Customer Reviews

Shorn (Sky Seekers)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Every time I thought I'd found a comfortably familiar fantasy trope in this novel, I found it turning into something richer and more complex.

Shorn is set in a medievalesque society with a volatile mix of clan politics, religious intrigue, and inter-cultural conflict, none of which are written in a way as to allow the reader to come to easy conclusions about who is right and who is wrong, or who is good and who is evil. Its hero, Jhared, is part of an oppressed minority within that society, a minority that struggles to repay the debt incurred by their ancestors' betrayal in the distant past. (At least, that's what they've been taught: what makes Jhared a compelling character to follow is the extent to which he believes that the rest of society is *right* about him and his people, even though there are hints that the truth of the matter may be more complicated.) The story begins as he takes up a life of military service, which soon sets him and his fellow soldiers against potential war with a neighboring country, a mysterious magical threat, and internal politicking by those who want to see him fail.

The writing is crisp and well-crafted. The characters (major and minor) are as nuanced as the society that surrounds them, and the plot takes enough turns to have kept me, as a reader, never quite willing to close the book at the end of a chapter.

To pursue justice for those that hate you takes a determined individual indeed. "Shorn" is the first book of the Sky Seekers series. Jhared Denaban has set his goal in life to settle the debt of his ancestors. In doing so, he must face the animosity of his own people, and deal with insurmountable odds. Facing a whole slew of inner conflict, "Shorn" is a unique fantasy, sure to please those on the look out for a new obsession to read.

Shorn is, on one level, a novel about a young man learning his place in the world he lives in. I shy quickly away from the 'coming-of-age story' description, but that is a part of it. More, is coming to know one's self through what you have been taught. What Ms. Niec has given us is a portrait of a juxtaposition between truth and lie, fact and fiction, faith and knowledge, society and the individual. Are you what you are told you are? Are you the product of your ancestors, or something unique in and of yourself? Many of these questions are addressed, if not outright asked, with such a skillful hand that it is hard to imagine this is her freshman novel. I anxiously await the next installment, looking for other points of view beyond the one's we've seen in _Shorn_, hoping to see for myself what the truth of the story is.

This is a dense and fascinating first novel by Larissa Niec and I'm looking forward to book 2. It's refreshing to read a fantasy novel where the battle scenes are not the point of the book but integral to the plot and the characters are fully developed rather than merely flat stereotypes marching towards said battles. I need to read this again because, like a good mystery novel, there are many clues here to help discover along with main character Jhared the mysteries of his heredity and his true nature. The political intrigues and religious elements add to the density of a culture which feels organic rather than contrived. The writing is confident and mature, unlike many first novels. This first in a series of 3 (or more?) begins to build a world I want to visit again.

What Niec has done with Shorn is nothing short of making a hyper-intelligent fantasy realm as sprawling and attention-requiring as Tolkien. This is the first entry into a world that can only bring even bigger things

As a fan of murder mysteries I tend to roll my eyes at the fantasy genre. I was surprised at how different this book was from those run of the mill "quest" fanatsies. I enjoyed it tremendously.

Shorn (Sky Seekers)

Seduction in the Exotic World of Shorn

Shorn, a fantasy novel by Larissa Niec

Review by Loretta Paraguassu

Larissa Niec played with my emotions. Every page is a dense and delicate tapistry of characters placed in a world that is both a total invention and familiar at the same time. The main character, Jhared, is of Shorn descent. The plotting reminds one of a video game where the obstacles never cease and it seems impossible to win. Jhared's main task is to survive in spite of being ostracized because his ancestors maimed and massacred the populace in days gone by.

Jhared is shredded by the tasks he is given to atone for his lineage. At every juncture we are made to feel for the injustice that he faces. It would take a hard hearted reader not to cringe at what he has to face - including a "becoming" that leaves ugly scars. At the same time, the author makes us understand how this strong and sensitive young man is able to accept his lot and strive to exceed expectations. She has created a hero who is a strange combination of the boy next door and superman.

Shorn is outstanding for its use of language that sketches a scene with fine lines and powerful strokes. Details are exquisite and the mixture of personality definition and internal struggles binds us to the text. It is not a quick read. The sentences bear savoring for their wisdom and perception. Niec is a psychologist who knows her characters and has obviously put all her knowledge to literary use.

How does a young man feel when he is treated with distain in his military unit? What is his recourse? How can he prove that he is worthy in spite of being shunned? Or, maybe because of it?

The goddess, Riana, who is the spiritual leader of the world Jhared inhabits, has an interesting and quirky position in the story. She is worshipped by some and totally rejected by others. Priestesses are in charge of her temple and male guards keep them safe. And, yet, there is a piece of our world in this - both Riana and the priestesses have a difficult time being respected by politicians and leaders who are men.

The world Niec has created in Shorn is a violent one. Even the weather is an element that is exaggerated and, perhaps, under the control of Cael, the devil. Cael is mentioned often and hangs in the backround. There is always the threat that he will defeat the goddesses and their good intents. Of course, Cael figures in Jhared's life and challenges as well.

But fear not, Jhared is the ultimate of cool. He has a young man's weaknesses, but the strength of an individual with super powers. Read Shorn
and you will have Jhared as a companion in your thoughts. Is he too good?
As we move through the book, we are pulled back and forth. Maybe he
shouldn't follow every order. Maybe he should find another path. Others
who are Shorn don't take the blood issue as seriously as Jhared. Neither do
they have the superior gifts that Jhared has been given.

As the story develops, it becomes more and more of a page turner.
What becomes of this hero? Will he survive? Will the priestesses get it right? Will they survive? Is there a way this world can right itself?

The questions and relationships involved are peeled away like an onion. Many of the connections that link the host of characters in Shorn are not revealed until we get deep into the story. It's a novel well-worth reading and one that will feed any reader's imagination and create an appetite for the sequel. This is only book one.

I'm an avid reader of almost every kind of book as long as it is well-written,but have never considered myself a big fan of the fantasy genre. Shorn has made me reconsider that. The vivid descriptions of medieval life, the richly developed religion of Riana and her followers, complete with rituals, holidays, and legends transport the reader into the world of Jahred, a protagonist who must discover himself and his gifts while we puzzle out his precarious role in a world fraught with danger.

First off, I want to say I usually like long novels and I'm a speed reader. I read the entire "Lord of the Rings Trilogy" in two weeks, contrasted to the week I spent plodding through Shorn. Larissa Niec's writing style is detailed, but lacks the finesse of Tolkein (though several elements of her story seem borrowed directly from that author). The world she creates in "Shorn" is interesting, but I found myself skimming the final chapters because the story seemed interminable. I hope that she addresses the many questions left unanswered when writing subsequent books, but I certainly do not intend to read the sequels. I also feel compelled to mention a bedroom scene near the end of the book that readers concerned about character morality (or lack thereof) should be aware of before reading "Shorn".