Review of The Stylite

[EBERE WRITES COCEPT]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Stylite" by Shane Hallawa.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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Learning from Father Simon and understanding the reason behind his ascetic life helped set Teresa on the path of self-discipline and the understanding of her purpose. Completing her training, she is set to embark on a journey that transcends the physical. Father Simon gave Teresa a box that contained a Byzantine-era paramerion sword and a pair of light blue earrings. Heading to Alexantine to fulfill her purpose, her journey is one that embodies self-discipline, resilience, and redemption. How will Teresa Amadei journey through this terrain she has never explored before? Will hers be a story of a city on a hill or a valley in the dark? Read The Stylite by Shane Hallawa to journey alongside Teresa Amadei.
 
The Stylite is a fantasy novel that details the spiritual and physical transformation of Teresa as she grows from a grief-stricken young girl to a spiritually awakened demon slayer. Teresa develops as she gains more experience and understands how the world works, and this helps her understand the importance of her journey on a deeper and more introspective level. The book explores themes of grief, self-discipline, spiritual awakening, and redemption. One such scene is her encounter with Neméa, where she has to rely solely on her physical and martial arts skills; this encounter could have deterred her, but the teaching of Father Simon and her resilience kept her going till she faced off with Varazhah.
 
I love a lot of things about the novel, but to begin with, the writing style is impeccable, as it makes the book’s plot stand out. The author has a great grasp on the world-building aspect of this novel; the author creates a world that is both fantastical and realistic at the same time. The tone employed in the book allows the reader to easily relate to and empathize with the character, making it easy to understand the character's emotional and spiritual journey. The exploration of Father Simon's ascetic lifestyle also adds depth to the book. This shows that one can be spiritually awakened and disciplined but still immensely impact the lives of others. The character development in the book is awesome and beautifully executed. One peculiar scene that stood out was when Teresa confided in Father Simon about her worries concerning Matthew; the monk advised her and helped her understand how she could be of help to Matthew. This shows how both characters beautifully evolve and develop.
 
There is nothing I hate about the book, as the philosophical undertones that might have been a bit slow and excessive come with a tone that makes the reader reflect on the nature of faith, belief, and personal transformation that shape one’s life. The Stylite by Shane Hallawa is excellently edited; I found no typographical errors in the book. The dialogue in the book is smooth and natural, and the action scenes are powerfully delivered. The pacing is not too fast-paced or too slow. I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars as it blends fantasy with reality and the theological discussion is well balanced. I recommend this book to readers interested in a book that is character-focused and has a spiritual undertone.

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The Stylite
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[Yin Jiang]

This sounds like a really interesting book! I love how it develops a complex character and explores themes of grief, self-discipline, spiritual awakening, and redemption. I think I will pick up a copy of this book.

[Amarachi Stephanie Ejike]

A journey of self-discovery, self-discipline, resilience, and redemption, Teresa Amadei embarks through a terrain she has never explored before in a quest to understand herself and her purpose under the tutelage of Father Simon.
"The Stylite" by Shane Hallawa is a fantastic fantasy novel detailing the spiritual and physical transformation of Teresa as she grows from a grief-stricken young girl to a spiritually awakened demon slayer.