Children Of Rhatlan: Twiceborn: Book One [Paperback]

Jonathan Fesmire (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 7, 2007

Garum and Vayin are "duals," twins trapped in each other's minds and bodies, sharing one life. In a world that hates duals, one misstep could get them killed.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Jonathan Fesmire is an illustrator and author who enjoys fantasy, science-fiction, and spending time with his family. As of this writing, he is pursuing his MFA in Illustration. You can learn more about Jonathan Fesmire at his Web site, http://www.jonathanfesmire.com/.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: CreateSpace (September 7, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1434807606
• ISBN-13: 978-1434807601
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,458,394 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fresh Fantasy!, January 4, 2008

By 

Lincoln Crisler "Fiction Writer" (Augusta, GA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Children Of Rhatlan: Twiceborn: Book One (Paperback)

Fesmire's Children of Rhatlan is a refreshing, entertaining fantasy tale. In a day when the standards of fantasy have either been squeezed for all they're worth (Xanth, Shannara) or are way too large to be accessible to new readers (Xanth, Shannara, Wheel of Time) Fesmire brings a relatively unexplored concept (duals) and inserts them into a character-driven, quick-paced book that I couldn't put down.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Accidental discovery of something wonderful, January 4, 2008

By 

Kelley J. Burgess (Indiana, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Children Of Rhatlan: Twiceborn: Book One (Paperback)

Children of Rhatlan is the first book from Jonathan Fesmire that I read. As a result, I've become a fan of his work. It was a complete accident that I even found it. As it turned out, it was a wonderful accident.

I throughly enjoyed this book. Once I started, I couldn't stop. While it may have themes that are familiar to some, it is told in way that is very original, highly entertainig, and utterly addictive. The idea of "duals", twins that share one body, captivated me immediately.

This book had it all, magic, mystery, adventure, danger, and everything else a fantasy should have. I'd highly recommend this to anyone that is looking to discover something new.

5.0 out of 5 stars For the sake of balance, I share this, January 4, 2008

By 

Jonathan Fesmire "-Fantasy author, artist" (Santa Cruz, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Children Of Rhatlan: Twiceborn: Book One (Paperback)

A review by Lisa DuMond

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New concepts are a rare thing in fantasy literature. Settings are created. Characters are wrought from legend or from thin air. New mythologies are conjured up. Genuine inventions, though, are a unique treat. Fesmire's duals is definitely one of those inventions. And all of the previous short stories, and now this full-length novel are certainly a treat.

Vayin and Garum are the closest of twins. Born duals, they are a brother and sister who exist inside one body, allowing only one of them to surface at any given time. Vayin's female form can only exist when Garum "switches" and his male body vanishes. They remain in constant contact in the internal space their thoughts share. It's not the ideal situation, but it would be bearable if only so-called normal people didn't fear and hate the mysterious duals.

Does that explain the phenomenon? Probably not. But, you don't really want me to tell you about it when Fesmire is there to do it so much more eloquently. Instead, read Children Of Rhatlan and you will understand. And you too will find the duals fascinating and intriguing.

The twins want nothing more than a bit of adventure to spice up their overly protective lives on the family farm. They are aching to see the world outside the strict discipline they've grown up with. In the closest town, they find excitement and more trouble than they ever imagined. Finding and keeping love, safety, and peace are difficult to find and keep in a time when most of the citizenry is scrambling just to survive. Sadly, for duals it appears to be impossible.

Garum and Vayin have a long and dangerous journey ahead of them to find any of these comforts. Dealing with their dualism is crucial to every step of that journey. The way in which Fesmire deals with the intimate aspects of their situation is a struggle of its own to watch. (Anyone who is aware of the existence of conjoined twins has wondered about such delicate matters as twins' sexual activity. If someone tries to convince you they haven't, they are probably just too embarrassed to admit to it.) Fesmire manages his own solution with practicality and just a bit of bawdiness.

Magic, treachery, valour, prejudice -- Fesmire builds a world sword-and-sorcery fans will welcome and adventure fans will want to explore fully. Something tells me Children Of Rhatlan may be just the first of a long and popular series. With an imagination as fertile as Fesmire's, a return appearance of the twins sounds like a smashing idea.