Pùqest Book 1: The Hunter
Author
Amber Carez
Publisher
Ishàny Press
4 Review Copies Left
The new book, The Hunter by Amber Carez, seduces us into experiencing a story set on the planet Efírmà within an unparalleled universe whose science and culture we have not seen before.
When the escape of a terrible beast and the sudden appearance of a mysterious foreigner coincide to disrupt the season’s festivities, nothing is as expected in the land of Brákla. A hero’s swordplay punctuates the use of power and magic in this story of infiltration, intrigue and romance that challenges assumptions.
In a world where the gods are seemingly quiet, two ideologies collide within a culture that thrives on intensity, pushing power to the limit, while aggrandizing martial skills. Competitions abound in which the victor’s reward is the setup for a life of privilege fraught with deception.
Into this milieu Màrsem intrudes, his origin shrouded by misdirection. As an outsider he is considered less, yet his skill in combat matches that of generations of bred and trained warriors. His lack of adherence to the cultural restrictions of segregation of the sexes and the four-tiered caste system causes powerful forces to immediately move to destroy him and take what he has claimed – a sensual girl of the highest class whose capabilities were vastly underestimated by all.
Visceral fights, convoluted conspiracies and primal sensuality intertwine to reveal the story of the split of a great nation into two polarized countries and the subsequent history that irrevocably binds them together through the eyes of an adventurer and the object of his desire.
Reviews
I am a huge fan of fantasy fiction featuring new worlds, ideas, adventure and of course, an appropriate splash of magic and romance. Ms. Carez did present a tale suited to just this after I gave up worrying on whether I had the right pronunciation of the language used. I felt my frustration with Ellseyan as her story unfolded and her path crossed with Marsem in an unexpected way, and the family bond and loyalty she shares with her brother. She can be related to by many as she is considered an ‘outcast’ in her family. Despite the small frustrations that I encountered, this story was fast-paced, full of action during fighting scenarios, offers a love story and if one notices, a bit of spiritual enlightenment. I did find myself unable to put the book down as I was anxious to see what would happen next. This tale sets up perfectly for the next book to come in a way as I for one was left in suspense in my desire to know more of the main characters trials to encounter.
The down-side of ‘Pùqest Book 1: The Hunter” for me was not that the author created a new world of un-ending possibilities, it was the ‘created’ words (or language) was used often, and a small few were left undefined. A pronunciation key to know how to interpret the words would have helped me, personally to understand how to interpret the words. A handful of sentences had me wondering what was occurring or being expressed. I feel that Ms. Carez may risk others whom could also become confused, or put the tale down and move on. Until I decided just to ‘flow’ with it and read the language without special attention, other than looking in the glossary when necessary, then I was able to get an understanding of what was being told and enjoyed it. As this story is taking place in another world or planet, I personally would have liked a ‘foreword’ or similar to perhaps give us, the readers, a clear understanding (Think of Tolkien and preface for the Lord of the Rings.) of the place, history and time era.
Reviewed on 05/25/2010 by ReviewTheBook.com Member Ann Hauer
