Beyond the Stacks: A blog from the MD LBPD

 

Book Review: The Stormcaller

 

Contributed by Christina Nixon, Contributor

Heir to Insanity

by A.J. Nadir

 

Heir to Insanity tells the story of Jasper and Ethan's quest to obtain the Everflame-an artifact needed to keep Ethan from dying.  The reader learns about the world along with Linna, discovering facts about the Everflame, Jasper and Ethan's history, and magic itself.  The main characters have strong wills.  Their belief in themselves shapes the world around them and keeps them going through enumerable hardships.  Though Jasper's treatment of others is often times harsh, we and Linna receive hints as to why he behaves this way.

The magic system is original and interesting.  A.J. Nadir provides us with clues to guess the characters' Visions along with Linna.

There are two elements I dislike about this story.  There are some campy moments such as the gremlin falling down a hill or an ally falling down the stairs.  The first demonstrates the verve with which Jasper throws himself into battle.  The second example makes me question the prowess of the faller.  This is a minor issue and did not detract too much from the story.  Secondly, I wish the book was longer to allow for even more character development.  I enjoyed the conversations that gave us glimpses into character motivations and vulnerabilities.  I look forward to reading more such moments in the next book.

This story contains several positive elements.  Heir to Insanity is a strong adventure with well-forged characters, realistic dialogue, interesting magic, and small, engaging mysteries to solve.  The combat is well-written and contains a nice mix of physical violence and magic.  Though the synopsis describes Linna as "a young pirate woman," I would not classify this story as Young Adult.  The main characters are well into adulthood.

My favorite aspect of this book is the theme of friendship.  Friendship motivates all of the characters, for good or ill.  It makes them stronger even as it results in heart-wrenching consequences.

Andrew Gibson brings life to the characters.  He has an engaging tone that keeps the listener's attention.

I give Heir to Insanity a solid four stars in Story and Narration. I cannot wait for the next book in the series.  I am excited to hear more about the tragedies and triumphs of this compelling band of friends.

I received this book free of charge in exchange for my honest review.