What it’s about:
From the publisher:
“Hyam is a likeable lad who will make a fine farmer someday. But he carries a burden few can fathom. As his mother slips toward death, she implores him to return to Long Hall, where he spent five years as an apprentice. It was there that Hyam’s extraordinary capacity for mastering languages came to light–and soon cast him into the shadows of suspicion. How could any human learn the forbidden tongues with such ease? When Hyam dares to seek out the Mistress of the Sorceries, her revelation tears his world asunder.
He has no choice but to set out on the foreboding path–which beckons him to either his destiny or his doom. An encounter with an enchanting stranger reminds him that he is part hero and part captive. As Hyam struggles to interpret the omens and symbols, he is swept up by a great current of possibilities–and dangers.
With lyrical prose that unveils a richly imaginative world, Thomas Locke takes readers on a journey into the Realm. There he invites them to awaken their sense of wonder. This cracking adventure moves like a contemporary thriller but harkens back to the enduring genre of classic fantasy.”
My thoughts:
I love the gorgeous, eye-catching cover. It helped me envision things as I read the book. I enjoyed the vivid details in the storytelling of this imaginary world. It was great for pure mystery and intrigue and I was surprised with many of the twists. But I was disappointed with the lack of character development, where I felt no connections or emotions for these characters. They seemed so distant most of the time, but then suddenly they would act in a way like they were full of personality in spots and then go back to their distant personality. That is what makes or breaks a book for me if I love it or don’t really connect with it, I need to understand why the character do what they do. I was confused and surprised with Hyam’s lack of direction or knowing what he was to do, yet at times made fast decisions with absolute certainty with no context clues for the reader on how he came to that decision. There was no outward Christian theme and quite frankly, if there was symbolism of it, it was completely lost on me. There are spells and wizardry in this this, just a disclaimer for those who like to know that ahead of time. I know others will enjoy this book, but I think those type of people need to be less literal in their learning process than me. I have read other fantasy books that I love, so I am able to understand and love and have re-read some fantasy books.
I rate Emissary 2.5 stars, as I was mostly lost and confused in it, so I was not able to fully enjoy Emissary.
I received this book in exchange for my honest review.
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