BOOK REVIEW - Travels to Fahdamin-Ra (Novel) (Young Adult)
Mike
978-1-60693-370-1 264 pages Hardcover $25.50 (U.S.) www.eloquentbooks.com
This is a young adult fantasy novel set in a world which is, not
surprisingly, similar to our own in many respects. The protagonists
are brother and sister and that helps to set the tone of the story to
a large degree. They are mildly antagonistic towards each other, yet
know they must rely on each other.
Being a young adult novel the plot is not terribly complex, although
the addition of their father to the mix does make for a bit more
depth, and the addition al their mother adds an element of unexpected
danger to the mix. The children and their father are virtually
invulnerable, not so their mother.
The trio of �Creators� as they are referred to by the inhabitants of
Fahdamin-Ra (three separate tribes living in an Africa-like world) are
capable of healing all ills, restoring life to the dead, and creating
new life forms, but they face intolerance among the tribes, opposition
from members of the priesthood, and hatred from the �Shadow Men� and
their leader � the �Sun Lord.�
The story progresses very rapidly, losing a bit because there is
little time for any real character development. Many of the
characters, and some of the responses to situations, are
stereotypical. Still, as this is an introductory volume, perhaps the
character development will be forthcoming in future books.
I would recommend this for readers in the pre- to early teen age
group, as it presents many of the issues they are concerned with,
albeit in an otherworldly setting. Also, it may appeal slightly more
to an African-American audience since the children and their father
are members of that group (Mom is the token Caucasian in the story),
even though skin color is seldom brought into the narrative, thus
making it a more universally appealing story.