9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A quite rich treat, July 31, 2011
This review is from: Fezariu's Epiphany (Paperback)
Fezariu's Epiphany is supposed to be fantasy; I'm saying "it's supposed to be" because while reading it, it doesn't really feel like anything else but true-story, if from older times perhaps.
It kicks off somewhat slow, with a richly put together `historical tour' of the world, then introduces the characters gently, in a paced but charming manner. I'd say the pace picks up later, giving the story a lead-in/lead-out sort of feeling, making me remember those tales on vinyl I used to listen to when I was a child. There was a distinctive sound they made, just before the words started and right after all of them had been uttered, a soft, gentle warning. Well, reading Fezariu's Epiphany I had that same feeling, as if that rich sound that I deeply loved had both introduced me to the tale, and helped me part with it when it was over.
I felt a surprisingly intense connection to some of the characters; I tend to like/dislike, (or crush upon *rolls eyes*) more then actually care about characters, but in this case, Jessamine and Alycea got glued to my heart somehow and they refused to be parted from it. Fezariu was harder for me to connect with, I'm not sure why; I was very much so interested in what happened to and with him, but more for someone else's benefit (like his mother's, for instance) then for his own, I'm not sure why.
I really liked the structure of the novel, the way the prologue and epilogue hugged it all together, the way the plot line was followed, the pace, everything about it. The world created by David M. Brown is nothing short of fascinating, in a fairytale like sort of way, but at the same time giving you the distinct sensation it's all quite real. It's a very interesting mix of worlds and words; you'll also find some intriguing choices, as far as town names go, characters as well.
As far as writing goes, I find this to be a quite rich treat; descriptive, with something of a demure charm, the "language" of the novel is one of universal beauty and proper delight, leaning perhaps more toward the conservative written word, more of the "old-school" good writing. As much as I appreciate that style, I sometimes find it also tempers the pace of the plot, quells tensions that might have urged you to become more emotionally involved in the action itself. Of course, such things are always a matter of personal taste.
The tone is pleasurably mellow, enough so that delicate issues, such as use and abuse, tyranny and cruelty, are really easy to cope with; this is not an aggressive read, by any means, and I find that deeply comforting.
I really did enjoy this read, I found it a perfect fit for my somewhat moody, almost gloomy Sunday afternoon mood; I felt often transported to my childhood, and the tales I loved at that time, something not a lot of reads manage to pull off, and something I deeply enjoy - it's that sens of wonder, of hidden magic that Fezariu's Epiphany stirred within me.
I wasn't ragingly enthusiastic, and I attribute that to my personal mood at the time of reading, and to the mellow-inducing, melancholy-rising effect David M. Brown `s writing had on me.
I strongly recommend this to anyone that enjoys fantasy, good writing, charming tales and rich content with lighter, non-shocking imagery.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Despite a few early flaws, the story ably redeems itself in the end, July 28, 2011
This review is from: Fezariu's Epiphany (Paperback)
Fezariu's Epiphany is one of those books that, as intrigued as I was by the set-up, I had a hard time getting into. The first few chapters left me with a serious sense of deja-vu, as if I'd read the same story before. It wasn't only the story itself that seemed familiar, but the way in which it was told.
If the first third disappointed me, however, the second third definitely renewed my interest, while the final third delighted me in the way it progressed. This is, largely, a dark and sombre tale, full of mistakes, misinterpretations, and misguided actions. There were times when I sighed and thought "I knew that was going to happen" but, at the same time, I couldn't fault the characters. They were true to themselves, and they (particularly Fezariu) surprised me.
While definitely a fantasy novel, this is a very realistic story about men and women, lovers and prostitutes, and mercenaries and bakers. It takes some novel turns, and it hints at what I suspect is a much larger story still to be told. The ending was both unexpected and taken for granted, precisely what I wanted to see happen, but which I didn't really expect to have come about.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Lose yourself in the world of Elenchera, January 1, 2012
This is the story of Fezariu, a young man born to a prostitute - who believes his mother died when he was 12. When his beloved stepfather is killed, he finds out that his mother is still alive and working in a famous brothel. After her rejection of him he goes and joins the Merelax Mercenaries. He rises through the ranks until he takes an assignment that brings him back to his old home town. There he takes stock of his life and finds out the truth about why his mother rejected him. on learning this he decides to exact a terrible revenge.
I started this with a little trepidation as I am not a gigantic fan of fantasy novels. I am so glad I did though - I was sucked in straight away. It wasn't overly 'fantastical' but there were enough different races and worlds, all beautifully described, to keep me interested. I had no trouble picturing any of the descriptions. Poor Fezariu has seen so much sadness in his short life that he thinks a mercenary life is best for him as he cannot get close to anyone there. he does however become friends with three other recruits. The story is told mostly from Fezariu's point of view but occasionally changes as the story dictates, for example at his birth and in his letters to his stepsister. This was a good idea as it kept the story fresh. The ending was fantastic, and I had a tear in my eye.
I have nothing but praise for this, and I hope the author has more to come.
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