About the Book:
Five unlikely heroes, one buried secret.
At the heart of the volcanic city of Kyber lies a secret that has been hidden for centuries.
The clues surrounding this mystery begin to unfold when five strangers are recruited by a shadowy organization. As covert missions lead to more questions than answers, the increasingly desperate heroes seek help from unexpected sources. The key to Kyber’s secret and the truth behind each of their pasts can only be found by facing fierce stone storms, unlocking dormant fantastical abilities, and confronting past mistakes. Caught up in intrigues beyond their understanding, the ragtag band of adventurers must learn to trust themselves and each other as they reach for the stunning conclusion. This adventure fantasy—inspired by a D&D campaign—is filled with magic, missing identities, and daring escapes. Be ready for surprises at every turn with a mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end.
My Review:
Fantasy is not my preferred genre so I have high expectations when I am asked to read one. The book got off to a bit of a rough start for me as several characters are introduced in different scenes. About a quarter of the way into the book the story started to come together. There are a variety of creatures, gnomes and werewolves, for example. Each has a special ability and as the novel and their journey progresses, some receive new or enhanced abilities. They encounter various obstacles and work together to overcome them and move on.
World building for fantasy is crucial and I would have liked more detailed descriptions, setting the action firmly in place. The advanced egalley I read did not have a map. One would have been quite helpful in picturing the Stormbridge and other places along the characters' journey. One thing I did not like was the swearing. That, and since this fantasy is related to D&D, I suggest it is for older readers.
Engel's writing style is quite readable and this is a good debut effort. Since many of the characters learn about their origins as they journey, this novel has a sort of a coming of age flavor to it. There was a twist at the end that was really surprising. If I were a serious fantasy reader I would be watching for more from Engel.
My rating: 4/5 stars.
About the Author:
Barak grew up dreaming of being in the creative arts, but needed to earn a living and applied to medical school. Once accepted, he learned what it took to become a doctor, and earned an engineering degree instead. His career took him into cybersecurity, where he became the world’s first “virtual CISO” and wrote a few successful security books.
Still, fiction kept calling. As Barak crafted the narrative in The Crack in the Crystal, he hoped that he could do the final twist justice. It only took a medicine journey on a heroic dose of magic mushrooms.
(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)
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