Review of Anathema

[Clauson Justin]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Anathema" by Rich Yoder.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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Anathema by Rich Yoder is a fantasy science fiction novel that delves into a world where dark sorcery and destiny collide. It follows Melsafar, a once weak and ridiculed dark wizard, as he seeks great power and vengeance.

As the book begins, Melsafar stays in Bothington while searching for an amulet made from a Hell Stone in order to gain great satanic power. He assaults a maiden, for which he is imprisoned, but Sir Jonathon Egan, the leader of Bothington, offers him exile over execution to prevent him from influencing his newborn son, Gwain, who is the result of this assault. When duty calls Jonathon to battle and Satan bestows Melsafar with great power, the stage is set for Melsafar to unleash his vengeance on Bothington. Meanwhile, Gwain must wrestle with his father's influence. What consequences will Melsafar's wrath spell for Johnathon, Gwain, and the people of Bothington, now and in the age to come? See how his actions shake even the foundations of hell in this interesting book.

There are a lot of things I love about this book. I enjoyed the dialogue between the characters, as the author did well to highlight the language of the time. He also added the appropriate accents when required. I also liked a lot of the characters. Melsafar's actions as a follower of Satan were particularly well done. Johnathon proved to be quite a noble man, and Roland was a good friend and confidant. The book does well to show how envy can offer a path to corrupting otherwise good men. I appreciated the book's modest length and its pacing. If you love books that don't drag out the plot, then this is an amazing one. I didn't notice any errors in this book either.

There is, however, an issue I noticed in the book, which is its formatting. The book is not divided into chapters, and there is no proper table of contents. It made it particularly difficult to refer to previous events. I took a look at the kindle copy and also a copy on Everand. I would recommend releasing a second edition with chapters to better enjoy what would otherwise be a great book.

I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars. I removed a star for the issue I mentioned, which affected my overall enjoyment. I recommend this book to lovers of fantasy and science fiction novels.

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Anathema
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[NetMassimo]

A dark fantasy novel that uses some classic tropes of this genre to create an engaging story. The choice of not formatting the story with the use of chapters is strange and I agree that it can make it more difficult to read. Thank you for your great review!

[Liam Patel]

This review provides a positive perspective on "Anathema" by Rich Yoder. The reviewer praises the author's use of dialogue and character development, particularly highlighting the actions of the main character, Melsafar. The book's pacing and length are also commended. The only critique mentioned is the lack of chapters and a proper table of contents, which makes it difficult to reference previous events. Overall, the reviewer rates the book 4 out of 5 stars and recommends it to fans of fantasy and science fiction. Dynamic relationships, felt nuanced and realistic.

[Mercy Ndungu 9]

Your review provides a balanced perspective, highlighting both the strengths and the areas for improvement in the book. The recommendation is well-supported by your insights into the characters, themes, and the narrative structure.