Mostly, I read science fiction, some fantasy, non-fiction, but have never had a taste for horror or anything like it. I generally don’t watch horror movies either. I have never sought out or read a book in this genre or with this topic, so the whole experience is new for me. That being said, I enjoyed it.
The story is about a family that has moved to the south from Massachusetts in the era of the Salem witch trials in the late 1600s. Something evil came with them, and the story that follows is quite creepy. The twist near the end was definitely unique, and the ending really surprised me. I don’t do spoilers, so you’ll have to read it to find out.
The writing style is dark and purposefully starts a bit angular. It sets the dark tone well. In particular the opening chapters are oppressive. I found myself thinking: “self, what is this poor family doing on this terrible road!?” It lightened up for a bit after that, but it was short lived.
The settings and descriptions are very well done and are easy to imagine. I enjoyed the character groups and how they overlap and interact. The family, the townsfolk, and the natives all have different perspectives and views on the same things. It’s easy to follow and actually makes sense.
The sense of heavy dread works, and the complexity of dealing with the curse and various ways that it touches the characters really makes the story not monochrome. Oddly, there at the end is a glimmer of hope, but not for who I wanted it to be.
Being a debut novel, it’s pretty well done, and worth reading, especially if you like disturbing stories.
I tend to look at books as being on a scale of meat to candy. Candy is pure entertainment, easy to read, and I usually fly right through these stories. Meat might be difficult but has more substance, usually these are non-fiction. Ham is literally meat-candy, so it holds the center. While fiction is usually candy, Travel by Star has enough depth to push it toward the center. It is intelligent and thought-provoking while still being fun.
I picked up this indie fantasy book because I love to read independent author stories, the story seemed unique and interesting and I thought it might contain an underlying light in the darkness. I wasn’t let down. I don’t like spoilers, so this review will be intentionally vague.
First of all, this book is an epic fantasy through and through. The story covers a wide swath of well-built fictional world. It has a map, many characters, high-stakes outcomes, magic, and heroes. At over six-hundred pages, it reads like an epic and wraps up the main story pretty well.
It took a while for me to really get a sense of who the protagonist is, and I like that. Travel is a man that seems somewhat ordinary at first, though he comes from difficult times that have molded him into the hero that is needed. He reminds me of something my pastor says often: (paraphrasing) “God made you for this time. Be strong and courageous.” As I got to know this somewhat rough man, I encountered his depth and character. What makes Travel likable (to me at least) is his honor. He is a man of his word, someone reliable and strong. He is someone who will do the hard thing because it is the right thing. That’s the core of a hero.
The second protagonist is Nichole. At first she was interesting to me because she has issues. Not long into the book, I found that is special and designed for her unique task. It works, and her story unfolded over the course of time into a full purpose that I’m uncertain of in the end. I could not relate to her in any meaningful way.
With 600+ pages, there were a couple of times where I lost focus. The book contains a few side-stories, flashbacks, that support the world that is being built. Though added context can be useful, some of these might not be necessary, but they weren’t anything drastic, just a little side-track here and there.
What I loved about the story is the underlying theme: mankind’s fallen nature and need for redemption combined with available grace that is not scoffed at by the writer. There are layers of themes and meaning that are well applied and those who recognize them will appreciate them. The main theme always resonates with me, and is one of the main reason’s why I recommend this book. The story is clean, and I know that I could give it to a young teen to read. In this way it reminds me of Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings. Being full of action and adventure yet lifting the reader’s heart to perpetual hope.
The writing style is very descriptive without being too verbose. The prose is easy to read and follow, nothing awkward or weird. It’s not written down to youth, but is accessible to anyone who is commonly reads fantasy. For a debut novel, it’s quite good.
I also enjoyed the world-building. Travel by Star is a new world with depth, variety, and an enjoyable western feel. It’s gritty and dangerous, and as a result, the people in it are hardened and tired yet they persist. Very relatable.
I come away thinking about West and the Shrian kingdom which reminded me a bit of George R. R. Martin’s Song of Ice and Fire. I think the kingdom’s backstory would be pretty awesome.
Paul Grill says that he is writing a companion or a sequel, and I look forward to reading that when it comes out.
