*Disclaimer*
Everyone is different and likes and dislikes different things. Reading is no exception. One person’s all-time favorite might seem too bland or too high stakes for another. That being said, the opinions of our judges in this contest are just that, opinions. Just because we let a book go, doesn’t mean it isn’t good. It could be your next favorite, who knows?
If you have no idea what I’m talking about, you can learn more about the contest here.
Today we are reviewing A Touch of Light, which was Booknest‘s pick for this year’s Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off. You can read their review here. [Editor’s Note: Booknest is having site issues at the moment, and hope to be back up soon.] And you can see the finalist spreadsheet here.
The worthy are immortal. To die is a sin. But in a tide of madness and ruin, life is a fragile thing.
Lynn, a rogue griffin rider, has uncovered a deadly madness that threatens to destroy the Domain. She can’t escape this enemy, but to fight it, Lynn must risk being found and branded a traitor by her old order.
Prince Adrian has never been pious or on good terms with his father. After losing those closest to him, however, he must either work with the king or convince the Church to deem his loved ones worthy if they are to have a chance at resurrection.
In the clanlands, where death is considered a necessity, Nasha fights to prove she belongs. A cursed hunter and a lifelong outcast, she has always struggled. But when the land itself begins to wither away, Nasha might be the only answer.
Our Thoughts
Often in this contest our judges find books that some of us enjoy, and others could do without. A Touch of Light was a book that instead, our judges pretty much agreed was just not our thing. It was not a bad book by any means, but it did not have enough staying power in our memories to stand out against the other books this year. And when you are comparing books to the best of the year, standing out is one of the most important things a story can do.
It’s also possible we were just not the target audience, so if you think A Touch of Light sounds like your type of story, we encourage you to check it out. We would also suggest to those who do want to give it a go for themselves, that they also read the prequel novella, as that might help immerse the reader more in the story.
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And again, you can see the list of all the finalists and their scores here. Our judges are Julia Kitvaria Sarene, Kerry Smith, Max Freeman, and Jennie Ivins (me). If you’d like to learn more about us, including our likes and dislikes, you can read about them here.
Any queries should be directed at me, Jennie Ivins, via DM on Facebook and Twitter.
Julia Kitvaria Sarene