Official Review: The Journey by Shadahyah Elizabeth

VinuW · Post by **VinuW** » 20 Apr 2016, 17:26

[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Journey" by Shadahyah Elizabeth.]

3 out of 4 stars

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The first book of the ‘The Ultimate Power’ series, The Journey is a Young Adult book written by Shadahyah Elizabeth. Packed with action, this novel belongs to the paranormal fiction genre, and primarily focuses on a supernatural power that is capable of destroying the world. Elizabeth, Renee and Jasmine live in Cerin, a sleepy village which goes unnoticed by the King of Aden. But when the king’s troops invade their village, they are whisked off by some strangers who promise to safeguard their lives. The three friends embark on an eventful journey, discovering who they really are, as they realize that their lives will never be boring again.

The story kicks off with an intriguing opening, followed by a series of exciting events spanning over a short period of time. The descriptions of the people and the places in the novel suggest a medieval setting, but the use of a colloquial language makes this notion seem unlikely. Since the effect of several cultures could be seen throughout the novel, it would be safe to assume that this novel is set in dystopian world or an alternate universe. This fast paced novel is written in the third person omniscient narrative voice, with the point of view constantly shifting from one character to the other. It is an uncommon narrative style, and getting used to it requires a bit of time.

Although the novel possesses a strong structure, it doesn’t follow the dramatic structure most story lines seem to follow. The first stages, exposition and conflict, are clearly visible, but the ending of the novel seems to be hovering somewhere between the rising action and the climax. The divergence from a meta plot is radical and impressive, but I believe that it is what leads to the lack of closure at the end of the story. It is obvious that the author places much emphasis on the plot over everything else, but the memorable characters and the authentic dialogues contribute greatly to the evolution of the plot. The banter and the sarcastic remarks the younger characters offer, are quite amusing.

Since the subject matter of Young Adult literature focuses on the challenges of the youth, special attention has to be paid regarding characterization. The characters of this novel are well written and are empathetic and believable. The use of allegory is commendable. Rulers and military personnel are representative of traits such as avarice and envy. The higher powers of the society are portrayed as static characters who rely on deceit and manipulation to fulfill their revengeful desires. Blinded by blood lust and jealousy, they toy with human lives, with the expectation of obtaining power. A representative of the youth, Prince Caleb is an important dynamic character. Intelligent but stubborn, he is haunted by a murky past and an uncertain future. He struggles to determine what’s right, although he is reluctant to question what he already believes in. Although the characters are credible, I feel that the relationships in the novel seem quite abrupt and uneventful. It would’ve been better if more attention was placed on the evolution of relationships, and if the writing style was more descriptive than informative.

I recommend this book to teen and young adult readers who enjoy stories about supernatural elements. A novel chock full of enigma and excitement, discovery and realization, the story ends in an ambiguous manner, foreshadowing that the future would be a hectic journey. I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars.

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The Journey
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Heidi M Simone · Post by **Heidi M Simone** » 09 Mar 2017, 07:02

Thank you for your detailed review! An action-packed young adult fantasy sounds like a perfect read for me! I love how you mention that the characters here are well written and believable - this is an important to me in any read. Too bad about the relationship building is a bit weaker, but I'm glad you enjoyed the read!

tarafarah7 · Post by **tarafarah7** » 09 Mar 2017, 07:15

Thank you for your insightful review! This sounds like a book full of adventure, surprise, and excitement. I'm going to give it a try. Hopefully, I like it and can continue the journey in the books that follow!

Gravy · Post by **Gravy** » 09 Mar 2017, 07:23

I'm not a fan of ambiguous endings, but perhaps the subject matter will draw me in.
Thank you for the review.

gali · Post by **gali** » 09 Mar 2017, 09:44

Sounds good. I like it when the characters of this novel are well written and are empathetic and believable. Good gob on the review.

Post by **bookowlie** » 09 Mar 2017, 10:18

I enjoyed reading your insightful review. Glad you liked the story despite the issues you mentioned. I am not a fan of dystopian or supernatural fiction, but I know many readers love both of these genres.

Post by **kandscreeley** » 09 Mar 2017, 10:40

I guess the story ending is ambiguous because it is in a series. That is always disappointing, though. I like to read series when all of them are out, so that I don't have to worry about that. Glad the characterization was good. That always makes a story better. Thanks for the review.

James Craft · Post by **James Craft** » 09 Mar 2017, 10:41

Definitely seems like an interesting book! Well done with the review and thank you so much! I think 3 stars sounds good for this book!

Joy Boudreau · Post by **Joy Boudreau** » 09 Mar 2017, 11:19

This definitely sounds like a readable YA book. Good on the author for developing believable characters. That is apparently very difficult.

ashley_claire · Post by **ashley_claire** » 09 Mar 2017, 11:36

I love stories about going on a journey. The more sarcastic banter, the better. This sounds like an entertaining read and I can't wait to try the sample.

Bandersnatch · Post by **Bandersnatch** » 09 Mar 2017, 11:36

Great review! This really seems like the kind of book I'd enjoy. Definitely gonna look into it.

Shreyoshi Sen · Post by **Shreyoshi Sen** » 09 Mar 2017, 11:38

Thanks for such an insightful review. I would definitely like to read this book on supernatural powers and the would like to know the way the author portrays the lives off each and every character and also the way the powers are showcased and used.

Mariechen Lang · Post by **Mariechen Lang** » 09 Mar 2017, 11:46

After reading the sample of The Journey and the reviews, I just felt I needed to keep on reading to find out what connections has a young village girl called Elizabeth with two Princes Joshua and Caleb, and the connection to her father and his friend's son Rico. I liked the way in which the author writes and describes, it is easy to read and I could imagine all the scenes and characters.