly holds potential for expansion into more stories in this series. This author clearly has a wide imagination and a gift for storytelling, and I commend that.
An area where this book might benefit is the description. Sometimes, I found it difficult to fully understand what was happening. When a healer, Aoife, was found playing a harp in the middle of the night, I thought she was a spiritual being that suddenly appeared in Fearnot town. It was later that I got to understand that she was the blacksmith’s wife. Another round of editing would also benefit this book, as I discovered some sloppy errors. Because of all these, I deduct a star from its otherwise perfect rating, earning "Sinkhole: Land of Jonrah Series (Book 1)" only 4 out of 5. Regardless, this was a really great book with an amazing story that would be enjoyed by lovers of fantasy and adventure.
******
Sinkhole, Land of Jonrah series - book 1
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon