
Age
Appropriate For: 12 and up for violence
Best
for Ages: 12 and up
Description:
Where the Black
Mountains pierce the sky, they divide the south from the north, Alamir from the
kingdom of Belenus. Belenus, the undying master of the north, commanded Keiran
– the Captain of the Hosts – to conquer Alamir. But the Captain is deep in
conspiracy, and he has his own plans.
I shy
away from reading fantasy, much less endorsing it. However, when Shannon asked
me to endorse her newest book, I told her I would give it a try. I am so glad I
have this excellent book a change and I hope you will to.
Although
it can best be classified as fantasy, it does not have the magic and
overwhelming darkness that normally comes with the genre. Like Shannon’s other
books, she is reclaiming some of the genre’s that are dominated by secular
fiction.
This is
a tale of strong male friendships that are not girlified. This is a story of a
people’s struggle for freedom and survival. This is a story of personal
redemption. Valley of Decision it a light allegory of our own lives and
struggles.
The
characters in this were so well developed. Each had their own personality and
way of thinking. In fact, I don’t think I have read a female author who has
done such a good job of making two good male leads so different.
The
world that Shannon created for this story felt very real. Some fantasy just
doesn’t work well because the author didn’t take enough time to world build.
Shannon obviously did a lot of work and created a place that feels real.
For
those of you who get tired of romance stories, this book also proves to be a
nice break from the norm. There are a couple of very minor romantic interests
in the story (one of them being a married couple) but that is it.
I highly
recommend this book to those who like well written fiction, non-magical fantasy,
and stories that inspire.
I received this book from the author in
exchange for my honest review. I was under no obligation to write a positive
review. The opinions in this review are entirely my own.
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