Review by BakerPie -- Herai by Aaron D Key
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SamPie
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- Latest Review: Herai by Aaron D Key
Review by BakerPie -- 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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How much does one person’s presence actually affect the world? Apparently it can change everything. In the book Herai by Aaron D Key, two different versions of a world are revealed, both of which are observed by a sentient being (presumably talking to himself). In one version, one of the Old Ones (an immortal inhabiting the body of one of the main characters) has sacrificed themself to save the life of a loved one. This world is known as the world Without, though the identity of the Old One is not found out until later in the story. In the other version of the world, the Old One is still alive and retains their influence on the characters and environment around them. This world is known as the “better place”.
The story takes place in an underground city, where the Outside is off limits in order to protect the inhabitants from the dangers of the world. Someone has begun to overthrow Glant (the leader of the city) in secret and disrupt the entire system of power, threatening the safety of everyone within the borders of the city. Throughout the book we see just how much the Old One’s presence affects the lives of the characters and the events that unfold. Key keeps the reader on the edge of their seat in anticipation for the mystery to unfold and the fate of the characters to be revealed.
One of the elements I liked most about this book was the way each chapter switched between worlds. This structure helps keeps the reader engaged in both timelines without confusing them as to which world they are reading about. It also helped that the length of the chapters were fairly short, which kept the momentum of the book at a nice pace.
Another element of the book I enjoyed was how the narrative switched from third person omniscient (where we could see the thoughts and feelings of all the characters) to first person view (through the eyes of Herai, Glant’s youngest daughter). This really helps the reader have a fuller understanding and attachment to each of the individual characters, especially Herai, as we learn how each dramatic event takes its toll on their lives and emotions. One final element that really stood out was the level of description Key managed to achieve throughout the book. It really helped paint a clear picture of the environment and the impact of events on each character.
There was only one element that I disliked while reading the book. When starting the first chapter, the storyline is a bit hard to follow without any prior knowledge of what the book is about. The structure of the book was a bit confusing at the start, as if reading from the middle of the book. The reader is forced to learn how to read the book as they go along, which is not necessarily that difficult, but it may dissuade a reader from continuing if they choose not to push through the confusion of the first chapter.
If someone has a aversion to homosexuality, this book may not be a right fit for them. While there are no explicit sexual scenes in this book, there is a homosexual relationship that may offend some readers. However, for readers that are not bothered by such, this book would be a great fit for those seeking realistic fiction, mystery, and emotional novels.
However confusing the start of the book was, I still rate Herai 4 out of 4 stars because the attention to detail and exciting storyline makes up for it in the end. I was intrigued and honesty could not stop reading the book until I reached the final page. The depth of the characters and realistic thoughts and emotions kept me engaged in the story. No one was beyond suspicion as the mystery unfolded, which kept me guessing as to who was behind the rebellion. That is why 3 stars was just not enough to express my love for this book. There were also very few grammatical errors throughout the book, showing that this book was professionally edited.
******
Herai
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
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4 out of 4 stars
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How much does one person’s presence actually affect the world? Apparently it can change everything. In the book Herai by Aaron D Key, two different versions of a world are revealed, both of which are observed by a sentient being (presumably talking to himself). In one version, one of the Old Ones (an immortal inhabiting the body of one of the main characters) has sacrificed themself to save the life of a loved one. This world is known as the world Without, though the identity of the Old One is not found out until later in the story. In the other version of the world, the Old One is still alive and retains their influence on the characters and environment around them. This world is known as the “better place”.
The story takes place in an underground city, where the Outside is off limits in order to protect the inhabitants from the dangers of the world. Someone has begun to overthrow Glant (the leader of the city) in secret and disrupt the entire system of power, threatening the safety of everyone within the borders of the city. Throughout the book we see just how much the Old One’s presence affects the lives of the characters and the events that unfold. Key keeps the reader on the edge of their seat in anticipation for the mystery to unfold and the fate of the characters to be revealed.
One of the elements I liked most about this book was the way each chapter switched between worlds. This structure helps keeps the reader engaged in both timelines without confusing them as to which world they are reading about. It also helped that the length of the chapters were fairly short, which kept the momentum of the book at a nice pace.
Another element of the book I enjoyed was how the narrative switched from third person omniscient (where we could see the thoughts and feelings of all the characters) to first person view (through the eyes of Herai, Glant’s youngest daughter). This really helps the reader have a fuller understanding and attachment to each of the individual characters, especially Herai, as we learn how each dramatic event takes its toll on their lives and emotions. One final element that really stood out was the level of description Key managed to achieve throughout the book. It really helped paint a clear picture of the environment and the impact of events on each character.
There was only one element that I disliked while reading the book. When starting the first chapter, the storyline is a bit hard to follow without any prior knowledge of what the book is about. The structure of the book was a bit confusing at the start, as if reading from the middle of the book. The reader is forced to learn how to read the book as they go along, which is not necessarily that difficult, but it may dissuade a reader from continuing if they choose not to push through the confusion of the first chapter.
If someone has a aversion to homosexuality, this book may not be a right fit for them. While there are no explicit sexual scenes in this book, there is a homosexual relationship that may offend some readers. However, for readers that are not bothered by such, this book would be a great fit for those seeking realistic fiction, mystery, and emotional novels.
However confusing the start of the book was, I still rate Herai 4 out of 4 stars because the attention to detail and exciting storyline makes up for it in the end. I was intrigued and honesty could not stop reading the book until I reached the final page. The depth of the characters and realistic thoughts and emotions kept me engaged in the story. No one was beyond suspicion as the mystery unfolded, which kept me guessing as to who was behind the rebellion. That is why 3 stars was just not enough to express my love for this book. There were also very few grammatical errors throughout the book, showing that this book was professionally edited.
******
Herai
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Like BakerPie's review? Post a comment saying so!
Latest Review: Herai by Aaron D Key
